#𝟎𝟏𝟏.

★ ⋆ 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 ⋆ ★

★ ⋆ ━━ "Ugh. This hangover." Johnny wakes up with his head pounding massively. He observes what is present in front of him but doesn't fully process it. His memory quickly comes back, and his thoughts waver in fear. He frantically looks around and sees Kenshi in a slump state, with his now empty eye sockets. The blood dried up around them. The sight is revolting, how he wished he would have done something. "Kenshi!" He shouts in concern.

   Getting up from his current position, he swiftly makes his way to him. Placing a hand on top of Kenshi's wrist that lays dormant on his knee. Putting his other on top of Kenshi's shoulder. "Goddammit," Johnny mutters with anger. "How bad's the pain?"

   "Excruciating." Kenshi says, with no verbal evidence of his physical pain. It sounds flat, as if he were done fighting. Physically and mentally.

   Johnny then looks around to find Kung Lao and Braka only. Jessie is nowhere to be seen. He gulps in fear and turns back to Kenshi. "Where's Jessie?"

   Kenshi exhales as he waits for an answer. "...I don't know. She didn't come with us. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything." He hears his voice tremble.

   He squeezes Kenshi's shoulder with empathy as he tries to look anywhere on his face, but his non-existent eyes. "Don't Kenshi, don't do that to yourself." Johnny says to him with determination, hoping he didn't blame himself for her disappearance. He speaks in a low tone, reverting the topic of Jessie to another. "You saved me. I won't forget that."

   "But you may just regret it." Braka's raspy,
guttural voice disrupts Johnny's concern in Kenshi.

   He turns his head at Braka. "What are you talking-" When he fully sees the background behind Braka. There's distant screaming along with banging noises. The area in front of him is pervaded with grime, blood, and guts hanging all about. "What in the..."

   He holds the back of his head in confusion. "When did we take the left turn into survival horror?"

   Braka replies with a hoarse voice. "This is Shang Tsung's real Laboratory."

   "We're beneath where we were before. That was a fake front." Kenshi adds, with defeat embedded in his solemn voice.

   Johnny feels helpless, he didn't know what to do. He lost Jessie. He doesn't know where she is. If she is even alive, but he didn't want to think like that. He knows she's alive. He knows...

   Standing there idle, with no sense of direction. He also didn't want them thinking he would complain or be sour about their current position. So, as a front to hide his uneasiness, he acts like his typical Johnny Cage persona. He smirks as he begins to speak. "Reminds me of this cheap as film I did in my early days. The Flesh Pits. God, that was trash."

   No one reacts to his one-liner. An abrupt set of steps make its way to them. Which was audible to them all. Distracting the awkward moment amongst them.

   "Who's that?" Johnny asks as he walks closer to the bars to see more clearly.

   "Our jailer." Braka responds.

   The unknown man dressed in a weird amount of green clothing comes up to them and speaks to Johnny directly. "How is he?"

   Johnny stares at him for mere seconds before scoffing in disbelief. "His eyes are gouged out. Guess."

   The man doesn't respond and grabs a small container, handing it to Johnny. "That will dull the pain."

   Johnny stares at the content with distrust. He then looks back to the man, dying to ask the number one question that's been on his mind. "Hold on a sec. Did you happen to see a girl about yay short-" With his other hand, he gestures around his chest to where she reaches in height. "Kinda looks like the princesses in facial features, short black hair-" Johnny rambles on as he was giving as much information as possible.

   "Yes," The man pauses, choosing the right words to say. "Shang Tsung is experimenting on her as we speak."

   "What!?" Johnny exclaims. He grabs the bar in anger as he tries to get as close to the man. "The hell he do to her? It's your and Shang Tsung's head if she's dead."

   The man looks at Johnny with a sorrowful expression. "She may as well already be."

   Johnny's lip quivers in anger as he scoffs and turns to Kenshi with the unknown ointment. He opens it with irritation and dips his fingers in it. Applying it to a piece of red cloth as he detaches it from his hip.

   As he does, he sees in his peripheral, Kenshi's hand reaching out in front of him. Johnny has a feeling it was about what he just discussed with the man. He smiles sadly and grabs Kenshi's hand in his with comfort. "It's alright, Johnny...it's okay."

   Johnny feels a tear come up his eye. He quickly wipes it away and gives a reassuring smile, knowing Kenshi couldn't see it but still did it. He lets go of his hand and finishes with the red cloth. "Alright, buddy, let's get this on you." He wraps it in front of Kenshi's eyes and to the back of his head and ties it. He then puts his hands on both sides of Kenshi's head, looking at him with sympathy.

