This is the first in a series I've written; I wrote this one a year ago, but
am just now getting around to posting it, along with the three more recent
chapters.  It's my first fanfic, so be gentle.  I think my writing has
improved in the later chapters, but what do you think?  On all my stories,
C&C appreciated, MiSTs adored.  Now... on with the show!

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CYRAX: THE OUTWORLD ENCOUNTER

By Adam Durham, based on characters and situations created by Ed Boon, John
Tobias, Naoko Takeuchi, Cstar (cstar@surfsouth.com), and Sailor Cyrax777
(cyrax777@hotmail.com).

Setting: The ruins of the Moon Kingdom palace, on the moon.  This starts
during, and ends shortly after, the Chibi-usa story arc of Sailor Moon R; it
also coincides with the time between Mortal Kombat II and MK3.  Shao Khan
has already tried to take the souls in Earth's Hell and failed, allowing
Sub-Zero the Elder and Scorpion to both escape.  Sub-Zero rejoined the Lin
Kuei as leader, and Scorpion allied himself with Princess Kitana and the
Earth Warriors.  Read "The Cyrax Saga"
(http://members.tripod.com/~cyrax7777/cyraxsaga.txt) for background.


Prologue
Part 1: Assimilation
Part 2: Programming
Part 3: Resistance
Part 4: Recaptured
Part 5: Release
Epilogue: Reunion

Prologue

     Cyrax wandered the halls of the ruined palace, wishing, not for the
first time since he had come to the twentieth century, that he could be
with Princess Rei, his true love.  As he knew full well, he could not
leave the moon, for that would send him hurtling back to the years shortly
after the end of the Silver Millennium.  He had noticed odd temporal
disturbances in Tokyo, as the moon passed over it, and realized that his
love and the other Sailor Senshi must be fighting an enemy capable of time
travel.  *Perhaps,* he mused, *they could bring him here and force him to
bring me fully to this time, once they have defeated him.*  As he walked, he
entered the throne room, wanting to sit on Queen Serenity's old throne
while he thought.  As he entered, he saw a bizarre, shimmering red light,
above the throne.  "What the-!  That wasn't here before!" exclaimed Cyrax.
He reached out a hand to touch the light, which rippled as his hand passed
through it.  "It's a teleport," he said aloud, to no-one but himself.
"Perhaps it leads to another part of the palace."  He stepped through,
unsure of what he would find.

Part 1: Assimilation

     When he emerged, the portal had closed behind him.  He noticed no ill
effects, so reasoned that he had not been pulled back through time, but as
he looked around, it dawned on him that this wasn't Earth's Moon.  He was
surrounded by trees, all of which seemed to have faces, and some of which
would moan ominously from time to time.  *Surely a trick of the wind,*
thought Cyrax.  But as he walked along, eager to get as far from the
strange trees as possible, two figures emerged from behind the trees.  Both
had black bodysuits with cowled hoods, and colored trim with a mask of the
same color; one was red, the other, purple.  The one in red turned to his
companion and said, "What have we here, Rain?"
     Rain turned to the other ninja and said, "It looks like an
Earthworlder to me, Ermac.  He's obviously not from around here, or he
would know better than to wander the Living Forest alone, unprotected, and
unarmed."
     Ermac suddenly seemed to explode, only to re-appear behind Cyrax.
"Well, I think it's about time we got some practice," he said, circling
Cyrax.  "The Emperor is planning his invasion of the Earth realm, and the
Lin Kuei are his top allies.  Sub-Zero didn't say nothin' about attacking
wanderers in the Forest."
     "Stop!" commanded a voice.  Another ninja, this one in blue, stepped
out from behind a tree, with a humanoid in red armor beside him.  Cyrax
noticed something strange about this new arrival immediately.  Looking at
his face, Cyrax saw that the man's eyes had no irises or pupils...like a
ghost's.  "I may have said nothing before, but I am telling you now.  Do
not harm this man.  I want him for an experiment."  The ghostly ninja
gestured at his armored companion.  "You've seen how well Sektor turned
out.  I want to see the effects of the process on an untrained, unwilling
individual.  This man is obviously not trained in the art of Mortal Kombat.
 He will be perfect for the test.  Who are you?"
     "I...my name is Cyrax.  I am from Neptune, and am betrothed to
Princess Rei of Mars."
     "Your love life doesn't concern me; it is over now.  Cyrax...that name
will suit your new self perfectly.  Take him away!"
     Ermac lifted his hands skyward, and Cyrax felt himself being raised
into the air.  While he was suspended, Rain dropped to a crouch and,
bringing his hands together, threw a ball of blue energy at Cyrax.  The
energy surrounded him with a blue glow, and he felt himself being carried
along by an intangible force.  *Telekinesis,* he realized.  *These ninjas
must
both be masters of it.*  Then a spiked ball of green energy flew from the
hands of Ermac, who was in the same position Rain had been in, and struck
Cyrax.  He was rendered unconscious.

     When he awoke, the blue ninja - Cyrax realized that he was the
Sub-Zero the others had been talking about - was standing over him.
Another ninja, in the same uniform as Sub-Zero, but with blue eyes, was
standing nearby, and next to him was a ninja in a gray uniform.  Cyrax
found that he was restrained, held down on an operating table, though he
saw no straps.  Then he realized that it was Ermac's telekinesis, holding
him down with a force no man could break.  A dangerous-looking machine was
above him, with a drill bit directly over his pupil.  "What are you doing
to me?" he asked Sub-Zero, a note of panic creeping into his voice.
     Sub-Zero's reply was odd.  "How did that Earth television program say
it?  Oh, yes, I remember," and with that, his voice took on a lower tone
and a fake British accent.  "'Resistance is futile.  Your life, as it has
been, is over.  From this time forward, you will service us.'  'You will be
assimilated.'"  With this, he turned to the assembled ninjas and, raising
his voice to cover the distance and returning to his normal tone, said,
"You have all seen the effectiveness of our cybernetics on a trained Lin
Kuei assassin.  Now you will witness what it can do with an untrained man!
Begin the automation process!"
     The drill began to whir.  Cyrax tried to turn his head, to close his
eyes, anything to get away from the descending implement, but Ermac's
mental hold on him was too firm to allow him even to blink.  As the bit
pierced his eye, he would have let out a scream of pain to deafen all
beings from the Wasteland to Shao Khan's palace, but Ermac held his tongue
and vocal cords, so not even a whimper could escape.  So he did the next
best thing.  He blacked out.

