Chapter 16: The Gathering of Champions

The journey from Edenia to Earthrealm was one of peace for Khameleon, Smoke, and their small band of Lin Kuei warriors. They were brought through the portal via carriage into the hidden mountain passages of China where the White Lotus Society was housed. However, they could not get direct passage due to using an emergency gateway seldom used by even Raiden from Edenia.

The Edenian horse drawn carriage was led forth through the valley passage with the long trail upward in sight. Thankfully, there was an alternative winding path they could take with the carriage.

With the sounds of the hooves hitting the dirt road outside, the silent ride soon met its end when Smoke spoke up. "Shao Kahn's invasion worries you, Khameleon? I assure you it is not a major problem. The true problem comes in what is set for breakfast, lunch, and perhaps dinner." He paused in contemplation for a moment and awaited a vocal response that never arrived. "I could go for some Peking Duck right about now."

While Smoke focused on his stomach, Khameleon sat with her arms folded across her torso. "You articulate apocryphal words of Shao Kahn's will to succeed in his conquest? Asinine. He could annihilate this entire planet over the course of days without issue. Entire races exterminated. Consigned to oblivion."

The gray clad Lin Kuei could tell this was a personal matter from Khameleon's body language. He reached up to place his hand at her slightly scaly shoulder. In reaction to his touch, her visible clothing darkened and seethed like clouds of smoke.

"I am sorry, I was simply trying to lighten the mood." Smoke said. "Carrying gloom into battle will only cause distractions the enemy can use against us. We are vastly better than that."

Khameleon shut her eyes and took in a deep breath. "We are not alone," she said, "a group has arrived at the Society before us. I can smell the prior presence of horses. Silence, I must concentrate to discover if these are associates of ours or abhorrent vermin."

The rest of the ride continued in silence.

The warriors prepared themselves for battle at any given moment. The thought of being ambushed was not an option; the Lin Kuei would not fall to such a cowardly tactic. Their suspicions were put at ease when they reached the White Lotus Society's base of operations. They were allowed through the gates where Lord Raiden himself was awaiting them.

Beside Raiden stood Reptile, Kenshi, the bandaged up Sheeva, and the young Outworld woman Li Mei.

"Well, it seems you were right about the visitors. Just how many times has the 'other you' lived these events?" Li Mei asked, having a jovial tone leaving her lips.

In response, Raiden sounded almost doleful. "More than nine and counting. As the days progress, it seems a different world falls. A different outcome with a similar finish. I die if Armageddon happens, and Shao Kahn is always the victor. The events change hour by hour…this one is a new foresight."

Li Mei decided to shush herself after hearing such depressing news. "Oh, well just see to it that we are not number ten, or anything beyond. Okay?"

Sheeva turned toward Li Mei. "You dare question an Elder God?" She pursed her lips tightly and scolded the woman. "Mind your tongue moppet, you will not dishonor us with your insolence!"

Kenshi placed a hand on Sheeva's lower left shoulder. "Relax. She is only curious. Having foresight and strength of the mind is a plague for any who has it. Learning to speak of the burden helps people like us. She's only trying to help Lord Raiden." He was lying, in hopes Sheeva would buy it enough to not talk down Li Mei at every turn.

Sheeva turned to face the carriage again and folded all four of her arms over her bandaged up torso. "Had she not dishonored herself then-…"

Li Mei and Reptile spoke up in tandem. "We know!"

As the group left their carriage, Raiden had a sudden surge of pain in his mind. He touched his forehead and saw visions of Sonya being slaughtered by a cybernetic Kano. He also saw an alternate vision of a battered Sonya being saved by Jax, Stryker, and Kabal down in the subways of New York. Once the vision ended, he was already being faced by Khameleon.

"Lord Raiden, I speak on behalf of Princess Kitana of Edenia. I…" She paused, locking eyes with Reptile nearby.

Due to her elongated pause, Smoke spoke up. "We wish to update you on the situation and offer our assistance in exchange for yours and the White Lotus Society, Lord Raiden."

The Elder God bowed his head toward Smoke. "I will hear you out. There is much chaos with the Shaolin Temple being sacked and several military bases being assaulted. I fear that our champion, Liu Kang, will not be able to solve this with a simple victory."

