Baphomet and his associates came out of the portal that the Nexus had taken them to and into a mostly remote, canyonous part of Outworld. There were dangerously narrow walkways going off in two directions. One led to a small village overlooked by a forest. Further in the distance were the walls of Lei Chen standing proudly. The other led to a small mountain made of purple rocks, a geological phenomenon native to Outworld rather than the result of merged realms. The only variation in the rock formation was a seemingly inexplicable icy cave, one Sub-Zero and Frost had explored in a previous trip to Outworld to learn of their Cryomancer heritage.
The ice caves were of no interest to the demons however.
Baphomet stared at the walls of Lei Chen with his blank glowing eyes.
"Is that the place where we need to go?" Mika asked.
"Our master's prison, it was here," Baphomet insisted. "Its keeper must have left."
"Should we head back through the portal?" Asked Sora. "Try a different realm?"
"No no," Baphomet replied. "The one we seek will return to this realm. They have quarrel with its inhabitants."
"So our plan is just to wait?" Siann asked annoyedly.
"Not wait," Baphomet corrected. "Observe. Bellok gathers an army in the Netherrealm. He will need information on the enemies we face here to properly lead that army. I can feel it. The battle that is to come will be here."
"It is Outworld," Cilene commented. "Kinda known for 'battles'."
"How do you plan to do any observing?" Siann questioned, crossing her arms. "Even for Outworld a freak of nature like you would stick out."
"How naive," Baphomet noticed. "Do you believe your precious Brotherhood and its sorcerers were the only ones to learn how to disguise themselves."
A swirl of mystical energy surrounded Baphomet, and seconds later he had assumed the form of a scrawny man in suspenders with red hair, a pointed goatee, and the same glowing white eyes as his true form."
"Come," Baphomet commanded. "Our enemies are likely to follow us through rather soon. We should get to a populated area."
"I thought you didn't want to draw attention." Said Cilene.
"If we are in a settlement, the Elder Gods' lap dog and his Oni pets will be perceived as the attackers," Baphomet reasoned. "While we are merely passerby."
"We're gonna need new clothes then." Cilene pointed out.
"Let these Outworlders see that the Brotherhood of Shadow stands strong." Siann argued.
"I didn't realize the four of us counted as the Brotherhood of Shadow now." Sora mocked.
"At least someone's trying to keep the memory of what Quan Chi started alive." said Mika.
"The Thunder God destroyed your lord Shinnok and your Brotherhood," Baphomet said plainly. "If you wish to be prideful about it, by all means, seek vengeance against him. But do not parade a dead flag."
Siann sneered and tore off the waistcloth of her uniform which bore the Brotherhood's symbol.
"Happy now?" She asked through gritted teeth.
Baphomet did not respond, simply turned and began walking.
The other three subsequently removed their own markers of affiliation and followed.
"Gotta say Siann, that must have felt like tearing your own arm off." Cilene teased.
"Shut up or I'll tear yours off." Siann threatened.
"Oooh, somebody's mad," Cilene continued. "I kinda like it."
"Cilene, I thought all the centuries would've taught you not to provoke her." chimed in Sora.
"Oh right, that time you let me fall off a clif. And to my death," Cilene replied casually. "Good thing I reformed in the Sixth Plane."
"Quan Chi was impressed when you managed to return." Mika added.
"But let me guess, Siann here would rather I hadn't come back at all," Cilene surmised. "Look Siann, it wasn't my fault that I didn't die all the way. My bones still shattered if that makes you feel better."
"I would feel 'better' if you Stopped. Talking." Siann explained coldly.
"Well fine," Cilene seemingly relented. "Be that way."
They approached the small town. There were a few civilians, but a surprising amount of military presence. Osh-Tekk and Outworlder soldiers, the latter of which still wore their Kahn Guard uniforms of old, but without the helmets which evoked Outworld's former ruler.
"Guess these Outworld soldiers like to stick together." Sora assumed.
"They look like they're preparing for something." Mika observed.
"War," Baphomet explained. "The war that the Thunder God will bring upon them. Outworld's armies are vast, but their new ruler is not the power Shao Kahn was. Let alone the ruler that preceded even him."