     Part II: Programming

     When Cyrax awoke, he found himself standing upright.  He could not
move, and at first thought Ermac was still holding him.  Then he found that
he could move his eyes and look about, and realized that, had Ermac been
holding him, he would have held so tightly that Cyrax would be unable to do
even that.  As he looked around, he noticed something odd.  A heads-up
display was visible directly in front of his eyes, giving readouts on such
things as the vital signs of himself and those around him, and a "threat
assessment" of each man in his view.  He heard the ghost ninja speak.
     "Now for a test.  Wind, come forward!"  Another of the purple-clad
Storm Ninjas stepped forward into an area designated as an arena.  "Cyrax,
attack Wind!"
     Cyrax found his body moving into the circle.  It circled his opponent,
who just stood there, legs spread, hands straight up, as though he were
calling to the sky.  A strong wind began to form, and Cyrax realized that
he WAS calling to the sky, forming a tornado.  Cyrax watched the threat
assessment on his HUD rise, and saw Wind lower his hands toward him, the
wind coming straight at him.
     Cyrax's body reacted.  His limbs flew off him, and all of his parts
flew toward a spot behind Wind and reassembled.  A door on his chest
opened, and a cannon inside it fired a green energy ball that expanded into
a net.  This net encircled Wind, pulling him towards Cyrax.  Cyrax's body
launched into a vicious combo, smashing Wind and ending with an uppercut.
Without hesitation, the cyberninja launched into the air, grabbed Wind, and
threw him forcefully to the ground, leaving him in a bloody heap.  Cyrax
heard Sub-Zero's voice yell, "Finish him!"  His body responded.  His head
began spinning in multiple complete circles.  The wires on his head whipped
out, forming a rotor and giving him lift.  Cyrax watched in horror as the
wires had the effect on Wind that a Weedwhacker has on a plant, cutting
him, lopping parts off, until there was nothing left of the ninja except a
bloody mess of bones and viscera.  Sub-Zero calmly said, "Flawless victory
and fatality.  I am impressed!  With this evidence of what an untrained,
unwilling man will be capable of, I believe it is time we automate all of
our ninjas."
     The blue-eyed ninja gasped.  "Brother, you cannot be serious!  This
plan is dishonorable!"
     Sub-Zero's voice took on a amused tone.  "Since when did the Lin Kuei
care about honor?"
     The blue-eyed ninja pulled his mask off.  "You may have no honor,
brother, but I do.  I renounce my membership, and denounce this clan as
being unworthy.  Unworthy of the continued services of Sub-Zero the
Younger!"
     The gray ninja, until now silent, also unmasked himself and spoke.
"I, too, believe that this is against our honor, and renounce my membership
and denounce this clan as being unworthy of the services of Smoke."  With
that, the two unmasked ninjas walked off.
     Sub-Zero the Elder called after them, "You cannot!  Lin Kuei
membership is for life!"
     His brother merely said, "I have, and you cannot stop me."
     The ghost ninja called to Sektor and Cyrax.  "Units LK-9T9 and LK-4D4!
 Capture Sub-Zero and Smoke!"  Cyrax felt himself moving toward the closer
of the two, Smoke.  His chest opened, and a bomb flew out, dropping to the
ground at Smoke's feet.  Smoke's body began to give off smoke, and he
disappeared in it.  The ninja reappeared behind Cyrax, and punched him on
the back of the head, disappearing again immediately.  Cyrax turned, and
felt something stab into his back.
     "Get over here!" yelled Smoke, hauling in the rope on his harpoon.  He
then launched into a fury of hits, but Cyrax recovered, and whatever was
controlling his body made him block.  The ninja disappeared again, but the
software anticipated it.  Cyrax whirled, and launched a net into the smoke.
 From the corner of his eye, he saw Sektor miss Sub-Zero the Younger with
his chest missile, and Sub-Zero froze the cyberninja.  The elder Sub-Zero
threw a ball of ice at his brother, but the younger brother created an ice
slide and slid away faster than he could be pursued.
     Cyrax grabbed Smoke out of the energy net and held him.  He heard
Sub-Zero tell the others, "Let him go.  If he will not fight with us, he
will die.  Ermac, inform the Emperor that there is a death mark on my
brother, and we will reward whomever brings him to us, dead or alive."
Cyrax saw the telltale explosion, signifying that Ermac had teleported.
Sub-Zero walked to Cyrax and Smoke.  "You, my friend, will not be so lucky.
 You will be the third prototype.  We already have a trained, willing man
and an untrained, unwilling man.  Now we shall try a trained, unwilling
man.  Cyrax, strap him into the frame.  Without Ermac, we'll have to do
this the old-fashioned way."
     Cyrax would remember Smoke's scream as the bit pierced his eye for the
rest of his days, as that was the sound he had wanted to make, but
couldn't.

     Cyrax, unit LK-4D4, and Smoke, newly christened Unit LK-7T2, stood
side-by-side with Sektor, Unit LK-9T9, as Ermac input their orders into the
computer he was working at.  The new orders flashed on their HUDs: 1. Kill
the renegade ninja Sub-Zero the Younger.  2. Aid Emperor Shao Khan in his
occupation of Earth.  3. Kill Shao Khan, claiming Earth and Outworld both
for the Lin Kuei.  Cyrax wanted badly to disobey them, but he could not.
The software controlling him was too strong.  As it was, he could only hope
that someone would kill him, and end this waking nightmare.  *Oh, Rei,* he
thought.  What would you think if you saw me like this?  *A mere puppet of
these vile ninjas.*  Cyrax felt his body moving, and saw the other two
moving as well, going to carry out their first order.  His sensors analyzed
the damp ground, his computer extrapolated Sub-Zero the Younger's course,
and his body followed it, but his mind rebelled.  He felt the computer
sending a radio message to Sektor and Smoke, with Sub-Zero's likely
coordinates.  They concurred, and teleported.

