Mortal Flame (Cassie Cage)

Heading to Outworld

As soon as the plane landed, they met up with Kenshi and started walking to the main tent. "So when did they show up?" Johnny asked Kenshi. "The portal opened by the docks a few hours ago. Nearly five-thousand in all. Refugees-- from the Outworld civil war." "Must be bad if they risked coming to Earthrealm." Jin commented. The older men stopped and looked at Jin. "After you." Kenshi mocked. So Jin walked past them with Jacqui. Cassie and Jun smiled at each other before following with Johnny. Takeda and Kenshi stayed back for a minute. Then they were all gathered around a planning table with a woman sitting at the table. Along with the woman herself, Cassie's mother, Sonya Blade. "Thanks Kenshi. Could you and mister Cage join us?" She asked, getting Johnny's attention. So everyone walked over to the planning table as Sonya sat on the edge. "Sergeant Cage. You and your team as you were." She looked over and saw Jun. "Who the fuck are you?" Kuai Jun, son of Kuai Liang. Sub-Zero's boy." Johnny said. "He joined the team." Sonya just gave Jun a hard look. "I'm not trying to cause trouble. I may not have my father's cryomancer powers, but I am a pyromancer." Jun reassured as he summoned a flame. He crushed it and Sonya sighed. "Fine." She said. Johnny and Cassie looked at each other and Cassie joined her team. She was shoulder to shoulder with Jun. They discreetly looked at each other with a sly smile. (A/N: They're not into each other yet just so people know. They just bonded over their pasts on the ship. That's why they're sticking to each other.) "This is Li Mei." Raiden gestured to a mystery woman in a chair. "She seeks asylum for her people in Earthrealm." "Our village, Sun Do, was the epicenter of a fierce battle. We barely escaped with our lives." Li Mei retold. "Such is war." Johnny said. He got strange looks. "I mean, no offense, but... You Outworlders kinda live for that, right?" He corrected. "Not all Outworlders are a stereotype." Jun said. "Shut up." Johnny said. "This was different." Li Mei interrupted. "The rebels, Mileena, had a weapon unlike anything... Entire battalions, erased." Cassie and Jacqui looked at each other and Jun frowned. "It was not honorable. Not kombat." "Tell me more about the weapon." Raiden pushed. "A talisman. Gold with a center jewel. Mileena wields its crimson energy without precision." Li Mei informed. "I've seen that talisman before." Jun said. Everyone looked at him. When I was 6, a woman passed the temple with that. She wore pink and had jagged teeth on her cheeks along with normal lips. "Well both those things are good then..." "No. It isn't." Jun interrupted. "Not now you two." Sonya told the young adults. Cassie looked down, ashamed. "It is enough that she possesses it. It turns the tide in her favor. The emperor grows desperate. And those caught in the middle... Pay the price." Li Mei continued. "If this talisman is what I think it to be, we may all pay a price." "We talking about Shinnok's Amulet?" Jin asked. "Can't be. The base, the vault, your wardings?" Sonya questioned Raiden. "S-F, Shaolin... No way anyone can get past all that..." "I must be certain." Raiden said to Sonya and turned around and walked away. Everything went silent. Johnny walked to where Raiden stood. "Well. This is cozy." Johnny broke the silence. Sonya gave him a dirty look. "Man, and I thought I had fire in my eyes." Jun joked. Li Mei looked at Sonya as she glared at Jun too now. Then Li Mei looked at Johnny. "You remind me of an Earthrealmer who crossed over with us. He also found humor in everything." She told him. "Handsome guy right?" Johnny joked with a smirk. "He was an Earthrealmer. One of his eyes... glowed red." Li Mei responded with. Johnny's eyes went wide. So did Jun's he looked down. "Kano." Jun growled out. "What, ya know him, kid?" Johnny asked. "He's the reason my father has that scar." Jun answered. "Kenshi, continue with Li Mei." Sonya ordered the blind man. She started walking away. "I'm going to the refugee camp. Gotta get to him before he finds a way out." Johnny caught up. "I'll come with." He told her. Sonya stopped. "Go get an update on camp security from Colonel Flagg." She ordered him. "Why?" Johnny asked. "Because then you won't be here." Sonya mocked. Cassie went to step in, but Jun put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. She looked at him and he shook his head to keep her out of it. Johnny glared at Sonya and left. "Are we with you?" Cassie asked. Sonya slowly stepped towards her. "No. I need you to confirm with Kotal Khan that Li Mei's story is true. You and your team are going to Outworld." She said and left with a speedwalk. "Awesome." Jun said with a smile. "Why are you so happy?" Takeda asked. "You would be too if you got to visit your homeland." Jun said. "You're from Outworld?" Jacqui asked. "Not directly. My father's ancestors were from Outworld. I don't know where my mother is from." Jun said with a sad smile. (A/N: For anyone not deep in MK lore, Sub-Zero's ancestors in Outworld is actually true. The Lin Kuei originally lived in Outworld but left.) Then he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Cassie giving a sympathetic smile. Jun smiled right back. Time to get to Outworld.

(A/N: Big surprise in the story in MK11.)