File: dystopian-abandoned-citie(...).jpg (73 KB, 1024x574)

73 KB JPG

Setting his sights upon the green portal with the symbol of Earthrealm over its arch, Fox takes a prepatory breath before running in.

The portal is erratic, almost unstable. Halfway through the corridor, Fox begins to feel himself be pulled apart, stretching like one is being sucked into a black hole. Most portal experiences are unpleasant, causing one to feel extremes like being too hot and too cold at the same time, but now there is pain as well. His skin tingles and then feels as though it is alight with fire. He closes his eyes and focuses intently, bearing the pain, knowing that the other end will offer him salvation from it. All he need do is reach it.

It comes suddenly and violently, the portal expelling him out the opposite end, and he finds himself falling with wind rushing past his ears. His eyes shoot wide open and he had but a moment to take in his surroundings; a dark and grey sky, mostly cloudy, and a building in front of him made of concrete that is rapidly passing by as he falls. It's a skyscraper, he quickly realizes, and his hands go for his kusarigama. Twisting in the air, he lets fly the sickle with a mighty throw; it quickly finds hold in one of the many cracks in the building. He holds onto the chain and grips it hard as his motion is redirected towards the structure. He crashes through an already-half-broken window and hits the floor hard, rolling along its surface until coming to a stop amongst broken glass and debris from a fallen-in ceiling, and then all is silent.

The first noise he makes is a low groan. In addition to the portal throwing his senses out of order temporarily, now he has the sudden action of flying through the window and the minor injuries it brought. As he picks himself up, he is surprised that he even had the reflexes in that jarring moment to save himself. A yank on his weapon dislodges it and he quickly pulls the remainder inside before standing up and surveying the room. It appears to have been an office at one point, but that point is clearly long-since past: it is completely destroyed. With suspicious eyes he slowly turns around and approaches the window.

To his quiet dismay and disappointment, but not entirely to his surprise, the Earthrealm city he looks upon is in no better a state than the office in which he stands. The skeletal remnants of the city---New York, Chicago, Los Angeles? He isn't certain---stand quietly in the dim light of the grey sky. He sees hollow buildings, collapsed structures, streets torn asunder, vehicles piled on top of each other, but no fires and no smoke, which can only mean that this destruction is long-since passed. It reminds him of New York in his reality, nearly completely annihilated by Shao Kahn's invasion, a mutant-infested shadow of its former self.

File: Forrest Fox.jpg (92 KB, 900x1315)

92 KB JPG

>>1989369

'Should've seen this one coming,' he thinks. 'It's not like Disorderrealm or Cao Kahn's Outworld was much different. But what happened here? It looks like nuclear fallout... Perhaps there is some kind of correlation here: every realm I have visited is a chaotic wreck. Were these realities I am visiting purposefully chosen because of how damaged they have become? Perhaps there is a connection, as though the furies surrounding these realms were already weakened... I'll have to ask Raiden more about this later.'

In the midst of his musing, his keen ears pick up the sound of gunfire somewhere off in the distance, echoing along the horizon. He looks in the general direction it came from, but cannot see any hint of battle. 'Short on time and I need to find the remaining Chaosrealm Kamidogu. I'll just have to get closer.'

>Scale down the building with your kusarigama
>Find a way down inside the building
>Slide down the elevator shaft
>Climb atop the building and orient yourself
>Other

>>1989372
>>Slide down the elevator shaft
This is the boat are of MKQ

>>1989372
>Scale the building.

>>1989372
>>Slide down the elevator shaft

This does seem the fastest way...

File: post_apocalyptic_city_by_(...).jpg (421 KB, 1600x963)

421 KB JPG

>>1989396
>>1989438

'That does involve getting to the ground, though, doesn't it?' he thinks as he turns around. 'There are a few ways, but none of them very quick. I don't want that potential trail to get cold...'

An idea enters his head, one that will allow him both speed and descent. He kicks open a door and quickly finds the building's elevator shafts, which he must pry open with the head of his sickle. Once the doors are forced open, he looks at the cable in front of him and the long drop below.

'I've always wanted to try something similar to this,' he thinks as he takes his chain, wraps it around the cable and tightens it. For added measure he slides on his climbing claws on his hands and feet before picking up a nearby coffee mug. He drops it into the shaft and counts the seconds until his ears hear the shattering noise far below. 'Sounds like ground level, or near it,' he estimates. 'My ears have never let me down before.' His test complete, he takes a deep breath, steps forward and falls.

He is swallowed by darkness as he descends at a rapid pace, holding onto the tight chain as it slides down the cable. Occasional cracks in the walls or open elevator doors allow light to bleed in, but they fly by at such a quick rate they are unreliable. Inwardly he counts the seconds, focusing absolutely and relying on every ounce of his training to not fail him. What would Master Hasashi think if his life ended in an elevator shaft in some other reality?

When he hits his stopping point, he tightens the hold on the chain even further while reaching out to a wall and digging his claws into it with one hand and both feet. Sparks light up the shaft as he tries to slow down, gritting his teeth as his muscles ache from the strain. With but a few seconds to spare, Fox stops his descent enough to touch delicately down on the floor.

He takes a deep breath and lets go of the cable, determining that he is on top of an elevator. He steps on part of the broken mug as he finds a way inside, a maintenance trap door that allows him to drop into the cube. Again he pries open both sets of doors and walks into the lobby. Much like the rest of the building, it is trashed, with windows broken and papers lying scattered. One of the walls is impacted inwards with a car sticking through half of it, though no driver can be seen.

Fox walks past the front desk, looking up at the company logo. 'Midway? Never heard of it. No clues here about where I am.' He walks out of the building and onto the ruined streets.

Almost immediately he hears the gunshots again; it sounds like at least two firers or more.

>Proceed directly towards the gunfire
>Scale the nearby lower alleys and rooftops
>Move carefully and slowly, pick your avenue of approach very carefully
>Wait until the gunfire ceases, then move
>Other

>>1989506
>Scale the nearby lower alleys and rooftops
It's almost like we're a ninja or whatever.

>>1989506
>>Move carefully and slowly, pick your avenue of approach very carefully

>>1989506
>>Scale the nearby lower alleys and rooftops
>>Move carefully and slowly, pick your avenue of approach very carefully

Batman and the TMNT would lead me to believe these are the same thing.

>>1989527
>>1989534
>>1989544

Let me get some 1d100s, please.

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>1989558
Meep.

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>1989558

File: terminators.jpg (26 KB, 560x330)

26 KB JPG

>>1989569
>>1989579

Fox moves with careful purpose, dashing into a nearby allyway. He hooks his weapon onto an escape ladder and pulls himself up to it, allowing him to reach the rooftop of a lower building. The rooftops are slightly easier to navigate than the streets, as they are often more clear of debris, provided the entire building hasn't collapsed.

The sounds of battle only intensify as he draws near. Gunshots, an occasional explosion and now rising smoke can be heard and glimpsed as he cautiously approaches. Soon enough he is within direct earshot and looks down upon the battle from a safe vantage point, only to discover a very surprising sight. Machines in the form of men are walking down the street, carrying advanced heavy weaponry like miniguns and pulse rifles as they advance and fire upon a human-held position that is rapidly deteriorating. The humans, dressed like guerilla soldiers, are in a fighting retreat as the machines, about ten of them in total, move forward at an unceasing pace. They take slugs and grenades to their forward line without showing so much as a hint of slowing down.

'Automated soldiers,' Fox thinks as he looks down upon them. 'But who made them? The Lin Kuei? The government? Or someone else?'

As one of the titanium-armored machines opens fire with its purple-flashing pulse rifle, setting a soldier on fire, Fox doesn't have to debate about which side he's on.

>Leap down and shred some metalheads
>Assist in their retreat by creating a diversion
>Wait and observe
>Jump down behind the machines and take them down one at a time
>Other

>>1989630
>>Assist in their retreat by creating a diversion

Robots tend to be a little more durable than a sickle or throwing star, let's not take 'em head-on until we know how much damage it takes to kill one.

>>1989630
>>Assist in their retreat by creating a diversion

>>1989630
>Create a diversion.

File: nick-bouldin-mkx-sonyadrone.jpg (918 KB, 1920x1898)

918 KB JPG

>>1989654
>>1989660
>>1989702

'They need a distraction,' he decides, taking out his smokebombs. 'Damn. I'll be out...' Hearing another explosion from down below, he makes up his mind and throws them all, aiming for the area between the machines and their targets. As the bombs pop and smoke fills the area, the machines cease their fire to reassess the situation.

Fox lands atop a nearby car. "Hey, metalheads!" he shouts, drawing their attention. They aim their guns at him and he swallows behind his mask. 'Right. What was step two of this plan?'

They open fire and he is immediately on the move, darting to the side to dodge their assault. The walls and vehicles around him are peppered with minigun fire and laser blasts as he takes cover behind a concrete divider.

Amid the gunfire, he suddenly picks up a buzzing sound, like small whirling blades. He looks up and sees a drone come into view over a rooftop, very much resembling those currently in experimental phase used by the Special Forces that he is familiar with. But given the standard set by the humanoid robots blasting at his cover, he initially suspects it to be another hostile.

He is pleasantly surprised by the fact that it opens fire not on his position but upon the other machines. Twin machine guns on either side of it and a rotating grenade launcher lay into them before it swings away to avoid their return fire. With their attention now drawn to it instead of him, Fox realizes his chance to escape!

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>1989720
Find cover, use cover. It's a post-apocalypse, there's gotta be bombed-out cars and shit to duck and weave through.

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>1989720
Kick off a car and get to higher ground!

File: Jacqui.jpg (95 KB, 392x930)

95 KB JPG

>>1989739

Fox leaps from his cover, rolling along the ground to get behind a burnt-out car, Fox watches as the drone flies off. The machines split their numbers; half pursue it while the other half begin to sweep the area in search of him. The ninja is much too stealthy for their scanners, and he takes great advantage of the liberal amount of debris strewn about to avoid detection from them. He observes a pair of mechanical feet stomp past as he hides beneath one of the vehicles.

Just then he hears a mighty warcry from above as a woman leaps down, smashing one of the machines with her augmented gauntlets! Fox hears this and recognizes the voice that shouts, "Come get some!"

'Jacqui!' He rolls out from under cover and looks up as he sees his alternate-reality teammate leap from atop a smashed robot to tackle another. She is dressed in an SF uniform that has been layered with armor, including metal shoulder pads and spiked elbows. She charges the machine and smashes both fists through its chest, charging it into a nearby wall.

Jacqui lets out another cry as she tears the metal man apart, throwing both halves away. The remaining three machines take aim at her.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>1989804
Throw kunai into their optics

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>1989804
Kusari-gama trip!

File: concept3.jpg (51 KB, 261x868)

51 KB JPG

>>1989843

Taking hold of two kunai, he quickly gets up onto a knee and whips them into the optics of the nearest machine. It begins firing rapidly, having lost all visual sight of its targets, but this erratic aim serves to blow up a nearby vehicle, causing one of the other machines to stumble slightly as it was standing near it.

Jacqui takes full advantage of this opportunity and charges the off-center machine, getting it into a power-grip before delivering a head-shattering suplex. Circuitry and wires go flying as the robot's skull cracks in half.

>>1989844

As the third machine turns its weapon and trains it upon Jacqui, Fox backflip-kicks the pulse rifle out of its hands. As he lands in a low stance, he tosses out the head of his sickle and hooks it around the machine's ankle. With a sharp tug he trips the machine before throwing the heavy head around a nearby bent traffic light. He leaps up and grabs the blunt head as it swings towards him, using his body weight to pull the machine up as he falls until it is hanging upside-down and struggling.

Jacqui stands up and fixes Fox with a quizical look. She casually approaches him, smashing in the face of the blind robot as she does, before approaching the one hanging by its foot. She grabs its head and twists, tearing it off. Fox watches her do this wordlessly, noting that her gaze never leaves him.

Throwing the head up and down like a baseball, she raises a brow and asks, "A little bit on the nose, don't you think?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your ninja costume. Halloween isn't exactly happening this year---or any year, for that matter. So unless you're cosplaying, or just playing pretend, you should get serious and stop dressing like a cartoon before you get killed."

>I am Shirai-Ryu.
>You don't know who I am? We've never met before?
>There are others who may need help, let us not waste time.
>Listen very carefully to me: I come from an alternate reality in which you an I are friends and I seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm in order to stop a convergence of multiple realities that has been orchestrated by the cleric of chaos known as Havik.
>Other

>>1989937
>>Listen very carefully to me: I come from an alternate reality in which you an I are friends and I seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm in order to stop a convergence of multiple realities that has been orchestrated by the cleric of chaos known as Havik.

Yeah, Charisma is Fox's dump stat

>>1989958
Sounds about right

>>1989937
>I am Shirai-ryu
He said a little dejected

>>1989937
>Listen very carefully to me: My name is Forrest Fox. I come from an alternate reality in which you an I are friends, and I seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm in order to stop a convergence of multiple realities that has been orchestrated by the cleric of chaos known as Havik.

