Desperado

by Hell-on-Training-Wheels

Erron Black annoyingly finds himself having to deal with the repercussions of a bargain he made with a woman he can't stand and one who also reciprocates the feeling. ((MKX Erron Black/ OC))

10. Singin' in the Rain

Chapter 10
Singin' in the Rain

---

After months of pursuit by Kotal Kahn's insufferable guards, the two outlawed Edenians finally found solace in the caves near the borders of the Golden Desert. Ever since Mileena's death by D'Vorah's hand, their heads had been desired for Kotal Kahn's execution block. Being affiliated with Mileena's losing side automatically made them targets for eliminating. They had gotten very close with the Zaterran in the Kuatan Jungle, and they were starting to realize how drastic their situation was becoming.

Rain was livid that he had been dragged into it all. They were like rats being chased out of a kitchen and the Edenian Prince was growing exasperated being anything below his station. Tanya, he could tell, was also growing tired of it as well even if she never said anything; her discontented demeanor was enough of an indicator they felt similar.

The light danced around the cave as they sat in silence, both of them contemplating whether they had reached the end of their ropes to start retaliating. After months of being chased over Outworld, a different approach was needed. They had to start taking the offensive if they hoped to survive this and seize their personal goals.

It was no question that Rain still desired the throne. It was the only reason he had even agreed to be Mileena's adviser in the first place. His interest had purely been selfish ones and he felt no remorse about it. The only thing that he did feel displeasure about was how Mileena had let his plan go to waste. She had failed and in return, so did he.

Rain knew that Tanya was aware of his deception, even if she never voiced it; he had been very well aware that she had overheard his scheme in the Kuatan Jungle before his confrontation with D'Vorah. Rain scoffed internally at the memory; she was a hypocrite. Betrayal was her most defining attribute, and she had no right to judge him. Dislike of each other aside, they were the only allies left for each other.

Their mission was the only thing they still had in common. The Edenians were both severely displeased with Kotal Kahn on the throne of Outworld, and they wanted him eliminated. After his demise, Tanya would fulfill her dream of a free Edenia and Rain would rule Outworld. To accomplish either, the Osh-Tekk ruler must die.

However, they were unable to come up with a satisfactory idea of how to accomplish such a feat. They knew they had allies through the Tarkatans through association with Mileena that they could utilize. However, the remaining Tarkatans were also laying low; hunted as well.

Rain found dealing with such monsters lowly but they presented themselves as their only playable card, even if their loyalty was rocky at best. It was the only option, though, especially after the Red Dragon had refused to accept Rain's offer. The mercenary group's services demanded money that Tanya, Rain and certainly the Tarkatans, did not have to offer up-front, and they declined them.

They were hoping to appeal to Kano's resentment of Kotal Kahn, especially after the Kahn had tried to kill him. However, they knew that the leader of the Black Dragon had fled to Earthrealm after their attack in Sun Do. So Kano was also out of the question. Relying on the Tarkatans was the only thing they could hope to use if they needed it.

Nevertheless, they both knew that they simply couldn't charge in with a meager force despite that Kotal's forces were diminished after the civil war. Kotal Kahn still held the numbers and power in his favor.

They would need a strategy.

Something unexpected.

"We will need to search for food and water," Tanya announced suddenly, her eyes watching the flames flicker from where she sat.

Rain nodded his head as his stomach growled as well in agreement. The Kuatan Jungle had been a perfect spot for them to find both, and since they had left, they were even more starved and ragged.

"It will be no issue," Rain agreed with a passive tone, "The village is not far."

"Are you wishing to be spotted?" Tanya grumbled, "There are loyalists to Ko'atal in the village."

"Then assure you are not spotted," Rain spat, rolling his eyes.

"Perhaps you can also pull your weight," Tanya retorted, her eyes narrowed at him. "I tire of being the one to fetch our supplies."

"Your tiredness is nothing to me," Rain shot back with an indifferent scoff.

"Afraid you will chip a delicate nail, Prince?" Tanya returned sarcastically, her ire glare still present.

"Do not test my patience, Tanya," Rain warned, finding her nagging wearing thin already. "I grow tired of your useless prattle already."

"And I grow tired of you before each conversation. Your ego wafts from you like a horrid stench," Tanya scowled. "The sound of your voice is annoying as well."

Rain fumed, but he chose not to comment further. It would do them both no good to continue to argue like a couple of children and waste energy they could not afford to lose. Their efforts were needed elsewhere. Staying alive, being the most important at the moment.

Rain thoughts drifted to the village nearby as his eyes darted around their surroundings with disgust. Unlike them, the filthy Kotal Kahn supporters in the community were sleeping comfortable in beds and dining on food that didn't consist of scraps and bugs. He was tired of this lifestyle and his patience had reached its end.

If they were to take the offensive, then so be it.

He was done hiding like a mongrel.

The hydromancer move towards the opening of the cave with his fists clenched and a determination in his eyes that Tanya noticed and addressed.

"And where is it that you think you are going?" Tanya questioned him incredulously. Rain looked over his shoulder and met her raised, irked eyebrow with a dirty look. He narrowed his eyes as she continued to sit on the ground staring. Regrettably, he knew that he would need her assistance and groaned inwardly at the fact.

"How many are in the village?" Rain asked her, his voice bordering on a rhetorical tone. He knew it was a small village.

"Not many," she answered with a shrug, "Most of them are women and children."

"And yet you sit there," Rain snorted disdainfully. With that, he turned on his heel and left the cave. It wasn't long until he heard her footsteps running to catch up with him, and he smiled behind his face mask. He had purposely chided her so she would have to follow him.

"We need to stay hidden, Rain," Tanya reminded him direly, grasping his shoulder to stop him. He threw off her hand with a roll of his shoulder and looked at her with a devilish smirk in his eyes.

"A God doesn't hide from insects," he declared, his tone boastful. "They hide in the dirt from him."

With that, the demigod marched in the direction of the twinkling lights of the sleepy village and Tanya couldn't help but click her tongue at the egotistical son of Argus. Bitterly, she followed behind him and dug within for whatever little energy she had that she knew would be spent trying to conquer the tiny village that Rain apparently wanted.

Rain knew that this was an aggressive move, but he didn't care.

His priority was to take what would be his. The village serving as an appetizer to what he actually desired.

If he wanted what was due to him, he would have to get his hands dirty for once.

---

A month later...

The boy had never visited Z'unkahrah before, but it was not hard to find the towering domed place that stood out like a beacon. He had the most difficult troubles behind him after all. Now all that was left to complete what his mother had set out for him to do and deliver the parchment to the Emperor. He had to know of the man that had taken over their village and the monsters that had come after his arrival.

He had barely managed to get out, and he didn't think anyone else would, so it was up to him. However, he barely thought he would be able to make it even further. His body screaming for the rest that he wanted nothing more to give into. He was so thirsty and hungry to the point every move towards the palace was exhausting. He felt every muscle ache and his throat felt as dry and as scratchy as the desert sand beneath his bare feet.

But he was almost there.

He approached the steps, his feet feeling like massive boulders as he fumbled his way up. Through his deliriousness, he heard one of the guards shout at him; telling him to stop.

Yes... he had to stop. He felt his knees buckle and scratch against the stone steps and despite the pain, the stone felt like a pillow to him. He heard the guards footsteps approach him and smelt the leather of their shoes as the guard flipped him over.

The boy smiled when he felt the guard tug at the parchment from his hand.

And then nothing else.

---

After the incident in her room, Erron hadn't expected how awkward dinners would be for them from now on. Sure, he had a general idea, but certainly not at the level they were currently in now.

He was very aware that she was still angry with him; it wasn't hard to see. However, he didn't expect her to look as miserable as she was. To be honest, he wasn't entirely sure it was all his doing but he knew he had some contribution to it. She still put on a professional face about it, but he could see it in her eyes that she was lost in some macabre thought. It was distracting and slowly he started to feel it eat away at his patience, as well as ruin his appetite.

By the end of the month, he was thoroughly agitated, and Erron was beginning to feel the inside of his cheek go raw from how often he was biting it in thought.

He sighed irritably where he sat.

She needed to move on. Otherwise they would be going around in circles. Hate him, he didn't give a shit, just stop looking like beaten dog all the time. Erron had even made something of a small effort. He wasn't talking to her to refrain from upsetting her further, and he made a habit of sliding his goblet at dinner for her to serve him. However, she didn't seem to acknowledge it or even notice.

