The prevalent turmoil in the realm of Outworld was one felt by all of its inhabitants, including those who were brought into the realm by Shao Kahn's conquests, such as Nitara.
That incredibly traumatic event had inspired her to seek her realm's freedom from a very young age, a goal she was now moving towards with the aid of Mileena and her rebellion.
Vaeternus's freedom was a goal that Mileena was wholeheartedly committed to, especially after coming to understand the evil of her so-called father.
At the moment however, the once and future Empress of Outworld seemed rather distant from the mission at hand. Physically, the clone she had dispatched to accompany her family of sorcery creations as well as Nitara followed in step alongside them as they traversed Outworld in an effort to follow what leads Nitara had managed to dig up in her solo efforts to free Vaeternus. Mentally however, Mileena was rather distant. Her mind was occupied elsewhere, on the battle she and her fellow Edenians were fighting against the group of revenants aligned with Raiden.
Including Mileena's own sister and mother. Her focus was so drawn that her clone walked only on the psychic equivalent of autopilot, not uttering a single word as the group moved onward. This made coordinating efforts to evade Kotal Kahn's forces somewhat difficult, especially in regions of Outworld populated by the vampires, which faced increased surveillance due to Nitara's alignment with Mileena.
Adding onto the problem was how unmistakable Ermac, Meat, Ferra, and Torr were. The solution they settled on was to spend the day hidden in the back of a merchant shop owned by a vampire named Drawde. This would keep them hidden, and allow them to take note of. Drawde's wares in case any of it proved useful to them.
So far, the tactic had worked. Kotal's forces had only searched Drawde's shop, along with the homes of every vampire and Edenian in the neighborhood, once. Disruptive as they were, they weren't thorough enough to come back for a second sweep. And Kotal wondered why his forces had such trouble finding the rebels.
Naturally, Mileena's near-catatonic state was of concern to Skarlet and Meat. Ermac was able to sense her turmoil, and assured the two that she was simply otherwise occupied, but they couldn't help but watch her with concern all the same. Nitara meanwhile browsed the shop, sparing occasional glances at Skarlet. She didn't like seeing her so worried, or uncomfortable at all for that matter, but wasn't sure how she could help. Occasionally she aided Ermac in the task that had fallen to him: making sure Ferra and Torr didn't break anything. It was an arduous task, but Nitara's nimbleness and the fact that Ermac was a telekinetic helped.
Ermac was just in the middle of telekinetically holding up several items that would have otherwise shattered after Torr bumped into them, when finally, Mileena seemed to refocus on the body that was with them. She looked visibly distressed, something quickly noted by her brother and sister.
"Sis, are you ok?" Meat asked.
"I…" it was such a simple question, and yet Mileena found herself at a loss with how to answer it. "It's… it's complicated."
"What happened?" Skarlet asked.
"I…" Mileena stammered as she found herself reliving it all. "I couldn't get through to them. Shinnok's magic… it's too strong. At least for now. Jade tells me she's sure it can be done, like how she came back. And dearest Tanya… well, she'll always support me. But personally… I'm just not sure. I wanted it to work… to be a family so badly… but you're my family to, so for right now I'm going to focus on helping you."
Meat smiled in his strange but oddly comforting way. "Thanks Mileena. That means a lot."
"It really does," added Skarlet. "Kindness like yours has been a rarity in our lifetimes… especially since I… used to be unsure if I deserved it."
Mileena placed a comforting hand on Skarlet's shoulder. "The past is gone. You are my sister, no matter what." She looked at Meat, and put a hand on him as well. "And you're my brother. And I'm with you both. Always."
Mileena capped off her miniature speech by pulling them both into a hug. Both Skarlet and Meat hugged her back, which made Mileena feel much better after what she had recently endured. Torr even lumbered over to join them. Meat accidentally got some blood from his skinless form onto Mileena, but Skarlet was quick to absorb it. Conceivably, she could add "stain remover" to her resume if she wanted.
Unfortunately, the tender moment would be cut short when Mileena took notice of Ermac. His fists were clenched and the green glow of his eyes seemed intensified as objects around him shook as a result of his telekinetic power.
Mileena let go of her siblings and went over to the soul construct.
Ermac looked at her with a gaze that would be intimidating to most.
"Sindel and Kitana… they remain corrupted?" Ermac asked with a sorrowful tone.
Mileena nodded. "Yes, but it's ok… we... we'll save them. We have to."
"You do not sound confident." Ermac observed.
"I'm a little short on confidence right now…" Mileena admitted. "But I have to believe. We can't surrender to hopelessness."
Ermac looked at her silently.
"Ermac?" Mileena asked.
"Sorry, it's just… you sounded like your mother." Ermac explained.
"Did some of your souls serve her when she was queen?" Mileena questioned.
"We… it's more than just that," Ermac began to say, breaking eye contact with Mileena before resuming it. "Mileena, we have not been entirely honest with you."
"What are you talking about?" Mileena asked, clearly confused.
"Our collective…" Ermac began before the collective seemed to start struggling against… themselves? Or rather, one voice in particular trying to speak out. "Let me… let me speak!"
"Ermac, we're listening." Mileena assured.
"Is… is he ok?" Nitara asked, having been an observer thus far. "Or… they, rather?"
"It looks like he's fighting himself," Meat observed. "I used to do that. All the flesh in my body didn't… err… go together at first. It took me some time to get it under control."
"And I'm guessing souls are even less manageable." Skarlet determined.
"Calm down Mac!" Demanded Ferra."You hurt Torr's brain!"
"Our collective…" Ermac started again. "Contains the soul of your father!"
"S-Shao Kahn?!" Mileena asked, taking a step back from Ermac.
"He…" Ermac seemed to stop himself. "He is not your father."
"Shang Tsung…?" Mileena guessed.
Finally, a familiar singular voice took control.
"No Mileena, it… it's me. You won't remember me. My name is Jerrod."
"You mean… the king of Edenia?" Mileena realized. "But… Kitana is your daughter."
"And so are you," Ermac assured. "The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew that. And that is why I have never left your side. And never will."
Mileena wasn't sure what to even say. All this time, she had sought some measure of validation from the Edenian side of her family. And now, here was a father she thought she'd never know, king of the very realm she had promised Tanya she would free, who had been with her longer than she'd realized, accepting her assured readily as he would Kitana.
Tears of joy formed in Mileena's eyes as she embraced Jerrod through Ermac, her Tarkatan strength tightening her grip.
"Thank you…" She said quietly.
Ermac merely nodded and hugged her back.
"Hey listen," came the voice of Drawde as he walked into the room. "I'm sure whatever's going on back here is fairly exciting, but you lot are making a lot of noise. Which might tip somebody off that something's going on, and I've lived far too long to get executed."
Drawde was an older vampire, hair greyed and skin slightly pale. He was missing one fang and his wings drooped down as opposed to being raised proudly behind his back like Nitara's.
Despite the severity of what would happen were they discovered, Nitara maintained a casual demeanor and put on a smile.
"Relax Drawde, we'll be out of your hair soon," she assured. "We have a mission to complete,"
He sighed. "I know you do, Nitara," Drawde said, recalling her unending quest to free Vaeternus. "And I wish you the best of luck. In fact…"
He began digging around his collection of items. The group of rebels watched him with an air of confusion, not sure what he was looking for. Moments later, Drawde found the item: a necklace on a gold chain, with a deep blue gem in the middle.
"Thank you Drawde, it's beautiful," Nitara said graciously. "I'll wear it as a good luck charm."
"This ain't no ordinary necklace Nitara," Drawde explained. "That gem right there is mystical. You can use this to make portals across the realms. I bought it off of a Naknadan. I think he works for Kotal, but he gave me the genuine article."
"And you're sure it works?" Nitara asked.
"Tested it myself," Drawde confirmed. "I was able to pop into Earthrealm and the Netherrealm. Didn't stay in either for long, of course. Also found out that it can make travelling through this realm a lot quicker."
"Where could such a thing have come from?" Mileena asked.
"Perhaps it is an artifact of when the first sorcerers tied the realms together at the behest of the Elder Gods," suggested Ermac. "Like the soul stones in the Netherrealm."
"Very impressive," Nitara complimented. "What can we give you for it?"
"I can give it to you for 200 ruby koins." Drawde offered.
"That seems a bit steep." Nitara complained.
"Your very being here endangers my livelihood," Drawde reminded. "The least you can do is pay up. I gave that blue bastard 500 sapphire koins for this thing! I'm not even making a profit here!"
"Alright, alright," Nitara relented, grabbing a pouch off of her belt and preparing to hand over the money. "Considering that in the long run, this will help us free Vaeternus, it's worth it."
Wait!" Chimed in Skarlet, pulling out a bag of her own. "I can pay for it."
"Just as long as someone does." Responded Drawde.