Reptile hid himself behind Sheeva's taller frame to keep out of sight of Khameleon.

Li Mei spoke up. "Can Liu Kang solve everything? If he could, we wouldn't be here."

"He is a great warrior," Sheeva spoke with her chin up, "however this is a war, not a simple tournament. Even so you should not dishonor the legacy he has formed. Without him, this realm would be just as lost as Outworld."

Raiden shut his eyes as more visions began to come to him. "We will prevent that from happening, as a unit. Come inside the temple. We will speak there with the others."

( Meanwhile, in New York )

Kira sat on the transport vehicle across from Kobra, Jarek, and Hsu Hao. The vehicle was purely silver on the outside with armor as thick as any tank, but on the inside, it housed several comfortable individual seats lined up side-by-side. The transport housed a team of twelve; which included other special Black Dragon members, Ermac, Skarlet, and Kira's team.

Annoyed with the long wait to their arrival in New York, Kira spun her knife on the armrest of her chair. Each spin dug a little deeper into the metal bar, making a grinding noise that seemed to get on everyone's nerves, but none had the guts to speak up about.

"Try not to wet your pants when the bullets start flying." Kira said when she made eye contact with Kobra. "This is different than a street gang or a street fight. Our job is to take New York, not a single street. Remember that."

"And we're going in with fists and feet instead of guns?" Kobra responded to her sharply. "Seems we're being fed to the wolves."

"Some people need guns." Kira looked to the other soldiers on board. "I am a bigger fan of explosives, RPGs, and knives." She spun her knife one more time. "You can keep your fist and feet. Maybe I can file down those calluses for you?"

Jarek chuckled out loud. "No way, you like RPGs? What's your favorite? I'm more of a Western RPG guy myself, but I can dig a good long story in a Japanese RPG."

Kira just looked at him with her lips pursed.

"Why don't you just kill this guy?" Hsu Hao rubbed the side of his neck in annoyance.

"I tried six times." Kira sighed. " Somehow, he survives. I threw him off a cliff in Afghanistan, and the guy runs into me at a convenience store six months later. So, I recruited him."

"They don't call me the Canadian Cockroach for nothin'." Jarek cackled, slapping the back of Kobra, much to his displeasure. "Really wish I was Canadian though." He rubbed his scruffy beard…now trying to figure out why he was even called Canadian Cockroach now.

"Anyway." Kira faced Hsu Hao, who sat next to Kobra. "Just be ready to release the fire power. We're going to be the lead team to secure the Eastern Block of the new Fortress. If you see Special Ops, you kill them all. Not one survivor. That goes for you too, Bloody Mary."

Skarlet sat silently with her legs crossed. Next to her was the meditating Ermac who kept her from killing anyone who spoke to her.

"Oh, hey." Jarek cleared his throat. "What's the order on Liu Kang and his gang? Do we get to kill them?"

Kira rolled her eyes. "You can't beat Johnny Cage, how are you going to take Kang? If we run into him, that's Ermac's job. High threat targets like Liu Kang and Raiden are what he and Skarlet are here for. We also have Kintaro and Motaro in a unit near our landing spot."

Jarek leaned back in his seat with his arms behind his head. "We should be good then! The cyborg guys are helpin' too right?"

"Not really." Kira crossed her legs and impatiently bobbed her foot up and down. "Most of them are in Artika. Pay more attention or you might end up dead. Reports say Black Dragons control Chicago, Detroit, Miami, London, and we're working on Japan. All we have to do is secure New York and we've got a good portion of America to roll with. After that we'll hit Australia."

"Austrailia huh?" Hsu Hao grinned. "They do not take kindly to our breed of warrior. That experience should be fun."

"We're going to stop in a second." Kira felt the vehicle slowing down. "It's going to get hairy out there. If you die on the way out, you deserve it."

While Kira did a fantastic job of not rallying her troops, Ermac remained silent in the back with Skarlet. He watched as the doors opened, and the hail of gunfire outside resounded in his ears like pellets raining on tin cans. While the Black Dragons rushed out into the warzone, Ermac stood as if nothing was happening at all. "We sense…danger." He shut his glowing green eyes.

