Mystery Science Theater En Masse

Special Episode 7: The Scar (Part Thirteen)

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Warning: This part contains a rather quick and brutal death scene. Again, it's Mortal Kombat.

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14. Picked Off

The Scar

A Mortal Kombat Fanfiction

A.N. BOO!

Mai: *flatly* My heart just stopped.

Hi guys, thank you all for your input on what I asked last chapter. I'm still uncertain about what I will do, but thank you all for giving me your opinions. I might do a majority rules thing. Maybe I'll even make a poll, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Actually instead of all that, addressing what I asked last chapter, a reviewer suggested that I just leave the title of the sequel and a summary in one of the authors notes when we get close to the end of this story. That was a stroke of genius, and I still don't know why I didn't think of that first xD but I've thought of it now and that's probably what I'm gonna do. Maybe, we'll see lol.

Also to help avoid confusion, we have once again skipped ahead four days since the end of last chapter. We went from day nine to day thirteen, so don't worry that's not an error. Again I can't chronicle every single day on the island otherwise the story would never end, so expect to see more time jumps like this one in the future. Both little baby jumps, and maybe even giant leaps O.o

Cassy: Hey, again, it would be useless filler if you didn't skip.

Disclaimer: This is fanfiction, need I say more?

TO THE STORYMOBILE! NANANANANANANA!

Sonic: And then it went over a cliff.
Amy: That's okay, it has emergency brakes and a chute if the brakes fail.

Day 13 Of The Mortal Kombat Tournament: Black Scar's Dojo

"Bottom left block, top right strike, bottom left strike, right block, bottom left block, top left strike, center jab, left-" Kyle repeated over and over again in his head as if it was a mantra.

James: Is that the Konami code?

Liu Kang circled around him, his hands in rest position behind his back as his student abused the Wing Chun hard wood dummy. Liu gave him several strict forms to memorize and repeat, to strengthen his body, mind, and discipline.

Keiko: Yeah, the last two definitely need the most work.

Plus he had to strike the wooden surface bare handed, as his teacher commanded him to remove his gloves beforehand.

At first this wasn't a problem, Kyle regularly rehearsed with him everyday and on his own time as well. But now after about ten minutes of doing this, he began to mess up. Skipping certain movements and striking with too much force during others. One particularly hard jab to the center actually caused the wood to bite into the teens knuckle.

Emi: Time to get the first aid kit... again...
Jessie: Ah, all the injuries will go away at the character select screen.
Amy: Or when he sees Kitana's face again.

Kyle winced back for a split second but tried to continue on despite his skin having broken and blood already beginning to drip down his hand. "Stop! Stop, stop, stop." Liu put his hand between the teen and the target trying to cease his actions before he caused more damage to himself.

"No I'm fine I can keep going." He said still clearly amped up and wanting to fight through the stinging sensation.

"I'd rather you not." Liu created a barrier between Kyle and the dummy, not permitting any further attacks. "Grab some wraps, bind up your hand."

The teen gave an exaggerated sigh accompanied with a dramatic eye roll,

Sonic: Because how dare he be concerned for your health!
Keiko: Again... discipline. He's definitely lacking that.

and spun on his heel to go to the bench where towels and aid items were placed. The stab wound Savage gave him had done a good job with healing over the past few days and now was nothing more then a scab, but Kyle still kept the blue cloth which covered it with him in his pocket. Kitana never asked for it back and rather then sully it further with his blood, he tried to just use the supplies he brought from home and what was provided in his dojo for healing.

Emi: Well, that makes a ton of sense.

His training with Liu, although it was definitely a learning experience; he garnered new injuries daily. Kyle hoped his body would eventually adjust to the constant abuse like how soldiers in the military are toughened up. With time he knew he would adapt and be able to deal with it better.

Amy: Then quit abusing that poor semicolon!

He picked up a plain white rag and carefully pressed it over his hand, it wasn't bad, just one of those cuts that liked to be annoying. "What is it?" He heard his teacher ask from behind him.

"What is what?"

"You've been off for the last several days. You're unfocused and rash."

Mai: ...he's always been unfocused and rash. Where have you even been? Are you in the same fic that we've been reading the entire time?
Cassy: Nope!

His teacher approached him and stood by his side since Kyle was clearly making no effort to face him again. "Ever since we you learned about the time difference between this island and Earthrealm."

"Well you pretty much answered your own question there didn't you?" Kyle suddenly faced him with a sharp look over his shoulder.

Jessie: Better watch it, little boy. He'll punch you so hard that your nose will fly out the back of your head.
James: It's why I'm never planning on pissing a monk off.

