Raiden, Liu Kang and Kung Lao returned to the cathedral via another of Raiden's teleportation lightning with the Special Forces already on their way to meet them at New York as Raiden didn't have enough strength to teleport all the soldiers along with himself, Lao and Kang so the Special Forces agreed to stick together as they travelled to the cathedral. Raiden and co were greeted by a few police who were still hiding out in the cathedral due to injuries.

"How goes your battle with the Tarkatans?" Raiden inquired.

"Last time I was out there we were just picking them off one by one," an officer being bandaged by a medic replied. "They're no longer in a cohesive unit."

"Good to hear." Raiden said. "Hope still remains."

"It's slim though." Lao added.

"But the chance is still there," Raiden countered. "We defeated the Naknadans and now the Tarkatans."

"Not yet."

"Our chances of victory against these Tarkatans are high," a police officer assured. "Don't worry."

"It doesn't end with the Tarkatans gone." Kung Lao explained with some aggression in his tone of voice.

"Do you know the whereabouts of Officer Stryker and Officer Kabal?" Raiden asked. "It'd be of our best interest to join them."

"Not specifically. But, I do know the location of officers in general." The officer showed his arm to Raiden, revealing a radar that was showing red dots for those utilizing the same technology.

"That will suffice." Raiden stated. "Thank you."

"We will still require more allies," admitted Liu Kang. "What of the Elder Gods? Did they agree to your terms?"

Raiden sighed, an unusual act from the Thunder God. "No." He said plainly. "They did offer Fujin the chance to help us though."

"When will he arrive?" Liu asked. "We need him."

"I'm unsure but fear not, I know he'll be willing to join us in our fight." Informed Raiden.

"Hold on, the Elder Gods refused to help us?!" Lao spoke with obvious frustration. "H-how dare they! Why decline us?!"

"It is an act unassociated with the Mortal Kombat tournament rulings," Raiden explained with sadness as he recalled on his talk with Cetrion. "We have to solve this matter without them."

"A ridiculous excuse!" Snapped Lao. "They don't want to help because they're lazy."

"Kung Lao, stop!" Liu Kang ordered. "We have no right to make such accu-"

"It's fine, Liu Kang." Interrupted Raiden. "Kung Lao's point has some validation."

Raiden himself was beginning to doubt the Elder Gods and he had been since his talk with them.

"I see." Liu Kang noted. He then figured that he should change the subject, "Shall we go aid in fighting the remaining Tarkatans?"

"We shall once the Special Forces arrive." Confirmed Raiden.

"Understood." Nodded Liu Kang. "Do you know if anyone else in Earthrealm is in danger?"

"I'm unsure as to if they've been deployed yet." Raiden answered. "Shao Kahn definitely has more armies."

"You don't have senses of anymore armies? No visions?" Liu asked.

"It is a gift from the Elder Gods, it has its limitations." Revealed Raiden.

"We will stop each one as soon as they step foot in our realm," Lao promised. "Visions or not."

"I hope so, Kung Lao." Raiden hoped.

"Me too." Said Liu.

"Raiden?" Called out Sonya Blade. "We're here."

"It is good to see you've all made it safely." Sad Raiden with relief.

"We only ran into a few Tarkatans," Recalled Jax. "Those things are scattered everywhere."

"They seemed lost." Sonya noted.

"We have already aligned ourselves with the Special Riot Control division in the New York City Police Department." Informed Raiden.

"Good to hear." Responded Sonya. "What about the likes of Bo' Rai Cho, Tundra, Smoke, Scorpion, Kenshi, Nightwolf and… Johnny?"

"Johnny Cage had returned home after our ceremony the other night..." Raiden began to explain.

"I… I know." Sonya said. "I meant are they here?"

"Not yet but fear not, I will be visiting them all while you all fight the Tarkatans." Answered Raiden.

"I hope Johnny's ok." Sonya admitted, genuine worry in her tone.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Assured Jax. "Cage knows how to fight if anyone comes to his home."

"I hope the HQ's alright too." She added.

"I'll check in with Hsu, don't worry." Jax promised.

Hsu Hao was busy privately interrogating the recently captured Kano. His original order was to just guard him but this was defied. Hsu retrieved a chair and some rope to bind Kano to the seat.

"Now Kano," Hsu Hao began as he held Kano's knives. "Tell me the location of the Black Dragon bases. List me all of them."

"Rack off." Spat Kano.

Hsu Hao retorted by stabbing one of the knives into Kano's stomach. "Answer me!"

Kano cried out in pain. "I ain't tellin you shit!"

"You aren't talking… yet." Hsu corrected. "Maybe a second wound will make you rethink."

