-Chapter 10: Plus One, Minus One
Despite his many bandages, Magnus found movement relatively easy, especially as he held an awake and very playful Soren in his arms. His son was all bright eyes and wide smiles as Magnus held him, making little gurgles and wordless exclamations as father and son bonded.
"I trust this challenge is agreeable to you?" Mileena wondered as she entered, dressed in a black and pink lounge kimono for this period of post-battle recuperation.
"This is one labor I'll happily undertake." The shirtless Magnus remarked as Soren turned towards his mother. Mileena sat beside them, their son reaching for her as Magnus offered him to Mileena. She took him into his arms and appraised their baby boy for a moment.
"So, I believe everything is settling down." She said after a moment.
"At least on the homefront. Subduing Shao Kahn is good news, but Kronika is still out there." Magnus agreed. One job was complete, but there was still a lot of work ahead of them.
"Then our consolation is that our affairs are in order." Mileena determined.
"Yeah, I'd call it a win all around." Magnus mused. "Shao Kahn is... not much of anything anymore really, your throne is safe, and to top things off we have Ermac in custody." Having been subdued by the joint team of Tanya and Rain, Ermac had been captured and imprisoned alongside many of Shao Kahn's allies. Plans for him, however, were far different from simply being 'left to rot'.
"Our one trouble is soul magic." Mileena continued. "Is there anyone at all that we know who knows soul magic?" She asked. Magnus could only shrug.
"With past and present mashing together, there has to be." He told his wife. "If Rain can arrive out of the blue the way he did, maybe there is someone. But I'd have to check our current roster to find out for certain..."
Little did Magnus realize that someone with exactly those powers was indeed on hand.
The past few hours had been a frought undertaking, dealing first with an inquisitive Geras, Frost and several Cyber Lin Kuei at the Dragon Grotto who had been sent by Kronika and then contending with several revenants in their attempt to capture the undead Sindel. It had resulted in Shang Tsung consuming the soul of the revenant Nightwolf to renew his strength, effectively killing him... something the living Nightwolf was none too pleased about. However, they now had the body of Sindel on hand and a vial of Jinsei to enact Shang Tsung's plan. They were ready to move into the next phase, a phase that revolved around a simple step: take Sindel to the Soul Chamber.
To an extent, it seemed fairly straightforward mission. But seeing as their endeavour was beyond the comprehension of anyone at this point in time (as they had not witnessed the future as these three had), Shang was determined they do this unorthodox mission with minimal interference from outside parties. But there was one person they needed on this mission, someone whose past was very well known to Shang Tsung from his time in Shao Kahn's court. It was none other than the Queen of the Shokan: Sheeva.
Standing before her throne in the midst of her court, Shang Tsung knew this was a risky play. He would need every ounce of guile, charisma and silver-tongued speech he commanded in order to convince the Shokan Queen to aid him and the others. For, as anticipated, Sheeva was none-too-keen on his presence.
"Escort you and your 'comrades' to the Soul Chamber?" She repeated in a voice filled with disdain. "Have you come from the future only to insult me, sorcerer? I am no sword for hire." Sheeva stated, refusing him.
"This request is far below your present station, your highness." Shang agreed. "But defeating Kronika depends on us reaching that chamber." He'd told her most of their story, the key pieces she needed to know anyway, so Sheeva had some inkling as to why they needed her aid.
"Why?" The Queen questioned. Shang Tsung chose now to drop the bombshell.
"Because we must restore Sindel." He answered. Having left out the former Empress up until now, his reveal shocked Sheeva, freezing her in place for a moment as her expression shifted from scorn to surprise.
"My Empress..." She gasped in a low voice. For further proof, Shang signaled the waiting Nightwolf and Fujin to bring in a rather ornate coffin which they they carried the body of the revenant. Sheeva rose from her throne as they placed it before her, descending the steps as the glass cover near the top revealed the unconscious Sindel. Staring in awe for a moment, Sheeva was reminded of her past, her previous duties, and how important this woman was to her. "You've captured her revenant." She realized.
"Together, Fujin and I can restore her to life." Shang promised.
"Why?" Sheeva sharply asked, looking to the wizened older man. "To make a slave of her, as Quan Chi did?"
"So that she can aid us against Kronika." Fujin answered. "But you have my vow, Queen Sheeva, she will return free of all influence." The Shokan pondered his promise, knowing how much of an abomination Sindel had been when Quan Chi resurrected her for Shao Kahn's selfish means and even now after the foul warlock had perverted her into this undead creature of mayhem. If there was even a chance that the good wholesome Queen of Edenia could be restored...
"As I recall, you were blood-bound to Empress Sindel," Shang Tsung continued, "made so by Shao Kahn, were you not?"
"I was her protector-for-life." Sheeva affirmed. While Shao's reasoning was simply so that someone could always keep an eye on his prized possession, Sheeva and Sindel had come to a mutual understanding and even a friendship while the Empress was alive. After her death, Sheeva had mourned the loss of her friend instead of her ruler.
"How it must've pained you when she died. But that was not your fault. You could not save her then, but now you can." Shang mused, trailing off and letting his offer hang in the air. Sheeva knew what he was doing, working to manipulate her bond with Sindel in order to get what they needed. The problem was, it was working. Sheeva's devotion to Sindel ran deep, deeper than anything Shao Kahn or even this sorcerer could imagine. Had it been anyone else, Sheeva would've moved to aid them in a heartbeat, even now she was considering it. But Shang Tsung's presence in this plan left her with many reservations...
"Then I..." She began, only to stopped as she knew there were others who deserved to know, on... had about this. "No. We must present this to Mileena Kahnum and Queen Kitana." She stated.
"Respectfully, your highness," Fujin interjected, "if we approach either of them-"
"They'll cut Shang Tsung's head off." Nightwolf concluded.
"Kitana never appreciated my contributions to the Empire." Shang mused. "As for Mileena, considering her change of heart, I doubt she'll be too kind to anyone from his era." Sheeva could see his logic, but felt uneasy about this.
"Time is short, Queen Sheeva." Fujin urged. "We must act now and beg their forgiveness later. Will you help us?" Shang was no one to trust, but a god of Earthrealm was slightly more trustworthy in the Shokan's eyes. After a moment of internal debate, Sheeva reached her decision.
"By concealing you from Mileena, I betray my oath to the Empress." She mused, glancing down at the coffin. Seeing Sindel was so close at hand, so close to a means of revival and restoration... "But my life belongs to Sindel." She determined. Shang and his comrades shared victorious looks, until Sheeva mixed him with a concerned gaze. "You will be recognized by the imperial guard. Baraka will know it is you from a mile away." She cautioned the sorcerer.
