AN: Special Thanks goes to Story's Shadow.

-Netherrealm Spire-

Inside the Spire's war room, General Reyes could be found looking over two different maps. One map showed his Earthrealm, and the second showed this new world. While looking over the maps, he continuously looked over the scroll that held the merger plans for when Outworld won the tournament. 'Shao Khan's battle plans might prove to be flawed.' Jack thought to himself as despite knowing Shao Kahn was a tactical genius rivaled by very few, he kept seeing more and more flaws in the merger plans. 'Shao Kahn is spreading his forces too thin across both worlds. He has severely over committed troops to certain areas of our world, and yet has provided not nearly enough forces across this new world. No wonder he needs the Netherrealm's help.' Jack thought angrily as he kept eying both maps and the merger plans.

-Shang Tsung's island, several minutes later-

Raiden led the group down a set of stairs into a cave system.

"Be wary, Shang Tsung will have guards stationed here. They may not be set to fight in the tournament, but they are dangerous men. Paid by Shang Tsung to do his bidding and to enjoy in their collectivism barbarism."

Sonya sneered.

"Asshole."

White Tiger chuckled.

Spidey's eyes widened.

"D-Did you just laugh?!"

Sonya turned his gaze to the two of them.

"Sounds like you don't know how to entertain women."

White Tiger covered her mouth, giggling.

Spider-Man grumbled.

Johnny Cage put an arm around him.

"Eh, don't worry about it. I can teach you some tricks that'll help you make any lady smile."

Spider-Man's eyes widened at this.

"Me?"

"Why not you? Like I said: I like your style. You'd make a great actor."

Spider-Man gasped.

(*Spider-Man does action and spy movies* *Chuckles* Sweet.)

White Tiger rolled her eyes.

Yuki walked beside Lord Raiden.

"My lord, is it wise for so many to attempt this mission during the tournament?"

"Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and the friend she seeks to rescue, Jackson Briggs, were the other champions I chose to defend Earthrealm."

Sonya rushed a few steps in front of him and face him, frowning.

"You mean you set this all up?!"

"I had sent my allies to inform you and Jackson Briggs to come to my Sky Temple to prepare for the tournament. But it would seem fate molded other events for your to arrive here. Had my allies found you, I would've brought you with me here rather than you three being here by strange coincidence. But you are not here by coincidence."

"And I'm just supposed to believe you?"

Yuki stepped forward.

"Your anger is understandable, but a warrior such as yourself should realize that by arguing with Lord Raiden prevents your friend from being rescued sooner."

Sonya glared at her, scoffing.

"Fine. But if this is some kind of trick-"

"It is not, Ms. Blade."

Raiden's face was calm and stoic.

Sonya Blade mumbled as continued to through the cave system.

Lord Raiden eventually led them to a space filled with cells, iron bars were firmly placed and held whatever or whoever within the cell. All the cells were empty except one. Sonya rushed to it.

"Jax!"

The group followed her. They saw a tall, muscular black man in military gear laying on the ground. Bruises and cuts covered his body. Blood almost completely surrounded him. His soft moans and groans were the only signs of life.

Spider-Man covered his mouth.

"Oh god."

He walked forward.

"Here, let me-"

Sonya raised her one hand. The gauntlets she that had a metallic bracelets around them that suddenly each fired a dark pink blast of energy that coiled around the bars and broke them.

Spider-Man's eyes widened.

(I gotta get me a pair of those.)

Sonya hurried to Jax.

"Stop!"

Those gathered turned to see a squadron of the masked guards of Shang Tsung armed with yaris charging at them.

White Tiger turned to Sonya.

"We'll hold them off! Get him out of here."

She raced forward, following by Spider-Man, Yuki, and Mr. Cage.

Raiden approached Jax and knelt beside him.

"Hold him steady."

Sonya raised her friend's upper body up. Raiden's eyes danced with electricity as the same kind shot from his hands and danced in and within Jax's body.

Spider-Man turned to Raiden as he grabbed a yari just below the bottom of the blade as it was swung at him.

"Hurry please!"

The webbed warrior grunted as he pushed the yari up then kicked the guard's chest. The man flew back and hit the ground hard, groaning into unconsciousness.

"Sleep tight."

Yuki blocked the blade of another yari with her ice katana then another as more than one was swung at her. She grunted as she evaded the slashes, bringing her blade to block each attack. As the guards pulled their blades back to attack again, she struck out with an elbow or a kick to send them skidding back. The guards that were attacking her struck suddenly all at once, slashing their blades in downwards arcs. But Yuki blocked the coordinated strike with her blade once again, gritting her teeth as her eyes narrowed.

White Tiger leapt and flipped around the jabs and slashes of a few other guards while also parrying the blades with her claws as she threw furious slashes. She snarled as she slashed at the blades, brushing them aside as she landed jabs and kicks on her opponents. Though she evaded the jabs of the other guards after she landed blows on one of them that she managed to make an opening on. She pressed her attack on them, slashing and lunging swiftly to keep herself too close for the blades to hit.

Johnny dodged and evaded each blow, watching as the blades narrowly missed him with each attack. He kicked out, blocking below the blades as he pushed forward. He ducked and slid around the slashes and jabs, his focus going from the blade to the guards wielding it. He aimed jabs and uppercuts, keeping the guards off balance as he laughed and snickered at them.

Spider-Man broke the yari in two.

"Let's wrap this up!"

Spider-Man fired off webbing, entangling all the yari blades together then sticking them to their owners. They gasped as they watched the four they'd tried to ambush leap forward, landing several blows on each of them. Each masked man groaned as they hit the ground.

Yuki's ice armor and katana vanished. She turned to the others.

"Well fought. Come, let us check with Lord Raiden."

They followed her.

Raiden's electricity after a few more moments vanished. The group watched as the man they came to rescue stood up. Every wound was gone and he was no longer covered in blood. He clenched and opened his hand more than once then cracked his neck.

"Damn, I feel brand new."

He chuckled.

Sonya smiled then looked to Raiden.

"I don't know how to thank you."

"Gratitude is unnecessary. Now that we have freed your friend, we must hurry back to the tournament."

"Indeed."

They turned to see Shang Tsung, flanked by more guards.

"The tournament is ready to continue and I see we have a new man to battle for Earthrealm."

Jax glowered at the man.

"You."

Raiden placed a hand on the man's shoulder.

"Not now. We must return you to the set battle ground above."

"I would say you defied the Elder Gods' rules Lord Raiden, but this wasn't a part of the tournament...and I think having Mr. Briggs involved just makes this even more interesting."

The sorcerer chuckled as he moved to exit the cave.

Those gathered with Lord Raiden looked from the sorcerer to him.

"Come, the tournament has just begun."

Jax grunted as he rubbed the back of his head.

"What's going on? We were tracking Kano, but that bastard and his lackeys ambushed me as that no good one eyed freak laughed. What do you mean by tournament?"

Raiden turned to him.

"I have much to explain to you, Ms. Blade, and Mr. Cage."

Jax raised an eyebrow.

"Cage? What do you-oh."

Johnny Cage grinned at him, waving. Sonya rolled her eyes.

To Be Continued...