     Cyrax found himself in a desert.  He saw Sub-Zero II speaking with
another ninja, a green-clad woman.  He wanted to cry out, to warn them of
their attackers, but his mouth would not respond.  As he and the other
cyberninjas approached them, he could make out words.
     "The Lin Kuei have a death mark on me, Jade.  My elder brother wanted
to force all of the warriors to undergo their new automation process.
Smoke and I left, but Smoke was captured.  They have probably already
automated him.  Now I must face the choice of killing my old friend, or
submitting to the Lin Kuei."
     The woman known as Jade nodded, and replied, "I must face a similar
choice.  Princess Kitana has a death mark, for killing Princess Mileena.
Reptile and I were sent after her.  I have orders to bring her back alive,
but Reptile claims he was given orders to bring her back, by whatever means
necessary, even if it means her death.  I must choose between serving the
Emperor and aiding my old friend."
     "The Emperor gave conflicting orders?  I have a suspicion that there
is more to this than there seems to be."
     At that moment, Jade saw the three armored ninjas approaching.
"Sub-Zero, behind you!"
     The ice ninja spun to see the three assassins.  "The Lin Kuei
cyberninjas!  It is as I feared.  Smoke has already been automated.  We
must fight."
     As the two ninjas readied themselves, the cyborgs attacked.

Part III: Resistance

     At that moment, at the Lin Kuei headquarters, Ermac was monitoring the
cyberninjas on the computer while Rain and another Storm Ninja, Thunder,
sparred.  Thunder dodged a mind control orb, and created a thundercrash to
deafen his opponent.  Rain attempted to call down a lightning bolt, but
oddly, it did not strike Thunder.  Instead, it struck the console.  "What
the-! My lightning never misses!"
     Ermac teleported from the console.  "Well, it missed now!  You've
slagged the computer!  We may have lost control of the prototypes.  We've
at least lost contact."
     Sub-Zero I stepped out.  "That was not one of Rain's lightning bolts.
I recognized that.  That was the work of my old foe, Raiden.  Ermac, can
you repair the damage?"
     Ermac looked at the console.  "I...I think so, but it will take some
doing.  If it was Raiden who sent that bolt, he may have scrambled the
software as well as slagging the console."

     The cyberninjas, in the middle of launching their projectiles,
suddenly collapsed to the ground.  Sektor merely stayed there, but the
other two got up.
     Cyrax, amazed, found himself in full control of his body again.  "What
happened?" he asked, in a voice that sounded like a cross between his own
and a bad 60's TV robot's.  "I...I can speak again!  I am in control!"
     Smoke, just as surprised but more knowledgeable of Lin Kuei
technology, spoke.  "Our resistance!  The automation required a willing
participant to have full effect.  Because we fought it, we retained our
souls and wills.  The Lin Kuei have lost their hold on us!"
     Sub-Zero II stepped forward.  "Smoke, old friend, do you recognize
me?"
     Smoke replied, "Yes, old friend.  I had orders to kill you, orders I
could not resist, but now I am free of them."
     "I would like to know what is going on," interrupted Cyrax.  "I'm
still not clear on how I can be here, I never came fully to this century."
     Sub-Zero looked puzzled.  "What do you mean, you're not fully in this
century?"
     Cyrax briefly explained his past, his love for Rei, the Dark Kingdom
invasion, and his forced hiding.  He then explained how he had come to the
twentieth century, but could only exist on the moon, because his body was
not in temporal sync with the rest of the universe, only with the partial
time warp his companion had created on the moon.  He then explained how he
had found the warp on the throne, entered it, and emerged in the Living
Forest, where he had been ambushed by Ermac, Rain, and Sub-Zero I.
     Sub-Zero, having experience in both Outworld and his native Earth,
realized what had happened.  "Outworld is not on the same dimensional plane
as Earth.  Temporal sync in one realm has no bearing in the other.  Even if
your human body is from the Earth Realm's past, that has no effect on its
ability to exist on Outworld.  Your cyborg body is from Outworld's present,
and would exist as readily in Earth's present as it does here."

     As they spoke, Ermac worked on the console.  "Ah-hah!  I've found the
burnt-out connections and replaced them.  It should be coming back online
any-yes!  We're back in business!"
     "Can you bring the prototypes back online?" asked Sub-Zero?
     "I'm trying...wait.  This isn't good.  Raiden's bolt locked me from
modifying the database.  There must be a reason...here it is!"  He looked
up at Sub-Zero.  "Raiden's bolt scrambled the software.  We've still got
9T9, but 4D4 and 7T2 are lost to us.  And since I can't modify the
database, and Raiden's sure to have some nasty jolt waiting if I try to
power it down or wipe it clean to start from scratch..."
     "We've lost Cyrax and Smoke permanently," finished the ghost ninja.
"But why would Raiden lock us out of our own system, unless....  Oh, no.
Those two must be two of the "chosen warriors" he's always sending to keep
Khan from winning Mortal Kombat, which means..."
     "...they still have souls," Ermac finished Sub-Zero's sentence.  "But
how?  The process was supposed to wipe them clean...it worked with
Sektor..."
     "...who was a willing participant.  It was their resistance to the
process that saved them.  Apparently, resistance is not futile.  Bring
Sektor back online.  Add capturing Cyrax and Smoke to his list of
directives, then I want you, Rain, and Thunder to join and aid him.  I want
those two alive.  I want to see how the ghosts in the machines fare,"
Sub-Zero said, with an evil gleam in his eye.

     Cyrax replied to Sub-Zero, "Even if this body can exist on Earth, why?
 I can't let Rei see me like this!  I am a freak!  She would probably run,
or even attack me."
     Smoke said, "I think we have more immediate problems than Rei's
acceptance or rejection of you, Cyrax.  Look!"  The gray cyborg pointed to
a place behind the others.  They turned, and saw Sektor rising to his feet.
 There was a deafening thundercrash, and three more ninjas appeared.  One
was the red-clad form of Ermac, the other two were purple-clad Storm
Ninjas.  One of the Storm Ninjas was holding the other's hands, so they
formed a crude circle.  "I fear we must defend ourselves.  Cyrax, I know
you are not a trained fighter, but some of the fighting skill from your Lin
Kuei programming remains in you, as does the ability to use your cybernetic
weaponry."
     The eight ninjas, five humans, three cyborgs, squared off and prepared
to do battle.