"You go to Outworld often?" Cilene asked.
"If travel between realms were at my disposal, we would not have required the Nexus," Baphomet pointed out. "Our master can see through the walls of his prison. He has observed much of the transpirings of the realms, and sends much of what he has learned to me, the last of his Elder Demon servants."
"I'm still confused," Mika admitted. "You showed us visions of your master. But we never saw him being imprisoned."
"Worry not," Baphomet assured. "You will find his prison… familiar, when you see it."
"Yes, we know what bars look like." Siann said annoyedly.
"How presumptuous you are," Baphomet noted. "And how little you know."
"Forgive her," Sora requested. "Losing the Brotherhood has hit us all in… different ways."
"I don't need you to speak for me…" Siann grumbled, crossing her arms.
"You're welcome." Sora replied sarcastically.
"It matters not what loyalty to Shinnok you keep in these final hours," said Baphomet. "When the Master of Sin rises, you will see why you must bow."
After brief deliberation with the Elder Gods and sending Smoke to Earthrealm, Bi-Han and his Oni allies stepped out of the same portal which had brought the very enemies they were pursuing to Outworld.
"Well… this place is certainly different." Drahmin noticed.
"It's a lot purpler," Moloch observed. "And look! You can actually see the sky here!"
"Definite improvement over the Netherrealm," Drahmin decided. "It's weird actually. Something about this place almost feels… familiar."
"Is your mask telling you that?" Moloch asked.
"I told you, the mask doesn't talk to me," reminded Drahmin. "It… shows me things."
"Oh right right," Moloch recalled. "Pictures."
"Essentially," Drahmin more or less confirmed. "So B, after we take care of these guys, how's about we stay here for a while."
"The Elder Gods would likely command me elsewhere," Bi-Han predicted as he observed the surroundings. "Besides, I am not sure that leaving you two running wild outside of the Netherrealm would be wise."
"Could we stay if we promise not to eat anyone?" Moloch asked.
"Let's just get moving," Bi-Han insisted. "Our enemies couldn't have gotten far. We'll need to move quickly. You two aren't exactly inconspicuous, and I wish to leave Outworld before we attract undue attention."
"You ever been here before?" Drahmin asked.
"Many years ago," Bi-Han explained. "And I was not quite myself. I understand that Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm ended in failure. This realm will be far more unpredictable without him."
"Shao Kahn…" Drahmin repeated. "I feel like I met that bastard. Thing is, I can't remember where, when, or how."
"A mystery we may uncover in the future," Bi-Han told him. "For now, we have enemies to be concerned with."
The trio started walking, the narrow walkways leading away from the portal giving Moloch an especially tough time. His bulk made it difficult to get through, and he risked falling over the side a few times, but with encouragement from Drahmin, he made it through.
"Let's not do that again." Moloch suggested.
"Don't worry buddy, you'll live," Drahmin assured him, before turning his attention to Bi-Han. "Where do you think our 'pals' might've gone?"
"Wherever that Elder Demon dictated," Bi-Han responded. "I could see the look in his eyes. He was after something. They did not flee to Outworld simply to escape us. They have a purpose here."
"Right," said Drahmin. "So where would they go?"
"Like us, they would wish to avoid attention," Bi-Han reasoned. "I see a town in the distance. I doubt they would be able to hide there. At least, I doubt Baphomet would. Let us go into that forest nearby. I know from experience how useful forests can be for waiting in shadow. I used to train in such places with my brother."
"Same brother long-hair is friends with, right?" Asked Moloch.
"I have only one brother." Bi-Han answered.
"Do you think Tom'll find him?" Drahmin questioned.
"Tomas might know Kuai even better than I," Bi-Han admitted. "I have complete faith in him."
"Hey I got another question," said Moloch. "Do they have owls in this realm?"
"I would assume some manner of avians exist in Outworld." Bi-Han replied. "I did not take notice of such things when I was last here."
"So Herald can check things out without anybody noticin'?" Moloch questioned, petting his large owl who rested on his shoulder.
"That would actually make sense, yes," Bi-Han realized. "Go ahead. Send Herald to survey the skies while we look for our enemies in this forest."