"True. They won't take to me kindly." Shang agreed. Summoning his magicks, Shang was soon concealed behind a green cloud that faded away to reveal a common Shokan guard. Neither the Queen nor Nightwolf or Fujin could tell it was Shang Tsung.
"That will do." She decided with a nod.
In Earthrealm...
Muffled shouts and excited cheers filled her hearing as consciousness returned. She felt a cold, hard surface beneath her and the stench of stale beer mixed with cigarette smoke was rank all around. Sonya came to and found herself on a dirty floor, surrounded by chain link fence and multiple scruffy, filthy mercenaries all focused on her. As she picked herself up, some pounded the fence, others whistled and shouted, Sonya wasn't sure if they were excited about her or about why she was in here. As she picked herself up, the screech of a PA system soon filled the area with the unmistakeable voice of Kano.
"Rise n' shine, Sonya." He teased as the lieutenant crawled to her feet. Checking herself over, Sonya realized she was devoid of all her tools and equipment, including her photon blaster gloves. "Yeah, ya won't be needin' those, luv." Kano remarked. "One thing we Black Dragon know; there's no fun in a fair fight." Glancing up, Sonya spied not only the Kano of the past but his present incarnation as well, sitting in a modified DJ booth. As she studied her surroundings once more, Sonya realized this place was more like a club with a sectioned off area. The pieces finally came together and she understood where she was...
She was the night's entertainment in a Black Dragon underground fight club.
The creaking clang of a heavy metal door joined by a parting of the crowds signalled the arrival of the first contender of the night. Past Kabal stood before the cage access gate, his hair pulled into a topknot and his hook swords stowed across his back. Uninjured and not needing a respirator, the high-speed assassin turned his gaze up to where the two Kanos stood.
"So Sonya's the skank who burns me?" He asked.
"Oh, she more than burns ya, Kabal," present Kano drawled as he took the mic, "she goes black-ops on yor arse. Shocks, knives, tha bloody works. Patched ya back tahgethah meself. Well... most a' ya." He explained. Kabal's expression hardened into a glare as he turned back to the cage gate with hands balled into fists.
"She's dead." He growled, much to the crowd's delight.
"Miss law-an'-ordah really that ta him?" Past Kano wondered of his future self. The other Kano chuckled.
"Nah. But now 'e's motahvated." He said with a grin that his duplicate returned. Down on the ground, a pair of goons pulled open the gate and Sonya sprinted forward to try and make an escape. But Kabal burst into the cage at high speed, knocking her flat on her back and sending the lieutenant sliding across the floor as he fixed her with an angry glare. The air returning to her lungs, Sonya picked herself up and sized up an adversary she knew well.
"Hope you're ready for some pre-emptive vengeance." Kabal snapped.
"What the hell are you talking about, Kabal?" Sonya retorted.
"You, torturing me to get dirt on the Black Dragon." He replied, reaching behind him for his hook swords. He was quick to dash in and send her spinning as his blades raked across her back, only to turn and scoop her up by the ankle and slam Sonya into the ground, getting in some easy first hits. Pained by the impact, Sonya now understood her disadvantage. Kabal's superhuman speed made him a quick and deadly adversary, especially since she didn't have her usual tech on hand. That made this an uphill battle, the only way to survive this was to fight and fight hard.
Sonya was on her feet as soon as she could be, ready as Kabal attacked her again. She grabbed his incoming fist and punched his face with multiple hard blows before grabbing his head and slamming it into her knee. Sonya attempted to attack further, but Kabal was quick to recover and landed a hard punch followed up with a kick to her torso before he sent a spinning blade sliding across the floor the cut up her legs. Tripped up, Sonya was open to a sudden shoulder bash as Kabal dashed forward, knocking the wind from her lungs. Drawing his hook swords, he then buried them in her shoulders and moved so quickly he was on the other side of her, grabbing his blades and hauling her off her feet, over his head, and slamming her into the ground.
Forcing herself back to her feet, Sonya was forced to contend with another shredding assault from Kabal as he struck with his hook swords once again. She was thankful her jacket was intact and somewhat armored, providing her some protection against the assassin's wicked weaponry. But the few slashes and nicks that landed on her unarmored portions hurt and bled, proof of Kabal's deadliness and ruthless nature. But Sonya managed to get her hits in as well, grabbing Kabal around the neck and driving her knee into his gut multiple times before throwing him over her shoulder. The crowd was loving it, all of them naturally rooting for Kabal, but Sonya was really giving them a show. If her last moments were to be like this, they would be remembered for a long time to come.
But Sonya was in no mood to be entertainment, or remembered by these criminal scum for that matter. Even without her tech and equipment, she was still a deadly kombatant... and she was about to show the Black Dragon exactly that.
Kabal spun his blades around, Sonya moving her arms and feet to avoid as much as she could, several slashes sparking against her armored arms but sometimes cutting through her flesh. Just as Sonya recovered from his onslaught, Kabal lashed out with a hard double punch that sent blood flying from her mouth much to the crowd's delight. But as he made to strike again, Sonya turned and landed a hard overhead blow followed by a heavy uppercut that cracked his jaw with impressive force. All of a sudden, she was pouncing on Kabal, Sonya driving him into the ground with a flurry of blows as she started pummeling him further, driving both fists hard into his chest with enough force to crack his ribcage. As he tried to get up, Sonya grabbed his arm and rolled over, snapping it in a vicious armbar twist. Kabal howled in pain only to be silenced as Sonya rolled back and purposefully drove her knee into his face, smashing his skull on impact. The successive overloads of pain were enough to take Kabal out of the fight, Sonya rising victorious over him. "Don't believe every rumor you hear." She remarked, wiping blood away from her lip. She glanced around, seeing as the crowd had gone somewhat silent after her certain victory over Kabal. "I'm done entertaining you clowns!" She declared. Glancing up at Kano's booth, she marched over and beckoned them in. "Get in here, you cowards!" She demanded. But the sound of the metal door swinging open again signalled the arrival of yet another party.
"Temptin', luv. But we think our next contendah is a beaut'..." Kano remarked. Sonya turned to the cage gate just in time to see a pair of Black Dragon hauling in a bruised and bloody Johnny Cage. He had to be dragged and was incapable of supporting himself, the actor appearing far more beaten up than he had the last time she saw him.
