Void (Part 1)
"Ok, help me out here. You and Tanya have the same Father, but different mothers. At the same time, your real Father is Argus, and her father is your stepfather. Why do you both call each other Brother and Sister?" Johnny Cage asked.
"Half-brother and half-sister!' Rain stated.
"Step-brother and step-sister," Tanya corrected.
"This is completely stupid," Sonya commented. At that moment, Kitana appears from a portal and stands beside Shang Tsung. She looked over the courtyard as all eyes were on her.
"This tournament was created for Outworld to take over Earthrealm. We were not planning to destroy your realm, but rather ally with Earthrealm. We're not officially allies yet, but the time to come together starts now," Kitana stated.
"Where is Hornbuckle?" Sonya asked.
"Kahn has ended this tournament. He is also on vacation for the time being. He has granted that Shang Tsung and I take over while he is gone."
"And our friend Hornbuckle?" Johnny asked.
"There is a group known as the Brotherhood of Shadow who is currently holding our friends hostage in Russia. I request that we all prepare for war in case they decide to invade our Realms."
"Where is the Champion of Earthrealm Kitana?" Shang Tsung asked. Kitana gives everyone a cold glare. She proceeds to answer their question.
"The Champion of Earthrealm is dead," she confirmed. Everyone was shocked by her words. "However, his brother, the participant known as Hornbuckle, aka Chan, is very much alive and well."
"Wait…Lui Kang is…?" Sonya asked.
"I lost to his brother?" Rain questioned.
"Earthrealm cheated?" Shang Tsung questioned.
"Does any of this matter? We're on the verge of war. We have to head to Russia immediately and rescue our warriors before they become slaves to the NetherRealm," she explained.
"NO!" Shang Tsung shouted. Everyone looked at him.
"Are you having a heart attack?" Johnny asked sarcastically.
"No, you insolent fool. Do you know what we're up against? We're pretty much dead already," Shang Tsung said.
"Who are we up against?" Johnny asked.
"The NetherRealm Sorcerer Quan Chi and the Former-Elder God Shinnok." Everyone looked back and saw Raiden. He was heavily damaged after attempting to defeat the Brotherhood.
"What happened to you?" Sonya asked.
"Lui Kang, Kung Lao, and Fujin found their hideout in Earthrealm. While Kitana and the others were in Outworld talking with Shao Kahn, I decided to go to their hideout and attempt to save them." Raiden fell to his knees as his powers slowly began to wane.
"Hold on Raiden! You're going to be ok," Johnny said.
"I'm surprised this doesn't shock you cage," Raiden joked. "It looks like I've failed as an Elder Lord. Just like I always do."
"Lord Raiden. You are the protector of Earthrealm and Lord of Thunder. Everything that has happened was destined to happen. You can't be everywhere all the time. The selfish will always blame you for everything. The understanding will encourage you to keep going. Outworld's Elder Lord tried to help everyone and ended up dying. He became an evil Elder Lord and attempted to destroy the realm, but instead he ruled it. His arrogance matched with his ignorance and he lost his throne to Shao Kahn. Remember these words, as soon you will suffer the same fate. What comes after…is up to you," Kitana said. Raiden looked up to her and acknowledged her words. His body disintegrated into nothingness.
"Raiden…" Sonya whispered.
"We have no time for sobbing. Return to your Realms and prepare for an invasion. That includes you, Shang Tsung," Kitana stated.
"We're coming with you," Johnny responded.
"No, you're going with Sonya. More help means more soldiers for the NetherRealm. They use dead warriors to build their army. I don't want to be forced to end your lives; nor do I want to be forced to fight more people than I have to," Kitana stated.
"So, you're going alone?" Tanya asked.
"No. Chan, Knightwolf, and Shelia are already on their way there. Hopefully, Chan's friends will spot him and join our side."
*Inside the Russia Coliseum*
"How does it fit?"
"Not too tight, not too revealing, just the way I love it."
"Good. When we make it to Outworld, we'll see how well you fit your name sake. See you in five, Kira."
Jataaka patted Kira on the back and left her room. Kira looked in the mirror as she reflected on her costume. It bared a striking resemblance to her usual fighting costume. She received a knock on her door. The person who entered was none other than her friend Kobra. Both were very young, in their late teens to be exact.
"Are you ready to do this?" Kobra asked.
"Fighting against Outworld is what we've been planning to do for centuries. Even at the cost of working alongside of Quan Chi," Kira responded.
"If only Chan could see it that way. He wanted to play by the rules instead. He should've left that up to his brother. We're going to do things, the best way," Kobra added. They both leave the room and walk down the hallway.
"Do you believe he'll come back?" Kira asked.
"I'm sure he's still in the tournament. And Raiden won't allow him to die."
"Reptile won't be as easy as the others. And let's not forget about Tesla. Hopefully, she kept her word and didn't kill him."
"She kept it." Kira and Kobra looked back and readied for Kombat as they saw…
"Knightwolf!" they both announced. Knightwolf was pointing her bow and arrow towards them both. Neither of them was terrified by her threat.
"You being here must mean the tournament is over," Kobra stated.
