Con't VIII - Stragglers
The Dragonfly continued to drift northeast toward the Deadly Alliance's dark auras. Kung Lao sill remained by Aiko's sleepy side for hours on end; even Kiba, Kenshi and Nightwolf took turns on accompanying him and made some conversation along with Liu Kang's spirit to make the journey less bland. The cardiokinetic was still asleep despite the conversation, courtesy of the airy main deck and the white noise from the propellers which negated the yapping. Even the cryomancers, Sub-Zero and Frost, who were sparring didn't disturb her.
With nearly a mile above the grounds, Jax was still piloting the ship, while Sonya and Johnny were keeping a sharp lookout as copilots. It wasn't easy trying to scan thru the thick canopies for their missing comrade, Cyrax. Though Sonya suggested they should spot a shimmer of goldenrod metal, as indicated by the arm console in her possession.
With that tiny tidbit in mind, Johnny for once took off his $500 sunglasses, and the female agent continued to look over the helm, until a sudden lustful glimmer caught her keen peripheral vision!
"That's him! It's Cyrax!" she cried.
"Tell the guys to hold on. I'm taking this baby down!" Jax declared.
She did so to everyone, "We've reached Commander Cyrax, everyone! Prepare for landing!"
The ice ninjas picked up. "Cyrax... He must be..." Kuai looked over yonder and Frost was surprised as she came to the same conclusion. "He isn't inside that hollow volcano, is he?" she exclaimed.
The vessel landed gently as the rotors began to slow down. Kiba was licking Aiko's face to awaken her. She moaned a few times as her eyes slowly opened; the wolf was the first thing she saw, and she reached up groggily to pet him. She thought they'd reached their destination already.
Kung Lao sat beside her, "Aiko, the ship is landing. We have found Cyrax!"
"...Cyrax...!"
"We think he has just entered that dormant volcano." Nightwolf added.
Her eyes boggled, "A volcano...?"
Johnny responded as if reading her thoughts. "That guy's insane! He would literally melt if he's still inside his metallic body!"
"Perhaps not, Johnny. The Lin Kuei cybers are incredibly adaptable; they'd been built to endure any environmental hazards making them supreme machines, built for perfection."
They felt a subtle quake. Sonya announced, "The eagle has landed. Let's be underway."
Jax was lucky he spotted an open plain just large enough to land the Dragonfly with no interference, unless counting the nearby foliage with its slicing propellers. The passengers' bodies began to lurch a little as gravity took over, but they still remained steadfast upon the gradual descent.
Nightwolf ordered his companion to sniff Sonya's arm console, then he smelt the air and almost immediately perked up his ears and made a few howls. "Kiba's picked up something. It should be Cyrax's scent."
Jax noticed unusual talon tracks, he presumed they belonged to that shadowy bat who abducted Cyrax earlier, while there were some deep holes next to them! He followed Nightwolf and Kiba while sticking closely with Sonya and Johnny. They soon arrived near an enormous tunnel after forcing some thick debris away.
Kenshi halted the rest of the team with an outstretched arm. He then extended it toward the aperture. "There's some incredible heat and pressure emanating from that tunnel...!"
"How do you know?" Aiko queried.
"I can feel it...! I'd noticed my blindness allows me to enhance my other senses sharply. I can already feel the thermal temperature covering my arm. It's extremely volatile! I doubt anyone would be able to withstand this intense dry heat for long."
That got Sub-Zero's attention! "Intense heat..."
He had a flashback of him and his komrades falling onto ledges within a fissure Shang Tsung conjured, courtesy of his elemental orb which manipulated the forces of nature! Lava was steaming beneath their feet, and Kuai was beginning to feel lightheaded and feverish quickly.
"It's a miracle we're all still alive," Kitana said.
"But we won't be for long in this blistering heat!" Sonya added.
Just then, they heard a sinister tenor several feet above, "Your fate rests in Raiden's hands. Having defeated Liu Kang, I have had a taste of vengeance! Tell Raiden that unless he komes, I will klose the fissure and krush the life out of you!"
He banished that reverie from his mind as he shook his head, "I should take a look."
Frost offered to go with him in which he accepted. "Are you sure you can make it, Grandmaster!? Please allow me to help!"
He sighed and nodded, "Alright, but if the stifling climate should be too much for you, get out! I doubt the Special Agents shall endure this..."
