(SCENE: REFUGEE CAMP) (POV: OSCAR)

Me and my group are escorting Quan Chi to his a holding cell, which is just a shipping container, until we're ready to make him spill the beans about Shinnok & everything.

Thankfully, he's wearing the new cuffs me, Raiden & Fujin have been constructing ever since Quan Chi escaped us after our one moment in the Netherrealm.

"Sit." Kenshi orders as he forces Quan Chi to sit down. "I'm guessing this isn't your first time in cuffs. What's your safe word?" Johnny jokingly ask as Quan Chi gives him a glare. "Seriously?" I asked as Johnny simply shrugs his shoulders.

We then exit the shipping container as it closed behind us. We approached Sonya as she was giving orders to some soldiers. "Advise Secretary Blake that Quan Chi is in custody. We'll be moving him to the supermax facility at Fort Charles within the hour." We heard Sonya order as the soldiers left.

She then turn to us. "Johnny, Kenshi, you two will guard him till prisoner transfer at twenty. Oscar, you and your group shall be on standby until further notice." She says as she pulls out a phone and pressed a few numbers in it.

"Now she trusts me to babysit." Johnny sarcastically & humorously says as Sonya starts talking. "Cassie, report." Sonya says into the phone. 'We tried following D'Vorah's trail, but it went cold when we reached the Makeba Cliffs.' Cassie says through the phone. "Damn. Think you can pick up her trail?" Sonya asks.

'Yes. Jacqui thinks D'Vorah's unique physiology may allow us to pinpoint her location. She's reprogramming her smart-comm to track D'Vorah's pheromones." I heard Eri say through the phone. "How long?" Sonya asks.

'Don't know. Jacqui's best bets are two hours.' Cassie says as Sonya sighs in exhaustion. She then rubs the temples of her nose as she speaks again. "Not 100% sure we have that time, Cassie. Try to see if you can bump down to 45 minutes. If not, come back to base." Sonya orders. 'We'll try, can't guarantee anything.' Cassie says as she hung up.

"General, we have a visitor." Kenshi says as we all turn to see Grandmaster Hasashi approaching. "You two are friends, right? He say anything about a visit?" Johnny asks as Kenshi shook his head. "Nothing." He says as Sonya approach Hanzo.

"General." He says as he bows in front of Sonya. "Master Hasashi. I hadn't received word you were coming." Sonya says. "My arrival is unexpected, yes. But it is for a good reason. I require Quan Chi." He explains as we were slightly taken back at this.

"Sorry Hanzo, but we can't. We have everyone under control." Sonya says as Hanzo's face suddenly turn to anger. "He must die." He says as I was starting to get a bad feeling about this. "You can't kill him. Raiden wants him to dispel the Revenant Copies." Sonya says, trying to reason with Hanzo.

"Only Quan Chi's death concerns me." Hanzo says as I stepped into the conversation. "And his death could doom thousands, many even millions. I can sense your desire is born from vengeance. I know that feeling: when I was betrayed by nearly everyone in my own world, I too sought revenge. I just didn't know how to do it back then. Once Cetrion and the others gave me my powers & weapons, the second thing that came to mine was me getting my revenge against those who wronged me. But once I saw you and what revenge & vengeance has done to you, I realized vengeance leads to suffering. I know our pains are different, but we share common ground: we both lose something precious to us. You lose your family & I lost both my honor and the trust I had towards those I once call allies. I've moved passed my vengeance & it saved me. To save yourself, you must do the same. Hanzo, you've earned great trust towards many: gods, soldiers & so on. Don't waste the future of this world nor of your clan's honor or trust by murdering a weakened sorcerer." I explained to him.

"That weakened sorcerer is the architect of my suffering." Hanzo reveals, shocking many of us. "Let me explain." He says as he starts telling us his story.

(POV CHANGE: 3RD PERSON)

(Flashback: Lin Kuei Temple (5 Years Ago))

Hanzo arrives at the Lin Kuei Temple to see a table with tea making items on it. Feeling suspicious of this, he was about to leave when Sub-Zero, Frost, Cyrax & Smoke exit the temple and approached Hanzo.

