"I am displeased, Scorpion." Quan Chi said, conveying disappointment as well as anger.

"I am sorry, Quan Chi." Scorpion said meaninglessly.

"I am your master." Quan Chi raised his voice, "I gave you Sub Zero so that you could do my bidding."

"I'm your servant." He admitted before making a remark, "not Shang Tsung's."

"This is a childish argument." Quan Chi assessed, "I could kill you right now and find another dead man to revive."

"Maybe that's for the best."

"And where's the amulet?!" Quan Chi reminded of his other request to compensate for giving him Bi Han's life."

"Amulet?"

"You forgot? Or did you just not care to find me it?"

"I don't see why that matters."

"Perhaps I should have brought you back to life as a revenant." Quan Chi regretted, "you'd have been much more obedient."

"I know how to swim Quan Chi." Scorpion said with aggression as if it were obvious, "I'll just fetch it from the islands rubble."

"No."

"Why?!" Scorpion shouted, unable to contain his anger.

"One of my maps of Earthrealm present its location." He referred to another one of his ancient relics, "It is no longer at the island."

Scorpion sighed aggressively before telling Quan Chi "Just get it yourself if you know so much about it."

"I have... other matters to attend to."

"Like?"

"None of your concern." Quan Chi said dismissing the question, Shinnok's amulet being only part of his devious plans. "Are you familiar with the insufferable Black Dragon?"

Scorpion nodded "The man with the metal eye's their leader yes?" He recalled correctly

"Yes." Quan Chi confirmed before spilling the details, "He must've stolen it, for my map is now showing it at one of their main headquarters."

Scorpion eventually complied, "Fine, give me the map."

"You see Scorpion." Quan Chi explained, "It's meant to be easier to progress with my plans when you have helpers, defiance defeats my purpose of reviving you."

"Why me?"

"Grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu, a ninja, could steal practically anything unnoticed." Quan Chi complimented, "It'd be much easier if you acted as such." Referring to his loud temper.

"Like a shadow, I'll bring the amulet to you." Scorpion assured.

"Good"

"Find anything good?" Tasia, a black dragon head member asked as Kano, No Face and Jarek docked at the beach that was outside their hideout.

"Find out for yourself." Kano said, tossing the heavy bag onto the sand as he climbed out the boat.

"Holy shit." Tasia reacted after poking her head in the bag.

"Quite the haul aye?"

"Look at this little trinket." No Face said, pulling out an amulet made of gold with a gem in the centre piece, "Might use this as a plate."

"It's an amulet." Jarek informed, "How's that a plate?"

No Face shrugged, aware that he drags on with his random thoughts. "That means it'll sell well right?"

"It's gold, everything here's worth something high." Jarek made the obvious analyse.

"Tremor's here." Tasia pointed to the large figure approaching them.

"Ah big guy!" No Face said, awkwardly hugging him before being quickly thrown off, the skin on his chest and shoulders being literal rock.

"Well done boss." Tremor complimented Kano for being successful which wasn't as common as expected.

"Got us a good few million from this." Kano estimated.

"I'll take it inside." Tremor opted as he picked up the bag with ease

"I'll assess the prices of the treasure later today." Jarek said, with a fine knowledge of the value of the treasures the Black Dragon brought in.

"Appreciate it, might have blown any future deals with Outworld." Kano realized.

"Well were you caught?" Tasia asked.

"I don't think so." Kano admitted his uncertainty.

"We should be careful about Outworld stuff." Tasia recommended despite not actually knowing the true threat caution of what Kano had stolen, "Stay away from it for a bit maybe."

"Sure." Kano reluctantly agreed, "I'm sure we're the least of Outworld or Earthrealm's worries right now though."

"Explain to me how this happened?" The Lin Kuei's Grandmaster, Oniro asked, the tone of his voice disguising his rage.

"Shang Tsung placed another one of his assassins on Cyrax, hence the lost limb." Explained his son, Sektor.

"And what did you do about it?"

"Stood up to Shang Tsung of course." Sektor said with pride, expecting his father's approval.

