Chapter Text
At the special forces base Sskeer called the temple for another Jedi to help him sending Petro back when Burryaga arrived. And now the Trandoshan and Wookie best friends stood to the side waiting for the special forces commander to tell them what needed to be done and how they could help.
After Burryaga left Nuru and the other two came back and told Ironhide to raise the defenses and that’s when he told them.
“Burryaga received a message from Sskeer to help him. His left not too long ago after Fac Sun said it was okay.”
“Digger isn’t going to like this.” Nuru said.
When Nuru contacted Digger. Nuru was right he wasn’t happy and made it clear no one else is to leave the temple at all and unless told otherwise by him. Digger didn’t want his Jedi encountering Revan, Zannah or one of the other three dark siders he could sense. He wanted them safe besides they just finished a war and escaped a purge.
Back with the special forces young Johnny was doing older Johnny’s head in. he could believe he was once that arrogant and up himself. No one else would watch him so Johhny had to, Kenshi’s presence nearby helped Johnny stay calmer though. Turning around Kenshi was smirking.
“What’s with the smile Ken Doll.”
“It’s funny hearing you get a taste of your own medicine.” Kenshi replied slipping his hand into Johnny’s.
“Oh, what you are telling me I end up with stick in his ass Kenshi.” Young Johnny asked.
Letting a small growl at Johnny stood in front of Kenshi almost defensively.
“Do you physically know how to shut up.” He snapped at his younger self.
The door to the room opened with Raiden and Cassie after Raiden was redirected to the small outpost the special forces had on Outworld where he would find his answers.
“So, it’s true I walked a darker path.” Raiden said talking to Cassie.
“After Shinnok went down. You became a different person.
Red lighting, black clothes. Authoritarian attitude adjustment.”
“Yeah, about that what happened to dark you and I have an evil twin.” Johnny asked when they walked up to him gesturing to his younger self.
“As an immortal I exist outside the laws of time, that could explain why am affected differently.
In another part of the room past Sonya and Jax were talking about how it was weird not being in charge and having daughters their age.
“Look at her how do I have a kid with him.” Sonya asked.
“I can answer that one for you.” Kenshi said joining them as young Johnny continued to annoy older Johhny.
“This Raiden is certainly very different from the one we know.” Burryaga said to Sskeer as they continued to watch mostly silently from the sides.
Cassie and Raiden kept talking with them trying to decide what to do next.
“I must confer the Elder Gods. Liu Kang, Kung Lao. Please assist the special forces while I’m gone.” Raiden said looking at them as they entered the room with Jackie.
With Raiden gone Sonya walked over to Cassie who didn’t really know hoe to react calling her both mum and General.
“It’s strange for me too.” Sonya said with humor in her voice at Cassie’s fumble.
“You have no idea.” Cassie replied.
“What?”
“How do I say this. This morning, we were on a mission, and you gave your life to save us.”
“Son of a bitch. Seriously?” Sonya asked as she fell back in a chair close by.
Cassie went to say more before Jackie interrupted.
Showing her an incursion from NetherRealm at the Wu Shi Academy. That had to be because of the time anomaly that was currently happing.
Liu Kang turned to Kung Lao saying, “We must help our Shaolin masters.” Getting a nod in agreement from Kung Lao.
“Why would NetherRealm want to bust up your alma mater Kiu Lang.” Jaxs asked curious why NetherRealm would bother attacking them over a different target.
“The Dragon Grotto it is underneath the Academy. It helps shield EarthRealm from other planet invaders.”
Interested by what Liu Kang said, Sskeer and Burryaga walked over wondering what kind of magical force could help protect an entire planet, then again, they have seen stranger things on mission for the Jedi Order.
Kung Lao was positive that the NetherRealm forcers wouldn’t get the magical force that the Jedi present know now is the life force of EarthRealm. It sickened them to hear NetherRealm forces wanted to mess with a planet's life force.
Kung Lao was sure his and Liu Kang counterparts of the current time would be stopping them at this moment, making Jackie pull a face looking at Cassie.
“Kung Lao. Liu Kang you may want to seat down.”
