Vega and Balrog

No matter where he was within it, whether the open arena, the dark shadowy lab, the training room or the guard room he shared with Ed all those years ago, the halls of Shadaloo always brought him back to the Lair of the Four Kings. The four towering statues of those Four Kings stood tall over everything.

He saw himself on the farthest edge of these statues, only standing shoulder to shoulder with the main man himself. His employer just as he was his bodyguard. His outstretched handheld the world within it; the very thing Bison always had his eyes on. Balrog did not care for the other two statues, lining off of Bisons left shoulder. Opposite him on the other end was the long and lanky Fang. Bisons number 2; a replacement for Sagat though he hardly met the qualifications. And of course, there was the person sandwiched in between those two. A mask man bearing claws like some angry cat.

Strangely enough these overbearing statues were not out of place. But someone lingering below them was. Lining up with Vega's statue was the man himself. His arms were crossed, and in one hand he held up a rose. His mask opened but was blocking it out for any onlooker to see except for the rose itself.

Grumbling to himself, Balrog came to a stop. He saw no one else here save for himself and Vega. With that fact leading him to the conclusion that Vega of all people summoned him here. He wouldn't have that.

"You call me here pretty boy?" Balrog asked as he punched his gloves together "Think I take orders from you now? Or you just got some sick sense of humor." he asked with a final mighty punch of his gloves.

As if hearing the sound of an annoying fly buzzing about, Vega perked his head up. He placed the mask back over his face, covering it as he turned to face Balrog. Though his face was concealed his annoyance at him was not. For he saw him glaring at him with the intent to break not only his mask but his ego as well.

Vega let out a contemptuous "Hmph." before he pushed himself from the base of his statue to stand unassisted by it. Yet he did not dare stare in Balrogs direction. "It wouldn't take much to fool you I admit." Vega admitted with a flick of his hair as he turned towards him now. He then leapt forward clearing the space between the base of the statues and the platform Balrog stood on. Crouching low, when he landed, he stood up straight, though Balrog was to his side. "So, it's you then, is it?"

"What's that pretty boy?" Balrog grumbled.

"Tch." Vega hissed beneath the mask "Brute. Do you think I was waiting for you all this time?"

His lack of an answer was already piling onto the reasons Balrog didn't like him. But the higher the pile the harder his blow.

He made a step forward, ready to deliver that blow to him. Defensively Vega turned to face him for the first time and swiped his clawed hand up ready for him. Both of them say it plainly; if it was a fight, they wanted they could get it. They would have too, if a voice didn't cry out from above.

"Enough of that!" a deep bellowing voice commanded to them and the two who were about to charge came to a sudden stop. They turned their heads over to see another figure floating in the air beneath the space of the statues and the platform. His arms crossed, his head titled down and his cape flowing down from his shoulders.

It could only be one person.

"M. Bison." they both said together.

Only his jaw was seen beneath the titled brim of his hat, and on it his evil grin widened considerably.

"Yes." he said and when he titled it up to view them it flashed an evil glare. He brought himself down to their level though he still hovered above them and not on level ground with them, for he was above them after all.

"So, it's you who brought us here." Vega concluded, naturally it had to be "For what?" he asked. Bison did not answer immediately. Instead, he let his evil grin widen on his face, unsettling them both. But once it settled into place completely, he spoke.

"There is a task for the both of you." he began. The two did not respond. Bison then snapped his arm up with a flap of his cape, his arm extending out and upwards "You've no doubt noticed my latest project." he said looking up. The two he had summoned followed his motion to see the statues. They were there alright, but so was something else. Above them was a large construction, as wide as the room itself and lingering above the statues. It was wide dark and metallic, and looked as if it was one dark halo hanging above the four. Yet the circle itself was open, in an instant it closed showing a swirling dark purple vortex that spun about in place. It seemed to effect more in the room, as they saw the globe in the statue of M. Bison began to flicker and before their very eyes multiple and stretch along the length of the other statues until it showed six separate worlds.

It seems M. Bison had his eyes on more than one world this time.

"With this device I've thrown the alignment of the realms off, unraveling them like a string. Even long dormant ones that have been merged with others have their chance to thrive now." he explained as his other hand revealed itself from underneath his cape. Holding it out for them to see, he seemed to be mimicking his statue, though what he held in it was not the globe but a small talisman, unlike any Balrog or Vega had seen.