"Shit..." She cursed as they threw him in. Seeing another opportunity to flee, Sonya lunged for the exit, only to be grabbed and forcefully thrown back int by several men, who promptly slammed the gate on her. She pounded and slammed at the chain link to no avail, many hands keep it shut. Seeing as there was truly no way out, Sonya rushed back to help Johnny stand. "I won't fight him!" She told the crowds, much to their displeasure. Several beer bottles smashed against the fence, spilling their contents within as Kano's voice sounded over the loudspeaker.
"You'll damn shor' fight, or ya'll both die." He threatened.
"Cut the shit! You'll kill us whether we fight or not!" Sonya retorted.
"Ah, ya caught me, luv. But put on a good show, eh? It'll be less painful." Kano remarked in response. The spec ops lieutenant determined that either they planned to make her fight opponent after opponent until she died or that they would kill her after they'd had their fun. Either way, it did not bode well.
"Come on... you've been dying to hit me all day. Here's your chance." Johnny weakly offered.
"And give them the satisfaction of watching us fight? Like hell." Sonya snapped. Standing on his own, Johnny put up his fists and continued in a lower voice.
"You said it: they'll kill us whether we fight or not. Fighting buys us time to find a way out." She liked his plan and hoped that it would work. Johnny didn't seem to have a lot left in him and she doubted he could keep up the ruse for very long. "So... quit being a diva, and hit me!" He exclaimed in a louder voice. He was an actor after all, and the rapid crowds bought it. With a sigh, Sonya relented, putting up her fists much to the eager amusement of the two Kanos. She struck first with a hard blow to the face that sent Johnny's blood flying from his nose. She was quick to follow up with multiple blows to the chest and ribs, trying to keep them from being too hard or too powerful and she wasn't sure if Johnny's reactions were feigned or well and truly wrought from pain. The Black Dragon messed him up pretty good and she was worried he wouldn't last long.
"Take a dive!" She worriedly insisted.
"No way," he gasped, "these people know a dive when they see one." He replied. Having the sinking feeling that he was unfortunately correct, Sonya reared back her fist to land another blow...
But never got the chance as a nearby door was blown open from the outside.
Everyone paused and turned, Johnny dropping as his strength gave out. As the smoke cleared, gunfire rang out as Cassie and Liam led a platoon of Special Forces troopers in a raid on the fight club. Her twin pistols blazing, Cassie blitzed the Black Dragon was they brandished AK-47's and ther assault rifles seemingly from out of nowhere, leaping forward and executing a split-kick on two who got too close. Bright orange plasma bursts from Liam's gauntlet blew other members to pieces, the son of Kano now clad in his own unique SF armor as he battled them alongside his girlfriend and commander.
From their perch, Kano and Kano turned to the other Black Dragon compatriot and gave him the go-ahead to wade into the fight. He did so with the briefest of nods, now burdened with the responsibility of playing executioner.
Kicking the locked gate didn't seem to work, so Johnny and Sonya tried to time their next kick simultaneously with the hope that combined strength would be enough to snap the rusty chain. Before they could, however, the lock was shot off and Erron Black emerged from the crowds, throwing them open as he fixed the two hapless prisoners with a steeling gaze and a smoking gun. Johnny quickly stepped between him and Sonya, taking point as Erron drew him the hip and shot the actor in the arm. With a cry of pain as his blood spurted across the ground, Johnny charged the gunslinger only to have his blow sidestepped before the butt of Erron's pistol smashed into the back of his head, downing him in a single blow. Drawing his second weapon, Erron drew a bead and pulled back the hammer, ready to kill Johnny in a single shot...
But a heavy punch smashed into his leather-masked face and Erron turned on Sonya with pistols at the ready. rounds shattered the floor and ricocheted off the fence walls as Sonya backflipped, spun and cartwheeled around Erron's lead rain. Getting in close to the gunslinger, a spinning hook kick was enough to send him sideways and prove that he'd need more than guns to stop her. Coming to his senses and holstering his weapons, Erron popped the tendons in his neck as he sized up the kombat-ready lieutenant.
"Now ain't this a thrill... baggin' the legendary Sonya Blade..." He drawled, equally ready for kombat...
Back in Outworld...
The trip to Outworld's soul chamber led the foursome on a winding path to avoid confrontations with any members of the royal guard, Sheeva knowing the ins and outs of Outworld well enough as she led the way with Fujin while Nightwolf and the Shokan-disguised Shang Tsung carried Sindel's coffin. they were now passing through the acid Dead Pools, large lakes of flesh-eating acid lining their path, along with many many corpses of the pools' unfortunate victims. The stench was palpable and they had every intention of being on their way as soon as possible.
"We've made it this far," Sheeva mused, mentally calculating their route, "there's a stairway beyond those doors." She instructed, pointing toward the end of the hall. "And at the top-"
"The Soul Chamber...!" Shang hissed, the eyes of his disguise aglow with green power. "I can feel it!" Even though the voice sounded like a Shokan, the power-hungry words were enough to confirm Shang Tsung's identity. Nightwolf and Fujin shared uneasy glances, but knew they had no choice in this partnership. If they were to save time and history, they needed Shang's power.
Their journey was suddenly interrupted by voices coming form the hall they'd just left. Sheeva and Fujin turned about as Shang and Nightwolf carried on a short distance. The voices grew louder and were distinctly Tarkatan in tone and pitch, all of them fearing a segment of the Empress's honour guard. The sound of metal scraping against stone signalled the arrival of Tarkatans, four of them to be precise, led by Baraka and Rain.
"Sheeva!" The leading Tarkatan growled.
"Follow my lead." The Queen whispered to Fujin before she approached Baraka.
"Earthrealmers, Sheeva, and a coffin? What secret did you plan to bury here?" The Tarkatan General hissed in question.
"It is the Kahnum's business, Baraka." She simply stated.
"We are equal partners, you and I. The Empress's business is my business." He reminded her. Sheeva could not argue with that and let Baraka approach the coffin. Fear shot up her spine and every member of the time-saving trio braced in apprehension. The Tarkatan approached the Shokan first who kept his fearful gaze fixed forward. He could feel Baraka's breath on his shoulder, hear his sniffing in his ear. "You are not Shokan." Baraka pointedly stated, sniffing deeply as he inhaled a smell familiar to him, one that reeked of magicks. "I know that scent..." He growled. "Smells like... Shang Tsung!" With that, his blade stabbed clean through the Shokan's back, red blood spilling across the stone floor.
With a cry of pain, the Shokan was lifted up, four arms flailing as he tried to remove himself from the blade buried in him. the pain proved too much and his control over his illusion faded away, the white-haired sorcerer soon revealed to them all in a flash of green. Dropping him to the ground, Baraka deployed his second blade and joined the ranks of kombat-ready Tarkatans as Shang clutched the dripping wound near his shoulder.
