Summary page cast (Some new faces and descriptions):
Kotal Kahn: Emperor or Outworld. Osh-Tekk Warrior.
Goro: Prince of the Shokan Empire.
Reiko: Commander of Mileena's Forces.
Mavado: Leader of the Red Dragon in Outworld.
Reptile: Kotal Kahn's Minister of Spies.
Mileena: Deposed Empress of Outworld.
Rain: Mileena loyalist able to control water.
D'Vorah: First Minister to Kotal Kahn.
Erron Black: A mysterious mercenary living in Outworld.
Ferra & Torr: A little lady and a big bruiser.
Chapter 9 begins:
Sonya threatens Kotal with a bullet between the eyes unless he reveals the whereabouts of Cassie. Reptile takes exception to Sonya's insults and false accusations, and flicks out his tongue in attack, only for it to be caught by the hooded man next to her - Johnny Cage (the rest of the hooded figures are revealed to be the previously seen other members of the Special Forces group) .
Cage defuses the situation offering medical supplies, but D'Vorah slaps a couple of grubs on Kotal, which eat the bullet and secrete coagulant oils (which Johnny finds a little gross. After thanking D'Vorah, Kotal states that he'll only speak with Cage, who he addresses as Raiden's champion, (drawing ire from Sonya at Cage's smug agreement). Cage shows Kotal the cellphone with Cassie's photo of Erron Black; Kotal understands the association; Erron Black is an intermediary between the Black Dragon and Kotal, and is the only person Kotal deals with. Kotal states that as a proud son who's recently suffered a loss, he would never hire Kano to steal children. D'Vorah points out that Kotal's troupe were all frustrated by their prior reception by Sonya in Earthrealm, and muses that Erron could have acted on that.
A short distance away, Mavado watches the conversation through binoculars and orders his men to stand down; they have a new objective.
Kotal reveals that Erron is securing their norther trade route and assigns D'Vorah and Reptile to escort them; Sonya stipulates that Outworld's problems belong to Outworld.
We switch scenes to a forest where Black Dragon grunts (decked out in some awesome black armor depicting their insignia on their chests) are leading Cassie and Jacqui onward. Cassie fakes a fall and struggles to break free, but she takes a laser shot to the chest which knocks her and Jacqui against a tree.
The shot comes from Kano, who advises them to never pick a battle they can't finish, and tells them the next escape attempt will cost someone a leg.
Erron Black promptly advises Kano against this as the prisoners are worth more to them intact. He warns against eye beams, calling Kano's equipment a piece of junk liable to blast a hole through someone. This prompts Kano to refer to it as a new eye; we flash back to the fight for the Kamidogu:
Years ago, Sub-Zero knocks Kano back against a pillar and breaks free from his hold; Kano stabs him in the shoulder for his trouble. He tells Sub-Zero the dagger possesses whomever it cuts; the curse can be broken by killing the possessed. Sub-Zero states that he's "already been dead once - never again!" With this, he freezes the side of his head and rips most of Kano's prosthetic device out of his head. Sub-Zero grabs the Kamidogu dagger from the ground and escapes out the window as Kano tells him "this isn't over".
Back in the present, Kano muses that he never saw Sub-Zero again, but his thoughts are interrupted as the two Black Dragon grunts now carrying Cassie and Jacqui are cut down by Mavado and his Red Dragon. A standoff begins as Mavado announces his intention to take the hostages.
Back in Earthrealm, Hanzo and Takeda make camp with their destination, the Sky Temple, visible in the distance. Takeda states that he's not tired and that they should have pushed on, but Hanzo warns him against the dangers of the storm. He notices that the clouds are approaching, and their campfire is struck by lighting; Raiden emerges from the blast, and, eyes crackling with red lightning, grabs Hanzo by the throat, admonishing; "You should not have come!"
End issue. NEXT: SCORPION UNLEASHED!