Skarlet handed him the money, and Drawde in turn gave her the necklace. Nitara smiled at her.
"Thanks," she said. "Seriously, I mean it."
"Just… just trying to help!" Skarlet said nervously, hoping her mask hid her blush.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Nitara asked, bowing her head.
Skarlet's blush intensified as she nervously placed the pendant around Nitara's neck.
"How do I look?" Nitara asked.
"G-Good…" Skarlet replied, though the word "beautiful" was what was running through her mind.
She then turned her attention to Mileena, answering the question her sister hadn't even asked yet:
"I kept some money when we were going after Kotal's tax collectors," Skarlet explained. "Just in case we needed it."
Although Mileena had adopted the principle of returning the money they gained to the people of Outworld, she understood the logic.
"Fair enough." Was her reply.
"We should get moving." suggested Ermac.
"You're right." Mileena agreed.
"Drawde, look, I hate to ask more of you," Nitara said to her old friend. "But do you have anything we could use to look… a little less conspicuous?"
Drawde rubbed his chin in contemplation. "I might have a few things."
What he had wasn't exactly the greatest of disguises, but they'd have to do. He gave Nitara an eyepatch, figuring Kotal's soldiers would be looking for a vampire with two eyes. For Ermac, a large hat. The soul construct dimmed the glow of his eyes in an effort to further the effectiveness of the disguise. In addition, he was granted some Edenian clothing. Fitting given his prior reveal.
For Meat, Drawde provided an old Shadow Priest cloak that he had acquired some time after the emperor's fall from power and the fracturing of his empire. Ferra was provided more standard clothes for an Outworld child, a simple enough method of blending in. Mileena, to her chagrin, was given an old Kahn Guard helmet with the skull mask removed. Drawde also had a black-colored mask for her to wear that would throw off anyone familiar with her usual purple veil.
Skarlet uniquely opted out of taking any items from Drawde, instead creating her own solution: using her shapeshifting abilities, she changed the color of her hair to black, although a few red streaks remained, and altered the color of her eyes to brown. She then crafted for herself clothing far more common than the garb of one of Shao Kahn's assassins, though still retaining her trademark red color. Finally, she removed her mask entirely, storing it away for later.
This all left one major wrinkle…
Torr.
The lumbering humanoid seemed impossible to disguise, and Kotal's forces would be looking for him after he and Ferra betrayed the current emperor for their familial bond with fellow creations of the Flesh Pits.
"Honestly," said Drawde. "I think you should have left your big friend here at home."
"Where I go, Torr go!" Ferra insisted.
"And I thought Mileena and Tanya were inseparable." Joked Skarlet.
The mention of Tanya raised Ermac's attention. "Mileena, there is something else we wish to tell you, but we would prefer to share it when we return home."
Mileena was immediately curious, but decided to put it aside for now. "Alright." She simply answered, before turning her attention back to the matter at hand.
She knelt down in front of her young companion. "Ferra, I know you and Torr like to go everywhere together, but I'm worried he's going to get us noticed. Kotal isn't your friend anymore, he's going to be mad at you both. You wouldn't want Torr to get hurt if we were discovered, right?"
Ferra nodded. "Nobody hurt Torr!"
Mileena nodded back. "Right. So you won't mind if Nitara uses her magic necklace to bring him back home, do you? Tanya and Rain and the rest of our friends will take good care of him, I promise."
"Actually… I think I have something," offered Drawde. "I'll warn you, it's a bit… unorthodox."
From a storage room he brought out the skinned hide of a TaiGore, a large feral animal native to Outworld. The hide was intended to be used as a rug, similar to those Earthrealm hunters made from lions. Drawde had bought it from a group of Tarkatans a few months back, originally intending to use it as a decoration but never finding room for it. Under the circumstances, it served as a skinsuit for Torr. So long as he remained on all fours and no one peered too closely, he would resemble a domesticated version of one of the animals. Once the plan was communicated by Ferra, Torr was fairly agreeable.
And so, the group set out. As an additional precaution, they had been sure to wait until nightfall, taking advantage of the cover of darkness. Additionally, there was the worry that what appeared to be a Shadow Priest accompanied by a TaiGore would frighten civilians.
Though Mileena was the leader of the rebellion, she allowed Nitara to take the lead. The quest to free Vaeternus had been hers for a lifetime. It was only fitting that she saw it through. Nitara led the group further into the vampire-populated area of Outworld, intent on reclaiming her most recent lead on the pendant that bound Vaeternus to the realm and starting their efforts from there. Since vampires were often night-faring people, they did receive a few looks, though it seemed that no one caught on to their flimsy deception. And anyone who might have had no love for Kotal Kahn due to his treatment of the vampire people.
When they neared their intended destination, a modestly sized house of gothic stylings common in Vaeternus, they were surprised to find the area surrounded by Kotal Kahn's soldiers. The majority of them were Osh-Tekk and Outworlders in the standard uniform of Kotal's army. There were also five ninja-looking warriors in dark red garb; Vinparians, recruited to Kotal's cause by Ruby.
The leader of the group seemed to be a centaur. He wore green armor on his humanoid upper half and gold bands around his horns. His eyes also glowed yellow. He was flanked by two other centaurs, who both brandished spears.
Upon seeing this, Mileena ducked behind another house and began grabbing her allies one by one, teleporting them to a nearby rooftop and out of the line of sight of Kotal's followers. The leading centaur approached an Osh-Tekk soldier who was clearly nursing a concussion, received far ealier in the day by the now-departed Bo' Rai Cho.
"Commander Taurus!" He said in acknowledgement of his superior officer.
"The vampire you interrogated, Nitara's brother, he lives here?" Taurus asked.
"We asked around the neighborhood," the Osh-Tekk explained. "Used some… persuasion as needed. This is the place."
Taurus crossed his arms. "Then we set up a perimeter and wait," he ordered. "The vampires will come back here, and with them, likely more of the insurgents."
"Yes sir!" The Osh-Tekk responded. He preferred action, but the plan was sound.
Taurus huffed. "The emperor is mighty, but he wastes my people's skills trying and failing to replicate the success of the extermination squads. Shao Kahn's own daughter would never fall victim to such a tactic."
"You question the emperor's wisdom?" The Osh-Tekk asked.
"Only the way he chooses to allocate his soldiers, Johgel," Taurus explained. "If I thought he was without wisdom, I would fight for Mileena's cause."
"Fair enough..." Johgel decided. "But remember, to insult the emperor is heresy."
"And you remember, Johgel," Taurus responded, leaning forward and locking eyes with the Osh-Tekk. "That I am the commander here."
Johgel nodded. "My apologies… commander Taurus."
Up above, the rebels observed the current emperor's troops.
"I don't get it…" said Meat.
"Neither do I," admitted Skarlet. "And from up here we can't tell what they're saying. What is this place?"
Nitara had been silent thus far, observing the moving troops with a scowl from a perched position that made her resemble a gargoyle.
"It's my house." She answered.
"This is your home?" Meat repeated.
Nitara nodded. "After Vaeternus was conquered and we lost our family, my brother and I vowed to stand by each other no matter what. That included splitting a house. Kahil lives on the first floor, I live on the second. Those thugs who were beating on him must've tried to track him down after he escaped from them, and then called in their friends."
"And since he's your brother… they must have suspected that you'd come here!" Skarlet realized. "This is a trap!"
"Yup," Nitara confirmed, pulling off the eye patch before standing up and spreading her wings. "And I think it's time I sprung it."
"Nitara, wait!" Skarlet urged.
Too late.
Nitara jumped down from the rooftop and with a few swift wing flaps, took flight. She made a beeline for Kotal's troops and then repositioned herself for a flying kick which her aerial mobility allowed her to bring down with considerable speed. Nitara's foot connected with the jaw of the Osh-Tekk soldier Johgel, sending him flying back as Nitara landed, her feet sliding through the sand before she came to a complete stop.
Nitara took out her kama and bared her fangs as Osh-Tekk and Outworlder soldiers moved to surround her.
"Looking for me!?" Nitara shouted at them.
Taurus smirked. "Actually, yes. Though I must say, your boldness impresses me, vampire. Pray that you have combat prowess to match."
Nitara smirked back at him. "I'll try not to disappoint."
Archers took aim at her, but vastly underestimated her speed. As they fired, Nitara took flight. Several of the arrows instead struck their own comrades, rather than the opponent they thought they had surrounded.
Nitara remained airborne, taking a moment to amuse herself by beholding the confusion of her opponents, before swooping back down to continue the fight. She threw one of her kama like a tomahawk, and it stabbed into the head of an Osh-Tekk soldier. She held the other outward and made a sweeping pass that allowed her to slash several of Kotal's minions.