Moloch sent out his owl, who took flight and began scanning from above for the group's quarry.
Meanwhile, Bi-Han and the Oni went into the forest, expecting to find their enemies lurking there. The forest was one of the few lush areas left in Outworld, after Shao Kahn had stolen the life force of nearly all of the realm's plant life to increase his own strength. The trees were so large that even Moloch could effectively hide behind one.
What waited for them however, was not the enemies they sought.
Hidden within the dense forest was an Osh-Tekk scouting force. Their task had been to locate Mileena and her allies. Instead, they had found these three.
"Is that one of the Cryomancers Erron said was helping Mileena?" One of the scouts asked.
"Looks like it to me," Another responded. "And look, Meat's with him."
"That freak Mileena says is her brother?" A third asked.
"Does he think that mask works as a disguise?" The first asked. "What a moron."
"What's that big thing with them?" The third asked.
"Big enough to be a Shokan but only two arms," the second observed. "Didn't the report of the riot mention somebody in Brotherhood of Shadow uniform?"
"I think so," the third answered. "And that demon that gave Shao Kahn's Netherrealm allies trouble was there too."
"So Mileena's gotten help from the Netherrealm?" The first asked.
"Would explain where that dead Edenian came from all of a sudden." said the second.
"Why not bring back her sister and mom if she could do that?" The third questioned.
"It's not our job to know what the enemy is thinking," argued the first. "Just to find them."
"Signal the others," ordered the second. "Let's coordinate an ambush."
Bi-Han and his allies continued through the forest unaware of their hidden attackers.
They were abruptly made aware when a volley of arrows was shot in their direction. The arrows bounced off Moloch's durable hide and did no damage, while some of them lodged themselves into Drahmin's decaying flesh, to no reaction from the Oni Tormenter himself.
Bi-Han disappeared into a portal he summoned beneath him in order to dodge the arrows that came his way. He reappeared from another one, and retaliated.
Bi-Han shot out a beam of ice into the treetops, in the direction the arrows had come from. He moved the beam to sweep across the trees, freezing the tops of every single one that struck until he decided he was finished.
A few frozen Osh-Tekk fell from the treetops to the ground below, their ice-encased bodies shattering on impact.
"These are not our enemies," Bi-Han quickly determined. "They are Outworld warriors."
"What difference does it make?" Drahmin asked.
"They are a distraction," Bi-Han explained. "And should be dealt with swiftly."
He examined the frozen remains before him.
"Based on how many arrows there were, I counted about a dozen archers," Bi-Han noted. "I saw only five bodies fall."
One Osh-Tekk who had avoided the ice beam aimed a flaming arrow at Bi-Han specifically. However, they made the fatal mistake of making themselves easily visible when they took aim. The Osh-Tekk believed they could step out of cover and kill their target swiftly.
Moloch proved them wrong, noticing them with his third eye and rapidly swinging his ball and chain up into the trees. The metal orb slammed into the Osh-Tekk and snapped the branch they were perched on. The Osh-Tekk fell to the ground below and hit the ground with enough force to break several bones. Moloch then crushed them with his ball and chain for good measure.
Bi-Han had hardly expected such precision from the Oni Destroyer. He was impressed.
"Well done, Moloch." Bi-Han complimented.
Moloch simply nodded.
The surviving six archers remained hidden, trying to assess their odds and determine a new strategy.
"We're outmatched," one said grimly. "They'll kill us all."
"Our arrows seem to do little more than annoy them," pointed out another. "And they cover each other's backs surprisingly well."
"So what, we give up?!" Responded the squad leader. "Return to the emperor in failure?! Never! We are Osh-Tekk warriors! We do not surrender!"
"Didn't we surrender to Shao Kahn…" one archer pointed out.
"And we will surrender no more," the squad leader continued. "The rebels have had enough victories lately. They make the emperor look weak. They make us all look weak. Shao Kahn is no more. The age of the Osh-Tekk is dawning. And no one will take our victory from us. Not one of Shang Tsung's lab experiments and her arsonist of a girlfriend, and certainly not some Earthrealmer, skinless heap of flesh, and Oni brute."