Skarlet stood immediately after him. She had concern in her eyes…it was vastly different from her usually stoic expression. She said not a word, but offered support to Ermac by placing her hand at his shoulder.

The spiritual being touched the side of his head, feeling out the spiritual presence of Earthrealm's warriors. He could feel the gateways opening up near Artika on the other side of the world. "Sektor's forces will burst the entire Netherrealm open. We must assist them." He moved forward but stopped himself. "No…we cannot." His eyes then moved to Skarlet, trusting her with his newly formed plan. "We must ask you to go. Assist Earthrealm and stop the gateway from being opened. We will assist Raiden in protecting Earth's defenders…and try to stop the Soulnado…"

Skarlet was unsure just how she would get to Artika unnoticed…but if Ermac needed her to do something, there was no length she would not go to.

Ermac snuck from the transport and out onto the battlefield. "We will transport you there. Their attempt to protect the land has already begun. Will you assist Princess Kitana and the others in their efforts?" He turned to grasp both of her shoulders.

Skarlet looked right into Ermac's burning green eyes and finally nodded her head in acceptance.

"Good. We will make sure no one questions your absence. We must first get out of sight, then the transport process may begin." As the two ran for cover in the alleys of New York city, the chaos ensued. The city was overrun with giant ogres and cybernetic enhanced Tarkata.

Among them, Stryker, Jax, Sonya, and Kabal held their ground on the streets, trading gunfire with the Black Dragons.

Sonya stood up from behind an overturned vehicle and began shooting high up to take out one of the Black Dragon's gunmen. As the attacker fell from the shots of her pistol, another shot ripped past Sonya's shoulder, scraping it with its burning hot led.

She cried out, falling onto the ground behind the vehicle.

Jax immediately stood up with his AR14 to return fire to support his partner. "Sonya! You okay?!" Despite his metal arms, Jax had scrapes and scratches all along them from the long firefight spanning from their base, all the way into the heart of New York. Once he ducked down again, he quickly left his cover to get to Sonya's side.

"Peachy!" She grit her teeth, ignoring the flesh wound while reloading her pistol. "So, we have a way out of this damn place?"

Stryker called from his position beside a building wall to the two. "Called in for a pick up two blocks due East! We can make it!"

"If we run like the wind, maybe!" Kabal added in, peeking up from his cover near an abandoned pick-up truck to return fire to Black Dragons. Once the last one fell, they had time to move. "What if those freaky things come back?"

Jax stood up, scoping the area for any building-top shooters. "If they do, I'll handle them again. Dealt with those ugly bastards in Outworld."

With Sonya up, she ran with the group down the corpse-filled street.

Once they stopped running, the group crouched down alongside another abandoned vehicle, to check for ways to escape enemy sights. "The subway," Sonya suggested to the three men. "We can take the underground route and get there in good time."

"That, or we get stuck underground with freakin' Zombies." Kabal lifted his shirt to wipe sweat from his brow and once again clutched his gun. "We've got giants near. We best move before we end up as lunch."

"Aim at the collar." Stryker recalled Nido's advice long ago when it came to other-worldly creatures. "If one comes at you. Aim there. I also suggest we all run together, so we don't get picked off on route. I'll take the lead."

The group of four made a break for it toward the subway. Each of their feet moving with a desperation to survive that was unparalleled by even the most frightened citizen.

There was a series of gunshots.

The blood curdling scream of pain from Kabal.

His leg had been torn to shreds by machinegun fire, effectively sending him to the ground.

"Kabal!" As Stryker went to return fire, he was greeted by the glowing red eye of a cyborg. Near him was the terrifying sight of Baraka. Each of his now enhanced, metal plated blades extended and shining in the light.

"Well, what's this? A couple pigs gettin' ready to get thrown on the barbie?" Kano's cybernetically altered voice rang through the faceless metal husk. He drew forward two large Bowie knives in his metal grips…planning out a detailed carving of his targets.

"Kano." Sonya paused, moving up front to protect Kabal. "Get him out of here! I'll handle them!"

"I'm not letting you do this alone, Sonya!" Jax called out.

"Just go!" Sonya wouldn't take Jax's assistance. "Stryker needs someone to watch his six!"