Instead, Oniro was angered by this news "You defied your contractor?!"

"What?"

"You broke your contract because Shang Tsung caused minor injuries to your friend?" He said rhetorically, his teeth gritted.

"I'm sorry father." Sektor apologized before hinting he disagreed, "You said minor injuries?"

"They're irrelevant when the cyber initiative is taken effect literally this weekend!" He yelled as he slammed a first into one of the temples pillars, leaving a slight crack.

"But Shang Tsung betrayed us." Sektor excused.

"No, you betrayed Shang Tsung." He argued before moving onto another topic to vent about, "And what happened to Bi Han?! He was my finest assassin!"

"I don't know." Sektor muttered truthfully.

"Of course, you don't... You're useless." Oniro insulted before informing, "I will get into contact with Shang Tsung to apologize for your and Cyrax's actions and I'm positive I'll actually receive a full story from him."

"I- " Sektor was interrupted seemingly as soon as his mouth opened

"No more excuses, I have work to do." Oniro said, storming out the temples main room.

"It is good to see you, Raiden." Spoke a friendly voice.

"The feelings mutual, Bo' Rai Cho." Raiden replied, smiling at his old friend.

"Judging by your face, I presume Earthrealm won the tournament?" Bo' Rai Cho asked, to which Raiden nodded. "Excellent news! So, who's the new champion?"

"Liu Kang defeated Goro and Shang Tsung, you did a great job training him." Raiden complimented.

"I knew he'd do it, I always had faith in that boy." Bo' Rai Cho cheered, "That's why I pushed to the academy that he should participate in the tournament."

"Your faith may have saved the realms."

"Oh, by the way." Bo' Rai Cho paused before admitting a negative "Kung Lao's gone missing."

"Fear not Bo' Rai Cho, he headed to Shang Tsung's island in an attempt to get involved with the tournament."

"Of course he would." Bo' Rai Cho acknowledged Kung Lao's brash behaviour and had linked it to commit such an act.

"So, where are they?" He said, peering round Raiden's shoulder only to be disappointed by only unfamiliar faces.

"I don't know."

Liu Kang and Lung Lao fell from the portal they had entered through on the island, they as well as Jade and Kitana fell into a pile of sand they were in a desert.

Kung Lao looked up at the sky, it was a dark purple "I presume this ain't Earthrealm." He stated.

"Deserts are common in Outworld." Jade explained, "I can't depict our exact location."

"The two of you will need to find another portal to get back to Earthrealm." Kitana figure

"Well let's be quick!" Kung Lao demanded, "Liu should be celebrating at a ceremony right now."

"We'll help." Kitana offered, then her tone became more aggressive as she said, "As long as you shut your mouth." Pointing a closed fan blade at Kung Lao.

"Fine." Kung Lao muttered.

"I appreciate your assistance." Liu Kang thanked.

"You helped us open the portal, consider it repayment."

"I helped you open the portal." Kung Lao corrected.

"Just follow me." Jade ordered.

"My father must be worried sick." Kitana thought.

"You've failed me, sorcerer!" The emperor yelled as he went off on a rant, "I've had to wait for half a millennium to merge Earthrealm and now I must wait another five hundred years!"

"My lord, I'm sorry." Shang Tsung pleaded.

"And where are my allies?!" He shouted, "Where is my daughter?!"

"I had a portal system, they should've all used it!" Shang explained.

"Should have?" Shao questioned, "You sound unsure!"

"I may have not given the precise details my emperor..." He muttered.

"You idiot!" Shao Kahn said as he backhanded Shang Tsung, sending the pitiful Sorcerer flying into a wall in the throne room.

"I have an idea..." Shang pressed as he crawled back over to his master.

"Enough of your pitiful ideas! Your confidence in your ability to win that tournament has caused your incompetence, you're unreliable!" He summoned his wraith hammer, and he raised it above his head, preparing to strike down Shang Tsung.

"What if the rules were changed?!"

Shao Kahn threw his hammer to the floor and sat back down on his throne, "I'm listening..."