Scorpion kept a close eye on Baraka as he did the same. Everyone else, including the emperor, seemed too distracted to notice them staring each other down.

All Scorpion wanted to do was leave. He felt that being here was more trouble than what it was worth. And it didn't help that Shao Kahn's female servants continued to fill everyone's empty glasses, including his.

He took small sips at a time, but the emperor was relentless with the amount of wine he offered.

Even Baraka seemed to try to ease up on the drinking. Perhaps he was trying to stay as sober as possible as well, but he too was bombarded with more wine.

Later on, everything becomes a blur.

It is only him and the emperor left in the throne room. He couldn't remember when everybody else left. Maybe they manage to sneak off while the emperor began one of his endless stories.

Shao Kahn is no longer sitting on his throne. Scorpion is leaning against one of the columns as the emperor paces the room and goes on about …nothing in particular.

"…And that is why I'm the supreme ruler to this pathetic wasteland of Outworld." The emperor slurred.

Then he turned his attention to Scorpion.

"Don't you agree?"

He had no idea what the hell he was talking about but went along, pretending he had been listening to him the whole time.

"Yes."

"Good." Then he approached closer to him, almost stumbling in the process.

"You know, I had a family of my own once."

Great, another bullshit story!

"Before I became the emperor. Onaga was the emperor."

So, who gives a shit? Scorpion struggled to keep his head up to maintain eye contact to make it look like he was interested.

"That bastard took them away from me, and he laughed in my face."

Shao Kahn stood right next to Scorpion and clasped his shoulder. "So I killed him and took his throne."

Scorpion almost lost his balance when the emperor began leaning his weight on his shoulder. Shao Kahn did not seem to notice and continued.

"That is why I am the emperor now."

Is he repeating himself?

Shao Kahn turned to look him in the eye. "You know, you're like the son I never had."

"What?"

Okay, this is getting ridiculous.

Scorpion took a step back and let the emperor's hand slip from his shoulder. "Maybe we should call it a night."

Shao Kahn peered around the room as if he just now noticed they were the only ones there.

"You're right! Let's call it a night." He began walking out of the throne room. Scorpion followed him out.

He had to stop for a minute to regain his composure. Shao Kahn had staggered ahead and disappeared around a corner.

Before he knew it, he was downstairs or somewhere close to the exit, he hoped. Only, he had no idea where the exit was.

Shit.

He wandered into a hallway and bumped into someone around the corner. He stumbled back and saw that it was Baraka.

"You bastard!" Baraka spat. "You will pay for that."

Scorpion ignored him, seeing that he had too much to drink as well, and walked past him. Baraka grabbed his arm.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm leaving this shithole."

He jerked his arm out of his grip and kept walking.

"Bullshit! You're going the wrong way."

Scorpion stopped. "Am I?"

He wasn't sure if Baraka was telling the truth or not. He turned around to see that he was staggering towards him.

"I know what you're really after." He pointed at him in an accusatory manner. "You want the emperor's daughter."

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Liar!" he snapped. "I saw you looking at her. You want to steal her from me."

"Who? Mileena?"

"Yes!"

Scorpion shook his head. "You're a fool to think I want anything to do with that psychotic wench."

He turned to leave, not caring if he was going in the wrong direction.

"Don't turn your back on me, wraith!" Baraka charged at him.

Scorpion, already sensing him from behind, barely managed to stagger out of the way when he came close enough. The Tarkatan went tumbling into a vase, shattering it into pieces.

Dumb ass.

Scorpion walked the other way and came out of the hallway.

"Hey!" He heard Baraka call out. "Get back here. I'm not done with you yet."

Scorpion went back upstairs. He was in no mood to deal with him right now. He hoped that Baraka would assume he went downstairs looking for the exit.

He stood at the top corner in the shadows and watched Baraka below staggering out of the hallway looking for him. Then he began staggering his way up the stairs.

Shit. That drunken bastard!

Scorpion remained hidden in the shadows and walked further into the hallway. The hallway grew darker the further he went. He turned a corner and was now walking into complete darkness. He kept one hand on the wall and slowly continued until he touched something soft and silky.

Before he knew it, he was in a room. Dimly lit with candles.

Uh oh! What will happen next?