Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Chapter 3: RSVP – Outworld
"Ahcualli tlācatecolōtl!"
The voice belonging to the powerful being known as Kotal Kahn echoed around the pavilion like thunder in a storm, startling the three other occupants. Wary, they watched as the Osh-Tekk brought his fist down on the table, nearly splintering its varnished oakwood surface. His other hand tightened around a card that he had removed from an envelope that lay a few centimetres away from his fist, barely disturbed by his actions.
Leaning over the table, Kotal Kahn shut his eyes, shaking his head as if he were in the throes of a bad dream.
"Tlācatecolōtl … telchihualoz," he murmured in his native tongue. Pure displeasure laced his timbre.
It was the lizard-like humanoid – seated at the table across from the standing figure, and outfitted in black clothing and a vest made almost entirely out of bone – who dared to speak up first.
"Emperor, what is it that ails you?" he asked, his sharp and sibilant voice betraying concern.
Looking up, Kotal Kahn stared straight at the Zaterran. His luminescent blue eyes – normally benevolent and thoughtful – now held a fire that could rival the intensity of twin suns.
"That devil Raiden has saw fit to insult me, Syzoth," he rumbled.
Syzoth, or Reptile, as he was commonly called, shared a puzzled look with his two comrades before meeting the emperor's hot gaze once again.
"The document in your hand … what has the Thunder God written that he could not say to your face?"
The Kahn's eyes and lips narrowed in distaste.
"The blasted fool has extended an invitation," he replied, almost hissing. "An invitation to a godforsaken dinner function that he himself is hosting!"
Next to Reptile, a man adorned in black underclothing, weather-stained leather accoutrements, and bandoliers strapped here, there and almost everywhere – including around his hat – frowned behind a leather-studded mask. His kohl-ringed blue eyes dimmed in disbelief as he leaned back in his seat.
"That's it?" Erron Black drawled. "A dinner? Hardly sounds like an insult, I think."
Those burning globes turned to the gunslinger, who immediately shrunk back.
"You forget, Erron," Kotal Kahn responded, his voice rising with every word that left his mouth, "that the hand who wrote this invitation belongs to the damned fiend who nearly brought Outworld to its knees less than a month ago, no thanks to his imprudent actions! That he is brazen enough to send this invitation speaks volumes of his utter disrespect, not to mention his half-wittedness. Do you understand?"
"Thanks for jogging my memory, Emperor," was Erron's response as he steadied his fingers on the handles of his revolvers.
Sitting on the former Earthrealmer's right, a thin figure, dressed in red and black, with scant bandaging covering his withered visage, cocked his head to the side. Beneath his hood, his bright green eyes glowed in thought.
"What exactly does the invitation say, Emperor?" His voice was gravelly, deep and resonant, as if he were speaking on behalf of a thousand men, if not more.
Kotal Kahn glanced at the soul collective called Ermac before obliging him, as well as his other two enforcers, with a quick read-through of the accursed document. As he did so, he could feel the dread sitting in his chest now trickling down into the bowels of his stomach. Only a few minutes before, he had felt at peace – or rather, what resembled peace.
Although Outworld's civil war had ceased and stability reigned in the wake of Shinnok's defeat, the Osh-Tekk emperor still felt ill at ease. From the moment he woke until the second he succumbed to his slumber, he found himself struggling to attain a sense of tranquillity. It showed in his unsettled pacing, his inattentiveness to even the most basic duties, and – glaringly of all – in his decision to apply war-paint to his entire body daily. Not that the act of painting his tattooed frame did much to relieve his heavy mind.
The heart, mind and body bend so easily to the will of a conflicted soul.
Today, however, was one of those days when Kotal Kahn allowed himself to feel like he was on the brink of overcoming his apprehension …
… that is, until one of his soldiers carrying an envelope scurried into the pavilion, where the emperor was having a meeting with his enforcers. When pressed for an explanation, he said that a long-haired Earthrealmer garbed in yellow and black clothing had emerged from a portal in front of the palace, and told him to deliver the envelope to the Kahn. Before he could be questioned, the Earthrealmer was gone.
As one can tell, after reading Raiden's invitation, Kotal Kahn's peaceful mood took a sharp plummet.
How quickly the thunderstorm blots out the sun.
Once he finished reading the invitation aloud, Kotal Kahn stared at his enforcers with near-invisible lips.
"Most certainly the Thunder God has an agenda," he stated. "If he intends no ill will, then he would have contacted me sooner, or at least sent one of his emissaries to negotiate with me."
For a moment, Erron thought of the group of Earthrealmers that had waltzed into Outworld and gave the Kahn (and himself, especially) a hard time. His shaded eyes narrowed as the image of the sassy, silver-tongued Shaolin monk – Jin, Jimmy, Junior, whatever the hell his name was – floated into his mind. Could he have been the "long-haired Earthrealmer" who dropped off the invitation?
No. He would have stuck around to yak the Kahn's ears off with his smooth talk. Shame, I could have done with some target practice if it was him.
"You think that it's a trap?" asked Reptile, his yellow-green eyes turning into slits.