File: 97ba97b235e4d4c27a818c25b(...).jpg (60 KB, 736x873)

60 KB JPG

>>1989958
>>1989969

'There are machines out there trying to kill us. I don't have time for games.' With too much going on, Fox drops all pretenses, faces her directly and says, "Listen very carefully to me: My name is Forrest Fox. I come from an alternate reality in which you an I are friends and I seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm in order to stop a convergence of multiple realities that has been orchestrated by the cleric of chaos known as Havik."

To her credit, Jacqui keeps from bursting out in laughter until he is finished. Wiping a hand across her eyes, she says, "Oh, man, I gotta say, I was having a really bad day until you came along. You're a special kind of crazy, aren't you?"

"I'm not crazy, I'm serious," he insists.

"Hello Serious, I'm Jacqui," she quips. "Look, I don't have time for games."

"No, I am the one who does not have time for---"

"I've got people pinned down in several places around here. I suggest you get underground with the rest of the refugees and stop trying to play ninja-hero like it's the eighties." She turns around and starts jogging away without so much as a goodbye, taking off in the direction the five robots from earlier left in.

"Hey, wait!" He runs after her, pulling his kurisagama free as he does. It is a trivial matter to catch up and keep pace. "Did you not see my skill? Are you not aware of the Shirai-Ryu?"

"I don't watch anime," she says. "Now quit fooling around, kid! You're going to get shot."

"I know for a fact that I am three years older than you, Jacquilline Briggs!"

She stops and faces him, suddenly becoming confrontational. "And just how did you know my name? My real name, huh?"

"I told you, I am from another reality in which I know you. What has happened in this world? Why is everything destroyed?"

"Stop fooling around! In case you haven't noticed, we're fighting a war up here! Now I don't care who you are, where you come from or what kind of bullshit ninja cosplay you're trying to pull, lives are on the line!"

"Precisely! Whole worlds of lives! Not just yours! I need you to calm down and think with reason for a moment."

"Why you little---"

Before she can finish her sentence, Fox hears the sounds of approaching thrusters. "Get down!" He tackles her as two figures fly overhead with jet-boots; one clad in yellow and one in red. Both he and Jacqui look up as they land nearby, then turn around.

"Oh, great," she mutters. "If it ain't Ketchup and Mustard..."

"It is the interloping organic known as Briggs," Cyrax says, scanning them both. "And an unidentified combatant."

"He possesses primitive technology," Sektor replies. "He is of no threat. Secure the female. K.A.N.O. has plans for her."

'Did he say Kano?' Fox thinks.

She pushes Fox off of her and stands up. "Just you try, you oversized kitchen applicances." She looks back over her shoulder. "And you: stay out of the way!" She raises her gauntlets up and charges at her new foes!

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>1990050
Rip out their stupid techno dreads, I've always wondered if they did anything.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>1990050
Wait for the first one to open up their chest-launcher and throw something in there to plug the hole.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>1990050
>Get Over Here! Cyrax.
Slam him into the ground by way of blackjacking with the weighted end.

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>1990050
Bitch, I'll do what I want.

Huck a couple EX Sludge Bombs (Sticky Bombs) at them and gum up their thrusters.

File: 362362323265.png (125 KB, 300x486)

125 KB PNG

>>1990078

The yellow cyborg's chest opens up and a green net emerges, opening wide as it flies towards Jacqui. Without missing a beat she leaps up and flips over it before bringing both fists down on his head.

Fox dashes to the side to avoid the net before running in, preparing to attack Cyrax from the side. Sektor, however, teleports in front of him with a green cyber-portal, popping up in front of him.

"You are of no consequence," he says, his own chest panel opening to reveal a row of missiles. One of them flies out and lands at the ninja's feet. It explodes, leaving only black smoke in his place. "Pathetic."

Fox then leaps out of the smoke, over the red cyborg's head. "What---?" The ninja grabs the metal dreadlocks sticking out of the back of his helmet as he lands on the other side and yanks on them. Sektor is pulled backwards, over Fox's shoulders and hurled at Cyrax! Jacqui steps back and watches the two cyborgs crash into each other, both of them going down in a clunky heap. She looks at Fox and cocks a brow, but bites her tongue before she says anything.

>>1990089
>>1990095

As Cryax attempts to get back up, Fox takes out his kusarigama and spins the weighted end in one hand. "Don't stand there slack-jawed," he snidely remarks as he swings his weapon down on atop of the yellow warrior, keeping him from getting up. Sektor merely teleports from his position on the ground, emerging not far from Jacqui. As she turns to face him, Cyrax prepares to launch another net from the ground; Fox anticipates this and tosses a sticky bomb at his chest as it opens, preventing him from doing so.

>>1990102

Jacqui prepares to guard herself as Sektor flies towards her, but Fox has other plans. Taking out another one of his sludge bombs, he whips it at the perfect spot where he knows the cyrborg is about to be. He aims specifically for his feet, and when it hits the ground, it rapidly expands into a sticky plastic-cement that takes hold of Sektor's lower limbs. The material stretches as he flies forwards, but it holds, keeping him in place.

"How's that for primitive technology?" Fox calls out as Jacqui runs up and kicks Sektor's head off of his shoulders like a football. It flies towards a nearby alley, landing between two street lamps.

"Touchdown!" she shouts with a triumphant cry.

At that moment, both robots explode into action, separating into multiple pieces. Both Fox and Jacqui leap back as limbs, heads and chests go flying around them like little missiles. They combine nearby, into one larger frame, and looks down upon them with glowing eyes. "You will be destroyed," they speak in unison.

"Got any more fancy tricks?" Jacqui asks, apparently having changed her opinion on his skill.

"What do you usually do in these situations?" he asks.

"I punch the robots, really, really hard, in the face."

He tilts his head and offers a light shrug. "Couldn't hurt."

>Current Meter: 2
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>1990202
Punch robot hard as shit

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>1990202
Tarzan swing to higher ground, and use another sludge bomb to keep their thrusters in check. If Jacqui wants to do the big damage, let her.

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>1990202

> Retreat

File: Picture1.png (577 KB, 849x344)

577 KB PNG

>>1990206

As the amalgamated cyborg rears upwards, Fox darts towards it, coming in low with a hard punch. He slams his fist into their combined chest, but the machine is unmoved by the attack. Fox, however, now has a very sore hand.

Raising its yellow and red arm, the ultraborg swats him to the side, knocking him into a car. Jacqui winces. "Ouch. Maybe I should handle the punching, ninja-boy."

She presses a button on one of her gauntlets, activating a pair of eletro-pistons on the backs of her forearms that slide into place over her fists. She slams them together to create a large discharge and then runs up to the machine before giving him a few good whallops as Fox recovers. He shakes his head and looks on as the machine stands up to her blows, eventually grabbing both of her fists in his hands and pushing back.

"You are weak, human," the cyborgs taunt her. "You and your resistance will fall."

"Not on my life, chump!"

"That is correct." His arms open to reveal pistons of his own, which slide into place over his hands. They activate and lurch forward, causing Jacqui to nearly buckle from the weight.

>>1990221

As he rubs his head, Fox looks up and sees a nearby rooftop. He throws his weapon up to it and uses it to climb while Jacqui struggles, refusing to give in. Sweat pours down her body as Fox gets into position above and behind their enemy, taking out another sticky bomb.

He throws it at the machine's legs, cementing him in place just like he had with Sektor's lower limbs. Jacqui then stops pushing and leans back, planting her feet on the cyborg's chest, kicking upwards as she rolls backwards, all the while pulling on the machine's arms. This results in her tearing the combined cyborg in half at the stomach, its legs held in place by Fox's cement.

She gets up and stands on its chest, now pulling on the arms. They pop out of their joints, allowing her to lift them up over her head and bring them both down on their head, smashing it to pieces. The arms let go and she drops them, all the while panting, about to faint from exhaustion. As she stumbles back, Fox is there to help her, having leapt down.

"Damn, ninja-boy, you got some moves after all," she chuckles.

"It's Fox," he tells her, helping her to stand upright. "We shouldn't remain in this area for much longer."

"Yeah... Yeah, we need to get back to HQ," she replies. "C'mon. The nearest access point is---"

>>1990240

She stops dead in her tracks, her voice cutting off as she sees something from far away. Fox's ears pick up the sound of tank treads. Turning around, he sees nothing short of a squad of several tanks rolling towards them, crushing debris and robotic bodies under their treads, glowing red optics alongside massive cannons aimed directly at them.

"---Shit," she mutters.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>1990380
Knock her behind some cover!

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>1990380
Find the nearest manhole and dive for it.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>1990380
Bum a grenade off Jacqui, pitch it at the lead, ideally under a tread.
Cover, maybe a sewer system we could both duck into?

File: Picture2.png (455 KB, 853x338)

455 KB PNG

>>1990395
>>1990399
>>1990400

"Hit the deck!" are Fox's first words, but a tank fires before he can finish the sentence. It misses them, blasting a nearby building and obliterating it, showering them with heat and glass.

"Follow me!" he hears her say as she crawls along the ground. More tanks begin to fire, blasting the area, not caring where they shoot, only that the entire area is demolished. Jacqui reaches a manhole cover and punches it, bending the metal before tossing it away. She crawls inside and drags him down with her. Overhead, several stealth jets fly over, slicing through the air like daggers carried by sonic wind.

Within the dank tunnel they quickly regain their wits and start to run as the ground all around them shakes. Fox's ears are ringing; with how extra-sensitive they are, the tanks nearly completely disoriented him. As they get further away from the blast zone, she looks back over her shoulder and asks, "You alright back there?"

"Fine, just dazed," he replies. "What were those things?"

"HK-Tanks," she replies. "Hunter-Killers. Sent by K.A.N.O. to take us out."

"Kano... the leader of the Black Dragon?"

"Once upon a time, sure. But that was before he took over the world."

"Stop," he says, grabbing her arm. "I need to know exactly what is happening."

"Look, I'm willing to give you the benefit of a doubt after seeing your moves back there, but we can't talk here. These tunnels are going to be swarming with drones soon, and we need to go."

>Talk here
>Talk later
>Move, but talk as you go
>Ask about the Kamidogu
>Other

>>1990550
>Talk later

>>1990550
>Talk later

>>1990573
>>1990679

Going to take a dinner break. Be back shortly.

>>1990550
>Talk later

>>1990550
>Move, but talk as you go
>>Ask about the Kamidogu

File: t1-set-michael-025.jpg (76 KB, 686x464)

76 KB JPG

>>1990573
>>1990679
>>1990776

"Alright, later then," Fox says. 'But I'll need some answers...'

Fox follows her until they reach a junction that leads to a series of maintenance tunnels. "You seem to really know your way around," he says to her.

"Yeah, well, I'm not from Chicago originally but I've had time to adjust," she replies. "We base our operations here because this is where K.A.N.O. ascended, where his core is housed. We can't infiltrate his base yet."

"Why not seek help from the Shirai Ryu? Or even the Lin Kuei?"

"Look, I don't know what this 'Shirai Ryu' is, but the Lin Kuei are all gone. Those cyborgs we fought up there? Taken over by K.A.N.O. when he assumed control of the world's telecommunications network. He hacked Special Forces, Lin Kuei, the US government, nobody was safe."

"I see... But how did Kano do this?"

"Hang on," she says, kneeling to crawl into a passage. He follows her for a short while until she finds a venthilation opening and kicks it in. The next twenty minutes are spent crawling through air ducts.

"You did say you know where you're going, right?"

"Remind me again: which of us is dressed like a ninja on Halloween? Just let me do my thing."

Eventually they come to an end. She pushes another vent and crawls out into an old subway tunnel, long since abandonned by the looks of it. At least until Fox sees the floor; there are many footprints in this area, some of them quite recent.

"This way," she says, leading him to the ladies restroom. "Don't worry, I don't have to take care of business. Come on."

He follows her inside. Beneath a cracked mirror and filty sink she reaches for a hidden number pad to enter a keycode, which she relays as 5482. Upon doing so a nearby wall opens up, bricks sliding apart from each other as a slab of stone is moved aside by large gears.

"Welcome to the underground resistance," she says to him as they walk into an underground complex of interconnecting railway tunnels that have been repurposed as living quarters. They walk onto a railing overlooking one such tunnel, lit only by small fires and dim lights; it's a shanty town of too many people living in too small a space and trying to survive.

"I need to report to the Sergeant," she says to him. "You'll find your way around."

>Look around
>Follow her
>Talk to some of the people
>Get some food
>Other

>>1991329
>>Look around

Before she leaves, make a point under our breath, "I AM a ninja. It's not a costume, it's a uniform."

>>1991329
>Look around
>Follow her
Little of column A.
Little of column B.

>>1991329
>Look around

File: 8r3r8h4h67hgf726r2.jpg (46 KB, 684x1026)

46 KB JPG

>>1991452
>>1991464
>>1991465

As she makes her way down a ramp, he slowly follows while also observing those around him. He notes the dirty and filthy faces in the crowd, their tattered clothing, many of them skinny and starving. Bowls of sloppy soup are passed around, but it is clear that there is not enough to feed all of them. Parents give up their portions so their children may eat, and he catches a glimpse of a child giving a spoonful to a mostly-hairless dog.