Lao took out the golden dragon amulet as he heard Liu murmuring beneath his tough top. "I should be of some assistance too. ...I know I can't do much in my astral form, but I'll see what I can do." His Shaolin brother nodded his assent, allowing Liu's spirit to leave the artifact and follow the team in.
Aiko just murmured, "Stay frosty, boys..." as a way to wish them luck.
Together, Sonya, Jax, Johnny, Kuai, Frost, Hanzo, and Liu's spirit traversed thru the opaque cavern. The interior was arched and snug, yet there were no pitfalls. Hearing an echo of a familiar digital sound, the ice elemental halted, then recognized it belonged to the cyber-Lin Kuei initiative! "That sound... I know this from anywhere." He heard another mechanical noise and confirmed, "It's Cyrax!" Kuai immediately ran and led the way!
The group stopped short as they reached a deep slope descending into some magma and small islands. The infernal orange light illuminated from below, with the boiling, bubbling magma just several feet down! Already, the gang felt the same intense heat Kenshi warned of reaching their faces! They spotted Cyrax as they gazed down and found the mysterious bat creature Jax spoke of; from the distance, they actually noticed it's a woman and a sort of vampire, not the natural chiropterans. Jax was flabbergasted why Cyrax was following that creepy vampire bat to that thermal place!
The cryomancers faced each other and nodded, before they conjured icy trails and slid down the slopes! Everyone stood still, as if their feet were frozen, but Liu Kang chased after them, with the green aura leaving a sudden, though weak whoosh, in his wake!
They ran down the cliff until they reached the end of the isle, and Kuai was fearless as he needed to retrieve his ally from a former, defunct and deadly organization; Frost heard horror stories involving the cyber-Lin Kuei and she wished to NEVER participate in those horrid experiments to enhance her skills and ways of living! She was happily contrary to live as an imperfect human! Kuai admired her for her determined choice. It wasn't seen beneath her vial, nor Frost's, but they each could've sworn they smiled in admiration.
Just several feet away, Cyrax was seen trekking for something unseen. Sure enough, that vampire bat was beside him.
"I know it's here! I can see the sparkling beneath the magma's surface, but I can't get to it."
Cyrax let out another mechanical sound before he spoke, "I can't scan it. This dead heat has been disrupting my circuits." He stopped and looked into the lava pits under the bat's discretion. "I shall go into it myself. It must be confirmed."
"Do it." The non-chiropteran sounded earnest, but emotionless. A few moments, the yellow robot leapt into the deathly depths with a single plop!
Kuai's face became pale as he observed the horror, watching his distant ally take the plunge! "Cyrax!" He hesitated as the dry heat would hinder Frost; however, since he possessed the legendary Dragon Medallion, he may be more resistant, unlike his unlucky experience while he was trapped in that deathly ravine!
Frost felt just as worried being so helpless, and she was startled he went ahead.
As soon as he reached the exact pinpoint, he stopped sliding and simply dove into the lava pools! The thick flows barely made him see Cyrax sink to the bottom and run toward a shiny orb with minimal effort; almost like how Samus would retrieve an upgrade utilizing the Varia Suit! Cyrax's metallic armor made it easy to walk thru, and he found that said blanch orb in a manner of seconds without scanning! As soon as he found the missing treasure, Kuai swam with all his strength down thru the pressure toward his komrade! Cyrax noticed him, looked up, and activated fire jets beneath his feet, lifting him and Kuai thru the thermal surface!
Frost and that vampire humanoid noticed the breach and Cyrax dropped onto sturdy ground! Kuai was very spent as he sat onto the basalt, heaving. He weakly clutched the medallion, which seemed to be unaffected as cool mist surrounded him and Cyrax. Frost couldn't bare the suspense in conjunction with the unrelenting heat anymore, though she was glad her master was alright and found the missing cyber. Slowly she treaded away and informed the distant agents who were waiting in a cooler, darker location.
Upon receiving the news thru some huffing, Sonya was ecstatic Kuai found Cyrax alive and well, but they had their doubts being submerged in lava! Still, they couldn't traverse further into the dangerous volcano, even surprised it hasn't erupted yet.
"Unh, Cyrax. You can't stay here. You're hurt...!" Kuai barely had the strength to talk. His dry throat tickled, causing him to cough hoarsely.
"He's not leaving till I have what I desire! Where's that orb!?" the bat shrieked as if by deafening echolocation.
Before Kuai was about to confront her, Cyrax took out the white orb illuminating as bright as the surrounding lava! "What is this...?"
"That is the key on breaking my realm free from Outworld's cruel shackles! I am Nitara and I come from the conquered realm of Vaeterrus."