Even Liu was a bit taken aback just by the swiftness of both the movement and his demeanor change. "It hasn't even been two weeks here, but back home I've been gone for what? Two months?" He angrily continued applying pressure to his knuckles staunching the bleeding. Liu had a feeling this was coming sooner or later. When Kyle finally became aware that he had been missing from his home for much longer then he though, it almost seemed as if he shut down.

Emi: Again, he packed up and left without telling anyone. What did he think was going to happen?!
Sonic: That they would call Collect?
Emi: ...to a lost island, Sonic?
Sonic: Look, the guy owns a dojo and has mortgage problems. I'm sure his parents probably beamed the number to that island into their heads or something.
Emi: Dial six dragon symbols. That's probably the number.
Sonic: Uh... how am I supposed to do that on an actual phone?
Emi: I don't know, play with the 2, 5, 6, 8, and 0 buttons. I'm sure you'll get somewhere.

He didn't say anything to the group at first, he just walked away then proceeded to go through the following days rather numbly. Completing his training sessions either robotically, or as he was doing today. "A year will probably pass by the time I can go home. What if my family's moved? What if somethings happened to them and I have no way of knowing how much time is gonna pass for them before I can see them again!"

Keiko: Once again, he didn't think about any of those possibilities. I'm sorry, but why are we supposed to feel sympathy for that bonehead?
Mai: Because the story says so. Only slightly good thing is that it's not that infuriating... just facepalm worthy.

He raised his voice tossing the rag away from him and planting himself on the bench. The red of his blood stained his hand but he was pretty sure it wasn't going to bleed anymore. "...If I ever see them again." He finished with dramatically.

Cassy: *plays the tiny violin* Also, dude... "the red of his blood"? Was it a different color before?
Amy: It used to be "machine oil black".

Liu blinked a couple times, he expected a teen angst outburst at some point.

Sonic: You mean "wangst". You forgot the W.

But at least Kyle had a legitimate reason to be upset, rather then it being just about training conditions or something.

Amy: True... but again... you know...

He huffed, gathering the best response in his head to try and alleviate the tension. "There's no way you could've known, none of us 'truly' knew what we were getting into here. And you can't blame yourself."

James: I will.
Jessie: *elbows James*

Kyle blankly stared at the ground. "...besides, this gives you all the more reason to fight as hard as you can. To get back to your home quicker and-"

"Are we done today?" Kyle didn't even let him finish. It had slowly bugged him more and more every day as if his emotions were on a slow burn and today he was just about to reach a boiling point. Just mad at the world and no way to really cool off, all he wanted was to leave.

Jessie: In a body bag?
James: *elbows Jessie*

His teacher knew they had more to do today, but if the teen was going to remain in this state of mind. Maybe it would be for the best if he got an early night. So hesitantly he responded, "...yes, you may go. But the fights start at noon tomorrow. Make sure you're ready!" He had to shout the last part of that statement as Kyle had already risen off the bench and started towards the exit the moment Liu gave him the green light to go.

The words he sent to him registered but Kyle didn't bother acknowledging them, he couldn't be a proper student today. He needed to be himself, and that person was missing his home.

Emi: I didn't know that I could leave my training with Master Kyo by whining. I guess I didn't do enough of that.
Keiko: He'd never let you return.

He left the dojo and immediately started back towards the combatant chambers, again passing by several other training fighters along the way. He definitely picked the worse day to be mopey, since the next round of Mortal Kombat was tomorrow, everyone was working overtime trying to ensure they were as prepared as they possibly could be. Kyle on the other hand, just wanted to go back to his room and sulk.

Cassy: Even in the damn "Mortal Kombat" fandom, we can't avoid a whiny moment. Criminy.

But before he could make it too far along the island, a random stray rock was tossed in front of him. It landed right in front of his feet then clattered several yards away. The teen stopped dead in his tracks and eyed the discarded rubble questioningly, "The fuck?" He said just before a second rock was thrown and landed once again right in front of him. This one however caused him to flinch backwards in surprise and scan the direction where these sky rocks seemed to be coming from.

Amy: I sure hope that a boulder isn't next!

Kyle was not far from the beach and was walking on the stone side walk leading to his chambers. But beside that was plenty of trees and brush for someone to hide in, so he hunched down a bit and stared into the forest terrain; watching closely for any movement.

Keiko: Even in whiny mode, his brain's still working. At least we can give him that.
James: Yeah, most people just end up in a stupid situation.

And right away he spotted it, a glimpse of blue as she showed herself.

Sonic: Really? I'll just let Jess or James handle my riff. Go ahead.
Jessie: She just magically came along to help the sad penis.
Sonic: I, uh... didn't expect those words.