It was perfectly round, a small green circle that fit squarely in Bisons hand. Yet poking out of the space in his grip between his thumb and pointer finger was a smaller blue circle. One that between his fingers was attached the larger green one.

"What is it?" Balrog asked unsure what to make of it.

"Some big trouble for a little thing like that?" Balrog questioned.

"This little thing," M. Bison began "is a Kamidogu."

"Kami-what?"

"Kami." Vega repeated "As in god?" he asked and the sound of that delighted Bison.

"Yes. The essence of each realm. This one is that of ours; of Earthrealm..." he paused as his grin grew "And this one is mine." he said clenching it tighter "but there are more to discover. " he continued "My own portal shall have them all brought to me." he said as the one above them swerved and with it nearby monitors on the walls flickered revealing elements of each of these realms he spoke of. Ones that he, through his own power and manipulation brought together as one. "With the barriers gone, I can do as I please. Conquer all these realms as one. But long dormant foes have risen from their eternal slumber to reclaim what is theirs, just as I am doing the same." he told. But despite him speaking lightly of it, Vega and Balrog knew of the one he spoke of. One who would rise from the depths to claim all. One whose name even they had heard of.

"The Dragon King." Vega whispered. As he dared to even whisper his name the dreaded figure appeared above them, within the confines of the portal confirming that he was very much out there. A shadow seemed to stretch from the ceiling and drip down to swallow them all. But a disruptive command from Bison caused it to recede.

"But this is not my concern." Bison continued dismissively. The portal then closed off and the shadows went away relieving Balrog and Vega "With so many warriors seeking to stop him or each other it allows me to accomplish my own task." the two did not understand him but once they saw it, he explained more "This warrior" he spoke when they saw the image take over all of the monitors in the room. They turned back up to the portal to see the image of the very one Bison spoke of. That of a red garbed ninja basking in a green aura "Find him and bring him to me." Bison commanded.

Looking over what they saw, he didn't seem too impressive. Not even when they saw him float under the weight of countless green flurries.

"What's so special about this one?" Balrog asked bluntly. But Bison already had the answer.

"Behold!" he waved a hand out from under his cape, it thrashed around him as the arm extended to show what he desired. Their eyes went back to the portal above.

They saw the kombatant do more than fight this time. He floated in the air, above the green gaze of the souls that formed him. He twisted and thrashed his opponents in the same manner. Without even touching them and with only a wave of his hand, he tossed aside countless other kombatants effortlessly.

"I see." Balrog let out.

"Not much to gaze upon." Vega said putting a hand over his masked face.

"The power this one wields is compatible with my own." Bison told as he looked upwards to him "A warrior made of countless souls. Able to harness more and more to expand his life and power. With such power in my hands..." he brought this hands up to gaze at them. The fizzled purple and then he clenched them. His voice dropped now becoming darker along with his intent "Bring him to me."

With their orders given, the two set out together.

Though they didn't appreciate with who.

Baraka and Reptile

Baraka walked through the thick forest of outworld. The trees watched his every step. But he was more than ready for anything, wandering eyes, hidden mercenaries or otherwise.

It was his duty to the Kahn to patrol this forest. Many denizens of the empire had gone missing since the start of the calamity, Tarkatans being among them. So, filling in the gaps Baraka fulfilled his obligations to the Kahn and patrolled the jungle.

Coming to the river, he stopped suddenly before it. Not because he was thirsty or could not pass through but because he sensed something. Something within the jungle around him. He began sniffing the air around him. A thin sharp wisp that gave him all the information he needed. His eyes swerved in their sockets rolling around until they peered to behind him and they stopped just as he had. In a flash he twirled around unsheathing his blades as he did. He crossed them over each other as they were stopped mid-air. Not by his own doing, but from someone else stopping his blow. Someone who was not there.

Braced against an unseen foe Baraka snarled and took another whiff. His eyes settled on what was before him and though nothing was there, he felt something was. Then before his eyes he saw something in the void stare back at him.

A pair of eyes that blinked back at him.