"So what's the plan?" One of the soldiers asked.
"There's a soldiers' village nearby," the squad leader recalled. "Go for reinforcements. The rest of us will run misdirection and keep them in this forest until the reinforcements arrive and overwhelm them."
The soldier nodded and left.
"Sir, doesn't that plan rely on us surviving that long?" One soldier asked.
"If you can't handle it, you'll be the one that's dead," the squad leader argued. Now go, all of you! Keep them distracted!"
The squad leader and his four soldiers spread out to try and cover more ground. Each used solar magic to light their arrows aflame and increase their physical strength. Under the cover of the forest, they surrounded Bi-Han and the Oni.
This time, they fired arrows from different directions, figuring their enemies would have a harder time countering. One arrow bounced off Moloch's hide, another struck Drahmin in the side of the head but he remained standing regardless.
Two arrows came at Bi-Han, but he summoned two ice clones on either side of himself that took the hits. The statues began to melt from the flaming arrows, and Bi-Han pushed them both to the ground where they shattered so he could better examine his surroundings.
Drahmin pulled the arrow out of his head. "This is just getting annoying."
"Agreed," said Bi-Han, before addressing the attackers. "We know you're hiding, cowards! At least come and die like warriors!"
The squad leader of the group revealed himself. His warpaint glowed yellow and he held a flaming sword.
"You have disgraced us enough, Cryomancer!" The Osh-Tekk shouted. "In the name of the emperor Kotal Kahn, I will defeat you!"
"So Shao Kahn does have a successor," Bi-Han determined. "I was wondering what state this realm was in without him."
"You should already know of the emperor," the squad leader pointed out. "You and your Earthrealmer clan battled his forces, and more recently, you and your pupil showed their true allegiance to Mileena's rebellion!"
"I see what's happening here," Bi-Han realized. "You seem to be mistaking me for my brother. Given that he and your emperor are clearly enemies, and that I fought alongside Mileena in Shao Kahn's invasion, your master is certainly no friend of mine. I may show mercy to his minions, provided you desist."
"He's not Sub-Zero?" Came the voice of a soldier from the brush.
"I was," Bi-Han answered. "I was also Noob Saibot. In whatever form I take, I would not recommend trifling with me."
"Soldiers!" Commanded the squad leader. "Let's show this Cryomancer… wraith… whatever he is! Let's show him what Osh-Tekk warriors are made of!"
The other four soldiers also stepped out, brandishing swords of their own.
"You will regret this course of action." Warned Bi-Han.
"Big talk for a dead man!" Shouted the squad leader. "Shame we don't have a soulnado to toss you into!"
Bi-Han shook his head. "I warned you. Moloch. Drahmin. Deal with the footsoldiers. If they wisely choose to flee, let them live. Their arrogant leader is mine."
"D-Did he say Moloch?" One soldier asked. "The Oni Destroyer!?"
"And then.. That's not Meat! He must be the Tormentor!" Realized another soldier.
Moloch lumbered over to two soldiers and looked down at them.
"This is the part where you run away."
They decided to comply.
"Cowards!" Shouted the squad leader. "The emperor will have you executed for this!"
"You've got your own problems." Drahmin pointed out.
He then raised his iron club and slammed aside the two remaining soldiers.
This left Bi-Han to deal with the squad leader. The Osh-Tekk brandished his flaming sword, trying to make a show of his prowess. Bi-Han was not impressed. He created a sword out of darkness and beckoned his opponent forward.
The Osh-Tekk squad leader charged forward ane swung his blade. Bi-Han dodged the swing and then thrust the hilt of his own sword into the Osh-Tekk's chest, knocking him back. He then swung wide in a motion that would've taken the Osh-Tekk's head off had he not ducked at the last second. The Osh-Tekk took a swing at Bi-Han's legs, but the Champion of the Elder Gods jumped over the blade and kicked the Osh-Tekk, knocking him to the ground.
