A/N: Hello, my fellow readers! I am back once again with the brand-new chapter. Don't think I should delay it with my speaking, so sit back and enjoy.
Disclaimer: Killer Instinct belongs to Mircosoft and Rare. Carrie belongs to Stephen King.
Inside the Global Corruption Force HQ base, Jago sat crossed-legged on his bed, meditating. With the human Alliance members moving to the station, General Wilson provided quarters for them. The room Jago dwelled in comprised a twin-sized bed with an oak-smooth desk on the left side, and a lamp lighting the room. Two slide-in curtains concealed the window, blocking most of the sunlight. A computer desk with drawers remained bare.
Jago remained in his position, staying calm until his closed eyes switched to despair as visions invaded his mind. It exposed the world with destroyed cities, and humans-chained and starving while Gargos secured his victory. The image shifted to the Tiger Shrine at night, with bluish-white fire lingering in the torches instead of regular flames. A dark being sat in front of the bell, calling for him.
Jago snapped his eyes open, checking his surroundings while regaining his composure.
The first vision...I'm aware of what will happen if Gargos claims victory, but the second one, what does it mean?
He departed from his quarters and headed to the recreation room. The news continued the coverage of the interdimensional threat. The corruption around the planet was increasing than depleting. Bluish-black portals kept popping in numbers, with the occasional red gateways. Jago glimpsed at the opening doors as though he sensed a presence.
"It's all right. I don't bite."
"The hell? How does he know we're here?" George whispered, which Jago snickered upon the reaction. George and Sue stepped inside the room. "It's getting bad out there. I don't wanna think what would happen if Gargos come here."
"How did you know about Gargos?"
"I told him and Sariel, sir, but before then, Hisako told me," Sue said.
Jago found this intriguing. His friends—himself included—read the info about the Onryō when the invasion began, although they suspected Ultratech had a role to her awakening. "Why would Hisako inform you of this, let alone come to you?"
"This isn't the first time I met Hisako. George, Sariel, and I encountered her during the graveyard incident. Maybe she wanted to see my reaction if she told the truth about what's happening, and it worked because I'm scared for my child."
"What about Rita?"
"I'm keeping her in the dark on this one. Informing her of this might push her over the edge."
"Fair enough. Perhaps you and George could enlighten me with something. I overheard from Thunder that when he, Eagle, and Orchid were on the Chamberlain mission, they found posters of Carrie smeared with the words, 'Burns in Hell.' Why?"
George and Sue glanced at each other before the former spoke, "I wouldn't say she has done nothing wrong, per se. No one liked her, all because of her mom.
"In every town, village, or city, there's always that one nut. Margaret was our town's nut and religious too. If she takes one look at you, for example, she would ask you questions if you came to Chamberlain, and then, she'd go on a ranting spree.
"Rumors also spread about them-one involving Carrie blurting how everyone is going to Hell except for her and her mom."
Jago raised an eyebrow. "Did she say that?"
"That's still under debate. All I know is things would be different if Margaret hadn't conditioned Carrie while she was homeschooling her."
"Carrie never mentioned that. I assumed she started public school like everyone else."
"Margaret homeschooled Carrie when she was young until the state pulled the plug because neighbors complained of yelling and screaming at the house. That sparked a rumor that Margaret might be...h-hurting Carrie, though there wasn't any proof," Sue said. "Still, it must've been bad because those guys in suits threatened—no, promised Margaret that if she didn't place Carrie in a public school, they would take her away."
Jago couldn't imagine a child being taken away from a family. The homeschooling would explain why Carrie lacked crucial social skills, but something else concerned him.
Before he could ask more questions, the T.V. blasted with the current news. While the reporter stated the announcement, the screen showed a medium-sized portal hovering over the Himalayas.
For a moment, the Tiger Shrine vision flashed in Jago's mind until several taps on the shoulder brought him to reality.
"Are you okay, sir?" Sue asked.
"Yes, I...I must go." Jago headed out but stopped beside the door. "If my sister or Carrie asks for me, tell them I'm needed for a mission."
"Um, yeah, sure," Sue said, and with that, Jago left.
The Forbidden Archive was quiet, apart from the crumbling sand slipping through the cracks of the ancient stone walls. A bright blue light gleamed as Kan-Ra viewed the world from a portal he created. The sorcerer practiced on summoning gateways, especially when members of the Alliance asked for more potent versions of the Guardians they received.
The corruption increases with each passing day, drawing closer to the battle against Gargos. I have mentioned to the Alliance a powerful weapon that could defeat the Shadow Lord.
The sorcerer grabbed a scroll lying on the table; he picked it up from a library in the basement of his lair. He unfurled it, scanning the contents.
So far, there was one that challenged Gargos long ago but then split into parts, guarded by potent Mimics. If I'm to create this weapon, I will need help.
Suddenly, a roaring hexagonal gateway appeared, grabbing the sorcerer's attention. Kan-Ra prepared himself as blue energy surrounded his hands until Jago emerged.
