On a very sunny day around the Shaolin Temple. A few Shaolin monks and the remaining defenders of Earth Realm stood in a moment of silence. Sonya, Johnny, Kenshi, and only Hard Head came. The others that had been restored did not come due to the trauma they suffered under Quan Chi's horrible control. They knew there was the chance of restoring their friends back to normal, but at the moment, all seemed horrified. They had stopped Shao Khan from ruling Earth Realm, and the return of Shinnok. However they had paid the greatest of all prices, and they still haven't fully stopped Quan Chi. For as long as Quan Chi still has control over their friends, they might as well be dead.
The leader and God of Thunder Raiden stood in front of everyone. Behind him was the paintings of their fallen friends. Candles lighten to honor them.
"We are gathered here to honor those who perished in the defense in Earth Realm. Some knew what they were to expect while others were dragged into it without being their choice. Bit no matter their reasons and circumstances, they fought and died for this realm to be save from not only Shao Khan but from Shinnok's return. Someday we may find a way to return them to the state that they once proudly were. But until that day comes, we honor their great sacrifice for the price they paid for all they've done." Raiden spoke.
Everyone bowed their heads in respect after Raiden finished with the ceremony. After its conclusions, some stayed in to pay their last respects while a few left. The warrior Hard Head stayed and sat on a bench close by. He watched everyone come to the paintings to light candles for them.
"Hard Head?" he heard Raiden ask.
He looked to see the Thunder God walk up to him and take a seat.
"You must not blame yourself. You did as much as they did."
Hard Head sighed.
"Yeah, like letting Mileena and Sheeva use me as their sex toy while my friends were all butchered like cattle." he sighed shamefully.
"Please Hard Head. Don't let this be your downfall. I let my visions get to me trying to save the future. It is you that should not be ashamed of."
Hard head just leaned forward and placed his hands on his face.
"I should've been there to help fight Sindel. I should've tried to talk some sense into Liu Kang. But no I was just laying there in the flesh puts while that evil bitch and her co hort had there way with me." Hard Head lays his head back and just stared at the paintings from a distance.
"Well at least we were able to save some of our friends from Quan Chi. But not all of them."
Raiden was silent for a moment. Hard Head stood up and started walking.
"Would you are about to choose next, will not be wise Hard Head. With Shao Khan gone, Mileena is now the empress of Outworld. And her rule is not kind." Raiden warned.
Hard Head stopped and looked back at Raiden.
"Well how else would you have me track that bastard Quan Chi down?" he asked.
"Be patient my friend. There will be a way, but I suggest think over your yet to make actions. For they have consequences as I have experienced first hand the hard way."
Hard Head did not answer and continued walking off. As he was making his way out of the temple he saw Kenshi laying back on the wall close to the exit.
"What will you do now?" Kenshi asked him.
"Can't you read minds?" Hard Head asked.
"I am reading your mind, but it tells me you don't know." he answered.
"I plan to confront my fear. A fear that has haunted me for sometime now."
"But you do not know that. Part of your mind tells me you wish to confront Mileena but you know you would not survive the encounter. So now you're going to do a little soul searching or something before you confront her." Kenshi mentions.
"You can say that."
"Then maybe I can point you to a right direction. In Outworld their lives a powerful being by the name of Nitara. Her allegiance are to herself but she sees Mileena as an enemy. She may know of a way that could help you fight Mileena, and if possible, could join us." Kenshi tells him.
"How do I know she won't turn on me and kill me?" Hard Head asks.
"You just got to have a little faith that she won't." Kenshi tells him as he pats him on the shoulder and walks off.
He sighs, puts his mask and hood on then makes his pathway underground. Meanwhile Raiden walks over to Kenshi as they watch him leave.
"Are you sure we should send him to her?" Kenshi asks.
"I do not know Kenshi. The visions showed that she fought against us. Perhaps if the right circumstances are done, we could gain more allies to find Quan Chi and help return our friends to normal." Raiden admitted.