What the hell did she want from him? He had already apologized, and he wasn't going to do it again.

Get over it.

"Bread-lady!"

Black felt himself snapped from his thoughts from Ferra's shrill but forceful voice.

The symbiote had a hard frown on her face as she waved her goblet at her. The gunman noticed that she blinked a couple of times before rushing over to give her water, as if remembering where she was. Ferra continued to glower at her, and Erron noticed that she seemed somewhat unnerved by it. She frowned and went to stand by the wall, sulking slightly from Ferra's treatment.

Erron tapped his finger against the side of his plate. Maybe it wasn't just him. The thought relaxed him slightly, and he was somewhat surprised by Ferra's unknown and sudden dislike for her.

From what he could tell, Ferra was fine with her until a couple of days ago. Now it seemed that Ferra wanted nothing to do with her. He also couldn't help but notice that the white-haired girl still liked the bread despite her ill-treatment of the person who made it. Whatever, wasn't his business anyway, just like it wasn't his business how she felt.

Erron looked up to see Kotal Kahn take notice of the three of them. Even with the veil of light over the Osh-Tekk's pupils, the bounty hunter noticed that they shifted from Ferra, to her and then to him momentarily before he frowned slightly.

He didn't address what he was thinking but pushed it aside to discuss the most important topic of dinner that night.

"There has been the word of the location of the Edenians," the emperor declared, earning attentive stares from his guards. "It appears they may have taken refuge in a small village in the Golden Desert."

Reptile snarled at the mention of Rain and Tanya, still somewhat agitated that they had slipped him. Ermac gave a single, stoic nod and Erron leaned back in his chair with his arm draped over the back of it. All of them waiting for the Kahn to continue.

"Although they are not what concerns me," Kotal said, "There have been also reports of Tarkatans along the northern trade routes. I fear this may be an omen to a similar attempt in the past to sabotage our crops."

Erron knew the cue when he heard it.

Finally, something to do.

"Mr. Black, Ermac proceed to the Golden Desert and deal with the Edenians," Kotal Kahn ordered, "Reptile, I send you to the northern trade routes to investigate these sightings further."

"As you wish, Ko'atal," Reptile answered with an eager nod.

Ermac bowed his head in compliance and Black gave a simple nod. He would have rather gone to the trade routes, but the desert was fine too. As long as it got him out of here and perhaps shooting someone would help take his mind off his misplaced thoughts. Speaking of shooting...

"You want 'em dead or alive?" Erron asked the Emperor.

Kotal Kahn's mouth pulled into a half-smile. "Death will come for them regardless, but I have longed to see the both of them beheaded in the Courtyard. Alive, if you can see to it."

Dammit.

Truthfully, he hoped it was the other option. He still owed Rain a bullet that he never got to fire thanks to Mileena's sai through his hand. However, if the Kahn paid more for bringing them back alive, who was he to argue.

Dinner ended soon after that, and the Kahn left the room and to their assignments.

Ermac and Reptile were the first to leave and before he could as well, he noticed that she walked over to Ferra without permission. The gunslinger had started to lift himself from the chair but lowered himself back into it, somewhat curious to see what she had to say to Ferra.

"Ferra?"

The small Kahn's guard had already jumped from the chair and seemed annoyed that she was trying to address her. Erron raised an eyebrow at Ferra's very forced hostile expression. The symbiote was doing her best to put on a hard demeanor to throw off the cup-bearer, but he couldn't help but find it reminding him of a pouty child that didn't get their favorite desert at dinner.

"Have I done something wrong?" she asked softly and he could tell she was concerned about what Ferra's answer could be.

Ferra spat in her native tongue rudely in response, and she gave her a hard shove with her hands on her stomach. The girl took off after that, leaving the cup-bearer looking more confused than she had been before. She looked across the table at the other cup-bearer for an answer, and he did nothing but shrug his shoulders with a baffled look; also without a clue.

Erron finally rose from his seat and gave one last look to her that she returned with an angry glare. Now that he had a better look at her, he could see how tired she was. Her eyes had large bags under them, and they became more exaggerated when she narrowed her bloodshot eyes at him.

"You know you look like shit, right?" he told her bluntly. Not his best bedside manner but he didn't care if she was offended or not.

As expected, she didn't like it and scoffed angrily in response.

Erron shrugged his shoulders and when she didn't say anything, took that as his opportunity to leave. He shook his head. Why had he bothered to tell even her that? Why didn't he just ignore her? He hated to admit that maybe it was because he still felt guilty, and he was hoping that if she were well, he could forget about almost putting a bullet in her. She needed to stop lingering on it if that was the case. Otherwise they would never be civil in each other's company.

He was tired of being reminded of it.

He pinched the bridge of his nose with his finger and thumb, already feeling a headache form

Maybe a week of his head baking in the desert was what he needed to clear his mind.

---

Carver was not typically one interfere with a person if they gave clear indications that they wanted to be left alone. However, as the weeks progressed since Norah and Black's incident, he was beginning to worry. He also noticed that others were as well.

After that night, Norah's mood began to taper. She made her bread, went to her other job and went to bed after eating; akin to a lifeless robot.

Between Bert, Bao and himself, they only managed to pull a couple of words from her that did not pertain to their jobs. Just simple conversations, but she still had a listless tone.

He was no stranger to this sort of behavior. Depression was pretty typical in Earthrealm; he had it for a while himself when he came to Outworld, but he discovered there were worst things to be depressed over after he got used to the scenery. He prescribed everyone suffering from depression in Earthrealm to come to Outworld and see if they still complained about not getting croutons in their salad.

It was quite obvious it was happening to Norah. He wasn't stupid, and she had a good reason. Tama's sick interest in her didn't go unnoticed between him and Bert, and if that wasn't enough, she almost got wasted by Doc Holiday.

He admit, it was rather intense what he saw. Carver knew they didn't like each other, but he didn't think Erron Black would try and kill her. After watching all that, he needed ice cream and to watch his soap operas, and he couldn't imagine how Norah must have felt. Watching the scene was more heated than the time he watched two sea turtles fight to the death over a head of lettuce— which he threw from his grocery bag. The turtles were fine but he was not proud.

Still, he didn't think Norah the type of person to let something like that bother her. She was a native Outworlder, and he noticed that they brushed off death threats rather quickly. Carver could tell that there was something else.

The Earthrealmer had been around similar people who acted the same, and he knew his attempts to crack a joke, or give a kumbaya speech typically fell flat. He knew it was best to give her space until she felt the need to come around.

That was nearly a month ago, and he was beginning to doubt that they were making the right approach. To be honest, he was getting somewhat annoyed that she chose to be ignore that there were people that wanted to see her feeling better.

Carver had told her this, softly and delicately, to avoid her misinterpreting the wrong thing after dinner. She had made a habit of going outside to lose her thoughts in the night sky after every meal, and he doubted that she made it to her bed sometimes.

"You know, we're here for you if you ever want to talk our ears off. That's why we got two. You wear out one; you still got another one."

All she did was a nod and the next day after that, she took all her meals to her room.

Now he was determined.

She was purposely turning into a recluse. He hoped this funk would pass soon. He did miss the confused looks she gave him when he spouted something Earth-related that she didn't understand. She was his confused little Martian, and he got a kick out of it.

Out of all of them, though, Bao seemed to be the most concerned. He had told them at dinner once, Norah tucked in her room like a hermit, that she as beginning to space out during the Kahn's meal.

Carver could imagine. It couldn't be easy to serve the person that put a gun in your face. Bao also said that while Black wasn't as rude to her anymore, but he still treated her like she was a run-of-the-mill servant. Carver scoffed. The asshole couldn't stop being a dick for once in his life.

It also didn't help that Ferra was beginning to be mean to her. According to Bao, it was unprovoked, and Carver could imagine it wasn't helping Norah's mood either.

Apparently, the little psychopath had been the only one that seemed to enjoy Norah being there. Then one day, she flipped a switch. From what Bao had told him, it reminded him of something familiar.

Once upon a time, back in Hawaii, there was a 7 year old girl, Olivia, that had strolled into the beauty salon with her mother. Carver was a teenager at the time, and he knew how boring the salon could be— he grew up there. After they had worn out the Disney movies, and with no interest in soap operas or Turner Classic Movies, he decided to help her collect sea glass for her dolls. Olivia loved coming to the salon just to see him, and she became the Lilo to his Stitch.

