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Kaito spends the better part of an hour explaining the situation to Ryan, who remains quiet for most of the time. He sits upon his coral throne passively, occasionally tapping his fingers on its arms, all the while listening to the explanation. Johnny spends most of this time leaning up against the cavern wall as small glowing lights circle the ceiling, illuminating the chamber. As Kaito goes in-depth, Ryan listens intently, his face obscured by the diving helm he wears. The only sign of his continued attention comes from the occasional nod of his head.

"So, that brings us to here," Kaito finally finishes. He waits for a response from Ryan, and when none comes, he looks over at Johnny, who shrugs. Kaito asks the strange man, "Is there anything you wanted to know? Or..."

Then, Ryan speaks. "Two things. One: How long have you had the orb now?"

Kaito's eyes drift off to one side. "A while now. It was thought that we could use it to spy on our enemies."

"I see." He doesn't say anything more on that point. "Two: did you talk about this, your plan to come see me, outside of this cave? This cave where I can keep Aegis from listening to us?"

Kaito blinks a few times. "Yes... to Johnny."

Ryan brings a hand up to his mask's face and rubs it across the viewing window like one would do so to their own face. "Fantastic. Then Aegis knows we're coming, so the element of surprise is lost."

"I hadn't considered that," Kaito replies. "Johnny had just lost his family and---"

"Stop, please, I know. I don't really care about that."

Johnny steps off the wall. "Excuse me?"

Kaito holds up a hand. "Don't. He doesn't care about individuals, he cares about the whole."

"I'm here, you know," Ryan says, somewhat annoyed. "I can speak for myself."

Johnny gently pushes Kaito's hand down. "Then why don't you? You've been doing a lot of listening but I don't see you trying to help us."

Before Kaito can protest, Ryan stands up from his throne. Rather than addressing Johnny's point directly, he instead replies, "I'm going to add a third question to my first two: why do you think I'll let you time travel?"

>Why wouldn't you?
>If we pull this off, you'd owe me, and this would make us even.
>How else are we going to fix this mess?
>This isn't going to be a debate.
>Other

>>1193056
>If we pull this off, you'd owe me, and this would make us even.
We can't appeal to any emotional side, because as far as Ryan is concerned, the Tekunin uprising is just a natural part of the cycle for this dimension, even if all this bullshit was caused by Havik AGAIN.

Twice now that reality is forced to break, and both times feature Havik as a major instigator. Fuck him.

>>1193056

> If we pull this off, you'd owe me, and this would make us even.

Yeah maybe throwing in about havik would be a good idea.

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>>1193093
>>1193104

Kaito and Johnny look at Ryan, staring into his dark mask. Kaito clears his throat. "Because you asked for my help. If we pull this off, you'd owe me, and this would make us even."

He holds up a finger. "Firstly, you got the orb but didn't come straight here. Things could've been different right now if you had; I might've been able to warn you about this machine uprising if I had my throne back."

"That wasn't entirely my choice. There were other people with more authority than me who had that orb. And Havik obscured his plans so well, we didn't even realize any of this was his doing!"

Ryan holds up two fingers. "Secondly, you brought Johnny here. This was supposed to be between you and I and you brought the man with the loudest mouth in this universe."

Johnny rolls his eyes. "Oh, thanks bucket-head. I appreciate that. You know I like this guy, Kaito, I really feel comfortable in trusting him."

"Thirdly, not only will Aegis know that we're coming, but now even more eyes are going to be upon us than just his. If we pull this off and get my job back, and then immediately use my power to send you back in time and create a new timeline, which is a BIG problem with some entities larger and more powerful than I, what will happen to me once I send you on your merry way?"

"I don't know," Kaito replies honestly. "I've never fully understood how your system works. You told me you work for Chronosis. That you're one of his agents. Can't you hash it out with him?"

Ryan shakes his head. "It doesn't exactly work like that."

>Then how DOES it work?
>If we can't travel through time, how will we fix this?
>Just tell me what we need to do now.
>I don't care what kind of trouble it brings, we're going to travel back in time.
>Other

>>1193132
>Other
Fucking nothing works the way anyone says it does. This is NOT the time to be dicking me around.
>If we can't travel through time, how will we fix this?

As much of a goofball as he is, (old) Johnny Cage is honestly one of the most sane people in the universe.

>>1193132

> Just tell me
And
> I don't care what trouble it brings.

>>1193146
THIS except remember to add that these machines running rampant will destroy every realm and once they do that I'm sure they will start going to other times as well.

>>1193196
Does Ryan really want to be in charge of a machine-dominated realm? Even though Shang Tsung hinted that letting the Tekunin timeline persist means that Armageddon doesn't happen.

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>>1193146
>>1193196
>>1193195

Kaito nearly groans in frustration. "Nothing ever does, does it? Look, just tell me what is really going to happen. This is NOT the time to be dicking me around."

"Yes, I can tell you're quite upset," Ryan mutters. He sits back down and adjusts his mask. "I'm not, not so much. I understand why you are, I really do. But I've been in this cave for twenty years and for a much longer time before that I was the one who would watch people die in large numbers all the time."

"Yes, I remember our conversation on the matter," Kaito replies.

Johnny cuts in. "Wait, what? So just because you've seen a bunch of people die that gives you some kind of liscense to just not care?"

"It gives me some perspective on the matter."

"Kaito told me your job was to monitor our realm. Doesn't it upset you that these machines are killing some of its most important people?"

"Not your realm, your reality," Ryan corrects him. "One is much bigger than the other, and contains more than just your realm. Besides, these sorts of things happen in some timelines."

Before Johnny can argue some more, Kaito cuts straight to the point. "If we can't travel through time, how will we fix this?"

Ryan takes a moment to think. "The short answer, we don't. The longer and more complicated answer is, well... long and complicated. Kaito, you have to understand that time travel, any instance of time travel, creates new alternate timelines, but since these all spring from a common source, like rivers splitting off from each other, you can't just 'erase' what has happened. Going back would make a new timeline but the people in THIS one would still be dead. Do you understand?"

Kaito folds his arms and taps his foot as he thinks on this matter. "How often does time travel occur?"

"Not often. It's one of those things the Elder Gods really don't like to deal with, because each new timeline is something they have to deal with in some way. There are few in your realms who can be gifted with such power, and it is NOT used lightly. Raiden has this power."

"Raiden? He can travel back in time?"

"Not exactly, no. But he has some influence over himself in time; all gods do in one way or another."

"Then why didn't he say so?" Kaito demands to know. "I spoke with him on the beach of the island next to Shang Tsung, and he didn't bring this up?"

"Because he knows how much of a problem it could cause. THIS timeline is still salvageable, in one way or another. And THIS Raiden knows that. The people who have died, well, that's unfortunate. But just because they are dead doesn't mean reality is."

"Try having a family and watching them die and come after you, then say the same thing," Johnny says, pointing his finger at the still-passive Ryan.

>What would happen if we created another timeline?
>How can you expect us to just move on and try to fix this timeline?
>Why do the Elder Gods hate timeline splitting?
>I don't care. We're going to create a new timeline.
>Other

>>1193250

> I don't care

I feel like Kaito is beyond paragon and reason at this point.

>>1193250
>What would happen if we created another timeline?
>How can you expect us to just move on and try to fix this timeline?

>>1193250
>>What would happen if we created another timeline?
The only difference to us would be that we just remember this timeline that turned into a shitshow.

Wait... Ask him if simply information could be sent to the past without much trouble.

>>1193265
>Wait... Ask him if simply information could be sent to the past without much trouble.
HE MUST WIN

>>1193250
>>How can you expect us to just move on and try to fix this timeline?
How exactly does raidens brand of time interference work? Will that fix our timeline or just make a new one like any of the other possible solution.

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>>1193265
I then realized I just posted the plot to Steins Gate, so, I guess my suggestion is we become Okabe Rintarou.

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>>1193263
>>1193265
>>1193286

All Ryan can offer is a shrug. Johnny throws up his hands and turns around, skulking off towards a cavern wall. Kaito takes a step closer and asks, "What would happen if we created another timeline?"

"Well, I already told you that the Elder Gods wouldn't be very happy with it."

"Considering that I saved all of reality and the only 'thank you' I got was a twenty-year nap, I couldn't really give much of a damn how they feel. Now tell me what would happen."

Ryan sighs. "What you are asking me to do is essentially place yourself, your consciousness, into your own body but at a previous moment in this timeline. It would erase the person you were with who you are now."

"Would that have to be done?"

"Considering the alternative would be having two of you at the same time, yes. The universe just got rid of his daughter, and it isn't ready for two Johnny Cages running around."

Johnny whips to face them, already fuming. "Oh, now you're making jokes, huh? I got a few jokes of my own, and you're about to be their PUNCHline!"

"Johnny!" Kaito says, urging his friend to remain calm. "I'm handling this, please."

The actor remains where he is, staring intently at them as Ryan says, "Placing you back into your older body would allow you to alter the course of history from that moment; the exact moment you went back is when the timeline would split, because then the course of events would change quite dramatically."

"But we could still save our friends," Kaito says. "Just another version of them."

"From your perspective there would be no difference. It would only be people like me and beings like the Elder Gods, who have a much larger glance at the greater picture, who truly understand the difference: that this timeline, the one we are in, would still exist and continue on."

"That's enough for me," Johnny says. "You yourself said it would make no difference!"

"But you understand that your family, YOUR actual family, the one you made in THIS time, would still be dead?"

Johnny steps up. "You yourself said I would be placed back in my own body. So as far as I'm concerned, if we went back in time, I would still have MY actual family."

Ryan looks up at Kaito. "And how do you feel about this, Kaito? Could you really abandon everyone in this time just to make a timeline that suits you more?"

Kaito runs a hand through his hair and lets out a sigh. "Ryan, listen to what you're asking me. How can you expect us to just move on and try to fix this timeline when we didn't even have much of a chance to prevent this chaos in the first place?"

"The same way every other person in history who has lived through a great tragedy must move on and pick up the pieces when it is over."

>I can't do that. Not this time.
>There's a limit for every man, Ryan. I'm at mine.
>I don't care! We're going to split time, and that's final!
>Maybe you're right...
>Other

>>1193388

> Limit has been reached

>>1193388
>>There's a limit for every man, Ryan. I'm at mine.

>>1193388
>I'm at my limit.
>Other
Besides, knowing how these stories go, there will be someone down the road who can stop Skynet in this timeline. It's just not me, not now.

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>>1193397
>>1193417
>>1193441

Kaito's head lowers and for a moment he is silent. Then he picks it back up and stares into Ryan's window at the obscure face beyond it. "No, Ryan. Every man has a limit, and I'm at mine. I'm not going to let this stand. My friends are dead, a woman that I loved is dead. If we stay here then there is no certainty that we can change that; bring them back or otherwise. It's like I said to Johnny earlier: if there's a chance, no matter how small and no matter the consequences, we have to take it."

"I know you're in pain, Kaito. I just think that it's selfish to make a new timeline just to make yourself feel better."

"You can think that. Even if when we leave each other, we leave on bad terms, I'll be alright with it. You say you understand how I feel, Ryan, but I disagree. I think you've forgotten how to feel like I feel."

Ryan adjusts his sitting position, turning his head slightly off to one side. "It's a casualty of the job."

"Will you do it?" you ask him, holding your ground.

He is quiet for several moments. "I don't like it. But I can do it."