Satisfied that she had rendered her opponents injured, dead, or disoriented, Nitara landed, retrieving her second kama. A few more soldiers tried to make a move, but Nitara used her blood magic capabilities to manipulate the blood on her weapons and shape it into needles that she shot out at her enemies. This was sufficient to throw them off, and the one among them that attempted another attack was met with a swift kick.
"Damn bloodsucker! You won't be getting away!" Shouted Johgel, taking out his axe and charging at Nitara.
Nitara didn't respond, parrying the axe strike with one of her kama, and then using the other to stab into his leg. When Johgel fell to one knee, Nitara elbowed him in the face, knocking him over.
"This is what happens when you harass my family." She explained to the Osh-Tekk, deciphering from his words that he was one of the two that attacked Kahil.
This momentary distraction left Nitara open to being tail whipped across the face by Taurus, the force of the strike knocking her briefly into the air before she fell to the ground.
"You have impressive skill," Taurus admitted. "But you face a Centaurian warrior, and moreover, you stand in opposition to the emperor of Outworld."
Nitara sat up and spit some blood onto the ground.
"Which one?" She asked sarcastically. "Eh, I guess these barbarians in their big hats just start to blend together after a while."
"Were Shao Kahn still emperor, you would already be dead." Taurus argued. He motioned his two guards forward. "Finish her."
The two centaurs aimed their spears, and at this point it was evident to those on the roof that observing the battle was no longer an option.
"We have to help her!" Skarlet said adamantly.
There was a purple glow out of the corner of her eye, and when Skarlet turned her head, Mileena was gone, leaving only the Kahn Guard helmet that had been the bulk of her makeshift disguise.
Mileena rematerialized behind the two centaurs, digging her said into their backs, the pain causing them to drop their spears. She then found herself suddenly grabbed by Taurus and thrown to the ground.
"So, the disgraced empress herself," mocked Taurus. "Motaro has told me you have found some way to command many bodies. Even if I cannot truly kill you, I'm sure the emperor will enjoy starting a collection of your heads.
"That bastard already used up his one chance to see me dead," Mileena shot back. "He won't get another."
Taurus growled and grabbed a spiked club, preparing to bring it down on Mileena's head when…
Torr leaped down from the rooftop with Ferra on his back, fists raised as he slammed down right on Taurus, knocking the centaur down hard.
"Shiny horn no hurt Leena!" Ferra shouted adamantly.
She then hopped off of Torr and approached Mileena herself.
"Ok Leena?" She asked
Mileena chuckled. Ah children. She then nodded. "Yes, I'm alright."
Ermac moved himself, Skarlet, and Meat down to the ground level telekinetically. All had taken Torr's lead and discarded their disguises. Ermac then used his power to slam one of the centaur guards into the other and then both of them into the wall of the house.
Meat went over to Mileena and helped her up. "Maybe a little warning next time, sis?"
"Sorry," Mileena apologized. "I just figured I needed to act fast to help Nitara."
Speaking of Nitara, Skarlet had gone over to help her.
"Are you alright?" She asked concernedly.
"Bruised, but I'll be alright." Nitara responded.
Skarlet offered her a hand, which Nitara accepted and soon after was back on her feet.
"I uhh… didn't mean to worry you," Nitara clarified. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Skarlet replied. "I've had to learn that I'm not on my own too."
Nitara nodded and smiled. "It's tough, but we get there, don't we?"
"Indeed." Skarlet agreed, smiling back.
"I don't know why you bother with the mask," Nitara said honestly. "You're very pretty."
Skarlet's face became as red as her clothes and hair as she tried to muster a response, still internally trying to make sense of her feelings for Nitara.
Luckily for her, Ermac changed the subject.
"We sense five individuals. Four approaching, one seemingly fleeing." Announced the soul construct.
The group tried to prepare themselves for further attackers, which turned out to be closer than they realized.
Taurus reached upwards with his tail and constricted it around Torr's neck, lifting the Flesh Pit construct and throwing him aside.
"Torr!" Shouted Ferra. She charged at Taurus with her two-pronged arm blades, only for Mileena to teleport in front of her.
"Ferra, stay back!" She instructed. "I'll handle this!"
Are you so certain?" Taurus asked, charging Mileena at full speed.
In the nick of time, she grabbed Ferra and teleported out of the way. She rematerialized next to Torr, who was still disoriented. She placed Ferra alongside him and then set her eyes back on Taurus.
Though he lacked the tail beam of Motaro, Taurus had found another use for his species's natural energy conduction abilities. His horns began glowing a pinkish yellow hue. Energy shot out from both of them that came together in the center in the form of a crackling energy sphere.
Taurus launched the sphere at Mileena, who quickly rolled out of the way and returned fire with an ability she had learned since her return from death, in an effort to further utilize her own mystical energy. Mileena's hands started to glow a pinkish color, and when she put them outward and held them flat, replicas of her sai made completely from the energy shot forth.
Taurus was pierced by the energy projectiles and stumbled back.
Taurus was naturally angered by this, charging at Mileena once more. Ermac attempted to intervene, but found himself grabbed by a Centaurian tail and slammed into the wall.
"How does it feel, aberration of sorcery?" One of the centaur guards mocked.
Ermac's eyes flashed red. "How DARE you speak that way to me!"
The voice that came out was almost familiar to the two centaurs. Their pondering proved to be the perfect distraction needed for Meat to slash one in their back right leg with one of his cleavers. The centaur lowered themselves due to the injury, which allowed Meat the chance to elbow them in the back of the head.
The other centaur released Ermac and approached Meat. With one swift punch, the centaur knocked off his head.
But the body didn't fall.
Instead, Meat's headless form swung his cleavers at the centaur wildly, causing them to move back in caution. This left them open for Ermac, who launched a sphere of soul energy which struck the centaur from behind with enough force to render them unconscious. The centaur fell forward, and Meat's body moved out of the way just in time.
Ermac then telekinetically took hold of Meat's head and floated it to its proper position. Meat stabbed his cleavers into his own legs, which caused him no pain, leaving his hands free to reattach his head.
"Thanks." Meat responded, somewhat hoarsely as his vocal chords were still putting themselves back together.
Ermac simply nodded.
Mileena meanwhile had managed to avoid Taurus's charge with another well-timed teleport. She was now engaged in a firefight of sorts utilizing both parties' energy projectiles. Mileena knew that a physical contest with the centaur would not go to her favor.
Ferra and Torr however had no such concerns. Ferra had re-mounted on Torr's back and directed her large companion to rush Taurus. Torr launched a punch which threw one of Taurus's energy spheres off-course. The centaur punched back, and then tried to impale Torr with his horns. Mileena teleported between them and managed to grab onto Taurus's horns, using all of her Tarkatan strength to hold him back.
Mileena was eventually overwhelmed and knocked back, but Torr caught her and kept her from falling. When Taurus went to make another attack, Ermac flew over Mileena, Ferra, and Torr, and slammed into the centaur while his body glowed with soul energy.
Taurus huffed as he glared at his enemies.
"You rebels are as persistent as I was told," he observed. "I know not why you traitors follow this mockery of a queen, but it is a decision you will come to regret."
"Don't threaten my family." Mileena warned.
As Taurus prepared to attack again, Ermac flew over Mileena, Ferra, and Torr, and slammed into the centaur while coating his body in soul energy.
Taurus ignored her. His only priority was ensuring that he did not fail his mission. To do so would be in his mind both a disgrace to his people and failing the current emperor.
Taurus charged in blind anger as his opponents steeled themselves for whatever he might have next.
Skarlet and Nitara would have lent their aid, but they ended up learning firsthand the four attackers Ermac had sensed:
The Vinparian warriors that aided Taurus's squadron. They had retreated into the shadows when the fighting started, sending their fifth to procure reinforcements while the remaining four attacked as both a diversion and to aid Taurus.
Inhabitants of Vinpar were empowered by darkness, an ironic juxtaposition to the Osh-Tekk emperor these assassins served. While mere shadows or dim lighting could be used to activate their power, such as Ruby had displayed to Sonya Blade in Earthrealm's failed attempt at deposing Kotal Kahn, there was a much more effective source for their power.
The night.
The very cover of darkness the rebels had hoped would work to their favor now served to strengthen their enemies. The Vinparians were now stronger and faster, easily knocking Skarlet and Nitara around with physical strikes. Their eyes glowed red to signal this empowerment, as well as reinforcing their malicious intent.
After getting knocked back by a punch, Nitara elected to use her own speed advantage, taking flight and putting herself above the Vinparians.
Her first instinct was to aid Skarlet, who was being overwhelmed by three of the attackers.
Nitara swooped down and knocked down two by hitting her wings into them. The third was momentarily distracted, allowing for Skarlet to slam her elbow into their face.
The Vinparian that had previously been fighting Nitara shot an energy projectile from behind which knocked Nitara to the ground. Skarlet retaliated to this by forming a cannon ball-sized sphere out of blood and launching it at the assassin, the projectile slamming them into the ground.