Part IV: Recaptured

     Thunder led off the fight with a thunderclap.  The human ninjas were
mostly unaffected, but the sound, many times louder than the one from his
teleport, overloaded the sensitive audio receptors of the three cyborgs.
All three dropped to their knees, the two souled ones screaming in pain.
     "Thunder, you fool!  Thanks to you we've lost Sektor!  Ah, well, it
can't hurt our chances now...," and with that, Rain raised his hand
skyward, calling a lightning bolt down on Jade.  It struck her, tossing her
into the air.  Rain was about to follow it with a mind control orb, but
suddenly he froze in place as ice, sent by Sub-Zero II, rained down on him.
 Thunder thought he'd capitalize on Sub-Zero's mistake by launching into a
flying kick while the blue ninja recovered from his own attack.  However,
just before he reached Sub-Zero, the ninja lept backward, leaving an ice
statue of himself where he'd been standing.  Thunder struck it, and froze
in midair, his leap carrying him several more feet until he crashed into
the ground, his frozen form shattering.
     After Thunder met his end, the thundercrash stopped, its effects
giving out and the three cyborgs recovering.  Smoke ran at the nearest foe,
Ermac, who was trying, and failing, to lift him with telekinesis.  As
Ermac, growing desperate, raised his hand one more time, Smoke lept at him
with a flying kick.  The kick struck Ermac in the face, knocking him back.
Smoke then disappeared, only to reappear with an uppercut which lifted
Ermac into the air.  Smoke landed first, and his chest doors opened,
sending a trident on a rope out.  The trident struck Ermac and retracted,
pulling him closer to Smoke.  Smoke then launched into a furious combo, at
last sending Ermac reeling.  Ermac, obviously in pain, managed to teleport
away, leaving only a foul-smelling smoke cloud.
     By now, Rain had thawed.  He dropped to a crouch, throwing a mind
control orb at Jade.  She merely ran at him, and as Rain thought it would
hit, she suddenly turned white and ran through the orb as though it wasn't
even there.  She pulled her staff from her back, and struck Rain repeatedly
with it, then thrust it between his legs and lifted, tossing him over her
head.  As this happened, Sektor's chest opened, but before a missile can
fly out of it and toward Sub-Zero, Cyrax, by now able to control his
powers, opened his own chest, firing a green net at Sektor.  The net
entangled him, effectively stopping his attack and drawing him toward
Cyrax.  The yellow cyborg threw a combo of his own, and, as Sektor flew
back, opened his chest, dropping two bombs: one far from him, under Sektor,
and one nearer him.  As Sektor got up, the first bomb exploded, sending him
into the air.  The second one exploded as Sektor passed over it, giving him
even more height.  Cyrax caught Sektor in an uppercut, sending him flying
backwards.
     At that moment, Rain, who had landed behind Cyrax, dropped into a
crouch and threw a mind control orb at him.  The blue ball struck Cyrax in
the back.  Rain drew Cyrax toward him, and then Sektor grabbed him out of
the air.  Cyrax struggled, but could not free himself from the other
cyborg's iron grip.  Rain lept on to Sektor's back, shouting, "We have
what we came for, let's go!"  Sektor complied, teleporting the three of
them away and back to Lin Kuei headquarters.

     Meanwhile, back on the moon...

     "Cyrax?  Where are you, my love?" called Rei.  She and the other
Sailor Senshi, having just defeated Rubbeus and returned Chibi-usa to her
own
time, were in the Moon Palace ruins, searching for Cyrax.  The other Senshi
entered the throne room, where Rei was looking.  "Well, guys?  Did you
find him?"
     Setsuna shook her head.  "He's nowhere in sight.  We're the only ones
on
the moon now."
     "But where could he have gone?  He can't leave the moon, or he'd
return to the end of the Silver Millennium," Ami pointed out.  "So he must
be here somewhere."
     "Um, Ami?  I think you may be wrong about that....  Here, see for
yourself."  Makoto held up a duplicate of Rei's henshin stick.  "It
was sitting on the throne.  I think it's the one from the Silver
Millennium.  He carried it to remind him of you, didn't he, Rei?"
     Rei nodded.  "He must have dropped it.  But what would make him drop
it, and why on the throne?"
     Ami walked over to the throne.  She held up her henshin wand
and shouted, "Mercury Star Power, Make Up!"  Once she had transformed, she
fiddled
with her earring, causing a VR visor to materialize over her face.  She
used it to scan the throne, and she frowned.  "I think I've found the
problem.  There was a portal here, but I can't tell where it led."
     "Moon Crystal Power, Make Up!"
     "Mars Star Power, Make Up!"
     "Jupiter Star Power, Make Up!"
     "Venus Star Power, Make Up!"
     "Pluto Planet Power, Make Up!"
     The other Senshi transformed.  Sailor Pluto walked over to the throne,
and shivered.  "I can.  It's been a long time since I've felt that.  That
portal led to the Outworld, a barren land ruled by Shao Khan, an immortal
who crowned himself emperor."
     Jupiter spoke up.  "I've heard of that place.  Khan's trying to take
over Earth, and every generation, a tournament called Mortal Kombat is
held.  The best fighters in the world compete to keep Khan from getting the
souls he needs to open the portal wide enough for his armies to come
through."
     The others stared at her, except for Venus, who was nodding
affirmation of Jupiter's words.  "Um, Jupiter," Moon asked, "how do you
know this?"
     "Because the tournament was held last year, and I was going to enter."
 The others continued to stare.  "What?  The Sailor Senshi are pledged to
protect Earth, no matter who attacks it, Dark Kingdom, Outworld, or
whatever.
I would have entered, too, but I got to Hong Kong too late and the ship had
already left.  There was another tournament, held this year in Outworld,
but word is that Shao Khan's fighters didn't really try to win that one,
that it was just a distraction while he set up for a last-ditch attempt to
take Earth."
     "And how did you know about that one, Jupiter?" asked Artemis.
     "The American actor, Johnny Cage, competed in both tournaments, and
made movies about each," Venus interjected.  "The second one hasn't been
released yet, but I heard about it through my showbiz contacts.  The Sailor
V show is being dubbed for American release, and the same studio that made
Cage's movies is handling the Sailor V movies."
     "Well, we've got to rescue Cyrax!  Pluto, can you make a portal to
take us to Outworld?"  Mars asked.
     Pluto nodded.  "I can, but it will take most of my power.  I won't be
able to follow you through.  You'll be on your own once you enter Outworld,
and you'll have to find another way back."
     "No problem!  We can take anything those sorry jerks throw at us!"
exclaimed Jupiter.  The others didn't look so sure, but they nodded
consent.  Pluto created a portal, shimmering red, and the others stepped
through.  The portal closed behind the Scouts, and Pluto collapsed to the
ground, exhausted.

