Aeroplane Control Room

Man... Six weeks after seeing this thing for the first time and it still amazed him. These airplanes were like an advanced version of the airships back in his homeworld and it had something called an autopilot to help steer it when the pilot needed a quick break, and all these fancy monitors that helped with whatever they do, Spike honestly wished this kinda stuff existed in his homeworld, it would certainly cut travel time in half.

The control room was where Spike and his teammates were currently gathered, listening to Mr. Cage’s account of the war against Shinnok and his defeat by the hands of both him and Syzoth. Syzoth had told him about it already, but he also once told him that getting another’s perspective could help understand that more than just one person plays an important role.

"Raiden later told me that I’m descended from some Mediterranean war cult. ‘Bred as warrior’s for the gods.’ He said." Mr. Cage said as he sat down. "I’ve never been able to re-summon that green halo. Raiden thinks it was triggered when I saw a loved one about to die…"

There was a moment of awkward silence before Kung Jin spoke up. "How ‘bout you, Cassie? Can you summon anything like that? Or did it skip a generation?" He asked with a smirk on his face. Spike could only roll his eyes. Jin was an excellent marksman and martial artist, but geez! His attitude and arrogance could almost put Rainbow Dash to shame.

Takeda Takahashi on the other hand. "Will you take it easy Jin?" Takeda was Jin’s opposite in a lot of ways and was pretty much the peace keeper of the team, second only to Mr. Cage. Because of this, Takeda and Spike had hit it off almost immediately and he was a great sparring partner as well.

"We didn’t need a halo in Darfur... Or Iran, or Kurdistan. Did we, Jacqui?" Cassie gestured to her friend sitting next to her.

Jacqueline ‘Jacqui’ Briggs. Best friend of Cassie and technical second in command. Like Cassie, Jaqui was the daughter of a well respected member of the Special Forces and both her and Cassie’s parents were old friends. Spike had actually met both of them once when the three of them were kids. He turned his gaze down toward the small scar that was in the middle of her left forearm. He felt a small surge of guilt, but quickly bit it down. She had forgiven him for it and he wouldn’t waste time over it.

"Nope, we didn’t. Shaolin monks ever send you there, Jin?" She said back at Jin.

The 'monk' scowled. "I’ve seen plenty of action. Takeda and I both. Stuff that would blow your Special Forces minds-"

“Oh, put a sock in it Jin.” Spike interrupted. “Can’t you just accept that some people have just as much experience as you do?” The dragon stated, crossing his arms indignantly.

Jin immediately turned his glare toward him. “This coming from the overgrown lizard who hasn’t even been out on the field before!?” He shouted.

Spike growled at him. “Fuck-!”

Takeda, who was sitting between them, quickly used his hands to push them away long enough for Johnny to stop the argument before it could spiral further. "At ease, both of you!" The loud burst immediately both of them down, but still glaring at each other. Once they were calm again, Johnny continued. "Listen, you’re all here because you deserve to be. You’re all beautiful and unique snowflakes."

Everyone just stared at him, confused by the strange compliment. Spike leaned toward Takeda and whispered. "Is he comparing us to snowflakes? Aren’t they supposed to be small and fragile?"

Takeda chuckled and whispered back. "I know right? I think this is his way of calling ‘us’ small and fragile." Collective laughter filled the room, Johnny smiled, having managed to get most of the tension in the room gone, even for a few minutes.

Once the laughter settled he continued. "Now... As I’m sure you’re unaware, judging from the lack of gift cards... Today is our team’s six week anniversary. Secretary Blake says he’s pleased with our progress."

Spike couldn’t help but snort. "No offense Mr. Cage, but the guy is too easily impressed."

Surprisingly, Jin nodded in agreement. "I know right? You could spit in his hair and he’d be ‘pleased with our progress.’ I mean, seriously!" He said mockingly.

Jaqui rolled her at the two men’s comments. "While I agree with you guys a little, you have to admit he was smart enough to have Mr. Cage put this team together."

Takeda nodded in agreement. "Well, I for one, am glad the Shirai-Ryu chose me to join this team. New places…" He looked at Jacqui, his cheeks blushing a little. "...New Faces." Jacqui noticed him looking at her and looked away embarrassed.