Kaito stands up straight and breathes a sigh of relief. "Alright. What do we do first?"

"But there's another problem," Ryan mutters. He looks over at Johnny. "Him."

Johnny points to himself. "What? Me?"

"Taking him along is going to present a problem. Let's say we beat Aegis, which is going to be difficult. Having him along would be nice, for that and that alone."

"Oh, I can't wait to hear where this is going," Johnny says. "This guy's been nothing but sunshine so far, so this should be peachy."

"When it's done and I have my powers back and my own little demiplane all to myself, I can send you back to your body. But sending you both back will make things difficult."

Kaito looks at Johnny, then back to Ryan. "Why?"

"Because, if he comes along, then I can't send you back to the moment when you were first put to sleep twenty years ago."

The man blinks, then finds himself simply saying, "What?"

"You're in a unique position, Kaito. You had no affect on history during that twenty year gap because you simply weren't around for it. But Johnny was. He had his role and he played it."

"But even if I was asleep, I played a role, too," Kaito points out. "I was responsible for what happened with Turana."

"That may be, but it was still an unconscious role. And the Elder Gods still owe you for saving reality, in a way. I could work that to our advantage to allow it to happen."

"You're telling me that you could put me back the moment I left?"

"So long as we don't bring Johnny," Ryan says.

>What's the alternative?
>So, do we just leave him here?
>I brought him here, I can't abandon him now.
>He already knows, so what harm could it bring?
>Other

>>1193630
>>What's the alternative?

>>1193630
>alternative

>>1193630
>What's the alternative?

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"So what's the alternative?"

"Sending you both back twenty years is out of the question. Johnny, you know too much about that time period because you experienced it first hand. Kaito didn't. The only other two options would be to either take you along and not allow you to go with Kaito, and in so doing stay outside of your own reality with me or return to this one. Or, I send you both back about, oh, two day's worth of time."

"I thought that's what we were doing originally anyway," Johnny says.

"Both will create a new timeline," Ryan explains. "Just one further back in time."

"We can't do both, can we?" Kaito asks. "Send me back to when I slept, and send Johnny back a few days to save the others?"

"Creating one timeline would be bad enough, but creating two alternate timelines... I'm trying to get my job back and KEEP it. Remember how I said it's like a river? Sending you back makes the river split. Sending you both back, to two different points simultaneously, makes the river split twice at two different points. Now we've got three rivers, three timelines, and a whole mess of Elder God anger that's going to come down on my head."

"What was that part you said, about me staying with you?" Johnny asks. "Why the hell would I want to?"

"It's a nice job once you get over yourself," Ryan shrugs. "If you were to permanently leave your timeline and become one of my kind, you could basically live forever. That's just one option. It would mean never interracting with anyone you ever knew or loved again."

"Gee, that's a hard sell," Johnny admits. "How about... fuck no?"

"It's just an option, and one you'd be faced with if Kaito is adament about getting back to the point he started sleeping. So, seeing as how you weren't even part of the original equation, I'm going to ask HIM now." Ryan looks over at Kaito. "So, what'll it be? Going back a few days, or twenty years?"

Ever since the idea was raised, Kaito has to admit he hasn't been able to stop thinking about it in the short span of time. 'Could I really go back? Could I stop Turana from becoming what she is now? Help Johnny and Liu defeat Shinnok, prevent Raiden from becoming corrupt? Guide and mentor the New Defenders as they grow up? Could I just... live?'

He looks over at Johnny, who cannot come with him if he were to make such a choice. The actor stares wordlessly back, knowing what he is thinking. 'If I go back, then I'm leaving Johnny behind---with this timeline. Ryan is already stretching his own rules to allow me to break time once, but doing it for both of us is out of the question.'

An idea occurs to him. "Ryan... Could you send Johnny, the Johnny of the now that is, into his body in the new timeline that I could create?"

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>>1193900

Ryan folds his arms. "That would be... problematic. You remember how I talked about 'erasing' yourself by putting you back into your earlier body? Well, Kaito, the reason why it's less of a problem for you is because you don't have any memory of that twenty year period you were asleep for. Your body was empty, so just putting you back would be like you had never left at all. But sending Johnny into his new timeline's counterpart's body? You, and I, would be erasing that version of Johnny in favor of the one standing next to you. Sure, they're the same people---but different experiences can shape different versions of the same person. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I think I do," Kaito nods.

"Good. Because I'd like to point out that none of this would be a problem if you just hadn't brought him in the first place."

Johnny shakes his head. "This guy... I'm here now, so deal with it!"

Ryan points back at him. "But you don't have to be. One snap of my fingers, and I could send you hurtling back up to the surface to wash up onto a beach. You're only here because Kaito allows you to be here. So, Kaito... What'll it be?"

>Johnny comes with us.
>Johnny will stay here in this timeline.
>Let's just take care of Aegis, then we'll figure out what we're going to do.
>I don't know.
>Other

>>1193906
>Johnny comes with us.
All in.

>>1193906
>Johnny comes with us.
20 years is too much to ask for. The butterfly effect would be a nightmare.

>>1193906
>>Johnny comes with us.
"If we can just fix this one current crisis, I'll be happy with it."

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>>1193925
>>1193926
>>1193932

Kaito's response comes quicker than even he had expected. "We all go, Johnny included."

Ryan is still for a moment, then shrugs. "So be it. Let's keep in mind that Aegis will be waiting for us. It won't be easy to reach him."

"Are you ready, Johnny?"

"Hell no. Let's do it."

Holding up the orb, Kaito unwraps it and presents it to Ryan. He places his hand upon it, and urges Johnny to do the same, who places both hands on either side.

"This, ah, isn't going to be a fun trip," Ryan warns them both. "The journey there, the demiplane itself, and Aegis at the end of it. Just letting you both know."

"Now or never," Kaito says confidently as his body tenses up in anticipation of whatever it may be.

At first, nothing happens. The three of them simply stand there, with Johnny and Kaito waiting for Ryan to do whatever it is he needs to. But instead, the strange man asks a question. "Kaito... You said Havik was on the island. He walked up to your base, but didn't take the orb. What did he take?"

"I would suspect the Chaosrealm Kamidogu," he replies. "Why?"

"...Nothing. It might not even be an issue. Let's go."

Suddenly and before the human can respond, the orb glows much more brightly in their hands, filling the cavernous chamber with white light. It floods outwards like a star, illuminating the chamber to nearly impossible levels, to the point where Kaito and Johnny must shut their eyes and let out cries of shock. Ryan, through it all, remains still. "Keep your hands on the orb!" he shouts over a growing strange and ethereal noise. "Don't let go!"

They feel themselves loosen, for lack of a better term, and float off the ground. Their bodies seem to be losing substance but they are completely aware of it, and panic races through them both. But Ryan's advice takes root and they don't let go.

As the light completely consumes them, becoming one with them, they lose all corporeal anchorings to this reality. Then the light blinks out, and they are simply gone.

We'll be continuing tomorrow. Thanks for playing tonight, expect more soon!

Next up, Aegis!

fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

I'm on my way home and updates will be continuing shortly.

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>>1194025

When Kaito awakens, he finds himself lying in sand. The sky above him is a dull orange-blue, some parts more blue than orange and vice versa, with no wind. He slowly comes to and sits up, noticing Johnny lying next to him. He nudges the actor slightly.

"Oh, man..." Johnny picks himself up, then adjusts his sunglasses. "Did we make it? Are we here?"

"Yeah. This is the place."

Johnny looks around. "So this is what is outside reality, huh? Could use a minimall and some parking lots to break up the whole bleak, depressing sand thing."

"This is my third time being here," Kaito replies. "I never liked it much either."

"Some of us call this place, uh, home, you know," a familiar voice speaks up. Kaito and Johnny both turn around to see Ryan in his familiar form (well, familiar to Kaito): that of a white-robed man with a dark mask, a walking staff and a silver watch.

"Ryan," Kaito gets up to his feet, "it worked, then? You have your powers back?"

"Not all of them. But I'm free to move now, and speaking of which, we'd better, uh, get a move on. Aegis will be expecting us."

Johnny does a quick circle. "So you know where to go, right?"

"This is my home. So, yes." Ryan starts walking, moving between them both. "Keep up. He'll try to separate us."

The two humans move to walk behind Ryan, who leads them on for some distance. This place is strange in that there is wind, and no visible sun, but there is still light. They don't tire and walk for a long while without sweating or feeling thirsty or hungry. The properties of this demiplane, while not immediately obvious, affect them quite clearly, and become more apparent the longer they travel.

Johnny leans in closely to Kaito. "You trust this guy, right?"

"As much as I can without knowing much about him, but he's helped me before. I've never been led to think he doesn't have our reality's interests in mind."

"So, you think he'll uphold his end of the deal?"

"He's not quite human, but he's also not someone who doesn't keep their word."

"What about this whole timeline thing? Are you really thinking you don't want to go back twenty years?"

"I don't know, Johnny. Part of me has always wanted to go back, but I've spent so much time in the future---well, to me it was the future---that I sort of adjusted. And I would miss a lot of the others until they grew up... And there's you to consider."

"I wouldn't begrudge you, you know," Johnny says softly, causing Kaito to look over at him. "I mean, you got screwed over royally. All this time we thought you had just fallen asleep or something, but really it was due to some asshole with a grudge?" He looks Kaito in the eyes. "You missed out on a lot of time. I wouldn't hate you for wanting to get it back."

>Put aside the conversation for now
>Talk to Ryan
>Consider going back twenty years
>Push the idea away; you don't want to go back
>Other

>>1197001
>>Put aside the conversation for now

Right before a fight with a demigod is hardly the time to let our best bud talk us into abandoning him in a shitshow timeline where his family are dead robots.

>>1197001
>Put aside the conversation for now
>"Johnny, you'd be stuck, either here, helping ryan, or in cyborg hell. Just think about that, before we make a decision."

>>1197001
>Put aside the conversation for now
Again, the butterfly effect would be immense if we went back twenty years, and that's not a risk worth taking. Plus, as mentioned, going back would mean abandoning Johnny to the place between realities.

>>1197022
Additional
>Other- "Maybe, only you should go back, Johnny? There's still alot of people in cyborg land to save! But if there's a time line where everyone survives might be enough for me?b

>>1197001
>Put aside the conversation for now
We're not going to ever fix everything, just fix the worst of the worst. Which is the plan.

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>>1197016
>>1197022
>>1197028
>>1197035

"I'd rather not talk about it right now," Kaito replies, his attention focused on Ryan and the desertous horizon in front of them. "Let's just worry about what comes next, instead of what comes after."

"Or should we say, what came before?"

"Not now, Johnny. But good one."

The trek begins to grow worrisome. Up ahead, clouds gather darkly. Ryan pauses for a moment, digging the end of his staff into the sand. "Aegis will begin making his move soon," he mutters. "Prepare yourselves."

Both Johnny and Kaito do so as the three of them continue onwards towards the gathering darkness. The clouds grow thicker, moving to block most light above them, and for the first time since their arrival they feel a slight breeze. It unnerves them, as it is a sharp contrast to their journey up until now. It begins to pick up the sand around them, and before they know it, they find themselves walking right through a sandstorm. Johnny adjusts his sunglasses as Kaito holds up a hand to block the sand. Ryan continues onwards, his white robes flowing wildly around him as he trudges through the storm with his staff guiding his way.

