The Outworld invasion of Earthrealm had been repelled almost two weeks ago. In that entire time, no one had heard from Shao Kahn, no one had seen him. The failure of the Soulnado and having barely survived his second fight with Liu Kang left him almost completely drained of power. When he was defeated, and when Outworld was expelled from Earthrealm, a large portion of his standing army was killed. If any were left behind in Earthrealm, they were surely executed or imprisoned. This coupled with the denizens of Outworld beginning to lose faith in the emperor that had now be thwarted by mortals, and and Outworld was starting to look a little more like the Chaosrealm each day. Despite Mileena technically being the next in line for the throne, Shang Tsung had become a very vocal and active governor. Any acts of rebellion, no matter how small, were swiftly dealt with. One example was the operation against the city of Lei Chen, being spearheaded by Ermac.
Lei Chen had been placed under marshall law by a splinter group of the guardsmen that had tired of Shao Kahn's rule. They usurped the local lord and kept the city's resources and wealth for themselves. Since Lei Chen was the such a powerful and influential city, this insolence could not be tolerated or else other cities and villages may rise up as well. Ermac had travelled with a contingent of elite soldiers to the gates of Lei Chen. Ermac approached the two guards standing outside the city walls. They eyed him up, looking unimpressed in comparison to the heavily armed soldiers that travelled him.
"State your business here newcomer." The senor guard demanded.
"We are here on behalf of your emperor, Shao Kahn."
"Hah! Shao Kahn hides in his bed like a sick child. We don't need him."
"We don't care what you need. We are here to tell you what you must do."
"And what is that little one?" The guard asked aggressively.
"A representative handpicked by Shang Tsung will take over as the lord of Lei Chen. You will turn over the former lord that failed to maintain order, as well as the leader or leaders of your group. Finally, you and your fellow gaurdsmen that took part in this rebellious act will submit to impriosnment, and to the mercy of Shao Kahn's judgement."
"You ask so much but have so little to offer, or to back yourself up. Leave now or suffer the consequences, we will not subject the people of this city to Shao Kahn's tyranny again!"
Ermac peered past the guard and through the open gate into Lei Chen. The people were not enslaved or oppressed; if anything they looked rather happy and relieved. It seemed that they were truly happier governing themselves. It made Ermac more hopeful that the guards would submit, and spare the citizens the violence they would see. Despite his hopes, he held true to his mission and to Shao Kahn.
"Comply, or die." Ermac stated.
The guard drew his sword and made a move against Ermac. Raising both of his hands, Ermac gripped both guards with his powers and pinned them against the walls, slightly up off the ground. They struggled against him but it was pointless.
"Deal with them." Ermac ordered two of the soldiers that had accompanied him.
Two volunteers stepped up with swords drawn. Without hesitation they stabbed the two guards, driving their swords all the way through into the wooden walls. Ermac rested his power and left the two guards impaled against the wall, with their feet dangling and their own weight dragging them farther down onto the blades.
He walked through the gate, onto the main road. People passing by gave him quick glances, but stopped in their tracks when the soldiers followed him in. Fear immediately came to their faces, some dropped what they were doing and scrambled for cover; they knew what was coming. Ermac closed his eyes; absolute panic had erupted amongst these people by his mere presence, and by the knowledge of who and what he was. When he opened his eyes they glowed brightly with his telekinetic power, and with a wave of his hands, he enforced his reason for existing.
Back in the dungeon she had become so accustomed to, Skarlet knelt, chained and silent. She had woken up in here after being knocked unconscious on the rooftop. She was very confused at first; on the roof was a woman in green, another in blue, Mileena, Sindel, a blue ninja, the shirtless man that had hurt her so bad, Ermac and Shao Kahn. No one was here when she woke up, and no one had come to her since then, not even the rats. She had slept, dreaming incoherently of her last battle.
A sudden echo from the stairs jarred her attention. She slowly opened her eyes and looked towards the door into her cell, and all her senses attuned to it. Judging by the sound, two people were coming. One wore soft material shoes, one wore what must have been boots, heavy and hard. They had very different voices, one smooth and the other deep and deliberate. They wreaked of death, either both or one so badly that it overpowered the other.
"You've taken great strides to increase your influence throughout this realm, will we be ready soon?" The deeper voiced asked.
"Not here, she'll hear us. She's likely heard us all the way from up the stairs." The smoother voice warned.
"What does it matter? She's little more than a beast from what I've heard."
"A dog can learn the meaning of sit, stay, and attack. Don't underestimate her intelligence; I've been observing her and she's been showing more and more humanity."
"You sound proud." The deep voice chuckled.
"Hah, in a way yes."
Skarlet tilted her head; she had never heard someone refer to her as a beast, or someone cite her intelligence. She had also never heard of the term humanity. Her better than perfect vision allowed her to peer through the keyhole on the door; she saw very pale skin. The door opened and a tall, deathly white man with tattoos stepped in; he must've been the one with the heavy step by the look of his boots. Shang Tsung followed behind him.