"You keep strange company, Queen Sheeva." Rain pointedly noted as he brandished his katar. "Some might think you plot treachery against the Empress... or perhaps against Edenia's newly-appointed Queen." He mused.
"I assure you, Son of Argus, that is not the case." Sheeva promised.
"Come with us and you can tell that to Empress Mileena." The demi-god responded.
"There's no time for discussion, Rain." Sheeva stated as Fujin helped Shang to his feet. "We must get to the Soul Chamber, urgently!" She insisted.
"By all means, I will not stand in your way, your highness." Rain politely responded. "But Shang Tsung and that coffin are going straight to the Empress." He flatly stated. Baraka ordered his men to intercept with a shout, Shang conjuring a flaming skull and sending it flying towards them without hesitation. The four Tarkatans were bowled over, one of which fell into a nearby acid pool. His dying screeches filled the air as he thrashed out, trying to claw his way to safety. Green soon turned red with blood as his flesh dissolved within seconds and was stripped from his body. The onlookers wrinkled their noses and looked on aghast at the horrible sight, the Tarkatan's screaming fading to a mere gurgle as he disappeared beneath the green liquid... his skull, devoid of all flesh, soon bobbed to the surface moments later. Baraka and the remaining Tarkatans turned on Shang Tsung with displeased looks, the sorcerer holding his hand over the wound as glowing magicks healed him.
"My sincere apologies." He offered. With a war cry, Baraka led his soldiers in a charge that was halted by Fujin, the god of wind conjuring a strong tempest that blew them all backwards. Rain engaged Nightwolf as katar blades clashed with the sharp edge of a tomahawk, the two battling it out as Baraka advanced on Sheeva.
"Tarkatan blood is shed! You will atone, Sheeva!" He roared to the Shokan.
"Were you not warned? Tarkatans are all mouth and no ears!" The Queen derisively decided, prepared to defend herself against Baraka. He was quick to attack by lunging forward with both blades deployed, only for Sheeva to draw her spiked war shield from behind and block him, using it as a counter to knock him on his back before she stomped a foot down onto his chest with a harsh crack. While she might have the graceful speech of a regal politician, Sheeva was a strong and brutal kombatant like all Shokan were. Despite her best intentions toward her allies, it certainly didn't come off that way to some onlookers.
Baraka was back on his feet in a flash, using his metal arm blades to send sparking bolts in Sheeva's direction. She was able to ward them off by conjuring bursts of flame from her hands, two of them intercepting the sparks while the final two struck Baraka and singed his robes, allowing Sheeva to move in close and pick him up by the shoulders, bashing him this way and that with her other two fists before she threw him across the ground, his head rolling dangerously close to the acid. Picking himself up, Baraka charged back towards Sheeva and flailed his arms in a slashing frenzy, scoring a close hit that left a bloody trail across the Shokan's abdomen as his second blade impaled her lower left shoulder. Executing a dropkick, the Tarkatan sent her sprawling across the ground as her blood dripped from his blade. Offering a growl as he claimed the lead in this battle, Baraka moved in the put Sheeva down only to meet her war shield as the Shokan got up and slammed it into him, stunning him long enough for Sheeva to land four crossed with both sets of fists and an uppercut that catapulted him into the air. The Queen then snagged his foot and pummeled his back with hard, cracking blows before slamming him shoulder first into the floor.
Somehow, Baraka shook off the impact and picked himself up, though Sheeva noticed his footing was uneven and on the brink of faltering. Springing up, Sheeva stomped down so hard she shook the ground, Baraka shuddering and stumbling as he lost his footing. The Shokan Queen powered ahead to capitalize on his staggered state, two fists landing a powerful overhead that cracked against his skull. Then, leaping high into the air, Sheeva came stomping down on Baraka's back, slamming him into the ground with an audible crack that left the Tarkatan unconscious and incapable of fighting further. "You speak when you should listen." Sheeva remarked, dusting off her blood-stained hands.
She turned back to the battle to find Fujin and Shang keeping the other Tarkatans at bay, while Nightwolf took shelter behind Sindel's coffin as Rain sent powerful, flesh-rending geyser bursts in his direction. Each one was conjured from either his hand or his katar, barraging Nightwolf with a withering storm of water. He was stopped only when Sheeva delivered a powerful punch that smashed into his face and sent him spinning. The Edenian hydromancer was slow to recover as Sheeva advanced on him.
"Answer me, Sheeva! Who is in that coffin?" He demanded, rubbing his sore jaw.
"Empress Sindel." She truthfully replied. "We can restore her to life with the Soul Chamber!" That gave Rain pause, but the negatives of this situation outweighed the positives in his mind.
"Neither Mileena nor Kitana will take too kindly to necromancy... especially with the Queen Mother." He mused. "If you are persistent in such a quest, I'm afraid it ends here!" Rain stated, prepared to fight just as Sheeva was anticipating. He attacked with a stream of water bursting forth from his katar before executing a spinning hook kick that unleashed a wave across the ground, Sheeva blocking both with her war shield. But Rain was not one to give up easily and used his hydromancing magicks to tap into his connection to dimension of Aquataka: the water realm. His katar struck Sheeva with powerful, dimensional rifts that sent her sprawling as the crackle of stormy weather echoed around them.
Sheeva pushed back to her feet and was quick to summon four more fireballs to hurl at the Edenian, but Rain used his powers to transform into a statue of water, Sheeva's fires extinguished in a burst of steam as they had no effect against Rain's hydromancy. The Edenian demi-god quickly sprung forward with his limbs coated in water and struck Sheeva with a spin kick that battered her. He was a relentless kombatant who demanded nothing less than total victory over his foes, be they true enemies or misunderstood allies... something Sheeva was learning the hard way.
Rain's katar pierced her chest as the Edenian stabbed her and then blasted her away with a burst of concentrated water from his palm. It was then that Sheeva had had enough and attacked the demi-god with all her mind, a hard stump crushing his ribs while several successive punches battered the Son of Argus with blood-spilling blows. She was trying to drain him of stamina, knock him out, keep him from being able to continue the fight. But his godly heritage meant Rain was far tougher than Sheeva could've predicted. In spite of the blows she rained upon him, Rain was quick to retaliate with katar slashes and bursts of water that pushed Sheeva back. Surrounding his body with water, he shot forward and grappled the Shokan Queen, enveloping her in a bubble of water. Shooting upwards, Rain grappled her from behind and plunged her down to the ground, dropping her onto her shoulders in a heavy krushing blow.