"Thanks…" Nitara said as she got back up. She then noticed one of the other Vinparians. "Behind you!"
Skarlet turned around and narrowly evaded a swing from a sword charged with the Vinparian's crimson energy. Skarlet had a feeling that countering with her own swords would be ineffective, so she settled for throwing her opponent off balance with a swift leg sweep. The tactic worked, and Skarlet followed it up by slamming her foot into the Vinparian's face, rendering them unconscious.
The two Nitara had knocked down had gotten up, though she quickly slapped them with her wings and then launched herself slightly into the air to kick them both. The Vinparians were as persistent as Ruby herself, and each revealed shurikens that they soon channeled their energy into and began throwing at Nitara. The projectiles were fast, and despite Nitara's best efforts to dodge them, she found herself being cut by the projectiles multiple times, the pain of the injuries forcing her to the ground, which the Vinparians had clearly been counting on.
Skarlet would have none of it however. She formed two lasso-esque blood constructs and launched them. The blood wrapped around the Vinparians' waists and with a forceful pull, Skarlet pulled them to the ground. She began pulling them closer to her, but Nitara expidited the process by grabbing them both and smashing their heads together. This was enough to knock them out.
Skarlet re-absorbed the blood from the constructs within mere moments, and then rushed over to Nitara.
"Are you ok?" She asked.
"Scratched up…" Nitara said honestly. "But I'll live."
"Would you like me to try using my power to heal you?" Skarlet offered.
"That's really sweet," Nitara complimented. "But I'm afraid there's no time."
Skarlet nodded, Nitara's praise bringing a smile to her face. Reiko never made her smile.
Skarlet's train of thought would come tk an abrupt end when she noticed the fourth Vinparian readying to attack. She pointed behind Nitara and the evampire quickly turned to face the opponent.
"Good eyes." She complimented.
The Vinparians began channeling energy into their hands, when Meat intervened. When cleaver slashes failed, he dropped the weapons and grabbed his opponent by the shoulders, spinning them around.
Meat then tore off one of his own legs, balancing himself on the other as he used the disconnected limb to wrap around the Vinparian's neck and start choking them.
"You leave my sister alone!" He demanded.
Once he was confident he'd taken the wind out of his opponent, Meat released them only to slap them across the face with his removed leg. The Vinparian spun around dazed before falling to the ground.
Meat then got to work reattaching his leg. As he did so, Skarlet and Nitara approached him.
"Thank you, brother." said Skarlet.
"Of course," Meat replied."That's what family's for."
"Speaking of which, we might want to go help your sis-"
Before Nitara could finish, Taurus was thrown over their heads as a result of Ermac's telekinesis, crashing to the ground and falling unconscious after vainly attempting to raise himself in order to continue the fight.
"Nevermind then." Nitara quickly corrected.
The group soon after reunited.
"Erm- father, do you sense anyone else?" Mileena asked.
"Not presently." Ermac answered. The multiplicity in his voice had returned. Evidently, King Jerrod had resumed sharing control of the soul collective.
"We better get inside, just in case," Nitara suggested. "Follow me."
She led the rebels into her home, which thankfully had not been ransacked by Kotal's minions. Evidently, the squadron had seen it best to lie in wait outside the house. In addition to not having to redecorate, Nitara found this fortunate because it meant the enemy was unlikely to have discovered what she was looking for.
"Go ahead and sit down," Nitara offered. "I'll see what we have for foo-"
Nitara suddenly felt incredibly woozy and disoriented. Her vision started to change. Where Mileena, Skarlet, Meat, Ferra, and Torr once were she only saw red. Ermac was practically invisible.
Nitara began stumbling around, struggling to regain control of herself.
"Nitara, is everything alright." Skarlet asked.
"Stay away from me!" Nitara shouted. "I don't want to hurt anyone, especially not you."
"What's the matter?" Mileena asked.
"Wing lady ok?" Added Ferra.
"I think I know," Skarlet realized. She had been in the same position herself more times than she would prefer to remember. "It's the thirst, isn't it?"
Nitara nodded. "It's alright… I can control it… just… long enough…"
Nitara began stumbling towards the side of the house, throwing open the door to a stable. In it were two of the bizarre species of horse that inhabited Outworld. Although they could fly, Nitara and Kahil had grown fond of riding as a pastime activity.
Right now however…
"I'm sorry old friend…" Nitara said before sinking her fangs into the horse and over the course of the next few minutes draining the very life from it.
When Nitara finished feeding, she turned around to find a concerned Skarlet waiting for her.
"I… I'm sorry you had to see that…" she told her.
"It's fine, I understand," Skarlet responded. "Probably more than most would."
"Most vampires can go for months without needing to drink blood," Nitara explained. "I assume you got your fill draining those Tormentors back at Kotal's parade."
"Yes, they were more than enough to hold me over," Skarlet confirmed. "I try to feed when I can. Back when I was Shao Kahn's weapon… He… he'd starve me. Wait until the thirst was uncontrollable and then set me loose on enemies who never stood a chance."
"That… that's awful!" Nitara sympathized.
"The thing is…" Skarlet continued. "I don't like hurting people. I know that's what people think of me, that I'm some sadist who drinks the blood of others for some kind of twisted pleasure. But I'm not! Seeing life fade from others… it's agonizing. I don't want to be this thing that just takes life! I-"
"You're not," Nitara stopped her. "Skarlet listen to me, you're not a monster. There's so much more of a life for you than killing. I don't like hurting anyone either, that's why I hold the thirst at bay as long as I can."
"I wish I had your strength." Skarlet replied sadly.
"You're much stronger than you think, Skarlet," Nitara assured her. "And if you'd like, I can try to help you to control it."
"You… you'd do that for me?" Skarlet asked.
"Of course," Nitara confirmed. "Because you deserve kindness."
"Thank you…" Skarlet replied as she considered her words.
"Are you lovebats alright?" came Mileena's voice.
Skarlet's face went red and Nitara started laughing.
They quickly both returned to the living room.
"Apologies," said Skarlet. "We were discussing our shared tribulations with… the hunger for blood."
Skarlet looked at Nitara again. "I've never met anyone who knows what it's like before."
"Sometimes we believe ourselves alone in our struggles, only to find that there is help all around us." Ermac/Jerrod said wisely.
Skarlet smiled. "When Kotal had me imprisoned, Ermac was the only one who kept me from going mad."
"We would drain the blood of animals intended to be used for Kotal's meals," Ermac explained. "Before venturing to the Flesh Pits to bring it to Skarlet."
"Then we'd have a good laugh about how bad of a ruler Kotal is." Skarlet recalled. "I asked Ermac to free me, but he had to uphold his "duty as sister's double agent, even when Mileena… wasn't around."
"We are sorry that we could not do more." Said Ermac.
"It all worked out in the end." Skarlet reasoned.
"It was definitely good for us to reunite," Mileena agreed, giving her sister another hug. "I do wonder though, how did you avoid being found out?"
"We alone were entrusted as Skarlet's jailors," Ermac revealed. "Kotal Kahn fears the Flesh Pits. He-"
Before Ermac could finish his sentence, his attention seemed to be diverted.
"We sense seven individuals," he announced. "We are probing their minds to see what we are up against."
Ermac's eyes widened.
"Get down!"
Suddenly, bullets tore through the walls and windows of the house. The rebels ducked behind furniture, trying their best to avoid the barrage of gunfire.
"Earthrealmers?!" Nitara asked.
"Couldn't be any of the Earthrealmers I've met!" Mileena replied over the cascade of bullets, recalling her recent experiences with Cassie's team and the Lin Kuei.
"Osh-Tekk!" Ermac answered. "Although Kano betrayed him, some of Kotal's troops still utilize the Black Dragon's weapons!"
"Torr hurt!" Ferra shouted, pointing to a bullet hole in the goliath's shoulder.
"Maybe I should go out there!" Offered Meat. "They can bang me up, but they can't kill me!"
When Meat stood up, bullets tore through his skinless body and one unlucky shot took off his arm.
Meat ducked back down.
"Ok, maybe not." he decided.
Ermac levitated the arm over to him, and Meat began reattaching it.
"I think I have a plan!" Nitara offered. "Mileena, can you bring me to the roof?"
Mileena looked up, trying to envision her destination. She usually preferred teleporting to places she could see.
"This house is two floors, right?" Mileena asked.
"Yes!" Nitara answered.
"I think I can pull it off!" Mileena decided. She grabbed onto Nitara and they both vanished in a flash of purple light.
They rematerialized on the roof of the house.
"What's your plan?" Mileena asked.
"They won't be expecting an attack from above." Nitara explained.
Before Mileena could share her opinion on the risk of the plan, Nitara took flight. She intended to fly over the attackers and strike from behind, but the Osh-Tekk noticed her and began firing into the air. Alongside them was the fifth Vinparian, who began launching energy projectiles at her.