Kano bellowed a laugh, holding his arm aside to pause Baraka. "Don't worry, mate. I've been dyin' for this day to come."

Reluctantly, Jax assisted Stryker in carrying Kabal down into the subway station. Once they were clear, Sonya held her gun steady on Kano. "The new look suits you. Cold, heartless, and robotic."

Laughing once more, Kano started to approach Sonya. "Aw, that's no way to talk to me, baby. But you always were one to put up a fight 'for I got what I wanted."

"Keep dreaming." Sonya said as she unleashed repeated shots against Kano's armor, but none of the bullets seemed to even go through. Her gun clicked after the clip was emptied, she stepped backward.

Kano continued to progress forward like a stalker in the night. Each bullet did little more than dent or scrape the strong husk of his body. Her weapons failed to even garner an 'ouch' from the man. "Come on baby," he taunted, "you know how much more fun we can have if you just cooperate."

"Shut up!" With both fists up she put up her best façade of bravery she could manage.

With her fists up, she threw the initial strikes at Kano's currently metal-plated face. The strikes felt as if she'd been punching the side of a Hummer and left her knuckles aching. Nothing seemed to slow Kano's advance down. She stepped back and tried launching violet energy from her forearm right into the sternum of her cybernetic foe to slow his pursuit, but she was shocked at how little impact it had on Kano's defenses

"Give it up, baby." Kano chuckled behind his metal mask. "My shields are top of the line. Maybe even better than Sektor's."

Kano's head whipped forward, smashing into Sonya's own forehead. Immediately after the impact she hit the ground, trying to cover her now cut forehead with her arms. She could hear Baraka chuckling in the background as Kano continued his attack.

"Never thought we'd have to say goodbye so soon. I'll do you a lot worse than I did your partner…" He grabbed her left ankle firmly in his cold metal grip. "You clearly don't love ya'self comin' to face me like this." Violently, he swung Sonya's body by her leg and smashed her entire side up against the windows of an abandoned vehicle. Her head cracked against the back window while her side hit the driver's window. Each pane of glass exploded and littered the inside of the vehicle with glass and traces of blood. "I just may have to make ya see ya own heart. Just like ya brother."

Sonya trembled in agony and anger. Her forearms pressed on the ground as her entire side was sketched with cuts from the glass she'd been introduced to. She tried to get off of her hands and knees, but for her troubles she got kicked right in her ribs, making her call out in deep agony as her body hit the side of the vehicle. She lay on her side, barely able to focus on Kano above her.

"She is finished." Baraka said before he glanced toward the Subway. "I will rejoin the fight until the fortress is complete. Enjoy your fun."

The Tarkatan's footsteps were heard marching off, but Sonya couldn't bring herself to turn her head. She was breathing sharply, feeling the cold grip of death starting to choke up on her.

Kano gave a simple nod to Sonya, reaching down to collect one of his large knives. "Just like old times." He stated as he started to twist the blade. "But now…just hours of fun before the grand finale, aye?"

Sonya spat at Kano in her last act of defiance. As the saliva hit his armor, all he could do was laugh in a jovial manner.

"Still one tough little Moll, ey?" He spun the knife once more and began to kneel down. "Let's get this game started…"

Just as Kano was reaching down for her, a green aura overtook Sonya's form. There was a loud almost electric sounding screech coming from around her body as she was lifted up off of the ground. Her body was then sent sailing down the subway tunnel without further delay as Ermac landed softly near Kano.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Kano demanded while standing. "As Sektor's right hand man, I demand you bring her back here!"

Ermac narrowed his glowing eyes at the mechanical man. "…We were asked to destroy her personally for Shao Kahn. You are needed with the Black Dragon. That is an order."

Kano growled… "Send the red bitch to handle my job! Sonya's my kill fair n' square!"

"Skarlet has been transported to her proper destination by us. You will stand aside or face deletion." With those words, Ermac floated off of the ground and immediately darted down into the subway station below. Kano, now having his orders, was forced to meet up with the currently battling Black Dragons.

When Ermac arrived, he caught the sight of the injured Sonya being helped to her feet by Jax. Stryker and Kabal were also present, though Kurtis was the only one with his gun drawn toward Ermac. As he landed, the composition of souls held his hands up peacefully. "We are not here to fight you, but to help you." He explained calmly. "We have foreseen dark events of your demise. I am afraid you will not survive this assault without my assistance. We must seek Lord Raiden."

