Disclaimer: I do NOT own Mortal Kombat or anything related to it.
"I will hurt you for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid."
— George R.R. Martin (A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2))
Chapter 34:Tasia
Voices.
That was the first thing Tasia heard when she awoke. Voices were speaking in whispers nearby. She recognized them as belonging to Kano, Tremor, and Jarek. Her head was pounding so harshly that she let out a moan of pain. She brought up a hand to rub her forehead and was aghast upon feeling cold metal against her skin. Her eyes widened when she realized that she couldn't feel her hands and that the limbs had been replaced by prosthetics. It took her ten seconds to remember why.
Well, I just amputated both of your hands with your own weapons, so maybe I haven't gone as soft as you think.
Kira's words would stay in her memory for the rest of her life. She remembered hearing Jarek yell her name as he and Tremor rushed to her aid as well as Kano's threat to Kira before she lost consciousness. Tasia stared at her hands, clenching them into tight fists that she saw but couldn't feel. She'd been bested by Kabal's little pet, his rejected whore, Kobra's crush, a traitor to the Black Dragon. But the worst part was the fact that Kira amputated her hands with Tasia's own weapons. Her beloved swords had been used against her. Clever bitch that Kira was.
"Easy there, love." A hand touched her shoulder."You've had a rough one."
Tasia looked up to see Kano standing beside her with Jarek and Tremor on either side of him. All three were the very picture of concern and anger.
"What happened?" She asked."Where are we? This isn't any of our hideouts."
"We are in Seido." Tremor stated."Or Orderrealm, as others prefer to call it."
"As for what happened," Jarek sighed,", Kira and General Blade got away with Cassie and Kano Jr. A portal opened out of nowhere and sucked them in."
"Why are we in Seido?"
"Because it is our new base of operations." Raiden said as he stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and an icy look on his face. He entered the room, and others followed: Hotaru, D'Vorah, Tanya, Nitara, Skarlet, Goro, and Daegon.
"What is he doing here?" Tasia hissed, pointing at the demigod.
"Let's just say we've made a temporary truce for the moment." Kano replied, not hiding his own displeasure as he scowled at Daegon.
Raiden pointed at the Black Dragons."All four of you would do good to watch your tongues given our recent failures. Because of your incompetence, we have lost our hostage."
"Don't forget about my failed student too." Kano muttered.
Raiden rolled his eyes."I care not for the boy. He is of no worth as a hostage." He gave Tasia a glare so fierce it made a chill ran down her spine. She gulped as he approached her, tilting her chin up with his fingers to force her to make eye contact with him."Listen to me Tasia and listen well. I could have easily ordered Daegon to restore your hands as he did Goro's arms and electrocuted him if he refused to do so, but I chose not to. Do you know why?" She shook her head, and his grip tightened."Because I wish for you to learn from your mistake. I wish for you to remember what Kira has done to you whenever you look at her hands. This is your punishment for failing me. Am I understood?"
Tasia nodded."Yes, sir." She breathed a sigh of relief when he released her chin and turned his attention to the two treacherous females in the room. Part of her was glad he hadn't made Daegon restore her hands, as she loathed the idea of getting aid from a sworn enemy.
"Tanya, D'Vorah." The Edenian and Kytinn both stepped forward at their names being called. Neither had time to react as Raiden electrocuted them mercilessly. They cried out and fell to their knees. Raiden relented, barking at them to get up, which they swiftly did despite the obvious pain and shock that overwhelmed them."Allow me to make one thing clear to both of you: I am well aware of your treacherous histories. Tanya, you have betrayed more people than one can count, and D'Vorah, you served Kotal Kahn for years, only to betray him to Shinnok. Tell me, were you ever loyal to the emperor?"
D'Vorah lowered her eyes."This One was loyal to Kotal Kahn for the majority of his rule until the Blood Code opened our eyes to how weak he was. Shinnok's power intrigued and frightened us as yours does now, Lord Raiden. This One will not betray you."
"Nor will I." Tanya said in a shaky voice.
Never did Tasia think she would see Tanya or D'Vorah afraid, yet there was no denying the truth in front of her. D'Vorah and Tanya were incredible actress, but what they were doing now was not acting. The fear in their voices was genuine. Tasia would be lying if she denied sharing that fear. Even Daegon, Goro, and Skarlet looked uncomfortable if the way they averted their eyes from the scene before them was any hint. Nitara took a few steps back until her back met the wall and she leaned against it with a frown marring her darkly attractive features. Kano, Jarek, and Tremor were muttering curses under their breath. The only person not remotely disturbed by Raiden's actions was Hotaru, who stood beside the deity with a blank expression.