The weapons were of a far higher caliber than the likes of Erron Black's revolvers, and were semi-automatic. This made dodging the gunfire especially difficult, even with Nitara's impressive aerial mobility. It wasn't long before shots started to graze her wings, each hit breaking Nitara's concentration and risking her falling out of the air entirely. Another shot brushed past her shoulder, drawing blood. Nitara grunted in pain. She had to mount a counterattack, but wasn't sure what she could do.
In an attempt to draw fire from her ally, Mileena blasted her energy sai down at the attackers from the roof. They responded with a spray of gunfire that Mileena barely avoided by ducking. Taking advantage of the brief distraction of her enemies, Nitara swooped down and knocked two of them down, only for a third to hit her in the head with the stock of his rifle, sending her crashing to the ground.
Nitara was dazed, and tried positioning her wings to shield herself as she lifted her head, only to see an Osh-Tekk pointing their rifle right at her face.
"Hold it right there!" Came a voice. But they were no ally. The Osh-Tekk warrior Johgel had regained consciousness and was approaching his fellows.
"Give me that!" He demanded, taking the rifle from his ally only to point it at Nitara himself. "I have had enough trouble with vampires lately!"
Nitara had a look of pure terror on her face as the end of her life seemed rapidly approaching.
The other rebels were now watching all of this unfold from inside the house.
"They hurt wing lady!" shouted Ferra.
Skarlet beheld the situation in silence, her eyes wide in fear and her mind focused squarely on what might happen to Nitara.
"What should we do?!" Ask Meat.
Ermac silently answered, using his telekinesis to throw off the aim of Johgel's gun, causing the bullet to go into the sand. He concentrated on trying to pull all of the Osh-Tekks' weapons out of their grasp, but they opened fire before he could manage it, causing everyone to duck for cover again.
They stopped firing when there was no movement.
"Enough distraction!" Complained Johgel, aiming at Nitara again.
"NO!"
Skarlet rushed out of the house in spite of protest from Ermac, Meat, and Ferra. The Osh-Tekk aimed their rifles and opened fire.
Mileena from the rooftop, Nitara from the ground, and the rest from the house all looked in horror as Skarlet's body was littered with bullet holes, ending after she took a shot right through the head and fell to the ground.
The world went silent. All the rebels could do was try to process what had just happened.
After what felt like an eternity, Johgel broke the silence:
"Well. That was easy."
"You evil heartless bastard!" Shouted Nitara. She tried to lunge at him only to be kicked back down.
"Don't worry, you'll see her again soon."
Suddenly there was a sound.
A laugh.
Skarlet's laugh.
All eyes turned to face the seeming corpse of Skarlet. Her body suddenly went into a sitting position. The bullet holes were beginning to seal themselves as Skarlet got to her feet. She looked Johgel right in the eyes as the hole in her head closed as if nothing had happened.
"How?" Meat asked the question running through everyone's minds.
"She is a construct of blood," Ermac answered. "No organs. No bones."
Skarlet's healing face adopted a smirk as she stared down her enemies, all backing up in terror after witnessing her thwart death itself.
She chuckled again, and finally spoke:
"You fools really have no idea who you're dealing with."
"W-What are you?!" Johgel asked, clearly panicking.
"For the purposes of what is about to happen…." Skarlet answered.
"You can think of me as a deadly weapon."
She unsheathed her pair of short swords and jumped into the air, landing right in front of Johgel and slashing his throat.
"Kill her!" Commanded the Vinparian as his ally fell over dying.
Two Osh-Tekk took aim on either side of Skarlet. She lowered her swords and let them shoot. The bullets flew right through her body, the two Osh-Tekk unwittingly gunning each other down.
Another walked up and pressed their gun against the left corner of her head.
Taking inspiration from Sindel, Skarlet manipulated her ponytail to grab the gun and pull it out of the Osh-Tekk's hands, before spinning around and stabbing through the attacker's chest with both her swords.
Two more aimed at her, wondering if it would even work. Skarlet pulled the blood out of her dead opponent and shaped it into a scythe. The Osh-Tekk shot through her right as she swung horizontally and took both of their heads off.
Only one Osh-Tekk marksman remained. Skarlet rested the staff of the blood scythe on her shoulders and glared at him while her wounds regenerated.
"S-Stay…. Stay back!" He shouted, aiming his gun even though he knew it was useless.
Skarlet absorbed the blood that made up the scythe into herself, then dropped both of her swords along with their sheaths. She then began to... melt? In a few seconds, Skarlet became a mere puddle of blood.
And then… the puddle began moving. It inched towards the terrified Osh-Tekk, who tried shooting at it even though all the bullets did was splash through the blood and go into the sand.
When the puddle got close enough, Skarlet emerged from it and grabbed his gun with one hand, elbowing him with the other and knocking him back.
She threw the gun to the ground and formed a sword out of blood as she reformed completely and the last of the puddle disappeared.
"N-No! NO! PLEASE!"
Skarlet marched towards him, but stopped and hesitated.
"Is there anyone in your life that you love?" She asked.
"I-I… I have a l-little sister…" He answered nervously. "A-A-And… t-there's this g-guy I started seeing…"
"Go." Skarlet said simply.
The Osh-Tekk nodded frantically, before turning and running away.
The Vinparian tried to sneak up on Skarlet from behind, poised to attack.
The blood sorceress drove her blood sword through his heart before he even had a chance.
With the battle over, though really it was more of a massacre, Skarlet dematerialized her blood sword.
She noticed movement out of the corner of her eye.
Skarlet looked to see Taurus having regained consciousness, and from his shocked expression, he had seen everything that had just happened.
Centaurians rarely showed fear. Tonight was an exception.
"Run away." Skarlet hissed at him.
"You fight with a ferocity greater than most Shokan," Taurus complimented. "Even greater than many Centaurs. I will seek no further quarrel with you, blood sorceress. But if my emperor commands we be enemies-"
"I'll kill him too." Skarlet threatened.
Taurus decided against responding, and simply went to leave.
Skarlet then walked over and offered a hand to Nitara, helping the vampire to her feet.
"H-How did you…" she started to ask.
"You, my dear Nitara, use blood magic," Skarlet pointed out. "I on the other hand am blood magic."
"Fair enough…" Nitara decided. "You know, I've… never seen you fight like that. Act like that..."
"I wanted to put it behind me," Skarlet explained. "But… they were going to kill you. I couldn't let them."
"You tore through them like that… for me?" Nitara asked.
"Nitara, I..." Skarlet paused. "I'm finally ready to say what I wanted to tell you after you saved me at the festival and we… flew."
"Go right ahead." Nitara encouraged.
"I… I think that I…" Skarlet stammered. "I…"
"I love you." Nitara finished for her.
"Yes, that's what I was going to say!" Skarlet confirmed. "I couldn't find the words. Funny I guess, since Mileena and Tanya say it all the time."
"And it's what I have to say as well," Nitara admitted. "I love you, Skarlet."
"Y-You do?!" Skarlet asked.
"What, you couldn't tell by all the flirting?" Nitara joked. She then leaned herself closer to Skarlet. However, Skarlet placed a finger on her lips.
"Wait," she requested. "I… I want to be with you, I do. But… after Reiko… I'm just not sure if I can trust my heart again."
"Do you trust me?" Nitara asked.
"Of course I do." Skarlet said like it wasn't even a question.
"Then you can trust yourself," Nitara said adamantly. She then looked down and thought for a moment. "Look, I won't try to force you into anything. If you're not comfortable getting into this after your last heartbreak, I understand. But whatever the choice, it's yours to make Skarlet. That's all I ask. Make your own choices. No one should make them for you. Not Reiko, not Shao Kahn, and not me."
Skarlet looked down, and then back to Nitara moments later.
"I've made my choice." She said.
Nitara nodded, and stepped back. "I understa-"
Before Nitara could finish her sentence, she was taken by surprise when Skarlet leaned forward and kissed her. The newly formed couple kissed for a few more moments before pulling back.
"Aren't you full of surprises," Nitara pointed out. "Just one more reason to love you."
"You know, I've… never done that before…" Skarlet admitted. "Reiko, he…. never kissed me."
Nitara took Skarlet's hands. "Well he was a fool, and you deserve better."
"And you're much better." Skarlet complimented.
Skarlet went to kiss Nitara again, but was interrupted by an all too familiar purple glow.
Mileena had removed her mask and a smirk had crossed her face.
"About time." She joked.
"Oh hush." Skarlet retorted.
"In all seriousness," Mileena continued. "I'm happy for you both."
"That goes double for me." Said Meat as he and the others walked out of the house.
"Thank you both." Skarlet said graciously.