"It's over when we take Quan Chi down."
"We can't let you do that. We're about to go to war against Outworld right now. You guys should be joining us," Kira announced.
"Quan Chi plans for all of you to be sacrificed. Death will make you stronger at the cost if your own will. He's also planning to revive Shinnok," Shelia added as she walked from the shadows.
"We won't let that happen," Kira stated.
"No, you won't." Kira and Kobra looked behind the two women and spotted Chan. Kira and Kobra were surprised and excited to see him. Kira ran up and gave him a hug.
"I'm glad to see you're still alive," Kira stated.
"I can say the same for you both. However, our encounter will be short if you allow Quan Chi to summon Shinnok," Chan responded.
"How so?" Kobra asked.
"Once Shinnok is revived, the countdown clock for Armageddon begins." Kira releases Chan and walks back towards Kobra. She whispers in Kobra's ear and looks back at the group. Kobra nods and signals them to follow.
"Chan, if you fall for this…"
"We're not going to trick him. If you want to face Quan Chi, we're going to take you to him," Kira stated. Kobra walked down the hall as the others followed behind him. They stopped at a pair of double doors.
"This is where we were tasked to meet Quan Chi…and the others," Kobra stated.
"How many others?" Knightwolf asked.
"Who knows…dozens…maybe hundreds?" Kobra responded.
"Definitely few dozen or more; this includes Quan Chi, the Sisterhood's newer trio, and the other recruits," Kira responded.
"Is there anything else you need before we enter?" Kobra stated.
"Advice would help," Chan stated.
"Here's advice…" Kira opens the double doors as a magic circle from the handle begins to activate. Everyone gets transported to the open area of Quan Chi's Coliseum. Knightwolf, Shelia, and Chan look around and find themselves surrounded by the recruits. "…never trust the Brotherhood." Each of the three heroes gets fatally slashed by Kira causing them to fall to the ground in pain.
"What…" Chan looks up at Kobra who has a serious look on his face.
"You knew what you were getting yourself into in the first place. See you in the afterhours," Kobra stated as he put on his hoodie and walked off.
"How fascinating of you, Kira. It seems your name fits you perfectly. Now, let the final ritual begin," Quan Chi announced. Chan Slow rose from the ground, as did Knightwolf.
"She's not a killer…don't spit on her name," Chan said faintly.
"She's not trying to kill you. She's testing the blood of you three to see which one of your hearts she should eat," Quan Chi said bluntly. Chan was disturbed.
"What kind of sick joke is this?" Shelia asked.
"There are only three forms of Immortality: through the blood, through the souls, and through sorcery. Each one has its limits and only provides temporary immortality. However, Tesla created the true form of immortality which combines all three. All it takes is the heart human being eaten alive. I'm the last member who needs to accomplish this task," Kira responded.
"That is not true, I know an Osh-Tek warrior who imposed that same philosophy to humans years ago. He caused their slow and painful deaths. If you really trust Quan Chi…"
"LOOK AT TESLA!" Kira shouted.
"TESLA IS DEAD!" Knightwolf retorted.
"Wha—what?"
"Knightwolf killed Tesla. Even Shang Tsung himself has confirmed this," Shelia added.
"Wouldn't Tesla arrive here? Those who use any form of immortality are doomed to go to the NetherRealm for an eternity. I would be the one to know." Quan Chi replied.
"What about Ashrah?" she asked.
"Ashrah was never dead. Nor was she immortal. I haven't seen her since the day she was killed by Skarlet. I wonder…" Quan Chi suddenly gets struck in the shoulder by a sai. A figure begins to appear in front of him with her hand holding the Sai. Standing behind her facing the other way was a woman holding her bladed fan over her face. The final person who was with them was a female Shadow Priest with silver hair who stood at the entrance. It was Mileena, Kitana, and the Novice Shadow Priest, Eva.
"Hello there, rival of Shang Tsung," Mileena said as she pulled her Sai from Quan Chi's shoulder.
"Surprising to see that the Champion of Earthrealm can be so foolish when it comes to his friends," Kitana stated.
"How did you…" Quan Chi quickly focused his attention to Eva. He was shocked to see her.
"So, you still remember me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to get in if you didn't," Eva explained.
*Thousands of Years ago*
"Before I leave, I'd like to thank you for retrieving Shinnok's replicated amulet. Your powers of illusion are far greater than even Onaga," Quan Chi praised. Eva smiled devilishly.
"Trust me Quan Chi, you've seen nothing yet," she boasted.
*Present*
"We had a deal," Quan Chi stated.
"That deal only applied to the fall of Edenia, which has been accomplished," she confirmed.
"And Kitana, why would you join forces with the woman who attacked your own Realm?" Quan Chi asked. However, he gets stabbed by Mileena again.
"Stop ignoring me you fool! Do you want to die now?!" Mileena shouted. Suddenly, she gets attacked by a member of the brotherhood, knocking her onto Chan. However, he forgot about Kitana whom was behind her as she dodged the attack and sliced the member's head off.
"If death is what they seek, let's give it to them," Kitana stated as she wiped the blood off her bladed fan.
End of Finale Part One