Unfortunately, it backfired on him when she had developed something of a crush on him after a while. When she realized that he didn't return the feeling, she got mad at him. She treated him like dirt — and even threw dirt at him at one point — but eventually, she gave him permission to collect sea glass with her again like nothing had ever happened.

Now, he doubted Ferra had a crush on Norah— that would be really weird— but from what Bao had said, it was obvious that Ferra liked her and Carver knew that it had something to do with the bread.

Also, from what Norah had told them about meeting Torr, she had said the right thing. Carver didn't think Ferra was one just to open up to anyone, and when she took a liking to Norah, it probably confused the homicidal hobgoblin. Carver could tell that Ferra was trying to distance herself by being mean, just like the Olivia had done to him. However, Ferra picked the worst time to do so.

Norah didn't realize it, perhaps it was her curse to be so obtuse, but when she didn't have a scowl on her face, she was approachable. She was pretty — now that she didn't look like a hairy train-wreck anymore— and she was kind unless given a reason not to be. The only problem with all of this was that Norah was a massive introvert. Even more so now.

They all hated seeing her so down-in-the-dumps and he decided to make one last effort. There was only one book that made him feel better, perhaps it was nostalgia, but every time he needed to smile, it helped. He wasn't quite sure if Norah would even be able to read it. Sure there was a common tongue here in Outworld, however, he wasn't sure if she could understand English.

Carver knocked on her door and waited, the worn paperback book in his hand and hoped that she would answer the door. He honestly didn't expect her to but smiled when she did.

"What is it Carver?" she asked somewhat haggardly.

"I was checking up on you," the male cook said as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. She gave him a blank face, and he decided just to jump to the conclusion.

"I got something for you. Just a loan so I want it returned, but I think you would like it," he told her as he handed the book to her. She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she wanted to take it but did it anyway. She looked at it like he had given her alien technology from Mars; curious but apprehensive. When she began to paw through the pages with a frown, Carver started to feel this may not have been the best idea.

Norah stopped on a couple of pages, and he saw her brows bridge together, trying to decipher what was on the page and he sighed in disappointment. It didn't look like she could read it.

"I'm sorry, Norah. I'm an idiot," he said and reached for the book. "I just figured we speak the same language, hey we can probably read it too! Ugh, I'm a jerk. Forget I was here—"

For the first time, he saw Norah crack a smile, and it threw him off for a moment until he saw her eyes flickering over the words on the page. She squinted at some parts, but Carver still felt a reassuring grin pull it's way onto his face.

"Oh, I guess English is universal? Or cross-dimensional?" Carver asked diffidently.

Norah looked at him and shook his head, "The tongue is but the letters are far different. My mother had books from Earthrealm, and they forced me to learn it as well in case we returned there. It is has been some time, though."

"Oh, ok. Gotcha," Carver replied with an understandable shrug. "Anyway, you looked like you could use some cheering up. It always does for me. I could sing the 'Just Keep Swimming' song, but I figured that would go over your head."

Norah raised a confused eyebrow at him. Yeah, she had no idea what Finding Nemo was. Go figure.

"Anyway... hope you like it," Carver said before he turned to leave her. He didn't hear her say 'thank you' but he didn't need to hear it. The small smile she had on her face reading the book was all he needed.

"Carver..."

He stopped in his tracks and turned to look over his shoulder. Carver hesitated when he saw her face. For the first time in a month, she didn't seem guarded and looked at him with gratefulness that made him feel much better about coming to bug her. She looked at the book in her hands and sighed.

"Can I borrow your ear?" she asked him, her tone soft and unsure.

He smiled at that, referring to what he had told her before that he was willing to listen if she needed to.

The chef nodded his head with playful annoyance, "Alright, but I want it back by morning. I need to hear Bert groan every time I tell him something stupid."

Norah smiled softly at his joke. A thought suddenly occurred to him; he knew that she probably would want privacy and given the fact she looked at the stars more than Neil deGrasse Tyson, he knew the perfect spot.

He snapped his fingers and walked toward her, "I know a good place to talk in private. It's even got stars."

Norah ducked into her room for a moment to place the book on her cot, before she locked her door and followed behind him. She walked with him in silence through the corridors and as they got closer to the more common areas of the palace, he was glad to see that there wasn't anyone out and about. It was late at night and usually the only ones that were awake at this time were the nightly guards.

Carver had been in the palace for years, but the architecture was always something to marvel at. Bert and he always argued about the comparisons, whether it was Roman or Middle-Eastern architecture, but he could always tell that they were both correct.

They had stolen the grand arched doorways, pillars, the torches on the walls and hallways of Julius Caesar's Palace for the interior but the exterior was Arabian nights. It was hard to argue with the domed architecture of the main building and spires.

Carver also could detect some European structure as well with the merlons along the stone walkways by the curtain walls of the palace and the keeps. Well, whatever inspiration, it always gave Bert and Carver hours of debate to pass the time. It was melded in such a way with each other that they still never came to the same conclusion. His one complaint, though, he was getting tired of seeing cobra headed statues around all the red stone pillars. Now he knew how Indiana Jones felt...

The both of them passed down a hallway that stood adjacent to a long balcony that stretched as far as the corridor did, and he could already feel the chill of the night air. The guards noticed them but didn't say anything; he often came to the roof to think, and they were familiar with his face. However, he didn't like the looks they gave to Norah as they passed. She was still in her purple uniform, and he could tell that Norah seemed oblivious to the way they were looking at her.

Carver knew that she was getting annoyed by having to be escorted everywhere. He saw the eye-rolling when she thought they weren't looking, but he was beginning to think that Norah didn't have any idea how female slaves were treated in the palace. When he first came to Outworld, he was shocked as well but he still reluctantly understood it was the way of such an archaic setting. It bothered him but now he was numb to it; he was still unsure he liked that he was or not. He figured that being a native, she would know as well. He wasn't quite sure if she was ignorant of it or used it, but it worried him.

He tried to push it to the back of his mind for now when they reached the door he was looking for. Carver opened it first, closed it behind them and caught up with Norah on the winding stone staircase that went up. The staircase was dark but had a torch every turn. Eventually, they came to the top of the staircase to meet another door. Norah looked behind her at him, almost as if for permission to go through it and he nodded.

She opened it and Carver smiled when her eyes went immediately to the sky as she stepped on the wide, stone parapet walkway. He laughed softly under his breath. She certainly was a stargazer if he ever saw one.

The walkway was empty which was only one of the highlights of it. The main reason he brought her to it was because of the open view of the sky above and the view of the main training courtyard below. They were still inside the palace, and the outer walls were heavily guarded at night, leaving this one ignored. They but they could still people watch without being suspicious, and nobody came up here unless needed.

Norah sat on the ledge on the inside of the stone merlons and leaned against the inside edge of it as Carver did the opposite. They sat across from each other for a while, Carver letting her collect her thoughts until she was ready.

For a while, she just sat there, staring at the stars as if they had the answer she was seeking. Carver noticed she smiled at them, and it reminded him of a kid with his first telescope.

"You should see Earthrealm's sky," Carver said, "We have some kickass constellations. My favorite was always Orion's Belt cause it was only three dots. You Outworlder's have any constellations or is it like the Lion King, where it's the Kahn's of the past looking down on you. If it is, I don't know how I feel with Shao Kahn looking at me."

Norah smiled at his joke even if she didn't get the reference. "If there are constellations I would not be able to tell you any of them."

"So you just like to look at the pretty dots and wish you were somewhere else?" Carver asked with a humorous smirk, even though it was a prodding question he was asking subtly.

"Something like that," Norah answered with a small frown. She sighed again, and Carver noticed her gaze fall to the hands that she was twisting around each other nervously. It was obvious she wanted to ask him something.

"You can tell me what it is. That's what I'm here for," Carver pressed with a reassuring tone, "Just give me a nickel and the doctor is in."

She bit her lip in thought, and as the minutes dragged on, he began to think that she was going to bottle it up and not tell him after all. Thankfully, she surprised him.

"Why are you all so kind to me? I feel as if I do not deserve any of it. I am no one," she asked with a melancholy tone.

Well, at least she came out with it, and he didn't have to dig for it. However, when he heard the question, he raised a doubtful eyebrow at her. Carver knew there was more hiding under that simple and pessimistic question than she was letting on. At least it was a start.

"You know you're full of crap right?"

Norah shot him a surprised but offended look, and he clarified before she felt the need to yell at him. "You're not a nobody and you do deserve our kindness. Why would you think that?"