He pauses briefly as he looks upon this group of displaced innocents from another world, and within him something stirs. A memory, from long, long ago, something he had thought long since buried by his training and age. He was only three at the time of the invasion, but he had a good family. They protected him and did what they could. They loved him, but they were only human, no match for the forces of Outworld.

Orphaned and surrounded by corpses in a burning home, only spared because he was hidden beneath the corpse of his mother. What followed was a blur of orphanages and families, growing up without anyone to rely upon other than himself, until he stole away for good and found freedom in the wild.

And there he lived, until he was found by the grandmaster.

Standing there as he was, lost in the sudden memory brought about by the shared despair of these lost souls he is surrounded by, he didn't notice someone approaching him until they make contact. She bumps into him and he turns around, meaning to apologize, but the words suddenly catch in his throat.

'Sam...'

"Excuse me," Samantha Stryker say to him, wrapping her homeless-like cloak about her more tightly. She turns her ashen face away from him to break all contact.

'Chicago,' he suddenly realizes. 'This is her home, of course! But she's one of these people, which must mean... she might not even know what she is.'

>Talk to her
>Leave her be
>Go find Jacqui
>Throw a knife at her
>Other

>>1991570
>Talk to her

>>1991570

> Talk to her

File: Punished Cassie.png (1.81 MB, 1230x2864)

1.81 MB PNG

>>1991590
>>1991596

"Sam," he calls out to her, and she stops. Slowly, her eyes connect with his beneath her hood as she turns.

"Did you... say my name?"

"Yes," he nods, approaching her. "You are Samantha Stryker, the daughter of Kurtis Stryker, and... I'm sorry, I don't know your mother's name."

"It was Dara," she says. "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't know you."

"But I know you. I know that you wanted to be a police officer, like your father. Right?"

"That's..." she shakes her head. "That's in the past."

"No," he shakes his head. "It's in another reality."

"What?"

"I need to speak to you about something very important," he says to her in a hushed tone. "Something that will change your life forever."

"I'm just trying to get by," she says.

"Let me ask you question: what happened, when everything up there," he points to the ceiling, "went to hell?"

"I don't like to think about it."

"Humor me. What happened?"

"Everyone died," she nearly spits back. "What's it matter now?"

"Why didn't you?"

"I was lucky," she says. "I did duck-and-cover."

"Really, that's it?" He leans in close. "Or was there something more? How did it happen? Was it a bomb?"

"I don't want to talk about this, I'm sorry, I don't know you, you have the wrong person," she insists, suddenly turning away and hurrying back into the throng of people.

"Hey, wait! Sam!"

He is about to move after her when he feels a hand on his shoulder. It is cold, mechanical, and for a moment he thinks that one of the machines or cyborgs followed them down here. He turns only to face another one of his friends as none other than Cassie Cage stares back at him with her one good eye, the other covered beneath a black eyepatch. Her left arm is a cybernetic prosthetic from the elbow down, and her face is riddled with scars, particularly one large one running down her left cheek and up her forehead.

Behind her stands Jacqui. "This is the one, Sergeant."

"And just what the hell is your deal?" she asks him.

>I am Forrest Fox, and I am a ninja.
>It is a long story, one best told in private.
>I need to talk to that girl over there.
>Cassie? What happened to you?
>Other

>>1991703
>>It is a long story, one best told in private.

>>1991703
>It is a long story, one best told in private.

>>1991703
>Cassie? What happened to you?
>It is a long story, one best told in private.

>>1991703
>>I am Forrest Fox, and I am a ninja.
>>It is a long story, one best told in private.

File: 3.png (285 KB, 846x338)

285 KB PNG

>>1991812
>>1991857
>>1991865
>>1991916

Alright, we'll be continuing in the morning. Thank you for playing so far, I hope you're enjoying our trip through post-cyberpocalypse Earthrealm!

File: 10407689_709848652446643_(...).jpg (41 KB, 585x960)

41 KB JPG

>>1991812
>>1991857
>>1991865
>>1991916

"That is a long story," he says, looking her in the one good eye, "one best told in private."

"Briggs?"

"I'd say he's earned at least that," she nods.

Cassie nods and indicates to follow with a tilt of her head. They walk past more squalid civilians and enter a checkpoint guarded by soldiers with dogs. "For the infiltrator units," Jacqui explains as Fox looks at the hounds. "They can sniff them out."

"I see."

They walk down a dark tunnel, lit only by an occasional lamp hanging from the ceiling. At the other end is a large metal door, which two soldiers open as Cassie approaches, turning a large valve in its center. The three of them walk into an underground communications center and tactical command, with multiple stations of radios, morse code devices and similar equipment, but no computers. Fox looks around and sees them staffed by soldiers and refugee fighters, but nobody he recognizes.

As he stops walking, Cassie moves around a large table in the center of the room which features a detailed map of Chicago with many features on it, such as miniature buildings and toys of tanks and soldiers. And near the water's edge in the heart of the city, the focus point of the map itself, is a large red bubble of some kind, around which all other things on the map seem to be arranged.

Ignoring his interest in the map, Cassie keeps the conversation centered around him. "Alright, talk. Where do you come from?"

"Japan."

He sees her one good eye narrow with disdain. "There aren't any boats or planes anymore, and I know you sure as hell didn't swim here. So I'll ask again."

"And I'll answer the same again, but this time I'll clarify: not the Japan you know."

"Oh, the OTHER Japan," she snarks in a deadpan tone.

"Please," he holds up a hand, looking between her and Jacqui, "I know that this is going to sound strange, but you have to believe me. The fate of all things relies upon it. I am from an alternate reality, one in which this, all of this destruction, has never happened. I am a member of the Shirai Ryu, that is why I wear a uniform. It is not a costume."

"So you had a ninja master, then?" Jacqui asks with folded arms.

"The greatest. Hanzo Hasashi. But that is not important: what is important is that I am here, and I am looking for something, because a plot involving multiple realities is underway as we speak, and its completion would spell ultimate disaster."

Cassie remains unimpressed. "Ultimate disaster? In case you haven't noticed, we've been through that already. It's not like things could get much worse."

"The annihilation of your entire universe seems worse to me."

"I think I've heard enough of this. Briggs, you may remove this individual."

>Reveal personal information about them that you could not know
>Ask where Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade or Jackson Briggs are
>Ask about the Kamidogu, Havik or his potential involvement with K.A.N.O.
>Offer your services to end K.A.N.O. once and for all
>Other

>>1993628
>>Reveal personal information about them that you could not know
>>Ask about the Kamidogu, Havik or his potential involvement with K.A.N.O.

>>1993628

> Personal info
> Where Jonny, Sonya & Jax are.

File: Cyber Kano.png (991 KB, 848x687)

991 KB PNG

>>1993702
>>1993759

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Fox pull down his mask and begins. "Your name is Cassandra Carlton Cage. Your middle name comes from your father's true last name. Jacqueline Sonya Briggs, your middle name is taken from Cassie's mother. When you were a little girl, you wanted to be an olympic kickboxing champion, but you decided instead to begin a military career, as you were inspired by your father. Cassie, you always desired to follow in the footsteps of your mother rather than your father. Both of you were selected for Special Forces candidacy, despite accusations of nepotism from its inspector general. A short investigation revealed these claims to be incorrect and your entry to SF was approved. Cassie, you like pink bubblegum more than grape, but hate cinnamon. Jacqui, you like bacon on your cheeseburgers, and the meat well-done."

They both pause and stare at him for a moment, as do several others in the room. Cassie notices this. "Back to work," she snaps, then she straightens and looks back at Fox. "I don't know how you know all of this, but---"

"Because where I come from, we are friends. The three of us are on a team called the New Defenders, and we have fought alongside each other in many battles across different realms. And now I am here because one of our mutual enemies threatens to destroy everything that you and I know."

After a beat of silence, during which they continue to stare at him in uncertainty, Jacqui speaks up. "Let's say I believe you. What happened to Kano in your world?"

"He's just a criminal. He recently joined with other villains in an alliance that we have fought against."

Cassie folds her arms, mechanical limb resting upon flesh. "Well here, he's everything. He upgraded his cybernetics and uploaded his consciousness to the global Special Forces networks. From there, he took over every computer, satellite, cell phone, anything that had a connection to anything."

Fox mutters, almost under his breath, "I always knew there was a reason that I've never been a fan of technology."

"Even if what you say is true," Cassie says as she walks around the table, "and I'm almost half-convinced you really believe what you're saying, I've still got a war to fight. We're the last pocket of resistance facing off against K.A.N.O. here where he is most vulnerable. I don't know what you want us to do, because we're already stretched thin and losing people every day. So what is it exactly that you want?"

>I am seeking a Kamidogu.
>I need information about Havik.
>Right now, I want to help you.
>Where are the other Old Defenders? What happened to them?
>Other

>>1993806
>I am seeking a Kamidogu.
>I need information about Havik.
If I stop Havik that will probably help your war efforts. He has a habit of helping out my enemies.

>>1993806

> Kamidogu
> But help out first.

File: Jax.png (787 KB, 1344x534)

787 KB PNG

>>1993837
>>1993840

"What I am looking for is called a Kamidogu. Have you heard of it?"

"Can't say that I have," Cassie replies, and Jacqui similarly shrugs.

"Each realm has an artifact linked to it, items of great power used by the Elder Gods long ago to help carve and shape them. The Kamidogu I seek is of Chaosrealm."

Cassie shakes her head. "I'm sorry to say that nobody's travelled to other realms in a long time. All the portals and any portal technology was destroyed when K.A.N.O. rose to power and wiped out most of the world with nukes."

"I came here in a portal linked to a Nexus where I have already collected two Kamidogu. I need four more in order to end the plot by the cleric of chaos known as Havik. I must find this Kamidogu or all will be lost."

"We don't have any way to track down some trinket, I'm sorry to say. All of our tech is cro magnon."

"Sergeant, what about the old man?"

Fox looks at Jacqui. "What old man?"

"My old man," she clarifies. "He might know a thing or two."

"Jax...?" He looks at Cassie, who nods after a moment of thought.

"Come with us," Jacqui says.

He follows them both to a nearby chamber, one darkly lit by rows of computer banks and terminals. "I thought you had no computers."

"This is slightly different," Jacqui explains as they enter the circular inner chamber. "These aren't just computers, this is my father."

Fox stops behind them both and looks over their heads to take in the sight of a man sitting in a large chair. Only after his eyes fully adjust to the light does he realize that the man isn't merely sitting in the chair, he is connected to it. It is Jackson Briggs, his hair and beard both long and slightly unkempt. His mechanical arms are merged with the arms of his chair, as are his feet to the ground, and numerous tubes, wires and plugs run into his arms, legs, chest and the back of his skull. Two large cables in particular are connected to the sides of his head.

"In order to fight K.A.N.O., my father had to do what he did: take cybernetics to the next level and digitize his very soul to battle that bastard in cyberspace. Fox, this is J.A.X., our secret weapon."

Though J.A.X. does not move or speak, his voice reaches them through various old speakers. "I haven't seen that kind of getup in a long time." His voice is slightly monotone but unmistakably his. “Takes me back to the old days… the island. The invasion.”

>Ask him about Kano.
>Ask him about the Kamidogu.
>Ask him about the Old Defenders.
>Ask him what you can do to help.
>Other

>>1993914
>>Other
Have you seen or heard anything about a man named Havik? He has half of a face.

>>1993914
>Ask him about the Old Defenders.
>Ask him what you can do to help.

>>1993914

> express sadness of what has happened.

I feel Fox would be a bit shocked at this. I think he'd respect Jax.

File: 6.png (251 KB, 844x340)

251 KB PNG

>>1993945
>>1993963
>>1994015

In spite of all that he has seen of this world so far, the transformation of Jax into an immobile computer hub shocks Fox. The ninja may reject technology, but he always respected the elder Briggs for his strength. Now that strength is wasted, plugged into a machine night and day, a warrior spirit without a warrior's body. He holds up his hand, hovering it over the metal arm of the cyborg, but does not touch.

"I am sorry for all that has happened in this world," Fox says softly. "Where I come from, we all live free from such constraints."

Jax manages a chuckle. "You from another realm, then? Outworld?"

"No. Another universe, one very unlike this. No apocalypse ever tore my Earthrealm apart such as this."

"What are you doing so far from home, then?"

"I seek the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm. The one known as Havik seeks it as well."

"Havik... Haven't heard that name in a long, long time. But you're not the first to mention it. I'm monitoring K.A.N.O.'s communication network, and that name has pinged several times in the last few days. And that other word, Kamidogu..."

"You know of it? Where it is?"

"I know that K.A.N.O. is interested in it, and that he has been in communication with Havik. Soon, very soon, a vulnerability will present itself. A train is coming towards Chicago, and it is carrying cargo that is radiating with an unknown energy signature. His network is abuzz with it, but he's trying to keep it hush. I know, though. I see what he's doing."