     Cyrax, still in Sektor's grasp, found himself in a dungeon.  Gray
bricks made the walls, and there were numerous archways.  In the blackness
beyond them, Cyrax swore he saw red eyes staring at him.  Skeletons were
manacled to the walls.  "Where am I?" he asked his captors.
     A voice boomed out, "You're in my lair!"  An immense figure stepped
out of the shadows.  Eight foot two, heavily muscled, with two pairs of
arms, this was easily the most intimidating being Cyrax had ever seen.  "I
am Goro, prince of the Shokan race, heir to the throne of the subterranean
kingdom of Kuatan, and general of Shao Khan's armies!  Rain, who is this?"
     Rain let go of Sektor, and turned to face the giant.  "He is a
prisoner of the Lin Kuei.  He was captured in the Living Forest, and
automated, but he retained his soul in the process.  Sub-Zero wants him
held until he can 'question' him, and we have no facilities of our own for
holding prisoners.  The Emperor has allowed us to use his dungeons, which
means this 'lair' of yours.  He has told us that you are to watch the
prisoner.  Simply make sure he does not escape before Sub-Zero arrives."
     Goro cracked all four of his knuckles, then he grabbed Cyrax from
Sektor's grasp and, yanking a skeleton from its place on the wall, locked
him in the newly vacated manacles.  "That will be no trouble at all.
However, send Sub-Zero quickly.  I hate doing guard duty longer than
necessary."
     "Sub-Zero will come when he wants to come.  And if you value the
Emperor's favor, you will not make an issue of it.  Sub-Zero is a favorite
of the Emperor, and to displease him is to risk displeasing the Emperor."
     Goro grunted, then said, "Well, if you're leaving him in my care, then
leave.  I can handle one puny cyborg, soul or no soul."  Rain returned to
Sektor, and together they teleported away.

Part V: Release

     Jade wiped blood and oil from her staff.  "They got away.  Sub-Zero,
do you know where they would have taken him?"
     Sub-Zero II nodded.  "The Lin Kuei, being assassins, don't have their
own facilities for prisoners.  They will be using Shao Khan's dungeons, and
that means Goro's Lair on Shang Tsung's island."
     Smoke, his face hidden behind his helmet, cocked his head, the only
gesture of confusion he could make.  "I thought Tsung's island was on
Earth."
     "It can appear in either Earth or Outworld," answered Jade, "depending
on what Tsung and the Emperor wish.  But if they are using Goro's Lair,
Goro will be guarding him, as well as a number of Khan's other warriors.
We cannot take them on alone.  If the Lin Kuei are as dishonorable as I've
heard, and they are Khan's allies, it would seem it is time I joined my old
friend, Princess Kitana.  Sub-Zero, do you know where her resistance
operation is based?"
     Sub-Zero could only shake his head, but Smoke spoke up.  "I do not
know where they are, but I do know someone who does.  Sub-Zero, when Shao
Khan's attempt to steal the souls from Hell failed, it released not only
your brother, but also his arch-nemesis and your protector, Scorpion.
Scorpion allied himself with Kitana, because his hatred of your brother was
stronger than his loyalty toward you.  But if you are now against your
brother, he will aid you."
     "Yes...I have felt his presence.  I had thought it a figment of my
imagination, but apparently my telepathic link to him is still functioning.
If I can call out to him...." Sub-Zero broke off, and began to concentrate.
 *Scorpion, he thought, my brother wants to kill me.  He has a friend and
ally hostage in Goro's lair, and we need Kitana's help to rescue him.  Can
you take us to her?*
     A black aura appeared, and a form materialized in it.  Scorpion, a
yellow-clad ninja, with pure white eyes and a mask resembling a skull,
stepped forward, and spoke.  "Sub-Zero II.  I was wondering when you would
realize that your brother was dishonorable and join us.  So you wish me to
take you to Princess Kitana, do you?  Very well.  Step into the portal,"
and with that, Scorpion raised his arms, creating a portal of the same
black as the one he came through.  All four ninjas stepped through, and the
portal closed.