Back with Shadowcaster, Zeb, and Digger they had left the arena and Kotal’s palace in order to track down and stop the Sith they fought in the arena. Following Digger who taped into his skills back when he was a Jedi Shadow, behind him his siters were talking about him.
“What could possibly have Digger so tense and upset he wanted to keep this himself.” Shadowcaster asked Zeb.
“I think it has less to do with the Sith that we fought and more with who they are allied with. I could sense Digger’s emotions when the brute who tried to kill our father appeared, and he saw him.” Zeb explained.
“You believe that Digger doesn’t want us to find out what happened between him and Shao. What happened though.”
“I don’t know I wasn’t able to sense it. It must be bad if Digger doesn’t want to discuss it or want it brought up.”
“He should tell us. We could help him with whatever it is.” Shadowcaster said ready to confront her brother and not let the subject go until he told her what was wrong.
“Wait you know better than most, that our brother will close himself up or become defensive if he feels cornered, we have to let him come to us in his own time.” Zeb said blocking her sister.
Coming back through the trees jumping from branch-to-branch Digger landed in one near his sister’s getting their attention. Stopping them from saying anything else, Digger slid down the tree using his claws.
“I can’t sense them anywhere. We might have a bigger problem though.
Ironhide contacted me tell me Feral appeared in front of the temple moments ago, confused hoe he got there, the last thing Feral claimed to remember he was with Griffin and Huntress in the Outer Rim and next thing a sandstorm tore him from there.”
“A sandstorm like the one that happened in the arena.” Shadowcaster asked afraid she knew what Digger was getting out.
“If Feral is here and he isn’t with Griffin and Huntress, where are they.” Zeb asked.
“That’s what Digger was hinting out he thinks they're here but not Jedi anymore, right? Shadowcaster asked making sure she was right.
“Yep, I think whoever is manipulating time has brought our siblings here and as Sith not Jedi.”
“Great that’s all we need. Wait is Feral okay.” Zeb asked.
“Yeah, he is unharmed and inside the temple.” Digger said making Zeb relax a little.
“What now Digger.” Shadowcaster asked.
“We need to stop the Sith all four of them. But we are going to need a better tracker.” Saying something into his com Digger waited for a response nodding his head. A ground bridge opened near the siblings with Fac Sun stepping out to take Zeb’s place, but Digger didn’t make her go back to the temple he requested her to join back up with their father. Until they found Griffin and Huntress then they would get her to comeback and send Fac back to the temple.
Not happy about being sent back, Zeb went anyway, understanding why her brother called Fac, upset that he was sending her away though just because she wasn’t a sentinel or tracker like they others.
“Zeb wait.” Turning around Zeb wasn’t prepared for her brother to hug her and hold her close like he was about to lose her.
“I’m sorry about snapping at you early, and I do think you’re a very capable Jedi but the smaller the group the less likely our siblings will be able to sense us. I promise as soon as we find them, I will contact you okay.” Digger said holding Zeb tight.
“I understand Dig. Really, I do.” Zeb replied returning the hug. Digger didn’t let go when Zeb went to pull away. That’s when it clicked for Zeb. Digger wasn’t just hugging her to apologize and make her feel better he wanted comfort himself, stressed about what was happening, but he wouldn’t say it. Wrapping her arms back around Digger. Zeb waited until he let go. Rubbing his back, not sure what to say at the moment.
Meanwhile Liu Kang and Kung Lao had arrived at the academy with Burryaga in tow. Walking along a stone path with decent reasonable kept gardens on either side. With Kung Lao still fixated on what Cassie told him.
“Obsessing over it won’t change our future.” Liu Kang said in response.
“Neither will accepting our fate as evil undead overlords.” Kung Lao countered.
“I’m not. But we can’t change a future we don’t fully understand. Lord Raiden will guide us.”
“Can we trust him. It appears he got us both killed.”
If Liu Kang was about to say something in response, Burryaga stopped him by point to the stairs leading up to the temple where the body of a dead monk lay.
Further up the doors to the academy the doors were open with the bodies of monks everywhere it was like a massacre took place with not one NetherRealm’s body present. None of the trio could believe what they were seeing.
