Disclaimer: I do not own Mortal Kombat or any of its characters. All rights belong to Ed Boon, Nether Realm Studios, and Warner Bros.
It has been one year since the tournament in Outworld, and one year since Jade and Kitana rejoined with Kurai in Earth Realm. Since then, they've all had plenty of adventures to pass the time until the inevitable invasion of Shao Kahn's Outworld forces.
During that time, Kurai had trained more with Grandmaster Han to perfect the Phoenix Cleanse technique so it could be less of a double edged sword, with some success. He can now use the Phoenix Cleanse multiple times at once without losing so much energy during a fight, but unfortunately, he still has his limits.
He also managed to help Sub-Zero and Smoke with the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei and put a stop to the Cyber Lin Kuei Initiative. But there are still remnants that managed to escape the temple. Those remnants, human and cyborg, are now in hiding from humanity until they called to serve a purpose.
Kitana and Jade have also become more accustomed with the ways of Earth Realm, although they still find the ways of humans odd. Liu Kang and Kitana have managed to keep in touch with each other since Liu Kang's initial letter to the princess when she left her brother to live in the Dark Wu Shi temple. They've even met each other on various occasions, but neither have said what those meetings entailed.
Kurai and Jade, while their new relationship together is strong, the prince still keeps things close to the chest and is not fully open with Jade about everything that has occurred in his life before starting their relationship. Especially when it comes to the secret of Tanya, her feelings, as well as her innocence. Kurai on occasion finds himself struggling with telling both Jade and Kitana the truth about what she had told him what happened in Edenia all those years ago, but he is not quite certain what their reactions will be when he does.
Will they give him a chance to speak his piece about what Tanya had told him? Or will they hold on to their anger and rage for the woman and not let him speak at all, and instead go on a hunt for the woman just to beat her within an inch of her life before they kill her? And what would they do to him if he were to tell them that he has been keeping a secret like this from them for so long? Would they do to him what they would surely do to Tanya? Or worse? These very questions frightened him to the point of considering that he wouldn't tell them at all, but he knew that he had to at some point, he just has great difficulty finding the right time and place.
As for Drake. He has been keeping up with his training. With Kurai and Temple Master Akuma's help, of course, but the ominous and intimidating voice continues to plague him. More so when Kurai and Akuma advise him to drown it out and listen to his own voice as well as the fire inside him to do good instead of bad like the voice constantly tells him to do. For the most part, he has succeeded for the entire year, but the voice has only become louder and louder in recent months to the point it keeps him up at night and lose sleep.
Drake has gone to Grandmaster Han for help and advice, but nothing seems to help like they used to. So, he just continues to do what his best friend and mentors told him. It's become a little more manageable since then, but his anger and resentment toward this unknown voice continues to grow.
Another day and another sunrise begins as Kurai, as he often does, wakes up early to continue his training only to be quickly yanked back down to the bed by a caramel colored arm before that arm wraps itself around his. The prince smiles and chuckles lightly before leaning down to the forehead of his lover, Jade. Who had, once again, snuck back into his room in the middle of the night to sleep next to him.
Jade moans quietly while stretching before she opens her eyes and looks at Kurai with a smile. "Hmm, good morning, my prince." She says softly before sighing with her eyes closed.
Kurai chuckles again before placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Good morning, Jade. You've gotten more and more bold coming into my room at night. You know some of the students have been asking questions whenever you and I walk out the room together." He tells her with an amused tone.
Jade smiles and giggles with a shrug. "Oh, let them say or think what they want. It's not like we're doing anything. Not yet at least." She says with a wink while slowly trailing her hand down her chest seductively before laughing when Kurai playfully slaps her arm.
"And here I thought that you were a prude, Jade." He says to her with a sly grin as she sits up and gasps with an amused expression.
"Wha-! A prude? Is that really what you think?" She asks him with a laugh before he shrugs and glances at her from the side still grinning. "Ok then, Kurai! I'll show you a prude!" She says to him as she yanks him back down to the bed before they both start laughing while they wrestle with each other trying to get on top of each other.
Meanwhile, New York City...
