In the Outworld Koliseum, A soldier bangs on a drum, and what can be seen is a blue skinned, bald headed, red-eyed male humanoid bound by an enlarged circular neck brace. Six more soldiers hold large poles leading into the neck brace in place, trying to keep the captive imprisoned.

The creature is a member of the Naknada species, and has a total of six spindly arms on his body, four at his sides and two smaller ones on his back. Despite his wiry stature, the soldiers visibly struggle to keep him pinned down. At one point, the Naknada manages to pivot and lift two soldiers into the air, but they lean down hard on their poles and manage to return to the ground.

The crowd in the Koliseum cheer on the display. The Naknada, known only by his alias of "Kollector", is brought down on his knees before the throne of Outworld's Empress, the Edenian/Tarkatan hybrid turned vampriss known as Mileena. Standing to the left of Mileena's throne is the Earthrealm mercenary Erron Black and another soldier, who holds an enlarged sword, not unlike Kotal's signature macuahuitl.

Standing on her right is Osh-Tekk warrior General Kotal. Standing behind him are Ashrah, Sareena, Li Mei, Tanya, Khameleon, Nitara, invited by Empress Mileena to witness the execution.

"For years you escaped justice. Sucked dry the bounty of Outworld's people. Today, your debt is paid." Mileena says.

"Kill me, Mileena, and you lose profit." Kollector warns.

"You mistake me for Shao Kahn." Mileena says.

She then rises from her throne and walks toward the captive.

"I do not inflict bandits upon the poor." Mileena says.

"Shao Kahn approved! His word was law!" Kollector says.

"Silence!" Mileena snaps.

Mileena then looks towards General Kotal.

"General. Deal with him." Mileena orders as she backs up towards the throne.

Kotal stands where Mileena stood before as he gestures to his left. The soldier standing there immediately brings him his blade. Kotal holds it in both hands, preparing a killing strike.

"Your master is dead, and so is his "law". Never again will Outworld suffer from his corruption." General Kotal says.

Kotal then lifts his blade above his head as the crowd grows more wild. Before he can deliver the fatal blow, an earthquake begins to erupt around the Koliseum. The stone statues bearing Mileena's likeness break apart and fall to the ground. Rips in time begin to tear into the structure itself.

Back in Earthrealm, Cassie is sleeping on a makeshift bed in the medical room of the Special Forces base. She suddenly awakens as the room's walls begin to distort with the time rips. She, Johnny, Jacqui, Zaveer and Raiden all look around in horror, and a sandstorm begins to form inside the room.

In Kronika's keep, Manado and Kitana can barely keep on their feet as Kronika manipulates the sands in her hourglass through the magic generated from her hands. The sand in the glass begins to flow upward in reverse.

The sandstorm has now almost completely engulfed the medical room, and even Raiden is having trouble standing straight. The storm eventually turns into three tornados, and Johnny squints as he tries to look into them. His eyes widen in shock as he sees three figures begin to emerge from the tornadoes.

One of those figures is himself, looking 25 years younger.

Another is Jax, also younger.

The third is Sonya, and she looks just as youthful as the other two.

The tornadoes die down once the figures are fully formed, and the sandstorm subsides as well. Young Johnny and Old Johnny walk up to each other, as Cassie walks up to Sonya with and Jax to Jacqui with Zaveer standing behind all three of them. Everyone is in such disbelief that they can't find the words to speak.

"By the Elder Gods!" Dark Raiden calls out.

As everyone turns in Raiden's direction, a tornado of sand gathers around the Thunder God, but unlike the others, this one is reducing him to dust. The process is over in seconds, and Raiden fades out of existence before he can say anything else. Only Shinnok's amulet remains, and it clatters to the floor.

Back in Outworld, a sandstorm has erupted in the Koliseum, sending the crowd and even some soldiers into a panic. Everyone is distracted by the spectacle, but Kollector keeps calm. He notices that one of the soldiers pinning him in place has taken his grip off the pole he was holding.