Carver watched as she picked at the fabric of her dress, lost in remorseful thought. She looked at him carefully, wondering if she could confide in him or not and he tilted his head in her direction; giving her a pointed look that she could trust him.

"I have always felt as if I do not belong anywhere because of how I look like an Earthrealmer, perhaps more so now since I am here. I want to know, why is it that you all care for me so much? Because I do look like one?"

Carver thought it over and shrugged at how quickly the answer came, "Its got nothing to do with your looks. You made Bert laugh on the first day, so you won him over after that. I'll admit I had to warm up to you because of how moody you were. Bao seems to like everyone that isn't Mommy Dearest, and you haven't done anything to Abigail to make her hate you."

She looked at him with a frown, somewhat unconvinced by his uncomplicated explanation.

"Not to use Earthrealm lingo that you don't get, but it's because you are our new addition to our Island of Misfit Toys. Personally, I think you're the Charlie-in-the-Box because you complain so much. You fit with us because nobody wants us. Except other misfits."

Norah's face scrunched as if she felt stupid that Carver's answer hadn't been visible to her. Carver could read the emotion she had on her sleeve, and he started to piece together what was happening.

"It is obvious you are freaking out. It's not sinking in with you yet, and you're still fighting being here. What you told me that happened to you was entirely unfair, and you have no other way to cope with it besides shutting us out," Carver told her. "You've constantly been getting a bum deal and I know it was eating at you before that douchebag cowboy paid you that visit and made it worse."

Carver rubbed the back of his neck and sighed regrettably, hoping to avoid this topic, but he had to bring it up.

"I want to ask something that I gotta know, Norah," Carver sighed, scratching the back of his neck nervously. This was a very sensitive topic, and he was afraid of what the answer would be.

Norah looked at him with a wary expression and he continued.

"The way you were asking Black to pull the trigger... was it because deep down you wanted him to?" Carver asked with a somber grimace.

He studied her face intently and when he saw the way her face fell into thought. Immediately he regretted that he even asked when she shot him a stony look for even suggesting it. Perhaps he had gotten a little too carried away since by her offended look alone, he had touched a nerve. Maybe he had imagined things.

He had been in her shoes a long time ago before he got the job in the kitchen. Perhaps he was misinterpreting the red flag he thought he saw when he saw the way she had looked at Black; as if secretly hoping that he would do the dirty work for her. Guess he had been wrong, and he was going to need to do some major back peddling now.

Norah looked at him, her eyes narrowed angrily despite her heartbroken expression. "Why would you think that..."

Carver held up his hands in defense, "I ain't gonna tell you're wrong for hating Black. However, don't kid yourself and think that nobody here doesn't care about you. You are going through a rough patch; I get it. I'm sorry for even thinking it. I'm a dick."

Norah mulled over his apology and nodded her head, accepting it even though she still had the solemn look on her face. He needed to get off this topic; now it was making him feel like horseshit.

"I think you need to accept that you are here, even if you don't want to be and work towards finding your silver lining," Carver told her with a sigh. "I was going through the same thing you were when I came to Outworld. Unlike Bert, I didn't want to come here but it was the easy way out. Word of advice, Norah, don't ever look for the easy way out. It is never worth it and I miss my home every day because of it."

Carver noticed her looking at him with sympathy, and he shook his head at her, trying to tell her to not to worry about it.

"You'll get over it too. Cheer up, Charlie," Carver said with a weak, hopeful grin.

Norah nodded her head, trying her best to sink in his words. The cook felt satisfied that she was listening to him instead of brushing him off like he had somewhat expected her to. It was humility from her that he hadn't thought she would allow to penetrate the walls of her stubbornness.

They both heard movement below, and they looked down to see none other than Clint Eastwood and the Ghost of Christmas Future walking down below. They stopped in the middle of the courtyard, looking as if they disagreed about something and Carver smiled. He had an idea that he knew would make Norah happy and annoy the shit out of Erron Black at the same time. He just hoped he didn't get shot for doing it.

"You ever try and kill someone with kindness?" Carver asked her, a trouble-making smile on his face.

She gave him a very perplexed expression; as if he told her he saw Kotal Kahn wearing a tutu once. Carver rolled his eyes at her expression, jumped from the merlon and whistled a couple of notes from 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ' theme.

He ducked behind the stone when Ermac and Erron Black looked in their direction, and Norah shot Carver a startled and angry look that he drew their attention to her.

"Wave at him," Carver whispered to her.

He might as well asked her to go punch Ermac in the jaw when he saw the horrified look on her face.

"What?!"

"Wave goodbye and smile at him," Carver told her, a grin on his face. "Trust me."

Norah looked between him and the ground below at Black, completely appalled that he wanted her to do it. Hesitantly, and surprisingly she lifted her hand and gave a slow, pitiful wave. It was very hard not to laugh at the excruciatingly fake and awkward smile on her face as her eyes darted from Carver and Black.

"I've seen Miss America contestants fake better smiles than that," Carver told her blatantly, "C'mon really sell it."

Her eyes darted to him for a brief moment to glare at him for pestering her to keep it up. He smiled when she relaxed her face more and gave a far more genuine smile in Black direction.

After a moment, she stopped waving and looked at Carver. He peeked over the side of the stone ledge to see Erron Black storming off angrily, and Ermac raising a mummified eyebrow in their direction before disregarding them and floating to catch up with Black.

Carver laughed when he saw Norah's displeased look; evidently waiting for him to explain.

"What was the purpose of all that?" Norah huffed.

"That was killing someone with kindness," Carver explained, "Notice how he didn't like it when you were nice to him? You're telling him to fuck off without actually saying it. Just be careful how you choose when to use it. I got a lot of swirleys in High School because I pushed my luck. Use it sparingly though and it's better than watching him bob for fries in a deep fryer."

"You Earthrealmers sure do have strange ways of dealing with matters," Norah jested, her eyes lit with amusement even though she shook her head.

"Hey, watch it Outworlder. I'll cut you, hoe," Carver shot playfully back as he pretended to take out imaginary earrings off of each ear. Norah laughed at him even if she didn't understand it; just his feminine pantomiming alone was enough to get her to smile.

The smile stayed on her face and for the first time, he saw her old self again. Even if it didn't get rid of all her problems, he could see that he had had made her feel better. He could see that she was still apprehensive about the future but hey, who wasn't.

"Thank you for listening, Carver," said with an appreciative smile and her gratitude warmed him.

"I could tell you needed it. Sometimes you need a second opinion besides the little voice in your head," Carver nodded. "By the way, if the voice in your head tells you to start setting small fires that's a bad sign. That's how serial killers are born. Speaking of serial killers, how are things with the little psycho dwarf, Ferra?"

Wow. Nice transition Carver. I should have done infomercials.

It was a point he also wanted to help Norah with while he still had the thought running through his mind. He also knew it would also help her mood if she got the thoughts of the white-haired monkey off her back.

"I am not sure what I have done to wrong her," Norah sighed. "I thought I was friendly with her."

"Bake her muffins," Caver offered with a humorous grin. Norah raised an eyebrow at him that Carver shrugged at. "Even the kids from the Children of the Corn like muffins."

"What are muffins?" Norah asked, her eyebrows bridged in confusion at the word.

Carver let out an over-the-top groan and rolled his eyes.

She was a baker! How can she never of heard of muffins?

"How can you not of sampled something as delicious as muffins? Lemon, poppyseed— fucking blueberry muffins?! So good!"

She blinked blankly at him.

"You make me sad," Carver waved it off and clarified. "Just give her a peace offering. Kill her with kindness like with Black, you might be surprised."

"I will try I suppose," Norah relented with a simple nod.

Carver gave a satisfactory smile in her direction and after that they started to head back to their room. The cook would glance at her every so often and he could tell that she was lost in thought. He could tell that his words that were bouncing around in her stubborn noggin' were not self-loathing, but contemplative of what he had told her.

It had been his objective in the long run: to give her something else to think about and other goals to focus on. He had only wanted it to do it with the book, but he was delighted that she had been willing to open up to him.

The next day thrilled him more when she removed herself from the dark, depressing cave of her room and had dinner with them in the kitchen once again.

---

The Golden Desert
Three Days Later...

Rain watched with cold intolerance as one of the Tarkatan's dragged the mother of the boy that had vanished from her hut by her hair and brought her to kneel in front of him. The purple-clad Edenian crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at the frightened mother with a displeased disposition.