"The Kamidogu might be on that train," Fox suggests. "If Kano can secure it, he can make a deal with Havik, but for what I do not know."

"People never really change, you know," J.A.X. says. "At heart, he's still a weapons dealer. He's gonna make a deal with Havik alright, and I'm betting it's to expand his reach to other realms."

Fox looks back at Cassie and Jacqui. "We can't allow that. I refuse to let what happened to your Earthrealm spread to others. We've all seen the dangers of technology gone too far; it's time we drew a line and pulled the plug."

"I like the sound of that," Cassie says with a smile. "But we don't have the resources or the manpower to launch an assault on that train."

>I'll go alone.
>Then I say just the three of us.
>Give me a small team and I'll make it happen.
>I only need one other person.
>Other

>>1994074
>I'll go alone.
All I need is the Kamidogu, and I'll be out of your hair. Unless you insist I can't do this myself.

>>1994074
>>Then I say just the three of us.
Heavy hitters are needed

>>1994074
>>I only need one other person.
We could take Sam, though she doesn't have the experience here. Maybe we should ask if any of the old defenders are still around, or at least Kaito.

>>1994074

> Three Man Team.

It'll feel like home.

File: Picture3.png (288 KB, 400x602)

288 KB PNG

>>1994100
>>1994162

"We only need three," Fox replies. "Us three. It'll feel like home."

"Absolutely not," Jacqui protests. "If something goes wrong, we're down our leader."

"If there's one person here qualified to lead a mission like this, it's me," Cassie says, cutting off further argument. "And if you can vouch for Fox's skill, then I'll take your word for it."

"He's got some moves," she begrudgingly admits. "But can we trust him on a mission like this?"

Her father is the one to answer. "Jacqui, listen to me. Back in the day, we didn't always have the luxury of fully knowing those we fought alongside. Cassie's father was the biggest pain in the neck and the least qualified person to send out on missions, but having fought next to him, I can say for certain that he was one of the reasons we won."

Cassie allows herself a smirk of pride at that.

"Sometimes, you simply need faith," he tells them both. "I don't know anything about what's really going on, but if there is a chance to stop one of K.A.N.O.'s plans, then I say we do it. If for no other reason than to stick it to him."

"Damn right," Jacqui nods. "Alright. I'm in. But we'll need some planning."

With this new intel from J.A.X., they move back into the map room. "The train will be coming in from the west," Cassie says. "K.A.N.O. only has one working and clear train line in the city, but it doesn't reach all the way to his headquarters." She points at the red bubble.

Fox looks inside the plastic bubble used for demonstration purposes. "What is that building?"

"The old Crain Communications Building. It's surrounded by an imprenetrable forcefield that incinerates flesh and metal."

"Anything that touches it is instantly destroyed," Jacqui replies. "If the Kami-thing gets in there, we've lost."

Cassie nods. "Which means we need to intercept the train or the transport that will deliver it from the train to the building. Personally, I recommend we hit the train. The bulk of K.A.N.O.'s forces are ground-based, which means the train is where the cargo will be most vulnerable. If we hit it hard and fast, we can escape through one of the juncture tunnels beneath the train line."

"According to the old man, the train will be coming in tomorrow morning. We'll get only one shot at it."

>We'll jump on the train as it comes past.
>Let's zip-line onto it.
>We should use explosives to destroy the tracks and derail the train.
>I recommend we wait until the train stops.
>Other

>>1994246
>>Let's zip-line onto it.
WEEEHAAAA

>>1994246
>>We should use explosives to destroy the tracks and derail the train.

>>1994362
I'll change my vote to this to get this rolling

>>1994246
>We should use explosives to destroy the tracks and derail the train.
Stop the Kamidogu from reaching Kano AND stymie one of his main supply lines? Don't mind if I do.

File: ws_Bullet_Train_Artwork_1(...).jpg (294 KB, 1920x1200)

294 KB JPG

>>1994362
>>1994388
>>1994400

"I say we derail it," Fox suggests. "Blow up the tracks before it gets there. There's the added benefit of taking out Kano's main supply line."

Cassie seems concerned. "Won't that damage the cargo?"

"It's going to take a lot more than a train to destroy one of the Kamidogu," Fox assures her.

"There's just one problem: that sole supply line is very well-defended. K.A.N.O. knows it's a vulnerability. And if he detects something wrong, he'll stop the train."

"Then we turn his attention elsewhere. A distraction."

Jacqui purses her lips in thought for a moment. "We could mount an all-out assault on the southern production hub. The threat of losing his closest source of reinforcements could divert both his attention and a number of his units."

Cassie walks around the table. "Perhaps, but K.A.N.O. might not risk losing this cargo for any reason, if it means enough to him."

"Perhaps I should plant the bombs by myself," Fox offers. "I'm the only ninja you have. My stealth is unparalleled."

"Neither is your opinion of your skill, but at least you're confident in it," Cassie remarks. "We can get you the bombs and have one of our engineers figure out the key points to place them. But if we put all of our chips on you and you fail, K.A.N.O. gets the Kamidogu."

"The Shirai Ryu do not fail," he promises. "All you and Jacqui need to do is stand by and wait for the signal."

Jacqui smirks. "The signal being a train crash? I think we'll get it just fine."

"We'll have the materials together shortly," Cassie tells him. "In the meantime, we're going to plan that distraction assault. We've got less than twenty-four hours to put it together. I'd recommend you get some sleep."

As she and Jacqui return to the map and talk amongst themselves, Fox looks down at the red bubble. 'Incinerates all flesh... Nobody can get through.' He turns back towards the tunnel he came from. 'What if there was someone who could just walk right through?'

>Tell Cassie and Jacqui about Sam
>Go and talk to Sam; convince her to help
>Talk to Sam; let her decide
>Do not involve Sam
>Other

>>1994467
>Go and talk to Sam; convince her to help

>>1994467
>>Go and talk to Sam; convince her to help
She needs to know about her power

>>1994495
Assuming she has it in this universe.

>>1994502
She's lived this long

File: BGH2S1B_mn.jpg (12 KB, 216x270)

12 KB JPG

>>1994482
>>1994495

Out in the main tunnels once more, Fox picks his way through the crowds of people, seeking out one person among hundreds, perhaps a thousand. His eyes take in every tear-streaked face, every cripple, every poor soul forced underground by the relentless cyber-hordes but he cannot locate Sam.

Until he sees something red among the sea of brown and dirt; a diary, carried by one of them. He cuts through the crowd and touches her shoulder, turning her around. "Sam," he says, looking down upon her.

"You again," she whispers, clasping her diary close to her chest. "What do you want? Go away!"

He kneels down alongside her. "I need to talk to you."

"I don't have anything to talk about," she insists, avoiding eye contact.

In a hushed whisper, he says to her, "What if I told you there was a way we could defeat Kano once and for all and free every single person down here?"

"The soldiers have been trying for a long time."

"But none of them are like you."

Now she looks up. "What?"

"Sam, you have a gift, one so special and so unique that it may just be the key to saving this world."

Her lip quivers for a moment. "I, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have a gift..."

"Yes, you do. It's---"

"It's a curse," she whispers, closing her eyes. Fox stops talking as she sniffles, turning her head so she isn't seen crying.

"Sam, you aren't cursed."

"Yes I am," she insists, her voice weak and breaking. "I... I don't want to, to talk anymore, I... I need to go." She attempts to stand up, but trips on her robe. Fox moves to help her up and she doesn't fight back.

"Are you hurt?"

"I can't do anything, so just go. I can't help you. I can't help anyone."

>Stay with her until she calms down
>Leave her be
>Tell her about her other self
>Ask her what happened
>Other

>>1994691
>>Stay with her until she calms down
>>Tell her about her other self
"In another world you fight with other people with powers.... Monks, aliens, even the special forces, and even though you aren't the strongest there is no one that tries as hard as you do." Forrest fox smile

File: hand.jpg (30 KB, 300x357)

30 KB JPG

>>1994735

'She's a mess,' he thinks, gently urging her to sit back down. "It's alright," he whispers. "Take your time." She's quiet for a while, softly sniffling until she doesn't have anything left to sniffle. Fox sits next to her and waits patiently.

"I don't know what you want," she finally speaks up. "I'm nobody."

"Well, that's just plain wrong. Would you like to know why?" He decides to take her silence as a yes. "I once knew a girl who held herself back, who convinced herself she wasn't anything special, that everyone around her was better. She was given an opportunity and she didn't know why, but quickly convinced herself it had been a mistake. Do you know what happened to her?"

"What?"

"She was exactly the right person in exactly the right place at exactly the right time, and she may very well have saved the world." He looks over and says, "Her name was Sam. She's you."

Slowly, she shakes her head. "You're wrong. I'm sorry."

"I'm not. You have a gift, Sam, and it goes far beyond having a simple power. Whatever has put you here---call it fate, destiny, random chance---it's put you here for a reason. I've seen it before. You could be the single most important person in the world for one moment if you're in the right place at the right time." When she doesn't say anything, he takes hold of her hand. "Let me show you something."

Warily, but not defiantly, she allows him to lead her over to a burning grill. The food has been taken off of it but it is still red-hot. "I'd like you to trust me," he says to her, taking her hand and holding it over the grill. Before she can question him, he pushes her hand onto it and holds it there.

"What are you doing?!" she asks, then stops and looks down at her hand. It isn't burning. Fox lets her go, then cuts off a shred of his outfit. He places it where her hand just was and it burns up almost immediately. "What is this?"

"You can't be hurt," Fox tells her. "That's your gift. It's not a curse."

She flexes her hand slightly. "But it is," she says, her eyes growing moist once more. "It is, because when everything was destroyed, I... I..."

"You survived, and everyone else died," he says in a low voice. She closes her eyes and is about to break down when he pulls her into a hug. "You feel guilty."

"My, my father," she sobs into his chest. "My friends, everyone... I don't deserve to, to live, while they..."

>Let her cry it out
>I know a thing or two about survivor's guilt, too
>Tell her why you fight and carry on
>You were meant for a higher purpose
>Other

>>1994886
>Let her cry it out
>I know a thing or two about survivor's guilt, too

>>1994886
>Cry it out

Dinner break! Be back soon.

>>1994886
>>I know a thing or two about survivor's guilt, too
>>Tell her why you fight and carry on
If all else fails, revenge is always nice too

File: si-alpinist.jpg (189 KB, 1500x708)

189 KB JPG

>>1994903
>>1994940
>>1995316

They stand there for some time, though Fox does eventually walk her back to the wall for them to sit. With his arm around her he merely lets her cry; it's clear she hasn't done so for quite a while. Deep inside, he begins to feel a great kinship with her, even though she is an alternate reality version of the Sam he knows. But that has less to do with it than the fact that he, too, knows what it is like to have survivor's guilt, to be the only one to walk away from a great tragedy that has left all you know and love in ruin.

"I don't remember my family," he says, staring at nothing in particular. "The memories are fuzzy, but I remember what it felt like to lose them. I felt... insignificant. Unable to do or change anything. I felt that about life in general, until I found a new family, and something to fight for."

She picks her head up from her knees. "What's that?"

"I'd like to say that I fight because I want to make sure nobody else has to experience that feeling, but the truth of the matter is... I fight because if I don't, that feeling returns. I fight because I have to take action, I can't just stand idly by and do nothing. I fight because it's what allows me to feel like I matter, that I have an impact on what happens around me, that I'm a living breathing human being and that I'm not just a passive observer in life, waiting for death to catch up to me... I've always felt that you can either take action, or do nothing. We only have so much time in our lives, and I won't, I can't, spend it doing nothing."

They are both quiet for several moments. Fox withdraws his arm from her shoulder and looks over into her eyes. "What I'm asking you, is do you want to take action? Or do you want to stay here, and do nothing?"

She's still as a statue, but then speaks. "I want to do something, I... I want to pay back the one who took everything from me, but I don't know how."

"I didn't know either, until I was taught. Revenge can be sweet... but my master always cautioned against it. What I'm asking you to do, you shouldn't do for revenge. Do it because not doing it would be far worse."

Ever-so-slightly, she nods. "Okay. I'll do... whatever it is."

"I need you to walk through the bubble."

"What?!"

"Calm down. You won't be hurt. You and I both know this."

"Putting my hand on a grill isn't the same as---"

"Sam, if a nuke couldn't kill you, that forcefield won't."

"Okay... Okay, just, give me a second." She takes a few deep breaths. "I walk through the bubble, and then... what?"

"Find a way to shut it down. Then we go in, find K.A.N.O. and finish him."

"I'd be alone... Nobody would be able to go with me..."

>You're unstoppable if you want to be.
>You wouldn't be alone; you'd have all of the world supporting you.
>Perhaps we could disguise you...
>Trust me: you're the last thing they are expecting.
>Other

>>1995531
>>You wouldn't be alone; you'd have all of the world supporting you.

>>1995531
>>Trust me: you're the last thing they are expecting.
Just make sure no one grabs you, no way to help you if that happens.

>>1995531
>You wouldn't be alone; you'd have all of the world supporting you.