The Osh-Tekk attempted another swing, but Bi-Han slashed at his hand, creating a gash in it and causing him to lose his grip on the sword. Bi-Han used his free hand to freeze the blade, extinguishing the flames, before stepping on it and shattering it. He held his sword to the Osh-Tekk's neck, the point of the blade inches from his throat. He was about to dispatch him as swiftly as he had the other soldiers, but hesitated. He thought of his brother, and of Sareena. They would want him to take a different path. And perhaps, Bi-Han thought, it would be better if he did.
"Yield." Bi-Han commanded.
"You will not finish me?" The Osh-Tekk squad leader questioned. "Coward!"
"I was like you, once," Bi-Han admitted. "Believing that mercy was cowardice. I have learned that it takes far more strength not to kill than to thoughtlessly take a life. I am sorry for your soldiers that I and my allies slew. I do not wish to shed more blood. Leave now, and I will seek no more quarrel with you."
"To retreat would be to fail the emperor…" the Osh-Tekk said grimly.
"I am sure that your emperor would prefer living soldiers who know when to withdraw in comparison to dead ones that were too stubborn to admit when they were outmatched."
"Outmatched?" The Osh-Tekk questioned. "And you call me arrogant?"
"You underestimated us," Bi-Han pointed out. "I made no such error with you. I recognized the threat you posed to us and we defended ourselves. You are bested. Therefore, outmatched."
"Fine…" the Osh-Tekk conceded. "But mine will not be the last of Emperor Kotal Kahn's forces you will encounter. So long as you are in Outworld, you will be hunted."
"Then I hope to find those which we are hunting soon, and make our stay here brief," Bi-Han decided. "Perhaps you can be of assistance."
"Help you?!" The Osh-Tekk couldn't believe it. "Never!"
"Just answer a simple question," Bi-Han requested. "Have you or your soldiers seen four women in the uniform of Brotherhood of Shadow assassins accompanied by a humanoid creature with the head of a goat?"
"There have been no reports of such individuals," the Osh-Tekk told him. "But I assure you, the Brotherhood or Shadow is no friend of Kotal Kahn's."
"That much at least is a relief…" Bi-Han said. "Your information has been somewhat helpful. The people we seek are dangerous, I would recommend telling your people to keep an eye out for them."
"Funny of you to call anybody else 'dangerous'." The squad leader said annoyedly.
"I am letting you live," Bi-Han pointed out. "The ones we seek will not."
Bi-Han dematerialized his darkness sword and extended the Osh-Tekk commander a hand. A hand that was quickly slapped away.
"I need no help from you." The commander said pridefully.
"Fine," Bi-Han relented. "Then go."
"What about my soldiers?" The commander asked as he climbed to his feet.
Bi-Han looked towards his ally.
"Drahmin. That's enough." Bi-Han ordered.
The One Tormentor was in the middle of bashing one soldier with his iron club and waving the other around like a rag doll by the leg with his uncovered hand.
"Drahmin!" Bi-Han shouted.
"Oooohh alright!" Drahmin relented, throwing one soldier to the ground and ceasing his beating of the other.
"Let's go," ordered the commander. "We are beaten."
The two soldiers got up and groaned from their experience.
"Yes sir…" they said in unison before departing with their leader.
"You know B? Sometimes you're a real party pooper." Drahmin complained.
"Mercilessness may have been your way in the Netherrealm," Bi-Han surmised. "But so long as you choose to be my allies, I intend for us not to take life when it can be avoided."
"Fine," Drahmin replied. "Just tell me we ain't gotta be so nice with the people we're afta'."
"I offered them a chance once before," Bi-Han reminded him. "They refused. We will do what we must to ensure the safety of the realms… and hopefully fulfill my duty to the Elder Gods."
"Take em' out," Drahmin said plainly. "Can do."
Bi-Han then turned to his larger companion.
"Moloch. You displayed impressive restraint in allowing those two soldiers that you scared off to escape," Bi-Han complimented. "I appreciate that."
"They seemed to get the message," Moloch reasoned. "Figured it'd make things easier."
Bi-Han nodded, agreeing with his reasoning. "Good work."
"Where are we off to now?" Drahmin asked.
"I assume that Herald will return to Moloch if he finds our enemies," Bi-Han reasoned. "For now, we should leave this forest and keep away from settlements. Though we showed our enemies mercy, they may still report our presence to their superiors."
