Fourth Term
Long ago, there was a woman who created a league of ninja whose main goal was complete dominance over the world. However, the woman's true goal was to serve her Netherealm Master by building his undead cult known as the Brotherhood of Shadows. Her goal, however, was not complete until she was able to find the map that leads to Shinnok's amulet. Using the amulet, Quan Chi was able to free Shinnok and decided to exterminate the entire clan to hide the evidence of their activity. Only three members of the clan were still alive: Shelia, Scorpion, and Ashrah. Although it is unknown as to how Shelia survived the attack, the clan grew to 17 members ever since she took control and rebooted the clan. Now she seeks out a new goal: To find Scorpion and her sister, Frost.
*Four Years Ago*
"Skarlet, I need your help." Scorpion runs through the forest still trying to escape his pursuers. An army of Black Dragon members are searching through the forest trying to figure out exactly where Scorpion is. Skarlet is also chasing after Scorpion alone. He knows she's not far behind, so he talks to her aloud.
"There is nothing for us to talk about. I've been tasked with killing you, nothing more." Skarlet stated as she throws a kunai at Scorpion. It passes his head. However, Skarlet's body quickly appeared in front of Scorpion. She attempts to slash him, but blocks her kunai with one sword and slashes her waist with the other sword.
"I know you work for Shao Kahn, but killing me will only make Quan Chi stronger." Scorpion explained.
"That's not my problem." Skarlet responded.
"Help rebuild the Shirai Ryu and I can get you access to Quan Chi's superior." Scorpion requested.
"I think I'll refuse." Skarlet stated.
"Your Choice." Scorpion says as he raises his sword in the air.
*At Skarlet's fight with Tasia*
Tasia swiftly swings her right sword and strikes Skarlet in her arm. Skarlet's thick blood kept her arm attached. With her left sword, Tasia attempts to stab Skarlet. However, Skarlet grabbed the bladed part of the sword and snapped it apart.
"What in the world? How did you do that?" Tasia asked in belief. Skarlet uses her Kunai to cut herself and create a blood spear. She raises the spear and prepares to stab Tasia. However, before she can attack, smoke appears all around the area. Skarlet looks around to see what's going on. As she looks back at Tasia, she notices that Tasia is gone. The smoke clears away and reveals that the only people who were around her now were the Special Forces soldiers.
"All units do not engage the hostile. She attacks using some kind of magic or special bio-weapons. It may seem like a joke, but it's not." Sonya radioed in. Someone responded to her, and she responded back. "Negative. You, Striker, and a small unit must scout the area. The girl she was with should be somewhere in the forest." Sonya preps herself as she adjusts her hair.
"You won't win. You never will." Skarlet states.
"We'll see about that."
Sonya runs toward Skarlet and attempts a jump kick, but Skarlet ducks. However, Sonya was actually tricking her and uses her other foot to step on the back of Skarlet's head. As Skarlet raises her head, Sonya pulls out her gun and aims it at Skarlet's forehead. Skarlet quickly knocks the gun away and punches Sonya in the gut. Sonya fixes her gun again and shoots at Skarlet a few times, but Skarlet dodges it all, only getting a few grazes. They end up distant from one another for a while. Sonya reloads her pistol while Skarlet's wounds heal.
"You're good. But let's see if you can do that again." Sonya taunted.
Skarlet pulls out the last 3 remaining Kunai and begins to throw them one by one at Sonya. She dodges the first Kunai by doing a one handed cartwheel to the right. The second one is dodged when Sonya hits a quick backflip. The last Kunai is grabbed by Sonya, but it only distracts her as Skarlet grabs Sonya by the neck. She throws Sonya towards a small group of Special Forces Soldiers and quickly grabs her last Kunai. She throws the Kunai at Sonya which quickly reaches near Sonya's face. Skarlet, again, quickly reaches the Kunai and slashes at Sonya and her men. They are struck gravely and fall to the ground. Skarlet absorbs their blood and escapes the prison as all of the other soldiers fired at her with Automatic weapons.