His patience for the village had reached its end, more so after what he had word that Kotal Khan's enforcers were on their way with a small group of Osh-Tekk guards. It didn't take the Edenian Prince much effort to discover why they were on their way to the pitiful village, and after doing a head count he knew the culprit that had let word slipped.

Rain had been adamant about taking the village and like he had expected, it was a move that been in a benefit for both Tanya and himself. Even if she had complained it had been a risky move.

He knew what he was doing, and it had been child's play for both of the experienced warriors. Rain knew leaving the cave all threats would have to be neutralized first. With the cover of darkness, Tanya and Rain killed the remaining men in the village.

They did not have to worry about any returning soon since most of them had traveled north to provide short, but prosperous labor and help reap the harvest at its highest turnout. After discovering this, and knowing full well were the multitude of the crops would be heading once completed, Rain finally had the plan he had been searching for.

After all the potential threats had been eliminated, they made sure there would be no other trouble from the others by holding their elders hostage. It took a week for Rain to return with a force of Tarkatans, after he persuaded them with his plan to join them, while Tanya held control over the village.

After they had showed, they had complete control and didn't need the hostages any longer. It was a small group, but it was enough for the remaining women and children not to dare oppose them.

Rain was somewhat surprised by the eagerness of the Tarkatan commander after Rain had informed him of what he had in mind. Despite animosity towards each other, he agreed that his plan was solid and, therefore, gave them their allegiance.

He knew it wouldn't have been difficult to convince them; they were simple-minded, but he needed their brute force when the time came for it. His pride had been at its highest in a long time, and he could not wait to see his brilliant plan finally come to fruition.

The Hydromancer had sent Tanya and the Tarkatan Commander to go oversee the other half of the plan while he remained in the village with the small force until it was time to move to his objective.

It came a couple of days to soon however and he scowled at the stupidity of the Tarkatans that could not handle something as simple as crowd control.

He had found himself doing almost everything due to the half-breeds incompetence. Rain even had to go as far as poisoning the water supply of the village to gain control after a somewhat brief mutiny. Rain translated a blunt message to the village by dumping the conspirators down the well, and it was heard clearly. After they had taken what they needed for the Tarkatans and himself, he decided when the villagers could have a drink and what came from opposition against his command.

However, they still rebelled, and that angered him greatly. No more would he show leniency to this pathetic little village that did not appreciate his authority.

Rain grabbed the woman by the top of her hair, earning a yelp of pain as he flaunted her in front of the village square in front of the already fouled well. She whimpered pathetically in his grasp, and it did nothing but anger him further.

Instead of being the village's life source, it now served as a mausoleum that she would soon join. He grabbed her by the throat, earning the strangled, panicked cry of pain he had wanted for elicit from her. The prince choked the life from her as the other women in the village cringed helplessly from the position on their knees with the Tarkatans nearby watching.

Her face turned a shade a purple, almost the same color of his attire and he smirked darkly at it, "Your son may have been fortunate enough to see the city, but it will be a luxury you will not share."

The mother of the boy was unresponsive—dead— and with a slight shove, he pushed her body down the well. He grinned when he heard the splash echo against the well walls. The women let out horrified gasps while the children cried under the protection of their crushing and protective hold. It earned no sympathy from him— they had disobeyed him. They would not receive his mercy.

He knew the human mercenary and Shao Kahn's old experiment would be arriving soon, and if his plan was to succeed, it was imperative that he made his escape now. A dark grin pulled at the corner of his mouth from behind his face mask as he turned to the Tarkatan leader of the small group.

"Kill the rest for Kotal Kahn's dogs to find," Rain commanded. "Then kill them."

He nodded with an enthusiastic and hideous smile and without a second to waste, he barked his orders to other soldiers. Rain raised his hand to the sky, teleporting away from the scene and to his next step. As the massive geyser of water came up, it barely blocked out the terrified screaming from the villagers that were slaughtered.

His feet touched the sand far from the village, his black boots sinking into the ground as water coated it as well. He looked at his surroundings and gave a toothy smile from behind his face mask saw the domed palace in the distance.

Soon, it would all be his.

---

The village wasn't that far from Z'unkahrah, merely a couple of days walk for them on their mounts, but apparently it was far enough away for them to get there at the last minute.

Damn.

Didn't look like he was going to get paid after all.

Ermac and Erron gave each other a glance as they entered the middle of the village and saw the bodies that littered the area. They entered the square and Black frowned at the bodies of the women and children that hadn't even begun baking in the sun yet. The ground was freshly coated in blood, and there were still a few that were choking on the last bit of life within them before joining the others.

The Kahn's guards didn't need to voice who they thought had done this, they both could tell from the stab wounds that Tarkatans had been here.

Ermac turned towards the Osh-Tekk warriors that had accompanied them on their trek through the desert and than back to him. The construct gave him a deadpan expression but he could sense what the mystic was communicating silently to him,

Black agreed with him. "They must of saw us comin'," Black speculated, a glower forming behind his face-mask.

Erron looked at the fresh appearance of the dead bodies with a dirty look of discontent. Pretty pointless to slaughter women and children. It was a clearly a message, something undesirable for them to find to taunt that they had just missed the Edenians.

"We can probably still pick up on their trail," the bounty hunter suggested, eyeballing the mountain formation in the distance with a hard stare.

Black noticed that Ermac's eyes panned around the area, a tense and ready expression that Erron could see under his bandage-wrapped face. Erron knew that look, and he brought out his other revolver from his holster.

"There are still here. We sense them," Ermac informed him, his hand starting to glow brightly in anticipation of a fight.

Black signaled to the other Osh-Tekk warriors, and they held their spears ready, all five of them looking around at the stone buildings in the square.

Erron cocked the revolver he held in his right hand and felt a smirk tug its way on his face behind his mask. His kohl stained eyes scanning the dark open doorways of the stone houses for any movement.

He knew it had been too damn quiet when they had pulled up. He doubted that Rain and Tanya were still hanging around, but he knew he would have used the Tarkatans as fodder for them to escape.

The gunman wanted to get paid and didn't appreciate having his time wasted.

Black caught the sight of Ermac raising his hand in the direction of the broken, stone well in the center of the sand square and lifted the surprised and struggling Tarkatan that had been hiding in it.

He snarled at Ermac as he lifted him high in the sky against his will before Ermac threw him against the stone wall of one of the houses. The Tarkatan's neck broke instantly from the impact, cracking the wall in the process and convincing the other Tarkatans hiding nearby to engage.

Black raised his cocked revolver as one charged for him, its arms blades extended and smiled when his bullet exploded inside his head.

The other Tarkatans charged from them, forming a circle around all of them as they sprung from the houses. There were more than Erron had thought there would be and it looked like it was going to be far more interesting than when he took out the small band with Reptile.

At least this time they had even numbers to match.

Erron raised his foot, planting it squarely in the chest of the Tarkatan who let out a pained groan, as he stumbled back with a hand to his chest. Black fired at his kneecap, lowering the Tarkatan to his other leg and fired at his head.

Another charged him and Erron dived forward with his feet first, sliding his back on the ground and tripping the Tarkatan. As soon as the rebel's back hit the ground, Black flipped over and shot him in the head. The ground exploded in a mixture of sand and blood as he jumped to his feet and fired a couple of rounds into the gut of another that tried to sneak from behind.

The Tarkatan buckled from the gunshots before he fell forward to the ground with a thud. The gunslinger ducked when another swiped at his head, barely missing his hat, and he took the opportunity to sweep low and knock the Tarkatan on his back. He pressed his revolver into his forehead and fired, coating both of them in blood.

He heard Ermac groan in surprise, and he looked up to see one of the Tarkatans had jumped from the top of one of the houses and had grabbed him, bringing both of them to the ground.

Erron cocked and aimed his revolver at the Tarkatan's head, preparing to assist when he felt a hard, muscled body barrel into him from the side.

Black groaned in pain when his back collided with the outside wall of the well, cracking the stone before he barely managed to move out of the way when an arm blade stuck next to his face in the wall. Black glared at the Tarkatan that roared in frustration, unable to free his arm from the wall.

Erron smirked from behind his mask, "Need a hand?"

Black brought up his foot, breaking the Tarkatan's nose and wedging his arm from the well wall from the force of the blow. He stumbled back, clutching his bleeding face and Erron finished him off by pumping the hammer back with his free hand and firing off a couple of bullets.

Erron looked around to see if any more were nearby and when he saw them preoccupied at the moment, he took the opportunity to reload his guns.