Without hesitation, Kollector seizes the chance given to him. He ducks low and swipes to his left, both unbalancing the other soldiers and striking them with their own poles. They are all sent sprawling to the ground. Kollector focuses on one of them and impales the poor man straight through the chest with one of the sharpened poles. As the soldier screams in agony, Kollector pivots the pole upwards, dragging the soldier down it and right into Kollector's hands.

Grinning sadistically, Kollector takes the keys to the neck brace from the soldier's belt and undoes the lock keeping the brace together. He shakes it off as the now-dead soldier crumples to the ground, still impaled on the pole.

Several tornadoes have sprouted up in the Koliseum, and much like they did on Earthrealm, they dispel people from them: the blood mage Skarlet, a younger Erron Black, the savage Tarkatan known as Baraka, a young and bald-shaven Kano and most tellingly, Outworld's previous Emperor, Shao Kahn.

But the remaining tornadoes in the Koliseum bring forth other people instead, Manado, Liu Kang, Kitana, Kung Lao and Jade, not the dead revenants of the current era, but fully alive. Out of the final tornado steps Raiden, not his dark counterpart, but the Raiden of yesteryear, who summons his signature blue lightning as the tornado dies down. The tornadoes have also brought in numerous Outworld soldiers, loyal minions of Shao Kahn, who stand close to their Emperor.

For long moments, the crowd remains silent, taking in the spectacle before them. Mileena looks around as well, pausing to note that the statues that once bore his likeness have now been replaced by those of Shao Kahn. He then approaches the new arrivals.

"Raiden? Shao Kahn?" Mileena asks.

"Daughter?" Shao Kahn asks.

The two Kahns then step toward one another.

"You speak to the Kahn." Mileena corrects.

"Kahn? Foolish girl. You pretend to my throne!" Shao Kahn says.

"It is mine, by right and deed. You were killed, long ago." Mileena says.

"We were at the Mortal Kombat tournament. Kung Lao had just defeated Shang Tsung and Quan Chi." Raiden says.

"We are decades beyond those events." Mileena says.

"For us, they happened only moments ago." Raiden says.

"What game are you playing, Raiden? What magic powers this delusion?" Shao Kahn asks.

"If it is a delusion, it is one we all share. Is it possible that the past and future are colliding?" Raiden wonders.

General Kotal then looks around at the newcomers.

"Kitana, Baraka, Skarlet, all Outworld champions long since gone. If you have all returned, has–" Kotal Kahn says before Jade suddenly steps forward, clear joy in her eyes.

"I am here, Kotal." Jade says.

Kotal's eyes are wide open in disbelief.

"Jade..." Kotal Kahn says.

The moment is ruined as Shao Kahn shoves Jade aside to face Kotal down. The former Kahn of Outworld keeps his composure. Behind him, his soldiers and those of Shao Kahn have readied their weapons. Mileena joins Kotal to confront Shao Kahn

"Outworld custom requires all refugees be offered assistance. We offer it to you, Shao Kahn." Mileena offers.

"I am no refugee! I am Kahn of Outworld! Vacate my throne–" Shao Kahn yells as he points toward the throne, then at Kotal. "--or I'll soak these sands with your blood!" Shao Kahn finishes his threat.

With a gesture, Shao Kahn magically summons his warhammer and charges at Mileena, who parries the blow with a swing of her Sai. She parries another, but Shao Kahn shoulder checks Mileena while she's off balance. Mileena recovers quickly though and with a jump, stabs Shao Kahn's shoulders with her Sai, drawing blood. The former Emperor roars in anger and pushes to his feet, driving Mileena back. He swings his hammer down, forcing Mileena to block again. This time, the two weapons grind against one another as both kombatants attempt to overpower the other.

Shao Kahn wins the exchange by shoving Mileena's Sai down into the sands beneath them. He follows through by smacking Mileena in the face with the hilt of his warhammer, drawing blood, before kicking him into a pillar. Shao Kahn roars once more and charges, his warhammer raised high above his head. At the last moment, Mileena ducks to the side and narrowly misses having her head smashed into chunks of meat, but Shao Kahn keeps swinging the hammer, destroying the pillar base as Mileena desperately tries to crawl away.