Just as the sun began to peek in the horizon of the Big Apple, almost everyone in the city was awakening from their slumber and getting ready for the day. Children awoke to get ready for school, husbands and wives were just leaving to head to their day jobs, and important business men and women were heading to their offices for another day of meetings.
Everything seemed to be going as normal as any other day in the city of New York. But for the people of this city, that was soon about to change.
Up in the sky, a large portal suddenly appears, and out drops two individuals, one larger than the other, struggling, or fighting, with each other. One appeared to be demon-like in appearance, while the other looked more human in appearance. The two were falling rapidly towards Time Square with the people below none the wiser until the demon-like creature roared painfully when the human looking man stabbed the creature through the chest with a broad sword.
The people all look up after hearing the loud roar to see the two falling towards the ground then run in a panic to get as far away from the two as possible before they landed.
BOOM!
The impact creates a large dust cloud and crater in the middle of Time Square as the civilians all cautiously walk through the dust cloud towards the crater to see if anything remained of the two free fallers. Unfortunately for them, they were foolish to stick around. Because the demon like creature suddenly sprung out from a hole in the crater with the man in its grasp. The creature's entire hand wrapped around the man's neck before it brought him up to look at it in the face.
The man, even though the people weren't aware of what he is, appears to be an Edenian. A member of the Edenian Rebel group fighting the army of Outworld. The Edenian coughs up blood and looks at the ugly Outworld creature defiantly with a glare. "Outworld... Outworld will never win... monster. You're defeat... will soon come." The man says to the monster, which only causes the creature to smirk before it disgustingly licks its lips.
"You may be right, but it's too bad you won't be around to see it, Edenian. If it even happens at all." It says with a dark laugh before opening its large maw then latches down on the Edenian man's head, biting it off. After slurping down the spine of the now deceased Edenian, the creature looks up at the edge of the crater to see the civilians still standing there, all in shock and fear after the horror they had just witnessed.
The creature tosses the body away and smirks again then pulls out the Edenian sword before speaking. "Well, well, more tasty snacks for me to eat. But I won't be eating alone." The creature says menacingly before roaring at them, which causes the civilians to snap out of their shocked trance and run away in terror as multiple portals suddenly open up all around the city with more demonic looking creatures entering Earth Realm from Outworld.
Shao Kahn's invasion had begun.
Back in Okinawa, Dark Wu Shi Temple...
"Kurai! Kurai! Hey bad news, man, we got a problem!" Drake shouts to Kurai as he runs down to the training grounds while Kurai trains.
Hearing Drake shouting, Kurai turns around to see him running towards him with a radio in his hand. "Drake, what is it? What's wrong?" He asks his friend with concern as Drake holds the radio up to him.
"Just listen." Drake tells him as Kurai listens to the radio closely.
"-and the mayor has asked that all of the civilians in the city to evacuate immediately. The entire city of New York is in a state absolute panic as its people desperately try to find a way off the island and away from these horrific creatures. No one knows what they are, where they came from or what they want. All the people know, this reporter included, is that they only wish to survive and live long enough to see the light of tomorrow. Once again, the mayor has asked-" The voice of a female reporter says through the radio as Kurai looks up at Drake in shock at what he's just heard.
"Outworld?" He asks Drake with worry, but Drake just shrugs his shoulders.
"I honestly don't know, buddy. But it's the only thing that makes sense. We knew it was coming." He tells him as Kurai nods his head and rubs his face.
"Alright, we need to contact the others and let them know what's-" He begins to say but is interrupted.
"They already know, Kurai. And so do I." A thunderous voice says to them both before a bolt of lightning strikes down near them to reveal Raiden and the rest of the Earth Realm warriors, minus Sonya and Jax, along with a new member. One that Kurai vaguely remembers from the 10th Mortal Kombat tournament held on Shang Tsung's island. A Native American man with a dark brown, leather vest, blue jeans, and dark brown leather boots. He was also wearing red war paint that covers his eyes which gave him an intimidating look, but Kurai has seen much worse in his life.
Kurai looks over at Raiden. "Where are Jax and Sonya?" He asks the thunder god curiously.
