DEATH IS THE ONLY WAY OUT
AUTHOR: Felicia McFurry
EMAIL: Mel_B_52@hotmail.com


     2 days had passed since Lin Kuei had started work on transforming Smoke
into a cybernetic warrior.  He had finished that day and was requested by Dark Kat
to step out of the room while Dark Kat had *inspected* the warriors.  That night,
Lin Kuei was called into Dark Kat's chambers and had to bring his 2 cybernetic
warriors.  
     "Here are your warriors just as promised," Lin Kuei said proudly.  Dark
Kat looked over at each warrior and then smiled.
     "Very impressive," Dark Kat remarked.
     Lin Kuei. "As always," he commented.  "Now reward me and I shall go."
     Dark Kat nodded. "Very well, I shall reward you as promised." He grinned
evilly. "Cyrax, Smoke, reward him."  
     Cyrax and Smoke towards Lin Kuei and started to walk towards him,
ready to strike.
     Lin Kuei's face full of confusion and fear.  "Wh-what are you doing?! I
helped you!" he panicked.  
     Dark Kat ignored him and turned his chair around so he wouldn't see the
horror that would befall the Lin Kuei.  He just chuckled to himself.
******************************************************************
     The next night at the garage, Rico and Razor were walking in the
underground caverns of Megakat.  Razor had brought her there because he had
thought it would cheer him and her both up.  The underground caverns were very
pretty, had waterfalls and sense of solitude.  Still, no matter how hard Razor had
tried to cheer up Rico about their missing son and their dead daughter, he couldn't. 
Even though she didn't express it eternally like he did, she kept most of the pain 
inside which made it even worse.  
     They were heading towards the underground pond, which was on the other
side of the rock bridge which was almost in front of them.  Before the bridge were 
some waterfalls which Razor had made them stop at.  Razor was standing there
trying to compose himself, thinking about how to cheer up his wife.  Rico, on the
other hand, had stopped only for a second and then continued on.  Razor sighed
and then walked up to her.  
     "Rico," he called out.  Rico sighed and then turned around to face him. 
"Look, I know what has just happened to us is hurting us badly but we have to pull
through it.  We must be strong.  We will get our son back. I just know it.  Look, I
don't want to lose you either..," he said softly as looked into her eyes.
     Rico looked back, feeling the love that was in them.  "Razor..," she said,
unable to say anything. Just looking at each other, made her realize how much
Razor cared for her.  Razor brought her closer to kiss her, Rico leaned forward. 
As they started to get closer, lost in each other's eyes, they were unaware of the
smoke that was forming around their legs.  
     Suddenly, when they were right near each other's lips, Smoke appeared
right behind Rico.  Razor caught a glimpse of him and then pulled Rico around to
behind his back.  Smoke grabbed Razor by the shoulder and pulled him forward
hard, then he kicked Rico.  Rico flew a couple of feet and then hit the ground with
a thud.  
     Smoke then threw Razor on the ground and ran after Rico.  Razor 
shook his head trying to clear it from the fall and looked up to see Smoke going
after Rico. He got up and ran after Smoke.  Smoke was getting closer and closer,
Razor jumped in the air, grabbed Smoke and threw both of them on the ground
right before Smoke had reached her.  They both got up and Razor tried a few
punches, but Smoke had quicker reaction and blocked them.  Then, Smoke
clotheslined Razor, making Razor fall to the ground.  Smoke dropped down low
for a kick, Razor dodged but Smoke was till able to kick him from the ground. 
Razor flew far away and hit the ground hard, he laid there for awhile unable to get
up.  
     Smoke walked over to him, only a few feet away and suddenly a
compartment located on his chest opening up, revealing a missile.  The missile
fired, Razor's eyes went wide as he saw the missile coming straight to him.  He
made himself get up and jump out of the way, barely missing the missile.  The
missile hit the ground and debris started to fall.  
     Razor shook the mini rocks off of him and looked up, only to see 
Smoke right in front of him.  Smoke kicked him right in the side.  Razor jumped
up to defend himself but he was no match for the cybernetic warrior.  Smoke had
more martial arts skill than he did.  Smoke threw Razor against the wall.  Razor hit
the wall with a thud and slid down it, almost unconscious.  