Eventually, Shao Kahn stops his attack, but the damage to the pillar causes it to collapse... right on Mileena, burying her under a mound of broken rubble.

The crowd of the Koliseum cheer and applaud the spectacle, not caring in the slightest about who wins but loving the carnage laid before them. Chaos has broken out among Mileena and Shao Kahn's supporters, with each fighting the other. Only Raiden and Liu Kang are not currently in kombat, instead observing the melee around them.

"Lord Raiden... what do we do?" Liu Kang asks.

Kotal rushes to their side.

"As she is empress of Outworld, it is our duty to aid her in battle." General Kotal says.

"Mileena is our enemy." Raiden says.

"Not in this time. She changed sides since your time. Otherwise she would fight with Shao Kahn, not against him." General Kotal explains.

"I may not know you, Kotal. But it would seem you are right. We must navigate this crisis by aiding Mileena." Raiden says.

Liu Kang and Kotal nod in agreement. As Mileena tries to stand from his earlier predicament, Shao Kahn crushes her hand underneath his boot.

"I'm disappointed, daughter." Shao Kahn says, ready to finish her.

But as he raises his warhammer for the finishing blow, Liu Kang jumps into the fray with his bicycle kick, striking Shao in the chest multiple times and forcing him back.

The former Emperor takes a few moments to recover before charging once more, screaming with rage. He swings his warhammer twice, with Liu Kang evading the blows with ease. Shao Kahn changes his strategy and tries to stab Liu Kang with the blade on the top of his weapon, but Liu Kang leans backwards, and in what feels like slow motion, just barely avoids having the blade tip driven through his face. Shao Kahn is then blasted from behind with a surge of lightning, courtesy of Raiden.

In another part of the Koliseum grounds, a Mileena loyalist charges Baraka. The Tarkatan swipes his arm-blade through the soldier's stomach and eviscerates him without breaking stride. Another soldier charges in, but Baraka swipes his arm-blade across the man's cheek before stabbing him clean through the head. As Baraka pulls his blade from the dead man's skull, a female soldier tries her luck, but Baraka bats her sword from her hands and plunges an arm-blade through the side of her chest. He turns and catches another female charging him with a killing stab directly into her chest. He withdraws the blade and finds himself face to face with the General.

"Stupid Osh-Tekk. Destroying Mileena's future, crossing Shao Kahn." Baraka says.

"It is you with no future, Baraka. You are dead." Kotal Kahn informs.

"Impossible!" Baraka yells.

"You allied against Outworld. Persist, and YOU will die again!" General Kotal warns.

They then fight. Baraka's savagery was more than enough for Kotal's soldiers, but the General himself proves to be a different foe entirely. Kotal has Baraka beaten in strength, size and skill and he soon presses these advantages against the Tarkatan. After a brief struggle, Baraka is beaten to the ground.

"Filthy Tarkatan." General Kotal says.

Kotal strides past Kung Lao and Kano, who are both fighting each other. A Shao Kahn loyalist charges Kotal with his sword raised, but Kotal punches him in the face twice and drills him into the ground by his neck. Another soldier charges in with a high kick, to which Kotal grabs his leg, lifts him off his feet and slams him to the floor. A third soldier charging in gets a punch to the jaw, and Kotal grabs him by the waist and spins around, smashing him in the same manner as his compatriots.

Kotal spots Jade getting the worse of an exchange with Kollector. As he runs to help, he is stopped short by the sight of a corpse of an Outworld tiger, long dead after being impaled by two swords sticking out of its body, being suddenly covered by a mass of blood.

The blood springs off the body of the tiger, attacking Kotal and throwing him into an open trap door leading to the dungeons below the Koliseum. Kotal can do nothing but scream in terror as he is unceremoniously dropped onto the ground below. As he picks himself off the floor, the blood congeals and turns into a human form, Shao Kahn's enigmatic servant, Skarlet.