The palette of colors before him began to shift and sway, like it was being washed away by water. Taking the form of something before him. It appeared first as two green scaly hands latched onto each of his blades holding them back from slicing him to ribbons. The veil of blankness continued to be pulled back revealing green arms that braced the hands and shoulders under spiked guards that connected them to the rest of the torso. Green garbs were wrapped around a green humanoid figure.

The final reveal was done around the face. The eyes blinked and as if tears flowed from them revealed a green snout and a black mask. The face revealed itself between the crossing of his blades.

"Saurian." Baraka growled through his long sharp teeth.

"Tarkatan." Reptile snarled back as his open mouth drooled before him. The drool falling off of the edges of his mouth reached the ground but did not stop there as it burned a hole into it. He then let go of Baraka as he pushed his arms back splitting the two apart. Growling at the sight of him, Baraka sheathed his blades back into his arms.

"I thought I smelled your stench." Baraka said before releasing a strong huff from his nose "There is none other like it."

Reptile hissed lowly at him. "Do you think I am here to fight with the likes of you? No." he rose up shaking his head "I seek you out only for the benefit of the Kahn."

Confusion came over Baraka's face, startled by Reptiles words "The Kahn has sent you here?"

"Yes." Reptile said holding the 's'. "With all of the warriors together, threats to the Kahn are more common."

"And a threat to the Kahn is a threat to us all." Baraka said dutifully.

"Precisely." Reptile said, the two seemingly coming to an understanding of their roles "And I have been told of items that would be of a great asset to the Kahn."

"Have you now?" Baraka asked skeptically. Baraka as Chieftain of the Tarkatan's prided himself on strength. And did not take lightly to Reptiles habit and ability to sneak about going as he pleased. It made him suspicious of his motives as he slunk around from here to there unnoticed and unseen.

"One of many." Retile told "One is called the Book of Miraha."

"One?" Baraka asked "You are saying there is more?"

"Yesss." he hissed "Wielded by an enemy of the Kahn."

"The Kahn had many enemies of late." Baraka stated, half skeptically again but slowly coming to the realization that Reptile was in fact right.

"And they will grow only to our detriment. This book may hold the key against them. Among others."

"What else could there be?" Baraka asked brutishly.

"More for me to tell you and more for us to find on our path."

Baraka kept in a growl, but begrudgingly was coming on to what was being said by Reptile. "And what is our path?" he asked.

"To head out into these merged and shattered realms, find these items the Kahn desires."

"And to cut down any warriors we find." Baraka declared fiercely.

"Precisely." Reptile agreed "In the end it is for the Kahn's benefit, which would naturally lead to ours." Reptile said.

Baraka scoffed at his words "You serve yourself in the end Zaterran for there is no one else to serve."

Reptile growled at him through his mask, dripping acid around its edges "No less than you want the best for the Tarkatan's." he shot back.

"For the Kahns benefit." Baraka reinstated, ever the loyal servant "The Kamidogus missing, the realms wide open and ripe for invasion, warriors embrace kombat all around." he said though he relished the chance for his blades to face new foes "and you wish to seek out a book and even more for the Kahn?"

"Precisely."

"And what is your endgame Saurian?" Baraka barked "What is your goal?"

"To serve, in the same capacity as you."

"We are not alike." he growled opening his wide mouth.

Reptile let out a huff "Do you intent to stall us even longer with your irrelevant barking?" Reptile edged closer to him as Baraka's blades came out just a little bit more. The two stood on edge with each other, but in the end, Baraka backed down and put his blades away.

"Then what to do propose first?"

Reptile was growing impatient and his showed as his voice grew more into a growl, but obedience remained within it "Have I not been clear? To do as the Kahn instructed. Head out together to find these items."

"Very well." Baraka finally conceded "Invisible or not, I will have my eyes on you."

"Just make sure to stay out of my way." he hissed.

"Fine." Baraka finally agreed. "Let us go." he turned to walk, and Reptile slunk beside him to do the same.

"We must do as the Kahn instructs." Reptile reminded him; his vision was ahead so he did not see Baraka's eyes turn to him.

"Yes," Baraka said dutifully "We should." he agreed though his orange eyes lingered onto Reptile from behind.

Fight Your Rival! The Graveyard

Balrog and Vega continued on their journey, begrudgingly doing so side by side. Though the silence between them was easily agreed upon.

