"How many times do I need to tell you, it's fine Johnny," Sonya smiled to herself on her end of line. If she had a dollar for every time he apologized.

"Alright, alright. You know I'm not good at these kind of things," Johnny's voice replied from the speakerphone. Sonya was doing paperwork while her ex-husband apologized sincerely and extensively. "I'll leave it at: I promise to not start anything again. Deal?"

She chuckled before replying, "Sure, Cage. I have to hand it to you, I didn't expect you to handle this so," she searched for the right word, "Maturely."

"Yeah well," Johnny said bashfully, "You have Cassie to thank for that. She all but shoved this phone in my hand."

"Get out of town," Sonya said, giving the phone her full attention, "She is my daughter." She laughed to herself.

"Haha," he said sarcastically, "Sure she gets her mouth from me and all of her redeeming qualities from you. That it?"

"What? You don't think that's accurate?" she asked.

Johnny thought for a while. "Nah, that's fair," he said, "but she gets her fighting abilities from me." She could practically hear his shit-eating grin.

"Oh really?" her phone buzzed before he could answer. She was chuckling as she said, "Let's put a pin in this Johnny, just got a message from the gate watch."

"Alright," he said, "I'll talk to you later." He hung up.

Sonya checked the message on her phone. It simply said, "Come to the North Gate ASAP."

"General Blade," two soldiers saluted her as she appeared. One held a black basket. The bottom looked damp.

"You two are the ones who called?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am," one said. He gestured to the basket, "This was left at the gate in between our shifts. No one saw who delivered it, but it has a note attached." The other soldier handed her a yellowed piece of paper, some sort of gibberish scribbled on it. The only part she could make out was the Kahn's official signature and seal. "We suspect it's from Outworld."

She looked suspiciously at the basket. "What's in it?"

"We don't know, ma'am. We haven't opened it yet."

Sonya knew that Outworld and Earthrealm relations were rocky, but she didn't suspect that Kotal Kahn would send anything dangerous. Even if he did, Outworld didn't have tech like bombs, but there was no telling what kind of magic weapon or monstrosity could be hiding in there. It was this that cause her to gesture for one of the soldiers to keep his gun trained on the basket while the other opened it.

A thousand worse case scenarios flew threw her head as the lid was slowly removed, but she never thought to see what she did.

Fujin's decapitated head lied in the woven material.

"Oh my god," the general said, covering her mouth, "Fujin."

At the mention of its name, the head's eyes twitched open. It's dead eyes found Sonya and it opened its mouth, desperately trying to speak. Nothing came out but strangled gags and wheezes. Fujin's blood soaked the bottom of the basket.

Sonya turned away from the head, fighting back tears. "Soldier," she choked out. A gloved hand rested on her shoulder. She shouldn't have allowed it, but she was glad for the comforting gesture.

"Yes ma'am?" the soldier said.

"Form a squad," she snarled. Her hands clenched into fists. Kotal Kahn wants war? He will get it.

______________________________________

"Our lord." Kotal Kahn turned around and saw Ermac, accompanied by Misaki, following him down the corridor. "A moment?"

"I was about to go to turn in for the night, Ermac," Kotal replied, "Could this wait until the morning?" He was genuinely tired after today.

"As you will emperor," Ermac conceded, "but we have questions that need answering."

Kotal rubbed his eyes tiredly and gestured to Misaki, "By 'we' do you mean yourself or?..."

"She... shares our concerns," Ermac looked uncomfortable, if such a thing was possible, "Er, will you hear us?"

The Kahn was tired, but Ermac was usually very patient. If he was urgent to ask these questions, they must be important. He'd make time for him. "Very well," he said with a sigh, "Let us talk in the meeting room."

The meeting room was empty except for the large, triangular table in the center of it. The trio chatted next to the window, however, simply leaning against the wall and looking down at the Outworld streets. Most of the vendors had retired to their beds, but there was still an illuminated face here and there.

"Speak," Kotal said when they were settled. His and the construct's face were illuminated only by the moonlight and his glowing tattoos.

Ermac took a breath before asking, "Forgive us for our forwardness, but why was it that Fujin was able to enter the palace so easily?" Kotal's gaze did not waver from the window. Ermac persisted, "Even as a god, he could not get pass our guard with so little struggle." More silence. "Were there any guards posted?" It was beyond his bounds, really, but if what he suspected was true, the Kahn must be called out for it.

Kotal took a deep breath and sighed. "Why is Mrs. Ana with you?" he finally said, not turning from the window.

Ermac turned his head towards Misaki, "That is... unimportant, our lord. She may do as she wishes, correct?" He realized what the Kahn was doing suddenly. "It is safe to speak freely before her. Her allegiance lies fully to Outworld." He gestured toward said Earthrealmer with an open palm, but she took it as an invitation to hold his hand, so she took it. Kotal Kahn decided to turn around at that moment. He grinned when he saw the two.