“So many Shaolin. They died defending our sacred ground.” Liu Kang said.
For Burryaga it brought back memories of the night Order 66 was activated, remembering seeing Jedi getting gunned down around him.
Further inside the temple they came across the first trap, so Liu Kang knew who came here knew how to disarm them.
“Do you know how. The monks never taught me. Kung Lao asked.
“More likely you didn’t attend class. You have to watch the pattern.” Liu Kung said getting ready to go through the swinging axes.
Burryaga had other ideas and used the force to push the axes to one side allowing them to all walk through easily.
“I’m glad now he came along.” Kung Lao commented. “What’s next.”
“Everything poison gas, flame jets, flying spears.” Liu Kang said, as the trio walk into a chamber like room, covered in traps. There was different paths into and out of the room all covered in grates. Probably booby trapped to.
“Let’s avoid that.”
Suddenly grates came down blocking off all the exits.
“I did not do that.” Kung Lao said.
“No, I did.” Past Scorpion said appearing from the other side of the room after almost spearing Kung Lao.
“Of course you survived the time merger Scorpion.” Liu Kang said.
“You can’t stop Kronika. From restoring my family and clan.” Scorpion replied.
“If Scorpion doesn’t kill us these traps will find a way to shut them down.” Liu Kang said to Burryaga and Kung Lao as he went to take on Scorpion. The fight with Scorpion didn’t take long but Kung Lao couldn’t disable the traps. And as Scorpion was getting up, poison gas started to fill the room and a cage came down trapping Liu, Kung, and Burryaga. Scorpion got out of their leaving the trio to die. Burryaga used the force to shield them and keep the gas away refusing to let anyone to die. For some reason though the gas started to disappear and the spears that came out of the ground went back in. Burryaga then ripped the bars of part of the cage allowing them to escape.
That’s when revenant Jade came into the room followed by Scorpion.
“Jade what happened to you.” Liu Kang asked.
“An untimely death thanks to Raiden’s incompetence. You have been deceived Liu Kang.” Jade replied.
“You won’t get us to betray Raiden.” Liu Kang replied getting ready to take on Jade as Kung Lao took Scorpion this time as Burryaga stayed back with his lightsaber ignited if he needed to help one of them. The fight between Liu Kang was a little more difficult but he did beat her and went to help Kung Lao with Scorpion getting rid of him as Burryaga walked over with his lightsaber still ignited.
The dragon grotto is down there.” Liu Kang said as they walked to an entrance with the gate party down.
“What if the next revenants we have to fight are us.”
“Then we fight them, Kung Lao.”
Over with Raiden he had just appeared before the Elder Gods in their throne room. Celestial beings that controlled a certain planet in Outworld’s star system among other things like justice, harmony, elements, and so on one most Elder Gods were usually referred to as the god or goddess of two or more things and they appeared on their planet which was the smallest in the system, as dark masses with some sort of outline so they could be told apart.
“Elder Gods I have come to seek council, our system is in crisis.”
“The crisis is grave indeed Raiden, every being will be erased in a temporal Armageddon, even we Elder Gods aren’t immune even now our power weakens.” Cetrion tells Raiden.
‘I will fight, but how.” Raiden asked.
“You must find Kronika’s Keep and gain control of her Hourglass, only then will time’s momentum will be restored.”
“It will be done.” Raiden said then looked down almost ashamed and Cetrion noticed telling him to speak his mind.
“Since this time merger, I have learnt about my future. That my champions fall. That I become a tyrant. If I defeat Kronika, will I be consigned to the same grim fate.” Raiden asked looking back up.
“The restoration of time will not predetermine your destiny. That is for you to shape.”
Bowing in understanding Raiden left.
In the academy Liu. Kung, and Burryaga were getting closer to the grotto. Entering into the chamber to find Geras messing with it.
“A suppose there is no point in asking you to return those.” Liu Kang asked.
“They said you would come.” Geras replied not even turning to look at them.
“Who.” Liu Kang asked.
“Who do you think.” Revenant Liu Kang said from the side walking into the chamber with revenant Kung Lao alongside him.