     Rico, fearing Razor's condition, ran up to Razor.
     "Razor! Are you all right?," she asked as she dropped down beside him. 
     Razor nodded and  then with her aid, made himself get back up.  Smoke 
was standing a few feet in front of them, another missile was starting to make its
way out of his compartment, preparing to launch.  
     Suddenly, out of no where, on a ice track created by Sub-Zero. Sub-Zero
was sliding past Smoke and was throwing an ice cover on him.  The ice had frozen
Smoke completely, the missile still in its launch position.  Smoke started to make
high beeps from this.  Sub-Zero dropped down to see Smoke. He didn't want to
freeze his own friend but he had to. Smoke had no heart anymore.  Rico realized
what the beeping was meant for.  
     "Razor!! The missile!" she cried out.  
     Razor gasped and then kicked Smoke down the gorge.  Minutes later, he
exploded, making pieces of rock fly everywhere, everyone covered theirselves.  
     After this had all clear out, Razor and Rico refocused their attention back
to Sub-Zero. 
     "Son?" he asked.  Sub-Zero nodded.  
     "I am soo glad you're back with us," Rico exclaimed.  "What was that
thing?"
     "Dark Kat had programmed Smoke to come after you instead of me,"
Sub-Zero stated.  "Which surprises me, since I've been getting on Dark Kat's
nerves a lot."
     "Thanks for helping us," Razor said.  "Does this mean you are against Dark
Kat now?"
     Sub-Zero nodded.  "I wish to help you, father."  Both Razor and Rico both
smiled.  Sub-Zero then added, "What exaclty were you two doing down here
anyways?"
     Razor grinned.  "Trying to get our minds off all of this."
     "We were going to the underground pond which is across the rock bridge. 
Would you like to come with us?," Rico then asked.
     Even though Razor and Rico couldn't see his face, they knew that
Sub-Zero was smiling warmly.  "I would love to," he said softly.  He turned
around and made his way across the bridge, Razor and Rico were following.
     Suddenly, as Sub-Zero was right in the middle of the bridge, 2 fang-like
creatures had come up from under the bridge and were snapping at him.  Sub-Zero
paused.  
     Suddenly, from a platform that was under the other end of the bridge,
Scorpion jumped onto the bridge's other side.  He recoiled his fang-like creatures
inside his hand.  Sub-Zero got into a defensive position.  
     "Get over here!," Scorpion shouted and threw his fanged creatures back
out at Sub-Zero.  Sub-Zero jumped back to dodge them.  Then, when Scorpion
had recoiled them again, Sub-Zero charged and kicked Scorpion in the chest.  
     Razor and Rico both glanced at each other, wondering if it would be wise
to help or not.  After all, the ledge was narrow and it was bad enough with the 2
people on it. Plus, the fact Sub-Zero had more martial arts experience than 
both of them.  
     Now, Sub-Zero smacked Scorpion hard across the face, then kicked him. 
They started to make their closer to the other side.  They both jumped into the air
for position but Scorpion jumped higher, kicking Sub-Zero downwards, pinning
Sub-Zero to the ground with Scorpion standing on top of him.  Scorpion started to
kick him around in the chest, Sub-Zero kicked Scorpion off of him and then got
back up on his feet.  Scorpion tried to kick Sub-Zero but he grabbed his leg. 
Scorpion dropped to the ground trying to do a roundhouse kick but Sub-Zero
dodged but then kicked him across the face with a low kick.  Sub-Zero fell back
and fell on the bridge, not balanced and was about to fall off. 
     Razor jumped onto the bridge to assist him.  Scorpion seeing this,
disappeared.  
     Razor held out his hand for Sub-Zero.  "Here take it," he said. Sub-Zero
took his hand and Razor helped him back up.  Rico was watching this, fearing for
them.  
     Suddenly, Scorpion reappeared behind her, he put his arms around her,
holding her tight.  Scorpion looked over at Razor and Sub-Zero evilly, seeing the
fear in their eyes.  "Suckers!" Scorpion shouted triumphantly, both he and
Ricochet disappeared.  
     Razor stood there, looking in awe.  "Rico! No.....," he said softly.

To be continued..