"Yes," he said knowingly, "I suppose it does." His eyes and grin fell when he remembered Ermac's question. He sighed deeply yet again. "If you would like to hear the truth, there were no guards posted that day," Ermac subconsciously squeezed Misaki's hand, which he had yet to let go of, "Because, we simply do not have enough." He turned back to the window, "Police work, personal guard, and training. I put those above wall guard duty and paid for it."

"But if you did have guards posted, then Lord Fujin might not have made it to you," Misaki spoke suddenly. She continued more softly, "and you wouldn't have a chance to ally with Earth."

Kotal Kahn didn't seem to mind her outburst, "However beneficial the action was, it was the wrong choice to have made at the time. I should have... I should have been more thoughtful, or wiser. Either would have sufficed, but I was neither." His eyes fell guiltily. "I am sorry," before either could reassure him, he continued, "But as much as we try to make light of this situation, it is all too dire. Outworld could be destroyed at any time Raiden decides." He looked at Misaki. The small woman hid behind Ermac slightly, still holding his hand. "We need the support of Earthrealm, or else..." he closed his eyes and shook his head, "Raiden will vanquish us without even breaking stride."

The dark room was filled with silence, the weight of the Kahn's words crushing them all. They had all heard it before, but the reality of it was quite depressing.

"But we will have Earthrealm's aid by tomorrow, our lord," Ermac reassured him, "Fujin is certainly negotiating as we speak."

"That is not the entirety of it," Kotal said, "I have a question for you Ermac; How could I have let it come to this? Would any decent leader let his people live in fear of invasion and total annihilation? Every empowering thing I say, every word of encouragement I utter," he put his hand over his face, "Is a lie. I am no better than my predecessor, am I?"

"You are leagues better than Mileena," Ermac insisted, "and far more favorable than Shao Kahn." Ermac stepped in front of the broken Kahn's view, slipping his hand out of Misaki's; much to her chagrin. "We serve who we judge to be Outworld's best choice for leader. This is proof of your greatness."

Kotal Kahn looked up suddenly as though he had a thought. "That's it, I've got it," he grabbed Ermac by the shoulder, gently. "How many souls do you harbor?"

Ermac answered immediately, "Tens of thousands, our lord."

"An exact number." Kotal demanded.

Ermac thought for a second. "Fifty-three thousand, two hundred and four," he said with certainty.

"Of those," the emperor asked, "How many of them were royalty?"

Ermac was surprised by the question, but he answered, "About ninety, our lord." The Kahn looked a little upset at the answer. "Do we include Shao Kahn?"

"No," Kotal answered, releasing him and turning away, "I do not consider him any type of leader."

"What about King Jerrod?"

Kotal froze at the mention of the Edenian monarch. He was a good king, the best, until he was murdered. If Ermac had even a speck of him inside his collection, let alone his entire soul...

"If I am to die, would you take my throne, Ermac?" Kotal asked sincerely. "You would make a decent emperor. You would do only what would benefit the realm. You would a strong leader that they could follow. And you have millennia of experience." He looked at Ermac, whom had resumed his place next to Misaki. "You could make Misaki your queen, and solidify alliance with Earthrealm. All the better." Ermac was silent for a while. "What say you?"

"We say..." Ermac hesitated. He was flabbergasted that the Kahn would suggest such a notion. He felt Misaki take his hand again. He let her. "The position would not suit us. We live to serve."

"And that makes one wonder what would happen if the ruler of Outworld was also the servant of Outworld. You must--"

"I cannot," Ermac said with finality. His use of pronouns surprising the Kahn greatly. "You show us great respect, emperor, but I cannot rule Outworld."

"Then," Kotal said downhearted, "There is no one who can take my place. Reptile would simply give me a similar answer. Black is a mercenary, I could never give him the throne. Ferra is out of the question. And D'Vorah..." The emperor looked more weary than he ever had in all of his years.

"In that case," Ermac told him, "You cannot die." Kotal Kahn looked up at the construct and his lady friend, who stood strongly next to him. "If you die, then Outworld will fall, for no better ruler may arise than that of Kotal Kahn. And we shall do all that is within our power to make certain that never happens. Ourself, and all of your other men."

Misaki stepped forward, "And me too," she said with surprising surety. The two knelt in front of the Kahn in servitude.

Kotal Kahn clenched his fists. He was weak. Even with all of his strength, he gave into fear, stress, and rage. And because of it, he made horrible decisions. Ones that had endangered himself, his friends, his allies, and his people. He could never forgive himself for that. But he was done with moping. He was finished with self-pity. He was tired of sitting and waiting in fear.

Now, it was time for him to be emperor. Time for him to do his job, and lead.

"I say to you, Ermac, Misaki Ana," he turned to the window. "I say to all of Outworld. This realm will never fall so long as I still stand before any foe who desires to harm it, and he shall be met with unrelenting, merciless force!"

"Long live Kotal Kahn! Long live Outworld!"