"Jax and Sonya are already on their way to the city by helicopter, but they won't make it in time. I'll take you and the others to the city, Kurai, then I'll grab Sonya and Jax and bring them to the city. But first, find Kitana and Jade, time is of the essence." Raiden tells Kurai, who nods and runs off quickly to find Kitana and Jade.
Minutes later...
After finding his sister and Jade and informing them of what was happening in New York, Kurai runs back to see the others waiting for him as well as Han speaking with Raiden. Drake stood off to the side with an uncertain expression on his face.
"Drake, what are you standing around for? You're coming with us." Kurai says to him as Drake looks at him incredulously before looking at Han, who had finished speaking with Raiden. The Grandmaster looks over at Drake with a stoic expression.
"It's your decision, Drake. You've become a far stronger fighter than you were last year thanks to your training. However, this is exactly what we were warning you about. This fight is once again for the fate of Earth Realm and everyone in it. It's not for the faint hearted. But if you want to do your part, then go. It's your choice." The Grandmaster tells him as Drake looks back at Kurai, who had his held out towards him.
Drake inhales deeply before sighing with a determined nod. "Alright. Ok, I'm going. I want to help." He says before grasping Kurai's hand tightly, which causes Kurai to smile as Drake walks over to the group standing next to Raiden.
Kurai then looks over at Han with a concerned expression. "What about you and the temple, Han? What if Shao Kahn sends his forces here because he'll think it's defenseless?" He asks with a worried tone, but the Grandmaster doesn't look too concerned.
"Hmph, if that so called emperor wishes to divide his forces and attack this temple, let him try. He'll soon realize why we are not so soft hearted compared to our lighter counterpart. If Outworlds forces attack the temple, they will be driven back to their master whimpering with their tails tucked between their legs." Han tells him confidently with a reassuring smile, which cause Kurai to laugh then nod before walking over to Raiden and the rest of the warriors before Raiden teleports them all to New York in a bolt of lightning.
Watching them all leave, Han just smiles. "Good luck, Kurai. Drake. I have full confidence in you both." He says quietly to himself before walking away from the training grounds to inform the temple masters of the potential oncoming attack on the temple.
New York City, Afternoon...
Military helicopters fly through the city shooting down as many of Outworlds monsters and foot soldiers as possible, but to little effect. Shao Kahn's soldiers beat and cut down all who get in their way while the monsters crush and throw anything they can get their hands on if they weren't devouring the people trying to fight them off.
Up on the rooftop of a nearby building, two men observe and recon the enemy forces. "Fifteen... sixteen... seventeen... eighteen." One of the men in a cop uniform says while counting how many enemies he is able to spot before looking over at the man, another cop, beside him. "Kabal, call it in." He tells the other man, who has long dark hair tied up in a ponytail and looks to be of Native American descent.
Kabal nods. "Got it, Stryker." He says before pulling out his walkie-talkie. "Base, this is Eagle-Two. We count eighteen. That's one-eight bogies. Southbound on Olympic." He tells the NYPD headquarters as he observes and watches the carnage that is happening on the streets.
"Roger that."
"Eagle-Two out." Kabal says as he continues to watch the things happening on the streets of New York with Stryker, who shakes his head with sorrow.
"I'm still unable to bring myself to believe this is happening." Stryker says with sadness in his tone as he sees multiple people die from getting crushed or ripped apart by the monsters from Outworld. Kabal nods his head in agreement.
"Yeah, man. And to be honest, this is not what I was thinking when I swore to protect and serve." He says admittedly as Stryker nods before they both look down to the side of the building when they see someone, or something, climbing up the building towards them.
"And just what the fuck is THAT thing?" Stryker asks in shock as they see a green reptilian ninja, Reptile, climbing up towards them.
"Uhhh, I'm thinking shoot first, ask questions later." Kabal says with a worried tone as Reptile continues to climb up towards the two men.
Stryker nods. "Yeah. Fine with me." He tells his partner before they both pull out their pistols and begin firing on the reptilian ninja, but Reptile dodges each and every shot they fire while also continuing to climb up the side of the building towards them.