Princess Kitana peered out from behind one of the palm trees and beckoned him to come to her with one finger. Kyle let out a relieved huff and rolled his eyes, it kind of sucked that she couldn't just walk up to him and say hello. Due to the damn rules of this tournament their interaction was strictly forbidden as she informed him.

Emi: *flatly* Yeah, rules suck, don't they?
Mai: He went to a tournament. Tournaments have rules. What did he think was going to happen, a murderous free-for-all?
Emi: Probably.

So the two of them had to get pretty whimsical with how they could meet up with each other. She had more then once snuck into his room and left him messages of where he could find her during the day, or sometimes she would wait until his training was completed then meet him on his way back in secret. Much like how she was doing now.

Cassy: I can't wait for the part where he does that crappy serenading with a radio and climbs up a ladder to enter through her bedroom window.

Quickly the teen glanced back and forth making sure no one was watching before jogging over. Kitana slipped back into the greenery while he followed her inside, the moment he was out of public sight she assisted in pulling him in further.

"I didn't expect to see you today." He said ducking under a few branches and twigs.

But something was different, Kitana left her mask on and she didn't seem as relaxed as she usually was around him. She seemed more determined. "You're hiding something." She said to Kyle's surprise. "The way you've carried yourself over the past days, something is wrong. And why aren't you telling me it?" Kyle was taken aback by this sudden information prodding and didn't reply right away.

She patiently waited for him to gather his thoughts and simply stood their with her arms crossed. "Is it really that obvious? Can everybody just see through me today?"

All: Uh, yeah!
James: *sarcastically* Yeah, bitching, pissing, and moaning clearly means that you're over the fuckin' moon, mate!

"I am exceptionally difficult to fool." She told him, "Now tell me, I won't have you go into the fights tomorrow with your spirit low."

He thought that he had done a good job of hiding his depression,

Sonic: What realm are you from, man? Because it sure ain't Earthrealm!

but apparently everyone was proving him wrong today. He blew some air out between his lips and turned away from the Princess, finding a decently big enough boulder to sit down on.

Cassy: I think that one's made out of papier-mâché.

"You remember how I told you I have a family at home right?" He started and Kitana nodded,

Keiko: You know, the family that he ignored...

"Well, I just found out that time works differently between here and my home realm. Basically, I've been here for only about two weeks, but to my family at home, I've been here for much longer. Over two months I think but maybe even longer." Quietly the Princess listened, "Just realizing that they have no idea where I am or what I'm doing, and they won't for who knows how long just...it just got to me. I feel terrible and I miss them. So there, that's why I'm upset."

Sonic: Oh, let's be fair here, the sudden time skips can mess anyone up. However...
Mai: "So hardly without any thinking, I packed up everything I needed and left to where the tournament was said to take off."
Sonic: Yeah.
Amy: We're starting to run out of riffs because the fic's repeating the same dilemma.
Emi: Maybe the princess will slap some sense into him... even with her drop in IQ points.

He finished, and the air got quiet around them.

Kitana wasn't sure what exactly could've been the problem, she expected he was suffering from a lack of confidence or something of that nature.

Jessie: Or maybe he was just rock stupid.

Something that a pep talk and maybe a light slap on the wrist might awaken him from. But this, missing loved ones, was different. So this would require a different approach.

Sonic: Does it require smacking him upside the head with Amy's hammer?
Amy: That's not going to work. His brain will fall out.
Sonic: He has a brain?
Amy: Cut it out, Sonic.

"If this is all that's wearing you down, then you'll just have to fight harder." She told him.

Kyle raised his eyebrows, "I know I have to fight but I don't see how that-"

Jessie: Son? *sweetly* Shut up.

She didn't let him make excuses, "You have a tournament to fight and I will not have you getting yourself killed because you're people miss you. If you want to go back to them you must fight, and you must win. This should give you more of a reason to fight harder then ever before, you shouldn't be sullen about it." Her voice was firm and authoritative. It sounded to him like she wasn't about to take any bullshit excuses.

All: *applauds*

"But-"

"No! I don't want to hear it. You will train and you will become stronger. You will fight and you will win. That is how you will go back to them, not by moping in the shadows like a lost child." She said although unbeknownst to her, if they were technically speaking, he really was a lost child.

Keiko: And a stupid one, but who's keeping count?

She then hunched over and put her hand on his shoulder, not losing the strength in her tone but still softening it a bit. "You can't afford to let anything weaken you. And I am not willing to lose someone I've risked so much for just because of a moment of weakness." That was the closest she could get to saying something affectionate without actually saying it. "So if you can't be strong for yourself, be strong for me. Promise me that you will."

