Con't VII: Drums in the Desert
As much as Jade despised the Sarna Ruins, she still led the group out into the unrelenting badlands. Everyone was curious as to how and why this particular desert was so dangerous, even more than the Edenian's own unwanted territory.
With Aiko and Kung Lao, however, they found it baffling that the way Hanzo spoke about Drahmin's Face of Kun-Lo, it sounded remarkably similar to the former monk's own name!
"It's kind of ridiculous that the mask can be named after you, Kung Lao! But...without the G and the A."
"Or maybe it was just a mockery of my distant family...!" He added with clenched fists. "There better not be a face made after me!" He retorted.
Hanzo intervened, "Well, I'm quite certain that ominous mask was created centuries before the Great Kung Lao. So, it may not be too much of an insult."
The gang walked outside the Lost Tomb, and into the glaring sunlight which nearly blinded them! The high heat greeted the Kombatants as they wound up in the arid desert, before they beheld its rocky, vast majesty.
"Whew, this place looks like any other desert. What the hell makes it so risqué?" Cage quipped.
Jade warned everyone this place was treacherous on account of the everlasting sandstorms, even a couple tornadoes can touch down. The sky itself was patchy, with the bleak clouds nearly covering over the blazing rays.
Aiko added, "You got any cold drinks handy?"
Sub-Zero nodded, "With this Dragon Medallion, my cryomancy shall not be affected by the desert's harsh environment. Frost and I shall compensate if anyone would become dehydrated or irate." His prodigy nodded.
After Kung Lao and others adjusted their attire by removing their dark garbs, they pressed onward to absorb as less heat and humidity as possible. The green ninja, along with Kitana, still led the charge, even when the unrelenting thermal sun kept baring down on the group. Jax, Kuai, Hanzo, Frost and, conveniently, Liu Kang's spirit were the only ones who didn't grow fatigued nor seething from it. Of course, at times they needed to pause for several moments to take in the cryomancers' soothing chilly air, even Lao participated as he used his buzzsaw hat as a big fan to cool off the team! So too with Kitana's own steel fans.
Those comfortable factors made them traverse throughout the exhausting dunes and challenging landscape. Yet still, some were growing weary as they'd keep having deja vu... That was until they'd become galled by the loose sand being tossed into their faces; everybody had to shield their faces as they continued forward, especially when they spotted a stray tornado taking form just several feet away!
It was definitely a startling sight, especially to those who were unfamiliar with them, including Johnny, Sonya, Aiko and Jax! Even the colossal height was a bit too much for the cardiokinetic...
Due to her uneasiness, he hid behind her beloved and wondered if Kung Lao can decimate it. He adjusted his hat as tightly as possible, wearing a tense complexion, before he marched closer while departing from the stupefied group! He was fearless and determined as he handed over Liu's dragon amulet to her. His mind then flashed back to his trials with Fujin at his own training ground, the Wind World; during one summer before the war against Shinnok, Lao had the chance to disable a F3 tornado from its core within the American Plains! Not without the God of Wind's assistance, of course, much to Lao's discontent.
"Lord Fujin...if only you were here." His expression then turned from pensiveness to stone-cold. "It's about time!"
He stormed toward the dust devil, much to the horror from his allies, before ducking below the sands with his Teleport! His body illuminated in a cerulean aura as he conjured as much might, as if he would execute a Brutality!
"Yergalic!"
In fact, he performed with all his strength the usual Tornado as he and his hat created the countering funnel! Only this time, it was his own Spin Cycle, with more ferocity as he approached the heart of the storm, with him and his hat slicing it into pieces, thus disabling the twister in minutes!
With a lot of stamina, and with Nightwolf monitoring from the exterior keeping any deadly debris away, courtesy of his ancestors' shamanistic abilities, Lao's whirlwind overpowered the storm as the heroes observed the cerulean aura emerge from the amber V! Little by little, the twister shrunk before his own expanded, and by the time Lao's aerokinesis covered the entire funnel, his burst!
Lao's body was hurling down, and Kitana's sonokinesis from her fans couldn't prevent the gravity from taking him! Just as his allies were too paralyzed to move...an unseen force stopped Lao directly. His still body slowly descended to the hard sands, before he was released from that invisible field. The winced warrior was heaving and hardly moving, and his inner chest and arms were sore from the sudden impacts.
The first thing his blurry vision noticed was the same patchy sky, before the light was disturbed by an opaque male figure with short, black hair and a blindfold! He offered a hand, and Lao slowly stood up due to his discomfort. The stranger offered him a drink from a cannister, before Lao looked up and noticed several people run up to them.