The howling wind tears at them and the sand bites at their exposed flesh, obscuring vision and slowing them down significantly.

"He's buying time!" Ryan calls out ahead of them. "We have to push through to get to him before he can prepare more!"

>1d100 to make it through the storm!

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>1197088

Can we use our avatar powers to help?

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>1197088

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>1197088

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>>1197093
>>1197097
>>1197163

As the first blast of sand assails them, Kaito raises his hands and attempts to deflect it with his powers. He finds himself suddenly swept off his feet and carried into Johnny, sending the both of them tumbling down to the ground. They clutch at each other as they try to get back up, with Kaito using the actor as an anchor as he tries again. This time he succeeds in creating a wind-barrier around them, repelling the sandstorm as they travel onwards. Ryan seems to shrug off the storm as the two follow behind, protected by Kaito's shield that causes the storm to blow around them as though they were in a bubble.

"Ryan!" Kaito calls out. "Come closer, so the storm doesn't hurt you!"

"I'm fine," the man insists, his robes still flapping about in the wind. "Come on, not much farther!"

They share a look as they continue to follow after him. They soon find themselves in some manner of descending valley, ending up at the mouth of a great canyon. Through the haze of sand and wind, they catch a glimpse of some great mountain in front of them, stretching upwards from the horizon like a fortress of layered rocks. The central spire of the great stone work is only briefly glimpsed as they descend further, now partially shielded from the storm by the valley walls. Travel becomes easier as they catch up behind Ryan.

A new sound reaches their ears now, one of distant rumbling and cracking. They scan the terrain for whatever it may be, finding it hard to see any small details in this sandy wind, when Kaito catches some movement along the canyon walls. Rocks are dislodging and falling, rolling along the stone walls and down towards them!

"Rockslide!" Kaito shouts, and the three of them begin to run. The further they go, the more the terrain cracks around them. Rocks begins to fall into the descending valley and roll behind them, threatening to overtake them!

>1d100 to escape the rockslide!

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>1197189

>We're the avatar, throw the rocks back or something.

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>1197189

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>1197189

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>>1197193
>>1197201
>>1197202

As Ryan and Johnny charge on, Kaito skids to a stop and turns around, looking at the oncoming horde of boulders. He grits his teeth, digs his feet into the sand and holds up his hands, intent on stopping this avalanche before it stopped them. Raising both hands up, he tries to use his powers but finds himself unable to halt the rolling boulders. A moment of panic races through him, and he feels he should turn and flee---but he doesn't.

Just before the rocks would have crushed him, they cease and remain still. Both Johnny and Ryan turn to see Kaito standing with his palms facing the rock, merely an inch from their surface. Kaito opens his own eyes and lets out a sigh of both relief and confusion.

"It seems you're beginning to understand how things work around here," Ryan calls out.

Kaito slowly lowers his hands, looking up at the now-still boulders. "I am? My powers didn't work like normal."

"That's because this place has different rules. It's open to alteration by those with strong will; that's how I influenced my environment when I controlled this plane."

"Then why don't you do so now?" Johnny asks, slightly annoyed.

"Because, uh, I'm not in control right now, am I?" Ryan snaps back. "You two are outsiders. Right now, much as I hate to admit it, you have more power here than I do. Let's... just keep going."

Kaito slowly walks away from the boulders before jogging to catch up with them both. At the foot of the raised plateau surrounding the mountain, they find a hollow cave entrance and step into the darkness. Kaito strikes up a light with his fire as they descend further.

"I don't remember any of this," Kaito says. "The last time I was here, I mean."

"He's had plenty of time to redecorate," Ryan replies, running his hands along the walls.

Johnny suddenly leaps back. "Gah! The hell is this?"

Kaito walks over to the wall and holds up a fiery hand, illuminating the pattern upon it. Much to their shared bewilderment, the stone has begun to take on the shape and texture of bones. Skulls, ribcages, arms, legs, spines and more begin to make up the walls, piled upon each other in a terrifying pattern of mad complexity. Soon they come upon an upward passage where their only option is to climb.

"So Aegis made it all like this?" Kaito asks, casting a fireball upwards to light the passage high above their heads. The winding, twisting cave goes up and up, all constructed entirely out of bone-like stone, with countless figures visible and merged into the walls.

"At least this guy wasn't a fan of Giger," Johnny mutters as he begins to climb up the bones.

Kaito and Ryan follow him and the three of them begin to climb over the figures. Kaito tries not to pay too much attention to the pattern they are scaling; at the very least there are plenty of hand and footholds with which to climb.

It's when they get about halfway up when things start going badly and the walls begin fighting back.

>1d100 to successfully climb!

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>1197283

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>1197283

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>1197283

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>1197283

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>1197283

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1.23 MB JPG

>>1197290
>>1197294
>>1197301
>>1197310
>>1197315

As Kaito reaches for an outstretched limb, it suddenly lurches outwards with a snapping sound, lunging towards his throat! The man's eyes widen as he grabs the limb, finding himself suddenly beset by not just one grasping arm, but several as they shoot out from the wall. Johnny lets out a cry of surprise as he is attacked, and Ryan does the same. They grab at his white robe, yanking it in various directions as Kaito tries to pry the arm on his throat off.

Johnny glows green and releases a short burst of energy that breaks the arms around him, then he catches himself on the side. Kaito follows his lead and begins to surround himself in flames, torching the arms as they grab at him. Ryan, for his part, smacks at them with his staff. The walls seem to come to life as the skeletal structure begins to actively resist them; footholds shrink away as the tunnel itself shifts. Kaito finds himself carried away from Johnny on the boney current while Ryan goes in the opposite direction.

Like a throat contracting and attempting to swallow food, the three of them try to hold on as the walls push them downwards. Johnny climbs like a madman, scaling as hard and as fast as he can, but the downward-flow of the bones begins to outpace him, and like a fat man going up the wrong side of an escalator, he simply cannot get to the top.

Kaito looks over and sees Ryan indiscriminately smacking away skeletal hands that reach for him. As one comes out of the wall to punch Kaito in the face, he finds himself falling when his grip loosens. He falls by Ryan, who looks up and sees him coming. The man leaps from the wall as Kaito pushes downwards with his hands, creating a gust of wind that propels him upwards in the opposite direction. There, he catches the end of Ryan's staff and carries him up.

Along the way, he grabs the back of Johnny's vest, pushing as hard as he can with all of his power to carry them through the skeletal nightmare to the very top, which begins to close in a toothy maw of rib bones and limbs.

They burst through the stones and find themselves thrust upwards, landing nearby on a stone surface. Now they are near the top of the massive mountain, but there is still some distance to go. Kaito looks up as the sky blackens near the peak, where a cyclopean ruin awaits them. Between them and it is a stretch of land composed of eldritch structures, curious and impossible architecture and bone-like protrusions from the earth much larger than any man.

Ryan dusts himself off as he stands up. "See, this is why I hate that guy. I kept things simple. This mess is the first thing to go when I get my job back."

>Continue onwards
>Talk to Ryan
>Talk to Johnny
>Camp for a moment, regain strength
>Other

>>1197478
>Continue onwards
>Talk to Johnny

>>1197478
>>Continue onwards
>>Talk to Ryan

Why's Aegis the way he is, anyway? In fact, you've never told me what YOUR deal is. How do you even get this job? Were you human, or Edenian, or...? Is Aegis Seidan? Is that why he's such a weird asshole? Or do the Elder Gods just...make you guys out of thin air?

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>>1197507
>>1197540

As they walk on, Kaito walks up next to Ryan. "You know, the last time I asked you about you and your kind, you didn't exactly give me a straight answer."

"Yeah, I uh, know."

"So why is Aegis the way he is?"

"Every race, species, whatever you'd like to define us as, has people with different personalities. Some are benevolent. Some are assholes. This shouldn't be anything new to you."

"Okay, but what ARE you? You told me you were human, once. How did you get to your position? How did he?"

Ryan stops walking, leaning on his staff slightly as he turns to face Kaito. Johnny stops just behind them both. "It's complicated."

"If I had a nickel for every time you said that..."

"The short answer is that we are uplifted. From dead realities."

"Dead realities? As in they don't exist anymore?"

"Correct. Realities lost to Armageddon. There is a balance to the universe as you know it; creation and destruction. They go hand in hand. Realities rise up, thrive, and reach a point where they have to be put down. That's Armageddon."

"Is it inevitable?"

"As much as life is, death is," Ryan cryptically replies. "If a reality is life, then Armageddon is its ultimate death. Just as you live, just as everyone you know lives and dies, so too will everything else. Eventually. If you give it enough time."

"But then why are you still here?"

"Not everything is wasted when a reality ends. Some things can be salvaged. My home, my identity, everything that I was once upon a time, is long since lost. I can barely even remember it, really. But this job keeps me going, and keeps me in the game."

"And Aegis? He's like you?"

"Not like me, but like what I am. A remnant from a dead universe. Maybe his just had a higher percentage of assholes, who can say?"

"Only him, likely," Johnny snickers.

Kaito then asks, "So, who chooses what survives when a realm goes under? The Elder Gods?"

"And Chronosis. They need people like us who pay attention to the finer details. It's a system, and the system works, and the only thing we truly are charged with is helping to keep it running. So we monitor reality, and try to fix problems when they pop up."

"So, why did Aegis want your job specifically? I can remember him talking to me about how he inherited a 'mess' after I got back from being Otiak. Why was he gunning so hard for your position?"

"And where do you guys even come from?" Johnny asks. "I mean, when you're not doing your job in this place. Is there some kind of interdimensional hiring firm? A break room? I'd hate to see what this guy's bathrooms look like."

>>1197775

"As much as this conversation is interesting and enlightening, I'm sure, we're wasting time," Ryan says, adament about changing the subject. "Look, once I get my job back, we'll talk more. But Aegis is waiting for us, so come on. Let's not keep him waiting for too long before he comes up with another idea to stop us."

They continue towards the structure in the distance beneath a blue-black sky, passing by stone shapes jutting out of the earth that resemble gravestones. Kaito and Johnny take care to avoid them.

>Travel as a group
>Split up
>Talk to Johnny
>See if you can scout around
>Other

>>1197778
>Travel as a group
>Talk to Johnny

>>1197778

>Travel as a group

>>1197778
>>Travel as a group

>>1197778
>Travel as a group
> quietly contemplate about splitting the timeline. What happens to my body if my mind is moved to a new timeline? Would a version of me still exist here? How many people would I condemn if I leave? Could I save Turana from being a huge bitch here?

>>1197778
>>Travel as a group
>>Other
Make mental note: Ask how to prevent Armageddon.

>>1197786
>>1197812
>>1197887
>>1197942
>>1198936

I am home. Update coming shortly.

>>1198936
Kaito's not going to like the answer. It involves letting the Tekunin win.

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>>1197786
>>1197812
>>1197887
>>1197942

As they approach the distant citadel, Kaito's mind weighs heavy with thought. Though he told Johnny to set the conversation aside for the time being, he cannot help but think about what Ryan has said. A chance to go back, to stop the bad things that have happened while he was asleep, to prevent Turana from going down her terrible path. That is, after all, what caused the turmoil that had him distracted while the machines attacked. If he could fix it, fix all of it, she wouldn't be the person she is now. She would be happy, and with him.