With her mask still up, all Kyle had to look up into was her eyes. They bore into each other for a moment as what she said sank in.

"Well...I guess being emo about it isn't going to solve anything." He thought feeling a bit embarrassed about this.

Cassy: What was your first clue, Einstein?

She was right, it's not like being sad was gonna bring him home any faster. So he was basically just wasting time when he could be fighting to get home.

Mai: *flatly* But... your mortgage. What about your mortgage?

So not breaking eye contact he said, "You seem pretty concerned over this." The Princess rolled her eyes, but was caught off guard when he said, "You must have a little thing for me huh?"

James: And then she replied by slicing his head off.
Jessie: Yeah, right.

He was mostly being sarcastic, but on the inside he was kind of shooting the question her way seriously. The idea had been batted around in his head for a while now that perhaps she had feelings for him.

Amy: Especially since the fic wouldn't shut up about it!

He never really encouraged them of course but in this lowly state, he didn't really have any reservations about pursuing an answer. Why not? If she liked him then great! She could take the question however she wanted, either way he was ready for any reply.

Sonic: Except for "no".
Emi: I wish that was a joke, Sonic. I really wish that it was only a bad joke...
Sonic: *takes a deep breath* Yeah. Sorry 'bout that.

Kitana froze, this did kind of bring up the curiosity of what was really going on here. She was very concerned over him and wanted him to be okay but still. What are they? Friends? Acquaintances? Two people infatuated with each other? She didn't have a confirmed answer, although she without a doubt knew which one she wanted them to be. This wasn't love, whatever it was. But she couldn't deny she did have a little 'thing' for this human. But she couldn't say that to his face, not now.

Jessie: Just say that it's lust. We'll understand.
Sonic: Gets a little creepy when you remember that he's sixteen...
Jessie: Yeah...

"Of course I can't say that now! This is...just not the right time, it...I should..." Now it was her turn to be bashful, she was stuck in place leaning over him. Both staring into each other like star crossed lovers with no tomorrow.

Keiko: And then they're conveniently interrupted by Jade. Go on.

"If you hadn't already discovered her infatuation with you, I seriously overestimated your intelligence." A voice pierced the silence from beside them in the trees and immediately they were both on their feet facing in that direction. And from their the woman clad in green stepped through with a hand on her hip, "It's much easier to sneak up on you Princess when you're distracted by him."

Amy: Did she just call him dumb?
Mai: Well, she wasn't wrong about that assessment.

Kitana balled up her fist, how long had she been standing there? "Jade..."

She leaned up against the tree, "What? I told you I would be watching you closely did I not?"

The Princess in blue took a few steps closer to the woman in green. "Jade, there are times when I request your council. This is not one of those times."

Emi: Especially when she was attempting to... "get some".

"And there are times when I obey your commands Princess, and times when I do not." She replied still leaning against the tree.

Kyle didn't say a word and just watched the two women stare each other down. "There are also times when I find humor in your tone, but I do not now. And there will be even less if you do not leave at once." Kitana demanded and that got Jade to stand up straight.

"I told you this was going to happen, I only fear for your safety Kitana and I will stay by your side until-"

Keiko: In any other fic, this would lead into some sort of sapphic relationship.
Jessie: I'd read that.
Amy: Only if Axl doesn't cut in front of you first.

"I'm not a danger to her." Kyle interjected but he almost regretted it immediately as both pairs of eyes were then on him. He almost recoiled from their gaze, "Didn't we already cover this? When you put a knife to my throat?"

James: There are times when you should talk, and times where you should shut the fuck up. You should've shut the fuck up.

Kitana's head whirled back and forth between Kyle and Jade, "You what!?"

Jade slapped her palm to her forehead and muttered, "By the Gods...this is going to be a pain to explain."

Cassy: Ah, Gary Stus. Always making life incredibly complicated.

East Corner Of The Island:

An Earthrealm warrior was training inside his own dojo, wearing Karate gear and practicing multiple kicks on a static dummy target. His leg shot up multiple times in a row kicking the same point repeatedly. He needed to be in top shape for when the fighting starts.

Sonic: So... is he gonna have a name?
Mai: Have you ever heard of the term "Red Shirt", Sonic?
Sonic: Barely. I think my sister used that term a long time ago.
Mai: Well, you're going to relearn that definition in a minute.

"You've been challenged..." A scraggly voice came from behind him. Quickly he spun around to face whomever entered his dojo unannounced.

Shang Tsung stood before him, twin guards at his side silently standing, waiting.