Spike looked at the other’s and sighed inwardly. "At least you guys are sure of your placement on the team. I’m still wondering why I was chosen to represent Zatera... I’m not even a true Zateran…" His depressed thoughts came to a halt when Mr. Cage spoke up again.

"Well, as the secretary pointed out, us older folk are gonna retire someday. Which means…" He turned toward all of them. "It’s time for your generation to step up. Shaolin, S-F, Shirai-Ryu, Zateran, and once Master Sub-Zero’s apprentice finishes her training, the Lin-Kuei. All together."

He stood near the entrance of the control room. "And for your team’s first mission, your going to the Zateran Royal Palace." That one sentence caused Spike to bolt out of his seat in shock, surprising Takeda.

"Wait, What!? Is something happening!?" He asked, completely alarmed.

Mr. Cage immediately put both hands up. "Hey! Easy kid. Everything’s fine, at least as far as we know."

That didn’t do much to calm the young dragon and he slumped a little in his seat and ran a claw through his shaved spines. "There’s no way that they would... That He would risk everything they have with this alliance... Would he?" He thought to himself.

Spike felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked to his right to see Takeda looking at him with a worried look on his face. "Are you alright? You're looking a little pale there."

Spike quickly straightened himself and took a deep breath. He looked back at Takeda. "Ye..yeah I... I’m fine. Thanks."

Seeing that the dragon was calmer, if still a little tense, Johnny continued. "We haven’t heard from Rept-." He cleared his throat after the slip up. "I mean, General Syzoth, in a while... So we need to make sure that he and the rest of Zatera are still on our side. That they have our backs if things with Outworld flare up again." He crossed his arms. "You need to bring the General in. But don’t be surprised if he isn’t willing to cooperate."

Spike could only cross his own arms, irritated. "Dammit Syzoth... You better explain what the hell is going on…" He thought bitterly.

Cassie took the time to speak up. "Why be worried about Outworld? I thought Kotal Kahn respected the Reiko Awards?" She asked.

Spike spoke before her dad could. "He does. But with that civil war he’s dealing with there, there’s a chance the rebels will win. They do, and those Accords will be nothing but dust, like Shao Kahn." The young dragon chuckled.

Johnny chuckled as well. "Scales is right." He clapped his hands. "Now, it’ll take at least three hours to arrive in Zatera. That should give you enough time to cobble together a plan. Meanwhile, I’ll make sure this thing gets there in one piece. So, Cassie, you're in charge of the planning." He turned and left through the door. "Good luck." He did a quick salute and the door closed as he left.

Another awkward silence fell as everyone’s eyes turned to Cassie. She rubbed the back of her neck and cleared her throat. "Alright then... Spike?" She gestured to the purple dragon.

Despite his nerves, he stood at attention. "Yes, Cass?"

She pointed toward the main monitor. "There should be a file on the Zatera Royal Palace in our database. Since you know that place better than the rest of us, you're in charge of deciding the best routes of entry. And once that’s done, we’ll figure out what assigned role we will each have in this operation." She explained.

Spike sat down and nodded nervously and began pulling up the schematics and images of the palace. "Okay Spike... Everything will be fine. I’m sure Syzoth will be willing to explain what’s going on... I hope…" He thought grimly as he worked.

Cockpit

Johnny walked into the cockpit and locked the door securely. "Alright, they should be busy for a while. I better call and make sure everything’s ready for when we arrive." He sat down in the pilot’s seat and pressed a few buttons under a monitor next to the console.

A few seconds passed before a blurry image of a figure appeared on the monitor. After another few seconds, the image cleared up, revealing a reptilian face. "Johnny Cage, to what do I owe this interruption of our preparations?" The voice asked annoyed.

The movie star chuckled. "Relax Syzoth. Just calling in to see if these 'preparations' are almost finished." He leaned back in his seat.

The image of Syzoth shook its head and sighed. "Our test for the team will be ready by the time you arrive. Though I must ask. Why were we asked to participate in this test of yours?" He said with a raised brow.