Skarlet runs through the empty forest to avoid pursuit. As she makes it to the center of the forest, she takes a short rest. She sits on a flat tree stomp looking at the ground.
"*Sigh* That was a close one. Using my Blood Dash technique and slashing through that blonde-haired woman was harder than I imagined." Skarlet begins to rise up from the stomp. However, as she begins to walk, she suddenly falls over. Skarlet begins to cough out blood, which she attempts to absorb the blood. After she absorbs the blood, she coughs even more blood out than the last time. This time, however, she is unable to absorb it back. "What's happening? Why can't I move? Why can't I use anything?"
"That's because you've failed to study humans." Skarlet looks up while still lying on the ground, only to see Sonya slowly walking towards her.
"What do you mean? I'm..."
"Not human. Or if you are, you're just not very bright, for a red head." Sonya taunted.
"Well, you're wrong. They say that blondes are really dumb in this realm." Skarlet shot back.
"And I happen to prove that theory wrong. Now, what shall I do with you?" Sonya pondered as she counted her ammo rounds.
"What did you do to me? I thought I killed you."
"Let's just say that cancer cells are pain." Sonya explained briefly. Sonya pulls out her pistol and a few flower petals. Skarlet slowly rises up from the ground. Skarlet throws a few quick kicks in Sonya's direction, but Sonya easily dodges each attack. Skarlet attempts to punch Sonya, but her attack is deflected and Sonya shoots Skarlet in the back of her head. Skarlet begins to stumble a bit as she grabs her head and regenerates her wound. "That's just the start. I still have 7 bullets left."
"I'll just keep coming back. Don't you get it?" Skarlet tries to reason with Sonya. However, she doesn't listen. Sonya pulls the trigger 3 more times striking Skarlet in the left breast, right arm, and right hip. Skarlet throws her last Kunai at Sonya and attempts her blood dash. Her dash proves to be a lot slower than before, allowing Sonya the ability strike her in the stomach before she is able to do anything. While Skarlet is knocked to the ground, Sonya shoots her in the heart.
"Even my Blood Dash..." Skarlet quickly hops up and forms a small blood spear to attack Sonya. However, Sonya shoots Skarlet in both shoulders which knock her on her butt. Sonya stands over Skarlet with a serious face.
"I know what you're thinking: 'I've finally killed this red-haired witch. No more dangerous magicians will be attacking us in the future.'"
"I'll like that medium rare please."
Skarlet looks at Sonya in confusion as Sonya kisses her hand that was filled with red flower petals. She blows the petals at Skarlet. As each petal lands on Skarlet, time begins to slow down. Sonya points her gun at Skarlet's forehead and shoots the last round as she turns around to leave. The bullet strikes Skarlet and explodes into a fiery furnace. Skarlet screams in agony as her body continues to burn up.
"My job here is done." Sonya remarks. Skarlet's body collapses as the fire dies out.
*Back in Present Time*
Skarlet's journey after Knightwolf left was impactful to her health, but she knew it wouldn't make a difference whether Knightwolf knew what all had happened or not.
"Let's just say I didn't get to finish my fight." Skarlet confirmed.
"Fair enough. I am going after Kabal and Tasia right now." Knightwolf explained.
"You really gonna fight her?" Skarlet asked.
"If I want to survive. With my brother gone, I'm no longer bound by the Shaman's rules. I tested that when I killed one of the undead assassins that were hiding behind Shao Kahn's Throne. Since I'm able to slay her, I will. And when she's dead, her soul will be mine." Knightwolf explained.
"If you will, let me face her instead." Skarlet suggested. "You can fight Kabal."
"You only want to fight her to settle a score. However, this is serious if we want to keep Scorpion alive." Knightwolf stated. Skarlet was surprised as those words reminded her about Scorpion's request four years ago.
"There are many reasons I asked you for this. Quan Chi, Shinnok, and the forces of the Brotherhood are still hunting for Scorpion. If they find out that I'm helping him, they would kill me on the spot. Quan Chi's sorcery may only be part of my life, but it's still a crucial part. Also, Kabal's skills are best suited for you. I'm better off fighting Tasia." Knightwolf closes her eyes and begins to frown angrily. Then she takes a deep sigh and takes the frown off of her face.
