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Fan Fiction
| MK Annihilation (Reprised) |
| Round 3 |
By: Jeremy J. Banks |
Grand Canyon Square was a vast illuminated structure. For the tournament, a 15-meter oval ring was constructed. Spectators as well as fighters filled the Square. The fighters competed courtesy of a bracket set up by Nightwolf and Sub-Zero. Rayden and his warriors looked on as two competitors entered the ring for the semi-finals. The first fighter, a German, cracked his back and sneered at the smaller, seemingly weaker Latin American. Rayden rang the bell to start the match. The two fighters went at it. A few punches and kicks later, the Latin American emerged victorious. As the second round began, Liu Kang whispered into Rayden’s ear, “You think your brother is going to show?” Rayden said with confidence, “Oh, he’s coming.” An eerie music began to play from an unknown source as the second semi-final bout came to a close. Purplish smoke began to appear from four sides of the ring. It drifted until it came to the center of the ring. It then took the shape of a woman. Out of the smoke, Sindel appeared. “She’s up to something, dammit!” Rayden exclaimed. “Let’s get her!”
He started towards the ring with Liu, Sub-Zero, Stryker, and Kabal. Kitana and Sonya were staying at base in case of an ambush. Sindel, aware of the imminent attack, removed an object from her pocket and opened it. She blew into the object and a purple dust flew everywhere. The male fighters and Kombatants alike stopped in their tracks. The dust had them slightly paralyzed as well as in love. Sindel directed the Kombatants towards the ring. Rayden and his men entered the ring and circled the evil beauty. Sindel approached the Thunder god first. “Well, a girl like me always did want some god in her life,” she said as she blew more of the purple dust in his face. “Let’s ditch these losers and go have some fun.” She then turned to Liu and the others. “Don’t be disappointed, boys,” she said as she blew more dust in their faces as well. “I can enjoy a night on the town with mortals, too.”
“Here’s an idea,” she said directing her attention towards the crowd. “You all like to see fights, huh. I’m going to let all of these boys here fight for me. The last man in the ring will be awarded the grandest prize of all time-me.” “Get ready to be crushed, weaklings!” Rayden said with lightning flashing deadly in his eyes. “You couldn’t kill me even if one hand was tied behind my back and I was blind, old man!” Liu yelled. “One shot from me and you’re all gonna be nothing more than worthless ice cubes!” Sub-Zero exclaimed as he charged his power on his hands. “Oh, please! Spare me the bull, ice ninja!” shouted Stryker. “Everyone here knows I’m the best fighter.” “Speak for yourself, soldier boy,” said Kabal. “You wouldn’t stand a chance with me in a fight!”
The arguing continued as Sindel got in the center of the ring and said, “Time’s wasting! Do you boys want me or not? Finish each other, now!” Before a punch could be thrown, a large vehicle crashed through the side of the Square. Ninjas in black flipped out from both sides. The canopy of the Land Serpent opened to reveal Shao Kahn, with Soulhammer in hand. “Ok, insects!” the Emperor shouted. “Your souls are mine!” He sucked the souls of three fighters into the device. “Mine!” he shouted again. He proceeded to steal more souls. “Mine!” he shouted and then laughed maniacally. Rayden, whose romantic trance had been broken by Kahn’s appearance along with the others, somersaulted from the ring. He then shot a lightning bolt at his brother, knocking the Soulhammer from his hands. “Ahhrgh!” Kahn screamed turning to his ninjas. “Get the damned Soulhammer, now!”
As the terrified spectators and disgruntled fighters scattered, the ninjas made their way through G.C. Square. Rayden caught a ninja with a kick to the face and another kick to the chest. Two ninjas swung hama at Liu Kang’s feet. He flipped high into the air. He caught the ninjas with kicks to the back as he came back down. Three ninjas advanced into the ring but were met by a roundhouse kick by Sub-Zero. A ninja attempted a jump kick on Sub-Zero but he performed a Slide out of the ring leaving the ninja to receive an uppercut by Kabal. Stryker executed his Baton Takedown on five guards and neck kicked a sixth. Stryker then joined Kabal in the middle of the floor. The two fighters were then approached by a ninja wielding blades similar to Kabal’s. They pop kicked him the stomach then in the forehead. Kabal then stood over the ninja and snapped, “You can’t be like me!”