Sheeva knew she had to win and got back to her feet as Rain assumed a fresh battle stance, ready to continue. Filled with regret, Sheeva drew her war shield and charged forward, powering through a geyser sent her way and slamming into Rain with force. The spike in the middle pierced his face before Sheeva tore it free and used its bladed edges to cut a deep vertical wound along his torso. The force was enough to know him onto his back, Sheeva leaping onto him and smashing her shield repeatedly into his toros, blood spilling from wounds rent by her bladed shield. The Hydromancer quickly teleported to a standing position, but doubled-over as he clutched at his bleeding wounds. That gave Sheeva all the time she needed to leap forward and drive her foot into his gut, grabbing him by the back and bending him over her knee, krushing his ribs even further as she threw him to the ground, passed out and the loser of this contest.
"Know that this is for the better, Rain." She solemnly promised, vacating the scene as Fujin, Shang and Nightwolf finished their battles. "Let's move quickly, before more arrive to seek them out." She urged, Fujin and Nightwolf lifting the casket as Shang Tsung continued to recover...
Erron Black was down for the count, Johnny was being helped up by a pair of SF troopers and the duo of Cassie and Liam had cleared a path of escape. Commander Cage approached her future mother. "He needs a med evac," she reported, referring to Johnny, "and we're gonna have to fight our way to the rendezvous. You'll need these." She stated, offering Sonya her blaster gloves back. She slipped them on as Cassie pulled Johnny's arm over her shoulder, helping him move as Liam led the way with his plasma caster fully charged. Sonya soon offered to take Johnny and Cassie drew her pistols to help clear a path.
Sure enough, armed Black Dragon goons were waiting for them, attacking with assault-grade weaponry. The dual-wielding Cassie made short work of them alongside Liam's plasma beams as boyfriend and girlfriend went to work with a fluidity honed over months of intense co-op training. Sonya made to duck behind a stolen military truck and get Johnny to safety as Cassie and took on the Black dragon forming up behind them. "Reloading!" She called out, her pistol magazines depleted. Liam nodded and switched his weapon to rapid fire, strafing the Black Dragon with short explosive bursts of plasma energy, boring holes clean through several of them. Cassie was back in action within seconds and gunned down the last few, the two soon confident of their success...
That confidence quickly faded as Kano appeared with a minigun in his hands.
"Where d'ya think yor goin'?" He called out as his weapon spun up. Cursing under her breath, Cassie ordered Liam behind cover as rapid-fire rounds sprayed the area. They ducked behind the truck in the nick of time, bullets ricocheting in every direction as they bounced off the steel framework.
"He's definitely got us outgunned." Liam remarked as he slotted a fresh energy cell into his gauntlet.
"He's bound to run out of ammo at some point." Cassie mused, tensely gripping her pistols. "Maybe we can rig up a distraction of some sort, get that gun out of his hands." She theorized. But while she was planning, Kano was also. His red cyber eye turned blue for a moment as an x-ray scanner allowed him a perfect imaged of the hiding soldiers behind the truck. He knew just where to shoot now. Hearing his prolonged silence, Cassie stepped out from her hiding place to get a shot off only to find Kano waiting with a toothy grin as his minigun spun up and ready for her. The blitz of shots that followed tore through her arm and side, scarring her face with a stray round and pitching her back to the ground in a pool of her own blood.
"Cassie!" Liam cried as he bolted to her side. His girlfriend was alive but in pain, half of her body riddled with bloody bullet wounds. He turned to Sonya as the young lieutenant fearfully approached them. "Help me!" He ordered, pulling Cassie back behind the truck. Groaning, the commander lolled her head as she faded in and out of consciousness, very much in a bad way. Knowing he needed to do something, Liam's blood burned hotly at the notion that his father had done this to the woman he loved. "Get her stabilized." He ordered Sonya, priming the launcher atop his glove. With a plan in place, Liam crouched low as Kano unloaded his minigun into the side of the truck, an unrelenting spray of bullets pounding the metal surface. Utilizing a space between the tires, Liam launched an explosive disk that detonated right by Kano's feet, disrupting his balance and aim with a burst of plasma fire. Darting out form behind the truck, Liam fired two bolts of plasma that knocked the minigun from Kano's hands, putting them on even terms.
"Ain't this a right bloody family reunion." The merc remarked as he gathered his senses with a shake of his head.
"It's about to get bloodier by the time I finish with you." Liam growled. Sizing up his agitated offspring, Kano chuckled.
"Struck a nerve, did I? Is yor lil' girlie in poor health?" He mockingly teased. Liam simply loosed another growl as he pulled his own combat knife from his belt, long and thick and made for brutal close-quarters kombat. "Tha's right, boyo. Come an' get some." Kano taunted, acting all ready for a fight. But as Liam closed the gap, past Kano pounced from behind some debris and tackled Liam to the ground. After a brief struggle, Liam managed to kick Kano off and rolled to his feet, putting some distance between him and his two opponents.
"I always did love an' unfair fight." Past Kano snickered as Liam's gaze darted back and forth between the versions of his father. "Serves a lil' backstabbin' brat like you right." Kano spat.
"Why? Because I consciously chose not to be like you?" Liam retorted.
"Yeah. Disruptin' tha family legacy an' all." Past Kano agreed.
"Your legacy is nothing worth inheriting." Liam growled. Past Kano scoffed and turned to his future self.
"You weren't kiddin'. Miss law an' ordah really did get to 'im." He remarked.
"Whaddya say we take our boy off tha straight an' narrow?" Present Kano wondered with an evil gleam in his good eye.
"Yeah, I'll happily make 'im a 'lil crooked!" Past Kano agreed, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. Before either of them could, Sonya dove down from atop another truck and struck present Kano with a dive kick that put him flat on the ground. The distraction bought Liam enough time to surge ahead and tackle past Kano, throwing him to the ground as they fought for control over Liam's pressing knife. A sudden energy burst from Kano's cyber eye was enough to throw Liam off and he picked himself up in time to see a recovered present Kano drive a powerful knee into Sonya and send her careening towards Liam. He managed to catch her and keep her upright as the twin Kanos converged on them.
"Ya know tha best thing 'bout this future, luv? I'm alive an' yor dead as a doornail." Past Kano remarked to Sonya with a keen grin.
"Yeah. I know." Sonya said, rolling her shoulders.
"But tha real cappah is that yor daughtah is bangin' my son!" Kano continued with a laugh. "Talk about a twist a' fate." Sonya offered Liam a simple glance and nothing more as the two prepared for a fight.
"Worse thing is it's those Nethahrealm stiffs did ya in. Shoulda been me." Present Kano stated.