   Both sigh simultaneously for different reasons. Johnny gets up and goes back to Braka. Who continues to talk to the man. "So he could learn how I shapeshift." Johnny hears as he focuses in on their conversations.

   "He learned that from you?" Kung Lao asks. Johnny walks up and stands right by him. "We saw him do that. It was unreal."

   Johnny remembers the scene at that sentence. How Shang Tsung mysteriously morphed into another person. "So how does it work?" Johnny asks. "You just shapeshift into anything you want?"

   "I can shift only between this and my natural form." The man responds.

   Johnny's eyes widen in suprise as the man morphs into a humanoid reptile. "Woah."

   "You're Zeterran." Braka comments. "Your race can shapeshift?"

   "None can expect me." He voice was deep, more than what Johnny could lower his voice to.

   A sudden mystic presence begins to form behind the man. Johnny squints his eyes and finally makes sense of who it is. Shang Tsung. Johnny's breath halts, and his heart begins to beat faster.

   "Are they ready? It's time." Shang Tsung informs the man beside him.

   "Time for what, sorcerer?" Braka asks.

   Shang Tsung walks with ease to them. "Replication experiments. They begin with your vivisection. I'll use your harvested parts to build new creations. The process is fatal, of course." He states plainly, as forthright as he can be.

   "Liu Kang won't let you get away with this." Johnny affirms, staring at Shang Tsung through his eyes. As if he could see his soul.

   Shang Tsung chuckles and focuses on Johnny. "That presumes he will ever learn what happened. But when I am done, there will be no trace left of you."

   Johnny face remains focused, determined, but internally conflicted. Shang Tsung has to have Jessie somewhere in the shithole they are at. He grabs onto the bars, his knuckles more prominent as he closes his fists tightly on them. He stares at Shang Tsung, who amusingly stares back at him. Both didn't change words, but both knew what the next words were going to be about. "Where is she?" Johnny demands.

   Shang Tsung sighs and looks at his nails. "I haven't the slightest clue on who you're on about."

   The banging of the bars makes everyone jump except Syzoth and Shang Tsung. Johnny's eyes fume with anger. "You know damn well who I'm talking about, the only girl who we came with. Who is obviously not with us. So I'll say it again," Johnny speaks again, with hostility. "Where. Is. She?"

   Shang Tsung's mirthful smile retracts as he stalks closer to Johnny. To the point where they could feel eachothers breath. Johnny was breathing erratically while Shang Tsung holds himself with composure. He tilts his head and whispers to Johnny. "Do not fret, Johnny Cage. For I cured her, but that doesn't mean she's fully cleansed." He laughs in Johnny's face and walks backward. "You'll see soon enough."

   "Hey-" Johnny is livid as Shang Tsung ignores him. He scoffs and lets go of the bars.

   "I shall return soon to check progress. I have other matters to which I must attend." Shang Tsung leaves as mystically as he entered.

   Johnny watches as the other man begins to walk away. "You don't have to do this." Braka pleads.

   Without turning to look at them, the man responds. "It's either you or my family." The man then walks away, far from them.

   "Think we're gonna have to fight our way out?" Kung Lao asks Johnny.

   Johnny looks to Kung Lao on his right and sighs with defeat. "Yup. Gonna have to bite the bullet."

   He looks behind himself and sees Kenshi still in the same pace. He bends down and grabs his shoulder, rubbing it. "Don't move, okay?"

   "Can't really see why I would." Kenshi replies back with some relief.

   Johnny grins as he nods his head. "Alright." He then gets up as he sees deathly creatures racing to them as the gate begins to open.

   Johnny jumps in place and wiggles his hands, getting ready for a fight. Multiple it seems. "This is for you, Jessie." He mumbles as he closes his eyes, mentally preparing himself. He then opens them with a newfound purpose.

   "No pain, no gain!" He grabs onto the gate that now opened all the way. He swings from it and drops kicks an enemy, landing and standing on top of it. He then punches him in the face with full intent.

   "Ugh." He sounds his efforts with diligence. He then runs up further, to two more, and kicks one in the stomach, doing the same to the other. Following up with a kick to the head, to the one on his right, making it fall to the ground. Using his momentum to his advantage, he then leads his foot back to the one on his left, kicking him in the face with the front of his foot. Making Johnny spin 360 and face them again but finds another running at him. It grabs ahold of his waist and pushes him to the wall. Johnny puches his back, trying to get him to release him, but another comes and grabs his arms.

   "Really?" Johnny says to no one. "Jumping me? Not cool, guys." He continues to try to pry them off, but it does nothing. They finally take control over him. He continues with an effort to get a release from the two. He sees Kenshi also getting carried by others. "Shit." Johnny says, unable to help.