Sindel grinned evilly as she saw Rayden somersault kick a ninja while Liu Bicycle kicked another. Kahn, frustrated from what he saw, threw himself out of the Land Serpent and onto the ground. He threw running spectators and hapless fighters out of the way as he finally made his way to his prize, the Soulhammer. Once he claimed the prize, he joined Sindel in the ring. “You will explain what went wrong, Queen,” Kahn demanded. “It ain’t my damn fault!” Sindel protested. “Everything was going fine until you busted into this place and broke them out of the trance!” “Very well, then,” Kahn responded. “Proceed as planned. I’ll await your arrival in the Outworld.” He jumped out of the ring and headed towards the Serpent. Two ninjas chased Liu Kang and Sub-Zero. Liu high kicked one of the ninjas onto the ground while Sub-Zero air roundhouse kicked the other. A ninja confronted Rayden with a female spectator he had taken hostage. He laughed crazily but was shut up by Rayden’s fist in his mouth. “You may go home now,” Rayden said to the horrified lady.
He joined his fighters and they all looked on as Kahn and the remaining ninjas piloted the Land Serpent. Before the canopy closed, Kahn snickered, “The food was delicious, and the champagne was excellent. Remind me to send you a thank you note, baby brother!” The Serpent backed out of the Square and sped off. “After them at once!” Rayden shouted to his friends. They, however, were still slightly affected by the queen’s dust, for they were staring at her. The queen puckered her lips at the men. As he headed out of the hole made by the Serpent, he shouted back, “C’mon, dammit!” The men broke out of their trance and followed their leader. As they headed out the “exit”, Sindel said to herself, “Kahn must think he’s a god. Little does he know I’m about to throw him off that high horse he’s put himself on. There’s work to be done!” With that, she disappeared in the cloud of purple smoke that had brought her there.
The Thunderbolt and the Dragon jets gave chase through the area that separated the Square and the Grand Canyon. The Land Serpent was just as fast as the Dragon jets and the Thunderbolt. As they approached the Grand Canyon, Shao Kahn used his chi to open up a portal over the canyon. As the serpent neared the edge, Rayden shouted into his speakers, “Land the jets! The gravitational pull in the canyon’s bottom will cause ‘em to crash!” “What are you so worried about?” Stryker asked. “Yeah, man, we can make it,” Kabal agreed. “Land the damned jets!” Rayden pleaded. “Get the stick out of your ass, Thunder god!” Sub-Zero yelled. “Nightwolf built these babies to perfection!” “We can make it!” Liu Kang shouted. “Dragon jets!” Rayden exclaimed. An electronic voice inside the Thunderbolt and the jets said, “Dragon jets online.” “Shut down and auto land all Dragon jets,” the Thunder god demanded.
“What the hell are you doing?” Liu asked surprised. All of the Earth realm warriors shouted and protested with disbelief as their mighty machines landed and shut down by themselves. Liu stepped out of his jet looked into the sky at the Thunderbolt. He shouted, “Ahhrgh!” angrily and covered his face in shame. Rayden opened the canopy of the Thunderbolt and shot a lightning bolt into the Serpent’s hydraulics. One of the remaining ninjas exclaimed, “We gonna crash, master!” The Land Serpent descended into the heart of the Grand Canyon. They didn’t go into the portal because it had disintegrated. The Serpent landed on one of the canyon’s many cliff ledges thus knocking the ninjas out. Shao Kahn tore off the canopy top and stood up to see his brother heading towards him in the Thunderbolt. “You will not defeat me again!” he shouted. “You won’t!” He fired a triple green Nova blast at the jet and burst into maniacal laughter.