"Grandmaster Hasashi, we're grateful that you've come." Sub-Zero says as he and the others bowed towards Hanzo. "Speak your minds. I do not wish to linger here." Hanzo says with disinterest as Sub-Zero gestures towards the table.

He sits down at the table and starts making tea while Frost, Cyrax & Smoke are behind him. "You re-established the Shirai Ryu while we reform the Lin Kuei. We both seek to shed our clans dark pasts. Dedicate them to the protection of Earthrealm. Our common purpose gives us a chance to end old rivalries. To start anew." Sub-Zero explains.

"You and your comrades will confess what you've long denied? That your clans hands are soaked in Shirai Ryu blood? In the blood of my wife & child?" Hanzo questions as Sub-Zero's face shows regret. "Our honor is indeed stained." Sub-Zero solemnly says as Frost, Smoke & Cyrax nods in agreement.

He then gestures to the seat in front of him. "Please, sit." He says as Hanzo reluctantly applies. "After you were freed from Quan Chi's enslavement & I from my cyberization, I sought out my clan. With the previous Grandmaster, Sektor & Hydro dead, I figured our clan's redemption would be simple. But the clan's cyberization makes that near impossible. Or so I thought, until I discovered the notes to reverse the cyberization process. With them, I can reform the Lin Kuei and restore our honor." Sub-Zero explains while nearly completing the tea.

"I am not interested in Lin Kuei politics, Sub-Zero." Hanzo says as Sub-Zero completes the tea. "But amongst the notes, I discover the truth: the Lin Kuei had not sacrificed its honor with the Cyber Initiative. We had abandoned it long before." Sub-Zero reveals as he hands Hanzo the tea.

Hanzo doesn't say anything as he dumps the tea aside. "Spare me your deceit, Sub-Zero. But your words are nothing but empty." He says as he stands up and was about to leave when Sub-Zero stopped him. "If my words won't work, then how about Sektor's & Quan Chi's?" Sub-Zero asks as this caught Hanzo's attention.

The group enters the Lin Kuei Temple. "For years, we thought you've unfairly blamed the Lin Kuei for the massacre of your family & clan." Sub-Zero says as he takes out the Dragon's medallion and points it towards his throne.

Suddenly, the floor opened up as his throne sank down into the floor and in its place is a table with robot parts of familiar origins. "But Sektor's cyber preserve memories revealed the truth." He says as he nod his head towards Cyrax, who nods back.

Cyrax approached the table and pressed a button on Sektor's arm as it projected a hologram of Quan Chi in front of them. 'The Lin Kuei need to abide their agreements, Sektor. The Grandmaster gave Shinnok his word.' The hologram of Quan Chi says.

'Shinnok's currency is lies, as is yours.' Sektor says. 'Payment is due. I exterminated the Shirai Ryu as promised.' Quan Chi says, shocking Hanzo greatly. 'Hanzo Hasashi lives, he's your specter Scorpion.' Sektor says as Hanzo started getting upset.

'I created Scorpion from Hasashi's soul after he died. We observed the agreement.' Quan Chi says. 'The letter, not the spirit. You are owed nothing.' Sektor says as the hologram dissipated, leaving Hanzo filled with guilt and horror.

"Harumi...Satoshi." He says in horror. "Had I known of our Clan's aid in the Shirai Ryu's extinction, our history would be different." Sub-Zero says. "I killed your brother, because I thought he-" Hanzo starts to speak, but Sub-Zero stops him. "Quan Chi is responsible for Bi-Han's death." Sub-Zero says.

Hanzo's face went from guilt to anger. "Sektor was wrong. There is a debt to be paid & Quan Chi will it." He says as he and Sub-Zero bow towards one another in respect and as a sign of ending both their rivalry & the bad blood between both clans.

