(Shang Tsung's Temple: Early Morning)

Sub-Zero woke up, bare only in his boxers, in one of the palace rooms as he sat up and yawned, and looked over at the balcony to see that it was quite early.

He then looked over to Kitana who was awake and propped up on her elbow.

Kitana: "Morning my dear cryomancer."

Sub-Zero: *chuckles* "Morning. You sleep good?"

Kitana: "Very."

She says then kisses his cheek as he sits up, and stretches.

Sub-Zero: "I should head out, the tournament is gonna be starting soon."

Kitana: "No, today's the day for all participants to relax. They can roam the island and such."

Sub-Zero: "Oh...in that case."

He starts then in a swift motion, he goes on top of Kitana causing the princess to giggle as Sub-Zero then trailing kisses from her jaw to her neck.

The two kept making out till a knock was on heard.

???: "Kitana, are you awake?"

The two were shocked and Kitana kicked out the bed.

Sub-Zero: "Oof!"

???: "Kitana, are you alright?"

Kitana: "I'm fine, Jade! I just fell."

She says and starts getting dressed, quickly, as does Sub-Zero as then looks for a place to hide.

Jade: "Well, can you open the door? I need to speak with you."

Kitana: "Now? What about?"

She asks as she walks towards the door and sees Sub-Zero was nowhere to be found in the room.

She then opens the door and Jade walks in, and turns to Kitana.

Jade: "One of Raiden's champions. How well do you know him?"

Kitana: "Umm...which one?"

Jade: "The one called Smoke, how well do you know him?"

Kitana: *chuckles* "My, my, Jade...interested in a new quarry? What would Kotal think?"

Jade: "I am serious Kitana!"

She says, her voice raising slightly as Kitana raises an eyebrow.

Kitana: "Smoke is...honorable, a bit mysterious with his past, but also a skilled fighter. Why the sudden interest?"

Jade: "He...knew of my time I spent in Earthrealm. With my mother."

Kitana: "...Odd. He said he didn't have any memories of his past. I think you should confront him about this."

Jade contemplates, thinking about Kitana's advice and sighs.

Jade: "Perhaps...I will speak to you about what happens."

She states and starts to leave as Kitana rushes to close the door, she turns back with a smirk.

Jade: "Oh and...whoever else is in here, I suggest you leave. Either that or I kill where you stand."

Kitana was shocked as Jade smirked, knowing well what she was gonna do.

So, in a quick act, Kitana pushed Jade out the room, knocking her on her ass.

Jade: "OW! Kitana!"

Kitana closed the door, locked it and pressed her back against it as she had a horrified look on her face.

Sub-Zero then reappeared from his hiding spot, fully clothed and looked at Kitana.

Sub-Zero: "She's not gonna kill me...is she?"

Kitana: "Mmm hmm."

She says shaking her head and Sub-Zero with slight fear hastily made towards the balcony and jumped off it.

Kitana: "By the Gods...he'll be the death of me."

(Training Ground)

Mileena and Skarlet were sparring with each other, both trying to gain the upper hand on each other while chatting.

Skarlet: "So, what's Earthrealm like?"

Mileena: "Not as bad as my father says, quite the opposite really."

She says then they both clash with their weapons, trying to outdo each other.

Skarlet: "And Raiden's champions?"

Mileena: "They're actually pretty fun, and honorable. They have no ill intent towards Outworld."

Skarlet: "How are you so sure?"

She asks then overpowers Mileena, surprising her and cutting her shoulder, drawing blood.

Mileena then dodges the next hit and gets behind Skarlet and flips her over.

Skarlet looks up and Mileena had her sais against her throat in a x formation.

Mileena: "I just know...also I win."

Skarlet: *smirks* "But I drew first blood."

She states then Mileena helps her up and they sheath their weapons.

Mileena: "Lucky hit, that's all."

She points out, then smells a foul stench as she groans and looked towards to the steps to see Quan Chi, with his signature grin on his face.

Quan Chi: "Am I interrupting, Princess?"

Mileena: "What do you want, necromancer?"

She responds, blankly as the sorcerer chuckles.

Quan Chi: "I must speak with you...in private."

Skarlet: "Why should she?"

She states gripping her dagger but Mileena gives her a look, Skarlet nods and leaves, still glaring at Quan Chi.

Mileena: "What do you want to discuss?"

She asks as the necromancer starts to walk around her, in a circle.

Quan Chi: "Easy. An alliance."

Mileena: "What kind?"

Quan Chi: "Glad you asked. I know you thrive for more...to be crowned Empress of Outworld before your sister...I can-"

Mileena: "Yeah, shut the fuck up. This conversation is done."

She says, walking past the surprised sorcerer as he was stunned but regained his sinister demeanor.

Quan Chi: "You didn't let me finish."

Mileena: "Didn't need to. You're full of shit."

She says then continues leaving only for the necromancer to be in front of her, with a annoyed look on his face.

Quan Chi: *grits teeth* "You are testing my patience...I only wish to help assert your power over your realm and family. To mold you into a better ruler than Shao Khan and Sindel."

He says and Mileena glares at him, angered and disgusted.

Mileena: "Betray my family for my own benefit? You really do not know me, Quan Chi..."

She states then starts to past him only to be grabbed by her arm, and Quan Chi leans to her ear.

Quan Chi: *chuckles* "Oh, but I do...half-breed."

He reveals and Mileena had a visible look of shock on her face and looked at Quan Chi who snirked.

Quan Chi: "Edenian and Tarkatan...truly a special case of magic...Shang Tsung is responding, I take it?"