"I hope for both of your sakes that you are telling the truth." Raiden growled. They nodded, shaking like leaves as he dismissed them with a wave of his hand. The four Black Dragons made no attempt to hide their discomfort as Raiden seemed to prepare to electrocute them nor did they conceal their relief when he turned away from them in favor of addressing the three Red Dragons in the room."Your mission was at least partially successful."
Goro nodded."Indeed. All five of Sheeva's champions are dead and the queen herself is heavily wounded and unable to participate in the tournament. Torr has awoken from his coma, but will not be fit for kombat for quite some time. I request your blessing to kill Sheeva and Kotal Kahn, Lord Raiden. They both owe me a blood debt."
Raiden nodded."Fair enough."
Skarlet stepped forward with a bow."Lord Raiden, I was bested in kombat by an Edenian named Ruby. I request your blessing to kill her."
"Ah yes, Ruby." Raiden easily recognized the name. As did the Black Dragon Clan."The Edenian who refused to tell me where Rain was before the revenants arrived to her aid. Very well. Her life is yours to take."
Daegon crossed his arms."I would request that more than one person's fate be put into my hands. Kenshi Takahashi betrayed me, Hanzo Hasashi killed Hsu Hao, and Jacqueline Briggs and Cassandra Cage murdered Mavado. I wish to be given Takeda Takahashi as a prisoner so I may torture him as revenge for what his father, adoptive father, friend, and lover did to my clan."
"Shall I assume that you wish for your mother and brothers as well?"
Daegon nodded."This time I will ensure that my mother stays dead and that neither Taven nor Rain take the prize from me."
"Rain is nowhere near as powerful as yourself or Taven."
"No, but only a son of Argus can succeed him as Protector of Edenia. Therefore, Rain poses as much of a threat to me as Taven. They may even work together to defeat me. I cannot afford that."
"An understandable concern and request." Raiden tilted his head."I will give you what you wish, Daegon. You have my word."
"There is another problem, however, regarding my mother." The demigod rubbed his chin thoughtfully."She shares a body with Jade, so if she finds herself unable to fight me as she did in Outworld, she may simply grant Jade control again and the Edenian has made it no secret that she does not share my mother's hesitation."
"Sounds like that's your problem then." Kano remarked with a smirk. He yelped when Raiden threw a lightning bolt at him that brought him to his knees. Jarek quickly helped him to his feet.
Tasia grimaced."Maybe you should keep your mouth shut when other people are talking, Kano."
Raiden chuckled."I would advise you to listen to your friend, Kano."
Kano groaned."I'll keep that in mind."
"Be sure that you do." Daegon said icily as he and Raiden moved their conversation elsewhere with Goro, Skarlet, Nitara, and Hotaru following closely behind, leaving the Black Dragons alone.
"Remind me never to get on his bad side." Jarek muttered.
Tremor nodded."We should all stay on his good side after recent events, and I am not just referring to Cassandra and Kano Jr.'s escape."
"Yeah, yeah, Kabal and his pals aren't zombies anymore, I know." Kano mumbled, nodding at Tasia's surprised expression.
"According to Raiden, Jade showed up with Kenshi and his brat and Taven and brought the revenants back to life." Jarek explained.
"We also cannot forget that Kira has most likely informed Kabal of the circumstances surrounding Kano Jr.'s conception." Tremor added.
Jarek snorted. "You mean how Kano kidnapped Kabal's wife while he was a revenant and raped her?" Despite not being a member at the time, he was well aware of the clan's actions before he joined.
"She probably told him about how I'm the one who ordered Kintaro to try to kill his partner and maim him too." Kano spat on the ground."Still can't believe that four-armed idiot got his ass handed to him by a confused cop."
"Life is full of surprises." Tremor stated, shrugging.
Tasia was no longer paying attention to her allies' conversation. She stared at her hands, rage burning within her as Kira's words refused to leave her mind. Never again would she feel her hands. Now she knew how Jax felt about his metal arms. More rage burned within her at the thought of the Major who'd defeated her, Tremor, and Kano all those years ago. Jarek hadn't been a member yet and Kabal was away recruiting Kira and Kobra at the time, so they were spared an encounter with Jax.
Angry as Tasia was with Jax, it was Kira whom she wanted revenge against. Kira ruined her life by chopping off her hands (with her own weapons no less), and Tasia had every intention of returning the favor. Already in her head she was planning to lock the bitch up in Kano's torture room and make her suffer until she begged for death. Kira was a tough nut to crack, so breaking her would not be easy, but that did not deter Tasia.
She would get back at Kira, no matter what the cost.
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Next up: Chapter 35:Liu Kang