"The orphan turned assassin." General Kotal says.

"Better to thrive in Shao Kahn's court than starve in the streets. You Osh-Tekk may practice blood magic, Kotal, but I am the master." Skarlet says.

They fight. Skarlet shows that her mastery of blood magic is not just boasting, but Kotal knows other magic as well and brings his decades of fighting experience to the forefront. After a fierce battle, Kotal eventually leaves the witch beaten at his feet.

"Pride will be your downfall." General Kotal says.

Behind Kotal, the door to the dungeon is suddenly opened.

"Kotal!" Jade calls out.

Jade then runs up to Kotal and embraces him in a hug. After a moment, she lets go, but the two hold each other in their arms.

"I thought you were dead!" Jade says as she places her hands on Kotal's cheeks.

"What happened to you?" Jade asks.

"Shao Kahn betrayed me. Ambushed my legion. I was kept alive for Shang Tsung's experiments. Only when he died was I freed." General Kotal explains.

"Seeing you again makes it worth living this... nightmare." Jade says.

"I will not lose you twice." General Kotal assures.

The moment is interrupted by the doors on the opposite side of the dungeon being forced open. This time, the intruder is Erron Black, the younger version, spawned by the timequake. He sets his eyes on Jade and Kotal, and Kotal looks at Jade.

"Go help the Earthrealmers. I will deal with this." General Kotal says.

As Jade exits, Kotal walks toward the approaching mercenary.

"Your future self is ally, not enemy, Erron Black." General Kotal informs.

"To hell with the future. I live in the moment." Younger Erron Black says.

"Given who you become, I would not have thought you so reckless." General Kotal says.

They then fight. Erron Black fights with deadly precision and with no honour, but his tactics are ones that Kotal is well taught in and he overcomes them with his strength and magical prowess. After a brief melee, Erron Black is soon left down and out.

Allowing himself a smirk of accomplishment, General Kotal walks up the staircase leading back into the Koliseum. The crowd are still raucously cheering the spectacle of kombat before them. Kotal walks past Liu Kang beating the tar out of a Shao Kahn loyalist and Kung Lao still fighting Kano. His walk turns into a run as he spots Jade being thrown to the ground by Shao Kahn. The current Emperor of Outworld faces down the former Emperor.

"I will have my throne!" Shao Kahn yells.

Kotal then gets into a fighting stance.

"Outworld rejected your pointless wars!" General Kotal says.

"Empires must expand or die!" Shao Kahn says before he then roars in rage and charges.

Shao Kahn and General Kotal collide and grapple with each other. Initially Kotal gets the advantage and pushes Shao Kahn backwards, but Shao Kahn shifts his body and switches positions. Now it is Shao Kahn who pushes Kotal toward a cage housing an Outworld beast. He slams Kotal against the cage bars as the beast roars and tries to attack the closest person, in this case, Kotal.

Kotal tries to push back but Shao Kahn is relentless. He presses Kotal's face against the bars, and the beast remains inches away from mauling Kotal, restrained only because it's jaw is too big to get past the iron bars. In desperation, Kotal bites down hard on Shao Kahn's hand, stunning him long enough for Kotal to throw him away.

With some momentum back in his corner, Kotal charges Shao Kahn again and grapples him. Shao Kahn tries to throw him down a pit, but Kotal avoids it and lands on his feet. The two Kahns face one another down, and General Kotal points a finger at Shao Kahn while the latter summons his warhammer.

"Your conquests served you alone, not Outworld's people!" General Kotal points out.

They then fight. The battle is long and hard, as both General Kotal and Shao Kahn are evenly matched in terms of strength, skill and magical ability. But in the end, Shao Kahn's fury cannot match General Kotal's determination and pursuit of justice, and it is the General of Outworld's army that defeats the Old Emperor.

"You are Kahn no more." General Kotal says.

Before Kotal can finish his opponent though, a plague of insects swarms into the Koliseum. Kotal looks into the sky and realises at once who it is.