He rubs his forehead in frustration. 'But doing so would erase the twenty years of history that everyone I have known this past year grew old with. I can't just condemn that history because I wasn't apart of it, even if I was denied my rightful place in it. I wouldn't be able to stop myself---I would use my knowledge of the future to change things. I know I would.'

Then there is Johnny to consider as well. 'Him being here changes things, too. We can't both go back that far. The butterfly effect would be monstrous. Hell, that cataclysm Ryan is talking about---Armageddon---it could even happen sooner. Who knows?'

He makes a mental note to ask Ryan more about the supposed apocalypse later. For now he keeps quiet as they move past strange ruins and structures of questionable design. It is several minutes before they notice something that is not a building or debris---and it doesn't seem any more welcoming.

Movement in the shadows. Pebbles falling from tops of ledges. Their ears pick up strange noises, a kind of chattering that isn't human. All three of them are alert and ready, but when they catch a better glimpse of the mishapen beings scurrying out of view they realize they are walking into a trap, but it is already too late.

They are surrounded in an instant. The barely-human visages, as mishapen as everything else is here, shamble out into the open. Their bodies are twisted in strange and impossible ways and they move like their joints are controlled by puppet strings. The trio halts and quickly turns so the three of them are back-to-back as the figures hiss and gurgle at them with alien tongues. Their near-human nature only makes them more uncanny and foreign to their sensibilities.

"I guess this is the proper welcoming committee," Johnny quips as he brings his fists up, sliding on a pair of golden knuckles.

"Any advice, Ryan?" Kaito asks.

"They're a distraction, meant to buy time. Don't hold back."

>1d100 to fight through the horde!

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>1199437
Like a pulsing heart, send shockwaves to clear the path. We must get there.

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>1199437
Flamethrower!

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>1199437
Wellp, let's get them hands bloody.

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>1199437

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>>1199450
>>1199451
>>1199452
>>1199461

Kaito's fists burn with fiery power. Ever since learning how to manipulate the environment to enable his powers to work, he has prepared himself for a confrontation with Aegis---but thse beings will do for now. As Johnny and Ryan prepare themselves, he brings up a foot and slams it down onto the ground, sending out a wave of fire coupled with earthen shockwaves; the former burns while the latter unbalances and knocks them down. The creatures all reel backwards, screaming as they go.

Johnny shadow-kicks a group of them as Ryan smashes them with his staff. Kaito catches a glimpse of the man; he is surprisingly skilled and fast with that weapon of his, to the point where Kaito is honestly impressed. He summons his own staff and uses it to both bash and blast the nameless, faceless foes back into the oblivion from which they spawned.

The crowd seems endless, but as Johnny hurls more green bolts and Kaito continues his elemental assault, Ryan leads them through the horde towards the citadel. They glimpse it, off in the distance through the dark red haze, and know that they are near, very near!

>1d100 for the final push!

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>1199580

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>1199580

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>1199580
Thus begins the battle.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>1199580

>>1199583
>>1199588
>>1199585
And then there were none.

>>1199634
We could be pushing harder, it's true.

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>1199580

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>>1199583
>>1199585
>>1199588
>>1199634
>>1199772

As the three of them batter and bash their way towards the citadel at the heart of the peak, they find the enemies growing more and more obtrusive. As obstacles they are not the most effective, but their sheer numbers are still a danger that cannot be taken lightly. Kaito provides most of the crowd control as Johnny focuses on smaller groups, and all the while Ryan presses onwards. Finally the building is in sight; Kaito remembers it from his last visit to this place. His heart pounds with the excitement of battle, the race to get there in time and the anticipation of finally getting some sweet retribution on Aegis.

He doesn't forget that he's here to save his friends, too, but revenge is always nice.

When they reach the citadel, that's when they realize they've lost Johnny. Somewhere in the tangle of the horde, they carried the actor off before he could give them a warning cry. As Kaito looks back, the group shrinks away, now scampering to safety. He intends to follow them but Ryan stops him.

"Don't bother. He'll come back."

"What? How do you know?"

"Aegis is just trying to separate us, like I said. But I doubt he'll be kept from us for long. I'm betting Aegis just wants us to go after him."

"What would be the harm in it? You keep talking about Aegis needing time---time for what, exactly?"

"Exactly."

"Oh, thank you Ryan, that's a very helpful answer."

"Isn't it always?" He turns towards the citadel's main entrance and walks towards it.

"So long as we're being sarcastic, yes, yes it always is," Kaito mutters. "I swear, if this guy tries to hold Johnny hostage..."

"Give Cage more credit. He's survived worse. Maybe."

They pass under the great black arches and into the building proper.

>Go in through the front doors
>Explore the halls
>See if you can drop in from above
>Explore the lower levels
>Other

>>1199977

> Kick in the front door

Well less kick more - use rock powers to rip it off hinges.

>>1199977
>See if you can drop in from above
Let's try to go shortcut, time is of the essence.

I bet Aegis is trying to pull some alternate-world shit, on the pretext of we are just on a demi-plane, and it is not against the rules.

>>1199977
>"Give Cage more credit. He's survived worse. Maybe."

We're also the only two people in the universe who remember the timeline where Johnny died to a jobber Tarkatan, but sure, let's go with that...

>Go in through the front doors

I mean surely he's scrying on us anyway...

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>>1199983
>>1199998

The two of them approach a large set of doors. After giving each other one last look, Kaito raises his hands and knocks them both off their hinges with a pulse of his power. The massive slabs fall and kick up dust, obscuring their vision as they walk into the large chamber.

When the dust begins to clear, the large form of an armored man becomes visible, his silhouette clear and dark. He stands immobile at the center of the room, easily twice their height. His titantic form is only made more intimidating when a pair of piercing white eyes open behind the mask, their light shining through the dust. He is just as Kaito remembers him; the giant horns rising from his helmet, the almost mechanical aura he exudes, and of course the difference in height.

His voice is rumbling and deep, echoing throughout the chamber. "You have come a long way to die."

Kaito is prepared for banter, but clearly Aegis is not. He lifts up a giant foot and slams it onto the ground, creating a bell-like ringing sound. At first, nothing happens, but then they begin to hear a shifting, grinding sound, like stone moving against stone. Lines appear in the walls and as they part, light seeps into the room in a strange geometric pattern. The ceiling begins to change, as though the building itself is splitting---opening up like a flower with sharp petals.

Ryan holds up his staff as the central platform upon which they sand begins to rise, taking the three of them upwards. It forms an arena from which there is no escape.

Again his voice calls out over the rumbling stone. "You should never have come back. I will see that you never return."

Kaito is again about to speak, but Ryan beats him to it, holding his staff in front of the human. He looks back. "He has no direct weaknesses. We're going to have to utterly destroy him to win."

"That was the idea," Kaito replies, holding up his fists. "Maybe he doesn't bleed, but that doesn't mean I can't bloody my knuckles."

Aegis waits for them to make their move. Ryan and Kaito nod at each other and go in.

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

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>1200173

> Ask if we remove the helmet, will he die?

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>1200173
Giant sand fist.

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>1200173
Shock him with the Staff of Raiden.

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>>1200200

Kaito leaps upwards, towards Aegis as the figure remains still. Determined to give him as best an opening impression as he can, he slams both of his fists against the man's metal mask, forcing his head to turn. Ryan stops and looks up as Aegis is forced to take a step back, his large boot leaving a crack in the floor as he tries to maintain his balance. Kaito falls on the other side, having delivered his powerful blow, and Aegis takes a moment to reel from it.

When he stands and turns around, he sees Aegis turn his head back and stare down at him.

"You punch well."

>>1200206

A metal hand curls into a fist. "But so do I."

Kaito's eyes widen and he brings up both arms as Aegis turns and shoots a fist down at him. It hits him like a train, breaking through his block and sending him tumbling away towards the edge of the arena. This one punch shakes every nerve in his body, and were he a lesser man, he'd have crumbled to pieces on the spot. Pain rushes through him as he skids along the stone floor, managing to catch himself before going over the edge.

Ryan leaps up onto Aegis' arm and smacks him in the face with his staff. "Hey! Remember me?"

Aegis turns his head in a slow, mechanical motion. "Hardly."

His staff slides into his open palm. "Let's beat some memories into you, then." He then leaps up to attack Aegis' face, which the armored figure blocks by bringing up his other arm.

>>1200208

Kaito shakes his head as he stands up, his body already aching.

'Note to self: do not let the giant armored man hit you, if at all possible.'

He looks up with one open eye to see Ryan backflip off of Aegis' shoulder and land near his heel, where he hammers away with his staff to little effect before rolling away from a stomping attack. As ineffective as it is, it does give Kaito an idea, and he summons his own staff.

Pointing it up at Aegis, he unleashes a torrent of lightning in a wide spread, the bolts of which strike every part of his metal body. Though he seems made of metal, Aegis is largely unharmed by this, but it does keep him busy, allowing Ryan to get some distance and recover some of his energy.

When Kaito is done with his storm, he looks up at the smoking giant, who lowers his arms.

"The power of your gods means nothing here. Here, I am as a god."

"I never was much of a religious man," Kaito says, banishing the staff. "Maybe if I keep denting that armor of yours, I'll find a breaking point."

"Your hands will be gone long before that."

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

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>1200385

> Bloody Hands it is then

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>1200385
Ryan said this dimension responds to willpower, right?

We need a distraction to break his concentration before we come in with the heavy hits. Let's try swarm attacks, kick up some wind and debris, throw rocks from different directions at once, that sort of thing.

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>1200385
Shoot lightning at the walking lightning rod

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>1200385
What >>1200413 said

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>1200385
Fire punch to the giblets!
He's got to have giblets. Right?

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>>1200397

Kaito charges in, dodging a car-sized fist as he attacks Aegis at the legs. True to the name of his style, his fists soon become bloody, as he is punching metal. He winces slightly but keeps trying, covering his hands in flame and earth to soften the blow, but Aegis seems unaffected.

The metal man picks up his foot and stomps down, causing Kaito to leap back. Ryan dashes in and jams his staff into a joint in the armor, prying it open and exposing a dark, black kind of flesh beneath. Deciding that any flesh is better than punching armor, Kaito runs in and strikes at it. This forces Aegis to stumble and fall onto a knee, cracking the ground where his leg falls upon it.

>>1200413

Getting an idea, Kaito flips backwards to avoid the retaliating swipe of his foe's arm, and puts his hands up. Focusing intently, combining his powers and his will, he begins to influence the environment like Ryan said. Rocks from the portions of the arena that Aegis has cracked float upwards, and he begins to pelt the armored figure with them. Aegis holds up a hand to shield his face, but not before a large chunk of debris flies by and smashes into his face.

Kaito smiles. This place doesn't allow his powers to work like normal, but they work just fine in other ways, which he finds out as he gathers up several fist-sized rocks and launches them rapidly. Each dings off of the armor, some leaving scratches or dents. Aegis reaches for Kaito but Ryan leaps up and smacks his hand away, forcing it down to the ground with his staff.

>>1200422

As Kaito picks up another rock, Aegis holds up a hand and clenches his fist. The rock is destroyed, and suddenly Kaito is reminded that he has just as much influence over this place and its objects, and likely moreso, than he. The rocks fly now at Kaito instead of Aegis, and the human is forced to defend himself by leaping back, blocking and stopping the rocks with his powers.

Aegis kicks Ryan away, who rolls along the ground. He gets back up to a full standing position and then raises his hand, clenching that one as well to cause the earth to suddenly open up beneath Kaito. He falls into a pit, where the walls rapidly begin to close!