As soon as his revolvers clicked he saw something sail towards him, and he frowned heavily when he noticed it was Ermac throwing another rebel Tarkatan in his direction accidently. Black shot the Tarkatan sailing through the air like a clay pigeon, killing him before he hit the ground.

It had distracted Black for just enough time for another Tarkatan to grab the mercenary from behind in a chokehold. The Kahn's guard struggled, throwing back his elbow and delivering blow after blow to the Tarkatan's ribs from behind. The Tarkatan howled in pain and before Erron could free himself from his hold, the Tarkatan used the advantage of the well nearby and sailed him over the side.

He wasn't getting off that easily, and Erron managed to hold on to his arm and bring him down into the deep well with him. Erron felt himself hit something that wasn't stone when he entered the water, and he knew it wasn't the Tarkatan he had brought down with him.

He felt his boots touch the bottom, and he pressed his feet against the floor to propel himself to the surface. He gasped for air and cursed when the face mask he wore repelled water back into his mouth, blocking any escape. Black paddled above the surface, looking for the other occupant in the well.

When Erron found out what it was he hit going into the water, his eyes widened in alarm.

There were dead bodies in the well.

The water was poison.

He heard the Tarkatan behind him and before he could look over his shoulder, he pulled him under and used him to float over the water's surface while attempting to drown him at the same time.

Black fought under the water, trying to break the hold he had on him while also fighting not to swallow any water in the process. Erron grabbed the arm around his neck, twisted it painfully and he could hear the muffled cry of pain from the water's surface above him.

He brought his foot against the opposite wall and with all his strength pushed the Tarkatan back into the wall. His grip slacked and provided Erron with his chance to push himself back up. Erron's fist came up first and punched the dazed Tarkatan brutally in the face, breaking several jagged and sharp teeth.

He floundered but reached out for Erron's neck. His hands went for the wrist of the crushing grip around his neck. The gunslinger started to panic when a combination of the water still trapped behind his mask and the hands on his throat began to suffocate him. He had lost his revolvers and hat when he went into the well, and he knew there was no way to reach for the rifle without giving his opponent the advantage.

It would come down to knuckles.

Erron laid hook after hook across the Tarkatan's face and each time he was granted the satisfaction of a roar of pain from his attacker. As soon as he started to feel his hands loosen, Black returned the favor of what he had tried to do to him before— drown him.

Erron quickly moved and latched on to him from the back. Using his forearm, he placed him in a chokehold and dunked his head under the water. He thrashed viciously underneath him, and Erron did his best to avoid the arm blades the retracted and detracted, failing to hit his target in panic.

Placing his back against the wall and wrapping his calves around the chest of the Tarkatan under the water, used the advantage he had and snapped his neck under the water.

Black breathed out a sigh of relief and let the dead Tarkatan float away from him, joining with the rest of the bodies in the well. Erron reached for the straps of his mask quickly, still feeling water logged behind his mask and as soon as removed it, spat the mouthful that had unintentionally entered his mouth.

Erron wiped his mouth, grimacing that he knew he had swallowed some of it when he had been submerged earlier.

He could hear the fight dwindling up above him, and he frowned when he realized that Ermac was having all the fun without him. He saw another Tarkatan sail over his head, passing by the well wrapped in a green glow and heard the bone shattering crunch as his body broke above.

Ermac dangled another over the ledge of the well as the Tarkatan thrashed his arms wildly in fear. Ermac dropped his weight on his head on the ledge of the well, earning a bone shattering snap and sending his neck into an unnatural angle.

"Shit," Erron cursed when the body came falling down the well. It splashed hard when it hit the water, and the cowboy threw a miffed look up at the sky, intended for Ermac as he wiped the water from his face.

"Watch it!"

He knew his fellow guard probably heard him even if he couldn't see him and he grumbled as he continued to tread water, waiting for Ermac to finish and lift him out of the well.

Erron decided to occupy himself and look around for his guns. He looked down and could make out the metallic haze in the shape of his revolvers lying at the bottom while his hat bobbed like an apple on the surface nearby. His guns were his first priority, and he rolled his eyes, held his breath and dived under for them; regretting entering the foul water once again. He closed his eyes under the water and felt around blindly for them, his hand patting across the surface of the bottom.

He had managed to grab them when he felt something pull him up and out of the water.

He placed his guns back in his holsters when he saw the ethereal green glow of Ermac's telekinetic power lift him from the well and place him back on dry land.

Erron looked around and grinned at the broken and mangled bodies of the Tarkatan force that Ermac and the other Osh-Tekk warriors had killed, the latter reduced to 2 that breathed heavily from exertion.

"Well, now they're outta the way," Erron said, wiping the water from his face with a hand. "Let's see if we can pick up on their trail. I don't think they're stupid enough to head to the city. I'd say the cliffs would be the best bet."

"They will be easy to find," Ermac commented in passive agreement.

Erron paused for a moment, felt as if something was missing and reached for his head. He frowned when he felt his wet hair under his palm and jerked his thumb in the direction of the well.

"Can you get me my hat while you're at it?"

If Ermac had a sense of humor, he was sure he would have rolled his eyes at him. Instead, with a deadpan expression, he looked at the well and raised a glowing green hand. Moments later, his hat lifted from the well, dripping wet. Ermac floated it over to him, almost with a bored expression and Black grabbed it from the invisible grip. He nodded his thanks that Ermac didn't acknowledge.

Erron slapped his hat against his wet pant leg, trying to dry it before he shot a wary glance towards the well once more before they went to their large saber-tooth-feline mounts.

---

Z'unkahrah
1 Day Later...

Ferra could hear Torr grunting at her from her hammock, but she stuck her tongue out at him. She didn't want to come down.

Torr could sense this, and she rolled over to give her his back. He roared in response, and she felt the tree vibrate as a few leaves fell on her. She looked over her shoulder to see Torr leaning his back against the base of the tree, and she huffed; he was also giving her his back.

Ferra blew the leaf that had landed on the side of her face with the corner of her mouth. She was bored. Big Bossy had no jobs for them to do, and Torr was mad that they had not left the yard to go play. However, it wasn't what was bothering her.

Ferra wanted to hurt Bread-Lady.

She confused Ferra and made her think strange things. Nobody was nice to Ferra/Torr. Why Bread-Lady so nice? Torr liked Bread-Lady too, and Ferra also didn't like that. Torr was only supposed to like Ferra and Ferra only supposed to like Torr. Nobody wanted to be Ferra/Torr friend. They fighters. Bread-Lady was supposed to be scared of them. Bread-Lady wasn't. She wanted to make sure that her bread was good for them to eat. Bread-Lady cared what they liked. Ferra hated Bread-Lady!

Why Bread-Lady so nice to Ferra?

Why Bread-Lady make good bread for them?

Why Torr like Bread-Lady?

Why?!

Ferra grabbed the pillow that was behind her head and put her face into it. She hated all these stupid, confusing questions...

She heard someone knock-knock at the door, and Ferra shot up from her hammock while Torr also looked at the door as well.

"What want?" she shouted impatiently, her eyes narrowed. Torr roared at the door too, knowing that Ferra didn't want to be bothered.

"I have your food here for the both of you."

Bread-Lady!

Ferra jumped from the hammock, landed on Torr's shoulders and bounced to the ground. She ran up to the door, her arm blades out and scowled hard at Bread-Lady even if she couldn't see her.

"Ferra no want!" she yelled, her fists tight. Ferra looked back and saw Torr still sitting by the tree quietly, looking at her as if she was a big meany and she bared her teeth and glared at the door again.

"Bread-Lady go or get eyes carved out!"

She heard Bread-Lady sigh on the other side of the door, "Alright... I will leave. I will put your food on the outside of the door. Good-night Ferra... good-night Torr."

Ferra heard her put something down, and Ferra nodded sharply in approval when she heard her leave. She put her arm blades back and walked over to Torr, who still sat at the tree, looking at her.

"Bread-Lady no friend to Ferra/Torr," she explained.

Torr breathed heavily, unsure whether she was right or not but agreed anyway. Ferra heard Torr's stomach growling, and she crossed her arms over her chest. They would not take Bread-Lady's food.

She heard Torr growl at her, wanting her to go open the door so he could eat.

"I say no Torr!"

Torr roared at her, banging his hands against the stone by his sides. After she regained her balance from the ground shaking, Ferra pointed a finger at him.

"You no tell Ferra what do!"