They were as silent as a graveyard, because they were in fact in one. They followed the narrow, uneven cobblestone path that was large enough for them to walk side by side on it. Tombstones lined it on both sides. The moon was perfectly full casting it's pale light down outlining the darkness in a thin white ghostly hue. Not that either one of them were afraid of that. The dead cannot hurt them. The living however...

Balrog trudged along gruffly while Vega was more refined and lighter on his feet. Balrog lumbered forward but by his next step was flung back suddenly. As if he was struck in the face. Yet when he snapped his head back, no one was there to strike him.

"What the?!" he let out looking confused around but still found nothing.

Getting a few steps ahead Vega stopped to turn back to see Balrog tense and squaring off with something that wasn't there.

Another force hit him again, this time from the other side knocking his head away. A third blow came now, sending him onto his back. Balrog grumbled as Vega went on edge bearing his blades. He looked to where Balrog once stood and before him he saw nothing.

But suddenly the area before him began to change. The colors distorting as if they were melting in the air.

Both minions of Shadaloo watched it strangely, Balrog from the ground and Vega from behind. The changes seemed to be contained to one shape. That of a man. No, a beast!

For they could see now once the transition was complete. It was not a trick, but a technique. This thing before them had the ability to blend in with its environment. Matching it perfectly. But it revealed itself now. As a green clad ninja to match its reptilian skin.

"Such ugliness." Vega commented upon seeing it. Even from behind it was hideous, and he did not wish to see it anymore "I shall cut you out of this world." he slashed his hand.

"Your fight is with me!" a rough voice roared. But it did not come from in front of him.

Vega's attention was turned away from the green beast. Only to see the flash of two long blades coming at him.

He snapped his arm up to block the oncoming attack his three shorter blades on one arm locking with the two long ones that jabbed at him. Sparks flew from the friction lighting up the night. Through his mask Vega glared at the orange eyed monstrosity that stood before him as it grinned with teeth as sharp as blades at him.

At the same moment the two pushed against each other repelling their blades. The two then skidded back from each other. Vega past Reptile and back to the side of Balrog who had punched the ground angrily and picked himself off the ground while the second monster and to the others side.

"Hm." Vega let out contentiously at him. "Your ugliness eclipses the first." he moved a hand to put it over his mask taking it off and holding it out for him to see. "For the sake of my beauty, I will offer this to you. Here." he held it out but obstructed his face so as not to be scarred by sight alone "At least follow your companions lead and cover that horrendous face."

"Looks do not decide a battle." Baraka growled and then chomped down like a rabid dog.

"To refuse my gift." Vega said as he placed his mask back on his face "It shall me hard for me to make you uglier." he said bringing his arm up to bear his claws.

"But I shall make you so." Baraka pointed his arm out to him now, his blade extending out of his forearm extending his reach "I'll turn you into a stump."

"My blades will find your ugly heart." Vega boasted slashing the air before him.

Pounding his gloves together Balrog set his sights on Reptile.

"Stay visible now," Baltic warned as he glared at Reptile "and fight me like a man."

"I am the last Saurian human. I will fight as I'd befit my people." he said baring his teeth through his mask and the acid that dripped from each one.

Baltic grinned "Then prepare to go extinct."

Sub-boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Vega and Balrog

Balrog slammed his gloves together seeing it coming before Vega did. A darker shadow moved in the ever present darkness around them. They heard it writhing before anything else. It felt as if a great terrible weight was dragging across the ground. Given their location, they easily thought of a corpse clinging to life.

A foot slammed onto the road ahead of them and dragged with it the rest of the body. It stood in the center of it, swaying from side to side as dark red eyes gleamed as bright as the moonlight towards them.

"What is this new monstrosity?" Vega asked, but Balrog already had an answer.

"You again?" he called as Necalli squirmed around before them. He knew what he was here for, so there was no point in wasting time on it "Well come on Mud-man!"

"How revolting." Vega said taking his stance beside him "What are you but a dog who served another master!"

"You will serrrvee me... quench the hunger in my stomach."

"You will serve me," Vega replied "by being up to pieces!"

Him saying that caused Balrog to laugh "Give him a haircut with those clippers."

Sub-boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Baraka and Reptile

They continued walking through the graveyard, but Baraka stopped suddenly, and Reptile did with him. He took in a small, short whiff of the air. His face twisted when he did. He took in a deeper sharper one and his face scrunched up further.

