The Spider of Earthrealm (Male Spider-Man Reader x Mortal Kombat)

Chapter 35: Cyber Lin-Kuei

In the desert outside of the Special Forces base, Raiden teleports in, finding past Y/N, Liu Kang and Kung Lao sparring with each other. They stop as soon as they see Raiden and walk toward him. 

Past Y/N: Raiden, what did the Elder Gods say? 

Raiden: We must find Kronika. Wrest the control of history from her. If we succeed, our destiny can change. 

They walk toward the base. 

Kung Lao: So what we were told is true? You were... involved... in our deaths? 

Raiden: Yes. Had the timeline continued, my decisions would have led to your deaths. But the Elder Gods assure me that such a future is not inevitable. This is but one of many possible timelines. 

Kung Lao: That is a lot to take on faith. 

Liu Kang slaps him lightly in the stomach at these words. 

Raiden: Rest assured, Kung Lao. I am aware now of what may come. I will not bring harm to either of you. You have my vow. 

They all come to a halt. 

Liu Kang: Thank you, Lord Raiden. 

Liu Kang and Kung Lao clasp their hands and bow to him, though Kung Lao still remains suspicious. 

Past Y/N: So, what's the plan?

Raiden: We must find Kronika's Keep and strike it, as hard and as fast as we can muster, before all is lost. 

Inside the Special Forces command centre, Raiden is speaking with Cassie over the holographic command table. 

Raiden: What have you learned about Kronika's effect on Earthrealm? 

Cassie: We're tracking sites around the globe with major temporal anomalies. Picture's still fuzzy... 

While she's talking, the older Johnny Cage is sitting with the younger Sonya who looks over at her. 

Johnny: Our kid's something, isn't she? 

Sonya: Umm... Cage, I'm not "your" Sonya. 

Johnny immediately looks abashed at this reminder. 

Johnny: Sorry. Too easy to forget. 

As he steps away, Cassie continues talking. 

Cassie: We've prioritized info that correlates attacks from the Netherrealm with time anomalies. 

Raiden: Helpful. But we have more to worry about than the Netherrealm. 

Cassie: Yeah, we do. Grandmaster Sub-Zero reports heavy losses to his Lin Kuei clan. The time merger has resurrected his old enemy, Sektor. 

Raiden: Sektor? Was he not the Grandmaster who years ago enslaved the Lin Kuei? 

Cassie: That's him. 

She generates a holographic image of Sektor in his robotic form. 

Cassie: He's reactivating and upgrading the same factory he built to convert the Lin Kuei into cyber killing machines. 

Rainen: Undoubtedly to construct new and more powerful Cyber Lin Kuei. Kronika may seek to co-opt them. What of Sub-Zero? 

Cassie: Already on his way to shut down the factory. Grandmaster Hasashi and Frost are going with him. 

Raiden: Grandmaster Hasashi? Hanzo Hasashi? 

On a nearby hill, the Lin Kuei cryomancer Kuai Liang is with his protege, Frost both laying on their bellies overlooking the quarry with a spyglass. Sub-Zero gaze focuses on an underground entrance built into one of the rocky hills of the quarry. Several converted cyborgs are carrying equipment further into the complex. As Sub-Zero continues to observe, a yellow garbed ninja sneaks up behind them. Sensing his approach, Sub-Zero looks away from the spyglass and turns around just as the ninja pulls out his ninjato sword. He is unable to do anything more as the faster ninja brings his sword to bear, pointing it in his direction. Sub-Zero finally gets a good look at the ninja and his face sags in bemusement.