"It's a possibility," Kotal Kahn answered. "However, if Raiden's intentions are innocent, I still find it insulting that he would reach out to me in this manner. As much as I don't relish seeing his face, I would have preferred him to extend his invitation in person."
"So, does this mean that you're not going?" Ermac asked.
The heat in the Osh-Tekk's eyes suddenly cooled. His muscular frame, tense with fury, began to slump. When he answered, thoughtfulness and fatigue hung from his words:
"I believe I must go. As much as I dislike having to meet Raiden, it would be a good opportunity to open channels of communication between Outworld and Earthrealm, and perhaps form an alliance. Lest we forget, the Netherrealm remains a threat to Outworld – there are evils present there that will readily pick up where Shinnok and his servant Quan Chi left off. The revenants that were under their control spring to mind."
Clasping his hands behind his back, the Kahn continued: "I've never held interest in invading other realms as Shao Kahn did during his rule. Rather, my interests lie in presiding over this empire that was forged together in his time. If the Netherrealm or the like becomes an obstacle, I would want Earthrealm's support."
He paused, gathering his thoughts.
"Yes, this dinner provides such an opportunity," he declared. "From the sound of things, we will not be the only ones present at Raiden's event. I believe Earthrealm's Special Forces will avail themselves – the one known as General Blade, I think, along with the emissaries. With just us and Raiden's lot there, the evening will go quite smoothly."
"But what if it is a trap?" pressed Reptile.
The emperor merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Then Raiden best prepare himself to meet the sharp end of my knife," he answered.
Benign though he was, his enforcers knew that Kotal Kahn was capable of being wrathful when it suited him.
Glancing at the invitation once more, he murmured, "Hmm, a maximum of three guests. So, if I am going, then you three will accompany me and –"
"Hold on a minute," interrupted Erron, unable to help himself.
Sitting up in his chair, he looked straight up at the emperor with knitted eyebrows. "Excuse me, Emperor, but who said anything about me having to tag along to this soirée?"
The Osh-Tekk blinked at him before his features hardened like clay.
"You heard me, Erron – you are coming," he replied steadily. "You, Ermac and Syzoth make up three, so you will be my three guests."
"Can't Ferra and Torr go instead of me?"
"That's one guest too many."
"They count as one, they can go," the marksman shot back.
Kotal Kahn grimaced. "I would rather that they remained at the palace and guard it in my absence. They may prove to be too excitable to attend such a formal occasion. Besides, I would rather you be there to ensure that the Thunder God or his allies don't deceive me with any tricks."
"I can fulfil that function if it pleases you, sire," piped up Reptile, glowering at Erron from the corner of his eye.
Their leader shook his head at the Zaterran. "No, that will not do. You are my guest for the evening, so I do not expect you to be on guard. That goes for you as well, Ermac."
His eyes flitted to Erron. "In your case, mercenary, you are bound by contractual agreement to accompany me and carry out your duties, although I do also wish for you to enjoy yourself while we are there."
Erron hardly looked thrilled at the prospect.
"Then you will remember that my contract stipulates that I'm entitled to one day off per week," he intoned lowly. "Just so happens that my day off is on Friday."
"Meaning you will have time to prepare for the event?"
"Meaning that I ain't going anywhere near it."
Kotal Kahn wearily pinched the beak of his headdress.
Belligerent scoundrel. If I did not value his marksmanship so much, I would have dissolved our contract a long time ago. That, and like his comrades, I respect him a great deal … even if it costs a greater deal of coins to keep his.
Ermac cocked his head at his comrade.
"Do you not want to return to your former realm for one night, Black?" he queried.
"Not even for a lousy meal with a false god and his welcoming committee, ghosty," replied the Outworld cowboy, rolling his eyes. "'Sides, fancy do's aren't my thing, especially when it involves dressing up in my Sunday best."
All at once, an idea popped into Kotal Kahn's head.
"I am sorry to hear that you feel that way, Erron," he said with an exaggerated sigh.
The emperor gave the invitation a shake. "After all, I thought you would be excited at the chance of sampling some Earthrealm spirits for the first time in a long while. Perhaps Raiden will be offering whiskey – that is your favourite beverage, correct?"
Erron said nothing at first, but his azure-blue eyes glinted as he visualised a tall, refreshing glass of golden-brown liquid. He could almost inhale its woody aroma and taste its smoky flavour on his tongue … pure heaven compared to the sorry excuse for liquor that Outword's taverns had to offer … sweet Jesus, am I thirsty …
Swallowing hard and tightening his hold on his revolvers' handles, Erron looked up at Kotal Kahn.
"Alright, Emperor, you've persuaded me," he drawled in a clear baritone. "I'll go, but only on three conditions: one, that you pay me double for making me work on my day off; two, that I get to take the following Monday off; and three, that I'm allowed to help myself to as many drinks as I want."
The Osh-Tekk's eyes narrowed almost into a squint.
"Such hefty demands," he remarked drily. "Yet if one isn't met …"
"Then I ain't going nowhere," finished the former Earthrealmer. "After all, someone has to make sure that Ferra and Torr don't destroy the palace."
"And they would make sure that you don't leave it open for the next person who offers you a bag of coins," grumbled Reptile under his breath.