Torr stood up and stomped over to the door, ignoring her as she chased after him. "Torr!"

He ignored her and with little effort, ripped the door from its hinges, threw it aside and picked up his bucket. Ferra narrowed her eyes at him, "Torr! You broke 'nother door! Big Bossy gonna be mad at you!"

He stormed past her, and Ferra noticed that he stopped when he saw the bucket. Ferra's face softened; a confused look on her face. "What in bucket Torr?"

He turned around, walked over and gave her the bucket. Torr's bread was there, but there was more in the bucket. Little dark lumps all over the bucket. Ferra looked at them suspiciously. What were these things?

She picked one up, the texture bumpy in her fingers, brought it to her nose and sniffed it. It smelled like fruit; it smelled sweet and Ferra liked it. She bit into it and her eyes widened.

It tasted good. Really good! It was sweet and tart all at the same time and she stuffed the rest in her mouth. With her mouth full, she gave the bucket back to Torr and ran over to the door. There were dark lumps by her food too as well as the sweet bread Ferra liked.

Ferra grabbed her tray and popped more of the sweet lumps in her mouth. With her mouth stuffed, making it difficult to chew she looked down the hallway and felt bad.

Bread-Lady made them sweets.

Bread-Lady made them good bread.

Bread-Lady was nice.

Ferra frowned, an angry sigh leaving her when she saw Torr eating his food.

Ferra was big meany.

---

Norah knew that Bert or Carver would have disagreed with her wandering around the palace at night by herself, so she never told them that she often came to the walkway at night after dinner.

She knew the dangers even if they thought she didn't. She was from Outworld after all, and she was well aware of the sexual behaviors of men, even if she had never done the act itself. Norah knew the risks of the palace, and they were worth taking to come back to the place the Carver had showed her.

She loved this spot. It was secluded and provided a much better view than hiding in the yard behind the kitchen. There weren't any guards nearby, although she knew of the one that stood outside the door at the opposite end at times.

He never threw lewd stares her way, and she never worried about him, but it still didn't mean that she didn't take precautions. She reverted to her old habit of carrying a knife with her like she had done before Black brought her to the palace. It always provided a sense of security for her even if she didn't know how to wield it properly. Nonetheless, she kept it and would use it if needed; with or without an escort.

Speaking of old habits, she was well aware that she was stepping back into her reclusiveness once more, but unlike before it did not bother her as much. Norah had always sought out her company instead of others and had been fine with it. However, after Black's visit, it turned against her. With nothing but her thoughts to occupy her, they began to poison her mood.

Carver had pulled her from the toxicity of her negative thoughts and ever since their talk, she tried her best to take heed of his advice. He was right after all. There was no use in wallowing in what her situation was. If she was going to find even an ember of brightness at all, she would have to be the one to start the fire and remove away the darkness.

To be honest, she found it to be somewhat exhausting to search regularly for the good in such a terrible circumstance, and she had to commend him for having a gift. Kill someone with kindness? What a strangely opposite and enlightened way of turning a situation to your advantage. She decided to experiment with Ferra first before trying with Erron Black.

Well, they were no muffins but at least Norah could say that she made a valiant attempt. The concept was still new to her, but she had the general idea of how it was supposed to work.

She gave Ferra and Torr a treat, something her mother used to make that required a couple of ingredients and no baking. Just a mushed mixture of fruit and oats that solidified in a few minutes. It was sweet, it was simple and she hoped it worked.

Norah leaned her head back against the stone merlon and yawned. The hour was late, and she should start heading to her cot. At least the one advantage of Erron Black being gone, besides the fact that he was absent, was that there was no need to rise early to bake as much bread. She still had to provide bread for Ferra, Torr and Kotal Kahn but it wasn't as much work.

Choosing to take company with the stars was still robbing her of sleep, so she rose from her spot. Just as she was beginning to head towards the door, it opened, and instantly her hand went to the back of her dress for the kitchen knife she tucked in the fabric.

However, when she saw who it was the came on the other side, she dropped to her knees and bowed her head. The knife was still concealed, and she was glad because she wasn't sure how the Emperor would have felt with her having a knife on her.

He must have been trying to pass through the walkway without being disturbed, and she bit her lip when she saw him raise an eyebrow at her. Despite being in his presence for dinners, she was still unsure how to act around him and she was beginning to feel that bowing in such an obedient manner was too much.

"Do you mock me?" he questioned, his tone more puzzled than offended.

Norah's eyes widened, and she shook her head, "Of course not, my Emperor."

"Then you may stand. Unless you find the position on your knees more comfortable," Kotal Kahn said. His voice was deep and imposing, but she could still detect the small trace of humor that was filtered within. Now she felt utterly ridiculous.

"Yes, Emperor," Norah nodded, rising hesitantly to stand. She kept her eyes down, not daring to look at him and she could feel the weight of his stare even if she couldn't see it.

She knew the difference between Matlal and the Emperor after a few dinners, one of the biggest feelings was how she always felt a sense of dread when he was near. Matlal was a person she never wished to offend due to the obvious brute strength he had, but Kotal Kahn was someone she had certainly never wanted to meet face to face. Other than her gut feeling, the Emperor wearing his headdress and war paint was the biggest clue to who she was talking to.

Norah watched as he stepped forward, his hands clasped together behind his back, and she felt her breath quivering in fear. He gazed at her with an authoritative but unreadable regard. She wondered why he was giving her such a look before she saw one his hands leave from behind his back. Her eyes closed in despair when she felt him pluck the knife sandwiched between the fabric of her dress and her skin from behind her own back.

Trepidation flooded her when he looked it over in his hand with a stern expression, the handle of the knife up and the blade in his hand. She imagined him plunging into her for the small fault of having it. Norah's thoughts were interrupted when she felt the wooden handle placed under her chin, and Kotal Kahn used it gently to bring her eyes to look at his.

"Do you know it is forbidden for slaves to be armed?" he informed, his voice low and ill-boding, "The penalty of which is death?"

Norah's jaw dropped as fright flew through her veins and froze them in unison. She had truly not been aware of such a rule although she understood it's purpose perfectly. It should have been common sense and the baker felt incredibly stupid for not realizing it.

She shook her head briskly at him, unsure whether she was answering his question or just afraid. To be honest, the only thing going through her head at the moment was how dead she would be soon.

Remarkably, she recovered some trace of her voice; although it was quiet and fearful, "F-forgive me, my Emperor... I was ignorant to such a rule..."

"Your ignorance is no excuse," he barked harshly, and she buckled under his response; knowing full well she was to be beheaded now.

"And for that, I know I must die," she gulped in fear, knowing that she was submitting her life in acceptance of her actions.

"Yes. You should be executed," Kotal Kahn replied with a hard nod of agreement at her statement.

He took another step towards her, and she swallowed nervously, her chin only reaching his chest as he towered over her. She lowered her head and waited for the inevitable blow to come for her. Hopefully, he was merciful and granted her a quick death...

She would have never expected his next actions.

Norah was certain she had made an irreversible mistake but when she heard his laughter, she looked up at him with bewilderment. Kotal Kahn's laugh was deep and rumbled so much that Norah could feel it vibrate across her skin. At first she thought it was the Emperor laughing at the sick joy of the situation, but what he said next only confused her more.

"But I also fear that Ferra and I would miss your bread," Kotal Kahn confessed, the side of his mouth pulled up slightly in an amused grin. He chuckled once more and took a step back, allowing her to reclaim the space he had encroached on.

It was if all of time stood still while at the same time she wanted nothing but to throw herself over the ledge. She was aware how she was standing there dumbfounded, her mouth hanging open like a complete imbecile, but she couldn't will herself to think about anything else besides how dead she should have been. When she finally understood he was toying with her, she felt her cheeks grow hot from embarrassment.

"Calm yourself, child," Kotal Kahn told her, his expression relapsing back to the stern demeanor he always wore. "My servant, Matlal has already informed me that you wish no ill against me."

Norah nodded her head in compliance as she tried to relax herself as best as she could. Although, she still felt as if she was in a surreal dream— or nightmare. The thought of breaking her neck on the pavement below was still a persuasive one.

She noticed he still held the knife in his hand as Norah looked up to meet his gaze.

"Why do you carry a weapon?" he asked. Norah looked at him, studying his face. He didn't seem annoyed, angry or happy. His tone was indifferent although curious.

"It is... for my protection," she answered gingerly, and suddenly blinked in panic; remembering her manners. "My Emperor."

