In a few minutes, the meal had ended and nobody felt like leaving the table, for they were all stuffed. Ferra, after eating her share of pies, cakes, and candy, promptly dozed off. Torr took her up to their room to put her to bed. While he was leaving, Erron began a story about the many beasts he has hunted in Earthrealm; most of which went unrecognized by the other generals.

"...and I line the shot up, and I shoot. Hits it right in the neck," he said tapping the side of his own neck.

"We have a question," Ermac said.

"What?" Erron replied, slightly annoyed at being interrupted.

"What is a buck?"

D'Vorah, meanwhile was talking to Kotal Kahn about the meeting.
"My emperor, I am sure, knows the importance of destroying the reminder of Mileena's followers," she was saying, "however, this one believes it is of the utmost importance."

"I must disagree D'Vorah," Kahn responded, "we must make use of this time of relative peace to ally with our neighboring realms. Earthrealm especially. Once we possess a strong nation, allied powers, and recollection, we will hunt down Rain and Tanya and execute them, personally." He added the last part with much disliking toward the rebels. Rain and Tanya were the Kahn's last enemies in the Outworld civil war, a war that lasted twenty years and ended in the death of Mileena, the former empress of Outworld. He was eager to have them dead along with all of their Tarkatan soldiers and peace finally brought to Outworld. However, he was more eager to settle disputes and establish alliances with the other realms first.

"Is it not possible for the two to occur simultaneously?" D'Vorah suggested, "this one, the Kahn, and Ferra/Torr could stay and activate negotiations with the other realms, while Reptile, Black, and Ermac, with numerous guards, seek out and vanquish the remaining rebels."

"Hmm," the emperor pondered, "I suppose that would be possible. However, I would prefer my entire cabinet to be present. Nevertheless, that was well thought out D'Vorah. I will take it into consideration," he said with an approving smile, "this is why your second in command."

"My thanks, my emperor," she replied with a bow, "by your leave, this one wishes to be excused."

"You may go. I will think over what you have told me."

"Thank you." said D'Vorah, "and good night Kotal Kahn."

While D'Vorah retreated to her room, Erron was still trying to explain what a buck was to Reptile, Ermac, and Torr, who just returned from putting Ferra to bed.

"No! They're not like Outworld animals," he said becoming exhausted. His head hurt, but that may be because of either the aggravation of trying to explain Earthrealm to these two or the maybe-too-large amount of alcohol he had drunk, "They're about as big as an Earthrealm horse, only, they have antlers."

"They don't sound very interesting to hunt," Reptile said with a wondering expression, "anyway, while we're on the subject, what is a 'gator'?"

"It's a big scaly lizard. If you walked on all fours and had a snout, you'd pretty much be one."

"Could they be a species of raptor?" Reptile asked, suddenly hopeful.

"I doubt it," Erron replied, "they don't speak, puke, turn invisible, or have freakishly long tongues. Plus, they smell better than you." He added the last remark with a smirk before occupying his mouth with another bottle of booze.

"Oh..." Reptile replied ignoring the joke.

Reptile had been searching for others of his race for a significant portion of his life. His race of Saurian raptors, native to the subrealm, Zaterra, had been slain by a previous emperor, Shao Kahn. As far as anyone knew, Reptile was the last of the Zaterran raptors.

"Reptile," Kotal said noticing the look on Reptile's face, "I have told you. Once Outworld is at peace, you are permitted to create a search party to find remaining Zaterrans."

Reptile nodded and resumed eating a pie that Ferra had yet to dissect.

"When you do find other raptors," said Ermac with a smile, "you'd best hope there are females."

"If you do find lady reptiles," Erron joined in with a swig from his bottle, "you're gonna have a lot of work to do, partner."

Reptile smirked and said, "I can hardly wait."

This was met with laughter from the others and even the Kahn was giving a low chuckle.

"Well then," Erron said through a belch after he recovered from laughing, "I think I'm gonna hit the hay." He stood up, almost fell back down, and started stumbling to his chambers. He was quite drunk.

"Torr, go help him to his room," Kahn said after watching Black pass out in the doorway. The brute obeyed, grabbing Erron by the shirt and dragging him to his bed. Now the dining room only held Reptile, Ermac, and Kotal Kahn. Ermac and the Kahn went into a conversation about their favorite drinks while Reptile decided to finish off the leftovers at the table. He was just starting on a raw chicken that D'Vorah didn't finish when he smelled a familiar and unpleasant smell.

"Kahn!" was all he had time to shout before three Tarkatans barged through the dining hall doors. They had expressions resembling triumphant smiles, though it was hard to tell, as their enormous fanged mouths took up half their faces. Their arm blades, a feature that all Tarkatans possess, were bloodstained; presumably from the guards outside the doors. The trio were soon followed by numerous others. More still came from the other entrances until there was no less than twenty Tarkatan warriors, all with their arm blades out, crowded into the palace's dining room. Last of all to enter was a purple clad man. He wore a Neptunian crown on his brow and a purple mask covering his mouth and nose. His black hair was pulled into a warrior's ponytail and his regal clothing suggested that he was a royal soldier. However, everyone in the room recognized Rain, the supposed half god. The Edenian Prince gave a smile that was visible even behind his mask.

"Kotal Kahn," Rain exclaimed as though greeting an old friend instead of a mortal enemy, "it certainly is a pleasure. How have you fared?"

The Kahn looked around at the surrounding Tarkatans before answering, "I have been in better circumstances."

"I apologize for the crowd," the half god continued, "but I am making absolutely certain you do not slither out of my grasp, worm." The Tarkatans moved closer at this, ignoring Reptile's warning growls.

"I have no intention of retreat," Kahn informed Rain, "this is my palace, and if you wish to change this, you will have to kill me." He stood to his full six-foot-ten height. His tattoos began to shine blue.

"You'll have to kill all of us," Reptile announced licking his teeth and baring his claws. Ermac levitated a few inches off the ground and his hands started to glow green with his power. At these stances, some Tarkatans backed away while others moved closer, ready for combat.

At Reptile's statement, however, Rain merely replied, "Worry not, raptor. I intend to do just that. In fact..." He looked at the ceiling as though he could see through it and into the sleeping general's bedrooms above, "Tanya should be completing that task momentarily."