The three shots hit the Thunderbolt, causing it to explode. Before it exploded, Rayden jumped out of it and morphed into an eagle. Kahn, believing his brother to be finally extinguished, laughed even more maniacally as what was left of Rayden’s craft crashed into the canyon bottom. He then turned around and a look of shock came upon his face. The eagle slammed headfirst into the Land Serpent, knocking Kahn out of it and rendering him unconscious. The eagle landed one foot behind its fallen prey. There, the fowl morphed into the Thunder god once more. “And I’m not gonna let you clean yourself until after we get to the lock-up,” Rayden joked. Rayden returned to the temple after the warriors. Their greeting for him was less than joyful. “We coulda made that jump, you ass!” Liu Kang protested angrily. “And you bastards would have jumped and had your mortal remains scattered all over the canyon floor!” Rayden sneered back.
“What is this inconsiderate bull, Thunder blunder!” Stryker demanded. “You asked us all for help and you spit in our damn faces? Whose side is your immortal ass really on, dude?” “It doesn’t really matter that the immortal took matters into his own hands,” Kabal said arrogantly. “I could have got the job done without you losers either way it went.” “Don’t you dare start that loner crap with us!” Stryker screamed. “I’ll gut your deformed ass like a fish!” “You see,” Rayden exclaimed. “None of you even have your minds on this mission! All you all are thinking about is yourselves and more importantly, Queen Sindel!” “You just can’t stand the fact that she may have wanted one of us and not you, can you?” Liu asked, still angry.
“That’s nothing more than a bag of hot air, Liu Kang!” Sub-Zero intervened. “She wants me. And Lord Rayden, is this really your idea of a team? You’re more powerful than all of us so you call the plays and make the decisions, huh? When I was with the Lin Kuei, we reported to a grand master but we all still stuck with one another and worked together! You’re abusing your authority and your power and it has got to stop! Are you ever gonna trust us?” The four men left the presence of their leader. A disgusted look came on his face as he watched them leave. He held his head down in shame once more. The Elder gods were talking in the Main Hall when a knock came on the hall door. “Come,” Love said. Lord Rayden came in the room slowly, as if he was unsure of himself. “Hi,” he greeted. “You know we all monitored your performance tonight,” Earth said. “Ah, yes,” Rayden replied. “We take our “hats” off to you on your capturing of your brother,” Water congratulated. “We all know what a hard time he’s given you a what a relief it must be to be finally rid of him,” Wind said. “Thank you for your concern and praises Elders,” Rayden said dryly.
“Is there something troubling you, son,” Love asked. Rayden stood silently for a moment and then asked, “Do you all believe I abuse my power? Do I treat those humans like dirt just because I can?” “Not really, Rayden, but,” Earth started without finishing. “But what?” Rayden asked curious. “Fate and evil made your brother the man he is,” Fire explained. “But rather than follow his wrongful example and become his slave, you have done everything you can to oppose him. For what was your training of all those fighters in Mortal Kombat all those years ago until now but an attempt to defeat him for good. It all truly was nothing more than a valiant effort to eliminate evil itself.” Rayden then remembered the day his father and brother turned evil. He also remembered how they attempted to persuade him to join their evil cause and he rejected and cursed them both to their faces.
“But I never really can destroy it all completely, can I?” Rayden asked still unsure. “None of us will ever be able to,” Wind assured. “A balance between good and evil must be maintained in order for this world and others like it to go on, Lord Rayden,” Earth said. “This is why only the Lord God has the power to wipe all evil out completely,” Water replied. “This is truly why you give them such a hard time, Lord Rayden,” Love said. “Simply because you’re obsessed with defeating your brother and ending his evil reign.” “Yes, I understand 100%,” Rayden said before departing the Main Hall. The Netherrealm was one of the darkest regions in reality. Like Earth’s Hell, the souls of the damned were condemned there. Shinook used to preside over it but control of the realm was relinquished to Rayden once he and Kahn turned evil. Now Rayden used the realm as a jail for Outworld criminals such as Baraka and his tribe of nomad and the defeated ninjas of Kahn. A main jail with heavy security had been established to house these dangerous individuals.