>Current Meter: 3
>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>1201034
use stone powers to make a ledges and use them to scale the walls

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>1201034
Y'know what, fuck it. I want to see what's under that armor. Spend X-Ray.

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>1201034
Clear the ridge and shock Aegis again with the staff of Raiden.

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>>1201149

Thinking quickly, he puts his hands on the floor and causes the ground at his feet to shoot upwards, propelling him out of the pit as it closes. He lands on the ground and looks up just in time to see Aegis bringing his foot down! Kaito rolls out of the way, using his influence over air to push himself further and skid along the dusty floor.

As Aegis' foot slams down, creating several more large cracks in the area, Kaito gets an idea, much like his solution to get out of the pit. Placing his hand on the ground, he creates several spires of rock that jut upwards at varrying heights, forming a leaping stairway to the big man himself. Ryan and Kaito both leap onto these platforms and jumps up to his level.

Aegis brings up a fist and smashes one of the platforms that Ryan had leapt onto, causing him to fall to the floor. This does, however, give Kaito an opportunity to leap onto his armored shoulder.

>>1201155

Gripping the side of Aegis' mask, right where his eyes are, he pulls. His hands light with flame to soften the metal, causing it to glow orange. Aegis grunts and reaches up for him, but Ryan hooks his staff around one of his gauntlet's fingers and forces the arm down.

Kaito succeeds in tearing off a portal of the metal surrounding Aegis' face, exposing the strange black void-like flesh beneath. He is then shaken off and falls.

"I don't want to kill you," Aegis says, catching Kaito as he falls. "I want to break you!"

He squeezes and Kaito turns into water in his grasp, flowing out of his crushing grip.

>>1201272

As Kaito rematerializes, Aegis swipes him off to the side. He ends up going over the edge and catching himself on the ledge where he keeps a tight grip, trying to use his powers to pull himself back up. A single stomp from Aegis keeps him from doing so, forcing him to let go from the sheer vibrations.

He doesn't fall for long. Someone catches him---and carries him back up. Kaito's hand clasp's another, and when he looks up he sees that none other than Johnny Cage is holding on. "Hey pal. Need a lift? Just repaying the favor!"

He is riding some kind of strange beast, looking like a strange, elongated furry wingless beast. Johnny kicks its sides and the three of them fly up to the arena, which Kaito realizes now has no base and is floating above the mountain.

"Where did you get this thing?"

"I have no idea! I was fighting those ugly dudes and it just showed up! Like outta that old movie, you know?"

"It's more recent for me than it is for you!"

Falcor carries them both up to the top, where they leap off and confront Aegis. The armored figure looks on as the white beast flies away into the distance.

"How?" he mutters, his eyes widening which can be glimpsed due to his semi-exposed face. "I did not create that."

"I guess you don't have as much control over your world as you think," Johnny says, rubbing his chin. "Which is good, because I'm about to rock it! Let's go!"

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

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>1201364
electric staff into the face a couple times

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>1201364
Tag team with Johnny.

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>1201364
>Earth steps into rocky nutshot via stalagmite, jump kick while Johnny chains together Shadow kicks into his face.
Lock Aegis's limbs down when he falls and fire fist combo his face.

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>>1201378

As Johnny surges forward with a shadow kick, Kaito goes up high. He hurls the Staff of Raiden at Aegis' face and then teleports to it, gripping it tightly as he smashes it into the exposed half of his face. Ryan joins Johnny in attacking the legs, both of them working together to take this titan down. Despite their efforts, Aegis remains standing, holding his ground.

He is, however, clearly getting angry. He holds up both hands and balls them into fists, summoning large spikes of stone all throughout the area. The three of them are forced to go mobile and dodge the spikes as they emerge, lest they be impaled. Kaito leaps away from a spike just as it emerges while Johnny performs a flip kick and smashes one.

>>1201400

The two humans land near each other and run towards Aegis, parting only to dodge a spike he attempts to rise between them. They both leap upwards, Johnny with a shadow uppercut and Kaito with a fiery fist, their attacks both hitting him in the chest at the same time. Aegis attempts to maintain his balance, but Ryan is there with his staff, prying it under one of his feet and forcing him to fall. When Aegis hits the ground, he hits it hard, nearly cracking the entire platform.

>>1201563

As they both land on his chest, Johnny's hands glow green and Kaito's glow red; they then put them together for a shadow-fire blast. Their combined power overwhelmes Aegis, and as Ryan looks on to watch, their large foe's head glows from the heat of their assault. Finally he stops twitching and lies very still.

Both Johnny and Kaito lower their arms, looking at the severely-damaged helm. Johnny looks up over his sunglasses. "You think we got him?"

His answer is a metal fist that knocks them both off. Kaito and Johnny both scramble to their feet as Aegis does the same, standing up and looking down upon them with a mostly-melted helmet surrounding a black void. It is from this voice that a voice is issued; strange and ethereal.

"Even if you succeed, you will fail. The Elder Gods will not stand for what you intend to do, Akayama Kaito." He speaks not to Johnny nor Ryan, but directly to the Japanese man. "You think that what you are doing is right. They will see you are punished: one way, or another."

Kaito's response is simple. "Maybe, but you won't be around to see it."

"Yes. Let us finish this."

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

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>1201637
Shove the staff in his eyesocket and EX it.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>1201637
Time to break his kneecap

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>1201637
dual ball punch like in comicbooks.

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>1201637
Turn Aegis into a lightning rod.

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>1201637
>LIGHTNING STAFF INTO. BLOODY HANDS BACK INTO LIGHTNING STAFF COMBO
Finish him!
Or at least really embarrass him

Updates will resume shortly

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>>1201656

Aegis lets out a mighty roar as he punches his fist into the arena, splitting the ground even further. The floor beneath their feet shakes but they pay it no heed as they rush towards their foe. Kaito summons his staff and hurls it like a javeline, leaving a trail of bright white lightning behind as it flies towards the exposed section of Aegis' face. It sticks into his eye, causing him no small amount of pain and making him reel backwards.

>>1201662

This gives Johnny an opening to surge forwards with a red shadow kick, planting his foot against Aegis' shin and forcing his leg backwards and him onto a knee. Ryan follows his lead by sweeping the other leg out, forcing him to tumble onto his side, again shaking the arena, now only barely holding together.

>>1201684

Kaito's fists glow red-hot as he makes for Aegis, but he is far from down yet. Raising a metal fist, he slams it down upon the human, who brings up both arms to block, this time covering them in stone. His feet, too, are covered in rock and merged to the floor, and so Aegis pushes but Kaito pushes back against his fist.

"I didn't come here to die," Kaito gasps as sweat runs down his face and arms. "I've come too far to ever lose to someone like you!"

Aegis stares at him as the staff crackles with electricity. "If you will not die, then... you will fall!"

He pushes Kaito some more and the ground beneath him finally gives way---and the entire arena cracks in half. Johnny and Ryan both stumble and slide down the other halves as Kaito and Aegis go straight through the middle, all four of them now tumbling down towards the mountain below.

>>1201693

Aegis reaches for Kaito and grasps him with both hands, but Kaito manages to put both arms out and push against his palms. The titan continues to try to crush him, but the human holds both hands back. Air and dark clouds rush past them.

"I... will... crush.... you!" Aegis shouts. "I will erase you from history! It will be as though you had never existed AT ALL!"

Kaito opens his eyes and looks up as his arms start to give. The crushing palms move in closer and closer...

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>>1203248
>>1202093

A green bolt hits Aegis in the face, followed by another. Johnny, who is falling nearby, hurls a third which smacks Aegis in the exposed area right under the staff. Ryan then lands on Aegis' back, running up his armored backside to jam his staff into a joint on his neck to use it like a lever, pushing down to force Aegis to look up. Kaito feels the crushing hands lose their strength, and looks up to see the staff waiting for him.

He pushes himself upwards with a gust of wind and grabs onto it, using it to hold himself in place. He plants both feet on Aegis' nose and forehead and looks at the black flesh his staff is buried in before curling his hand into a fist.

He smashes Aegis over and over, pummeling him, now bloodying his fists with a dark oil-like substance. He then grasps the staff and focuses all of his energy into it, unleashing a blast within Aegis' skull. The entire underbody of the armor glows white for a moment as Kaito channels his rage and power into it, weaponizing his fury through the power of lightning.

When they hit the top of the mountain, it cracks, and slabs of stone fall apart as they fall through it. The spire of rock breaks apart and tumbles, bringing down not only the mountain, but the plateau upon which it stood. The impact wipes it all out, leaving a great cloud of dust and smoke to rise upwards. In time, it disperses, leaving only a wide ruin behind it.

>1d100s, please.

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>1203251

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>1203251

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>1203251

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>>1203285
>>1203289
>>1203337

Amidst the rubble, a rock moves. Kaito kicks it off of him and struggles to stand. He looks around as thick dust obscures his vision.

"Johnny! Ryan!" he calls out. After a moment, he is drawn to the sound of coughing, and finds Johnny lying atop a boulder, bloodied but far from dead.

He runs over and helps the man up. Johnny coughs some more and looks to his right, seeing broken dark glass. "My shades... Guess they broke my fall. Haha..."

Putting an arm around his shoulder, Kaito helps Johnny to a nearby rock where they both can sit. Kaito dusts himself off as Johnny cracks his neck on both sides. Other than that, it is silent.

"Did we win?" Johnny asks, breaking that silence.

As if to answer him, a series of rocks nearby begin to move, sliding off of a large form. Aegis rises from beneath the rubble, his armor all but ruined, his flesh bleeding black blood profusely and his form barely holding together. They watch as he reaches for them, but falls. His arm pushes aside several boulders as he comes to his final rest.

"I guess we did," Kaito replies. "But where's Ryan?"

And again, as if in response, the ground shakes. But it is not due this time to someone rising, but rather the terrain itself changing. The pair stand and look around as the rocks begin to slide away, in some cases down into the earth to be swallowed, along with Aegis' body. Soon the terrain is back to normal, as though none of it had ever been different at all; only flat ground remains.

Then a new mountain rises, far enough to allow them to look on without harm. This mountain is shaped differently than the last, more natural in form, and when it comes to a rest there is a single dark speck upon its wall: Ryan, sitting upon a stone chair. They approach this mountain and walk into its shadow, looking upon the demiplane's restored owner, now clad in a new outfit, one that is undamaged from battle.

"Ryan?" Kaito says as they stand before him. "Is everything alright?"

Ryan's masked face nods only one. "Yes. Everything is going to be fine." He checks his watch. "Uh, soon. That is."

>So... now what?
>Send us back a few days in time.
>Can you show me what is happening in our world?
>Is Aegis gone forever?
>Other

>>1203404
>Is Aegis gone forever?

>>1203404
>Is Aegis gone forever?
I doubt we killed, him. Won't he try to get revenge on our mortal ass?

>>1203404
>Is Aegis gone forever?
or is he at the bottom of the ocean in an ol' timey diving suit?

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>>1203412
>>1203422
>>1203494

"What about old rust bucket?" Johnny asks.

"Yeah, is Aegis gone forever?"

"He is," Ryan nods. "A shame when you think about it, really. He was the last existing thing of his entire universe. It isn't every day that people like us die. Terrible waste of potential."

"He can't come back?"

"Not after what he did to me. I'll see to that. I certainly hope it isn't going to affect your, uh, conscience."