"If you hadn't clamped my eye I'd have burned a hole through you!" Kano threatened.

Hsu Hao blasted a laser from his cybernetic heart. "I can also burn holes." He informed. "So I'd think of your next response very carefully."

Kano began coughing and made his response between his coughs, "I can… cough... tell you…"

"Oh?" Hsu Hao was surprised by the sudden compliance. "Then speak."

"The… cough... the first base is… cough... located at…" Kano suddenly paused but this time it wasn't due to a cough, it was silence. Kano smirked. "7513 Main Street, Gofuckyourse-"

Hsu Hao booted at the knife that was already impaled into Kano. "I don't have time for your games!" He yelled in anger. "Earthrealm is being attacked by Outworld armies so if we could wrap this up then I can go and help fight against Outworld."

"Outworld armies?" Kano had become more serious now. "What'll happen to me? Are you just gonna leave me here?!"

"Tell me your bases and I will free you." Hsu lied but sounded believable.

"There will be no need." Came the smug voice of the sorcerer Shang Tsung. "Kano will be joining me."

"Who are you?" Questioned Hsu.

"Shang Tsung?" Kano himself was surprised by his presence.

"You have a friend who wishes to meet you, Kano." Shang informed.

"I'd hope it's more than just one." Muttered Kano.

"As do I," Shang heard him. "Outworld has a need for you and your allies' services."

"And that won't be happening." Interrupted Hsu Hao. "Shang Tsung, former host of the Mortal Kombat tournament, yes?"

"You're correct." Tsung confirmed. "Perhaps you could aid us as well?"

"Not a chance!" Hsu quickly rejected the offer.

"Then you will help in other ways," Shang said as he engaged in a snake-like fighting stance. "Your soul shall fuel my life force."

"I doubt that." Stated Hsu Hao as he moved to a desk which a walkie talkie lay on top of it to contact backup. Shang noticed this and despite not knowing what the walkie talkie was he still blasted a flaming skull at the desk, shattering the desk and knocking the walkie talkie across the room.

"Your move, soldier."

"Very well then." Hsu grinned as he turned to Kano.

"What're you eyeing at?" Kano asked.

Hsu grabbed the chair that Kano was tied to and launched them both at the sorcerer. Shang was caught by this and collapsed back into a wall. Shang quickly shoved Kano and the chair to one side before running at Hsu Hao, only to be caught in the grapplers grasp and slammed back first onto the concrete floor. Hsu went to pick up the grounded Shang but the sorcerer used a small bit of his soul energy to blast a small ray of souls into Hsu's chest which knocked the grappler back and allowed Tsung to get to his feet. The two engaged in a grapple which Hsu Hao of course began to overpower Shang in. Hsu Hao dragged Shang forward by wrapping his muscular arms around the sorcerer before recklessly throwing him over his head in suplex-like fashion. Shang popped to his feet before chopping Hsu Hao in the jaw, causing Hsu to spin around from the strikes impact before being knocked down by a jumping kick to the back from Tsung. Shang Tsung then approached Kano but was blasted by a laser from Hsu Hao's cybernetic heart. Shang spun around and blasted another soul projectile at Hsu but the attack missed. Hsu Hao ran at the sorcerer but was backhanded away, some summoned lava oozing from Shang's hand as it whipped and scorched Hsu's face.

"You're no match for me," Taunted Shang as he slowly approached Hsu. "That was a mere scratch."

"You nearly melted my face off!" Hsu Hao yelled as he placed a hand on his burnt cheek.

"Exactly. Only nearly."

Hsu tossed Kano's knife that he had still been carrying which Shang caught, lit it aflame, and threw it back. The knife caught the edge of Hsu's left pec.

"A second wound?" Shang noted. "How many more before you surrender?"

"There will not be another." Hsu grunted, maintaining his confidence.

"The next one will kill you."

"Bring it on!" Challenged the Mongolian grappler.

"With pleasure."

Shang Tsung ran at Hsu Hao, dodging Hsu's laser blasts as he proceeded forward. The sorcerer shapeshifted into Hsu Hao's fellow soldier Jackson Briggs as he pushed forward. Gaining the major's metal arms, Shang punched Hsu Hao in the nose before following up by uppercutting him.

"You fought well." Complimented Tsung. "If only you had enough brains to align yourself with me."

Tsung quickly went to return to aiding Kano but felt the burn from Hsu's cybernetic laser heart. Hsu Hao was still conscious.

"You'll have to kill me to get to Kano." Informed Hsu Hao.

"Aren't you just such great fun?" A voice came from behind Hsu Hao.

Before Hsu Hao could even react he was blasted away by a stick of dynamite that came from No Face.

"No Face?" Kano called out.