Shao Kahn had chains covering his arms and legs as Kurtis Stryker and two Netherrealm guards led him to a cell. The cell was designed specifically for Shao Kahn. Barred windows, a reinforced steel door, and a special material that covered the whole room. It was designed by Nightwolf to deflect all forms of chi from Earth and other realms alike. Once the guards got Kahn inside, Stryker said, “I’m pretty sure you guys can take it from here. I’m going to go on post outside. Goodnight, almighty emperor.” When Stryker left, the two guards began taunting Kahn. “So you’re the great and powerful Shao Kahn,” one said. “You’re nothing more but a great and powerful windbag!” “Yeah, man,” the second said. “I’ll bet you don’t even know how to spell power!” The two guards burst into laughter. Kahn stood up to face the guards. “I suggest you two get your priorities straight,” he said in gentlemanly voice. “You want to see my power? Well, here goes!”
He attempted to fire a Nova blast but was thwarted by the heavy restraints. Frustrated, he sat down on the bed in the cell. “What a pathetic effort,” the first guard said. “Naw, not pathetic, stupid,” said the second guard. “Only a idiot would try and use his chi and his hands and arms are restrained. “And only a idiot would not keep this cell and this jail heavily guarded,” Kahn quipped. The two guards burst into even more laughter and left him inside his cell. “Oh yes you fools, Kahn whispered. “Laugh now, die later.” As Stryker took his post outside, lightning crackled across the dark sky. Rain began to pour down and the ex-police officer said to himself, “Aw, damn! I forgot my raincoat.” Queen Sindel returned to Outworld to find her associates disgruntled at the capture of their master in their own Relay Room.
“It just isn’t right, Sindel,” Rain protested. “Our master is in the Netherrealm and we’re sitting our asses here and doing nothing!” “The energy you waste with your sniveling,” Ermac began. “you could use to rescue Kahn!” “Why you…!” Rain shouted as he charged at Ermac. Before a punch could be landed, Sindel performed a Sonic Dizzy and the ninja humbled themselves. “Enough of this!” she exclaimed. “You know your hallowed position atop the worm pile appears to be most tenuous, Queen Sindel,” Motaro began. “Now your failure will be my opportunity!” Sindel slapped the Centaurion in his face, causing him only to smile mischievously. “No use getting angry at him, Queen,” Sheeva said. “Our races don’t get along but I know when someone is right. You left Kahn hanging and he got captured by those mortal morons!” “Stop this at once!” shouted Shinook as he appeared before them.
“You should all consider ditching your arrogance for one brief moment and get your heads together,” Shinook said. “Now, where do you all stand?” “Nowhere at the moment, oh great Shinook,” Motaro said, kissing up. “Oh you all don’t have a plan?” Shinook asked agitated. They all shook their heads “no”. He then replied, “Well, I’ll make one for you!” Liu and Kitana had dinner in Liu’s quarters. She was talking about past times when she noticed his mind was elsewhere. “Liu, is there something the matter with you?” she asked concerned. Liu Kang still ignored her. All he saw was Queen Sindel, puckering her lips and staring back at him seductively. “Liu!” Kitana yelled. “Um, uh, I’m sorry w-what were you saying?” Liu asked confused. “I was telling you about my growing up in Outworld before Kahn’s takeover!” Kitana said angrily.
“I’m sorry, Kitana,” Liu said solemnly. “There’s someone on my mind that I don’t know how to get off. Every time I try to concentrate on something, that person’s face pops up in my head.” “Well, I’m sorry about that,” Kitana said apologetically. “Look, Liu, if anything happens to me during this all, I want you to…” “Princess,” Liu said cutting her off. “I have lost everything. My family, my home. I’ll be damned if I lose you too.” “You know I appreciate that,” Kitana said solemnly. “Here’s a little something for caring.” She came and sat next to Liu Kang and kissed him. Afterward, Liu imagined it was Sindel kissing him. “Liu Kang,” Kitana said breaking him from the trance. “Why are you repeating my mother’s name?” “God knows I wish I knew, Kitana,” Liu answered ashamed. Later that night, Nightwolf overheard talking coming from the gymnasium. Deciding to eavesdrop, he stood at the door and began to listen.