"That was mighty impressive, though foolish to decimate that cyclone," he replied in a stern tenor.
Before he had time to protest, everyone called for Lao's name and became relieved to see him alive, albeit weakened. Aiko immediately sat by his side, tendering him. Her comfort, or was it her cardiokinesis, restored some of his strength. The slim man rose and grinned, and Sonya was the first to identify him!
"Agh-Kenshi!" she gasped.
He nodded, "Sonya Blade...! Always a pleasure to see you, General."
Jax and Johnny gave him a manly hug and a couple slaps! Kenshi actually recognized them too.
"Who is he?" Nightwolf started the wonderment.
Kenshi, along with the other agents, explained of his predicament. Years ago, he wandered across Earthrealm in search of worthy competition. Every time he found a formidable opponent, he would defeat him just to boost his pride. But on one fateful day, Kenshi encountered an elderly man with a pointed white beard and mustache. His name was Song, who convinced the Kombatant that a great warrior needed a handy sword. Song led Kenshi to the location of an ancient and powerful blade, and he claimed that it'd suit Kenshi's power, but as he unsealed the well wherein the sword supposedly laid, he was overwhelmed by souls trapped within it, which permanently blinded him. After a sneer, Song revealed himself to be none other than the vile sorcerer, Shang Tsung, whom Kenshi recognized from horror stories, and proceeded to absorb the released, haywire spirits, leaving Kenshi to die within the tomb. However, the sword, which actually did exist, attracted Kenshi by speaking to him in his native Japanese language, leading him to his true origin.
Through that ghastly message, the sacred blade originally belonged to a long line of great swordsmen from whom Kenshi descended from; the well was also the sacred resting place of the souls of Kenshi's ancestors, those that were stolen by the demon sorcerer. Kenshi spent the next decade or so retraining his senses, all while searching for his betrayer, a path which led him to the U.S. Special Forces.
Kenshi's special abilities eventually caught the attention of Jax Briggs and Sonya Blade who, at the time, were looking for members with unique talents to join their side and venture into Outworld, with Johnny still being an intern; Kenshi jumped at the chance to pursue the man who had deceived him. After going through many tests and examinations, he was then accepted to join the Outer World Investigation Agency.
Since then, he had been on a scouting mission to hunt down Cyrax; both men were unfortunate to lose contact as they wandered aimlessly for days...
"Cyrax!" Sonya returned from their reverie. She took out the missing piece she found back in the desolate forest and handed it to Kenshi; amazingly, he never struggled with his impaired vision.
He examined the piece. "Hmm...this is Cyrax alright."
"We saw some huge bat swipe him away," Jax added.
"I too was looking for that rogue cyber. So far, I'd no luck. I am sorry of your plight involving Hsu Hao. That traitor, along with the likes of that cheating bastard, will pay!"
Kung Lao grew curious, concerned over his welfare, "How is it you can still fight, Kenshi?"
To demonstrate, he slightly ascended an arm, and the same majestic sword detached from his back scabbard, turned to Lao and soared toward his face. Kenshi turned it upright. "Telekinesis," he declared, "power from the mind." The weapon returned to his possession.
Aiko was impressed by his unique mental abilities, even blurting out that he reminded her of..."Mewtwo." Everyone gave her questionable looks as if she was growing two heads. She rubbed the back of her neck, bashfully, "Eh...wait a couple years from now, guys...!"
"I was on my way looking for the rumored airship named the Dragonfly. I'd heard word it's a fast method of transport, which can bring us straight to Shang's hellhole." He paused for a moment, "When it comes to blindness, it does magnify my other senses."
Everyone dusted themselves off, and ignoring the heat, they made a lot of chitchat with the newcomer, including about the former Champion's unfortunate fate. Kenshi was intrigued with the news, and he felt sorry he was too late to participate in the first tournament when Shang disguised himself and made him permanently disabled. Johnny could relate since he was tricked by the demon's disguise as his late master, Boyd...
Just then amongst the growing gab, Aiko heard some subtle, though powerful booms emitting from the distance. She hesitated as she listened in, then remained immobilized. As she hardly noticed the guys passing her, she eventually became dazed, almost as if she was about to fall into a trance...
Noticing she wasn't close to him; Kung Lao hesitated and saw the warrioresss. "Aiko?" Lao walked up, curious on her sudden condition.
Nightwolf intervened, "It's those Aboriginal drums. They sound very much like us Matokans in Earthrealm." He listened closer. "Yet...there message seems rather the unusual type."
"Those are the trial drums from the cliff people of Makeba!" Jade concluded.
