Love & War 4
Chapter 20: Losing Ourselves
Soon after their lovemaking, there was a knock on the door. Chris got up, it was Sonya.
"Sonya,...'
"I'm sorry, Chris. I couldn't sleep..." She noticed Tanya already sleeping.
"Where's Jade?"
"She went to Edenia. She needed to report to Queen Sindel of her proceedings."
"I see."
"Have you met my daughter?"
"No."
"That was because she learned of my military history and she wanted to become a soldier. I knew right then that one day she would take my place as a defender of Earthrealm. I sent her to the HQ of the Homefront Warriors, where she spent 10 years training, which is why I haven't seen her in so long a time. Against my better judgment, I figured she'd be ready. I was wrong."
"You're blaming yourself for her capture? She lacks experience."
"You think I don't know that? I know she is well trained, but training can only take you so far. Experience is what makes you, Sonya. It allows you to know who you are, your own strength and whether or not you are good enough to complete your mission. That's what the Homefront Warriors taught me. In war, your life is a prize for the bad guys. You have to make sure you don't give them any opportunities to take you out. It's easy to forget what a sin is on the battlefield. Now that I think about it, long before I met Jade and Tanya, me and my Warriors were in Pakistan. We fought against the Insurgents selling nuclear missiles. We were able to stop them, but several nuclear missiles took too much damage from our bullets. The lesson was: Do not use firearms where nuclear weaponry is nearby. It would cause a leak of nuclear fuel, which is dangerous. Apparently, we failed to learn that lesson. As a result, we evacuated and Pakistan was wiped out. Casualties were at a all-time high that day. That's one thing that plagued me, innocent lives were lost because of our carelessness. The Insurgents were to blame, not us. They knew they shouldn't use firearms at all in that area. But I guess they had no care of their own safety or anyone else's. I just hope that Melody doesn't make the same mistakes I made in war. I know in my mind, she'll end up being in future wars herself. Should that be the case, I pray that she gets out alive. And with her additional training, courtesy of Tanya, it adds more to what she learned already. So maybe she'll be able to handle herself just like Cassie and Jacqui. But first we need to find them."
"We will, Chris. It wasn't your fault on what happened in Pakistan, but you knew the risks of nuclear weaponry. I've heard about it on the news."
"A couple of years later, we went to Australia."
"Australia?"
"Kano's birthplace. We found out that he was the one who sold the weapons there. We were about to bring him in for questioning, but most of my men were killed by tripwires. I knew right then, he and I, would become bitter enemies."
"And I thought I was the only one until he sent you to Cuba, so he can murder your family. Then we brought him in at the tournament."
"Yeah."
"Chris?" Tanya woke up.
"Tanya. Sorry we woke you up. You ok?"
"Yea. I heard everything. Sonya, I've been thinking, I don't know your daughter very well, and..."
"Tanya, if you can get to know my daughter, maybe you can be friends."
"I hope so."
By dawn, Sonya, Johnny and Kotal were discussing their plans.
"If a fire breaks out here and here, we flood the aqueduct, so the fire won't spread to our food stores. If we keep the food safe and secure the walls, we can starve the enemy siege."
"A sound strategy for defending your city, Kotal," said Sonya. "But what if we can't secure the walls? How many Shokan are we defending against?"
"I don't know. The Shokan have been deep underground. Their numbers may have dwindled or multiplied.
"Then this city is a death trap. These plan assume an invasion forces 10,000 or even 100,000."
"Colonel, if 100,000 Shokan were to show up at my gates, I'll challenge their greatest champion and settle the matter, by way of Mortal Kombat.
D'Vorsh arrived to deliver her news.
"Shokan spotted over the mountains."
"They're early. Come with me."
Kotal looks over and and finds a army of Shokans heading his way.
"It's... impossible. We need to devise a plan."
"How many?" asked Sonya.
'Fewer than I expected, but they're not alone. They march with the Oni Warlords!"
"DEATH TO KOTAL KAHN! YOUR KING DEMANDS IT!"
"Emperor, These Ones are prepared to parlay with the Shokan."
Kotal hands D'Vorah a scroll.
"Here are the terms. Be unwavering when you deliver them, D'Vorah."
"No matter the outcome, our warriors are ready," said Reptile.
"And the Earthrealmers?"
"Proving useful."
Back in the bedroom, Chris and Tanya woke up when Sonya contacts him.
"Sonya, what's up?"
"Chris, I need you and Tanya to get outside where I am. The Shokan has arrived."
Chris' eyes widened.
"Copy that, Sonya. We're on our way."
Tanya got out of bed and got dressed the moment Sonya gave the report.
"Ready?"
Let's do this."
"Barricades are secure. Cage, are you in position?"
"Roger that."
"Hail, Lord Kintaro. This One is D'Vorah..."
"I've never parlayed with a woman before," said Kintaro. "Especially not one as repellent as you."
"Your mighty emperor Kotal Kahn offers these terms, general reparations for..."
Kintaro swapped the scroll away. "The Shokan do not seek your charity. Kotal Kahn will surrender to King Gorbak, or we will raze Z'ukahrah. You have one hour."
"This One speaks on behalf of Kotal Kahn. He will never surrender."
"Then Z'ukahrah will fall an hour early."
"So much for the civilized approach," said Sonya. "Cage, status on the wall?"
"There's movement in the horde. It's an Oni Warlord! He's aiming for the wall..."
There was static...
"Cage, come in..."
Chris and Tanya arrived at the scene.
"Sonya, what's going on?" asked Tanya.
"I lost contact with Cage. The Shokan it seems has broken through."
"Shit!"
Back in Japan, Scorpion and Sub-Zero continued battling, despite Sub-Zero's normalcy.
"Do you blame the Kamidogu? A relic you should have returned to Raiden years ago, but instead you took it for a joyride!"
"The dagger possessed me."
Sub-Zero blasted ice at Scorpion, who blocked it using his sword. The fight stopped.
"I'll return to Raiden with you... explained what happened..."
"Just like your brother explained the Lin Kuei's crimes against the Shirai Ryu?'
"Move on, Hanzo. This is no Lin Kuei. The cyber bastards destroyed us. I'm all that's left."
"If we are the last of our clans, let's finish this!"
Scorpion impaled Sub-Zero with his swords.
"Kuai Liang, in the name of the fallen, I commend your soul to the Netherrealm!"
"I... I'm not a monster, Hanzo. We... did... horrible things while I was possessed, working under Quan Chi's service... but don't you remember... the agony... of being controlled by an evil spirit...?"
"No. I remember the last time I held my son, the last time my wife called my name, the agony of losing them."
Scorpion breathed hellfire on Sub-Zero.
"Hanzo," Takeda called. "You don't know what it's like to be controlled. Because all the evil you're was you choice Vengeance misguided you. We have the Kamidogu we came for, so now you have another choice... give into vengeance, burn everything you worked for just like the Blood Demon wants, or help me save the world so we can rebuild the Shirai Ryu, remember? That was the plan."
Scorpion removed the swords from Sub-Zero. "You'll live. maybe not long, but not long enough to reflect on your misdeeds."
"I'd say you won the rematch."
"He was already injured, and what good is winning if I'm losing myself? Next time, I could..."
"Next time? He ain't coming back for that."
"Maybe not, but stranger things have happened."
Sub-Zero lay there, losing lots of blood, which created the Mortal Kombat logo.