"Let's have us a do-ovah!" Past Kano eagerly suggested, something present Kano grinned at as they charged them. Thinking quickly, Sonya made to attack her nemesis from her era as Liam tackled his father, the fighting pairs splitting up as they engaged one another.
"You may be alive in this future, but that can change!" Sonya threatened, priming her photon blasters as Kano drew both of his knives. As the two nemeses squared off, Liam and his father were on their feet.
"Gotta admit, I'm gonna enjoy beating the snot out of you." Liam growled.
"Takin' it out on me won't change a damn thing." Kano remarked as they squared off. "Shor' you'll feel bettah when ya go back ta Cassie. But jus' remembah this tha next time yor snoggin' wit' 'er: yor tha son of 'er mothah's nemesis." He sneered. Liam needed no further encouragement to go on the offensive, attacking in a blind fury as his resentment towards Kano got the better of him. Their knives struck, steel grinding on steel as seething clashed with smiling father.
"You beat me within an inch of my life... tortured me for days... forced me to kill innocent people you dragged off the street!" Liam roared.
"I made you bettah! I made ya intah tha best merc in all tha realms!" Kano retorted. "And you joinin' tha Special Forces is tha thanks I get?!" His question was punctuated by a burst from his optic laser, scorching Liam's face and driving him back as Kano drew his second knife and surged ahead, pouncing on his son and driving both knives into his chest in order to lift him up and then slam him down on the ground.
Sonya was having far better luck as she engaged her Kano, landing an elbow smash right off the bat and following up with an overhead blow that led to a concentrated energy burst from her blaster glove that sent Kano sprawling. It was a duel they'd fought for years now, their rivalry seemingly culminating at the Mortal Kombat Tournament they'd both been whisked off to. Now, though, there seemed to be something definitive about their kombat, as if this was the penultimate match to determine who would come out on top: Special Forces or Black Dragon. Kano was quick to retaliate with a ball strike that allowed him to cut a pair of slashes across Sonya's body, knocking her down and giving the merc time to ready a molotov for proper use. The ground was soon covered in flames and Sonya vaulted over them in an arc kick as she kept pace with her adversary.
Liam was back on his feet and parrying his father's stabbing attempts with his empowered plasma gauntlet, warding him off with carefully timed blows mastered over months of intensive training. He struck back with a hard punch from his knuckled glove, infusing his gauntlet with plasma energy for an empowered follow-up uppercut. The blow pitched Kano back and lay him out flat on the ground, a prime target for two explosive discs to be launched from Liam's gauntlet and explode with powerful force. Kano forced himself to his feet, his skin a little charred and blackened, but the Black Dragon leader had suffered far worse and kept fighting with a sinister grin.
Kano of the past had managed to drop Sonya with a heavy boot to the gut, putting her on her hands and knees as he lined up and dropped an elbow into the back of her neck. Springing to his feet, Kano unleashed a beam from his optic emitter that blasted Sonya away from him, cackling gleefully as the spec ops lieutenant struggled to rise. But Sonya did rise and moved out of the way before a throwing knife managed to stick her. She attacked Kano with a cry, slamming her fist past his defences and into his face, spinning him around. With her tools and equipment retrieved, Sonya primed a grenade and tossed it onto the ground, shoving Kano onto it. The blast propelled him into the air, making the merc an easy target for a shot from her glove blasters.
No matter what Liam sent his father's way, Kano was finding ways to power through. He landed a sharp kick to his gut, complete with a hidden knife popping out to keep him stuck in and offering him the necessary leverage to landed a swift kick across Liam's jaw, sending him spinning. His son clutched his wound to recover, only to suffer a headbutt as Kano's cybernetics smashed into his skull. But that was merely a prelude, as Kano drew his knife and stabbed him repeatedly, using his impaled weapon as leverage for his boot as he planted a boot on his son's face and rode him into the ground. Hopping off, her drove a swift kick into Liam's ribs, breaking them, before raising his boot and deploying a spike that pierced clean through Liam and gave him the leverage to shove him across the ground as Kano ripped out his knife.
Sonya, on the other hand, had gained a decisive advanatge over her Kano, driving her boot into his leg and breaking it, before landing a heavy punch across his face that sent blood flying from his mouth and then landed a second gut shot that was further amplified by a blast from her photon gloves that ripped clean through him, exploding out his back. The effect was immediate... on both Kanos. While past Kano suffered the immediate effects, present Kano lurched as a scar suddenly appeared across his midsection as a result. Sonya suddenly realized that truth when she slammed Kano onto his back and drove her boot into his face, giving him a definitive broken nose. The nose of present Kano contorted in the blink of an eye, appearing to have healed from a break over the years.
It was then that Liam struggled to his feet and struck.
His power glove, supercharged with plasma energy, hit Kano with sizzling strikes that sent him flying. Triggering a grapple launcher, Liam snagged his father and reeled him back in, unleashing the power he'd been building up, the orange beam of plasma laid Kano out flat on his back... right where several explosive discs had been laid. The explosion was powerful, but not nearly as powerful as the supercharged fist Kano's jaw crashed into as he tumbled through the air. With a roar, Liam unleashed the last of his plasma charge, blasting and burning Kano in the face as he was knocked onto his back... defeated.
"I'm your son by name. Not by choice." Liam declared. Standing tall over his defeated father, he turned to see Sonya had beaten her Kano as well and was holding him at gunpoint. Loading a fresh energy cell and charging up his plasma caster, Liam leveled his glowing orange glove at his father.
"Go on. Do it... jus' like I taught ya." Kano wheezed. For a brief moment, Liam was very tempted to. But then he thought better of it and lowered his weapon.
"You know, Raiden told me something before I came here: whatever happens to the past will afflict the future." He said, catching Kano's attention. "I don't have to kill you to put you out of the fight." With that, he primed his power glove and unleashed a beam of plasma aimed straight at the Kano of the past. His beam completely disintegrated one of his legs, the merc howling in pain as he brutally lost one of his limbs. The Kano of the present gasped beneath him, both he and Liam looking down to see the same leg was missing, the wound having healed over thirty years. Dropping low and pinning Kano to the ground, Liam had only one thing to say to his amputee father. "You've lost 'Dad'. For good this time."
Back in Outworld...
Fujin had carefully moved Sindel's body into the Soul Chamber, Sheeva and Nightwolf taking up onlooking positions as Shang Tsung unleashed his magicks while Fujin controlled the power of their bottled Jinsei energy and began the process of healing and restoring Sindel's body.
"It has begun!" The sorcerer proclaimed, twin beams of green magick peaking out to strike the floating Sindel as the Jinsei seeped through her skin and into her heart. Her body lurched and writhed in time with the surging power flooding her.