>>1995531
>You're unstoppable if you want to be.
>You wouldn't be alone; you'd have all of the world supporting you

File: 64862478b53f292477a3521b0(...).jpg (82 KB, 523x791)

82 KB JPG

>>1995535
>>1995574
>>1995719

"You wouldn't be alone. You'd have the support of the whole world behind you."

"That's a lot of pressure..."

"For now, it would be best to get some sleep... But I'll come and find you in the morning, alright?"

"What are we going to do?"

He stands up and gives her a subtle smile. "Save the world. What else?" He leaves her then, and finds a quiet place to sleep.

He awakens early, to the sound of many feet shuffling nearby. He rolls out of the small crevice he had laired in to find many resistance soldiers walking by, preparing equipment and looking like they are being sent to die. Their faces are sallow and somber, with most of them keeping their eyes down to avoid looking anyone else in the eye.

Fox keeps clear of them as they move past, and he takes advantage of a break in their line to get to the other side. The civilians watch the soldiers leaving in hushed tones; many of them are watching their family members march out to war, possibly to never return. Fox sticks to the shadows and makes his way to the back, where he finds Sam.

"What's going on?" she asks.

"That's going to be our distraction," he explains. "They'll attack some kind of production facility, and keep Kano's eye away from us."

"I hope so," she says. "Are we... leaving now too?"

>Take Sam to Cassie and Jacqui, explain what she can do
>Make a plan with Sam; she'll infiltrate Kano's base without anyone else knowing
>Send Sam off on her own, and tell her to wait for the train's destruction
>Sam will accompany you on your mission to plant the bombs
>Other

>>1995898
>>Take Sam to Cassie and Jacqui, explain what she can do
Hopefully this doesn't end up with Cassie secretly being a mole for Kano.

>>1995898
>Take Sam to Cassie and Jacqui, explain what she can do

File: 280full.jpg (42 KB, 177x250)

42 KB JPG

>>1995909
>>1995989

"Follow me," he says to her, pulling her up to her feet with a hand. He takes her towards the tunnels leading to the resistance command center.

"I've never been back here," she says softly. "Only the soldiers are allowed."

"You might not be a soldier, but you'll be just as important as them," he assures her. "Don't worry."

The command room is rife with activity. Multiple station workers are coordinating movement, communicating with other stations across the city, while several higher-ranking officers pour over the map. Cassie is briefing them, going over the battle plan and the time of the attack.

As they walk in, Jacqui takes notice; she was waiting near the door. "Ready to show off how good of a ninja you are?"

"Ideally, the best ninja would never be noticed at all."

"Hah! Fair enough." She leans over and looks at Sam. "Who is that?"

"She's a friend. Your father knew her father."

"Ah... another person we both know in another reality?"

"What are you talking about?" Sam asks.

Fox holds up a hand. "I'll explain later." He looks back at Cassie and her officers, who begin to disperse. One of them remains, a man with short dark hair, who leans in to whisper something in her ear. She laughs, and then to the Shirai Ryu's surprise they kiss. It's when they part, however, when Fox gets a good look at this face, only for his blood to suddenly run cold.

It's one he's seen before, in his reality, with the Black Dragon.

'Trevor...'

He remembers their mission to the Netherrealm, when he, Takeda and others took on Kabal's Black Dragon. Though he did not personally fight Trevor, Takeda did, and they both knew who he was from Special Forces intel. He's seen a mugshot of his face more than enough to instantly recognize it. And there he is, kissing Cassie Cage... the son of Kano with the Daughter of Sonya.

Do they not know?

"Who is that?" he asks, nodding towards the two of them.

"That's Trevor," Jacqui answers. "A good soldier. He's been with us since nearly the beginning. Yeah, he and Cassie are... close."

>That's Kano's son.
>Say nothing
>Talk to Trevor
>Accuse him of being a spy
>Other

>>1996133
>That's Kano's son.
In my world, at least.

>>1996133
>>That's Kano's son

>>1996133
>That's Kano's son.

File: deep6.jpg (8 KB, 320x237)

8 KB JPG

>>1996165
>>1996293
>>1996346

"You know that's Kano's son, right?"

His voice was, perhaps, a bit unintentionally higher than he had intended. The room suddenly goes quiet; all the various workers at their stations stop their work and turn back. Most stare at Fox, but more than a few are staring at Cassie and Trevor.

"What did you just say?" Cassie asks from across the room.

Fox looks Trevor in the eyes. "You're Kano's son. I've met you before."

"Never seen you in my life, mate," Trevor mutters defensively. He takes a step back from Cassie, who now turns towards him.

"What's he saying? You're Kano's kid?"

"It ain't true," he says, attempting to brush it off. He's not a very good actor, however.

Fox takes a few steps forward. "There's no mistaking it. You're him. I've seen you too many times to not recognize you."

"We don't even know this guy!" he says. "Cassie, baby, you can't be seriously listening to this ear-wank."

"I only met him yesterday, sure, but he knew plenty about me," Cassie says, going for the gun holstered on her thigh. "So tell me right now why he's saying you're Kano's son."

"Aw, bloody hell," he mutters under his breath. Before anyone can do anything else, he drops his gun and holds up his hands. "Alright, alright, jus... Let's step back a moment."

"Oh my god," Cassie says breathlessly. "It's true, isn't it?" Before he can explain himself, she goes for her pistol and slams the grip against his nose, knocking him to the floor. "You absolute bastard! How the FUCK can you not tell me that?!"

Jacqui and Fox are quick to move over; Jacqui restrains Cassie with a strong hand on her shoulder while Fox hauls Trevor up to his feet with a knife at his throat.

"Do you have a prison?" Fox asks.

"Just WAIT!" Trevor shouts, blood running down his nose. "Fuckin' hell Cass, I'mma be breathin' funny for months!"

"Or for the next few minutes, right up until I put a bullet in your fucking skull," she threatens. "I trusted you!"

"And what the fuck was I gonna say, eh?" he retorts, struggling against Fox's grip. "Just walk up after a mission an' say, 'Ello baby, didju miss me? By the by, I'm a right bastard, and you'll never guess who the father is!' I was lyin' because it makes this all easier!"

"Easier? You're with the enemy!"

"Like bloody fuckin' hell I am!" he shouts, his echo even making Sam flinch slightly from across the room. "I fuckin' hate that prick! I joined up because I wanna put a bullet in his fuckin' head! Everythin' else was just... unplanned, s'all."

"Unplanned?" she says, putting her hands on her hips. "Why the fuck should I believe a single word that comes out of your dirtbag lying mouth?"

"Now technically I never lied," he says with a smile. "I mean, you never asked about me mum an' pop."

>In my world, he hates Kano too.
>I say we kill him.
>Perhaps we should hear him out.
>Imprisonment and interrogation should yield results.
>Other

>>1996502
>>In my world, he hates Kano too.
"I really doubt he wants to live in the robot apocalypse with his shit head dad as much as any of us do."

>>1996502
>>In my world, he hates Kano too.
>Perhaps we should hear him out.
Armageddon can change a person, and alliances change easily.

>>1996502
>In my world, he hates Kano too.

File: 20498-23901.jpg (51 KB, 320x240)

51 KB JPG

>>1996520
>>1996527
>>1996558

"It is worth noting that in my world, he hates Kano as well. There are two Black Dragon organizations where I come from: he is allied with the one that Kano does not lead."

"What, are you on his side now?" Cassie says. "You're the one who pointed him out in the first place!"

"I merely said that it is worth noting," Fox insists, motioning that he is still holding the knife to Trevor's throat. "However, we should consider that the Trevor of my world will be different to the Trevor of this world."

"Precisely, so why bring it up?"

"Because it goes both ways," he insists. "Just as the Trevor in my world would support an organization that works against his father, so too could the Trevor in this world. The contexts are very different, but the core of the issue is the same."

Trevor blinks a few times. "What the bloody fuckin' hell are you people even talkin' about?"

"Shut up or I swear to god I'll pop your balls. Keep talking, Fox."

"You are different from the Cassie I know in many ways, but you are similar in more ways than not. The same goes with you, Jacqui. What I am getting at here is that while I cannot claim to know this Trevor well enough, I can guess that he is similar enough to the one I do know, and that means he hates his father."

"Damn right I do," Trevor mutters, but a look from Cassie shuts him back up.

"My ultimate point is that perhaps he doesn't want to live in a world ruled by his computerized father any more than you do."

Cassie looks at Fox, then back to Trevor. "Yeah... Well, maybe I don't want to live in a world with the son of the man who murdered my parents." She goes for her gun, and this time Jacqui doesn't stop her. She takes it out and puts it up against Trevor's head.

"Aw, come on, baby!" Trevor says.

"Don't you 'baby' me you son of a bitch," she coldly replies.

"If you're gonna kill me, at least do it after my old man is dead!" he begs. "I didn't kill your parents, Cass, I just want the chance to kill mine!" He closes his eyes. "Fuck's sake, don't do this!"

>Let Cassie make her own call
>Tell her to be better than Kano
>Forcefully disarm her
>Encourage her
>Other

>>1996577
>>Let Cassie make her own call
We know her to be a good person with sound judgement.

>>1996577
>>Let Cassie make her own call
>>Point out that she might be pointlessly killing someone she cares about, but it isn't our world or choice.

>>1996577
>Tell her to be better than Kano

>>1996621
>>1996624
Didn't Sonya have to be forcibly restrained from killing Kano in MKX?

>>1996635
Plus, if Trevor was going to sabotage the movement when they're as close to KANO as they are, he'd have done it by now.

File: 18706.jpg (11 KB, 200x200)

11 KB JPG

>>1996621
>>1996624

Fox lowers his knife and steps back; if she is going to shoot him, he doesn't want to be on the other side. Trevor gets on his knees and continues to hold up his hands as Cassie holds the gun to his forehead. The air is tense as everyone waits for the gunshot that doesn't come.

"Last words, then?" Trevor says shakily. "Just... get 'im, eh? For both our mums."

After several seconds, she lowers the gun. "Goddamn you," she whispers. "Get up." He does so, awkwardly standing in front of her, unsure if he's about to get beaten, thrown in a cell or worse. Cassie's eyes are full of spite, but she doesn't move to attack him. "You've got a job to do. So go do it."

"Cass, baby, I---"

"Go while your nuts are still attached to your body you Australian fuck, and hope to hell that you get killed by the machines before I see you again."

He picks up his weapon and quickly shuffles out of the room, avoiding eye contact with anyone else. Cassie slides her gun back into its holster and then looks at everyone in the room, all of whom are staring at her. "I don't kill my men. The machines do that." After a moment of silence, she snaps, "Well get moving, soldiers!" They all resume their prior activities as she looks at Fox.

"You do yourself credit in sparing him."

"He's not a traitor," Cassie mutters. "Much as I wish he was... I'm ashamed to say that I know him too well."

"You don't have anything to be ashamed about. We all do what we need to do to get by."

"I just hope this shit works," she sighs. "We're wasting time. I've got the bombs ready for you, and detailed instructions from our engineers on where to place them." For the first time since they entered the room, she looks over at Sam, who has been quiet as a mouse. "Who's this?"

"You have your secret weapon, I have mine. This is Sam."

The brow over her eyepatch cocks upwards. "If you say so."

>Don't feel bad, he's not much worse than Cao.
>We should leave immediately.
>Let's go over the plan.
>Allow me to demonstrate. *Take her gun and shoot Sam*
>Other

>>1996710
>Don't feel bad, he's not much worse than Cao.

>>1996710
>Don't feel bad, he's not much worse than Cao.
>We should leave immediately.

>>1996710
>>Don't feel bad, he's not much worse than Cao.
>Allow me to demonstrate. *Take her gun and shoot Sam*
The latter just sounds funny to freak people out with.

>>1996757
It would match Fox's weird humor.

>>1996785
Especially just after Cassie refused to shoot Trevor, then we shoot this random girl we dragged in from the streets.

>>1996710
>>Don't feel bad, he's not much worse than Cao.
>>Let's go over the plan.

>>1996785
>>1996810
>>1996757

I love it.

But it's late, we'll continue in the morning. Have a good evening!

>>1996828
Gnight dude. Maybe run a bit later tomorrow? Something like 1? I tend to sleep in on sundays and I know a lot of people do.

>>1996842
Yeah, no problem.

We'll be continuing in just a bit. Writing the next update now.

File: 232c1e00198668c587d50ab0b(...).jpg (241 KB, 640x904)

241 KB JPG

>>1996727
>>1996748
>>1996757
>>1996819

Fox smirks. "Don't feel too bad. He's not much worse than Cao."

"Who the hell is Cao?"

"Right... Well, we should probably get going, then?"

Cassie hands him a bandolier of explosive charges. He also takes a few smoke bombs; they're military-grade, not exactly the kind he is used to, but he's confident he'll find a way to make them work for his purposes. She then brings him over to a table where various papers are laid out, along with old architectural files. She uses this to demonstrate the key points to place the bombs to maximize the damage to the railway.

