Jade cried out in pain as she tried to remove the spear that pierced her side. With a flash of pain the spear was out. Jade stood up; no time for pain. She saw the blade in time and lept aside. With a swift slice of her bojutsu the soldier fell. She parried the attack of another and elbowed him in the jaw.

Jade pushed him aside and continued climbing the palace steps. In all directions Edenian soldiers and the soldiers of Outworld clashed in a bitter battle of survival. She cut aside several men as she moved to the front. Jade had lost to much ground after the centurian calvary charged through the her ranks. Only Sub-Zero's platoon kept its footing and managed to reach the palace gates. She had to reach him and give him support.

"General!" A voice cried out among the sounds of battle.

Jade paused, "Kung Lao!"

Kung Lao finished off a soldier with a quick decapitation and gestured to the sky, "Look!"

Jade craned her head and rolled to the side as something impacted the ground. When she regained her footing she searched for the source of the projectile. She gasped as a larger projectile shadowed the battle.

There was a bright light and everything was silent.

Sub-Zero wrenched the sword from a warriors hand and with a fluid motion he cut him in two with his kori blade. He spun on the ball of his foot and decapitated the head of an enemy soldier. The cyromancer knelt to the ground as another warrior attempted to take his life. He returned to his feet, spun behind him, and cracked his neck. Sub-Zero twisted into the air and brought his heel into someones jaw. He landed gracefully and lifted a soldier into the air with a powerful uppercut.

Before he could finish him, a terrible explosion shook the earth.

Sub-Zero gained his balance, "Kikero!" the liutenate perked his head, "What was that?"

Kikero parried a blow from his foe, "I don't-" Another, more terrible, explosion brought Kikero to his knees. Sub-Zero held on to a near-by pillar for balance as the ground shook again beneth him. "Sir, the explosion came from the steps!"

Jade.

As Sub-Zero raced to the steps, a heavy blow to his ribs knocked him off of his feet. Sub-Zero landed on the ground with a loud thud and tried to regain his breath. A dark shadow enveloped him. Sub-Zero looked upon his attacker.

"Shao Kahn," Sub-Zero spat.

Shao Kahn rested his warhammer on his shoulder, "Sub-Zero. Did you really belive that your little assult could cripple me?"

"It was worth a shot," Sub-Zero coughed.

Shao Kahn laughed, "You're pathetic." He lifted his hammer over his head.

Sub-Zero grimaced in pain; a broken rib. He closed his eyes. Soon the pain will be gone.