Cyrax's body began to short circuit, blue sparks licked it, and he was also in thin smoke.
"Hurry! Give me that orb!" Kuai took the spherical object from his friend's hand and lent it to Nitara. All she did was gaze into it for a few seconds, before she ascended with her pointed, open wings, and slammed it onto the basalt, shattering it in a loud trickle! Thick, white mist enveloped the ground as it expanded and soon evaporated from the many shards...
"...What happened?" Before Kuai had his answer, Nitara rose her hands and conjured a little magic. She released her energy while she rose a leg, and a neon portal was forged! "Go, hurry before the aperture kloses!"
Despite his weakened, crippled state, Cyrax obeyed when he limped toward the opening, where a holographic image of lush forests was displayed like a projection. Surely, it was Earthrealm, and the portal klosed as soon as the OIA agent entered thru it!
Nitara looked at the male cryomancer who was struggling to stand. She never lifted a finger. "I am finished here. My realm has been saved." Before Kuai could make an objection, she just flew away with her extended wingspan, leaving him suffering! He never had the strength to protest that self-minded wretch!
His vision was fading fast, and he hardly noticed a taut pull around his chest! Not even the scream, "Come 'ere!"
Kuai's body was pulled away from the rocky isles and up the steep slope. Hanzo then pulled up the rope entangled around Kuai's body. He reached down and carried him over his shoulder. The ninjas met up with Frost and the Special Forces soldiers. He dropped Kuai into a sitting position, with his mask still on, and Liu's spirit offered to enter his body to relieve the pyrexia! He was certain he'd ease it since it was done externally unlike his sharings with Kung Lao's vessel.
Sonya ran toward the duo, "Sub-Zero, are you alright?" She cried, remembering that same incident few years back.
His voice became clearer thanks to the relief from the Medallion, "Ergh, yeah, I think so." Frost immediately gave him her frigid thermos, the same one that helped treat Kung Lao's own delirium.
"That sure was a close call, Hanzo!" Johnny grinned, for once not being nervous by the former specter.
Next to the stationed Dragonfly, the other Kombatants were still awaiting the ninjas and Special Forces. There was a ruffle within the brush and Kiba let out some snarls. They were ambushed by some Outworlder thugs, one that was hooded and had ashen skin while the other had thick layers of a colorless beard. According to Kitana, those were homeless bums though weren't Tarkatans. The two ganged up on Aiko, one managed to snag her and she braced her cardiokinesis, till she was spared by a figure who stabbed a pair of gigantic knives into his back, then rapidly sliced the other into a blood sprinkler! When the shadow emerged, Aiko was shocked! She gasped, "You...!"
The mutant was bald, and he looked as if he sneered with his skinny, orange eyes and pointy fangs. The cardiokinetic came to the conclusion he was Baraka who licked his fingernail fangs as if claiming her as his next meal! "No listen!"
He used a digit to silence her mouth. "No, you listen."
Kung Lao rushed toward the duo. "Baraka! You lay your blades off her, you bastard!" he roared.
She raised a hand, "Wait. He's not here to attack me." She then faced him, unfazed. "Are you...?" He pulled her up to her shaky feet. "What're you doing here?"
He stated he also came from a different time the same way she did! Only his departure was more recent though just as sudden. He wasn't sure how and why, but as soon as he spotted her during his wanderings, he knew when and where he was. Kung Lao was impressed he knew Aiko, but also appalled never forgetting the invasion on the Academy and fighting in a gruesome battle within the Soul Tombs! Baraka actually hung his head in shame on what he'd done, even serving Shao Kahn, when his tribe was enslaved by cruel warlord. He came from a different time period when Tarkatans lived peacefully, along with the Saurians as well as repopulating their species. Though they still functioned as excellent hunters and scavengers within their own kamp.
Lao queried Baraka how he knew Aiko, and he gifted her a red staff which he named the Kwan Dao given to her by Queen Sindel. The Edenians were surprised they actually had an allegiance with the bloodthirsty Tarkatans, since they were banned from the Palace, at least not in his time period... They suddenly grew curious over the benevolent warrior.
If he recalled correctly, his malicious kind should be at their goal, Shang Tsung's Palace. He also said he was hoping to find his subordinate, Reptile, but no such luck. Everyone was dumbfounded, yet Kenshi read his mind and he was actually speaking the truth!
