Johnny Cage watched wearily as the sky above him darkened. The clouds had turned to the color of ashes, and the sun had disappeared behind them. He feared it would never return. The strong breezes touch was cool, and Johnny felt goose pimples raise on his arms. He looked over at Sonya, her hair swinging in the wind, and caught her eyes. She looked just as anxious as he felt. Johnny could hear Jax's commanding voice a short distance away.
"Everyone get into position now!" He bellowed over the hundreds of soldiers that were lined up in rows. The soldiers of the United States National Guard, and Special Forces marched together in the thousands. Tension filled the air as Johnny spotted large tanks rolling across the battlefield. Helicopters roared over his head, circling the area. Johnny turned around behind himself to see if he could spot his fellow allies. In the far distance, up on one distant rooftop he spotted the Black Dragon's forces setting up shop. Snipers peered from the windows, and at the base of the building stood a large group of lightly armored cartel members. A man with short black hair, and a tan vest was seen commanding them sternly.
Johnny's eyes then shifted to his left at one of the long bridges further away. Shang Tsung, and the new Sub-Zero were spotted at the front of Erron Black's mercenary faction. Reptile was with them as well standing at the head of the force. They were tasked by Raiden to hold the left bridge, and prevent Shao Kahn's army from routing the mainline defense. Johnny was among the many who distrusted having the Outworlders in charge of such a delicate position, but much like Raiden had pointed out to him earlier, there was no other option. There was a bright flash of white, and now standing between Johnny, and Sonya was Raiden. His face was grim, and dark. Johnny had never seen him so stressed. He stood still as he observed the narrow bridge before him.
"Do we stand a chance?" Sonya asked staring at the bridge alongside Raiden.
"We can only hope that our forces show no fear to what Outworld has to offer." Raiden answered softly. "You must tread carefully, the protective shields I have casted on all of my chosen warriors has been lifted." Johnny felt Raiden was speaking specifically to him. Johnny had not forgotten Mavado's bullet, and no doubt Raiden hadn't either. He got the message. No more second chances.
"Jackson Briggs. Are your soldiers ready?" Raiden asked of Jax who had made his way over to them.
"Ready as they're ever going to be. We're in position." Jax replied.
"Very well. We must gain an advantage. We need to force Shao Kahn to advance from the main army. Draw him out, and slay him. Their numbers are vast compared to ours. This will be our only opportunity to win this war." Raiden explained the gameplan for what felt like the thousandth time.
In the few days leading up to this night, so much had happened. Shang Tsung, and Kenshi had about killed each other when they had come face to face. One could not be around the other, and both had made promises of killing the other after the war was finished. Kabal, and Kano had been attacked by Sonya after she learned of Kabal's escape from the Special Forces prison. Most of the strategies had been lost on Johnny due to these issues, but Raiden's insistence of Shao Kahn's required death echoed in his skull on an endless loop.
Up on a rooftop that overlooked the entire army below Kano, and Kabal were staring out into the world. Even with all of the commotion, Kano felt the mood was too quiet. It was eerie to him. The calm before the storm, and judging from the look of the sky, shit was going to hit the fan at any moment. He popped a cigarette into his mouth, and lit it up. He turned over to Kabal, and saw the look of hatred Kabal had been wearing since the tournament. One of the helicopters scattered their hair as it flew by overhead. Being here with Kabal placed a memory in Kano's thoughts.
"Don't you just love the sights of the city?" Kano asked jokingly. Kabal gave him a small sideways glance. Kano smiled at Kabal's toothy grin.
"Not really, but you can't deny that view." Kabal answered just like Kano knew he would. Kano handed Kabal a cigarette, and they both smoked away. The smiles quickly vanished, and the seriousness of their situation sunk back in.
"If shit gets bad out there Kabal remember to watch your back. That traitor could be anywhere." Kano warned. Hatred filled Kabal's face again.
"Enough of the paranoid bullshit Kano!" Kabal spat.
"We don't have a rat! Mavado just has his eyes everywhere, but after tonight he won't have eyes at all!" Kano and Kabal had been arguing for days about the traitor in the gang. Kano didn't want to believe that Jarek or Tasia had been feeding the Red Dragon information, but it seemed more likely each time he thought about it.
"Either way it doesn't matter anymore mate. Mavado dies tonight, and hopefully the Red Dragon too. I'm just saying be careful." Kano eased up on the topic, and focused back to the war brewing before them.
Kuai Liang felt out of place. He had been on the run from the Lin Kuei's cybernetic hunters for weeks. He'd been aided by an old sorcerer who had witnessed, and perhaps even orchestrated his very own brother's untimely death, and now he stood alongside an army of Outworlders, protecting Earthrealm from the evil ruler Shao Kahn. He still felt as though he was unworthy of his brother's title of Sub-Zero, but prehaps in the battle to come, an opportunity would arise, and he would prove to himself that he was indeed ready for his brother's former mantle.
Kuai watched the arrogant gunslinger closely as he gave his speech to his band of outcast, and misfits.
"We all know what we're here for right?" Erron's southern voice asked aloud. The army shouted back at him in response.
"We're fightin' for our freedom, for our way of life to be returned to us. Today is the day we take back our lives!" He shouted as he paced back, and forth. The crowd cheered him on.
"Gone are the days of us sittin' around in exile, bein' shoved around by the Kahn's fancy pants generals, who think they can just shut us away from the world with no consequence! Gone are the days where we're forced to live out our days in fear of our young being devoured by the creatures of the wasteland! Today is the day we take back our former lives! This is the day Shao Kahn's rule comes to an end!" The army roared in a thunderous sound of approval. Kuai watched as the Outworld lizard stepped forward.
"We fight in the name of Princess Kitana, who will never put you or your kin in chains again! Once this battle is over we shall serve as her army, and bring a new age to Outworld! An age of peace, and harmony!" The lizard bellowed. The army again roared.
Kuai stared on as Shang Tsung pulled a vial of green liquid from his robe. He was gazing at the contents within.
"What is it?" Kuai asked him.
"A spell I had been preparing for quite some time. I had originally intended to share this magic with Shao Kahn, before he had me exiled. He has no idea about this concoction I have created for this very occasion, but I suppose he shall see it for himself after all." Shang Tsung chuckled.
Shang Tsung almost dropped the vial when, suddenly, the ground began to shake. The sky had torn apart, and a spinning purple light had appeared. A hole formed where the light shined, and violently pieces of the earth starting breaking from the ground, and began flying into the forming portal. Kuai was amazed by it's presence.
"He's coming!" Shang spoke over the sounds of stones breaking. Cries of terror filled the city as millions became terrified of the unknown events taking place.