The combatant was confused, he hadn't been challenged to a fight outside of Mortal Kombat up until this point and he didn't quite know how to react. So he hesitated before responding, "Who...who has challenged me?"

The wizard didn't answer, he simply averted his eyes away from the human and towards something standing behind him. The fighter noticed this and looked over his shoulder to see, only to be pounced on by a mound of scaly hard skin. Followed by a massive barrage of teeth and claws ripping away at his clothing and flesh. It tackled him hard face first onto the ground and swiped away, stripping the meat and muscle off his body like it was nothing. He barely had time to flail or panic in the slightest as the mucus followed next.

Keiko: Well. I think we're looking at an incredibly one-sided challenge here...
James: Our moron of the evening can get away with it. This ensign won't.

This creature seemed to dry heave as it swung down on him, then hacked up a thick slimy green ooze that projectile vomited from it's masked mouth. It splashed onto the brutalized human's head and reacted immediately. Sizzling and eating through the organic material in a matter of seconds.

Just like that it was over, it had to have taken place over the period of less than ten seconds. Reptile's camouflage allowed him to sneak inside the warriors dojo, and Shang Tsung created enough of a diversion to quickly announce the fight.

Emi: ...what fight?

And as the wizard stared down upon his loyal servants work, he knew the tournament would go much more smoothly like this. Reptile's new metallic plating and enhanced abilities since his revival made him a prime candidate for eliminating the rest of the Earthrealm warriors outside of the fights.

He turned to exit while Reptile continued to savagely maul the pile of wet meat that was once a fighter, once his appetite was satiated he would continue on with his next command. The humans were to be picked off, one warrior at a time.

Sonic: Title drop!
Amy: I'm so tired of title drops...
Cassy: So... because our "Scar" killed Reptile, he accidentally got someone killed because of it.
Jessie: Oh, it gets better. It was at the high point where we couldn't stand him.
Keiko: Does that mean that his arrogance caused someone to die?
Sonic: Uh-huh. So this is what Liu was talking about when he first met the doofus.

A.N. Okay so it's not what I wanted it to be, but it's better then what I was afraid it was gonna be. Next chapter will be longer/better, AND ALSO I have an announcement to make.

As many of you know, I am in a financial bind right now. I kind of have been for a while, so I got this idea from another fanfiction writer and I thought I'd share it with all of you.

I'm going to begin taking commissions here.

Cassy: That only works if it's an original fic, dude. Just gonna warn you right now.
Jessie: Or if you sell them underground like those doujin artists.
James: You've been stealing Axl's books, haven't you? He told me that he's been missing some lately.
Jessie: ...I'll return them when I'm done.
Mai: *facepalms* ...at least ask him next time...

Fanfiction and writing is my passion and if I could make some extra money from it, that would be beautiful. DO NOT WORRY, THIS WILL NOT INTERRUPT MY WRITING OF THE SCAR AND OTHER STORIES. It will not hinder their progress at all! This would just be a great way to make some extra cash by helping some people out who maybe can't write what they want to.

I will post the official rules and everything on my profile but the BASIC IDEA OF IT IS, if you want to help me out financially, and you want to write a fanfiction of your own (maybe a character introduction, or a scene you can't put into words, a beginning chapter, or just a chapter that's disagreeing with you) then you send me a PM on here with a DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE (don't be shy on the details) and if I like your request, I'll give you a price, you send me the money via , and I'll write it up for you.

Emi: Or write it up, say it's ready, then have the person send the money and you send the fic? I don't know.
Cassy: Are you implying that he's gonna scam people?
Emi: Well, no. I'm just saying that because real life might call again... or something like that.
Cassy: I see.

Fanfiction is not a job by no means,

Sonic: It can be... when you're doin' it right.
Cassy: Or just steal other people's work, slap your name on it, change the names of the characters...

I do this for fun and right now it's about the only thing I can do right so if you guy's out there want to help me out a bit. Then this is the perfect solution. I'll put more specific rules and instructions/prices on my profile, or if you have any questions just PM me and I'll get back to you.

Being unemployed has really slipped me into a bad place, Fanfiction is pretty much my only escape and I'm not gonna lie guys. I need help. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE GREEDY, I just really have no place left to turn. So I'm hoping this will work. But until we find out, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and I will see you next time.

Next Chapter: The Quarter Finals

Amy: Well... at least you're not stealing from kids who have cancer.
Sonic: And with that line, this show's now canned. Next season's going to have Jessie, Rory, Miyu, and Cassy. James might be able to stick around.
Jessie: *cracks up*
Keiko: *sarcastically* That's okay. I never liked this gig, anyway.

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