“So you couldn’t sleep either, man?” Kabal asked Sub-Zero. “No, sir,” Sub-Zero answered. “I just can’t get her off my mind. That body, those eyes, that snow white hair just have done something to me.” “The wildcard in this whole thing is the fact that she is an enemy,” Kabal stated. “Was an enemy,” Sub-Zero corrected. “She’ll be an ally after I pound you all into hamburger meat for her hand.” “Like hell you will,” Kabal said. “Do you forget that I’m the best fighter?” “Oh yeah?” Sub-Zero asked. “Prove it!” He fired an ice blast at the masked loner but instead of hitting Kabal, it hit Nightwolf’s mystical axe, which had been thrown in the way by the shaman. “You two are crazy if you’re about to fight over a girl with all that energy you need for defending Earth realm,” Nightwolf scolded. “Stay out of it, Native American!” demanded Kabal. “Sindel is a prize worth fighting for!” “Queen Sindel!” Nightwolf exclaimed. “You two really have gone nuts! I better examine you. Come with me.”
He picked up his axe, shook off the ice, and led the two bitter fighters out of the gymnasium. Jax was meditating in his quarters when he heard sobbing in the hallway. He ran out of his room to investigate and found his partner crouched on the floor with her head down crying. “What’s wrong, girl?” he asked putting his arms around his friend. “Is the Thunder god on your case again?” “No, Jax,” Sonya said lifting her head up. “I just overheard the Elders talking. Johnny’s in Hell and there’s no way back.” “Johnny’s not in Hell,” a voice said behind them. The pair looked up to see Rayden emerge from the other end of the hallway. “His soul is lost,” Rayden continued. “And if we don’t find it within the next 48 hours, it will be sent to Hell.” “Why didn’t you tell us before?” Jax asked now concerned. “So much was…is on your young minds, Jackson, I didn’t want to trouble you all any further than I already have.”
“Damn that!” Sonya said. “You still could have said something!” She ran down the hall holding her face and still sobbing. “Sonya, wait!” Jax shouted after her. “You see, man. You really did it this time.” Tears ran from Rayden’s cheeks as he returned to his own quarters. Meanwhile, in the Netherrealm, Shao Kahn paced back and forth in his cell dementedly. He could not stand the thought of being locked up like an animal. Once he had walked all over the cell, he began to throw himself against the walls, hoping that his superhuman strength could overpower the bonds that held him. After six tries, he realized that the effort was futile. The great door to his cell opened and the two guards who had taunted him before emerged from the other side. Only this time they were completely motionless as well as silent. “Well, what is it?” Kahn demanded. “I was in the middle of something, you know!”
The two guards fell to the cell floor lifeless. Queen Sindel peeked her head in afterward. “Don’t be shy, woman,” Kahn teased. “Come on in and free me from these pathetic bonds!” “With pleasure, oh great emperor,” Sindel responded. Stryker, unaware of the attack, was in the cellar of the jail searching for the Soulhammer. Nightwolf had asked him to get it so that he could examine it and see if it held any secrets as to how to bring Johnny back. He looked throughout the large room until he found what he came for. “You know, I missed a good episode of Cops to come up in this mildewed-ass place to find you,” he said. As he picked the mighty device up, a blade turned flat hit him across the back of his head. The cloaked figure responsible for the crime then picked up the Soulhammer and said, “And I’ve just been dying to do that to you!”
As Kahn changed into the wardrobe Sindel had brought him, he asked the queen, “What the hell kept you? I’ve been rotting like a dead body in this stinking cesspool!” “Oh, grow up!” Sindel exclaimed. “You complain like a plaintiff at a trial! The plan is still intact.” The cloaked figure that had hit Stryker burst into the room with the Soulhammer in his hands. He handed it to Sindel who in turn handed it to its rightful owner. “Here’s somebody I busted out who I thought could be beneficial to this mission,” Sindel said. “Pretty big with words aren’t you,” Kahn joked. “You there, show yourself before your emperor.” “Surely you already know Baraka, Emperor Kahn,” the nomad said as he removed his cloak. Ten guards ran towards the cell armed with hama and bo staffs. “Open a portal to Outworld, Sindel,” Kahn commanded. “We’ll deal with them!” Kahn and Baraka began to fight off the guards as Sindel used her chi to open a portal.
The End of Round iii
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