Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Mayhem!
Chapter 3:
Later that evening:
The exterior of the palace was lined with scaffolds and ladders as several sections did not yet have its walls up. Slaves from the nearby town of Sun Do were working hard to complete the palace as Tarkatan soldiers whipped them.
"Sir," said one slave, "I don't feel very good! I think I got indegestion!"
"Allow me to help," said a Tarkatan.
He then punched the slave in the stomach.
"Now, get back to work!" he snapped.
"The work may be hard," said another slave, "And the pay may be shitty, but at least the health plan is good."
"Shut up," said the first slave, clutching his stomach.
As Kano patrolled the palace grounds, ensuring that everything was right on schedule, he heard a ruckus in the distance. He ran to the scene where he witnessed a young Asian woman kicking around a horde of Tarkatan soldiers. Kano attempted to intervene, but merely got punched in the face.
"You little bitch!" he shouted.
"You'll never beat me!" said the girl.
Kano ran up to her and tried to punch her, but she dodged and struck him in the chest. Kano staggered backwards.
"Now you've pissed me the fuck off!"
Kano pulled out his knife and pointed it at her, but she kicked it out of his hand.
"Crikey!" said Kano.
The girl was about to drop-kick Kano when she suddenly froze in mid-attack. Kano saw Quan Chi standing behind her.
"I didn't need your help," shouted Kano, "I could've taken that bird with arm tied behind me back!"
"Right..." said Quan Chi.
The sorcerer snapped his finger and the girl fell to the floor.
"What is your name?" he demanded.
"Li Mei," replied the girl, "You have enslaved me and my people for too long. Now, you must pay!"
"You do realize that you're rebelling all by yourself?" asked Quan Chi, "What did you possibly hope to accomplish?"
"Yeah," said Kano, "What were you thinkin'?"
"Kano," said Chi, "Shut up and get back to work."
"Yessir!" Kano then ran away.
"You and Shang Tsung will not get away with this!" said Li Mei.
Quan Chi held his arm over her head. He felt a powerful energy emanating from her.
"Yes!" Quan Chi said to himself, "I feel it! She possesses the warrior spirit! I must test her strength!"
"YO," snapped Li Mei, "I'm talking to you, bastard!"
"Yeah, yeah," said Chi, "I'm listening."
"Set my people free!"
"How about this? You take part in our little tournament and then we'll set your people free."
Quan Chi then helped Li Mei up.
"What tournament?"
"Mortal Kombat," said Chi with a devious smile, "You and other worthy warriors will fight to the death and whoever wins will get what they desire."
"And if I lose?"
"Well, seeing as it's Mortal Kombat, you die...Oh, and your people will never be freed."
"I will do it then."
"Great," Quan Chi snapped his fingers and two Tarkata showed up. "Take her to her cell. We will decide on a date for the tournament."
"Tournament?" asked one of the Tarkata.
"Just do your job!" said Quan Chi as the Tarkata took Li Mei away.
"Holy Shit..." muttered Chi, "What the fuck did I get myself into?"
Drahmin and Moloch sat on the bed eating supper.
"Mmm..." said Moloch, "Nothing hits the spot like some mortal flesh."
"Yes," said Drahmin, "It's partially decomposed, just the way I like it."
"So, Drahmin," said Moloch, "What are we gonna do about Quan Chi?"
"I've been coming up with several ideas," said Drahmin.
"Oh! Oh! I got it!" shouted Moloch.
"What?"
"We could build a tunnel! I'll use my ball!"
"Nah. That would make too much noise. the Shangmeister would know we were up to something."
"You're right," Moloch lowered his head, "You're so smart, you know that?"
"Not as much as I am sexy," replied Drahmin. The Oni tormentor then did a little dance.
"I love you, snigglebums!"
"Yes, I love you too."
"The day we met was the best day of my life. Remember?"
"How could I forget?"
-Flashback-
Drahmin wandered the fifth plane of the Netherrealm. Drahmin had been condemned there for his heinous crimes as a human, which included smuggling, possession of illegal substances, and sexually assaulting a goat. He hated life in the Netherrealm, but worst of all, he hated being an ugly, smelly Oni.