"Part of it still runs above ground," she explains. "The support structure is old but was built to last. Still, there are points where it can be exploited more heavily than others; where the beams meet and so on. Plant the bombs here and use this remote transmitter to set them off when the train arrives." She hands him the detonator. "And try not to get caught. K.A.N.O. knows this place is important, so it won't be lightly guarded. He'll have his heavier models on patrol."

"Don't worry about me," he assures her. "The job will get done. Once we grab that Kamidogu, I'll be out of your hair."

"And what about her, exactly?" Cassie points at Sam.

>She'll be with me.
>I need her in position near the bubble.
>Take her with you and Jacqui.
>She's got her own job to do, don't worry.
>Other

>>1997983
>She's got her own job to do, don't worry.

>>1997983
>>She's got her own job to do, don't worry

>>1997983
>>She's got her own job to do, don't worry.
>>"Keep and eye on her after this. She's a good person and with a little training and a few friends, she could be a valuable ally for you in the future."
Might as well sow the seeds of this world's own New Defenders.

File: 4f545fdba4e34f82f2ccb7925(...).jpg (30 KB, 236x354)

30 KB JPG

>>1997986
>>1998017
>>1998085

"She's got her own job to do, don't worry."

"She looks like she's about to collapse from a stiff breeze, no offense."

"Yeah... She was like that where I come from, too. I made the mistake of underestimating her, and so have all of our enemies."

"You serious?" Cassie takes another look at Sam. "I mean... You've been right about absolutely everything else so far. I guess I should take your word for it..."

"Do me a favor: I'm not going to be coming back after all of this. When I'm gone, keep an eye on her. She's a good person and with a little training and a few friends, she could be a valuable ally for you in the future."

Cassie looks him in the eyes and gives him a firm nod. "Alright. I will."

Strapping the bandolier to his chest, Fox walks over to Sam as Cassie and Jacqui finish their final preparations. He puts a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be, I suppose," she nervously replies. "So... Once I turn off the thing, what do I do?"

"I'd recommend hiding. We'll handle the rest."

"Right... Right. Okay." She takes a deep breath. "I'm scared out of my mind, but I'm ready."

"Fear isn't always a bad thing... It'll keep you alive. Controlling your fear, using it, that's the difficult part. Don't let it overpower you."

"Okay... So, are we leaving now?"

>Go do the mission.
>Talk to J.A.X.
>Secure some additional equipment.
>Go over the plan with Sam some more
>Other

>>1998109
>>Go do the mission.

>>1998109
>Go do the mission.

>>1998119
>>1998131

I'd like a series of 1d100s, please.

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>1998169

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>1998169

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>1998169

File: maxresdefault.jpg (56 KB, 960x720)

56 KB JPG

>>1998203
>>1998207
>>1998271

Sam and Fox leave the underground resistance base soon after, making their way to the surface through the old subway tunnels. Once they reach it, they take a moment to survey the area.

"I almost forgot how awful it is up here," she whispers, looking at the grey landcape.

Fox notes that an early-morning fog is starting to roll in. "We can take advantage of this. This is where we're going to have to part, but I think we will see each other again."

"Okay," she nods, wrapping her cloak tightly around herself. "Good luck... Fox."

"Sam."

They split and move on, each going their separate ways, yet both heading towards the same destiny.

It takes less than an hour for Fox to get into position and narrow down the target area. He moves quickly but does not sacrifice stealth for speed, despite how quiet things are. The fog grows thicker the closer he moves to the train tracks.

'I wonder if this is deliberate,' he thinks. 'The heavy fog could confuse us, but might not mask their sensors...'

His inner question is answered when a bird lands nearby and suddenly a pair of massive floodlights sweep across the area he is in. Fox takes cover as a machine is roused from inactivity, a massive tank-like contraption with a rotating upper half with a head and two arms ending in large cycling plasma cannons. Fox slows his heartbeat and flattens himself against a stone wall as its head searches from side to side, scanning for any intruders. In the fog, he can see its blinking red eyes alongside the bright light, which follows the bird as it flies away.

Further up the street, closer to the train tracks, another wakes up. The bipedal walker takes a few steps forward, now assuming a patrol pattern. Fox sticks his head out carefully so as not to trigger any motion detectors.

'Damn robots. First the Lin Kuei Cyber Initiative, then that whole incident with Kaito and the training room bot, and now this...'

>Wait until they go inactive
>Dodge the lights and make it to the tracks
>Cause a distraction nearby
>Attempt to destroy their sensors
>Other

>>1998355
>Distraction
Are there any nearby abandoned cars we can set off the alarm of?

>>1998355
>Dodge the lights and make it to the tracks

>>1998355
>>Dodge the lights and make it to the tracks

>>1998355
>>Dodge the lights and make it to the tracks
Time to show our super bright colored ninja stealth.

File: e31189e08628f25c079ad6b07(...).jpg (73 KB, 553x312)

73 KB JPG

>>1998370
>>1998439
>>1998588
>>1998722

After intensely studying their patterns of motion, Fox takes his chances and dashes towards the next point of cover, taking care not to make a sound as he does. He ducks behind an old car as the lights sweep over it, then he does it again. The large bipedal patrol bot lumbers past, its servos humming loudly just beneath its steel chassis. Its footsteps make it all too easy for him to slip by it.

Soon enough he's beneath the rail line, taking the first of the explosives and putting them into place. He focuses on correct placement and setting of the device; even though he is under a tremendous amount of pressure given the circumstances, he keeps his head calm and collected.

Three bombs are placed within five minutes, and he's got a mimimum of five more to plant for optimal effectiveness, when his ears pick up a new sound: marching. He hides within the groove of a steel beam as a group of machines walk into view, marching in formation along the bottom of the railway. 'And here I thought Kano hated the military,' Fox thinks with a smirk. 'He makes an excellent drill instructor.'

The machines march past in perfect synchronization. He's about to move again when another formation appears behind them, and his ears pick up the sound of a third not far behind them.

'Damn, they've got the road covered... I'll need another way around.'

>Climb up onto the railway and cross
>Attempt to climb across the street underneath the rail line, above their heads
>Create a distraction and dash across as they investigate
>Wait for a gap in their formation and dash across
>Other

>>1998797
>>Attempt to climb across the street underneath the rail line, above their heads
Most ninja option

>>1998797
>Attempt to climb across the street underneath the rail line, above their heads
Claws were designed for precisely this purpose.

File: Download Post apocalyptic(...).jpg (1.32 MB, 2560x1440)

1.32 MB JPG

>>1998822
>>1999000

Slipping his claws on, Fox takes another deep breath and begins to climb. The machines take no notice as he makes his way up the beam, reaching the bottom of the rail line and scaling over their heads. Hand over hand, foot over foot, he flawlessly avoids detection, reaching the other side in a manner of minutes.

Hooking his feet into two separate footholds along the support beams, he hangs upside-down as he plants the bombs, moving when he needs to. Though the task is arduous and complicated, the marching machines give him no quarter to relax or drop down.

Finally he is down to the final placement, which must be set upon the center of the tracks. Again he makes his way back overhead until he is in position. Upon planting the final bomb, he double-checks its settings and takes out the detonator.

He closes his eyes and focuses, slowing his breathing to a completely silent state. Over the sound of the marching deathbots, the patrols of the hunter-killers and across a great distance, he listens for the sound of the coming train. He first detects it by listening for its reverberations in the metal around him; nuts and bolts begin to shake slightly and pebbles overhead begin to bounce. He feels it coming, then begins to hear it, the sounds of metal scraping against metal at high speed.

The point of stopping the train before it is too late is past, meaning that stealth no longer matters. He drops to the ground amidst several of the machines and springs into action, grabbing one of them and whipping it around in a circle to knock the others back. The remainder turn and fire on his position, or rather his prior position, for he is already on the move, getting as much distance between himself and a bombs as possible. Taking out the detonator, he presses it and takes cover.

The bombs go off simultaneously, covering the area in fire and smoke before being buried beneath tons of metal. The steal beams are annihilated and the track buckles, snapping in half at the point where he placed the final bomb. More than half of the patrolling machines are crushed by the collapsing track, and the rest of them lose sight of Fox as their optics become flooded with dirt and debris.

Then the train comes, rocketing off the broken track and onto the street below. The great machine, carried by its weight and momentum, barrels through several large robots, tearing through them like tissue paper. Fox dares to look at the incredible sight as the train fights for room but rapidly runs out of it; multiple cars begin to crash into the buildings around it, caving in two of them. Soon the entire area is covered in dust from the derailment, and the awesome noise begins to cease.

When everything goes quiet, that's when Fox pops out of cover, tightening the mask around his face so as not to breathe in any dust, and runs towards the wreckage of the train.

>1d100 to search the wreck!

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>1999394

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>1999394
The search begins!
>>1999406
The search ends!

File: kabal_mk7_by_k4zuya_kh4n-(...).jpg (65 KB, 900x552)

65 KB JPG

>>1999406

Upon reaching the wreckage, Fox leaps up onto the side of a railcar. Using the blunt end of his weapon, he swings the chain down onto a window to break it inwards, allowing him to look inside. Empty. He starts looking all around, leaping from car to car, searching for any sign of the Kamidogu.

Then he sees it, penetrating the thick fog, smoke and windows of another traincar: an orange glow. He wastes no time and leaps upon the car, smashing in the window and leaping inside. The artifact was inside of a containment field, now destroyed, and it floats a few feet above the ground. He grabs it and jumps out of the car.

>>1999420

Only to be met with two glowing red eyes piercing the dust. They suddenly vanish, and before he can react he is knocked off his feet and slashed across the midsection. Fox lets out a cry as he is flung clear of the car, onto the street amid debris and broken shards of glass. He looks down at his chest, seeing a bright red X-shaped scar bleeding through his clothing.

But he still has the Kamidogu. Looking up, the smoke clears slightly, revealing the figure belonging to those red eyes; a fully cyberized Kabal, standing with two spiked hookswords in hand.

'So... That's how he attacked me before I could react... he used his super-speed...'

"You're not leaving this place alive," he says, his eyes glowing even more brightly. Fox is about to reply when a red laser blast issues forth from them, surging towards him. He barely has time to roll out of the way; the ground next to him is scorched. Kabal leaps down, his feet cracking the stone as he lands, before he points both swords at the ninja.

'Cassie and Jacqui won't be too far behind,' he reasons. 'I need to hold out until they arrive!'

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>1999568
Let's try to chain his legs and toss him into the train.

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>1999568
Muck up his systems with a sludge bomb.

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>1999568
See if we can sever the mask cord thing with the Kusarigama

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>1999568
Toss a poison dart. See if cyberization prevents his systems from getting fucked up.

File: kabal.jpg (200 KB, 1500x944)

200 KB JPG

>>1999583

The cyborg's eyes flash red again and he surges forward with incredible speed; however, with his enemy in his sights this time, Fox has a plan. Again he rolls to one side, ignoring the stinging pain of the glass beneath him, while throwing out the sickle of his kusarigama. It hooks onto Kabal's as he runs by, tripping him and sending him flying into one of the traincars, smashing through its glass wall.

Fox grunts as he stands up, yanking his weapon free and gathering it back up. He listens for activity within the car, only to hear the sound of metal slicing through metal. Kabal bursts through the train, hookswords held high, ready for another go.

>>1999607

Remembering how well it had worked on Sektor and Cyrax, Fox reaches for a sludge bomb, but Kabal dashes forward and past him. The super-speed of the cyborg overwhelms the ninja, who finds his head spinning from the sudden burst. Kabal kicks him from behind, forcing him up against the side of the train, before swinging both hookswords down at him.

>>1999617

Pain shoots through every nerve of his being as both blades connect with his shoulders. Kabal turns and hurls Fox away, sending him flying from the tips of his swords into a nearby building, and the Kamidogu falling from his grasp. Fox rolls along the ground before crashing into the front desk of a small hotel.

Kabal steps up and hooks the Kamidogu on the end of one of his swords. He spends a moment to look at the artifact, then focuses on the lobby where Fox lies. He doesn't say another word; instead he charges up his eye-beams and prepares a full blast.

>>1999652

At least until the rocket-powered fist of Cassie Cage pummels into the back of his skull, causing him to miss his shot. It releases as the fist forces his head downwards, causing him to blast at the ground directly under his feet, destroying it utterly in a spectacular flash of red.

The arm flies through the air and connects back to Cassie's stump on her left as Jacqui cracks her knuckles through her gauntlet. "Nicely done," she compliments her friend and leader.

"I thought he could use a hand."

Fox stumbles out of the lobby as Kabal picks himself back up and out of the hole.

>Current Meter: 2
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>1999749
Restrain his legs, he is too fast!

>>1999749
Find that Kamidogu. It had to have been knocked away after Cassie's rocket suckerpunch.

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>1999802

File: Chaosrealm_Kamidogu.png (25 KB, 100x148)

25 KB PNG

>>1999762
>>1999813

Fox moves first, throwing his chain around Kabal's legs. The cyborg struggles but Jacqui leaps down from above, bringing both of her gauntlets down upon his head. As she keeps him in place, aided by the ninja's chain, Cassie lands in front of him and begins delivering a fierce beatdown. Knowing that the Kamidogu must be nearby, Fox begins to search for it, eventually running up to the pit Kabal just pulled himself out of. It is there, hovering at its center, and so he jumps down to grab it.