Walking over to their younger selves the revenants spoke of what happened to them or what they wanted Liu and Kung to believe, it didn’t work out as thought because Kung Lao and Liu Kung went after their own revenants and even though the revenants were older than their younger counterparts they didn’t fare so well.
With Liu and Kung distracted, Geras smiled thinking he was going to be able to finish what he was doing, until a blue lightsaber appeared just above his hand.
“You my want to put those back, before I have to force you too.” Burryaga said.
“You can’t kill me am an immortal.” Geras said finally looking away at Burryaga.
“I never said I was going to kill you. You should never get in fight with a Wookie so I will ask only one more time before resorting to combat. Put them back.” Burryaga said, only for Geras to try and attack him.
After they defeated their revenants Liu and Kung turned to see Burryaga and Geras locked up in a fight, in order to help Burryaga. Kung Lao through his hat that had a razor-sharp edge at Geras slicing his head clean off. Stepping back Burryaga like Digger knew that how this planet decided to handle their criminals was not something the Jedi had a say in even if they didn’t agree.
Thinking it was over, the trio went to leave when Geras’ head turned into sand and started to move back to his body bringing him back to life.
“I, Geras, am a fixed point in time. With every death and rebirth. I grow stronger.”
Choosing to attack him at the same time Liu and Kung managed to get Geras drop the vials that he stole, Kung Lao decided to take it on himself to take on Geras and told Liu Kang to get the vials. Despite thinking Kung Lao didn’t stand a chance against him, Kung Lao defeated Geras relatively easily.
As all three stand together with Liu Kang in possession of the vials and Burryaga with his lightsaber. They waited to see if Geras would get back up and he did, unfortunately, to the annoyance of all three.
“You Shaolin monks exceed your reputation. I respect your spirit, but Kronika’s will must be down.”
All going to attack Geras he froze all three of them almost like he froze time around them, taking the vials back as Kronika arrived. Handing the vials Geras told Kronika that he thought that Liu Kang and Kung Lao were too dangerous to be left alive, completely ignoring the Jedi for some unknown reason.
“If they die, their revenant selves will cease to exist. We need them to defend the Keep.” Kronika explained looking slightly annoyed.
Geras and Kronika disappeared freeing the trio as Kronika returned to her keep.
Going up to Shao and Sektor, Kronika asked them of their progress and Shao promised the army Kronika would be hers once Kotal is dead, and Sektor told her the Cyber Lin Kuei factory was up and running.
Raiden appeared back at the military base to find Liu and Kung practicing, stopping immediately when he arrived. Wanting to know what he found out and he told them everything the Elder Gods told him. Kung Lao wants very happy to hear that everything that was being said was right and Raiden did play a hand in their deaths. He still bowed his head when Raiden valued to keep him safe. Even if he was still kind of conflicted. Burryaga and Sskeer sensed to and wished to speak to Digger about what to do next, they couldn’t get hold of him, so they stayed put with the special forces for now.
When Raiden got back in the base, he asked Cassie if she knew what effect Kronika had on the other planets in the system.
‘Not all planets seem to be affected. But Grandmasters Sub Zero and Scorpion report heavy losses to their clan. The time merger has resurrected an old enemy Sektor.”
“Wasn’t he the Grandmaster years ago the enslaved the Lin Kuei.” Raiden asked.
“That’s him. He has reactivated and upgraded the same factory he used before to turn the Lin Kuei into cyber killing machines.”
“What of the Grandmasters.” Raiden asked. Keeping his surprise about Sub Zero and Scorpion joining clans to himself.
“They are on their way to the factory, with the Grandmaster of the Jedi they contacted.” Cassie replied.
“Digger, Grandmaster Digger.” Raiden asked surprised. Remembering Digger as just a Jedi Master in his time and the relationship they shared when he raised him and intimately when he came to Outworld to fight in the tournament before he was taken away from him.
Earlier when Digger received the request for help, he called Zeb back to rejoin the search for their siblings and left to join the Sub Zero and Scorpion, stopping by the Jedi temple to pick up Akial first because he had a hunch, he could be very helpful. And asked Bumblebee and Wheeljack to be ready if they needed backup.