Johnny shrugs. "I'm fine with it. You?"

Kaito nods. "Yeah. He's the one who put me down for twenty years, after all..."

"A situation that could still be rectified," Ryan points out.

"I still don't know if I want that. And Johnny is right here. You yourself said that he couldn't come with me if I did this."

"Yeah... And now that I'm back in my place, and catching up on things, it's really quite a state..." He waves his hand, and an illusion appears nearby. The three of them look at it, seeing images of many places; Earthrealm, Outworld, Edenia and more. Battles happening right now: Scorpion fighting off machines in Outworld, Z'unkahrah under attack by the Deadly Alliance, Kitana and Jade fighting off cyberized edenians outside of their royal palace and Liu Kang facing a small army of cyborgs.

"Are all these happening right now?" Kaito asks.

"There's a lot going on," Ryan replies. "I can see why you'd want to fix all of this. These machines, this... Tekunin... Much more powerful than usual."

"Than usual?" Johnny asks.

"The Tekunin Clan has arisen in plenty of other parallel realities. But these ones are especially strong. I wonder why..." He waves his hand again. "Ah... Interesting."

The image changes to one of some kind of secret underground lab, where saurians are being slaughtered by machines.

"What is this?" Kaito asks, watching the cyborgs tear apart the raptors. "Some lab in Outworld?"

"Earthrealm. It seems your government is full of saurians."

"What?" both he and Johnny ask at once.

"Yes... Goodness, I missed a lot. It seems that they were always in Earthrealm. In fact, they never left; when the old saurians migrated to Zaterra, they remained. After Shao Kahn's invasion, these ones began taking over the governments of Earth."

"How many?" Kaito asks. "Is everyone a saurian?"

"No, they're still a minority compared to humans. But they've infiltrated well... So well, in fact, that they had a hand in making this team of New Defenders."

"What?!" Johnny shouts. "How?"

"Simple: Secretary Blake was actually a saurian all along."

Johnny reaches up for his sunglasses, which are not there, which he had forgotten in shock. "But, but, I never---"

"Don't worry. They're good at hiding." Ryan waves his hand to bring up some more images.

>What are these saurians planning?
>Can we stop them?
>Why create the New Defenders?
>Who else is a saurian? Anyone I know?
>Other

>>1203652
>>What are these saurians planning?
>>Can we stop them?
my god, the conspiracy theorist were right.

>>1203652
>Who else is a saurian? Anyone I know?
"And what this has to do with the Tekunin?"

>>1203652
All of the above, really...

But less so "how can we stop them?", time travel and groin punching'll probably do the trick.

>>1203652
>I mean, shit Ryan, between the saurians and the Teku-Nin do you even think this could be fixed without time travel?
>What are the saurians planning?

>>1203660
I mean there's Khameleon.

>>1203886
Well you aren't wrong.

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>>1203657
>>1203660
>>1203804
>>1203881

"Why are they here? What are they planning?"

"Well, from what I can gather, the Tekunin Clan isn't getting along with them. They're now putting a plan into effect to kidnap the President and take over Earth."

"They're taking the President?" Johnny says. "We have to stop those green sons-of-bitches!"

"Okay but WHY are they doing this?" Kaito insists on asking. "Why not just work with us?"

"Old rivalries perhaps," Ryan shrugs. "Mammals and reptiles haven't always gotten along."

"But we can co-exist! Interbreed, even! I know, I saw it." They both look at him. "Not the actual breeding part, but still."

An image comes up. They watch as Triborg takes down Vapor with some kind of injection, killing her instantly. An unconscious and poisoned Sheeva is taken through a portal. Cao is blown up by a nuclear-powered cyborg.

"Kids fought as hard as they could," Johnny says sadly, turning away when the machines dig Cassie's body out of the rubble. Kaito looks on as he himself is shown dragging Mileena out of the water.

He then hears Shang Tsung and Raiden speaking to each other.

"Fret not, thunder god. I have seen the future. Both of them. I know which one leads to the better conclusion. It is ironic, though... One of them actually prevents Armageddon. But that isn't the future he will choose."

Kaito's brow furrows in deep thought. He looks up at Ryan and asks, "Is it true? These... machines, this Tekunin Clan, prevents Armageddon?"

"Well, they did a good job of wiping the slate clean," he replies.

"Can it be stopped?"

"Delayed. In some cases for a very, very long time. But never completely stopped. Even if all of those machines took over the realms, they would find more enemies waiting. Perhaps even among themselves as programs began to disagree over which of them can calculate pi higher or something."

"Why was Raiden unable to prevent the machines? Why did Shang Tsung do nothing?"

"Shang is out for himself. Raiden, well, he's not as sharp as he used to be, clearly. He must've lost his spark. Heh."

"Hey, don't steal my jokes," Johnny pipes up.

Kaito ignores them both. "If we go back a few days, we could stop the machines. We could stop these saurians. Save everyone... but how much time do we have before Armageddon? Will it happen in our lifetimes?"

"I can't show you the future. I can only see the present and the past."

"What about other timelines, then?"

Ryan shakes his head. "I can't tell you that. I don't have the answer."

>Go back a few days
>Go back twenty years
>Ask more questions
>See more current events
>Other

>>1204034
>Go back a few days
we agreed. so we can scrap tri-borg and uproot the lizardmen conspiracy

>>1204034
>Go back a few days
Kaito dismantles Triborg and beats Havik's head in, and Johnny dismantles the saurian conspiracy.

>>1204034
>Ask Johnny if he really wouldn't be mad at us if we went back 20 years instead
>Ask Ryan if with all his wisdom and experience, what does he think; can we still settle things with Turana, or we are just afraid of looking at the facts, like the naive fools we are.

and finally
>Go back a few days

>>1204034
>>Ask more questions
>>See more current events
Ask if there's anything we can do to delay Armageddon.

Ask to see Meat and Yorick and any other interesting areas in the Realms he feels we should know about before we go back.

>>1204225
>Ask to see Meat and Yorick

Oh yes, definitely. Maybe they can help us with Havik.

>>1204115
>>Ask Ryan if with all his wisdom and experience, what does he think; can we still settle things with Turana, or we are just afraid of looking at the facts, like the naive fools we are.

Oh shit, actually, Turana told us that the girl whose body she stole was still alive, she'd just been transplanted, right?

At the very least, we need to fact-check that shit.

>>1204252
>>1204034
Not the worst question, although it does show a lack of trust.

>>1204609
We trusted her to not go crazy and do anything evil with Shang's spellbook, and how did that work out?

>>1204034
>See more current events
>Other- send Johnny back 2 days, stay and try to fix this reality!

>>1204609
Also who's gonna tell? will Ryan call up Turana and tell her Kaito doesn't trust her?

>>1204686
>stay and try to fix this reality!
Maybe Ryan will let us borrow Superman or something.

>>1204764
>>1204764
Yeah, good idea! Let's ask!

Besides, we almost are superman with our powers.

>>1204814
Staying seems dumb. Let the Tekunin have this universe. It'll be the one where Armageddon doesn't happen.

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>>1204057
>>1204099
>>1204115
>>1204225
>>1204235

Kaito closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Alright, Ryan. If it's okay with you, I think it's time we went back."

Ryan moves his staff to one side and leans on the opposite arm. "I take it you've come to a decision, then?"

"I want you to send me and Johnny back a few days. That was our plan from the beginning."

Ryan is silent for a moment. "Kaito." He leans forward somewhat, looking the man in the eyes. "You could save her, you know."

"I know... But I feel as though I can't go back."

He shakes his head. "That's not what I meant. You can save her now. It's not too late."

He blinks, then asks, "How?"

"That I leave for you to figure out. Your girl isn't as set in worshipping her new gods as you think; in fact, she has a plan that has always been in her mind to get rid of them. But if you'd like a good place to start, try Shang Tsung."

"Shang? What does he have to do with it?"

"More than you might think. Just some friendly advice: you've been going about this the wrong way. You need to focus. Don't let this matter distract you, because it's keeping you from finding another solution."

Kaito stares him back, and after a moment, nods. "Alright, Ryan. I will."

"Good. I'd hate for all this effort to go to waste. Now then... I'll send you both back a few days. The Elder Gods won't be happy, but I'll take the fallout on this one."

"What about Chronosis? Will he get involved?"

"I doubt it'll get up to his level, but I'll see if it can be helped. For what it's worth, he likes you."

"Really? I only met him once."

"Well, you're a likeable guy, I suppose. You'd have to be to convince me to stick my neck out like this for you." He checks his watch. "And, uh, I think it's about time you get going."

Nearby, a portal opens up. Johnny and Kaito shield their eyes from the light.

"I guess this is our ride," Johnny says as he walks up to it. "You coming, Kaito?"

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>>1204851

The man gives Ryan another look. He is about to turn away, but then he says, "Hey... Something's been bothering me."

"About Turana, right?"

"No, not actively, just a thought in the back of my mind. I mean I have a lot of questions but... I suppose everything will get resolved in time. Even so, can you tell me where Meat and Yorrick are?"

"Together, actually. In Seido."

"Orderrealm? Why?"

"They were arrested for having no identification papers and arguably no identities. They're awaiting trial, which should come in about twenty to fifty years. Give or take a decade."

An image comes up showing Meat in a cell next to the talking skull. "I'm innocent, I tell ya!" Yorrick cries out. "I don't even know this guy!"

"Shut up," the dripping skinless figure says as he folds his arms.

Kaito smirks. "Well, I'll have to drop by sometime and pay them a visit. Thanks, Ryan."

"It's what I do."

As they approach the portal, Kaito finds himself looking back. "Will we ever meet again?"

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope not. We only do when bad things happen and reality breaks."

"I suppose that's true. Goodbye then, Ryan."

"Good luck, Kaito. I'll be watching."

With a small wave, Kaito nods at Johnny and they both step through the portal into the light.

Everything is quiet for a moment as the light overtakes them. Much like how he first felt when Ryan used the orb, Kaito finds himself becoming like light, formless, shapeless, everywhere at once...

Then, he feels wind. In the distance, he hears the sound of battle. He opens his eyes and finds himself atop Riptor, with Elvis next to him. He looks out in the distance and sees the city of Nemsai, under siege by Kotal Kahn's army. He opens his mouth and breathes, realizing he is back where he was only a few short days ago, looking upon the war.

His eyes widen as he realizes what he must do.

>Hurry back to the island and fuck up that robot!
>Tell Kotal Kahn to call off the siege!
>Contact the New Defenders and have them fuck up that robot!
>Get in touch with Johnny with your communicator!
>Other

>>1204858
>>Hurry back to the island and fuck up that robot!

And on the way

>>Contact the New Defenders and have them fuck up that robot!
>>Get in touch with Johnny with your communicator!

Clock's a'tickin'. If we hurry, we can be back in time to stop Kotal after.

>>1204858
>Tell Kotal Kahn to call off the siege!
in person
>Contact the New Defenders and have them fuck up that robot!
>Get in touch with Johnny with your
communicator!
using the communicator

>>1204858
>Get in touch with Johnny with your communicator!
Johnny? Remember things? You know what you have to do, right? I'm tying up thing on my end

>Contact the New Defenders and have them fuck up that robot!
"Guys? This is going to sound weird, but I need you to trust me!"

>>1204858
>Other- Call General Cage-Blade, ask to have full diagnostics run on the training bot, a deep scan. Say we've been getting complaints from the rest of the team about bugs and malfunctions.