"Long time no see Skarlet, I trust you've been well." Shang Tsung asked rhetorically.
"It's been quiet." Skarlet answered sarcastically.
Shang Tsung quirked an eyebrow at her tone, and the fact she gave such a clever response. He nodded to Quan Chi, who merely shrugged with an unimpressed expression. He walked around behind her, and Skarlet was sure that the incredible stench of the dead was coming from him. He grabbed her arm and lifted it so he could unlock her shackle. His gloved hand gripped her arm roughly and tightly, and Skarlet had an indescribable bad feeling, figuratively and literally. Her animal instincts wouldn't let this go even as he let go of her so she could stand.
"Why are you unchaining me? Do I have a mission?"
"I have no idea, the emperor has asked for you personally." Shang Tsung answered.
"He has?!" Skarlet gasped.
"He has. He hasn't been seen by anyone since returning from Earthrealm, you should feel honoured."
Skarlet could barely contain her excitement. She looked at Shang Tsung expectantly, like how a dog waits for it's master's permission to eat the food they just provided. Shang Tsung stepped aside and Skarlet hurried past him and up the stairs, just short of running. She heard the two sorcerers speaking even as she ascended, but all she managed to retain was 'useful with'.
Skarlet went to the throne room. It was unusually dark, the emperor not being in his throne removed the need to have lights going constantly. She walked around the back of the huge stone seat towards a curtain that was barely noticeable from the front. She pushed through it to enter a single, somewhat claustrophobic hallway. The door at the end was the entrance to Shao Kahn's quarters. A compulsion inside Skarlet warmed her as she approached the door. She turned the handle, it was unlocked, and stepped through. The room was much bigger than one would expect after having walked through such a narrow hallway. The compulsion she felt before had vanished, now she focused on the actual thing.
Shao Kahn stood cross armed in front of a fireplace. The orange glow illuminated the front of his huge body while leaving the back dark. His helmet rested on a mantle, and Skarlet saw his full head for the first time. He was bald right to the skin. His brow had horn like growths, giving him a permanent scowl.
"Close door." Shao Kahn ordered.
Skarlet obediently did as she was told. Kahn gestured for her to come stand beside him. She timidly walked towards him, and by glancing up she could see his orange slitted eyes staring at her as she approached. She stood silently next to him, facing the fire. His presence so close to her was intoxicating, and the only she paid attention to was his voice.
"I trust very few people Skarlet. Very few people." Shao Kahn stated.
Skarlet pondered that. She thought about what it must be like to trust someone, or to have lost your trust in someone.
"You are my most powerful weapon, I expected the most out of you."
Skarlet now thought about thinking highly of someone.
"When Baraka told me that you massacred my soldiers, I was so disappointed. I thought you had betrayed me...how do you think that made feel?"
Skarlet was suddenly moved to tears.
"Bad." She whispered.
"Bad. Yes. I wondered, where your loyalties lay. Ermac was your handler, I thought maybe I had to punish him. Maybe if I killed him..."
Skarlet involuntarily gasped, and Shao Kahn noticed. He turned fully to her now, with his shadow falling over her. Skarlet looked away, dipping her head slightly.
" I wondered if Shang Tsung's 'talk' with you had been clear enough."
Shao Kahn's huge hand wrapped around Skarlet's neck. His grip was firm, not strangling. Even still, Kahn may as well have been choking her to death, it would have the same effect psychologically.
"I wondered, if I had to deal with you personally."
Skarlet's red eyes couldn't look away from his, and they couldn't stop the tears welling up either.
"But then, when it really came down to it, you proved yourself." Shao Kahn said.
He then let go of her neck and reached up to her mask. He slowly pulled it down, with his thumb grazing her lip. Skarlet's whole mouth, from her cheeks to her tongue, tingled.
"You saved me on that rooftop, something even Ermac didn't do. I know now that you are the one I can confide in."
Skarlet quivered with delight, and her red eyes looked at Shao Kahn glittering hopefully.
"Anything emperor, anything you want I am here to provide!"
Shao Kahn leaned his face closer to hers. They were almost touching. Skarlet took in his breath, it smelt of fine wine. It had more character than Ermac's...
The thought of Ermac made Skarlet check herself. She moved her head back, not enough to notice, but enough for her to realize that she was ready to embrace Shao Kahn before the thought of Ermac made he stop. She didn't get to ponder right then and there why she suddenly challenged her feelings for the most important thing to her, Shao Kahn, because the emperor was already talking into her ear.
"Listen and listen well Skarlet. There are forces at work all around, and I am trusting you with a mission of the utmost importance..."
As Kahn spoke to her, Skarlet breathed heavily with ecstasy and purpose. She also thought about her humanity as Shang Tsung had called it, and decided that she needed to see someone that she hadn't for two weeks.
Its been a real long while since I revisited this story. Not much really happened, but I'm still trying to get back into the flow of things. Read, review, and enjoy.