Johnny sighed and sat up straight. "I had a feeling you would ask that. Well, we were originally planning to have the Lin-Kuei set up this test, but Sub-Zero is busy with a test for one of his students, some chick named... Ember, I think?" He cleared his throat. “You were next in line in case Lin-Kuei couldn’t do the job."

Syzoth closed his eyes as he processed the information. "I see…" He looked back up at Johnny. "How did he take it?" He asked softly, his voice dripping with concern.

The actor raised an eyebrow. "Who? Scales? He freaked out for a second, but he calmed down pretty quick... If a little tense." He sat up in his seat. "Why? Are you worried?"

The reptilian warrior crossed his arms, sighed, and looked down. "No... I’m not worried. I was the one who recommended him for your team." The look on his face said otherwise.

Johnny wasn’t fooled. "You know, it’s fine to be the concerned parent instead of trying to play the tough guy twenty four/seven, right?"

Syzoth was silent for a minute before letting a long sigh. "I... Have been questioning myself on my decision to have him join your team so soon after his graduation. I... am worried that I had been hasty when Queen Khamel asked me to pick the representative for Zatera."

"So you're saying you want him to resign?" The kid was a rookie, but he was very skilled, and he’d hate to lose him before he had a chance to prove himself.

The Zateran quickly shook his head. "No no... I am confident in his abilities. I’m just worried he won’t be able to face me in a straight fight during this test." Syzoth rubbed a claw down his face. "No... Now’s not the time to be worrying about such things. Rest assured, everything will be ready for when you arrive."

Johnny shook his head and sighed. "Alright, but seriously. This is something you and Spike should talk about when this training exercise is over. Aren’t you coming back with us to talk to Sonya, or something?"

Syzoth was silent for a moment before speaking. "I’ll… I'll think about it... signing off." With that, the monitor was turned off.

Johnny shook his head and began starting the plane. "Yeesh... Twenty seven years of raising the kid and he still has doubts... Ah well, not everyone can be as confident as me." As the plane’s engine began to start, his thoughts briefly turned to the Lin-Kuei graduate who was supposed to be joining them soon.

"Ember huh? Wonder what she’ll be like…"

Ember

Lin-Kuei Temple, Training Arena

Deep in the snowy mountains of Articka, the Lin-Kuei temple stood tall against the freezing winds. The clan was once known to have a fearsome reputation as a mercenary group who struck fear into those they targeted. With the death of Sektor and the destruction of the Cyber Lin-Kuei however, the new leader, Kuai Liang aka Sub-Zero, was intent on changing the clan into something better.

In the training arena, a great test was being prepared. One of the current apprentices was taking one final test in order to become a true member of the clan.

Most of the clan was gathered around the arena, many licking their wounds from participating in the apprentice’s last ten rounds of her test.

In the center of the arena, an adult cyan blue Dragoness dressed in the Lin-Kuei apprentice garb, was currently kneeling and panting from the past ten rounds she just endured. “Well... They weren’t kidding when they said this test was difficult...” She thought as she finished catching her breath, she stood back up with the help of her combat staff.

Taking in one last breath, she looked up toward the other end of the room, where the three leaders of Lin-Kuei were gathered. Master Akechi, Master Cyrax, and Grandmaster Sub-Zero.

Sub-Zero went forward and cleared his throat, getting the clan’s attention. "You have done well so far Ember, but your test is not over yet." He and the other two masters stood up. "Now, you must face the three of us in Kombat." He then gestured toward Akechi who was wearing a uniform that was a mix of blue and red. "Master Akechi shall be your first opponent."

Akechi entered the arena and stood across from Ember. A smile full of pride adorned his face. "You have grown from the reckless teenager I found lost in the mountains into a strong and independent young woman. I am proud of you."

Ember smiled back. "It's thanks to you master." The smile faded into a competitive smirk. "Don't think that means I'm going to go easy on you!" She quickly got into her battle pose, holding her combat staff forward to the older man, who held a pair of sai's in his hands and assumed his own pose.

The old man grinned. "I would expect no less from you. Now… begin!"

Author's Note

Just ofr clarity's sake, this will be Syzoth's outfit in the present.

Art by Raggedy-Annedroid on deviantart

And this will be his outfit in flashbacks.