Stryker and Kabal continue to fire upon the reptilian ninja, but he dodges each and every shot while climbing closer and closer towards them before jumping up high into the air before landing on top of the building they were standing on. The two police officers cautiously walk towards Reptile as he snarls at them.
"Pistols!" Stryker shouts to Kabal as they both pull out their pistols again to start firing on the reptilian ninja, but Reptile quickly pulls off his mask and spews out an acidic mist while they fire multiple shots at their adversary. However, it has no effect as the bullets melt in the acid mist.
Kabal's pistol then starts clicking multiple times. He was out of bullets. He then tries to quickly change the clip, but Reptile flicks out his tongue towards Kabal just as the acid mist fades away, and hits the police officer in the chest. Kabal is sent flying backwards on the rooftop and is knocked unconscious when he hits his head on a metal power box nearby.
Reptile flicks his tongue out again, but this time to grab Stryker's pistol and fling it off the building. Stryker approaches Reptile with a frustrated expression. "Alright, enough of this! It's you and me, freak show!" He angrily tells the humanoid reptile as they both prepare to fight.
Stryker vs. Reptile...
Stryker begins his fight with Reptile by pulling out his baton nightstick then rushes towards the reptilian ninja. Reptile jumps up into the air and lands behind Stryker before kicking him hard in the back that sends him towards the ledge of the building. Stryker stands back up rubbing his back with a pained groan then looks at Reptile with a glare.
"Ok, just rushing in wasn't such a good idea." He mumbles as Reptile smirks underneath his mask before Stryker runs towards him again. Reptile jumps up into the air again to land behind the police man, but Stryker quickly grabs Reptile's arm just as he lands.
Stryker smirks at Reptile with a glare as he shakes his head. "Nuh-uh. You're not getting me again like that, pal." He says proudly before striking Reptile in the face with his baton repeatedly before kicking him away.
Reptile snarls angrily before spitting blood out of his mouth then glares at Stryker. He stands up then suddenly spits out sickly green acid towards the officer, which he manages to dodge, but has to shield himself with his baton when Reptile pounces on him with a feral snarl.
Stryker struggles with his and Reptile's combined weight before he falls flat on his back as Reptile continues to snarl ferociously while trying maul Stryker's face off. While Reptile is busy keeping his focus on Stryker to maul him to death, Stryker reaches for his utility belt and pulls out a taser stick then holds it against Reptile's neck, sending 50,000 volts through his system.
Reptile howls from the sudden pain before Stryker kicks him in the chin, which knocks him on his back before Stryker quickly runs over to him before he can get up and kicks him on the side of his head, rendering him unconscious.
STRYKER WINS!
Stryker sighs deeply while looking at Reptile's unconscious body. "Heh. Spitting? Sticking out your tongue? Yeah. I bet your momma's REAL proud." He says sarcastically before looking over at Kabal, who had regained consciousness, and walks over to him to help him up to his feet.
"Come on, Kabal. We're going street level. We've been compromised." He says as Kabal stands up with a pained groan.
"It ain't safe down there anyway, Stryker." He tells his fellow officer despairingly, but Stryker just shrugs.
"Maybe. But better there than here, buddy." He tells him before walking away towards the door that leads to the stairwell. Kabal just sighs and shakes his head before following after him.
Minutes later...
After making their way down to the first floor of the building, Stryker and Kabal rush towards the entrance to hear people screaming and seeing soldiers retreating away from something they could not yet see. But after a moment, loud stomping footsteps draw their attention as they look up to see a giant, demonic looking creature walking past the building they were standing in chasing the soldiers.
Kabal then looks over at the connecting bridge that leads to another street and sees a dark haired woman wearing pink risqué clothing. "Hey, Stryker, check her out." He says as Stryker looks in the direction of the woman as she stands on the bridge and just watches the carnage and chaos happening around her.
Kabal leans over towards Stryker. "So, what do you think? Friend or foe?" He asks curiously, but Stryker didn't even need to take a moment to think.
"Foe." He says bluntly, which makes Kabal look at him with an incredulous expression.