By the time he has climbed out, they've taken care of the cyborg, who lies motionless at their feet. Cassie dusts off her hands. "Not bad work, Fox. Even if you needed our help with Darth Vader here."

"We should not stay here long," Fox reminds them. "Kano will send more than just him after us."

"Right. We need to get back underground."

He is about to reply when a great noise is heard in the distance, one unlike any the three have ever heard. They all turn towards the source, the great red forcefield bubble in the distance, and behold it growing brighter and brighter, until it is nearly all white... and then it vanishes, leaving the tower at its center open and without defense.

Cassie's one working eye is as wide as can be. "What... How did..."

"Good work, Sam," Fox says with a smile. He takes out his personal portal generator; it has two charges left. He could return to the Nexus right now...

>Wish them luck and teleport out of here
>Help them find and destroy Kano
>Hide the Kamidogu elsewhere
>Attempt to contact Raiden
>Other

>>2000006
>Help them find and destroy Kano

>>2000006
>Attempt to contact Raiden
Technically, we're done and can get the hell out of here. The longer the Kamidogu stays here, the more likely KANO will come at us with escalating force. Removing it from the scene now will make things easier for Cassie and Jacqui.

>>2000030
Agreed let's finish this

>>2000006
>Attempt to contact Raiden

>>2000036
Not to mention every realm we've been in so far, the second we find a Kamidogu, Havik isn't far behind.

File: 5256222362.png (825 KB, 605x1092)

825 KB PNG

>>2000036
>>2000052

Taking out the small tablet used to communicate to Raiden, Fox attempts to reach the thunder god. The blue image that appears is unclear, almost like a swirling fog. "Raiden? Hello? This is Fox. Can you hear me, Raiden?"

Jacqui looks back at the ninja as Cassie takes out her radio, calling for an immediate attack on the tower. Fox shakes the tablet and attempts to knock on it a few times. "Raiden! Come in, Raiden!"

"Who are you trying to talk to?" she asks him.

"Damn," he mutters under his breath. He slides the stone back into his pouch. "That can't be good."

"You're telling me," Cassie says, walking back up to them. "It'll take at least an hour before our forces can fully mobilize on the tower, and by then K.A.N.O. will have an army defending it. We're the only ones who can reach it before that happens. I say we go in now."

"I'm with you, Sergeant," Jacqui replies. "Fox?"

"Something's wrong," he tells them. "I can't get in contact with my realm's protector." He checks his personal portal generator and attempts to create a portal, but much like when he tried in Disorderrealm, he is unable to spend the charge. "Havik... Every time I get a Kamidogu, he does something that prevents me from escaping with it." He looks all around him, but sees no hint of the cleric.

"K.A.N.O. was going to make a deal with him, right? That might just mean that he's where we're going."

"Which means that I'll be delivering the Kamidogu right to him..."

"We don't have time to stand and debate!" Cassie insists. "Fox, are you coming or not?"

>Go with them
>Go, but hide the Kamidogu
>You'll stay here and wait for Havik to come to you
>Attempt to travel back to the portal you originally came through
>Other

>>2000178
>>Go with them
Let's finish this shit, save Sam, kiss Sam, beat the fuck out of Havik, Destroy Kano, beat the fuck out of Havik (Again) and Go Home.

>>2000199
>Go with them

>>2000199
>>Go with them

>>2000199
>>Go with them

>>2000199
>>Go with them

File: 3016948-triborg_gs.jpg (87 KB, 1280x720)

87 KB JPG

>>2000200
>>2000207
>>2000215
>>2000218
>>2000270

'Not much of a choice,' Fox thinks. "Let's go."

The three of them take off at a fast sprint, charging down the post-apocalyptic streets of Chicago. As they run, several figures fly by overhead, travelling in the same direction.

"Great," Cassie says between pants, "he's called in the Cyber Lin Kuei."

Yet even as they land at the base of the tower, Fox cannot help but notice a distinct lack of other opponents. "Where are the rest of his machines?"

"It'll take some time for K.A.N.O. to redirect the bulk of his forces from the attack we initated down south," Cassie says. "And if we're lucky, old man J.A.X. is running interference on his systems, flooding his channels with white noise, keeping him from effectively coordinating his units. Those Lin Kuei cyborgs are mostly autonomous, so it makes sense that they would be here first."

The three of them stop behind a car and look over. The communications tower stands at an impressive height, dominating the surrounding area, which has all been flattened in a wide circle. The cyborgs take up position, standing guard in front.

"What's the plan?" Jacqui asks. "Go in and go in hard?"

>Fox will head inside while Cassie and Jacqui deal with the cyborgs
>Defeat the cyborgs before moving in as a team
>Attempt to sneak past the cyborgs
>Distract the cyborgs to let Cassie and Jacqui get inside, then you sneak in
>Other

>>2000280
>Defeat the cyborgs before moving in as a team
They're still Lin Kuei, so I don't think we'll be slipping past them.

>>2000280
>>Defeat the cyborgs before moving in as a team

>>2000280
>Defeat the cyborgs before moving in as a team

>>2000280
>>Defeat the cyborgs before moving in as a team
I wonder if we can awaken the soul in Cyrax/Sub-Zero/Smoke

>>2000289
>>2000296
>>2000297
>>2000298

Let's have some 1d100s and some actions to accompany them.

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>2000308
Run interference. If we see an opportunity to tip the scales we go for it. Use all available dirty tricks. Tripping with chains, etc.

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>2000308
Test our new smoke bombs.

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>2000308
Run Interference and see if we can Muck up some of the extra Robo-Ninjas. Let's try and keep this three on three.
Also, see if we can corner Sub-Zero or Smoke if they're here.

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>2000308
Dodge bullets that end up hitting another robot!

File: davide-filianoti-kabalkey(...).jpg (622 KB, 1920x2286)

622 KB JPG

>>2000321

"By all means, lead the way," Fox offers. The girls nod, jump out of cover and charge. Fox isn't far behind them.

The cyborgs take notice immediately. "Three approaching. Threat level: moderate. Calculating probability of enemy victory: zero percent. Engage and destr---"

As the lead machine was speaking, Cassie took out her gun and fired a single round, landing it right between the robot's eyes. The metal man falls backwards. The other cyborgs leap into action, flying towards them, pulse blades out and saws buzzing.

Jacqui throws herself upwards, tackling one of the cyborgs out of the air. When they hit the ground, she beats it down into the earth, smashing it to pieces and tearing the plating off. Cassie continues to fire her gun until she's out of ammo, then she launches the arm that was firing it, knocking one of the cyborgs out of the sky.

Fox, content to let the other two do the frontline fighting, dodges cyborg limbs and attacks, focusing on taking his openings when he sees them. Kusarigama in hand, he twists and slices the head off of one as it lands in front of him, then throws the weighted end at another, sending it hurtling into its head, which flies off. The body of the cyborg crashes into the ground nearby and explodes.

>>2000330

Deciding to take out a smoke bomb, Fox pops the top and tosses it out in front of him. It begins to bleed out thick, grey smoke as the three of them battle the machines.

>>2000335
>>2000335

Cassie's limbs begin to glow green, and she propels herself forward with a migthy kick that forces her foot through the chest of one of their foes. Using her other foot as leverage, she kicks off its chest and backflips away, pulling the first foot free as oily blood shoots up into the air. One of the cyborgs flies past Jacqui, but she grabs it by the leg and pulls, keeping it from going anywhere. She then shouts and slams the cyborg over her shoulder onto the concrete, smashing the ground before stomping on and crushing its head.

Fox throws a sticky bomb at the chest of one of the cyborgs, then kicks another into it, cementing them together. The machines attempt to disentangle themselves as Fox dodges out of the way of a missile launched by a third, which hits the two of them, blowing them up.

Cassie flips backwards, eyes bright green as she shoots forward with another powerful attack, this time a flying punch. It is delivered to the skull of the final bot, which flies from its shoulders. Oil sprays from its neck hole as the body falls to its knees, then flat on its chest. She wipes some oil from her face and inhales sharply through her nostils. "I love the smell of broken machines."

File: Picture5.png (450 KB, 900x551)

450 KB PNG

>>2000523

"Front door's wide open, Sergeant!" Jacqui shouts. Fox follows them both inside.

The interior of the building is dark and quiet, lit only by blinking computer screens and glowing wires. The place is eerie, with red lights on cameras following their every move.

"K.A.N.O.!" Cassie suddenly shouts as they enter the building. "We're here to pull your plug once and for all, you oversized app!"

Nearby, several screens forming a wall of light suddenly change into the image of a great red eye. "Aw, honey, is that any way to greet a friend of your mom's?"

"Don't you talk about my mother you sick twisted freak," she spits, pointing up at the screens. "I'm here to deliver some much-needed payback."

"You remind me so much of her, ya know," he cackles, his voice echoing through the halls. "She was a fiery one too. Shame about her choice in men, though, eh? Every time she picked one, I was there to take 'em away, hahahahahah!"

Taking out her baton, she throws it the center screen, smashing it to pieces. Sparks fly as the other screens go dark, but Kano's laughter continues to reach their ears through the many speakers in the building.

Jacqui puts her hand on Cassie's shoulder. "Let's just find him and finish it."

>Search for Sam
>Split up
>Follow the wires
>Plant remaining explosives
>Other

>>2000559
>>Search for Sam

>>2000559
>>Search for Sam

>>2000559
>>Search for Sam

>>2000559
>>Search for Sam

>>2000559
>Search for Sam

>>2000559
>>Search for Sam

File: Kano Page.png (698 KB, 582x652)

698 KB PNG

>>2000570
>>2000574
>>2000589
>>2000602
>>2000613

As Cassie calms down and the laughter dies off, Fox takes advantage of the lessened audio to listen. He picks up a unique sound coming from nearby, and investigates. As he walks by a broom closet, he hears the noise again.

Upon opening the door, he is attacked by a mop. He catches it and holds it up to look at Sam. "A good try," he compliments her. "But this is better used to attack floors than robots."

"Fox!" she breathes a sigh of relief. "I thought you were one of them!"

He smirks and helps her out of the closet. "How did you turn off the shield?"

"Once I was inside, I followed the wires to a large generator, and then I, uh, broke it. With a hammer."

"Good work. Now we can finish the job." He looks back at his allies and says, "See? I told you I had a secret weapon."

"Remind me to buy you a drink later," Cassie says to them both. "Did you see where K.A.N.O. is?"

"No need to go lookin' girl," the voice on the speakers returns. "I'll bring you to me!"

All of them feel the ground beneath their feet begin to shake as the ceiling opens up. The center of the room lifts upwards, tiles separating to allow the elevator to take them higher. As they travel through the building, more floors move aside until they reach the top.

There, in a large cyber-chamber, is Kano. What is left of his body is suspended in a forcefield with countless wires, cables and plugs going into him, much like Jax was but on a much more invasive level. His flesh, pale and skeletal with almost no musculature left, hangs limply. The red faceplate taking up the right side of his head is all that moves, its eye staring down at them as the floor clicks into place.

"Isn't this one big happy reunion?" he asks, laughing down at them. Several plasma guns placed all around the room attached to automated turrets focus on them, but do not fire. "I don't know how you twats took down my shield... but now that ye're inside, there's nowhere to run." His red eye focuses on Fox. "You... ninja-boy. I'll be takin' that there shiny ya got on yer back."

"Over our dead bodies, creep," Cassie shouts up at him.

"That's the idea, yeah. Blondes, I swear..."

>Where's Havik, Kano?
>Pretend to offer him the Kamidogu
>Throw Sam at him
>Pop off your last smoke grenade
>Other

>>2000724
>Where's Havik, Kano?

>>2000724
>>Pop off your last smoke grenade
Gotta do it.

>>2000724
>Throw Sam at him
>Pop off your last smoke grenade
Hand her something to hit him with.

File: cyber_skeleton_by_tacowra(...).jpg (169 KB, 1015x787)

169 KB JPG

>>2000734
>>2000735

Fox reaches behind his back and grabs hold of his last smoke grenade. "You'll have to pardon me, but I'm not really fond of talking before fighting."

He pulls the top off the grenade and drops it at his feet. "Scatter!" Cassie orders, and Kano's guns begin to fire.

Fox immediately gets behind Sam and uses her as a human shield. Several plasma blasts hit her and disappate against her, leaving them both unharmed. "Gah! What are you doing?!"

"Sorry," he apologizes, but then immediately uses her as a shield again. Nearby, Jacqui and Cassie stay mobile, with the latter flipping around the room and throwing shadow-bolts up at the shield.

"Nice try, baby girl!" Kano taunts from within. "But this shield is twice as strong as the one I used outside! Ain't nothin' getting through!"

"Is that so?" Fox mutters. He takes out a knife and hands it to Sam. "Use this."

"For what?" she asks as he takes out his chain and throws it towards the ceiling where it hooks on a pipe.