Kitana added, "The giant percussionists beat their drums as the fighters kombat each other. It is said that in the event of a tie, Konga, the biggest drummer of them all, will challenge both warriors."
"Seems like they have a hunger for tension." Sonya spoke.
"Almost reminds me of the execution drums, how they beat harder and speed up before the victim should be brutalized." Johnny added.
"What is it?" Lao couldn't look away from Aiko's strange demeanor.
She seemed more lulled by the enticing beats... "They are...summoning me..." she spoke in monotone. "I must...join them..."
"The Dragonfly is within that cliff village!" Kenshi pointed toward the nearby settlement.
"Then we have to go there! I can't wait to be rid of the Deadly Alliance!" Lao shared the swordsman's anxiety.
As if she was ordered to, Aiko suddenly slipped away as she ran toward the series of blanch buildings that outstretched as far as the end of the distant precipice.
The team chased the cardiokinetic, who didn't seem to tire, toward the series of massive drums being beaten by several muscular, dark-skinned men. The heroes just stood there watching each one with strange markings on their arms and bare chests. A lot of them had black ponytails, even different headdresses with various feathers, and some of their faces were painted in black and white. Aiko grew more mesmerized as they hit rapidly while keeping the same tandem, as if they saw and were inviting her in... They were accompanied by a shaker, but no dancers. This never fazed the rookie, but the other Kombatants were flabbergasted on how massive the strummers were!
The one leading the Makeba tribe was even larger than the rest and he was smack dab in the center! Aiko treaded closer, onto the circular arena shaped like another large bongo or djembe, and she bowed down to him... The war drums eventually softened, and the giant came marching to her.
"Chieftain..." she called in a deep, hypnotic tone, addressing her new overlord.
The moccasins stomped like the Shokan's feet while his lower straw shawl swayed. His arms and legs were bare and meaty like his tribesmen, and he wore numerous feathers symbolizing he was the dominant ruler. He towered over her, and she never felt intimidated, but rather aroused... He caressed her head and neck and she let out a sigh... Her back tingled, and her pudenda became tense. She slowly rose her head, only to have her eyes become translucent. Forgetting all her troubles, her thrall washed over as she stood up her limp body.
"Aiko!" Kung Lao called, yet she never responded. "Aiko!" He spoke louder, still nothing.
"It's no use, Kung Lao." Kenshi stated as he shook his head. "She's under the Makeba's thrall now. This doesn't happen often. The Makeba are a small, primitive tribe, yet they draw in the more susceptible. I can sense her mind; it is deformed and thus not as resistant. I need to release her from Konga's hold."
"Konga?!"
Kenshi stepped forward, leaving the Kombatants in doubt. "Konga!" Both warriors faced the blind man. "I'll let you keep that foreigner, but only if I don't defeat you in Kombat!" He responded in a stern tone.
"Very well, warrior." He replied in a bass voice that seemed alien to any Earthrealmer, almost like another male Shokan. He snapped his shoulders and fingers before he motioned for Aiko to make her sit with his clan. Kung Lao ran to her, but the other spectators forced him back with their spears and knives! "We keep what is ours. The young girl shall stay with us, if you should fail...!"
"Agreed." Kenshi nodded.
The exotic drums began to increase in density and decibels once more, with Aiko becoming more and more hypnotized. Kung Lao couldn't believe what he was seeing! Not even his presence snapped her out of the Makeba's power! It was only up to the skilled psychokinetic!
With his monstrous spiked and blunt club drawn, Kenshi kept avoiding each charge with ease, never being affected by the might of the massive instruments! In fact, Kenshi didn't make a single mark! Instead, he conjured some psychic pushes onto the beast!
It didn't matter much, with Aiko's mate under attack; instead, a thin grin appeared as she joined with the assembly, making her heart race and her genitals swell... She had never felt this pleasant... She embraced this tribal power...! As her eyes flashed, she wished to become an honorable member of her new people as her head and neck stretched while she beat rhythmically and orgasmic...
Every clenching blow, Kenshi avoided, as he felt Konga's body heat, before he countered again with another psychic blast aimed to his legs, making the chief timber! Yet still, he became more arrogant and reckless as he kept closing in on the smaller guy!
Whether it'd be his Tai Chi, or his own katana, Kenshi kept on closing in on either Konga's legs or bulky chest. He always seemed to counter and move, and to Kung Lao, the warlord's fighting style could've sworn to be similar to Shao Kahn's as he had a flashback dealing with him in his Arena. He became impressed with Kenshi's quickness despite his blindness, as if he was reading Konga's moves thru his mind's eye! Unfortunately, his lethal bruteness sometimes toppled the ninja over, stunning him.