Mileena then broke free of his grip and had her sai at his throat, with a look of malice as eyes shifted to an yellow, dragon like shape.

Mileena: "Are you threatening me sorcerer?"

She states, her voice changing to a much more raspy, and aggressive tone.

Quan Chi: "Ahh, there's the Tarkatan side...Shang has truly outdone himself."

Mileena then calms down and removes her sai and sheaths it as she continues to walk away.

Mileena: "Stay away from me, sorcerer."

Quan Chi: "As you wish...but consider my offer."

He states teleporting away, leaving Mileena heading inside the temple.

(River Stream)

Scorpion was laying against a tree, enjoying the peace and quiet, his eyes were and he had a small smile, listening to the sound of nature take it's course.

But that peace were short-lived as he heard footsteps coming from the bushes.

He opened his eyes and tilted his head to see Moloch and Drahmin, he sighed as he got up and gripped his swords, ready for a fight.

The two demons drew their weapons, watching as Scorpion stands still, unfazed but his hands still gripping his swords.

The three started each other, for what seemed to be a long period of time before the two demons burst down laughing.

Moloch: "HAHAHAH! Look at him, he's spooked!"

Drahnim: "We got him good, Moloch!"

Scorpion, chuckles then lets go of his swords, crossing his arms.

Scorpion: "A little bit...how are you two?"

He asks, laying back down against the tree as Moloch and Drahnim does so to.

Moloch: "Y'Know...terrible. Nice change of pace to be out of the Netherrealm."

Drahnim: "You said it! Even if it's on this freaky ass island."

Scorpion: "It is not that bad."

He says as the two demons give him a look, causing him to sigh.

Scorpion: "Okay, maybe a little bit."

Moloch: "Yeah, but anyways...how you've been holding up? Still got him under control?"

Scorpion: "Yes. I've been able to calm him, given that things have been going...well for me."

Drahnim and Moloch raised an eyebrow at each other, curious and looked at Scorpion.

Drahnim: "Like what?"

Scorpion: "My clan is restored...my uncle leads them untill I decide to take over."

Moloch: "What?!"

Scorpion: *smiles* "And I have...a relationship with a girl."

Drahnim: "You're getting some?!"

Scorpion: *chuckles* "Lastly...I know who killed my family and clan."

Drahnim and Moloch smiles faded as they looked at each other, uneasy.

Moloch: "Who?"

He asks as Scorpion now has a stoic look on his face.

Scorpion: "Sektor. Head general of the Lin Kuei, he has now...cyberized himself and others of the Lin Kuei, as his father, the Grandmaster allows it."

Drahnim: "This Sektor guy? You know he did it?"

Scorpion: "Yes...why wouldn't I?"

He asks, confused, then notices the look of confliction on both of their faces.

Scorpion: "...What are you not telling me?"

Moloch sighs and looks at Scorpion, with sympathetic eyes.

Moloch: "Kid...time for the truth to come to light."

Drahnim: "Sektor was there, the night of your death...but he wasn't the one to devise the plan. Or...kill both your parents."

They reveal and Scorpion quickly stands up and looks down at both Moloch and Drahnim.

Scorpion: "Who was it? Tell me!"

Moloch: "We will...but we have to know. If we tell you...what is going to happen?"

He asks as Scorpion clenches his fists.

Scorpion: "The origi bloodline and my family will be avenged."

Drahnim: "We figured that, but...what's going to you?"

Scorpion then turns his back towards them, looking at the river, as he sees his reflection.

Scorpion: "That...is up to me. Now...tell me."

He demands as Moloch and Drahnim stand up.

Moloch: "The man behind that night is the same man, responsible for your hellfire abilities...your second chance at rebirth and ultimately...your path of death, pain and regret."

Harder than any blow, any strike or pain that Scorpion ever received, he fell to his knees, realization finally piecing everything together.

Scorpion: "It...was him?!"

He asks, his voice wavering as he looks over his shoulder at Moloch and Drahnim, them nodding in confirmation.

His body slowly starting flaring with hellfire, tears running down his face, as everything around him started to spark, the river slowly boiling as he stood up, his fists tightend enough to draw blood, as they were engulfed in hellfire.

Scorpion: "Quan Chi...YOU BASTARD!!!"

(East of Forest)

From a distance, Smoke could a burst of fire as he figured it was Scorpion at the elevated height, which drew concern from him.

Smoke: "That's...concerning."

He says sitting from the boulder he was on and slides off it, and starts heading towards Scorpion, only for a razor to be thrown near his feet, causing him to stop as he turns around to see Jade.

Smoke: *sighs* "Let's make this quick."

He says getting out his karambit as the razor returned to Jade who put it away.

Jade: "I wish to talk."

She says, raising her hands in surrender, confusing him.

Smoke: "Really? Thought you said to stay away from you?"

Jade: "I did...but I now realize I remember you to...Tomas."

Upon hearing his real name, Smoke sheaths his karambit and looks at Jade in surprise.

Smoke: "So, we do know each other? How?"

Jade: "When you said I've been to Earthrealm with my mother...that was true. And during our time we were welcomed by a family. Hunters. They showed us compassion. There I met a boy. Named Tomas Vrbada."

Smoke then has a small smile and moves forward closer to Jade.

Smoke: "I remember now...seems we have catching up to do."

Jade: "Seems so."

Smoke: "But...for next time. Right now...my friend needs help."

Jade: *nods* "I understand."

She states then the two head separate ways, leaving that section of the forest.