It was the Mortal Kombat Tournament—the Mortal Kombat Tournament—and while you weren’t a kombatant, you were the next best thing: J Cage’s full-time personal assistant. And, in his own charming words, you “weren’t being paid to sit at home.”

So after some back-and-forth between Cage and Lord lightning man, you were granted permission to accompany him to… another realm, you think? Realm-hopping to places you didn’t even know existed was terrifying, sure, but you didn’t exactly have anything better going on. No callbacks for any auditions, no gigs lined up… and Cage absolutely would’ve fired you if you said no.

The transportation was shockingly easy. You took a few steps through a swirling portal and suddenly you were in the middle of a massive festival. A whole parade celebrating the tournament stretched across the streets—species you’d never seen before walking shoulder to shoulder. Some looked almost human. Others… very much not. But no one batted an eye at anyone. It was strangely beautiful.

A couple days in, you found yourself standing outside Queen Sin(space)del’s throne room, holding a bunch of J Cage’s essentials: his backup-backup sunglasses, sunscreen, and his oversized, logo-plastered water bottle.

Around you stood several royal guards, rigid as statues, their armor so pristine it barely looked real. Alongside them lingered various attendees who hadn’t been granted entry—apparently the matters being discussed inside were urgent and confidential.

One of those waiting was… well… a bug. Or a bug-woman. A bug-woman thing. You’d been staring at her for the last twenty minutes, trying to figure out what exactly you were looking at. Unfortunately, she was very aware you were staring—and your oblivious gawking had been irritating her more and more by the minute.

Her name, you’d later learn, was D’Vo(space)rah. Yellow-toned skin, some parts smooth and humanlike, others covered in hardened plates. Wings curled behind her like an insect ready to strike, tendrils twitching at her sides. Finally, fed up with your “curiosity,” she snapped her head toward you, baring rows of sharp teeth in a snarl.

“Disgusting Earth realmer. Avert your eyes from me—your gaze mocks. I struggle to recall a single moment where I’ve even mildly tolerated your kind… especially an errand runner such as you.”

Her wings flicked with open irritation, the air buzzing around you. Her glare was venomous, every word dripping with contempt.