Kotal Kahn looked beseechingly at the sky for a moment before he turned his attention back to the gunslinger.
"Very well, I agree to your terms, Erron," he declared. "But I warn you, while you are free to consume liquor, I will not tolerate intoxication. The last thing we need is for you to make a merry fool of yourself in front of the Earthrealmers."
Erron waved a dismissive hand. "I know my limits. I ain't looking to get pis – uh, I mean, drunk. Just want to have a few proper drinks, is all."
"Nevertheless, I will have Ermac keep his eye on you from time to time," replied his employer with an air of finality. "When one is in an inebriated state, one tends to forget one's limits quite quickly."
Erron bit back a most witheringly dry remark that would have certainly provoked his emperor's fury. Instead, he looked over at the soul construct and airily murmured:
"Don't expect me to pay you for babysitting me, ghosty."
Ermac scowled at him.
"With our luck, our place in the afterlife will be secured for carrying out so grating a penance," he retorted.
Hoping to quell any incoming squabbles, Kotal Kahn addressed his enforcers, his voice ringing loud and clear:
"That settles it. We will go to Earthrealm in three days' time. We shall hear what Raiden and his posse have to say for themselves and, by the grace of the Elder Gods, we will emerge from the dinner unscathed. Hopefully with a new alliance as well."
Yet even as he said these words – as much as he tried to convince himself that they were borne of a sound mind – they did frighteningly little to lighten the dread that had by now engulfed Kotal Kahn's entire frame.
It was a fair Tuesday afternoon when Kung Jin arrived at the Sky Temple.
Apart from a slight gust of wind that blew his ponytail across his face three or four times, all was calm at the grand structure that served as Raiden's place of meditation, occasional abode, and as the location of the Jinsei Chamber.
Aaaand as an occasional battlefield, rued Jin, rubbing the back of his head as he glared at a large bell gong nearby. I'm surprised I didn't dent the damn thing after fighting Kitana.
Making his way across the courtyard, Jin noticed two figures standing at the temple's entrance: one was a monk, albeit much older than him and dressed in traditional attire. His name was Xue, if he recalled correctly.
The other figure had his face covered by a skull-like mask. As Jin drew closer, it became apparent that he was dressed in the guise of an Osh-Tekk warrior.
One of Kotal Kahn's soldiers. What's he doing here?
When Xue noticed Jin approaching, he dipped his head in greeting.
"Welcome, Kung Jin," he said. "Raiden said you might be stopping by today, no doubt to deliver Special Forces' responses to his dinner invitation. This man here is doing the same on Emperor Kotal Kahn's behalf."
The soldier nodded before fishing an envelope, sealed with red wax, out of his pants' pocket. Giving it to Xue, he said: "Please pass this on to Lord Raiden, with compliments from the emperor. He says that he is looking forward to dining with the Thunder God this Friday."
Bowing to the two monks, the soldier turned on his heels and departed through a portal that had suddenly opened in the courtyard. Engulfing him, it disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Turning to Jin, Xue issued a sigh.
"Then we can only hope for the emperor's sake that Raiden doesn't disappoint him," he stated uneasily.
The younger Shaolin monk nodded, saying, "Hope, pray and beg ourselves silly to the Elder Gods that he does no such thing."
He rubbed the back of his head again, albeit it with a harder touch as his mind niggled something fierce for the second time in two days. The sensation strengthened as he handed over his letter to Xue, and it never left him even when he returned to S-F headquarters.
Just what in the name of Earthrealm did Raiden get wrong about the invitation?
Only the Elder Gods knew, and they sure as hell weren't helping.
A/N: Ahcualli tlācatecolōtl = "Evil devil"; Tlācatecolōtl … telchihualoz = "The devil ... he will be accursed."
So yes, Ferra/Torr won't be attending Raiden's dinner; I originally planned to have them go with, but 'logistical' issues got in the way. Expect the same with the revenants as well. As much as I want virtually everyone from MKX to be in the story, it would be too cluttered and chaotic, so apologies in advance if you don't see all your favourites. :/
LoveLovers – Glad you did, hun, thank you so much. :) Hope this chapter was to your liking as well!
Guest – Yup, it definitely makes sense. Believe me, I also did my fair share of cringing and laughing (from shame) as I wrote Johnny's jokes. And yes, there may be a slight hint of E/K in the upcoming chapters, but we shall see ... Thank you for the sweet review!
Gray Fox anon – Thank you so much, sweets, that means a lot! Trying to keep everyone in character is a little tough (especially Jax, my word), but I'm happy to hear that I pulled it off/got away with it. Writing the moments between Sonya and Johnny were definitely fun, but still a bit funky since they're still on/off with their relationship. Bless Kenshi, father of the year all year and every year. XP And yup, let's hope for Raiden's sake that Jin finds out what's going on with that darn invitation, though I'm sure it must be pretty obvious to everyone else who're reading this what the problem is.
Hope you all enjoyed Outworld's response – a prayer circle for Kotal Kahn and his last nerve will take place at some point in the near future. That's if Erron doesn't play him dirty again. ;)
Reviews are welcome!
*~AI07~*