"You sense it too?" Reptile asked as he looked around.

"Yes." Baraka growled and then shot his blades out from his arms.

The shifting sound of the ground behind them alerted them to an oncoming presence. Quickly they turned around to look down the path they came from. And there they saw creeping out of the darkness and edging into the light was a lowly wriggling creature. It slunk behind a tombstone to hide behind another. Then it placed a hand over one crawled over it.

"Do the dead rise?" Reptile asked.

"Then let us put it back in their grave." Baraka said right as Necalli flung himself upwards, high into the sky and blocking out the little light the moon gave off. He landed hard in the center of the path and gazed up at them, focusing on Baraka.

"Ahh" he let out a deep breath as if he had held it in for too long "I have eaten many a Tartakan." Necalli said.

At the sound of that boast Baraka's eyes glared at him "You will not have this one!"

"But you..." Necalli said moving on to look at Reptile "you are.. different...you are.."

"I am the last Saurian of Zaterra!" Reptile spoke proudly.

"No..." Necalli said in a lowly voice "another looms."

Reptile's eyes widened in shock before they receded to focus in on Necalli "You will tell me who and where they are."

"Together..." Necalli answered "inside me once I swallow you both!" he cried before lunging at them.

Vega and Balrog Ending

M. Bison gazed at the overbearing statue of himself in the lair and the multiple words that lingered before it. Clutching the Kamidogu within his hand, a purple glow overtook it, dimming the two joined circles in it. Soon, it would all be his.

He heard a pair of footsteps approaching from behind, echoing out through the Lair of the Four Kings. That and the sound of something being dragged behind them.

His grin widened, and he turned around to see none other than the two he had sent out.

Vega and Balrog returned together, but not alone. Walking side by side, they both one had a hand on something. A black leg as they dragged a body behind them across the floor.

Bison floated forward as the two approached him, with their catch in tow. He lowered himself down to the ground, his feet touching it as the two came to a stop beneath him; Balrog slamming the left leg he held down as Vega tossed it aside.

Bison said nothing as his gaze went downward looking past them and at what they had brought him. Draped in black and red robes was a body. A body which contained an endless supply of souls. Enough to harness the psycho power for all time. The perfect body. The perfect vessel. The perfect doll. The perfect warrior.

Ermac.

Silently Bison stood there idling it for a long time. As he did Balrog and Vega looked to each other, knowing what would come, but unsure of what it meant for them. Turning up to him they asked.

"So, what's next?" Balrog asked breaking the silence.

Bison seemed taken aback by the sudden question and turned his head up to them.

"Next?" Bison repeated as if confused by the question and that he dared to answer. But he was far from confused and soon his natural smug grin came back to his face. "That's simple." he told as he set his eyes on each of them, looking as if Ermac wasn't there at all.

They had expected him to say something of his plans with Ermac, the warrior of countless souls. But instead, his gaze went to them, with a grin that made the two uneasy.

Then suddenly they were overtaken by a gray robot. It appeared before Balrog without warning and punched him in the face. Vega raised a hand to swipe it, but his arms were grabbed from behind by another robot and his arm was brought back and raise above his head. Another appeared before him and punched him in the stomach reeling him over. A third then came to jump on top of him sending him to the ground.

On his knees Balrog shot up with a blow so strong he dented the robots head in. With that one staggered, he got back to his feet to hit it again, but as he was about to deliver the finishing blow a group suddenly encircled him. Grouping together around him electricity began to pass from one to the other and it zapped him into place.

Stalling where he was, he saw Vega out of the corner of his eye being ganged up and dog piled by several other gray robots. Though behind shocked to his core Balrogs eyes went back to Bison who watched it all with satisfaction on his face.

"Bison!" he shouted out as he was electrocuted in place.

"Your performance is on point." Bison told as the electrocution stopped and Balrog dropped to one knee. Weakly, he looked up only to be struck in the face by a robot which knocked his head to one side and led into a kick from the other side of him sending him down to the ground "But your bickering only distracts you from my goal." he said as more and more robots piled on top of them delivering blows and placing more hands on him. At his side Vega who had all the fight taken out of him was being dragged away, just as Ermac had when he entered "Looking into it myself," Bison continued "the cyber initiative may improve you in your duties. To do my bidding." he chuckled darkly as the cyborgs continued to swarm over Balrog and he felt his body lifted to the ground to be taken away just like Vega was.