Ermac, or Jerrod rather, silently looked at the new couple. It reminded him of when Mileena and Tanya first realized their love for each other. Or when, still unable to surface within the Ermac collective, he saw the way Liu Kang and Kitana looked at one another. Skarlet was not of his blood, but she was Mileena's sister of the Flesh Pits, and a daughter to him all the same.
"They grow up so fast…" he said aloud.
"Don't worry," assured Nitara, sparing a smile at Skarlet. "I'll take good care of her."
"You'd better." Mileena half-joked.
Nitara laughed it off and took Skarlet's hand. "Come on all, let's go inside."
As they stepped into the house once more, Nitara finally took the chance to survey the damage.
She sighed. "It's a mess in here, and Kotal's goons know where it is. It'll be a shame to say goodbye to this place. Made a lot of memories here. Kahil will certainly never let me hear the end of it."
She then looked at Skarlet with a smile. "Still," she then placed a kiss on Skarlet's cheek. "It's worth the trade-off."
"I'm glad you think so." Skarlet replied.
"If I might ask," spoke up Meat. "What are we looking for?"
"I know where it is," Nitara assured. "You lot stay down here in case we get any more 'visitors'."
She looked from Meat to Skarlet. "You're coming with me, lovely."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Skarlet complied.
The two went upstairs and entered a simple room with a bed, a nightstand, a stack of book, and a metal rod Nitara hung from when sleeping, seemingly negating the purpose of the bed.
"Least the bedroom's in one piece." She said to her new girlfriend with a smirk and a wink.
Nitara knelt down and reached under the bed, pulling out a small wooden box. From the box she retrieved a hand-drawn map.
"Here we are." she said to herself.
"What's it for?" Skarlet asked.
"That curiosity of yours is a wonderful trait," Nitara complimented. "But we should head back downstairs so I can explain it to everyone."
The two lovers reunited with the rest of the group and Nitara laid the map on a damaged but still standing table.
"This is something I've been working on for a long while," Nitara explained. "It's a map keeping track of my journey to find the orb that binds Vaeturnus to Outworld over the years. Everywhere I've been, every scrap of information I've been able to dig up. If we're going to free my realm, we start where I left off."
"Makes enough sense," Mileena admitted, eyeing the map with confusion. "But as I haven't been pursuing this goal as long as you, I admit it's somewhat hard for me to follow."
"Let us look it over," offered Ermac. "The souls within us have seen many sights. With our combined experiences, we may be able to decipher the orb's location from what work Nitara has already done."
Ermac concentrated his gaze on the map and began examining it.
"Yes, we know these places," He confirmed. "You have travelled much of Outworld, Nitara."
"When I was still on my own, I had a lot of time to go places." Nitara explained.
"Do you think we might ever go exploring someday?" Skarlet asked. "There are many sights in this realm I have yet to see."
"And many more in Vaeturnus, once, we've freed it," pointed out Nitara. "I'd love to see it all with you."
"It sounds lovely." Skarlet agreed.
Nitara sighed. "Trouble is, everytime I go through my information, I end up at a dead end."
She pointed to the center of the map. "Here. This… volcano. Shao Kahn never had any troops or bases there that I could find any evidence of. There were theae dead soldiers in armor I've never seen before, but I doubt they have anything to do with it. It just doesn't make sense. After Shao Kahn died, I took a look through a number of his strongholds. Nothing referencing where any of the orbs might be, nor was he keeping anything at the buildings. One would think the famously plotting 'Emperor of Outworld' would keep tabs of this sort of thing."
"We… may be able to uncover the mystery," Ermac said with a hint of unease in his voices. "Give us a moment."
Ermac seemed to be concentrating, trying to pull the memories of one soul in particular to the fore. The glow of Ermac's eyes strangely shifted to red for a moment, something the others had noticed occur in the soul collective's brief moments of anger before. The soul that Ermac needed for information was also one he took considerable effort to push back down, lest it wrest control of the collective. Ermac did not share this with the others. It was a matter the souls had determined to deal with themselves…
Regardless, Ermac had an answer:
"Your conclusion was not incorrect," Ermac revealed to Nitara. "The orb is at the volcano. Have you entered it before?"
"Yes," Nitara confirmed. "I discovered a passageway, but then… nothing."
"Perhaps a few extra sets of eyes could help you find it." Skarlet suggested.
"Not to mention eyes as pretty as yours," Nitara complimented. "Alright everyone, get ready."
"Where we go?" Ferra asked, clearly confused.
"Just stay by us," Meat told her. "It'll be alright."
Ferra took him at his word and nodded.
Nitara took hold of the pendant attached to her necklace, which began glowing a bright blue and soon after summoned a similarly colored swirling portal.
"This should take us straight to the volcano," she clarified. "Be warned, it's gonna get hot."
Skarlet took Nitara's hand. She was wary about the journey, but trusted in her family and her new love, and as such resolved to be ready for anything.
Together, they stepped through the portal.
When the group walked out on the other end, they found themselves within the same volcanic cavern that Nitara had explored years prior. The heat rivaled that of the Netherrealm, but the group was determined, and wouldn't allow themselves to be overwhelmed. Mileena in particular was almost used to it. As a pyromancer, Tanya's body generated more heat than the average person. The heat of the cavern was greater, but not an entirely alien sensation to her.
"This is about where my search hit a dead end." Nitara explained, pointing at a wall.
"Could it be behind one of these walls?" Meat asked.
"Shao Kahn always had ways to keep his secrets…" Mileena recalled.
"Maybe there's another part of this cavern." Skarlet theorized.
"Perhaps that which we seek is closer than it seems, suggested Ermac. "Allow us to see if we can sense it."
Ermac reached out with his telepathic abilities, concentrating on locating the orb.
After a few moments, he turned to the pool of lava next to where the group was standing.
"There," Ermac revealed. "The orb is there. Within the lava."
"That realm-conquering bastard!" Nitara shouted in frustration. "How are we supposed to get to it now?!"
"Allow us to try." Offered Ermac.
The soul construct outstretched his hand, his eyes glowing a bright green as he tried to grasp the orb with his telekinesis.
"We have it." he announced a few seconds later, gradually lifting the orb up and out of the water.
When at last revealed, the orb glowed a bright blue, almost looking like a very small star.
"There it is!" Nitara exclaimed. "At long last, my realm will be free!"
Skarlet hugged her from the side. "I'm very happy for you… my love. I can't wait to see your true home."
"Thank you Skarlet," Nitara responded. "Thank you."
Ermac began pulling the orb towards the group. Every second, Vaeturnus came closer to freedom.
Until…
A man made of flame suddenly burst out of the lava. He outstretched his hand and blasted the group with a sizable inferno of fire.
Most were able to duck down and avoid the blast. Torr ran behind a nearby rock wall. Ermac however had still been focused on the orb and caught the brunt of the attack. The fire did not kill the soul construct, few things could, but it did weaken him. Ermac fell to one knee, his concentration breaking and the mystical orb falling back into the lava that Shao Kahn had cast it into so long ago.
"NO!" shouted Nitara.
"Father!" Yelled Mileena, rushing over to Ermac once the flame subsided.
"What even is that thing?!" Skarlet asked.
The man of flame floated to the top of the lava and began to walk across it like a biblical figure.
Strangely, it answered Skarlet's question.
"I am the guardian of the shrine to the Great Dragon Egg," the man of fire explained. "You are trespassing upon this land. Leave now, or suffer the consequences."
"Great Dragon…" Nitara shook her head. It didn't matter right now. "Did Shao Kahn station you here?"
"I am compelled to do the bidding of the holy men of this shrine, the flaming man answered. "They hold no allegiance to Shao Kahn."
While Nitara interrogated this creature, Mileena's concerns were elsewhere.
"Father, are you alright?" She asked.
Jerrod surfaced within the collective to answer his daughter.
"I… I am fine, Mileena," he assured. "A mere soul cannot suffer the grievous injuries of the body. I suppose one good thing came out of this. Besides being able to meet my second daughter of course."
Mileena smiled at the compliment. She then looked at their new opponent. "Do you know what he is?" She asked her father.
"This creature would appear to be a firespawn," Jerrod explained. "Firespawn are… like us, I suppose. Beings born of sorcery. In Edenia, the flame sorceress Delia created a firespawn to monitor the realms."
The King of Edenia failed to realize that he was in fact not dealing with a different firespawn from the one he knew.
"Leave, now," the firespawn demanded. "Though I am compelled to protect the shrine, I have no desire to harm you if it can be avoided."
"Is there any way to fight it?" Nitara asked.
"Touching him would burn you, Jerrod answered. "And weapons would be reduced to molten metal if you tried to pierce his body."
Jerrod sighed, the legion of souls sighing with him.
"It may be wiser… to retreat."
"But we've come so far!" Nitara shouted."We are so close!"
"Nitara my love, listen to me," requested Skarlet. "We know where the orb is now. We can come back here once we know how we might deal with that thing."