Well, this is unexpected. "Jago, what a surprise. You're one of the few that hardly comes here."
Jago crossed his arms. "For reasons that you should understand."
"Fair enough, so to what I owe you for this visit because I found new relics for the ultimate battle."
"Are you still in the business of summoning Guardians?"
"Always, but why a Guardian? Have the ones your friends gained been enough for you?"
"They've been helpful, but for this mission, it requires one in specific."
"That serious, eh?" Kan-Ra rubbed his chin. "Well, things are getting treacherous out there, but beckoning Guardians isn't free."
Jago reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag. He tossed the sack to the sorcerer, who caught it. "I had to take a pit stop at the Night Guard base. Perhaps this should suffice."
Kan-Ra untied the bag, revealing Astral Gems. The sorcerer's lips curled in mirth. "Excellent. You came prepared."
Blue energy encircled around Kan-Ra's right hand as a book from the altar reacted, flipping the pages on its own. The book floated from the platform as it shot the energy towards the circular symbol on the wall, forming a smaller gateway. Kan-Ra added the Astral Gems into the portal, where it changed from the usual blackish-blue to a fiery gold. The light increased as the sound of a tiger's roar echoed.
The portal dispersed, and the light vanished, revealing a floating tiger skull with unique patterns, bathed in a golden light emerged. After adjusting to its new surroundings, the head glanced upon the personnel—Jago, in particular. It floated towards the monk as though he was the one that summoned it instead of Kan-Ra.
"I've waited so long to see you again." Its voice comprised a divine tone.
Jago scrunched his brows and glimpsed at a curious Kan-Ra before he shifted back to the creature. "Forgive me, but how is it you know me?"
"You probably don't remember, but we've met before as you slept."
"As I slept...you're the creature in my dream, are you, when I was at a retreat to recover from Omen's possession? You also mentioned how we would meet again when the world is in peril."
"I'm pleased that you remembered, and I owe you an introduction from our last meeting. I am Baekho."
"How intriguing. I never expect a Guardian to visit a person's dream, let alone want to have the said person as their partner of choice," Kan-Ra said. "Why?"
"Nothing that concerns you," Jago said.
"Very well. Oh, before you go, take this." The sorcerer handed Jago a small vial with a red liquid. "It is called the Potion of Restore. With this mission you're about to endure, it might come in handy. I look forward to seeing you soon."
Jago pulled out the portal key from his other pocket. He pressed the button, and the hexagonal gateway emerged. Once he and Baekho stepped inside, the portal shrunk until it vanished, leaving Kan-Ra to resume what he was doing before the visit.
Billions of stars spread across the Himalayan night sky as silence ruled the mountains until the faint roar of a portal boomed. Jago and Baekho stepped out as they arrived at the Tiger Shrine, allowing the gateway to close. The wind blew from the south, bringing forth the frigid air, but never deterred Jago as he stared at the frail temple.
"So, what abilities do have, Baekho?" he asked.
"I'm a defense breaker. Each time your opponent blocks, it charges my power. Once unleashed, I would break through, allowing you to storm them with every assault. Whether my abilities will be helpful against whom you'll be facing remains to be seen."
Jago and Baekho stepped inside the Tiger Shrine. Moonlight filtered through the temple, and bluish-white flames lingered on the torches, but everything else remained the same. Despite the ravaging time not being kind to the temple, it still held potent memories.
A sudden growl brought Jago to reality as he spotted Baekho glaring at the bell with lighting candles.
"Baekho?"
"A foul presence is approaching. Can you sense it?"
Jago followed the Guardian's line of sight as a black energy pillar seeped into the stone floor cracks. With it, a dark being emerged, resembling Jago, but with bluish-pale skin and chains around the bare torso, holding a meat-slicing sword.
The figure remained, his back facing the monk as he stretched out his arms, his hands emitting evil energy. As the being shifted, his pupilless eyes gleamed white, and the facemask resembled a lower skeletal jaw.
"Shadow Jago," Baekho said. "Is this why you came here?"
"If I have any chance of defeating Gargos, then yes. Whether or not this is an illusion, I must fight it either way," Jago said.
"In that case..." Baekho split into streams of light and seeped into Jago's tattoos. "You now gained my ability, but tread carefully with that being. He might possess the same moves as yours since Omen spent so much time in your body."
Shadow Jago glared at his light counterpart, his voice emitting an evil tone. "I have been waiting for you, brother."
"You're not my brother," Jago said. "Just a shadow and nothing more."
"I'm sure you tell that to yourself to numb the pain."
"You think you're alive, but you're not."
"I am alive, and I'm everything that you fear." Shadow Jago shifted to his combat stance.
Jago also moved to his fighting posture. "My only fear is to be deceived, but it won't happen again."
Shadow Jago teleported, launching a flying kick. Jago blocked with his arm, grabbed his evil counterpart's ankle, and tossed him. As he prepared for his assault, Shadow Jago grabbed his arm and flung him. The evil monk pulled out his sword, ready to slash, but Jago recovered fast and drew out his sword, blocking.