With that process taking care of itself he set his eyes back onto the prize brought to him.

Ermac

Baraka and Reptile Ending

Reptile crouched down. His eyes scanned the ground before him. It was not the book he initially named. No instead, it was small object, looking like a chess piece though there was no board for it to play on. But bundled up in Reptiles hand were several others, though he also knew there were still more needed to complete the set. His hand lingered above it on the ground before he snatched it up. Opening his hand, he looked at all of these pieces together.

He blinked as his head lobbed from one side to the next. As he sat there studying it, Baraka kept his eyes ahead. Making sure there was no threat around to take them back. Only when he was certain they were, did he turn his gaze down to Reptile and the odd arrangement of small items he seemed to be coveting. His blades shot back into his arm, and he moved to approach him. Reptile seemed to take not notice of him as he ran a hand across the cover of the pieces.

"Is that it?" Baraka asked "To have come this far for so little a thing?" Baraka said scathingly above him. Reptile grumbled beneath him. Lurching forward his yet turned around to see Baraka standing behind him.

"These items contain precious information; they are the controls to one of the Kahn's enemies." Reptile told over his shoulder "That is why we were sent out to retrieve it." Baraka's stare of contempt could still be seen, but Reptile did not answer to him. Turning back to the chess piece he brought his hands together with the many pieces falling off into his palm to join with the newest one he found before his shut his hands completely. Leering upwards he came back to his full height "Now we must take it to the Kahn." he said as began to walk off going past Baraka. He continued onwards with his hands clasped together but noticed one thing that was off.

But he did not hear Baraka's footsteps behind him.

"Yes." his gruff voice seeped through his barbed teeth. His voice was low and menacing so it brought Reptile to a stop. He turned his head over his shoulder again to see Baraka standing where he had left him. "You speak much of the Kahn's duties and wants." Baraka began "But you have yet to say which Kahn it is." he finished and turned his head over his shoulder to look at Reptile. His eyes peered towards him like daggers of their own.

Reptile saw the threat in his eyes and stance. He knew what may come next. He turned back to face Baraka with the chess pieces tucked beneath his arm. It was a fair question as many would admit. There was an abundance of Kahns to be fighting for. The emperor, either of his daughters, even the Osh Tekk usurper had a claim. But there were only two of them here. It was time to find where their allegiances lie.

"I speak of the true Kahn." he hissed back, his voice rising to meet Baraka "Of the Kahn who took the throne by Konquest as he did the other realms. The Kahn who will restore my people." he paused, and Baraka awaited the name of whom he served "Shao Kahn."

The revelation widened Baraka's eyes only a little before they settled back onto Reptile. As they did, the blades from his forearms began to slowly fall out of his arms until they reached the floor and scratched them.

"I see." Baraka bellowed "Because I fight for the Kahn as well. The Kahn who retook her throne from the konqueror. The Kahn who promised a free hand for all under her rule. Kitana Kahn."

Reptile let out a terrible hissing laughter at his expense "A terrible guard dog you are Baraka. Your mouth is so wide it bites the hand that feeds you." Reptile said as his mouth opened wider, drool spilling out to erase the ground beneath him.

"Better to be Kitana's partner then Shao Kahn's slave."

"She betrayed the one who raised her." Reptile criticized right back. But Baraka had a final insult for them.

"It is why she thrives. When she does the Tarkatans do with her. And you..." his eyes focused on him even more "That is why your race is gone." the two peered at each other. "And I shall finish it now." he said widening his stance ready to face Reptile as he was when he first came to him for this mission.

"The only death here will be yours." Reptile threatened "Then I shall take these to the Kahn and tell him of your betrayal." he opened his hands letting each of the pieces fall and rattle on the ground, ignoring the initial care he gave to them as he discarded them freely onto the ground " Then your people will suffer and wither away as mine had."

"The only suffering will be the last of your weak race. And if that book and all those little toys are all you claim it is, I shall bring it to Kitana Kahn."

Trilling Reptile's fingers cracked as he moved them "Come take it then."

And with that Baraka charged.