"D'Vorah." General Kotal realizes.

The insects swarm around Kotal, forcing him to shield his face. Across the Koliseum, the insects have swarmed every other kombatant as well, incapacitating all of them. As Shao Kahn rises to his knees, a sand portal opens behind him. He turns to find the Kytinn herself emerging from the portal.

"Shao Kahn! To me!" D'Vorah calls out.

Without hesitation, Shao Kahn runs into the portal. Skarlet, Kano, the younger Erron Black, Baraka and Kollector all follow right after him. D'Vorah pauses only long enough to hiss contemptuously at Kotal before stepping into the sand portal, which closes after her.

"I have not known stranger days." General Kotal says.

A voice then catches Kotal's attention. He turns to see Raiden approach him, alongside Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Kitana, Younger Manado and Jade.

"General Kotal. I am Raiden, Protector of Earthrealm." Raiden introduces himself.

"I know you." Kotal Kahn says.

"We are acquainted in your era?" Raiden asks.

"We were allies who became enemies." General Kotal informs.

"I am surprised, given our shared antipathy toward Shao Kahn." Raiden says.

"Everything changed after your defeat of Shinnok." General Kotal says.

"Shinnok's defeated?" Liu Kang asks.

"Our realms joined to fight him. But in victory, you were hardened. To protect Earthrealm, you lashed out at all realms you deemed threats." General Kotal explains.

Raiden looks downcast as this revelation.

"That... cannot be." Raiden says.

"My Raiden wears Shinnok's amulet as a symbol of his fury." General Kotal says.

"Be assured, General, I am not that Raiden. We have common cause. Both in solving this temporal crisis and in defeating Shao Kahn." Raiden explains.

"Agreed." General Kotal replies.

"Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Manado and I will return to Earthrealm and learn what temporal anomalies have occurred there. We must better understand the phenomenon we are experiencing." Raiden explains.

"Actually Raiden, I believe it is in everyone's best interest that Manado remains here in Outworld." General Kotal says.

"And why is that, General?" Raiden asks.

"In this time, Manado is not only your champion, but also Outworld's protector. I believe he would give us the best chance for us to defeat Shao Kahn." General Kotal explains.

Raiden looks towards Manado for a moment before looking back at Kotal.

"Very well." Raiden says.

"Is there a problem, Lord Raiden?" Younger Manado asks as he approaches the Thunder god.

"It would seem you have been requested to remain in Outworld." Raiden explains.

"Are you sure this is the best choice?" Younger Manado asks.

"I believe that it is best for you to learn your true path here in Outworld, especially since your life started here." Raiden explains.

"As you wish, Lord Raiden." Younger Manado says as he bows to him.

Raiden then steps back as Liu Kang and Kung Lao stand beside him. Raiden then lifts his hand to the sky and teleports himself and the Shaolin monks back to Earthrealm with a flash of lightning.

Kitana then approaches him.

"Why didn't you join them, Manado?" Kitana asks.

"I was requested to remain here. It would seem that in the future, I had some high level of importance." Younger Manado explains.

General Kotal then approaches them.

"You are correct, young Manado. In the future, the Elder Gods chose you to become Outworld's protector and you brought peace to all of Outworld." General Kotal says.

"But... Where is he now?" Younger Manado

"That's not up to me to explain. That should be done by those you were closest to." General Kotal says as he looks to the side.

Kitana and Manado look to where Kotal was looking to find Ashrah, Sareena, Li Mei, Tanya, Khameleon, and Nitara approaching them, followed by Empress Mileena. They take notice of Mileena and scowl.

"You." Kitana says.

"I get you don't like me sister, but I'm not the same Mileena you knew. A lot has changed since then." Mileena explains.

"That's remains to be seen." Kitana says.

Suddenly, a blue portal opens before them. Exiting the portal is Zaveer Chujin, who immediately takes notice of the younger Manado and gasps in shock.

"Dad?" Zaveer asks in shock.

"What... What did you call me?" Younger Manado asks.