"This is your final warning." The firespawn threatened.
Nitara sighed. "You're right. Better Vaeturnus wait then we throw away our lives."
"You will see it again," Skarlet assured. "I promise you."
Nitara nodded. "Thank you."
The firespawn began channeling flame to attack once more.
Without a second to waste, Nitara opened another portal, this time leading back to the rebellion's base. The group all ran through it, and the firespawn launched another wave of flame right as it closed.
It's duty having been completed, at least for now, the firespawn teleported back to the very shrine it was tasked with protecting in a burst of flame.
The shrine consisted of two statues of dragons standing over a large egg sat on a pedestal shaped like scaly talons holding it in place. The floor was stone tile which abruptly stopped a few feet out from where the egg was stationed and transitioned to volcanic rock like the cavern the firespawn had just come from.
Three priests approached the firespawn. They wore hooded cloaks made of an orange material, adorned with patterns of flame and dragons.
One, evidently the leader of the group, wore a black chestplate with spiked shoulder pads and a red gem at the center.
"Intruders, Blaze?" The priest leader asked.
"Yes," Blaze confirmed. "But they were repelled."
"You did not kill them?" The priest leader discerned.
"They were wise enough to retreat." Blaze explained.
"I see… " the priest leader responded. "Very well. Carry on with your duty."
Blaze nodded.
The three priests turned around and summoned a glowing orange portal. They stepped through it and found themselves in an abandoned temple.
And then, Chameleon made himself visible.
"I thought I sensed your arrival," he said. "Do you have something to report, Helios? I am quite busy trying to bring Grand Duke Draxxon up to speed on all that has happened since his long slumber, and still await the return of our other allies."
"I do indeed, High Priest Chameleon," the leader, Helios, answered. "I would not think to waste your time, holy one of the Dragon King."
"Well, out with it then." Chameleon said impatiently.
"There was an intrusion at the Lava Shrine," Helios explained. "The intruders did not enter the shrine itself, but were able to gain access to an adjacent cavern. One, a vampire, had visited the mountain before, but was not deemed a threat at that time. Now however, things are much more delicate."
"Are the intruders dead?" Chameleon asked.
"Blaze repelled them," Helios clarified. "But they live."
"Then our plans risk discovery," Chameleon decided. "Time is now of the essence. I will inform the Dragon King himself of this development. Thank you for your service to our master's will, Helios."
"Of course," Helios replied, bowing his head. "May the Dragon King's flame never be extinguished."
"And the sun never set on his glorious empire." Chameleon finished, knowing the mantra well.
Meanwhile, the rebels returned to their base.
Mileena teleported elsewhere, only for her prime body to be summoned to the group.
Jade, Tanya, Rain, and Emerald, were quick to approach the returnees.
"What happened?" Jade asked.
"We found the orb that keeps Vaeturnus merged with Outworld," Mileena explained. "But we ran into some… difficulty."
"Fire man!" Ferra exclaimed dramatically.
"Still," chimed in Nitara. "Disappointing as that was, the whole thing wasn't a complete loss."
She smiled at Skarlet and the two kissed again.
"Well, congratulations to you both." said Jade.
Tanya waa equally happy for the two, but her primary focus was on Mileena.
"Are you feeling better, my love?" She asked.
Mileena nodded. "Yes, this… certainly helped me take my mind off things. Plus, I was able to reconnect with one member of my family."
She motioned to Ermac.
Tanya was clearly a bit confused.
"Ermac," said Mileena. "May I speak to my father?"
"Father?" Rain repeated, clearly somewhat worried as his mind went to Shao Kahn.
The soul construct nodded, and seconds later came Jerrod's voice.
"Greetings, everyone," he said politely. "Some of you may remember me. I am Jerrod. I was King of Edenia."
Emerald's eyes widened. "King Jerrod…!"
She approached him and fell to one knee.
"I am at your service my king," Emerald pledged. "I hope to do what I can to amend for my mistakes."
"Feel no guilt that you were manipulated, Emerald," advised Jerrod. "As part of this collective, I have experienced the same thing."
Jade and Rain followed Emerald's lead and also bowed to the King of Edenia. Tanya remained standing, unsure of how to react.
"Now now, I am not your king anymore," Jerrod clarified. "Mileena, my daughter, is your leader now. Follow her as loyally as you have before. It is she who will lead Outworld into prosperity and see Edenia free."
"Thank you, father." Mileena said, flattered by the praise.
The three Edenians acknowledged and stood up.
"Sorry, Mileena," Rain apologized. "I guess we just got… caught up in the moment."
"It's alright, old friend." Mileena assured.
Jade approached the reborn king, having her own apology to give.
"I'm truly sorry for what has happened to Sindel and Kitana," she said. "I have made many efforts to save them, and your daughter was just as committed to helping her sister and mother in our last confrontation."
"Do not feel blame, Jade," Jerrod advised. "Your loyalty and dedication to Kitana has been invaluable. You alone were there for her when Sindel and I could not be. I believe that we will save them. It is only a matter of time."
Jade nodded.
Now it was Tanya's turn.
"King Jerrod," she said respectfully, offering her hand. "It is an honor to properly meet you."
Jerrod shook her hand. "You have brought joy to my daughter's heart. For that you are family. You have fought relentlessly for Edenia. For that you are a patriot. Your father would be very proud of you. Is very proud of you."
"What do you mean?" Tanya asked.
"Tanya," came Ermac's echoing voice again. "The souls of your family reside within our collective. They feel honored by all you have accomplished."
Tanya was silent. She looked at Ermac as she tried to process this revelation.
Finally, she hugged the soul construct as a few tears came down her face.
"Tell them that I miss them." She requested.
"We know you do Tanya," came several voices in the collective familiar to her alone. "We miss you too."
Tanya hugged even tighter, overwhelmed by the ability to once more reconnect with her lost family.
She finally let go, and met Ermac's gaze.
"Thank you," was the first thing she said. "Just… one more thing. King Jerrod…"
She glanced at Mileena, who gave her a reasuring smile, having once again removed her veil.
"There is something I wish to ask you for." Tanya explained.
"You have it." Jerrod answered.
"Excuse me," interceded Rain. "While we have this opportunity, there is something I wish to ask of you, sir."
"Go ahead, Rain." Jerrod encouraged.
"Who is Argus?" He asked.
"He was Edenia's protector god," Jerrod explained. "He and his wife Delia were good friends."
"I'd heard of his title," Rain recalled. "But is there a reason why anyone might call me his son?"
"I only knew Argus to have two sons," Jerrod answered. "Taven and Daegon. I knew your mother, Amara, and she never made mention of your father that I can recall."
"Yes… she was always secretive about that…" Rain confirmed. "Is it possible that Argus might be my father?"
"He would not show such disloyalty to Delia," Jerrod replied, before contemplating the matter further. "Unless perhaps it somehow fit into his grand plan to save the realms from 'Armageddon'. Then they would both consider it necessary. Delia's visions were always what Argus trusted above all else, outside of the word of the Elder Gods themselves. I could never find time to make sense of it all, too preoccupied with trying to keep Edenia from falling to Shao Kahn… a duty in which I failed..."
"I see…" Was all Rain say on the matter.
"Father, I know it may be painful to remember, but I can't help but feel that I have to know, especially after all that has happened to our family, and to the woman I love," said Mileena. "What happened in Edenia? How did you… die?"
Ermac hovered over to Mileena. He held his hands out beside each side of her head.
"Perhaps it is better if I show you."
Jerrod telepathically began transferring the memories of Edenia's fall, throwing Mileena head first into 10,000 years ago.
The battle for Edenia was underway. King Jerrod himself was in his throne room, standing in front of the twin thrones belonging to Sindel and himself, clutching his sword as he faced his opponents. One was the sorcerer Shang Tsung, who has morphed into a guard to decieve the King of Edenia into believing that aid had come from Earthrealm. A clan of assassins known as the Lin Kuei, then in their infancy. Among them was a Cryomancer who simply called himself Ice.
"I would suggest that you surrender, King Jerrod," taunted Shang Tsung. "We have breached your throne room, and you are outnumbered. Furthermore, Shao Kahn has claimed his right to this realm by Mortal Kombat. You have lost."
"That is where you are mistaken, traitor to Earthrealm," Jerrod retorted. "There is one thing Shao Kahn can never take away. Hope. So long as hope exists, your emperor will never win!"
"Such a noble sentiment," Shang Tsung said mockingly. "As for Earthrealm, it will fall to the emperor soon enough, and I prefer to be on the winning team."
"You are spineless, sorcerer." Jerrod replied disdainfully.
"And seeing as you have refused my offer to surrender, you are clearly brainless." Shang Tsung retorted, before launching a skull fireball at the King of Edenia.
Jerrod put his sword in the way of the fireball, and the blade seemed to absorb the flame, taking the fire for itself as Jerrod brandished his now-blazing sword.