   They led him to cages hanging off the wall and throw him in one. "Damn, that hurt." He feels his head hit the metal wall behind him as they lock him in. He rubs it and sees Kenshi getting thrown in the one beside him. He tries to open it but to no avail. He sees the green man from before turning a lever as Braka and Kung Lao fight the others near him. As Johnny held on to the bar a massive wave of electricity went through his body. Making him convulse in pain, his fingers remain locked on the bars. Unable to make any movements of his own.

   This is not how he is gonna die.

   When the electric shocks stopped. He slumps and closes his eyes. Trying to convert his worry and doubt on finding Jessie to pure willpower. His sees Kenshi slumped as well but not moving. "Kenshi!? Are you okay?"

   Kenshi doesn't respond verbally and groans in response. Johnny continues to rumble against the bars as he tries to break free, but he knows he can't. But he exterted himself relentlessly upon it. That's what matters in the end, right? No matter what situation a human is put in, the mind will always fight back. No matter what. The macrophages in Johnny's body were already fighting back the infections on his wounds, repairing them from the numerous fights he's been in.

   Another shock went through, and Johnny moans in pain as he tries to get through it once more. It lasts far longer until it stops suddenly. He slumps in agony, he slowly looks up to see Braka fighting even more enemies. He closes his eyes, mentally preparing himself again.

   I'm coming, Jessie. I hope you're alive.

   The cage in front of him gets rips away. At the sound of metal hitting the ground, Johnny opens his eyes to see Kung Lao ready to catch him if he falls. He reaches out to Kung Lao and gives a smirk. "Thanks, buddy. Would have been toast."

   Kung Lao nods urgently, then gestures to Kenshi. "Let's help him out."

   Johnny quickly gets over his restlessness and hurries to Kenshi as he falls forward when Braka breaks the cage. "I got you." Johnny puts Kenshi's left arm behind his own neck, and so does Kung Lao. He helps Kenshi with his weight as he is on the brink of weakness.

   He helps him to a corner as Braka is being stopped by the shapeshifter. Johnny was going to help until Kung Lao places a hand on his chest. "I'll help him. Stay with Kenshi."

   "Okay." Johnny agrees. He then helps Kenshi lean against him and watches as they fight the shapeshifter.

   "She alive... right Cage?" Kenshi's question halts Johnny as he furrows his eyebrows on how to respond. "I mean," Kenshi continues. "It's the only thing I can hold faith to, the only person I have left."

   Johnny shifts his weight as he finds the right words. "She's alive, Kenshi. And hey, you got me, remember? As long as I'm here, neither of youise dying."

   He sees Kenshi trying to smile but grunts in pain.

   "What has happened here?" When Johnny looks up, he is shocked, with relief and anger. He sees Shang Tsung once more but with someone else. Someone he holds dearly to his heart, Jessie. She stood fearfully at his side, unable to move.

   Johnny wastes no time. "Kung Lao?"

   He sees Kung Lao walking to him while keeping an eye on Shang Tsung. "Help Kenshi."

   "Alright." As they trade places, Johnny grabs sento off a table and puts Jessie's smaller sword behind his back. He then runs to where Braka and the shapeshifter stand.

   "Syzoth, you fool, you let them ruin everything!" Shang Tsung speaks with vexation. As he does, Johnny finally makes eye contact with Jessie. She no longer had the physical effects of Tarkat. He was thankful. He sees her eyes glisten as they both stare at each other. Johnny gestures with a hand to her, to which she quickly speeds walks to him.

   Shang Tsung didn't seem to care about her departure. Once they touch, it feels like a piece of him finally found him. Her touch sparks a lift in his attitude. He no longer felt lonely, no longer felt deprived of fondness towards Jessie. Seeing her alive and walking made him content in the moment.

   He feels her arms wrap around his waist. With one free hand, he holds her around her shoulders. No words needed to be spoken to one another. With Johnny giving her a well needed kiss on top of her head as she holds him tightly was enough for them.

   "We're going, sorcerer." He hears Braka say.

   Johnny adjusts sento and aims it at Shang Tsung. He then gestures Jessie to stand behind him. "And we're taking you with us. Liu Kang would like a word."

   "I cannot be apprehended so easily." Shang Tsung speaks in an unknown language when the room begins to fill with green smoke.

   "Yeah, I got a bad feeling about this." Johnny then feels his breathing becoming hard. The smoke makes him feel as if he is suffocating on thin air.