While Kenshi's psychokinesis was on par, Konga's wrath managed to break thru his field. He was caught in a stranglehold as Konga's hulky arm was squeezing his windpipe! The drums sounded more rapid and deafening, as if his followers were cheering for him! Kenshi's flimsy hands became helpless in his mercy, and he barely managed to raise an arm slightly...
What the monstrosity didn't know that the samurai's ancestral blade soared behind and impaled the assailant's back! The mountainous man collapsed in a heap as the gash opened like a fountain! Kenshi withdrew his sword before he stepped back and made the beast's body glow in an opal field! Kenshi elongated his head and caused a streak of energy run through Konga's hapless vessel! He forced the same wave again a few more times, before the weakened body rose...only to cause his eyes to gouge out of his sockets!
The drums immediately stopped as the audience roared in disgust of their fallen master! Kenshi then faced Aiko who remained still, before her head was covered in the psychic field and her eyes returned to normal. He then spoke into her lover's mind without moving his lips, "Kung Lao, get Aiko out of here!"
At first he was shocked, but he composed, teleported below the crowd, retrieved her and warped back.
"Get her and everyone to safety, I'll steal the Dragonfly!"
Before Lao made an altercation, Kenshi dashed into the village, making the bloodthirsty men chase after him! Room thru room, the Makeba were on the prowl in each of the opaque halls, until Kenshi made it to the topmost rooftop. At times he halted and casted his psi field, making nearby debris obscure their path. Meanwhile, Kung Lao carried Aiko in his arms, bringing her back to the team. She was very dazed and can still hear the drums in her head... To Johnny it was like she began recovering from a drunken stupor. Lao reiterated that their new ally would retrieve the Dragonfly, and Sonya was flabbergasted he went in alone!
There were raspy sounds as if the air was being chopped! The Special Forces agents instantly realized the sounds of helicopter rotors. There was a large ship complete with a bow shaped like a dragon's head, and the stern sculptured like a long, serpentine tail! Even with etched bat wings at the aircraft's sides! The wrathful tribe kept chasing after it, though Jax was eager to stop them as he conjured all his strength before slamming his fists to the ground, creating a quake stunning the pursuers!
Again never moving his mouth, Kenshi telepathically commandeered to climb aboard! Kung Lao Teleported onto the main deck still carrying Aiko, while Sub-Zero and Frost built ice to help them lift to the air. Using his hands, Nightwolf leapt onto the center, with his thud descending the ship. It was low enough for the other Kombatants to climb aboard!
But the persistent tribe never gave up as they shot their deadly arrows! Kenshi shouted to get down, shielding themselves from the lethal onslaughts while he steered the Dragonfly away! After a few moments of turbulence and the pitter-patters from the deflected darts, the heroes escaped while still heading northwest.
The new crew couldn't help but feel great relief and ecstasy once the way was clear. Kung Lao, though, still remained by the unconscious Aiko's side, with her head resting on a nearby cushion. By the time the Kombatants calmed down, and congratulated Kenshi for a job well done, Lao couldn't help but lean over and kiss her warmly on her forehead...
Momentarily, her eyes fluttered open and her dizzy head cleared seeing her hero again. "...Unh...Kung Lao..?"
"You are safe now," he assured.
Some whimpers from a dog was heard, and sure enough, it was Kiba! He came beside Aiko before he licked her face. She couldn't help but giggle, "It's nice to see you too, Kiba!"
Nightwolf crouched next to them and smiled. "Hey. Welcome back."
"Eh...thanks, guys."
Even Kenshi wanted to hang out with the tender group. "You alright?"
"I think so, thank you."
He laid a gentle hand on her forehead, as if he was laying down a thermometer to check someone's temperature. Instead, he was sensing her fragile mind, which her brainwaves returned to normalcy. "Aiko appears to be her lucid self."
The Matokan was relieved. "Who's piloting the ship?"
"Jax is. We need a pair of durable arms for a little while. Her mind...it is truly something rare."
"She was born prematurely," Kung Lao intervened. "By three months. They'd no choice as her mother was going thru severe complications. Then her doctors were neglifent, diminishing her mind's vitality. She...was born handicapped." The last sentence was the most difficult to say. Undoubtedly, Kenshi felt pity.
"Hmm...I once had a family myself. I'd lost my wife to a Red Dragon attack. After I became blind, I wanted my son, Takeda, to be in the upmost care; I could only rely on a Japanese nursery, as Thailand was too primitive, and China'd be too militaristic. Then, Hanzo said he found my letter and decided to let my son stay with the Shirai Ryu; I was astonished he decided to stay with us. If anything should happen to him or myself..." He couldn't finish his sentence.