>>1204858
>Get in touch with Johnny with your communicator!
Then
>Tell Kotal Kahn to call off the siege!
>Contact the New Defenders and have them fuck up that robot!

>>1204901
Honestly, I want a robo-bro! Physically intact, and properly programmed to not assimilate everyone!

>>1204858
>>Hurry back to the island and fuck up that robot!
>>Tell Kotal Kahn to call off the siege and fuck up that robot!
>>Contact the New Defenders and have them fuck up that robot!
>>Get in touch with Johnny with your communicator!
>>Other
Contact everyone we know and tell them to fuck up that robot!

We going to tell someone about the Saurians at some point?

>>1205136
After we contact the Saurians and tell them to fuck up that robot!

>>1205136
>>1204858
>Have the training bot dismantled and shelved!
>Contact Kotal

>>1205136
That requires a plan, not just going to random people and saying "Lizard men infiltrated the world governments" for obvious reasons

>>1205149
>not just going to random people and saying "Lizard men infiltrated the world governments"
We should get a tin foil hat and do this just to fuck with people, before we go "But, no seriously...."

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>>1204866
>>1204893
>>1204898
>>1204901
>>1204971
>>1205085

Kaito lifts up his communicator and discovers, to his relief, that it is still functioning. He immediately calls up his only ally who knows the truth, Johnny. The connection here is fuzzy this far into Outworld but he is able to get the actor on the line.

"Johnny! Where are you? Do you remember?"

"Everything, buddy. Everything. I'm in negotiations for a film but I'm getting out of here right now, gonna say it's an emergency, and for once I won't be lying!"

"Call your wife and tell her to isolate that robot. I'm going to get in touch with the base!"

"Got it!"

Kaito breaks the connection and immediately rings up Takeda, whom he knows is not on duty at this moment. "Takeda? Takeda! Answer!"

A sweaty and weary Takeda answers the call. "Urgh. Hello?"

"Takeda! Where are you? On base?"

"Yeah... Hey, listen, this isn't a good time to---"

"Listen to me! This is an emergency! Get the other New Defenders assembled, but do NOT put the base on alert. Do you understand?"

"Uh... Yeah, I..."

Suddenly, Sheeva is seen behind him. "Is that Kaito? He said something about an emergency?"

Kaito tilts his head. "Sheeva? What are you doing there? Where are you, Takeda?"

"Uh... My room."

"What? Why is---" Kaito suddenly stops. For a moment, everything he has on his mind, from impending annihilation by sentient machines to the siege happening not very far away, is swept aside and replaced with an incredible sense of pride in the young telepath.

'Atta fucking boy. I'm going to have to pat him on the back and buy him a drink.'

He shakes his head. "Takeda! Listen: Get EVERYONE ready, but as subtly as possible, understand? I'm heading back there now!"

"Uh, right! Will do!" He closes out the connection as Kaito grabs the reigns and turns Riptor towards Kotal Kahn's forces, riding up to them with Elvis keeping pace alongside him, massive furry paws digging into the sand.

Kaito rides up to the emperor himself. "Emperor Kotal! You must call off the siege!"

Kotal, riding his own dinosaur mount, looks over and simply asks, "What? Why is this?"

"A great disaster is about to happen, and I am going to try to prevent it. But it allows the Deadly Alliance to attack Z'unkahrah while your forces are kept busy here!"

"I have left the city well-defender," Kotal says. "If we stop the siege now, Nemsai will have more time to recover for when we return."

Erron Black and Rajah look on as Kaito runs a hand through his hair. "Okay, just... I need to return to the New Defenders. Promise me you will hold your position until I can contact you again."

"You have my word," Kotal says, holding up a hand to call his forces to halt.

"I won't be long!" Kaito promises as he rides off.

>Head to the Dragon Wing and Mileena
>No time! Portal to the island!
>Alert Raiden! Tell him to watch for chaosrealm interferance!
>Contact Kenshi to put the OWEA on alert! (and tell him to congratulate his son)
>Other

>>1205155
>Alert Raiden! Tell him to watch for chaosrealm interferance!
>Contact Kenshi to put the OWEA on alert! (and tell him to congratulate his son)
>Head to the Dragon Wing and Mileena
In that order.

>>1205155
>Alert Raiden! Tell him to watch for chaosrealm interferance!
We can take a bit easier in going to the base. Let's try to trust a bit in Sheeva and Takeda.

Putting the OWEA on alert would only be useful if Tribor is already on it's way, or we want their reinforcement for something.

Havik is likely on the move, so watching for Chaosrealm is priority

>>1205155
>>Other
Call Shang Tsung, tell him we're in the timeline where Triborg murdered everyone, but we went back in time to stop it, so he has to get off his old ass and help.

>>1205155
>Alert Raise
>Mileena
>Portal to Island
More like Dragon Wing to Island amirite?

>>1205183
Since you're calling anyway, ask if he can help us with Turana!

>>1205244
Save the realms first, booty call later.

>>1205244
We got like a million better things to do. And Turana has her plan to hatch as well.

>>1205244
Literally the worst option right now.
I bet you expected something snarky here.

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>>1205166
>>1205179
>>1205194

As he races off, Kaito takes out a small stone with Raiden's seal upon it. He focuses and contacts the thunder god with this special artifact, who appears as a small blue hologram-like projection above it.

"Kaito. It is good to---"

"Raiden, Havik is up to something! Be on alert for any activity in Earthrealm or otherwise from the forces of chaos! This is NOT a drill!"

The thunder god's response is short. "Very well."

He sets the stone back into a pocket and then skids to a stop. He realizes that the Dragon Wing is too far away to reach in so short a time, and so he opts to merely contact Mileena instead. Intense relief floods through him when she answers his call.

"Kaito? Is everything alright?"

"Mileena, you need to take the Dragon Wing back to the island. I'll portal there now."

"Is something happening?"

"Not yet. Just trust me." He's about to hang up when he looks at her in the small screen. "And Mileena? I love you."

Her eyes flutter slightly in surprise. "I love you too," she replies, and the line is cut. He quickly takes out his personal portal generator as Elvis pants nearby, looking up at him curiously. After spending a charge to make a portal to the island, he rides his dinosaur mount through and Elvis follows. Once on the other side, back upon the sunny beaches of Shang Tsung's island, he sends Riptor off into the jungle and runs into the base, where he quickly finds the others.

Takeda approaches him, wearing all of his gear. "Kaito! What is this all about? I have everyone ready but we haven't received any kind of warning."

Kaito reaches forward and pulls Takeda into a hug, patting him on the back. "You did good."

"What?"

He pulls away. "We'll talk more later. Let's move."

>Everyone goes into the training center
>Meet with General Cage in the training center control room
>Wait for Mileena and Johnny to show up
>Cut all power to the training center and protect all security systems
>Other

>>1205498
>Wait for Mileena and Johnny to show up
>Cut all power to the training center and protect all security systems

>>1205498
>>Cut all power to the training center and protect all security systems
THEN
>Everyone goes into the training center

>>1205498
>Cut all power to the training center and protect all security systems
we need to make sure it doesn't make the jump from robot body to any other sort of electronics

even a microwave

>>1205498
>Meet with General Cage in the training center control room
>Cut all power to the training center and protect all security systems

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>>1205509
>>1205507
>>1205519
>>1205539

Kaito wastes no time and moves past the New Defenders, straight to the training center control room. Inside, he finds a technician.

"You!"

"What, gah, who, me?" The man drops a bag of chips. "Y-yes, sir?"

"What's your name?"

"J-Jerry."

"Jerry, I need you to cut all power to the training center and isolate it completely from the network."

The man blinks a few times. "Um, I, uh, I need clearance to---"

Kaito steps closer. "I'm captain of the New Defenders. You have your clearance. Consider this an omega-level-alpha-niner."

"Is... that bad?"

"It is for you if you don't do what is ordered. I might just have a chat with General Cage about your performance..."

"N-no! I got it!" He dashes to a console and logs in. Kaito approaches the window and looks down into the training room, where he sees the lights go out one by one, all except for two light sources: the one on the Dragon Medallion, and the training android.

"Close off any connection the android has to the training room's systems."

"Sir?"

"Do it now."

A few taps of the keys later, and Jerry looks up. "Uh, sir, it's not letting me."

Kaito smiles. "Of course not. Do you have door control?"

"Yes sir."

"Not for long, I'd wager. Stay here and monitor the room." He walks out of the observation room and to the security center, where he collects several soldiers. He orders them to face the training center door and shoot anything that comes out of it that isn't human.

Several of the New Defenders walk up. "Kaito, what's this all about?" Cassie asks.

He looks at Tundra. "We're going to need to get the Dragon Medallion out of that room. Everyone, come with me."

They all look at each other but follow him into the training room. "Damn, it's dark in here," Jin says. "Can we get some lights?"

Kaito stops alongside the Dragon Medallion as Tundra enters the code. He stares the training android down as Cassie and Cao step up next to him. "Kaito, seriously, talk to us. What's going on?"

He looks over his shoulder. "Tundra, take the medallion somewhere safe." The Lin Kuei nods and leaves the room. Once he is clear, Kaito looks back at the android. "Jerry, lights," he shouts. The lights come on int the chamber. The mechanical man remains still. "Cassie, shoot that android."

She cocks a brow. "That thing's bullet-proof."

"Then Cao, hit it with your hammer. Destroy it."

Cao looks at the others and shrugs, summoning his Wrath Hammer. He approaches the anroid and moves to swing it when it suddenly leaps backwards.

"Must still have some self-preservation protocols," Cassie says.

Kaito nods. "Yeah. Ones that involve exterminating all organic life." He points at the android and says loudly, "This machine has become sentient. If given the chance, it will destroy all of us."

The others all look at each other. "Are you sure you haven't been watching too many movies?" Cassie asks.

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>>1206353

"He hasn't," a voice calls out as the chamber doors open. The group turns around to see Johnny and Sonya walking in. Johnny stops alongside Kaito. "That thing is alive and wants us dead." He then walks over to Cassie, hugs her and kisses her head.

"Ah, dad, knockit off. The hell?"

He squeezes his arms around her. "Sorry, princess. I was afraid I'd lost you."

Sonya approaches the android and barks an order at it. "Engage shutdown sequence, emergency override code zero-zero-one."

The machine does not shut down. It continues to stare.

Sonya then takes out a remote and presses a button, but nothing happens.

Kaito's hands curl into fists. Everyone else takes notice and readies themselves.

The machine stares for another moment before leaping back and making a break for it!

>1d100!

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>1206362
Go for the legs! Keep that fucker from running!

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>1206362
Take out some frustrations bloody fists style

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>1206362

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>1206362
>Tackle!
Super late save?

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>>1206449
>>1206456
>>1206477
>>1206774

Everyone goes for the machine at the same time. Jin fires an arrow, which the android ducks under as it leaps over Jacqui's head. It lands alongside Ling, who tries to sweep its legs out with her staff, but it flips over that as well. It moves with mechanical precision, taking advantage of their chaotic scrambling to make a line for the door. Kaito prepares an attack, but stops when he sees the door opening.

It opens, but unexpectedly, it is not due to the android---but rather Jerry, who is holding an EMP rifle. The technician raises it and blasts the machine, who cannot dodge its wide area of effect. Electricity surges across its surface as its limbs go stiff, and like a ragdoll it crumbles to the floor.