Shadow Jago teleported once again and kicked his light counterpart's face. Before he sets off his assault, Jago planted his fist against the evil monk's chin and launched him in the air. He flipped back and fired multiple fireballs. Though Jago dodged most of them, the last two struck him.
Jago started with his wind kick, but his evil counterpart blocked and landed a few blows before ending it with a sword uppercut. As Jago crashed to the ground, chest bleeding, Shadow Jago jumped and chucked a fast fireball. He rolled away from the blackish-blue energy and started his assault until the evil monk struck back with his sword, leaving another cut.
Jago flipped back and launched his wind kick, hitting his dark counterpart. He spotted Shadow Jago drawing out his sword, and once again, blocked with his own. Sparks flew as metal clanged against each other. Jago pushed his evil counterpart and continued his barrage, ending it with an energy-induced flying uppercut.
Shadow Jago flipped back as he chucked black energy spheres, encasing Jago with more electric surges. He teleported around his opponent, landing each attack. As he came down, ready to slash his light counterpart, Jago blocked with his sword. The evil monk pushed harder while Jago struggled in his position.
"Did you expect to defeat me?" Shadow Jago said. "Once you're dead, I planned to finish the one thing you could not: to give that woman a quick and painless death. Then, I'll finish your friends and that girl you're caring."
The last line struck a nerve as a hidden power erupted within Jago, his eyes and tattoos gleaming. A golden aura surrounded him, but Shadow Jago paid no mind as he freed his left hand, surrounding it with evil energy. Before he could launch his fireball at close range, Jago shoved his evil counterpart off him, throwing the energy sphere off course. Both monks arose, glaring at each other.
"Time to end this!" Jago declared.
"Yes, I agree!" Shadow Jago switched to another stance as an evil aura surrounded him. He teleported towards his light counterpart, preparing to land a flying kick.
Jago blocked and proceeded with his attacks. Before he continued his assault, Shadow Jago nicked the monk's ankle and followed it with several fireballs. While he recovered, strange black energy transferred to his evil counterpart.
"What is this?" he queried.
"Your evil counterpart has tethered your Shadow Energy to him, which increases his power," Baekho said. "Only by striking him will the connection break."
Shadow Jago unleashed a wave of attacks and leaving another cut from his energy-induced sword. As he charged again, Jago chucked a fireball, slamming onto the evil monk and breaking the tether. While the embers healed his wounds, Jago launched more, and as Shadow Jago kept blocking, Baekho's power grew.
"Shatter if Shadow Jago blocks one more time," Baekho advised.
Jago launched another wind kick, which his evil counterpart blocked. He chucked a potent fiery sphere, sending Shadow Jago flying towards a wall. He stopped for a moment, glancing at his left hand while processing what transpired.
So this is Baekho's power. He shifted his attention towards his dark counterpart, his hand clenching to a fist.
Shadow Jago peeled himself off the wall, and with a roar, he chucked multiple energy spheres.
Jago responded by shooting his own, canceling each other. Embers flew from both sides but provided him cover as he burst through with his attacks. Shadow Jago tried to block, but Baekho's power wouldn't allow it, letting the monk continue his assault before he finished it with a sharp flying uppercut.
Jago landed on his feet while his dark counterpart slammed his back against the ground. The adrenaline simmered as his chest rose and fell with each breath. "Go back to your master of lies, shadow."
Shadow Jago regained consciousness, glaring at his light counterpart. "This isn't over." He summoned a portal of his own and vanished into it.
Jago collapsed to the ground on one knee while Baekho detached itself from him.
"Are you all right?" the Guardian asked.
"I'll be fine, although this may not be the last time I'll face my shadow self again." As Jago moved to a sitting position, his hand pressed on a bulge from his right pocket. He reached inside and grabbed the vial Kan-Ra gave him.
"The Potion of Restore. What does it do?"
"If its name implies, it restores your energy, but I still don't trust Kan-Ra."
"Then, why would he give it to you?"
Before Jago answered, a hexagonal portal emerged, breaking the silence and spewing out Orchid. She wasted no time rushing towards her brother and smacked him behind the head.
"Ow! Sister, what was that for?"
"How about running off without giving me a ten-second warning? Is that a new Guardian, and what's that vial you're holding?"
"This is Baekho, and Kan-Ra gave me this Potion of Restore."
"This is not like you, brother. You hardly go to that sorcerer's place, even for help."
"Would you go there to seek his aid, despite not trusting him?"
"Touche. Well, since you're finished with whatever mission you undertook, you're ready to head back? I bet the scientists would love to examine the contents of that potion."
"Once I rest for a moment. Can you stay with Baekho and me?"
"Ah, hell, why not?" Orchid sat next to her brother, unaware of a Mimic Sadira spying on them.
A/N: Jago may have overcome the biggest obstacle to finding peace, but this is one of the many steps as the battle against Gargos inches closer. Well, time for my brain to rest, and I'll see you later.