Just then, the meeting broke as the heroes saw Sub-Zero and company leave from the mouth of the volcano. Sonya recapped that Cyrax has been found; however, Nitara helped him escape from Outworld via portal and returned home. He didn't stay long enough to retrieve his missing arm console.
Baraka explained he was chasing after Reptile, and he worried he mustn't enter the mouth of that volcano! "There's a dragon egg incubating in a nest with serpentine wings."
Sonya wondered, and Baraka summarized it belonged to the lost Dragon King, Onaga.
Lao asked why it wouldn't be inside the Lost Tomb. Kitana stated his cultists must've migrated it in order for it to hatch, since an egg required heat, and the desert was too violent. If he recalled correctly, his Tarkatan tribe must be assisting the Deadly Alliance on resurrecting Onaga and his undead army at Shang's Palace; they're not too far from it now.
Kenshi was enthralled, "Well, isn't it lucky for you, we just happen to be heading your way."
"You must have an army to back you up?"
Jade added, "Actually, Sindel has the Shokan on standby. But we covered so much ground, they might not make it."
Baraka sulked. "You may need my help, more than ever."
Lao was dumbfounded, "A Tarkatan..? Helping us!? How would that work?"
"Well, I used to work with Kitana Kahn. Before I was abruptly sent back. I too came from a devastated future, Aiko."
"Kitana Kahn...?" The princess was just as konfused, "As in ruler of Outworld?"
He nodded, mentioning that Shao Kahn was still alive, and the antihero was involved in a civil war watching his kind be slain by Jade. The female ninja became speechless.
He also stated who that bat-like woman was. Nitara, one of the Moroi, spent a very long time trying to find the key that bound her realm to Outworld. The orb, however, was inaccessible but fortunately for her, she had spotted the Outer World Investigation Agency wingman, Cyrax. After seeing Reptile as an easily exploitable fool, she presented him with a Kirehashi blade, an artifact of Zaterra, and revealed to him the location of Kitana's military encampment. He foolishly offered his services to Nitara and pledged to serve her, and she commanded him to attack Cyrax, thus the severed arm console, disabling him from traveling to other realms. The main reason Baraka was trying to find him was...he could just be the uberous of Onaga!
Everyone went deafly silent, trying to process every nightmare highlighted, including the masterless, foolhardy reptilian to cause even more mayhem than they can possibly imagine!
Clearly there was no time to rally up their reinforcements now, even if they would kontact Sindel miles away!
It was unmistakable that, much like the powerless brother gods, it can only be won by mortals left with their own devices now...
A/N: Daryl's Epitaph from the remastered FFVI OST by sschaf1 would start the chapter off. Neovision from the Matrix Revolutions might be chosen as Kenshi senses the volcano, up to 2:25 anyway. Of course, the Lava Shrine shall play when the heroic cryomancers explore the dangerous depths of the volcano. Norfair from Super Metroid would sound as Cyrax explores for the orb. Emergency plays when Hanzo saves Sub-Zero, X Invasion can be played as the team is ambushed by the Outworld hobos. Total Logic from Star Trek: The Motion Picture shall play last.
This was a very difficult chapter to put together, including the soundtrack. Sorry if some entries appear to be repetitive, but I had dirt to spill!
First off, that random segment that I came up with the homeless Outworlders ambushing the Kombatants, that was roughly inspired by that disturbing scene in which Eddie Barzoon gets killed in the Devil's Advocate. I always hated that movie, and I thought it was about damn time to give them some lethal payback! It and Mortal Kombat are WB properties after all. Speaking of which...
I was involved in a MK roleplay recently and made several fast friends there, including RPers who are Baraka and Sindel! They, along with Kung Lao and Fire God Liu Kang, inspired me a lot, that I wanted to include the Tarkatan as an antihero than an enemy, as an act of redemption for his previous crimes even the Wu Shi attack. Much like Reptile, he too needed to preserve his race, thus being close buds in the RP. This was a tricky idea involving him, even putting him as a time traveler from another dystopian future, much like Aiko. The red staff, the Kwan Do, was that same weapon Sindel offered to Aiko during her story, MK: Legends, as the cardiokinetic trained under her and became a more powerful warrior, even more superior than my version of her, lol. So, in a way, since Jade amongst others always abused the "biggest loser," I just can't resist anymore! To all my new friends from the Kommunity, thank you so much for making Aiko as a vital warrior, and me as an RPer; I really do appreciate you all! :)
I didn't have much of a role to give to Nitara; not too crazy about that Kombatant.
So, would the future Baraka change the outcome of the battle?