"Shao Kahn entrusts you to take my throne room and that is the best you can do?!" Jerrod mocked.
Shang Tsung sneered and motioned to the Lin Kuei.
"Your skill with pyromancy is impressive," he admitted before instructing his hired assassins. "Kill him!"
Two Lin Kuei sprung into action, leaping to the left and right of Jerrod.
"Assassins," he said disdainfully. "The most cowardly form of warrior."
"The most deadly." A Lin Kuei corrected, jumping at Jerrod with a sword raised only to be run through by Jerrod's flaming blade.
Jerrod released his sword from the body of his opponent as the second Lin Kuei attacked him from behind, lunging with a knife. The blade was able to slash Jerrod's back, but he knocked his opponent down with a kick. Jerrod then thrust his sword down to finish it.
The other Lin Kuei ran up to surround Jerrod with swords raised. Ice decidedly stayed behind, waiting for his moment.
The Lin Kuei slashed at Jerrod from all directions. However, his reflexes far exceeded what they anticipated. Every strike was countered with incredible efficiency, and soon all the Lin Kuei were left with swords that had been cut through by the fire on Jerrod's own sword.
They tried attacking in spite of this, and Jerrod slammed his open palm into the ground, releasing a wave of fire that threw them all back and began to burn them to death.
"You," he said to Ice, pointing his sword. "Not as eager to die as your fellows?"
"Simply more patient," Ice replied with a surprising calm given the situation. "Never try to extinguish a flame without the proper tools."
Ice then shot freezing beams from both hands at Jerrod, who blocked with his sword. The ice was dissipating the sword's flame, but that mattered little to Jerrod. He marched forward towards the cryomancer, unwavering even as the icy assault continued.
When Jerrod got close enough, Ice decided on a change of tactics: forming a poleaxe out of well, ice, and swinging at the King of Edenia.
Jerrod ducked under the attack and slashed horizontally, leaving a deep gash in Ice and causing him to stumble backward and fall down.
Jerrod then heard the sarcastic clapping of one Shang Tsung.
"An impressive display," Shang Tsung admitted. "But you must realize, Edenia is doomed. Shao Kahn has won."
Jerrod set his sword ablaze and prepared to battle the sorcerer.
"As long as I draw breath, that monster will never win!"
Suddenly there was a loud bang against the door of the throne room. And another. And another.
Seconds later the doors were slammed out of their hinges and sent flying across the throne room.
"I can overcome that impedance." Came a voice in response to Jerrod's claim.
It was unmistakable.
Shao Kahn. The emperor of Outworld.
The emperor walked into the throne room with his Wrath Hammer resting on one shoulder. Flanking him were warriors in the silver and red armor of the Kahn Guard, a group of Shadow Priests, and a mind controlled Emerald.
"I must thank your warrior here for telling me the layout of this palace," Shao Kahn taunted when he saw Jerrod's eyes move to Emerald. "It made planning my assault much easier Your soldiers are admittedly quite loyal. None would betray you willingly. But then, I find that magic can solve many problems, don't you think?"
Jerrod didn't bother responding to the taunts.
"I don't care if winning that blasted tournament 'allows' you to take this realm in the eyes of the Elder Gods," he said. "You are an invader to Edenia and you will be dealt with as such."
"You have no choice in the matter," Shao Kahn argued. "None will stop me from achieving my destiny."
"We shall see…" Jerrod responded.
Jerrod charged at Shao Kahn with his sword at the ready. The emperor laughed, a green glow surrounding his body before he used a terrifying speed to slam his shoulder into the King of Edenia and launch him right into his own throne.
Jerrod was dazed by the attack, his vision blurred for a moment.
"Dad, are you ok?" Whispered a young girl's voice.
Jerrod looked over his shoulder to see Kitana hidden behind the throne.
"Yes," he whispered. "Now stay hidden."
Jerrod then jumped up from the throne and launched a fireball at Shao Kahn. The blast knocked the emperor back some, and Jerrod then came down on him with his sword. Shao Kahn parried the blow using the handle of his warhammer.
The two rulers glared at one another as they struggled, before Shao Kahn opened his mouth, which was now glowing with green energy, and fired an energy sphere which knocked Jerrod back.
Shao Kahn then took a horizontal swing with his Wrath Hammer, but Jerrod ducked under it. When we went for a vertical swing, Jerrod jumped over it, slashing at the emperor's face.
The helmet the emperor wore at the time was cast entirely out of silver. The mask he would make from the King of Vaeturnus's soul was not yet complete, as his conquest of Edenia had taken priority over appropriating the spoils of his prior conquest. Jerrod's flaming sword cut right through the metal and left a deep scar across the emperor's face, stopping just above his mouth.
Shao Kahn clenched his face and stumbled backward. No opponent had ever wounded him like this. Shao Kahn was seething with anger and practically roared at Jerrod, before charging at him and swinging wildly with his Wrath Hammer.
Jerrod tried his best to dodge each strike, but found himself hit by one swing and knocked into a nearby wall. Shao Kahn's Wrath Hammer then seemed to disappear in a flash of green energy, only to be replaced by a spear that he launched at Jerrod. The King of Edenia narrowly dodged the projectile, which embedded itself into the wall.
He was then slammed hard by another shoulder charge, but seized the opportunity afforded by his proximity to the emperor to slash again, cutting across the emperor's chest.
Shao Kahn once more stumbled back.
"You're starting to annoy me." He complained before throwing a punch. Jerrod ducked under it and Shao Kahn's fist went into the wall. Jerrod hit the emperor in the ribs with a flaming kick which knocked him sideways, and Shao Kahn again attempted a charge, but Jerrod rolled out of the way.
Shao Kahn summoned his Wrath Hammer once more and swung at Jerrod, who jumped out of range. Satisfied with distance between him and the emperor, Jerrod swung his sword diagonally, which released an arc of flame that bounced off the sword and shot right at Shao Kahn, blasting the emperor back upon impact and knocking him to the ground.
Jerrod clenched his sword tightly as he went to finish the emperor, when suddenly, he found his feet frozen in place.
Literally.
"What?!" Jerrod asked aloud, looking down to see his feet encased in ice, and looking to see the culprit now in a sitting position. Jerrod had clearly failed to kill the Lin Kuei assassin. And it would cost him.
A shadow came over Jerrod as he returned his gaze to Shao Kahn, who laughed sinisterly at this turn of events.
"So close to victory, eh?" He mocked.
"Dad!" Shouted Kitana as she emerged from behind the throne.
"Close your eyes…" Jerrod instructed, as he steeled himself for the inevitable.
"Jerrod!" Came the voice of his wife Sindel as she flew into the throne room via her mystical power and the open balcony to the side.
Jerrod spared one last look at his wife, before he looked up and saw the Wrath Hammer coming down on his head.
"Mileena? Mileena? Beloved?"
Tanya's voice normally summoned an instant response from Mileena. Now it barely registered as she struggled to process all that she had just seen.
"Oh dear," Jerrod said as he realized his error. "I am sorry, Mileena. I realize that this may have been too much. Please, accept my deepest apologies."
"I…" Mileena finally spoke. "I'm fine… or at least, I will be."
"Jerrod," said Tanya. "Please don't do that again."
He nodded the soul construct's head.
"Dearest, are you sure you'll be ok?" Tanya asked concernedly.
"Yes…" Mileena answered. "I just need to take it all in…"
"I can't say that I blame you." Emerald said knowingly.
"Maybe it's best that we all retire for the night." Suggested Nitara. "Even for someone mostly nocturnal like me, this has been… a lot. I imagine even more so for you, Mileena."
"You can rest in my room." Skarlet offered.
"Only so long as you'll be there with me." Nitara teased.
"I assure you, I won't be going anywhere," replied Skarlet. "No one has ever made me feel the way you do before. I'll never leave your side. I love you, Nitara." The couple kissed briefly.
Though delayed by her own thoughts, Mileena responded to Nitara's suggestion:
"She's right. Everyone get some sleep," Mileena ordered. "And father. In the morning, I want to talk to you."
"About what?" Jerrod asked.
"Let me just ask one thing for now," Mileena requested. "What you did. Connecting our minds like that. Could you do it to anyone?"
"Your receptiveness to psychic communication seems to be enhanced by your newfound ability to control your clones," Jerrod explained, before considering the idea. "But yes, we could connect with another person's mind."
"And could you do it with two people at the same time?" Mileena then asked.
"I think I see what you're getting at…" Jade began to realize.
"It's possible," Jerrod acknowledged. "But why?"
"Well, unfortunately the war for Outworld comes first," Mileena admitted. "But whenever we see her again, which I suspect will be soon with whatever Raiden might be planning…"
Mileena thought about it for a few more moments before continuing:
"I think I might know how we can save my big sister."