"Is it wise to manipulate events more than they already have been?" he asked worried.
"My friend, that has happened way too late. We are at the critical point of no return. So now if events must be changed, let us change them for the better." Raiden answers.
Three years later...
Hard Head awoke early in the morning. He looked around his surroundings and remembered he spent the night at a small hotel in Outworld. One that was a little far from Mileena's reach of her rule. He noticed he had slept with two Outworlder women last night. Getting up he decided to check himself out before beginning his normal routine.
Walking over to what he believes to be the bathroom or something similar. He took a look at the mirror to get a look at himself. A tall, muscular, tanned-skinned humanoid with short black spiky hair with matching goatee and mustache. He popped his muscles and neck, washed his face, and then proceeded to get dressed.
He first puts on his black pants and boots covering his lower body, along with a black sleeveless shirt. Next he puts on his sand camouflage light armor covering his forearms and lower legs. After that he puts his open V-shaped sand camouflage vest on that protected his torso, extending to a matching small fauld and loincloth. Over this puts his black sleeveless apocalyptic robe on with a open hood. He puts his gasmask on his face before placing his hood over his head.
When he finished getting fully dressed he wrote down on a letter thinking the people for letting him stay along with attaching a large bag of gold coins to the letter before he exited.
Once outside, he decided he needed to head to the market to resupply on supplies before he headed back out searching for Nitara who he's been searching for three years now. Three years and still no results of where this lady was. He often wondered if Kenshi threw him on a wild goose chase to keep him from doing anything drastic to the Empress. However he knew Kenshi wouldn't do that and there were some who did talk or at least knew who Nitara was.
Beginning his normal casual day, he walked around the market area looking for stuff he would need for another he wasn't sure how long trip, buying stuff only what he would need such as extra food and water and etc. When his supplies restocked, he decided to head to a bar to see if he could pick up any rumors regarding Nitara.
He listens very closely to two human males next to him but analyzed their appearances. He looked more into them and see that they weren't human at all they were Moroi's also known as Vampires. He tried not to spook them as he kept continue watching them.
"This can't go on for much longer. The new Emperor makes Shao Khan look like a laughing joke." one says quietly.
"Shhh...you don't want to say it out loud. She's got ears and eyes everywhere. Besides what can our mistress do? We are a weak race under Mileena's horrible rule and we can do nothing but kiss her feet. Besides our mistress is not interested in the throne for Outworld, she wants to restore our old home, before Shao Khan took it over. The rest of outworld you know she could care less for." the other one answers quietly.
"How long before Ms. Mad Empress decides she just wants to exterminate us just for the fun of it. Our mistress could defeat her, take the throne, and then restore our realm before it became part of outworld." his friend tells him quietly.
"Look, we have to face facts, there's nothing we can do and nothing our mistress can do. We just sit back and watch the inevitable happen sooner or later." he tells him quietly as they started drinking their drinks.
"What inevitable? Hopefully these two know where she could be." He thought to himself.
He sat quietly and accepted his drink when the waitress came and brought it to him. He took a few sips and listened for more what these two Vampires had to say. They didn't say much else in fear for their own safety maybe.
Before he could finish his drink he saw two Tarkatans enter the bar, lead by some insect looking lady he never met before. The lady's physical appearance draws on several insect motifs. Her skin takes the appearance of a yellow chitinous hide with four wing/pincers jutting out from her back. The back of her head is adorned with black markings and her lips are naturally black. On the heels of her feet are what looks like high heel wedges. Her eyes are compound, possessing the same fractured appearance as a fly's eyes. All of her teeth are sharp and pointed, exhibiting possible carnivorous eating habits. She wore a black top and hood, spiked gauntlets on her arms armored ringlets on her forearms, and armored shin guards. A single scarab-shaped piece of jewelry with a green centered gem rests around her neck.
The three walked up to Hard Head as the bug lady spoke first.