"And you still didn't wanna shut em' up?" Drahmin questioned.
"That is not who I wish to be anymore," Bi- Han answered. "Now let us be away from here."
Drahmin decided not to say anything further, merely following along with Moloch.
As the three departed, the surviving Osh-Tekk soldiers returned to the nearby village to report the incursion, as Bi-Han had predicted they would. One soldier had protested this action due to the mercy they were shown, but the commander remained adamant about fulfilling their duty.
Unbeknownst to them, their report was overheard by the very demons that their opponents were after, the five hiding in an alleyway as the soldiers talked to their superior officer in the center of the town and guards shooed off any civilians.
"You were right, Baphomet," Sora admitted. "They did follow us."
"Indeed," Baphomet agreed. "And as I suspected, they were quick to make enemies of the local authorities here, while we hide in shadow and in plain sight, awaiting our moment."
"Gonna make it pretty hard for them to chase after us when they're getting chased to." Cilene reasoned.
"Exactly." Baphomet confirmed.
"Clever," Siann admitted before sparing a glare at Cilene. "Do you have to stand so close to me?!"
She hit her shoulder against Cilene's to emphasize her point.
"This is different from how you were during our sparring sessions," Cilene recalled with a coy smile Siann was always annoyed by. "I thought you liked close quarters."
"This isn't the same thing." Siann protested.
"So are we just letting these guys handle them?" Mika asked Baphomet, wanting to ignore the quarreling of her subordinates.
"I admit, the minions of Outworld's current ruler are not the most competent soldiers it would seem," Baphomet conceded. "But I suspect they will do well enough to distract our pursuers until it is too late."
"What's our next move?" Sora inquired.
"We wait in shadow for the war our master's jailor will begin," Baphomet explained. "Then I will use my power to aid in freeing my master. The four of you will eliminate anyone who attempts to interfere. Once our master is risen, our enemies' doom will be complete…."
Across Outworld, Li Mei considered her own next move. Shujinko's condition had been improving and it wouldn't be long now before he'd be able to walk again.
She helped him sit up and put some pillows behind his back.
"Thank you, Li Mei." Shujinko said graciously.
Li Mei smiled. "Of course," she said humbly. "Listen, I've been thinking. Our original plan has kind of fallen by the wayside. If we can't stop the Dragon King from rising, and I pray to the Elder Gods that Khameleon doesn't get hurt when he does, we're going to need some help to stop him."
"What do you have in mind?" Shujinko asked, reaching to a small table beside his bed and sipping some tea.
"While you've been resting, I was talking to these two Centaurians," Li Mei explained. "They admit to becoming… disillusioned with Kotal Kahn, particularly after his announcement of… war with Earthrealm."
"What?!" Shujinko asked, nearly spitting out his tea. He shook his head. "Raiden my old friend, what have you done…?"
"They did mention Raiden attacking Kotal, yes," Li Mei recalled. "They've agreed to act as mounts and return us to Sun Do. They know a route where we can avoid running into any checkpoints. Once we're there, we can use the portal that Sonya's people set up for the refugees to come through. If we can convince your friends in Earthrealm that Onaga is the real threat, we can stop this war before it even begins, and have forces to fight the Dragon King with. And… I'd prefer not to endanger them, but I know there are people in Sun Do who would be willing to help."
Shujinko smiled. "Resourceful but always selfless," he complimented. "This realm needs someone like you, Li Mei."
Li Mei hugged him. "And I'm sure Earthrealm's better off for having someone like you."
"I appreciate that you think so," Shujinko acknowledged. "So, when do we depart?"
"Soon as you're well enough to make the trip." Li Mei answered as she let go.
"I feel much better already," Shujinko assured her, starting to get out of the bed. "We should make haste."
Li Mei nodded. "Indeed."
Shujinko got to his feet, wobbling a bit as he found his footing. Li Mei reached out to help him, but Shujinko put out a hand signalling her to stop.
"I'm alright," he insisted. "Let us go meet these Centaurs."
"As long as you're sure you're ready." Li Mei cautioned.
Shujinko nodded. "I believe that I am. Let us go…
We have realms to save."