     The Sailor Senshi emerged from Pluto's portal in a cavern.  All around
them were various beings preparing for war.  A woman in blue walked up to
them and asked, "Who are you?  How did you get here?"
     Sailor Moon stepped forward.  "I'm Sailor Moon, and these are the
other Sailor Senshi: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus," she said,
indicating each Senshi in turn.  "We're defenders of Earth, and-"
     Mars elbowed her in the gut and whispered, "Don't tell her!  We don't
know if we can trust her!"  Turning to the ninja, she asked, "Who are you?"
     "I am Princess Kitana.  This is the headquarters of a resistance
movement attempting to overthrow Shao Khan, who is trying to conquer your
realm.  How did you get here, and why are you here?"
     Sailor Mars answered, "Our friend, Sailor Pluto, created a portal for
us.  As for why we are here, my fianc�, Cyrax, entered a portal that led to
this realm, and has not returned.  We came looking for him.  Do you know
what happened to him?"
     From behind her, a voice called out, "No, she doesn't, but I do."  The
Scouts whirled, and saw, striding toward them, four figures: a
blue-and-black-clad man with striking blue eyes, a yellow-and-black-clad
man with a mask and strange white eyes, a man in purple armor who seemed to
have smoke coming off his body, and a black woman dressed in a green
version of Kitana's uniform with a gray metal staff strapped across her
back.  The blue-eyed man continued to speak.  "My former clan, the Lin
Kuei, captured and automated him.  He retained his soul, as did Smoke
here,"-he gestured toward the armored man-"but the clan recaptured him and
imprisoned him, most likely in Goro's Lair."
     Kitana looked surprised.  "Jade?  Sub-Zero II?  I though you fought
for the Emperor."
     Jade was about to answer, but Mars cut her off.  "'Automated'?  They
turned my Cyrax into a robot?!"
     Smoke removed his helmet, revealing his head, almost normal, except
for a number of wires and leads sticking into the base of his skull.  "Not
a robot.  A cyborg, like me.  They had hoped that he would become another
of their souless assassins, like Sektor, the prototype.  However, because
he resisted, as did I, we retained our souls, and our will and control over
our bodies returned when the Lin Kuei somehow lost control over us."  His
voice, without the helmet's scrambler, sounded normal again, like it had
before he was automated.
     Mars exclaimed, "We've got to rescue him!  There must be some way we
can change him back!"
     Moon, who had until now been retching the contents of her stomach onto
the cavern floor (Mars elbowed her a little too hard, and her lunch didn't
survive), composed herself and spoke up.  "I think I know how to handle
that, guys."
     The others looked at her.  Mercury broke the silence.  "Well?" she
asked.  "How do you think you can return them to normal?"
     Moon just smiled.  "I'll tell you that when we've rescued Cyrax."
     At that moment, a seven-foot-tall woman with four arms and a skimpy
outfit (Moon thought it was like Vampirella's outfit from her comic books)
ran up.  "Princess Kitana, the Lin Kuei have a prisoner in Goro's Lair, and
Motaro is guarding the entrance to the lair."
     Kitana turned to her and said, "Yes, we know about the prisoner.  So
Motaro is guarding the entrance?  This complicates things.  Sheeva, we are
going to attempt to free the prisoner, and would be honored if you would
join us.  But disguise yourself.  We can't have the Emperor learning of
your connection to us."
     Jade looked surprised.  "Sheeva?  I thought the Emperor had you on a
special assignment for his coming invasion of Earth."
     Sheeva smiled darkly.  "He does.  But my assignment does not begin
until Queen Sindel is reborn on Earth, and besides, I and a number of other
Shokan distrust Khan.  His favor seems to be shifting toward the
Centaurians, and while Goro and Kintaro may follow him blindly, the rest of
us are more wary.  Even Goro's own father, King Gorbak, distrusts the
Emperor.  That's why he provided us with these caverns in Kuatan for the
resistance headquarters."
     Kitana waved them to silence.  "Enough.  Sheeva, go change into a
disguise.  As soon as you're finished, we-" she waved her hand, indicating
the Sailor Senshi and the four newly-arrived ninjas, "-are going to attack
Tsung's palace and release Cyrax."
     After Sheeva left, Kitana walked up to the largest figure in the room:
another of the four-armed Shokan, with a beard, a crown, and robes
indicating that he was royalty.  "King Gorbak," she began, "the Lin Kuei
have a friend and ally hostage, and they are keeping him in your son's
dungeon, on Tsung's island.  We will try again to get Goro to join our
cause, but if he attacks us...."  She trailed off, not wanting to say it.
     Gorbak sighed, and a note of sadness entered his voice as he spoke.
"If Goro will not join, Princess Kitana, you will do what must be done.  I
cannot fault you that.  If Goro continues to serve the Emperor, than he is
no son of mine, no matter what his genes say.  I would rather he die, than
he continue to disgrace our family's name."
     Kitana simply nodded.  "I understand.  Rest assured, I will not make
any decision lightly."
     Sheeva returned after five minutes.  Scorpion created a portal, and
they all stepped through.