Zaveer doesn't respond but rushes to him and embraces him a deep hug, much to the shock of Manado and Kitana.

"I thought I'd never see you again." Zaveer says.

Manado then grabs Zaveer by the shoulders and backs him up, ending the hug.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Younger Manado asks.

"What? How do you..." Zaveer wonders before realizing.

"Now I see. Your his past self." Zaveer says.

"Now I'm more confused than before." Younger Manado says.

"My name is Zaveer Chujin." Zaveer greets.

Hearing his last gives Manado a surprise.

"I don't understand. Why do you have my last name?" Manado asks.

Kotal Kahn then approaches the group with Jade beside him.

"Zaveer is your son, Manado." General Kotal says.

Manado then goes wide eyed as he looks back towards Zaveer.

"I... I have a son?" Manado asks in shock.

"I know all this is sudden, but everything will be explained in time. But right now is not the time." Zaveer says.

"Zaveer is right. Right now, we must discuss on a plan to locate Shao Kahn." General Kotal says.

"Agreed. Come along." Mileena says as she, Kotal, Jade, Kitana, Younger Manado, Zaveer and the others begin to leave the koliseum.

In D'Vorah's Lost Hive, hidden underground in an unknown section of Outworld. Shao Kahn faces the Kytinn herself, with Kollector, Skarlet, Erron Black, Kano and Baraka waiting in the background.

"You evade my questions, D'Vorah. I routed your people. Burned this hive. Yet you aid me." Shao Kahn says.

Behind Shao Kahn, Kollector has donned some more fancier clothing, including a hood that covers his head. He approaches the former Emperor from behind.

"We can't trust her, Excellency. Kotal and Mileena did, and she betrayed them to Shinnok." Kollector informs.

Shao Kahn then growls in irritation, remembering how Mileena said she was 'Kahn'. "How is it I'm dead and my 'daughter' sits on my throne?" Shao Kahn asks.

"You tried merging Earthrealm into Outworld. The Elder Gods intervened and Raiden killed you. That's when Mileena became Kahn." Kollector explains.

"After This One killed your daughter, Kotal claimed the throne." D'Vorah says.

"Correction. You killed a clone of Mileena when the real one was turned into a vampire. Then she attacked Kotal and claimed back the throne." Kollector corrects.

Shao Kahn then goes into a frenzy.

"I die and those fools take my throne?! They will all die, STARTING WITH YOU!" Shao Kahn yells.

As Shao Kahn raises his fist to attack, D'Vorah sprouts her stingers from her back. They are both interrupted before coming to blows by a sandstorm that dies down as quickly as it was formed. Emerging from that storm is Kronika, alongside two minions of hers. One is a woman clothed in a long hooded garment that conceals everything except the blue mask on the lower half on her face. The second is what appears to be a large dark skinned man, but upon closer inspection is an artificial construct in the form of a human being. The three of them approach Shao Kahn and D'Vorah.

"D'Vorah is under my protection, Shao Kahn. As are you. I am Kronika." Kronika says.

"...The legends are true?" Shao Kahn asks.

"I am displeased with how history has unfolded." Kronika says.

"So you broke time?" Shao Kahn asks.

"I stopped time. I enlist all those who disdain the current course of history. By merging past and present, we may draw upon allies from both eras." Kronika explains.

"How will fighting your battles benefit me?" Shao Kahn asks.

"I offer a greater empire in the New Era, Shao Kahn. Raiden will not exist to thwart you." Kronika offers.

"You can wipe Raiden from history?" Shao Kahn asks.

"It is an immense task, requiring great power and effort. My hourglass requires protection while I work. Will your Outworld armies defend it?" Kronika explains and asks.

"They shall." Shao Kahn replies.

Back in the Special Forces command center in Earthrealm, the older Johnny Cage is leaning over his younger counterpart, who has his feet up on a workstation and his hands behind his head.

"I swear to God, I'm losing it. Can't someone, anyone, explain to me what the hell is going on?!" Johnny asks

"Right? I've been in the future for a whole hour and I haven't seen one jetpack. Not one!" Younger Johnny jokes.