But it was then that Kitana arrived with Jade in tow.
"Queen Sheeva!" She cried, sounding very unhappy and displeased. Nightwolf and Sheeva turned to face them, knowing it was paramount that Shang Tsung and Fujin continue their work uninterrupted.
"Queen Kitana, I-"
"Hold your tongue. Rain told me everything." The Queen interrupted, needing to hear nothing more from the Shokan. "Mileena is on her way. She is most displeased you have gone behind her back like this... but her displeasure does not match my fury." She sternly told Sheeva. "Nothing good can come from that sorcerer's hands." She said, looking past her to Shang Tsung.
"Is that how you think of Mileena?" Sheeva replied.
"I will not debate semantics with you." Kitana firmly retorted.
"You would dare to desecrate her body as Quan Chi once did?" Jade demanded. "This is how you treat the Queen Mother? The woman you were blood-bound to protect?"
"I did not make this decision lightly, Jade. Do not question my loyalty to Sindel!" Sheeva threatened. "Shang Tsung will restore your mother, Queen Kitana. And Fujin will ensure it is done properly." Sheeva explained. Closing her eyes, Kitana briefly wished she could believe that.
"For a thousand years I've dreamed of seeing her alive again." She admitted. "But her soul deserves better than to be corrupted by Shang Tsung! This perversion ends now." She decided, making to march on Shang Tsung. But Sheeva was quick to push her back as Nightwolf intercepted Jade and drew his tomahawk. Momentarily surprised by Sheeva's interruption, Kitana regarded the Shokan first with shock then with hardening anger. "I will let the Empress know how quickly your oath to her is broken, Sheeva." She stated, drawing her war fans. "And I had hoped you better than this."
"I have been bound to Sindel for a millennia. In this moment, I must honor the mother over the daughter." Sheeva replied. Even as Kitana advanced towards her, treating her like an enemy, Sheeva had no desire to fight her. Her intentions were solely to keep her from interfering with the work of Shang Tsung and Fujin.
The Queen of Edenia sent both of her fans flying towards the Shokan, Sheeva deflecting them with her war shield as Kitana raced in, hoping to subdue the seemingly traitorous Queen in order to get to Shang Tsung and stop him. But Sheeva performed a quick hop that send a miniature quake rolling through the ground, stopping Kitana in her tracks. Recalling her fans, the Edenian conjured a whirlwind that spun Sheeva around, enabling Kitana to get in closer. A vaulting, spinning attack cut deeply through the Shokan and knocked her to the ground. Kitana broke into a run, attempting to bypass the subdued Sheeva and make a beeline for Shang Tsung. But the Shokan managed to catch her ankle before she could pass and threw Kitana back across the floor, keeping her away from the Soul Chamber and buying herself time to recover.
With an irritated growl, Kitana sprung to her feet and made to attack Sheeva again, the Shokan Queen waiting with all four arms at the ready. Using the bladed cuffs fixed to two of her wrists, Sheeva managed to deflect each of Kitana's fan strikes and keep the Edenian at bay as Fujin and Shang Tsung enhanced their magicks and increased their power over Sindel's body. Kitana redoubled her efforts, but Sheeva grabbed her wrists and kicked her back, using her strength and power to overwhelm the Edenian Queen. Kitana began to try to think around her and summoned a whirlwind to engulf her body, effectively surrounding herself in an impenetrable column of wind that slowly advanced towards Sheeva.
Forced to backtrack, the Shokan had to think around Kitana's new advance. The Edenian tossed both her fans and, thinking quickly, Sheeva's shield deflected them both. Leaping into the air, Sheeva executed a dropkick that broke Kitana's focus and sent her plummeting to the ground as her winds dissipated. Snatching Kitana out of the air, Sheeva then threw her the rest of the way back to the ground as hard as she could, knocking the air from her lungs and keeping her from continuing the fight. "Forgive me, Queen Kitana. Know that I never wanted to come to blows." Sheeva sincerely apologized. From the ground, Kitana slowly picked herself up, working past the pain as she watched Fujin and Shang Tsung advance towards her suspended mother. They were in the final stage of restoration, using their most powerful healing magicks as the revenant began to transform.
Within the revenant, her cold grey heart came to life as Quan Chi's necromancy was purged from her body. Dead flesh was replaced with living muscle tissue as it began to pump red blood throughout her body. Inch by inch, grey necrotic flesh turned pink again as her revenant clothes were purged from her body and replaced with the robes of an Edenian queen. From death to life, Sindel was reborn and as Fujin and Shang Tsung let their magicks abide, she came to with a gasp for air and her eyes opened wide.
The power of the Soul Chamber abated, revealing the restored Sindel as she was set down on her feet. Sheeva helped an awestruck Kitana to her feet as Sindel took the first few steps of her renewed life, groaning as her strength slowly returned. Her footing was unsure, her strength still returning and with a gran Sindel collapsed into the arms of Shang Tsung.
"What have you done?" Kitana hissed to Sheeva, who sincerely hoped she had not been betrayed. Sindel glanced about her surroundings, memories and thoughts long-thought lost coming back to her in a sensational onslaught.
"Welcome back, your highness..." Shang cordially greeted. Sindel's brown eyes snapped to him and she shoved him back in an instant. "It pleases me to see you, too." The sorcerer dryly continued. Finding her voice, Sindel managed to speak,
"Am I alive? Is this real?" She wondered in a weak voice that slowly grew in strength.
"It is, Lady Sindel." Fujin answered. "A miracle we could not have achieved without your most loyal subject." The wind god revealed as he gestured to the Shokan Queen. As soon as Sindel laid eyes on her, her eyes sparkled with relief and recognition. At last, someone she knew.
"Sheeva?" She asked aloud.
"Empress..." Sheeva slowly began with a dry mouth as she stepped forward, "though today I have aided you, too often have I failed to protect you. I am not worthy." She confessed, bowing before the regal woman. It was then that Sindel's expression softened into a caring smile, the look of a kind and tender-hearted queen coming over her.
"Aw, nonsense." She kindly told her. "Today you give me the greatest gift; a second chance! Your duty is fulfilled. I am in your debt now." She said with a nod of her head.
"Thank you, Empress." Sheeva thanked with a gleam in her eyes. This was the Sindel she knew, restored to life once again!