"Fine. I will head to Earthrealm. Just make sure you finish the Job." Knightwolf stated as she began to leave.
"Got it." Skarlet agreed. "Also, know that some of the choices we make from here on out can have negative repercussions." Skarlet explained.
"In other words, watch who I kill and align myself with." Knightwolf clarified.
"Exactly." Skarlet skips into the Armory as Knightwolf creates a portal to Earthrealm.
*Four Years Ago*
"Tasia and Kabal are two black Dragon members who were sent to kill the MIA Shirai Ryu member, Hanzo, aka Scorpion." Knightwolf explained.
"You do know that last time I saw them, they allied with me. My suppose-to-be-strong assassin's blood gave them enhanced fighting abilities that may surpass even you. Why should I help you kill them?" Shao Kahn asked.
"I am stronger. I can show you. Just tell me where they are and I will defeat them. Whichever team wins, allow us fight for Outworld... in the 10th tournament." Knightwolf bargained.
"I'm not gonna disclose information like that, but I will accept your offer." Shao Kahn stated.
"Or maybe it is just that you do not know where they are, Emperor." Knightwolf mocked.
"I know things that even you don't know. I even know that you aren't really a..." Knightwolf begins to get nervous and angry as she interrupts Kahn.
"You're wrong! I am one!" She snapped. Shao Kahn slightly smiles.
"Your speech has changed quickly. I've noticed you've used a simplified version of 'you are', saying 'you're' instead. Shamans don't use combined wording at all. Not even by mistake." Shao Kahn explained. Knightwolf attempts to retaliate, but realizes it is futile. She turns her back to Shao Kahn.
"I'm the successor of my race. When the time comes, I will avenge them all. Know that, emperor." She threatened.
"My room's always available, child." Knightwolf walks out of Kahn's Throne room angrily. Shao Kahn smiles as she shuts the door. "How bold. I like that one. What about you three?"
Three females appear from behind Kahn's chair. One was a white woman with curly red hair, another was a black woman with curled raven hair, and the last woman had straight blonde hair. All three of them wore the assassin attire that all females in the Brotherhood of Shadows wear.
"I would have killed her personally. Wouldn't you agree Mika?" The red haired woman asked. Mika was the blonde woman. She had a country-like speech pattern that was always recognizable to everyone. She appeared to have a small stab wound on her forehead.
"Well she did threaten to kill Quan Chi and Shao Kahn. She also put this stab womb on my pretty little forehead which would have killed a mortal. You should thank me, Sora." Mika answered. Sora was the raven haired woman. She's not into the violent actions that her comrades greatly enjoy. Everything she does is only to serve Quan Chi.
"We can't die anyway. I don't know why you took the hit. Personally, I don't see why you let her live Emperor. She can cause a bad turn of events for us all. I have to agree with Siann on this one." Sora stated. Siann was the Red haired woman. She was a lot older and wiser compared to Mika and Sora.
"Why didn't you kill her?" Shao Kahn closed his eyes.
"Soon. Real Soon."
End of Chapter 4
Preview of Ch 5: Fifth Wall…
As Skarlet enters the heart of the Armory, she spots all kinds of weapons; from spears and swords to guns and explosives. She carefully treads through the armory, investigating the area. Suddenly, she sees a figure donning a black cape. Skarlet begins to look surprised, but then she begins to look angrily at the figure.
"What are you doing here, witch?" The figure is revealed to be Kabal.
"I thought Tasia was supposed to be here." Skarlet responded.
Back at the bridge that connects both Earthrealm and Outworld, Knightwolf stares in the face of Tasia.
"Why are you here? I thought you were supposed to be in the Armory." Knightwolf stated.
"You mean to tell me that I was supposed to head to this portal only to be attacked by you? That little brat." Tasia stated.
"Shao Kahn sent you here as well?" Knightwolf asked.
"It was a girl from Earthrealm. I should've seen that coming. You Shirai Ryu hounds must have set this up for months." Tasia informed.