Older Johnny closes his eyes and purses his lips together, trying to keep his anger in check. Raiden walks into the command centre alongside Cassie Cage.

"So it is true. I walked a darker path." Raiden says.

"After Shinnok went down, you became a different person. Red lightning, black clothes. Authoritarian attitude adjustment." Cassie explains.

"Yeah, about that; what happened to "Dark" you, hmm? How come you're an only child and I've got an evil twin?" Johnny asks.

Younger Johnny spreads his arms out in agitation.

"As an immortal, I exist outside the normal laws of time. That could explain why I am affected differently." Raiden explains.

In another part of the command centre, Jax offers Sonya a cup of coffee.

"Thanks." Younger Sonya says.

"Weird, isn't it? Not being in charge." Younger Jax says.

"That's what's weird?" Younger Sonya asks.

"That, and having daughters our age." Younger Jax says.

They then look over at Cassie speaking with Raiden.

"Look at her. How do I have a kid... with him?" Younger Sonya asks as she looks behind Cassie and sees that the younger Johnny is checking his fingernails.

"Huh. At least she's not an actress." Younger Jax points out.

Both Johnnys then walk past Sonya and Jax as they are speaking, with Older Johnny clearly not wanting to hear anything from his younger self.

"C'mon, at least think about it. We each get points off the gross. Coming this summer... Johnny Cage AND Johnny Cage! In "Timequake"!" Younger Johnny says.

As they walk out of the command centre, Jacqui walks in with Liu Kang and Kung Lao. They walk up to Raiden and Cassie, who are now next to the holographic table projector seen earlier.

"Any thoughts on what to do next?" Cassie asks.

"For months, I have been receiving vague premonitions of the future. But none of them foretold this. I must confer with the Elder Gods." Raiden explains before he then looks over to the new arrivals.

"Liu Kang, Kung Lao. Please assist the Special Forces while I am gone." Raiden asks.

"Yes, Lord Raiden." Liu Kang says.

"Follow me." Jacqui says and the shaolin monks follow her.

As Jacqui walks the monks over to get briefed, Sonya approaches Cassie.

"Commander?" Younger Sonya asks.

"Yes, Mom-- I mean, General! I mean..." Cassie stutters before she breaks off, unable to finish.

"This is strange for me too." Younger Sonya says.

"You have no idea." Cassie says.

Something about her tone puts Sonya on edge.

"What?" Younger Sonya asks.

"Ugh, how do I say this...? This morning, "we" were on a mission... and you gave your life to save it." Cassie says as she nearly breaks down at her words.

Sonya recoils in shock and sits down on a nearby chair.

"Son of a bitch. Seriously?" Younger Sonya asks.

"Yeah. And now here you are. Young enough to be my sister." Cassie says.

"Cass, you need to see this!" Jacqui calls out.

Steeling herself, Commander Cage walks over to Jacqui, who points to an alert on the nearby computer screen.

"Sat feeds show a Netherrealm incursion at the Wu Shi Academy." Jacqui informs.

"Netherrealm? Taking out Shinnok's Temple was supposed to stop them." Cassie thought.

"It's gotta be the time anomaly." Jacqui says.

"We must help our Shaolin masters." Liu Kang says. Kung Lao nods in agreement.

"Why would the Netherrealm want to bust up your alma mater, Liu Kang?" Younger Jax asks.

"The Dragon Grotto. It's underneath the Academy. Earthrealm's Jinsei energy bubbles up in its springs." Liu Kang explains.

"That's no good. We've seen firsthand what happens when the Netherrealm screws with Earthrealm's life force." Cassie informs.

"They will not reach the Grotto. It is protected by powerful magic. The deadliest traps. I am sure our counterparts from your era are already dealing with them." Kung Lao says.

Jacqui cringes at the words and looks to Cassie.

"Kung Lao, Liu Kang... you might wanna sit down." Cassie suggests.

The Shaolin monks frown at her statement and glance at one another.