"Lord…who?" Kabal questioned, just as a bolt of lightning struck the rails of the subway station. Raiden arrived and slowly floated to the ground.

Raiden had foreseen his need to arrive to assist Sonya ahead of time, but something was off. When he arrived, he found not only the four survivors, but Ermac as well. Nothing in his vision prepared him for the arrival of the spiritual warrior. "We must go. Quickly!" He spoke toward the humans, preparing himself to do battle with Ermac if need be.

"We wish you no ill will," Ermac explained. "We wish to assist you, Lord Raiden. We have sent Skarlet to assist in the efforts in Artika. We know we must regroup with greater force. We wish to defend Earthrealm…"

Raiden peered into Ermac's eyes as if he could read each and every soul swimming about inside of his body. He could see goodness there, the pure intention of helping someone other than himself. "Very well," Raiden lowered his defenses. "I will transport all of you to my temple. Liu Kang and the others will join us there. This is the second pleasant surprise today…I thank you, Ermac." He said as he thought back to mere minutes ago when he'd been given an urgent message from Princess Kitana through Khamelon.

In an instant, the five were gone. A sudden jolt of lightning and they all appeared within the large, vacant temple of lord Raiden. Inside were Johnny Cage, Nightwolf, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Kenshi, Khameleon, Smoke, Sheeva, Reptile, Li Mei, and many Lin Kuei Warriors. Reptile and Khameleon stood on opposing sides of the temple, awkwardly looking away from one another until Raiden and the others arrived.

"Raiden!" Liu Kang spoke immediately, throwing back the hood of his shirt. "Where's Kitana? Is she alright?" His concern was shown immediately for the Princess, as he'd heard rumor she'd been in the middle of a war at the new Lin Kuei temple. "Did you send assistance to her?"

While bombarded with questions, the Elder God remained calm as he approached the center of the room. "I did not," he responded, "their battle is out of my hands. We must remain here, remain safe until Shao Kahn shows himself. Then and only then can we attack."

Liu Kang moved toward Raiden, even shoved his way past Reptile to get closer to him. "I do not care about your battle strategies! Kitana needs our help! Those machines will rip them apart!"

"Anyone got medical supplies?" Stryker said as he helped Kabal down to a seated position. He motioned his head over to the far corner of the temple where Jax was laying the injured Sonya down on a flat surface. "We've got two injured. Need assistance ASAP."

"We can handle that." Ermac volunteered. "We will assist first with the female. She is far more wounded."

While Ermac hurried off to assist, Johnny Cage was seen trailing behind him. Liu didn't seem to care much for the injured at the moment. He wanted to prevent further injury and even the death of Kitana and her forces. "Send me to Artika. I can be of great help."

"No, you cannot, Liu Kang." Raiden put more authority in his tone. "If you are injured before you face Shao Kahn, we are all doomed."

"I won't be injured! I can take them on as I did at the temple!" Liu Kang snapped at Raiden with a much louder tone.

"And that temple was lost, was it not?" Raiden's response seemed to kill all sound in the room. He stood staring down the eager Earthrealm champion for several moments. He could feel the tension, the possible rebellion of his one and only hope preparing to break way and flood out all optimism of their survival. The fires in Liu Kang's eyes were bright enough to singe the reflection of Raiden's face in his eyes.

Kang turned and walked away from Raiden. He needed to get a bit of fresh air. As he emerged from the temple, Kang crouched down and struck the dirt with his fist. The impact left a deep imprint of his knuckles in the dirt, and the grass surrounding it was burned away quickly by the light burst of heat from his hand. He held his head down…trying to channel his aggression out of his body to regain focus. Kitana would be alright…he knew it.

[ Long awaited update, next one in tow soon as I complete it. The next few chapters will return to Mileena, Kitana, Jade, and Sub-Zero vs the Tekunin! Remember, comment review, and like the facebook page to keep in touch! I'll update as interest continues!

Also this is my first attempt at characterizing Li Mei, do tell me what you think! How do you like Cyborg Kano?!]