"Yes, I can understand," the Kahn said with an informative nod. He cupped her chin gently and even without the sun present, his touch warmed her skin from his residual sun-powers. "A pretty dove can delight the eye, but can also bring it undesired attention."

Her eyebrows rose in surprise at his statement, and she blushed bashfully when he released her chin. Trying her best to bury his words, she attempted to return to the more pressing subject.

"I do apologize profusely," she stammered, "I was genuinely unaware that it was forbidden."

Norah heard him grunt softly, almost as if it was a scoff in a way as he looked her over; as if determining if she was even a credible threat or not.

"You would do well to carry a sharper weapon and choose a less than obvious place to hide it," Kotal Kahn told her after a moment of letting her bubble in her nervousness. She looked at him in awe, her mouth opening, and closing. His words shocked her but finally she managed to ask the question crawling it's way to get out.

"Forgive me, My Emperor, but I must ask you a question," she said, biting her lip nervously.

"Ask your question," he granted with a blasé nod.

"Why... why are you permitting me to have it?" she asked, a heavy cloud of dread hanging over her head when she felt she should have just kept her mouth shut.

"If you believe yourself to be the only female servant to feel compelled to arm themselves, then you are truly as ignorant as you proclaim," he answered, raising an eyebrow at her.

Norah's lip curved up sourly in silent response at her stupidity; feeling truly like a simpleton now.

"Although, they are first granted approval but seldom receive. You are marked, therefore, you have my permission to carry it if you truly feel the need of it," Kotal explained.

His words floored Norah; she had not expected his approval and smiled with gratitude.

"Besides," he began glancing down at the knife in his hand before he placed it in her palm. "I do not believe it was ever intended for myself, but rather for my mercenary, Erron Black."

He lowered his head in her direction minutely; something of a disapproving look like a father would give a misbehaving child. She bowed her head in shame and sighed fearfully again, feeling as if she would also be punished for his speculation.

"Do not think I have not noticed the poisonous glances you cast at him. They continue to be a constant distraction," Kotal Kahn chastised her, his voice carrying a warning. "You would do well to anchor your emotions before I feel the need to have to remove you from your duties.

He paused for a moment and then added, the ghost of a smile on his face: "Erron Black is of no use to me dead."

Norah nodded her head, faltering slightly at his remarks, but could still sense the small bit of humor his words carried. "Yes, Emperor and I apologize. I will desist. Thank you for your benevolence."

Kotal Kahn nodded his head at her answer, accepting it before their attention fixed towards the door on the opposite side of the walkway and a guard rushed over to him.

The guard bowed his head, waiting for permission to speak which the Kahn allowed with a wave of his hand.

"Ermac and Erron Black have returned."

The Kahn said nothing and Norah couldn't help but frown that Erron Black was back sooner than she thought he would have been.

Kotal Kahn regarded her silently, almost as if in satisfaction over their conversation and turned to walk away from her. Norah watched him leave with the guard through the door, and she let a sigh of relief when he vanished.

Norah felt her rear land on the ledge of the merlon, not even realizing that her knees had grown weak from her encounter as she stared at the knife in her hand. The scene still played in her head like a strange hallucination that she couldn't comprehend. Never would she had thought that receiving something as small as permission to carry a knife would leave her feeling as if she sailing amongst stars she constantly looked at.

She certainly knew one thing that was undoubtful.

Norah would never come up to the walkway again.

---

Erron was quite surprised that the usually silent commander of ten-thousand souls wanted to do all the talking. Perhaps he was aware that Erron wasn't particularity feeling up to the task to report what had happened to the Kahn, but regardless he was thankful for the small break.

He wasn't particularly worried about the headache he had, he got them quite often— more since the girl came into the palace— and he disregarded it as Ermac informed the Kahn that they had not been able to pick up any trace of Rain or Tanya. Wherever they were, they were long gone.

He felt a charlie-horse in his calf, and he reached down to massage it through the leather boot. The Kahn seemed to notice his movement and looked in his direction briefly before Ermac continued.

After a minute of rubbing it out, he cursed when the cramp migrated up to his thigh, and he copied his ministrations to work it out. Erron knew that swallowing contaminated water was a terrible mistake but he didn't worry about it as much as any regular person should have. Any normal person didn't have the influence of Shang Tsung's magic that both slowed his aging generously and helped his body heal at an accelerated rate. He hardly had a sick day since he made the deal, and he wasn't worried about it now.

But he had seen cholera before and he knew the symptoms he was experiencing were mild at best.

"Your findings are troubling to me," Kotal Kahn murmured, his hands behind his back as he paced. A dark frown settling on his face. "I find the Edenians move aggressive, especially considering he has allied himself with Tarkatans. I find little purpose in his actions."

"Perhaps, he was guided by impulse," Ermac offered.

The Emperor let out an unconvinced 'hmm' at Ermac's theory.

"Any word from Reptile?" Black asked, noticing he was nowhere to be seen.

"He has yet to return," Kotal Kahn answered, "I eagerly await word from him as well. However, until we know for certain the possibility of a rebel force mobilizing, there is nothing to do but wait for further word."

Erron and Ermac nodded, understanding and agreeing that there was no reason to chase after nothing.

They would either have to wait for Reptile to return with news or wait for Rain or Tanya to make another move.

---

Norah was heading back to her room when she heard the soft pitter-pattering against the stone floors. She had placed her knife in the back of her dress again, just until she could think of a better hiding spot, and felt tentative when she saw Ferra running up to her.

The female symbiote had obviously been looking for her; it was apparent the way she had jumped with recognition when she found her. Norah wasn't sure what to expect, especially after giving her dinner earlier.

She felt confusion dart onto her face at Ferra's reluctant and shy look and Norah could see that she had something behind her back.

"This from we!" she said, handing her a small, blue bag from behind her back. "It Ferra/Torr favorite!"

Norah looked at the bag and back at Ferra with a stunned expression. Ferra was giving her a gift? the baker smiled, realizing that her small act of kindness much have reached Ferra after all and took the bag with an appreciative nod.

Ferra shifted from foot to foot and then without another word, she ran off. Leaving Norah holding the bag in her hand with a timid feeling about what was inside it.

With Ferra away, Norah undid the drawstring and opened the bag to see what was inside...

And immediately dropped the bag with a disgusted yelp when she looked in the bag and saw another set of eyeballs staring up at her. She was glad that Ferra was gone. Otherwise she might have offended her with her reaction.

Ferra had given her a pair of eyeballs, and they had been carved out for some time. They were gray and withered, but it was nothing compared to the smell. It reminded her of fish that had laid in the sun for days.

It Ferra/Torr favorite!

She was indecisive if she should enjoy that Ferra was no longer mad at her by giving her something personal of hers or repulsed that she had been given eyeballs. Ferra could have given her an old rag, even a centipede, and Norah would have been pleased rather than receiving what was in the bag.

With a squeamish look on her face, she pulled the bag together, trying to avoid the dead stare coming from within and picked it up. As she walked down the corridor, she couldn't help but smile that Carver's method worked. She chuckled at the thought of seeing the look on his face tomorrow when he opened the bag. He was always playing practical jokes on her; it was her chance to return the favor.

Norah was jarred from her thoughts when she turned the corner and ran into a hard-muscled body of an Osh-Tekk guard. After muttering her apology for running into him, she looked up at him and noticed that something was off.

Most of the Osh-Tekk's had tattoos that looked as if they had been carved into their bodies, and while he seemed to have the customary pattern, it looked more like paint than anything. Also, most of the guards were lean but muscular in physique, instead his chest was broad and prominent. The most curious of all of his features, however, were the dark eyes that stared somewhat snobbish at her from underneath the white skull face mask.

Immediately she felt uncomfortable by his presence and attempted move around him. Almost playfully, he blocked her path, and she shot an indignant look at him.

"Let me pass," Norah seethed as politely as she could.

The thought of reaching for her knife dawned on her when he raised an arrogant eyebrow at her and smiled pretentiously; looking as if her threats were nothing to him. His smile sickened her, and she felt it had to do with the pompous way he carried himself.

"Forgive me," he spat, almost chiding the words at her. His eyes landed on her chest, lingered there intentionally to anger her, before he grinned and added. "I was just admiring the color of your dress."

Norah scoffed angrily at his slimy tone and stormed past him, shoving him out of the way with a hard push that barely moved him. She walked as briskly as she could muster, but she was unable to drown out the vile chuckle she could hear behind her.