(End Flashback)

(POV CHANGE: OSCAR)

"And that is why I want to kill Quan Chi." He says, finishing his story. I know something was amiss with Quan Chi & Scorpion, but I never thought this would be possible. "Hanzo, I now understand why you need to kill Quan Chi, but now is not a good time for it. I'm sure we can build a compromise, if you are willing to hear it." I explain, trying to reason with him.

Hanzo says nothing as he was contemplating on what to say. But before he could even answer, the sounds of screaming caught our attention. Quickly turning around, we saw D'Vorah killing some of our men via ovipositors and acid. "Shit." I cursed under my breath as we rushed over to stop D'Vorah.

She finished killing some soldiers as we arrived. "Step five paces back from the shipping container and you won't get hurt, bug." I warned while pulling out my swords as D'Vorah scoffs at this. "This One doesn't fear you, Luonto." D'Vorah says as I prepare to fight her when Hanzo stopped me.

"I shall handle her." He says as he approaches D'Vorah. "Shinnok shall not return, D'Vorah. And we'll make sure of it." Hanzo says as he prepares to fight D'Vorah. "So eager to lose another clan, Scorpion? That's what your clan will face for defying Shinnok." She says as she & Hanzo battle.

While they battle, me and my group decide to check on Quan Chi. "Better see if D'Vorah screw with the locks." I said to myself as I placed my hands on the container and used my powers to check it for acid burns or insects sabotage. So far, nothing came up.

Odd. She could've send her bugs to disable the locks or used her acid to melt a door open for him to escape. Perhaps, she doesn't wish to aid in his escape. No, that doesn't make sense.

But then, a thought came to mind. A thought that quickly became a realization. "EVERYONE GET CLEAR!" I exclaimed as I grabbed them with my vines & roots and leapt away from the container.

Suddenly, dark crimson energy burst out from the container and into the sky. We were all blinded by the light. Once it died down, we all look towards the container to see a face we never want to see again.

"Shinnok." I growled under my breath as I draw my swords and jumped at him. However, he used his powers to stop me mid air and sent me flying back towards my group, knocking us out.

(POV CHANGE: 3RD PERSON)

After Oscar & his group were knocked out, the others tried to stop Shinnok, but they all got knocked out with a dark crimson blast. "How small they are." He says as D'Vorah approaches him.

"This One greets Lord Shinnok." She says as she bowed in respect at the Fallen Elder God. "Quan Chi chose his servants well. He was wise to restore me in Earthrealm, behind their defenses." Shinnok says as he approaches D'Vorah.

"Quan Chi deceived them. Allowed himself to be captured. He knew they would bring him here." D'Vorah explains as Shinnok looks over to the barely conscious Quan Chi. "A pity he could not live to see his work completed." He says as he turns to Johnny & Oscar.

"There will be no surprises from you, Mister Cage & my foolish Brother in Law. Bring them." He orders as D'Vorah goes to do just that. Suddenly, the Revenants appeared through a portal as Shinnok turns to them.

"Praise be to Lord Shinnok." Revenant Liu Kang says while he and the other Revenants bowed in respect at the Fallen Elder God. "Let us be on our way." He says. "There is an Earthrealm force in Netherrealm." Revenant Kung Lao says. "I am aware. They will be neutralized." Shinnok says as he and his forces leaves through a portal.

Shortly after they left, Cassie & her team show up through a portal. Once they emerged through and saw the aftermath, they immediately rush to the sides of their fallen. "Mom!" Cassie exclaims in horror as she helps her mother onto her feet. "Where's Dad?" Cassie asks.

"Shinnok has him. Both him & Oscar." Sonya says as Eri heard this and rushed to Sonya's side. "Shinnok has my Dad? Where are they going?" She asks. "At the Sky Temple." Hanzo says as Kung Jin helps him up.

Once everyone has been helped, Cassie turns to the team with a determined look on her face. "Team, it's time to save the world." She says.

(Here's chapter 22 done. Again, sorry for the wait. You know the usual: video games, new story ideas and so on & so forth. Anywho, next chapter will bring us to Raiden's Sky Temple.)