"Where is my daughter?" Sindel asked of those around her. Sheeva and Fujin were quick to part in order to reveal the wide-eyed Kitana slowly removing her mask as she laid eyes on her living mother for the first time. "Kitana...!" Sindel breathed a happy sigh, reaching out for her daughter. Kitana approached warily, seeing it was her mother, but still had reservations about her mind. She shied away as Sindel drew closer and the Queen Mother could see the worry on her face. "It is me, Kitana. Your mother." Sindel promised.
"I... I want to feel joy... but all I feel is..." Kitana trailed off. "I was only a child when you-you... How could you kill yourself?" She asked in a pained voice. "Why did you abandon me?" Sindel understood now and gently guided her daughter's face towards her.
"I never wanted to abandon you. But after your father's death, I would not wed Shao Kahn. By killing myself I spared your life and saved you from any harm he wanted to inflict. I placed a magical ward on you that not even Shao Kahn could break." Sindel explained. "For that, I suspect he was very bitter."
"That he was." Sheeva agreed.
"It was selfish of me, I know. I could not live with that monster, and I suppose you could not live with him either." Sindel softly mused, Kitana offering the barest of nods in response. With tears in her eyes she met her mother's gaze. "Oh, my dear Kitana." Pulling her close, Sindel hugged her daughter tightly. "Take heart in the fact that I loved you and your father, Jerrod. Trust that I am here now... and that there is nothing that can separate us." She whispered. Kitana finally broke down.
"Oh mother...! Mother!" She cried, overjoyed to have at least one parent back in her life. Mother and daughter hugged for some time, until Fujin and the others knew they still had more work to do.
"This reunion is a blessing. And I am loathe to break it up." The wind god gently said as he approached them. "But we have little time to celebrate." Sindel nodded and pulled back, wiping away Kitana's tears as the new Edenian Queen offered a smile to the former Queen. "We must leave for Shang Tsung's island to finish our quest." It was then that footsteps sounded outside the chamber, signalling the arrival of Magnus and Mileena along with her Tarkatan honor guard.
"Queen Sheeva! You dare make plans behind my back!" Mileena snapped as she strode into the Soul Chamber, her amber eyes livid. But she stopped short upon seeing the company with her. "Sindel...?" She wondered, confused. Then she saw her progenitor and was even further confused. "Shang Tsung?!"
"The hell is that bastard doing here?!" Magnus demanded, striding forward as electrical energy crackled around his closed fists.
"You need not fear his machinations, Magnus Shadrix. At least, not yet." Fujin stated as he intervened. Magnus stopped and gasped upon seeing the wind god.
"Lord Fujin! You live! We thought you lost after the time-merger." He exclaimed.
"I was lost, but that story is for another time. For now, take heart and know that I keep Shang Tsung on a short leash." The wind god promised.
"As if he could leash me." The sorcerer scoffed. Sindel eyed the newcomer curiously.
"My my, what have we here?" She wondered. "I sense a great power within you... but you are not an Outworlder." She queried, stepping closer to Magnus. Momentarily lost for words by the sight of a renewed Sindel, it took Magnus a moment to find his tongue.
"The only time we have ever met is when you were a revenant, my lady." He politely responded with a bow. "I am from Earthrealm, but I'm also the High Protector of Outworld and it's Empress."
"Earthrealm you say?" Sindel mused, studying his visible muscles. "I had no idea they could produce such fine stock. Have given this one a closer look, Kitana?" She teased her daughter, Kitana's cheeks turning slightly pink at the notion.
"I am not that lucky man, Lady Sindel." Magnus interjected with a hearty smile. "But the one who is resides in Earthrealm as well." He offered. Raising an eyebrow, Sindel turned back to her daughter.
"I must meet this man someday, Kitana." She mused. Slightly flustered, the Edenian Queen offered an embarrassed chuckle.
"What I am, milady, is the husband of the Empress; Mileena." Magnus revealed, turning and presenting his pink and black clad wife to the former Edenian Queen. Suddenly feeling quite burdened, Mileena slowly approached the mother of her 'sister'. Sindel was not of sound mind when she had been created, nor had she any true insight into the means behind her birth.
"Lady Sindel, I..." she trailed off, trying to find the right words, "I have not had the pleasure of meeting you before." She confessed. Sindel cocked her head slightly, approaching the masked Mileena as she studied her visible face.
"There is something familiar about you." She said softly, trying to put her finger on what the connection was. Mileena sighed.
"That is because there is a... twisted familiarity behind my creation." She admitted, lowering her mask to reveal Kitana's face, albeit it with Tarkatan teeth along her jawline.
"By Argus!" Sindel gasped, stepping back. Before she could offer another outburst, Mileena made to explain.
"After your death, Shao Kahn despised what Kitana represented... essentially, you. And after many years he sought out Shang Tsung to craft his ideal version of Kitana... I was the result. A monster." Mileena revealed, her heritage quite a shock to Sindel. But then Kitana stepped in.
"What Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung intended for evil, fate and destiny worked out for good." She told her mother. "She is not a monster like her father. Outworld is now free from oppression. Shao Kahn is no longer on the throne thanks to Mileena... and I've come to accept her as my sister." She revealed. Sindel glanced back and forth between the two women for a moment as Mileena spoke again.
"Something that was forced upon you." She quietly told her sister. Plucking up her courage, she spoke to the Queen Mother again. "Lady Sindel, I know who and what I am and many others would agree in saying I am a monster. If you think me an abomination, you would not be the first. But, if I may, let my actions speak to my identity, instead of my past or my appearance." She offered. Approaching Mileena, the wise and discerning Sindel noted her sincerity and took Mileena's hands in hers.
"Where is the monster everyone speaks of? I do not see such a thing in one so humble." She sweetly offered, bringing a glimmer of hope to Mileena's eyes. "I may never recognize you to be related to me, even if you are a clone. But know that if Kitana trusts you, then so do I." She promised.
"Thank you, your highness." Mileena genuinely responded.
"My lady, I truly hate to cut this meeting short, but we must depart." Fujin urged.
"Yes. Kronika will not wait for us to make a move." Shang agreed.
"Where are you going, Lord Fujin?" Magnus asked. "And why's he involved?"
"We seek Kronika's Crown of Souls, Magnus." Fujin answered. The electromancer looked at him askance.
"The what-now?" He asked, clearly confused. This was the first he'd heard of such an artifact.
"We'll explain in due course. For now, we have to move quickly in order to secure a future victory." Fujin told him. Kitana turned to her mother.
"I would go with you, fight by your side. But..."
"You have duties here, I understand." Sindel assured her as Shang Tsung began to craft a portal that would take the group of four to his island. "Rest assured, Kitana, I will come home." She promised with a warm smile.
"There are many Edenians who would love to see their Queen again." Her daughter replied, returning her smile.