"This one has been sent by her empress to bring you to her." she spoke in a buzzing voice.
"Empress? She must be talking about Mileena Raiden mentioned." He thought to himself.
"You will come with this one to speak with the Empress or will drag you beaten and battered to her if must. Which is your decision?" she asked again in a rude fashion.
"First off, who the hell are you, and why does Mileena wish to see me?" Hard Head asked as some of the crowed was getting frighten.
"This one is known as D'Vorah, and does not question her Empress' reasons. Now what is your decision?"
Hard Head noticed the situation he was in, seeing the Tarkatans with D'Vorah readying their arms blades should the issue arise. He also knew that if he was to make a scene that there was a good chance that more would come and really make the situation worse with him. With a sigh he gave up, stood on his feet and walked quietly with them back to the throne room.
"If you insist…" He growls under his breath.
The trip to the throne room was quite the long walk. Mostly because they had to walk from that one little area to the nearby palace. He guessed that Mileena must've recently taken over that area as well. His guess was they've must've walked for a good fifteen or twenty minutes, he lost count after ten.
However once he was brought to the throne room, he wasn't surprised to see Mileena in a Kahnum royal outfit. She laid on her throne with her head laying on her fist and her legs on one of the arm rests. When they arrived in, the tarkatans and D'Vorah bowed before her while force Hard Head to do the same.
"We have brought the earth relamer as you have requested Empress." D'Vorah answers.
"You may leave. Everyone out, I want some alone time this piece of hard meat." Mileena states as her tarkatan eyes shined red.
Everyone bowed their heads and left the throne room. Leaving Hard Head and Mileena alone in the throne room.
"It's been five years Hard Head. Did you come all this way for a go with the Empress?" she asked seductively.
"No, I came to make my amendments. To conquer my haunting nightmare." He answers.
"Oh, I thought you liked what me and Sheeva gave you."
"Letting you use me as your sex toy I did not enjoy it. It reminded me how useless I was."
"Perhaps, but maybe I can make some more use out of you." Mileena sits up from her throne and sat correctly. "I know there are those plotting against me, against my rule."
"What does that have to do with me?" he asked.
"There this bitch I want you to kill. Her name Nitara she's this vampire bitch that's been putting bad ideas in my loyal subjects' heads. Once I have her head on a plate in my trophy room, I can use it as a good reminder to them not to fuck with me the wrong way. Do this for me, and I can make it well worth your wild."
Hard Head remained silent. Not wanting to give away why he was really here, he decided to play along for now.
"Very well then." He gives and begins mumbling swearing in his native language.
"Good oh and to make sure you don't fuck with me the wrong way. I'll be having you watched." she snaps her fingers.
Hard Head noticed some light distortion move as Reptile uncloaked and revealed himself. He was different than last he saw him five years ago. This time Reptile had a human appearance. He was a tall, muscular, light-skinned humanoid wearing black pants and boots covering his lower body, along with a black sleeveless shirt and open hood. Green light armor covered his forearms and lower legs, while an open V-shaped green vest protected his torso, extending to a matching small fauld and loincloth. Black strips of cloth wrapped around his hands, and head, leaving his eyes exposed. Finally he wears a green facial mask.
"Reptile. Coming out of the shadows I see."
Reptile hisses threatening at him.
"You best get used to him because he's going to make sure you do my little task right. Which you will start tomorrow morning." Mileena claps her hands as a few Tarkatans enter the area and grab Hard Head. "Take him somewhere and make sure he doesn't leave without my permission." she ordered as they bowed and took Hard Head away.
Hard Head went along with it but took one small glance back at Mileena as he let's them escort him away outside. As he was being escorted, at the corner of his eye he could've swore that he saw a figure wearing a concealing hooded robe watch him from a distance.
"So where to big guys?" He asks.
They growled as the Tarkatans took him away somewhere.
"Yeah, I got a feeling this is going to be a serious trip to hell and back." he thinks to himself as the Tarkatans took him away.