Drahmin walked down a long and narrow street that led him to the slums. Ever since Shinnok took over as ruler, there had been significant disorder and crime in the Netherrealm. Just then, Drahmin was intercepted by two thugs.
"Hey," said one of the thugs, "What do you think you're doing here in our part of town?"
"I was just passing through," said Drahmin.
"Yeah?" said another thug, "Well, you better leave if you know what's good for you! We don't take too kindly to Oni around these parts."
"Listen," began Drahmin, "I don't want any trouble..."
"Well," said the first thug, "You're gonna get it! Welcome to life in the Netherrealm, bitch!"
The thug then kneed Drahmin in the stomach. As Drahmin fell, the next thug kicked Drahmin in the side.
"By the way," said one of the thugs, "Nice mask, pretty boy!" They then took the mask and ran away.
"Fuck you," muttered Drahmin, as he clenched his stomach.
Drahmin then stood up and looked around. He suddenly heard someone singing. At first Drahmin thought it was the voice of an angel, but then he realized that he was in Hell, and that wouldn't make any sense. Drahmin ran down the street and turned the corner where he saw a small Oni playing guitar. Standing next to him was an enormous, yet beautiful Oni singing:
"Take away, take away, take away this ball and chain!
And I'm lonely and tired, and I can't take any more pain.
Never to return again!
Take away, take away, take away this ball and chain..."
"Um," said Drahmin, approaching the large Oni, "I couldn't help but hear your wonderful voice. You are very talented."
"Thanks," said the Oni, "I'm just a street musician. I don't have a home or a job. My buddy and I just play here all day and all night..."
"Wow. You sing so passionately. I could feel your pain."
"Really? Then could you take away my ball and chain?"
"Why would I do that? They kinda look sexy on you...Kinky almost."
The big Oni blushed.
"My name's Drahmin."
"I'm Moloch."
"How long have you been in the Netherrealm?" asked Drahmin.
"I don't know...Forever, I guess," replied Moloch.
Just then, those two thugs showed up again.
"Well, well, well..." said one of the thugs, "Look who's here. It's the pretty boy. Who's that? Your boyfriend?"
"Leave me alone, fuckers!" snapped Drahmin.
"Yeah!" said Moloch, "Leave my new friend alone!"
Moloch then swung his massive ball and smashed one of the thugs into the floor, flattening him.
"Oh, shit!" said the other thug, "Listen, here's your mask back. I'm sorry I hurt you."
The thug immediately ran off, leaving behind Drahmin's mask.
"Thanks a lot," said Drahmin to Moloch, as he put his mask back on.
"Wanna go get some ice cream?" asked Moloch.
"I'd like that," replied Drahmin.
The two Oni walked off, hand in hand. The small guitarist that was with Moloch shrugged his shoulders and continued to play.
-End Flashback-
As the two Oni contemplated the old times, Quan Chi approached Shang Tsung about his idea...
"WHAT?" boomed Tsung, "NO FUCKING WAY!"
"Christ, man!" said Chi, "Calm down!"
"A tournament? To free her people? What were you thinking?"
"It's not actually to free her people. I was thinking we could pit the girl and all the other captives against each other to see which of them is the strongest before we transplant their souls. That way, we could decide who's worthy enough to act as general. "
"Um, Quan Chi, what's the point of them being strong if I'm just transplanting their SOULS?"
"The Warrior Spirit, man! You can't be a strong warrior if you don't have a strong soul. You've studied martial arts! You should know that!"
"Yes, yes, whatever. It's just that the cost of hosting a tournament nowadays is astronomical!"
After putting on a pair of reading glasses, Shang Tsung sat at a table and pulled out a calculator.
"Look," said Tsung, typing, "With the cost of building materials for the palace, food and clothing for the army, and that air hockey table in the living room, our budget is tight."
"We could sell our shares," suggested Chi.
"Nah," said Tsung, "That won't be enough."
"In that case...Call an emergency meeting. We'll need all the input we can get!"