   He looks to Jessie, who stands behind him and hugs her once more. "God, I just got you back, and now we're gonna die." He expresses with doubt. "I haven't even made another sequel to Ninja Mime-"

   "Johnny." He hears her for the first time in a while. The way she says his name makes him fall to his knees in gratitude, hypothetically. He backs up and sees her look at him. He stares, wondering what she wants to say. She grabs ahold of his cheeks. "We're getting out of here. You, me, and Kenshi. We are not gonna die." He notes mentally they all been saying that lately. When will their luck betray them?

   Johnny watches as she looks left and right before grabing the back of his head out of nowhere. "What are you-" He asks before he stopped by Jessie's actions.

   She tugs at his hair before connecting her lips with his. Her nails felt weirdly long against his scalp as they drag along his neck down to his chest. He quickly paid no mind to it. Their kiss was forced with emotions, heartfelt moving of both their lips. Her soft lips against his, felt exhilarating to him. He tugs at her waist as he slams her against himself, closing his eyes to savor the moment. A slight groan was heard from her. Unfortunately he coughs mid kiss due to the toxic gas in the air.

   He breaks apart from her. He sees Shang Tsung no longer there and finds Syzoth banging at the doors to break free. He places a hand in his hair fixing it at how it bcame messy after her tugging. "Not how I imagine our- actual first kiss in a bit would go...but I won't complain." He tries to say through multiple coughs being thrown out. Dusting himself off, trying to compose himself internally while also trying to breath.

   She awkwardly looks away, her face flustered. But as cute as the moment was, Johnny noticed something. She wasn't taking effect at all as he and everyone else in the dungeon is. She is breathing perfectly fine. "What- what exactly did he do to you Jess?" He eyes her up and down with uncertainty.

   Jessie quickly looks back and shrugs. The question regarding her health quickly dissipates her flushed expression. "I don't know, I'm hoping Liu Kang would have answers."

   "What's wrong?" Kenshi voice echoes through the place.

   Both Johnny and Jessie watch. One in pain, the other is completely fine. "The door must of sealed when the gas was released." Syzoth responds.

   "Step aside." Braka says and tries to break the doors open.

   Johnny eyes Jessie as her eyes light up. "Got something, Jess? I know that face of yours." He says through a fit of coughs.

   "Maybe... gonna try something." She announces out loud. Braka backs up, and they all watch her go to the door.

   Johnny watches eyes wide as her hands go through the door with no restraint. She has the strength of no normal human. She rips a piece of the door open and continues. "Braka, help me." She beckons him.

   Johnny sees the door rip open more and quickly goes to Kenshi's side. He eyes Kung Lao. Both of them were perturbed by Jessie capricious behavior and strength. But deep down, Johnny hoped it was because of the unknown change Shang Tsung did to her.

   Johnny helps him when he feels Jessie grabing sento from him. Aiding him as he focuses on Kenshi. Jessie walks in front of them as they all head out.

   "Leave me. I'll just slow you down." Kenshi says. His feet drag, and he has no intent of moving forward.

   Johnny notices. "What? Shang Tsung finds you, he'll kill you." He states, and ses Jessie is looking at Kenshi with concern. He knew this was the first time she actually saw his face, but without his eyes. She says nothing to the matter as she met Johnny eyes. She looks forward and continues walking. She probably will question him later.

   "Look at me, Cage! I'm useless. Don't risk your lives to save mine." Kenshi insists on leaving himself behind.

   "Hey. You are not giving up. The Taira need you remember? Jessie needs you, I need you. There is no way in hell we are leaving you behind." Johnny speaks with determination.

   Unbeknownst to him, Jessie is smiling gratefully at his dauntlessness behavior he began to develop while in outworld. More or so being while he worried for others' safety. Which was a surprise to her but a good one. A damn good one...

   Seeing the daylight ahead, gives Johnny more hope in the moment. "We are gonna get back home and figure out how to help you- both of you. Got it?"

   Jessie looks back and gives Johnny a smile at his words. Johnny doing the same. Finally, he has the two most important people in his life, with him once again. No more Shang Tsung down their throats, for now.

   "Thank you...cage." kenshi says lowly. Only for him to hear, to where Jessie couldn't. "For everything, thank you for having hope. Jessie's okay, right? Psychically, I mean?"

   Johnny observes Jessie from behind as he nods. "Yeah, man, she's okay. Just gotta figure out what exactly Shang Tsung did to her. I mean, I'm not one to shit on women's strength or anything, but what she did was unreal. And it scares me Kenshi, a lot."

   He also needed to talk to her about their abrupt kiss. Like, what the hell was that? He liked it, of course he did. But what did it mean to her? He needed to ask her...he hope it wasn't a spur of the moment.