     They emerged in a room filled with weaponry.  Molten metal flowed in
an area of the room, and the sounds of smiths' hammers on anvils could be
heard.  "Scorpion," Sub-Zero said, "why are we in the Armory, and not in
Goro's Lair?"
     Scorpion replied, "Tsung's Palace is shielded against teleports.  Be
grateful we were able to appear in the palace at all.  Usually, teleporting
from one room to another in here will take you to the other side of the
room you're in, at best.  Teleporting in usually works, but not always the
room you try for.  Teleporting out, on the other hand, works fine, so we
should be able to get away cleanly"
     Suddenly, a scream sounded from beneath them, followed by a deep,
sadistic laugh.  Mars blanched.  "That was Cyrax!"
     Kitana nodded grimly.  "And the laugh was Goro.  He must be torturing
him.  Come, we have to get down there."  She led the way out a door.
     The next room was ornately decorated, with red carpets, tapestries,
and a throne dominating the room.  On the throne was a man who could not
have been more than Mamoru's age, and who was devilishly handsome...or
would be, if not for the two hideous areas of black face paint.  His long,
jet-black hair hung down his back in a ponytail, and he had a closely
trimmed, Fu Manchu-style mustache and beard.  He stood up, and said, in
grandiose tones, "Welcome, Princess Kitana, to my humble abode.  Scorpion,
Jade, and Sub-Zero I know, but who are your other friends?  I have not seen
them before.  Permit me to introduce myself.  Shang Tsung, at your
service."
     "This Shokan woman is one of the Prince's wives, and she has come to
see him.  The others need not concern you, sorcerer."  Kitana moved as to
step out the door, but Tsung saw her.  His form shifted to that of Raiden,
and he disappeared, only to reappear in the door.  Kitana's way was barred
by the form of the seven-foot-tall thunder god.
     "I'm afraid the Prince is busy and cannot have any visitors right
now," said Tsung in Raiden's voice.
     "No, I'm afraid you do not understand, sorcerer.  She must be allowed
to see her husband."
     "You will have to go through me to get to him," answered Tsung.
     "We don't have time for this!" exclaimed Jupiter, who stepped to the
front of the crowd.  She crossed her arms over her head and lowered the two
middle fingers of each hand, bringing them down as she began her attack
call.  "Supreme...."  She raised her legs behind her, suspended in
midair, and then brought all her limbs out and forward, throwing the attack
toward Tsung as she shouted the final word, "THUNDER!"
     Tsung-Raiden merely yawned, and held out his hand, palm forward.  The
lightning bolt struck his hand...and was absorbed.  Lightning crackled in
Tsung's eyes, and he then disappeared again, reappearing behind Jupiter and
grabbing her, channeling all the force of her own lightning bolt back
through his hands and into her.  Jupiter slumped to the ground, out cold.
     "Jupiter!" screamed Venus.  "All right, pal your time is up!  Venus
Love-Me Chain!"  The attack closed around Tsung, who reverted to his
normal self, struggling to break the chain.  "He won't be getting out of
that soon.  Come on, let's go!"
     Sheeva scooped up the inert form of Sailor Jupiter in her lower arms,
keeping her upper arms ready to fight, should the need arise.  They all ran
out the door, and found themselves on a bridge.  "Careful," said Kitana.
"This is the Pit.  There are spikes in the bottom, and if you should
fall...."
     "We get the picture," said Sub-Zero.  "But I believe I have a solution
as to how we get down to face Goro and rescue Cyrax."  With that, the ice
ninja brought his hands together, aimed them at the floor, and began to
freeze it.  He continued freezing the air at the edges of the ice, until
there was an ice slide they could all ride down to the bottom of the Pit.
     Upon reaching the bottom, they found a surprise waiting for them: a
green-clad male ninja.  "Thisss isss Reptile'sss domain, Princccesss," the
ninja hissed.  "You and your resssissstanccce forcccesss are not welcome
here.  Reptile isss, and alwaysss hasss been, the Emperor'sss mossst loyal
ssservant, and he will not let you passss."
     "Stand aside, belly-crawler.  Our quarrel is not with you."  Kitana
moved to pass Reptile, but he moved to block her way.  "If you will not
step aside, I will have to do this by force!"  Kitana pulled her fans, but
Reptile threw a smoke bomb and disappeared.
     Sailor Mercury pulled on her earring, and her VR visor materialized.
"He may not be visible, but this visor scans in infrared."  She turned and
pointed.  "There he is!  Behind you, Kitana!"
     Kitana whirled and brought her bladed fan down.  Green blood sprayed
outward, and a severed arm became visible on the floor.  Reptile, unable to
remain invisible because of the pain, appeared shortly after it, clutching
the wound.  "Your arm will grow back in time, raptor, but our business is
urgent.  Now stand aside!"
     "What...did you...call me?" Reptile asked.
     "Your race is known as Raptors.  The Emperor, whom you serve so
loyally, exterminated them when he took control of the realm of Edenia and
turned it into Outworld.  There is only one other of your race left alive:
a woman known as Khameleon.  Once your arm has grown back, we would welcome
both of you to join our resistance, to put down the Emperor who drove your
race to near extinction.  Think about that while you heal.  Come," she
said, turning to the others, "we have business to attend to."  She led them
through a door in one of the walls.
     The next room was called the Warrior Shrine, and with good reason.
Here were statues of the greatest warriors from the Mortal Kombat
Tournament, including Johnny Cage, Liu Kang, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero the
Elder.  Most prominent, however, was a statue of a Shokan warrior: Prince
Goro.  Or at least, it had been most prominent during that tournament.  Now
it was a broken wreck, its arms scattered over the floor, and the head
sitting on the statue's pedestal like a macabre sign.  An enormous centaur,
with a gigantic human section, horns on his head, and a metal, barbed tail,
was standing by the pedestal.  "Ah, visitors.  I do hope you'll stay.  It's
been awhile since I've had any fun," said the centaur.  It cracked its
massive knuckles, and whipped it's tail up.  A red ball flew from the barb,
sending all the warriors scattering.
     Sheeva set Jupiter down in a (relatively) safe corner.  She then
teleported, only to come down on Motaro's head like a ton of bricks.  She
then launched into a combination move, smashing at Motaro's head and torso.
 He began to block as she started kicking, and he then grabbed her, lifted
her into the air, and hit her with an overhand punch that sent her sailing,
to land in a heap beside Sailor Jupiter.
     "Now I've had it!  Shabon Spray...," began Sailor Mercury.
     "Mercury, NO!"  Sub-Zero yelled, but it was too late.
     "FREEZING!" shouted Mercury, spreading her arms to toss the attack.
Motaro reared up, and the bubbles struck his underbelly, reflected off, and
struck Mercury.  She crystallized, frozen by her own attack.
     Sub-Zero was now extremely PO'd.  He rushed at the Centaurian and
began his most vicious combo.  Meanwhile, Sailor Venus maneuvered behind
Motaro, and, hoping to catch him in the back, where he wasn't protected,
shouted, "Crescent Beam Shower!"  The attack would have worked, except that
at that time, Scorpion had come behind Motaro, and the centaur had reared
back to kick him.  This presented his belly, and Venus' beams bounced off,
striking everyone who was behind Motaro and knocking them to the ground.
     "Maybe an indirect attack will work," said Sailor Mars.  "Burning
Mandala!"
  As the flames shot towards Motaro, the warriors all leaped aside.  Motaro
reared again, but instead of striking him, the fire shot around to both
sides,
surrounding him in a wall of flame.  Each time he tried to leap it, the
flames
shot higher, preventing his movement. The others all ran out the door, and
emerged
in a dungeon.
     The room was gray brick, with skeletons on the walls.  The only light
was provided by guttering torches.  And there, on the wall, in chains, was
a yellow-armored figure.  His helmet was off, and his face unmistakable.
"Cyrax!"  called Sailor Mars.
     "He is my prisoner!" boomed a deep voice.  Its owner stepped out of
the shadows.  "Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Goro.  There are those
who call me the Prince of Pain!"
     Sailor Moon stepped to the forefront.  "Then allow me to introduce
myself!" she said, and then began her speech.  "You think that just because
you're a big, strong prince, you can pick on my friend's fianc�?  Well
think again!  For love and justice, I am the pretty sailor-suited soldier
Sailor Moon!  I fight to right wrongs and triumph over evil, and on behalf
of the Moon," she said, pointing at Goro, "I'll punish you!"
     Sub-Zero leaned over to the now-thawed Sailor Mercury, and whispered,
"Does she always begin a fight that way?"
     Mercury whispered back, "Most of the time."
     Goro, in response, threw a fireball at Sailor Moon.  While Moon kept
Goro occupied, Venus shouted, "Venus Love-Me Chain!"  Goro was
ensnared by Venus' attack.
     While Goro was ensnared, Kitana walked up to him and said, "It's not
too late.  You can still join with your father and us in battling Shao
Khan.  You know his favor is shifting towards the Centaurians.  Most of
your people have already joined us.  Only you and Kintaro remain loyal to
the Emperor."
     "I am still Khan's general, and I would rather die than betray him!"
Goro broke Venus' chain and grabbed Kitana.  He began pounding on her head
while holding her, until Smoke did a teleport uppercut, knocking him into
the air.  He lost his grip on Kitana, and Scorpion and Smoke both caught
him from opposite sides with their harpoons.
     "Very well.  I did not want to have to do this, but if you would
rather die, then so be it."  Kitana began to pull out her fans to behead
the prince, but Sailor Moon pulled out her scepter first.
     "Let me do this, Princess Kitana.  It will be quicker and more
merciful than decapitating him," Sailor Moon said.
     "Very well, Princess Serenity.  Mercy is more than he'd give us."
     Moon was taken aback.  "How did you know who I am?"
     Kitana smiled.  "I knew all of you.  I feigned ignorance because I
wanted to test your trust.  I am 10,000 years old, and have fought in
Mortal Kombat alongside warriors from the Moon Kingdom before.  We had
lost, but the Emperor spared me because even though I fought against him,
it was I he loved like his own daughter.  Now, finish Goro quickly."
     Sailor Moon nodded, and began her motions.
"Moon...Princess...HALATION!"
     Goro did not even scream.  His end came quickly and painlessly, and
when they looked again, he was gone completely.  The two harpoons dropped
to the ground.
     "Cyrax!" cried Mars.  "Did he hurt you?"
     After Sheeva came and undid Cyrax's manacles, he ran to Mars and
hugged her.  "It was nothing compared to the thought of not seeing you
again, my love."
     "I hate to break this reunion, but my brother will be arriving soon,
and we don't want to be here when he does," said Sub-Zero.
     "Sub-Zero is right," said Kitana.  "We must be leaving.  Scorpion, can
you take us back to the base?"
     The ghost ninja nodded, created a portal, and they all stepped
through.