Always the optimist, Nightwolf chimed in, "We'll help you defeat Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi. Hehe, you did pull off some amazing stunts back there."
"Yeah. ...Thanks, Kenshi."
"Of course, Aiko," the blind man caressed her weary head. "Who knows. Maybe I can help you enhance your mind, which would also empower your heart. If we should ever overcome the Deadly Alliance. But, you must stay with Kung Lao. He would be the key."
He faced the duo, astonished. "...He knows. He really is capable of telepathy."
"There aren't many gifted specimens like it," the shaman added. "I think I can learn a thing or two with Keanu here." He left with Kenshi, giving Aiko and Lao some time. He could've sworn he heard Sonya shout over the rotors,
"Keanu? You better not be reading our minds too, egghead!"
Lao then cupped the cardiokinetic's chin, "You had me very worried, Aiko. I thought I would lose you.." He smooched her again.
She can never resist Lao's warmth and comfort. "I know. I'm sorry... ...I hope...that Kenshi would help when it comes to my...mental setbacks."
"He can help you. I know he will. But until then, we must put Liu Kang's soul to rest, and save all realms from our greatest adversaries." She nodded, with her tired eyes showing a tad of restored determination. "You need your rest. I'll stay with you till you awaken."
They'd made a few deep, passionate kisses, before Aiko went to sleep and to rejuvenate her mind.
A/N: I hadn't seen Snow Blind yet, as I'm on the fence with the greedy execs at WB, but I thought Kenshi was inspirational; I hadn't encountered a lot of people who're blind, excepting that kid cameo in Barney & Friends, Alicia in Fantastic 4, and Possessor from the Silver Surfer. It was intriguing since he's one of the homerunners in Deadly Alliance, even when I saw 616Entertainment's playthrough klimbing the arcade ladder! I always thought he was similar to Mewtwo with his awesome telekinetic abilities! And the fact he can break mind control, transfer thoughts, and have a nickname/inspiration based on Keanu Reeves! Incredible! Especially when there are 2 representatives of the LGBTQA+ in Mortal Kombat! And the fact that the Matrix and Mortal Kombat are currently WB properties.
What a lousy coincidence! Kenshi was kreated in 2002, he was inspired by Keanu (specifically Neo), and while WB didn't own MK at the time, Neo also became blind in the Matrix Revolutions one year later!
Actually, I discovered his son, Takeda, first in MKX as I stated him in my Top 10 Characters I Can Relate to. I find both Takahashis to be legendary in their own right, and I too had made an OC for the Fantastic 4, Terri Thatcher, as a psychokinetic! If only Silver the Hedgehog would have that kind of awesome potential...
Long time followers of mine think it's cliche, but...in several of my works, I had used the concept of being in a trance by exotic drums. As I was growing up, I became entranced by them, even when I was little to now. Several OCs, and canon characters, had that same effect including my OCs (Gavin, Tinsel) and others using it like my Aboriginal OCs. And also, the annual event, the Tribal Ceremony. I just...get a turn-on with those enticing drums...
I find the Dragonfly to be fascinating; it's about damn time the heroes got a more handier method of transport traversing thru Outworld, contrary to Shaolin Monks which was always on foot! Kind of reminds me of the airships in the Final Fantasy series, and since there were no Dragon Jets, despite their primitiveness, it all worked out! I couldn't wait to ease the pace!
Anyway, Sarna Ruins shall of course play first, before the heroes shall immerse into it; followed by To Zucchabar from Gladiator (which Deadly Alliance has given me a lot of vibes lately...), the hypnotizing rhythms from the African Dance in the Park, the Drum Arena (which for some reason is the same as the Palace Grounds and Dragonfly...), and Maridia - Sandy Desert in Super Metroid.
A little side note, I was inspired by Kung Lao's awesome abilities utilizing his signature tornado, whether it'd be the Tornado Kick, the Tornado Multality, even the Spin Time Brutality! So, why not put his aero skills to great use disabling a twister! This has never been showcased in Mortal Kombat! Not even with the help of Fujin! I know i'm kind of obsessed with the film, Twister, but still... It should be showcased in the series! I just hate wasted potential/plotential!
And I promise not to make the two cryomancers betray each other, as I'd read the Dragonfly's the place where Frost turns. It won't happen here. So, this chapter's outta the way; hopefully, I'll get to the next one shortly, even with my Halloween special interfering some matters...