Jerry lowers the gun and opens his eyes. "Did I get it?"

Several minutes later, the android is bolted onto a stretcher and taken to a secure location. Kaito and the others watch it go, and he and Johnny impart several warnings to the staff to make sure that the machine has absolutely no contact with other technology. As the android is taken off-site, the two of them meet with Sonya in the briefing room.

"I can't believe what you're saying."

"It's all true, baby. All of it."

"Can it with the baby crap, Johnny." Sonya paces the length of the room. "A machine uprising? Saurians infiltrating the government? Time travel? The story is too farfetched."

Kaito smirks. "Since when has that stopped anything from being true?"

Sonya doesn't share his enthusiasm. She takes a seat at the head of the table. "If what you are telling me is true, then we've eliminated one threat in its infancy already. Havik's plan to use this... Tekunin Clan to wipe us out won't work if we never let it get off the ground. But this other problem..."

Johnny holds up his hand. "I'm telling you, Sonya, the Secretary of Defense is a lizardman, and no, I'm not being a conspiracy theorist. It's true."

"They've developed weapons and technology to actively destroy the New Defenders," Kaito says. "It's all happening in a secret lab beneath Area 51."

"Man I just said we're not conspiracy theorists, why'd you have to phrase it like that?"

Kaito waves him off. "The point is, we know one of them and have a chance to take him down. Interrogate him. Learn how deeply this goes."

Sonya stares at them, hard. "You're talking about attacking and interrogating a United States government official. The second person on my chain of command."

Johnny is serious. "He's not human, Sonya. We need to take him down."

She brings her elbows up onto the table and puts her hands together in front of her chin. "I'm taking a big risk here trusting you, Johnny. You're lucky you're my husband."

"Thanks, baby."

>Lure Secretary Blake here
>Ambush him in his office
>Wait a while and observe
>Take out Area 51
>Other

>>1206857
>Lure Secretary Blake here
crisis happened, needs government oversight.

>>1206857
>Lure Secretary Blake here

>>1206857
>look into getting Jerry a bottle of his favorite alcohol, and a week paid vacation! He deserves it!

When Kaito sees Mileena, he should embrace her and passionately kiss her.

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>>1206932
>>1206938
>>1208114

"We should lure him here," Kaito suggests. "Ambush him on home ground."

"He hasn't been here since the team's initial trials," Johnny points out. "We could always extend an invitation."

"I'll handle that," Sonya says. "It might take some time, though. It's important that we don't give ourselves away in the meantime."

Kaito shrugs. "That's easy enough. We just continue like nothing has happened; everything's normal."

The doors to the room open and everyone looks up. Mileena walks in and puts her hands on her hips. "What is going on?" she asks.

Kaito looks upon her and rushes up to tear her mask down and kiss her. She is surprised by his sudden passion, placing her hands on his chest. Sonya looks away, but Johnny looks on, sickened but curious.

When he pulls away, she is nearly speechless. "Kaito, you seem as though you have seen a ghost," she whispers.

"Maybe I have," he smirks, then kisses her again.

Sonya stands up and heads for the door. "I'll leave it to you to explain. I need to go do what we talked about." Kaito pays her little mind as she slips by. Johnny pats him on the shoulder as he follows his wife.

Kaito ends the kiss and hugs her, burying a hand in her raven locks. "I have so much to tell you."

They sit down and he explains everything to her. Holding her hands on the table all the while, he finally lays it all out. She listens well and speaks little, though there are parts she does not understand, especially around this bending of time issue. But he elaborates on all of the important details and what he did to save the timeline and stop their deaths, and what he learned when his battle with Aegis was finished.

"I simply know not what to say," she whispers when he is done. "That is a story unlike any other."

"It's all true. You know me too well to think I would lie."

Mileena looks up. "Then, do we still have the orb?"

"We should. It wasn't affected by the timeline changing." He and she both stand and leave the room, proceeding to the vault where the orb is kept. After entering the code, the doors open, revealing an empty room with an empty pedestal.

"You were saying?" Mileena asks.

"But the orb was taken after this time," Kaito says in a confused tone. "Could this mean..."

He suddenly storms past her, heading for the Kamidogu vault. She follows quickly behind as he stops and enters the code. The door opens and, sure enough, the Kamidogu of Chaosrealm is gone.

"I can't believe it," he whispers.

"Should we sound the alarm? Was it stolen?"

"Stolen from time, not from anyone infiltrating our facility. Somehow, Havik retained the Kamidogu even after the timeline changed... but how?"

"You can no longer speak to this... Ryan?"

"No... But someone, somewhere knows what is going on. And I'm betting his name is Havik."

>Talk with Mileena
>Talk with Raiden
>Talk with Kotal Kahn
>Talk with Takeda
>Other

>>1208540

> Shang Tsung

>>1208540
>>Other
Let's go see Shang

>>1208540
> Shang Tsung

But before that, take a moment to
>Talk with Takeda
Take his shoulder, look him deep in the eye, and tell him you are proud of him.

>>1208618
>>1208540
And tell him to threat Sheeva nice, or we won't be too happy

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Where's Doctor Robotnik or whatever his name is! He needs to die!

>>1208540
>Talk with Kotal Kahn

We did put stopping the attack on Nemsai on the backburner 'cause we were in a hurry, but robot thing's done now so let's not get sidetracked right away...

Then
>Talk with Shang

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Sorry for the long break. Confrontation with Shang and the rest will follow, but there isn't much left based on player choice that I have planned honestly. I think I'll just write it out normally and I'll let you know when it gets posted.

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In a mostly-empty throne room, Shang Tsung sits upon his throne, turning the pages of his book. He doesn't look up as the main doors to his palace are pushed open, nor does he regard the man who walks up to his throne.

Kaito stands before the old sorcerer with a none-too-pleased look upon his face. He folds his arms and speaks without any kind of greeting. "What would you do, right now, if the entire New Defenders were wiped out?"

He doesn't immediately reply. He turns a page. "I'd likely be glad I had my island to myself once more."

"You know, sometimes I wonder if one death was enough to absolve you of what you did to my father."

Now Shang closes the book and looks up. "And?"

"I haven't made up my mind yet." He walks up onto the first few steps leading to the throne. "You knew, didn't you? About the machine."

"I saw the signs."

"And you didn't warn us."

"I'm under no obligation to."

"I thought we had an understanding."

"We do; but not about what you are describing." Kaito's hands ball into fists. "Oh, yes, strike down the old man."

"You've got a lot more than that coming after what you've pulled."

"I think you mean, after what I haven't yet pulled, and likely will not since we are having this conversation. I take it your time travel went well?"

"How do you know all of this?"

"The book. The Tao Te Zhan revealed it to me through careful study. A marvelous book, truly."

Kaito steps up and snatches the book out of his lap and opens it, only to find blank pages.

"There's nothing in it."

"Not for you," Shang says, snatching it back. "Only those with magic can understand it."

Kaito narrows his eyes and points at Shang. "What do you know about what Havik has done?"

"You think I know what is in that mind of his? Not even the Tao Te Zhan can divine that."

The man lowers his hand, but continues to firmly stare. "If something should happen again, and I learn that you could have prevented it, you're going to wish you had. I'll see to that personally."

"We shall see," Shang replies. Kaito turns around and walks off. Halfway through the throne room, the sorcerer calls out, "Your mistake, Kaito, was ever thinking we were friends. That I like your little team and the peons in it. I never was, I never did, I never will."

Kaito stops, but says nothing. He walks up to the doors and slams them shut behind him.

Shang cracks a half-smile and goes back to reading.

>QM tells us Shang knows shit about how to possibly unfuck the Turana situation
>Players pick to go to Shang
>QM railroads us into shouting match with him

Damashi, king of blueballing.

>>1211596

>Completely forgot about that bit where Ryan mentioned Shang

Fuck.

Alright, my bad.

I'll fix it when I get back from work in the morning; got plans for a Kotal scene and a Turana scene. In my head the more pressing issue was that Kaito was still mad about Shang not lifting a finger to save the team; I think Kaito will try to pursue a different avenue to Turana now that he knows Shang isn't actually playing ball in his court.

But yeah, I wrote that last bit without that thing Ryan mentioned in mind, sorry about that. I suppose that'll happen when you try to keep two narratives/quests going in your head at the same time and then stop focusing on one for eleven hours; some detail was bound to slip through the cracks.

More coming when I get back.

You can rarely trust sorcerers in MK.
Let this time travel incident be a lesson fellow anons...

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Through the darkened halls of her temple, Turana walks silently and solemnly. Her mind is heavy with burden; a particularly taxing ritual was performed not long ago to ensure the continued success of the soldiers of her kingdom. The siege has not been taxing, but it has been stessful. Her machinations have allowed Nemsai to become self-sufficient in many ways, but there are still improvements to be made.

So heavy is the burden on her mind she doesn't notice that she isn't alone in the hall until a hand grabs her and pulls her into a shadowed alcove. Her eyes go wide as she beholds the face of the man she loves: Kaito. He slams a hand over her mouth and speaks in a whispered tone.

"Turana. Tell me what you're up to with Shang Tsung."

She blinks as he lowers his hand. "You know?"

"I don't know. That's why you're going to tell me."

She swallows softly and licks her lips before speaking. "He contacted me when he learned I have his spellbook. I have an arrangement with him."

"You can't trust him. He's a sorcerer."

"And what am I?"

"Someone that I am still not sure I can trust after what she has done." He takes a sharp breath and focuses on her eyes. "I risked a lot sneaking in here. I know you have some kind of plan going on, against your---"

Now she puts a hand against his mouth. Outside, two figures pass by, simple guards on patrol. "I cannot speak on this. Ears are listening. But yes, I have a plan. I have always had a plan and could not speak of it."

"Turana, I told you what could be done to earn my trust back. You haven't done the things I asked."

"I know. I cannot right now. I want to, I want so desperately to, but I must wait for the right time. This war is not helping... Kaito, I want nothing more than to give the water freely."

"Tell me of your plan, then."

She puts her hands on his chest and takes a deep breath. "There are good people here, Kaito, under the rule of these gods. I gave them a home, a civilization. We have rekindled art, music, culture for these lost tribes and we have built a force that can defend against even the Emperor of Outworld. The people here live good lives... You were here once, long before this was built. You saw the tribes of snakefolk and how they sold each other out. Here, they and others have found some peace. That's all I've wanted."

"I'd like to believe you," he replies softly. "But you have to be warned not to trust Shang Tsung. He's in this for himself."

"You must find a way to end this war, Kaito. I beg of you. When the time is right, when I can free us and our people from these gods..." Again she goes quiet, worried that someone may be listening. "You should go," she whispers sadly.

He takes her hands in his. "Turana... I want you to know something."

"Yes?"

He stares for a moment, contemplating if he should tell her that he could have made things different. "We'll see each other again. I'll do what I can with Kotal Kahn."

"I love you." He lingers for a moment, then fades into the stones.

>>1211298
>That I like your little team and the peons in it. I never was, I never did, I never will.
I dunno, I think Shang likes us as much as an angry old sorcerer can.

>You can rarely trust sorcerers in MK.
That's not true, you can trust sorcerers. We know Shang is looking out for himself primarily, and this agreement benefits him because if anyone realizes he's alive and comes after him, they have to go through the Kombatants on the island.

Also, he's hilarious and gets up to the best shenanigans.