"Yeah I'm here mate." No Face said as he and Tsung both approached Kano.

Shang quickly melted off the metal that had been attached over Kano's cybernetic eye at some point while he was unconscious.

"Cheers, Tsung." Kano thanked the sorcerer as he unbinded him. "Why are you helping me? I robbed ya."

"The Outworld armies want firearms," explained Shang Tsung. "I trust that the Black Dragon will provide."

Kano grunted as he pulled his knife out his stomach. "I accept."

"Excellent." Shang smiled now that his mission was a success. "Shall we get going?"

"To our compound?" No Face asked to clarify.

"Why, of course." Shang confirmed as he created a portal. "Step inside."

The three left Hsu Hao alone to struggle to his feet. Burnt and wounded, Hsu Hao still managed to rise back up on his own. Hsu searched the room for his walkie talkie, finding it in the corner of the room. He picked it up and it was fortunately still functioning fine. Instead of immediately contacting the Special Forces, he instead dug in his pocket for his mobile phone. Hsu's phone had unsurprisingly been cracked from him being thrown around the room but like his walkie talkie it functioned fine. Hsu Hao then proceeded to call his true superior, Mavado.

"Yes, Hsu Hao?" Mavado answered the call.

"I must inform you that Outworld is invading Earthrealm," Hsu cut straight to the point. "I had Kano in the interrogation room but I was attacked by Shang Tsung as I presume he requires the Black Dragon's help in fighting Earthrealm."

"Where is Kano now?" Mavado questioned the main thing of note for him was Kano and the Black Dragon.

"He escaped through a portal." He answered truthfully. "It's my fault."

"Not at all, Hsu Hao." Mavado surprisingly reassured him. "Were it not for those damn Outworlders and whatever they're plotting, we'd have gotten our answers. You have been handling everything perfectly."

"Thank you." Hsu said pridefully. "Shall I return to the Charred Mountain?"

"Unless the invasion becomes too dangerous then remain with the Special Forces." Ordered Mavado. "Your absence would cause suspicion."

"Understood." Hsu Hao confirmed. "Goodbye, sir."

Shang Tsung, Kano and No Face emerged from the portal and now stood inside the Black Dragon compound.

"He's back!" One of the Black Dragon members called out.

"What now?" Jarek came walking out of the main building. "Kano?"

"You sound surprised," Kano pointed out. "What is it Jarek? Were you gonna leave me to rot in jail."

"Yes, we were." Revealed Tasia as she also walked out to see the commotion. "And now you've brought him here."

"You're all traitors!" Yelled No Face. "Kano created the Black Dragon yet you refused to save him!"

"He was going to get us killed, No Face." Explained Jarek. "How can't you see this?"

"The Black Dragon cannot possibly thrive without Kano." Argued No Face.

"We'll prove that wrong." Stated Jarek.

Kano laughed. "You won't be doing such a thing because you won't be leading the Black Dragon."

"Who's with us?" Asked No Face. "Who's with the real Black Dragon?!"

A divide amongst the Black Dragon was being created. It was a split between siding with Kano or Jarek.

"So we found the cowards." Kano pointed at Jarek's group. "What will you call yourself? The white dragon?"

Kano's group laughed at the supposed traitors. "You'll all die!" No Face yelled. "You'll all die without Kano!"

"You side with Shang Tsung! He wants to destroy Earthrealm!" Jarek reminded them. "Are you all seriously that delusional?"

"Not destroy, we want to merge Earthrealm with Outworld." Corrected Tsung.

"Same fucking thing!" Yelled Tasia.

"We stand on the winners side, fellers." No Face said. "And you traitors will all fucking burn!"

"You're traitors to this world!" Yelled Tasia. "Even for me, this merger shit is too far!"

"You don't have the guts to do so." Kano countered. "Let's not try and take the moral high ground here. We're criminals afterall."

"We don't need them," Tasia muttered to Jarek. "This splits us away from the assholes."

"Get ready lads and lasses," Jarek called to his allies. "This will turn ugly."

"Well, your group ain't gonna last long." Kano informed as he signalled his group to draw their guns. "This is already your final stand."

"Enough!" Boomed the voice of Tremor as he stepped in front of Jarek.

"You too, Trem?" No Face was genuinely disappointed that someone he considered his friend was standing against him.

"Leave this structure before I use it to crush you all." Threatened Tremor.

"F-fine." Kano complied because he was genuinely frightened of Tremor's Earth Elemental powers. "We have other bases to retrieve allies and weapons from."

"If you return I'll slit your throat!" Tasia warned as Tsung created a portal for the Black Dragon to leave through.

"Oh we'll be back." Promised Kano. "In a while, traitors!"