"Dressed like THAT?" He wonders out loud with bewilderment at his fellow officer, but Stryker just nods with certainty.
"With how calm she is while all this is happening? Yeah, definitely foe." He says as he holds up an uzi submachine gun then looks over at his partner. "Cover me." He says as Kabal nods.
"I gotcha, brother." He says before they both make their way out of the building and cautiously walk towards the woman in pink.
Soldiers and civilians scream and shout in the distance as Stryker and Kabal walk towards the woman, who now notices them, and begins to walk towards them.
Stryker stops a short way from her, but keeps the submachine gun pointed down in case he happens to be wrong about her. "Hey! What are you doing out here?" He asks the woman before she looks at Stryker with what seems to be a smile under her veiled mask.
The woman giggles wickedly before pulling down the veil to show two sets of spiked teeth. "What the fuck?" He says with shock as she looks at him with a predatory gaze.
"Me? Why, I'm looking for a new playmate!" She says with a growl before pulling the veil back up to her face and prepares to fight Stryker.
Stryker vs. Mileena...
Mileena growls as she leaps into the air as Stryker points the submachine gun at her, but only manages to get one shot off before she lands on top of him and he loses the submachine gun as it slides away from him.
They both crumple to the ground as she attempts to claw his face off, but he manages to prevent her from doing so. She snarls and growls as Stryker struggles to get her off him and put some distance between them, but Mileena is relentless.
Finally fed up with her not giving him any ground, Stryker pulls out his taser stick and presses it into her side. She screams as 50,000 volts shocks her enough for Stryker to kick her away so he can stand back up.
"Ok, let's try this again." He says as Mileena glares up at him angrily. "Hey, don't look at me like that. You had it coming." He tells her before she leaps up to try and pounce on him again, but Stryker kicks her in the abdomen and knocks her down to the ground.
Mileena growls as she stands back up quickly and pulls out her two weapons. Sais. She snarls and rushes towards Stryker with the intent of impaling him, but he steps to the side and kicks her before punching her hard in the face, knocking her down.
Mileena snarls ferociously before lashing out at Stryker and tries to grab him and take a bite out of his neck, but the cop manages to hold her back. He knees Mileena in the gut, knocking the wind out of her, before whipping out his baton and strikes her across the face with it, which causes her to lose a few teeth before she falls to the ground unconscious.
STRYKER WINS!
Stryker lets out a deep sigh. "Ok, now that that's done, you're coming with me." He says to the unconscious Mileena as he walks over to her to cuff her and bring her to the police station, but another demonic creature, resembling a dragon, flies overhead past them.
Stryker then hears an rage filled shout, he quickly turns to see Mileena running towards him with murderous intent, but is stopped when bolts of electricity stops her while electrocuting her. She screams and howls in pain before collapsing to the ground again unconscious as Stryker and Kabal look up to see a man with white and blue robes, a sedge hat, tan skin, and glowing electric blue eyes floating down towards them.
Stryker and Kabal both look at each other before looking back at the man, who had just landed in front of them. "Who... Who are you?" Stryker asks him with curiosity, but also shock what he just witnessed this man do.
The man groans painfully and briefly holds his head before looking back up at Stryker. "Um... You alright?" The cop asks him curiously before they both hear a roar in the distance.
On another connecting bridge, separate from the one they were currently standing on, Stryker, Kabal, and the mystery man see what looks like a centaur fighting against... Johnny Cage?
The mystery man quickly flies off towards the two as Stryker and Kabal look at each other again with bewildered expressions. "Ok... Um... Johnny Cage fighting a giant monster? What the hell is this? Time Smashers?" Stryker asks incredulously before he and Kabal watch the man save Johnny Cage by electrocuting the centaur then tackles it through the bottom of the bridge.
"Ok, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. That guy just shot LIGHTNING through his hands. How in the hell did he do that?" Kabal asks wirh confusion as they watch the lighting man and the centaur make contact with the street below them, but the centaur is no longer moving.
Then Stryker looks over at his partner with a shrug. "I have no idea." He answers before they hear a loud roar to their right. A four armed humanoid tiger appears out of nowhere and slowly walks towards them.