Epilogue: Reunion

     After returning to the base, Scorpion teleported the Sailor Senshi,
Sub-Zero, Smoke, and Cyrax to the Earth's Moon.  "Now, do you mind telling
us how you plan to turn Cyrax and Smoke back to their normal selves, Sailor
Moon?" Jupiter asked impatiently.
     "Just a minute!" replied Moon, and she ran off.  Shortly, she
returned, carrying something the others hadn't seen since the fight with
Queen Beryl.  "This is the Crescent Wand from the Silver Millennium.  I can
use its Moon Healing power to restore them!"
     Cyrax stepped forward.  "Do me first.  It may not work, but if I die,
it will be an improvement over living as this.  Smoke, you can still do
good as a cyborg, but I'm a lover, not a fighter.  If I can't be with Rei,
and I definitely can't like this, then I don't want to go on."
     Smoke was about to protest, when Sub-Zero said, "Let it go, old
friend."
     Sailor Moon began her circles.  "Mooon...Healing...ESCALATION!"
     The beam of light struck Cyrax.  He doubled over, as if in pain.  When
he stood again, the wires were gone from his head.  He was a man again.
"Oh, Rei!  It worked!"  He ran over to her, and they hugged again, and
kissed.  While they were kissing, Moon repeated her actions on Smoke.
Soon, he was human again, and Sub-Zero gave him his old ninja uniform back.
     Sailor Mercury, who still had her visor on from the fight with
Reptile, looked at Cyrax and gasped.  "Cyrax, according to my scans, you're
now in temporal sync!  You can leave the moon, without going back in time!"
     Cyrax merely hugged his lover tighter, both of them overjoyed at the
prospect of being together on Earth.
     Not everyone was as happy.  Sailor Pluto saw it first: first, a nimbus
of light in the sky over the United States.  Then, a red portal appeared
over New York City.  She, Sub-Zero, Smoke, and Scorpion all realized what
it was.  "The Empress...," Pluto breathed.  "Queen Sindel has been reborn,
and now Shao Khan can step through into the Earth Realm to claim his
bride...along with every soul the Earth contains."
     A being appeared to them in a crash of thunder and flash of
electricity.  "I am Raiden, god of thunder and protector of Earth.  You
have been chosen, Sailor Senshi, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Smoke, and Cyrax, to
join me in the fight to save Earth from Shao Khan.  Be warned: while your
souls are protected, your lives are not.  Are you up to the challenge?"
     Jupiter was the first to reply.  "Yeah!  We'll trash those Outworld
creeps!"
     "Then come.  We must join with the other Earth Warriors.  I gave up my
godhood to protect this realm, and we're not going to let Khan take it."
     Sailor Pluto created a portal to the coordinates Raiden gave her, and
they all stepped through, ready for the fight of their lives.

The End?  Of this part, yes, but the Sailor Senshi's battle against darkness
will continue in Mortal Kombat.
Feel free to write any sequels to this you want; I did leave it kind of
open, after all.

All Sailor Moon characters and events are copyright Toei Animation and
Takeuchi Naoko.

All Mortal Kombat characters and events are copyright Midway Manufacturing.

Sub-Zero the Elder's line, "Resistance is futile.  Your life, as it has
been,
is over.  From this time forward, you will service us," was spoken by
Locutus
of Borg in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Best of Both
Worlds:
Part 1," and is copyright Paramount Television.

Sub-Zero the Elder's line, "You will be assimilated," is a generic Borg
line,
first spoken by the Borg Collective in the Star Trek: The Next Generation
episode "Q Who," and is copyright Paramount Television.

Sub-Zero the Elder's line, "Resistance is not futile," was spoken by Hugh of
Borg in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "I, Borg," and is
copyright
Paramount Television.

Sub-Zero the Younger's line, "I renounce my membership, and denounce this
clan
as being unworthy.  Unworthy of the continued services of Sub-Zero the
Younger!"
was adapted from a line spoken by Sub-Zero the Younger in Mortal Kombat:
Tournament
Edition II #1, and is copyright Malibu Comics.

This was written without permission from any of the above parties.

----------------------------------------------------------
Adam Durham
cerebros@mindspring.com