Sky Temple Pt.1

Ferra/Torr charged forward, with Alex throwing an arm in front of Cassie to protect her. Suddenly, the symbiotic pair are frozen solid by an ice blast. More blasts follow, freezing the soldiers who come too close to Team S-F. Sub-Zero walks into the clearing, flanked by his Lin Kuei disciples. The warriors charge into battle without hesitation, forcing Kotal's forces to engage them. Team S-F breaks free and make a run for it, stopping as Sub-Zero walks towards them.

"You stood together against formidable odds. Lesser warriors would not have fared so well."

"Thanks, Grandmaster."

"I will remain here to push Kotal Kahn back to Outworld. Proceed to the Sky Temple. Earthrealm's fate lies with you."

Sub-Zero looked to Alex and gave him a bow of respect which surprised the young half-Outworlder. Alex returned the gesture of respect to the Lin Kuei Grandmaster. They head off as Sub-Zero walks toward the battle. The scene cuts to the Sky Temple. Team S-F creeps up behind a wall overlooking a crevice as D'Vorah speaks with Liu Kang, Kitana, and Sindel.

"Lord Shinnok is nearly finished. Soon the Jinsei's corruption will be irreversible."

"The invasion can then proceed. Raiden and his allies will be unable to offer resistance."

Kung Jin missteps and some stones crumble under his feet and fall into the crevice below them. Takeda and Cassie stop Jin from falling. Alex and Jacqui look back toward Takeda and Cassie before watching the Revenants

"Once the realm falls, our path to victory will be clear. Advise Lord Shinnok that the Oni and Orochi are ready. At his command, we'll unleash them on Earthrealm."

D'Vorah nods and walks into the Sky Temple. Kung Lao and Smoke walk up to the rest of the revenants. Sindel inquires

"Have you found Raiden's portal to the Heavens?"

"Yes, but his wards protect it. We can't breakthrough."

Team S-F peer over the wall at the revenants. Sindel growls

"That is unacceptable. After Earthrealm is destroyed, we must complete Lord Shinnok's vengeance; invade the Heavens and destroy the Elder Gods."

Liu Kang says

"Come."

The three male revenants walk off. Cassie, Takeda, Jacqui, and Jin all muse

"Make war on the Heavens?! If Shinnok can take down the Elder Gods--"

"End of the universe. Got it."

"Kung Lao... to see him like this…"

"We'll all be hangin' 'round the Netherrealm water cooler if we don't pull this off. C'mon."

Cassie says as they follow Alex as they creep along the wall, a rock comes loose from where Takeda puts his foot. Unlike Kung Jin before him, the rest of Team S-F are unable to catch him and he falls, just barely grabbing into the crevice edge in time. Jacqui yells

"Takeda!"

She reaches her hand for Takeda to grab, as does Alex. Sindel and Kitana notice the noise. Realizing they've been spotted, Cassie motions to Jin and they spring out of cover, running forward and engaging in kombat.

Kung Jin swings his staff at Kitana as Cassie fends off Sindel's strikes. Kitana gets through Jin's staff swings, punches him in the stomach, and kicks him in the face as he bends over, staggering him. Cassie punches Sindel, who blocks two more strikes from her and sends her reeling with a punch of her own. Cassie begins to retreat as Sindel advances on her.

"Has your mother ever told you what I did to her friends? Killed them all in the blink of an eye."

"And your own daughter. Are you proud of that?"

"We are bonded in death. You will join us and I will give you a proper upbringing!"

They fight. Without the magic of Shang Tsung and his consumed souls in Sindel's body, she is unable to bring up the same power and strength that killed so many of Earthrealm's warriors. That is why she finds herself unable to take down Cassie so easily and that allows the leader of Team S-F to rally and beat her down, eventually leaving her unconscious on the ground.

"Nice offer, Mommy Dearest, but I'll pass."

Jacqui is still trying to reach down and pull Takeda up from a sticky end at the bottom of the crevice the Sky Temple rests on, as does Alex. Takeda strains to reach Alex and Jacqui's outstretched hands. Alex encourages

"Takeda! Give me your hand!"

Takeda suddenly loses his grip and falls... but Jacqui leans down and grabs his hand in the nick of time. Both struggle for a few moments, but eventually Jacqui, with Alex's help, pull Takeda back up. Takeda says to both

"I owe you one."

Jacqui pats him on the shoulder.

"I'll remember that."

Kung Jin yells out as he is flung backward, crashing into the large gong in the temple courtyard. He passes out from the collision. His yell gets the trio's attention redrawn to the fight at hand. As Kitana moves in to finish him, Cassie calls out to her.

"Back off, princess!"

"You think mere words can stop me?"

Kitana turns as she spots Takeda and Jacqui running toward her. The three of them surround the revenant.

"Thanks for the assist."

"Any time."

"Tick tock, ladies."

Kitana blocks strikes from Cassie and Jacqui with her fans, kicking Cassie away at the same time she punches Jacqui backward. Takeda lands two punches across her face, but she blocks a third and counters with a roundhouse kick that staggers him. She then levitates him and Jacqui into the air with her fan-nado attack and chucks her fans into his abdomen. She follows up on Jacqui by throwing her remaining fan into her shoulder. With them both down, Kitana recalls both fans to her and twirls them around, turning to face Cassie.

"No!"

"You wish to die first? So be it."

They fight. Kitana proves to be a huge test for Cassie, as her speed and skill in battle matches and surpasses the young Earthrealmer. However, Cassie shows that she has tricks of her own up her sleeve, and these allow her to remain in the fight and take it to the revenant. After a fierce battle, Cassie manages to emerge victorious.

"You're not killing anyone."

As Kung Jin pulls himself to a seated position, with Alex's help, Cassie rushes over to Takeda.

"Help Jacqui!"

Realizing the situation is dire, Jin does as he's told for once, and Alex follows him, watching the Shaolin's six. Cassie helps Takeda to his feet. He's favoring his abdomen, which is bloodied up from Kitana's fan.

"Messed you up bad."

"Ugh, great bedside manner. I can fight."

Cassie puts his arm around her shoulder to support him. They walk over to Jin, Alex, and Jacqui, who's sitting down and favoring her shoulder. Cassie asks worriedly for her childhood friend

"Jacqui?"

"It's nothing. Just like Kurdistan."

Team S-F hears someone call out in Chinese. They turn to spot Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Smoke rushing toward them.