"Hold onto me!" he says, and she grabs onto his arm. Fox starts climbing upwards as bursts of light, red and green, flash around them both. After they make it halfway up the chain, Fox looks at her. "Alright... I'm going to throw you at Kano!"

"You're going to WHAT?"

"Just trust me!" Fox kicks off the nearby wall and they swing towards the bubble at the center of the room. "Now, Sam!"

She lets go and falls, managing to land and hang onto one of his support arms. She struggles to hold on as Fox lands back on the wall, digging his claws into it. He watches as Sam loses her grip and falls into the bubble without harm, managing to grab onto Kano himself.

"GAH!" he screams, and the room suddenly turns red as all of the guns stop shooting and start twisting in random directions. "What the bloody hell?! GET OFF ME, YOU LITTLE CUNT!"

Sam grits her teeth, brings up the knife and slams it home within his skull. She falls out then, tearing several cables with her hands and feet as she falls. Kano's anguish begins to fill the room as his body twitches. Nearby, a large terminal activates, running through several lines of code before settling on "Self-Destruct Sequence".

"That's not good," Fox mutters.

Suddenly, he feels a hand on his shoulder. "It's about to get a whole lot worse!"

He is pulled violently out of the room and into another chamber, a server room of flashing red lights, where he is thrown up against one of the large, black machines. He falls to the floor and looks up at none other than Havik, covered head to toe in a mishmash of cybernetics.

"You've done so well!" he cheers. "I knew you'd find a way to kill him!"

Fox lets out a dismissive grunt. "I suppose this is the part where you rant about how I played right into your plans?"

"I thought about that, but I'd rather just kill you instead!" He raises his right arm, the bottom half of which has been replaced with a spinning mace, and leaps forward!

>Current Meter: 1
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>2000967
Tarzan swing, and see if Havik follows.

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>2000967
Taunt him about how it's just not the same without him ranting.
Then duck out of the way and kick him in the back so he hits the machine with his face.

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>2000967
Grab his wrist as he swings the mace and twist that shit!

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>2000967
entangle the mace in one of the chains

File: qiPm9QN.gif (16 KB, 384x240)

16 KB GIF

>>2000984

Fox kicks off the ground and attempts to escape, but Havik is faster. Using hidden boosters in his feet, the cyber-cleric rushes forward and slams his vibro-mace down upon the ninja, forcing him back down onto the ground and the wind out of his lungs. Havik cackles as his arm rotates backwards and returns to attack position, held high over his head.

>>2000996

The mace comes back down, smashing his chest again and likely breaking a rib. Fox's mouth opens as he coughs up blood.

"Oh, this is fun! I was starting to wonder if all these upgrades Kano gave me would be worth it, but now there is no question!"

Fox opens his eyes as the mace rotates back into position once more. Spikes crackling with electricity suddenly pop out of its head, turning it into a morning star.

"Now to rid myselves of the thorn in our sides! DIE!"

>>2001008

As the weapon falls, Fox slides out from under it and brings up his feet, planting them on Havik's chest. The morning star hits the ground where he was and the ninja wraps both arms around it. Ignoring the horrible pain in his chest, Fox explodes into motion, pushing with his feet and pulling with his arms, tearing the cyberized limb out of its elbow joint. Blood and wires shoot out as Havik falls backwards.

Fox springs up to his feet, holding the arm with both hands. Determined to deliver onto Havik some of his own medicine, he lifts up the morning star and prepares to slam it down upon him.

>>2001024

Havik, now lying on his back, brings up one foot and points it at Fox. It launches off like like a spring, connected to him by an extending arm, and he kicks Fox in the chest before retracting it. The ninja is forced back against one of the servers as Havik's torso twists around and he picks himself back up to a standing position, his semi-mechanical body reconfiguring as his flesh snaps and breaks.

"I've been rewired!" Havik taunts. "Now I'm going to rewire you!"

In the back, the self-destruct countdown continues.

>Current Meter: 2
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>2001065
Bait Havok into taking a swing and hitting the server bank behind us for a shocking surprise

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>2001065
Fuck it. Jump out and do an ex swing away to help ensure our escape.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>2001065
Kick at the back of his knees then kick his torso to knock him away

File: Doom-2016.jpg (1.35 MB, 1250x700)

1.35 MB JPG

>>2001095

Fox opens his eyes, staring up at the ceiling for a moment as Havik's laughter fills his ears. He blinks and then shouts as he steps out of the dented server, holding Havik's arm up high. The cleric smiles at him with metal teeth, holding up his other hand, each finger of which ends in a wicked silvery claw.

"Come on, then!" Fox shouts. "I'm here!"

"If you insist!"

The cleric dives forward, leading with his claw. Fox smiles, drops the severed arm and reaches up to the ceiling, grabbing onto a pipe and lifting himself up. Havik flies at the server, his claw embedding deeply into it, causing shocks to surge throughout his body. The half-metal skull opens wide as his body violently shakes, then goes still.

>>2001109
>>2001100

Fox lets go and lands on his back, hearing a loud snap as he does. He walks back out to the central chamber, grabs his chain and slides down, landing next to Jacqui and Sam.

"Fox! Are you alright?" Sam asks.

"I hate technology," he mutters in reply.

Neaby, Cassie is banging her hands against a console, evidently in agreement with his assessment. "I can't shut it down! We need to get out of here!"

"Then I suggest we leave!" Fox says.

"I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU YET!" Havik cries. The four of them all turn as half of Havik crawls out of the hole in the wall, propping himself up on one arm as two guns emerge from his back. "EVER TASTED FRIED FOX? ME NEITHER!"

Both cannons erupt with flame, sending two fireballs towards them. Before any of them can act, Sam steps in front of them, holds up her arms and closes her eyes. They explode against her as Fox, Jacqui and Cassie take cover, shielding their eyes from the inferno which lights up the entire room.

When the smoke clears, Sam remains, unharmed. Havik stares blankly down at her.

"Well that's... unexpected," the cleric says in shock.

"Her name is Sam," Fox says before pulling on his chain. Havik looks up as the sickle falls right upon his head, splitting it in half. As he reels in the blade, Sam turns around.

"I... I really did it!"

Cassie pats her on the shoulder. "Yeah! But unless you can keep us from dying when this building goes, we should probably ge the fuck out of here!"

>Jump out the window
>Take the elevator down
>Find a safe room
>Use the portal generator
>Other

>>2001207
>>Jump out the window
Ninja's are known to fall great distances without even a sound.

>>2001207
>Use the portal generator
If it fails then
>Jump out the window

>>2001207
>>Jump out the window
Make sure to have the explosion silhouetted behind us as we do.

File: Wow Damashi, how fucking (...).jpg (11 KB, 500x376)

11 KB JPG

>>2001214
>>2001217
>>2001263

Fox spins the weighted end of his weapon rapidly. "We'll need a way out."

He lets go and smashes the window with it. The four of them run towards it, with Jacqui and Cassie diving out first, but Sam stops.

"I can't! I'm afraid of heights!"

"You won't die!" he shouts. He looks at the screen, seeing that they have seconds left. 'Oh, hell with it.'

He grabs her and throws her out the window before diving out himself. As they fall, she screams, especially once the building behind them starts exploding. Not far away, Jacqui grabs onto Cassie with one hand and pulls the cord on her parachute with the other. It expands and catches on the air, slowing their descent. In a moment, Fox and Sam pass them both.

'I suppose I have one chance at this,' he thinks, taking hold of Sam and holding her close. She grabs him tightly as they spin towards the ground.

They hit it hard, but she's on the bottom. Somehow, against all probability, she completely absorbs the inertia of both of them, causing them to roll along the ground and, miraculously, Fox lives.

But it still hurts like hell. Jacqui and Cassie land nearby and pull them both away from the building. Fox, sucking up the pain, gets up and runs away from the tower as it explodes behind them, raining fiery debris all around. They make it to a safe distance and look back, seeing the last of the tower collapse in on itself, taking Havik, Kano and every ounce of control his machines had with it.

Just to check, Fox reaches behind himself for the Kamidogu, and is relieved to still possess it.

"I can't believe it," Cassie says, looking on at the destroyed tower. "Is it... really over?"

Fox sits down, coughing a few times as he waits for the pain to become more managable. Sam sits down next to him.

Off in the distance, something catches Jacqui's eye. "Movement," she says, and the four of them look on.

Fox's hearing is still as sharp as ever. "It's your men," he says, struggling to stand up. Sam helps him and he leans on her for support. "I think the machines have all gone quiet."

>Wish them well, portal to the Nexus
>Give Sam some last bit of wisdom
>Attempt to contact Raiden
>Hope to see them again some day
>Other

>>2001382
>>Give Sam some last bit of wisdom
>>Attempt to contact Raiden
>>Hope to see them again some day
>>Other
Tell them to attempt to contact their Raiden as long as he isn't evil and a dick.

>>2001402
this

I'll have to head to bed, things to do in the morning.

We'll be wrapping up tomorrow and deciding which realm to go to next, so stay tuned!

>>2001402
this

File: A Tiny Little Raiden in t(...).png (183 KB, 280x304)

183 KB PNG

>>2001402
>>2001416
>>2001456

Looking down at the girl sitting alongside him, Fox offers her another hand up. "You did good, Sam. You probably surprised even yourself."

"Definitely myself," she says nervously. "But, I still don't understand. How did you know all of this stuff about me?"

"Where I come from, another world and reality entirely, we know each other. Not... well, I admit. We're on the same team, but we don't exactly talk much."

"Oh... What's the other 'me' like?"

"She's brave, but didn't know she could be. She's also determined. I and everyone else were convinced she was going to give up, but she didn't, not on herself and not on her team." He places a hand on her shoulder. "The day she saved my life and the life of everyone on my team, I learned to never underestimate someone, because even the most insignificant person can make the biggest of differences."

She manages to crack a smile. "So, I'm the most insignificant person?"

He stares at her for a moment. "Allow me to rephrase..."

"It's okay, I get it," she giggles. "I just... Thank you, Fox. I think I've learned that lesson, too."

Not far away, Cassie and Jacqui reunite with their forces. Fox and Sam look on as a worn but still standing Trevor approaches Cassie, and the two of them start to talk. When she relays the news that Kano is no more, great cheers are had by all as they throw their fists into the air triumphantly.

"You should go to them," Fox says. "They'll want to hail you as the hero you are."

"What about you? You're more of a hero than I am."

"I can't stay here. Now that I have what I came for, I need to get back."

"Will we see each other again?"

"Normally, we should never have even met... But I hope so."

She takes hold of his hand and squeezes it, then gives him one last hug. "Thank you," she says again.

He smiles and brushes her hair. "You're welcome."

They part ways, and as she makes her way towards the celebrating crowd, Fox takes out the stone to speak with Raiden. This time the image of the thunder god appears clearly and without interference. "Forrest Fox! I thought I received communication from you, but was unable to connect. It must have been some foul magic surrounding you."

"I have the Kamidogu, Raiden," he relays. "I'm heading back now."

"Time is pressing. You should use your portal device."

"I only have two charges left..."

"We will make due. Hurry back."

"Understood." Sliding away the stone and taking out the personal portal generator, he spends half of its two final charges to create a portal to the Nexus. With one last look at the resistance he helped achieve victory, and a smile and thumbs-up from Cassie, he nods at them and steps through, the portal sealing behind him.

File: mortal_kombat___the_movie(...).png (763 KB, 558x800)

763 KB PNG

>>2001973


On the other side, back upon the stone platform floating in the red, cloudy void, he looks at Raiden who stands near the altar. "Hurry, Forrest," the thunder god encourages him. "Join the Kamidogu with the others."

Fox takes out the artifact and sets it upon the stone, where it floats softly alongside its two twins.

"Three Kamidogu of Chaosrealm. We are halfway to stopping Havik's vile plan. You have done well, Fox."

The Shirai Ryu walks around the table. "Has anything happened while I was gone, Raiden?"

"I have been able to keep the agents of chaos at bay; I have used my power to seal the portals from this end."

"I only have one charge left, but three more realities to search. How am I supposed to get back?"

"Fret not. Through the same power that I use to lock the portals, I can unlock them based on the unique signature of each traveller. You can travel through them, but I allow none but you to cross back."

"Convenient..." Fox turns around and looks at the three remaining portals: Edenia, Netherrealm and Chaosrealm.

>Edenia
>Netherrealm
>Chaosrealm

>>2001974
>>Edenia
Obviously, we need to save Super Extra Chaosrealm for last.

>>2001974
>Netherrealm
May as well get the nasty one out of the way.

File: 494733791_vSJvi-2100x20000.jpg (576 KB, 2100x1052)

576 KB JPG

>>2001974
>>Netherrealm

Can't wait to see how Hell could get worse.

>>2001974
>>Netherrealm
Its badder than bad.

>>2002047
Turns out it's been taken over by someone who turned it into a pretty nice place.

File: Spoiler Image (1.35 MB, 1909x787)

1.35 MB PNG

>>2002029
>>2002047
>>2002106

Then that's where we'll be going next.

I'd like to thank everyone for playing this latest chapter in Fox's mini-saga, it's been a blast. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Until next time!