"Spread out. Give it multiple targets." Stryker orders Kabal as they spread apart from each other and prepare open fire on the beast. But the four armed tiger had other plans.
It spews out a wave of fire that engulfs Kabal and causes him to scream and shout in pain before he collapses to the ground. "KABAL!!!" Stryker shouts before glaring at the monster. "You son of a bitch!" He shouts as he raises his gun.
The tiger beast looks down at Kabal with a sinister grin before looking back at Stryker. "Hmph. Humans. Less ugly when they burn." It says as it walks closer to Stryker, who prepares to open fire and unload an entire clip into this monster.
"Try me then, Kintaro." A voice says from behind the tiger beast, Kintaro, who gains a shocked expression on his face before turning around, but is instantly knocked unconscious after a hard blow to the chest.
"Damn... you... Kurai..." Kintaro painfully wheezes before he collapses to the ground as Stryker now sees a young man, Kurai, wearing black and light blue karate clothes.
Kurai walks towards him and Stryker is just about to demand that the young man tell him who he is, but stops when he hears a faint pained groan. He turns to see that it was Kabal, still alive, but just barely. Forgetting that Kurai had just saved him, Stryker runs over to Kabal and kneels beside him before pulling out his radio. "Base! This is Eagle-Two! Come in!"
"Go ahead, Eagle-Two."
"I need an immediate Medevac! Current position! Kabal is down! I repeat, Kabal is down! Third degree burns!" He informs the base as calmly as possible then waits for a response.
"Medevac unit routing to you now. ETA ten minutes."
The man over the radio says to Stryker as a man, wearing red and black clothes, walks up behind Stryker with glowing green energy and prepares to ambush him from behind.
Noticing the man's approach, Kurai calls out to Stryker. "Behind you!" He shouts but is tackled from behind and knocked over the side of the bridge by another one of the creatures as Stryker is suddenly wrapped up in green energy rendering him unable to move.
"What the hell?!" He says with surprise as he is lifted into the air before he is flung harshly to the other side of the street and down into the subway station. The man in red and black follows shortly after.
Stryker lands roughly on the concrete in the subway station and groans painfully as he stands back up to see the man in red and black floating down towards him. "The emperor will have your soul." The man says all too calmly before Stryker spits out a bit of blood and glares at him.
"Yeah? Come get it then!" He challenges and gets ready for a fight, but pauses when multiple green colored tomahawks appear out of nowhere and lodge themselves into the back of the strange man.
They don't kill him, but he is knocked unconscious as he collapses to the ground. Letting out a sigh of relief, Stryker eases up and relaxes. "Whew... Guess I'll be keeping my soul after all, freak." He says with relief before another voice makes itself known.
"I've been searching for you, Kurtis Stryker." The voice calls out to him as Stryker tenses up then quickly pulls out his pistol and points it at a Native American man, who was standing at the top of the steps of the subway station.
"Yeah? Well, you found me. Now, who are you?" He asks the Native American man, who just stands calmly at the top of the subway stairs before he answers.
"I am called Night Wolf. Lord Raiden is gathering Earth's defenders. You are among them." The man, named Night Wolf, says to Stryker, but none of what he said makes any sense to the cop.
"What in the hell are you talking about?" He asks incredulously, but Night Wolf remains calm and patient.
"Raiden leads Earth's defense against these Outworld invaders. He is our best hope for survival." Night Wolf continues to explain, but remains vague as Stryker shakes his head out of frustration.
"Yeah, well, Earth Realm defender is about ten steps way above my pay grade, pal." He says with distrust towards Night Wolf, but also with a hint of doubt. But not towards the Native American man standing just above him.
Night Wolf stares at Stryker with an understanding expression before he speaks to him again. "I see that you doubt yourself, even after your victories. Come. Let us join the others. You'll find that you have friends and allies among them." He tells the cop before he begins walking back up the street.
Stryker hesitates for a brief moment, but gains a determined expression on his face and runs up the stairs to follow after Night Wolf. He was also curious to know who these other "defenders" were. Did they include Johnny Cage and that young man he saw earlier?
He'll have to follow Night Wolf to find out.