Welcome Home?
Samantha groggily wakes up to the voice of two older men. One man says "Who is this woman Lord Raiden has brought to the temple?" and the other voice replies with "He did not say but her chi is palpable. She is of this realm for certain but there is something very different about this Earthrealmer." Samantha fully wakes up to see masters Shujinko and Bo Rai Cho standing next to her bed. She looks startled and confused.
Samantha: Who are you? Where am I?
Shujinko: It's alright Miss, you are in a safe place. I am Shujinko and this my sensei Bo Rai Cho.
Samantha looks at the two confused as she doesn't believe that Bo Rai Cho could possibly be the sensei of someone that much older than him.
Bo Rai Cho: What is your name?
Samantha: I am Samantha Maxis, I am sorry but where am I?
A voice from the doorway says "You are in my Temple Samantha, you will be safe here" Raiden then walks into the room, Shujinko and Bo Rai Cho both get up to greet the thunder god.
Shujinko: It is good to see you Lord Raiden, where did you find this woman?
Raiden: I came across her not too far from the temple. I found her in the woods with a strange aura around her. I took her to the Jinsei Chamber below to heal her of her injuries. She will be a guest in my temple until she has made a full recovery.
Bo Rai Cho: Then she will be our newest pupil at the Wu Shi?
Raiden: Perhaps so, wise masters please give me and Samantha sometime I would like to speak with her privately.
Shujinko: Of course Lord Raiden.
Shujinko and Bo Rai Cho both bow to Raiden and walk out of the room, Samantha knows Raiden just lied to the two old martial artists but judging by how he talked to them she knows that the thunder god has a great deal of respect for these two so she is confused as to why he would lie to them. Samantha begins to remember what actually happened how Raiden and Arkantos, the Olympian God of Heroes fought off wave upon wave of monster trying to find her. She remembers they fought on top of a space ship and that she defended them very briefly before waking up in the temple.
Samantha: Why did you lie to to them?
Raiden: Because they are not ready for what is coming.
Samantha: And what exactly is coming?
Raiden: You already know that Samantha Maxis, The Shadow Man seeks to escape the Dark Aether with his dark army and wage war on all life. Starting here in Earthrealm. My allies believe that you have been at the center of the Shadow Man's war.
Samantha: How do you know this?
Raiden lifts the palm of his and lightning begins to crack in it and then the Kronorioum appears in his hand. Samantha looks shocked and not sure if this means Raiden is friend or foe.
Samantha: How is this possible?
Raiden: You know as well as I do that when Nikolai Belinski rewrote reality that many things from that time lived on. Time and space have been fractured so many times both allies and enemies alike that the Dark Aether and those who have been touched by the energy from that realm would find their way back to our reality.
Samantha: How do you know all this?
Raiden: I and a select few others know all about Nikolai Belinski, Takeo Masaki, Tank Dempsey, and Edward Richtofen.
Samantha's eyes widen when he says "Edward Richtofen" and memories flood her mind of both versions of Richtofen. She has a flashback of the Ultimus version of Dr. Richtofen and her father experimenting on Fluffy, the Primis version of Richtofen defending her and the other children from the hordes of the undead, and then finally her and a young Eddie playing with action figures in the Maxis family cottage in Agartha. Her eyes begin to glow white and she looks at her hands and they are also fluctuating with energy.
Raiden: You have much power Samantha, but because of your time floating in the darkness. You have absorbed more of the energy that gave you your powers flows through your body. You must learn to control it before I send you out into the battlefield.
Samantha: So you are going to hold me captive here until I master my abilities?
Raiden: Of course not don't be foolish, you can leave when ever you would like Samantha. But if you leave now, all the realms are doomed.
Samantha: Scheisee... I will stay, when do I start to train?
Raiden: Tomorrow. Sleep well for tomorrow, I will push you beyond what you thought possible.
Raiden leaves the Kronorium on her bed and walks out of her bedroom and into the hall way, as Raiden makes his way down the hall he hears the voice of his brother Fujin. The wind god says from behind his brother "Another stray brother? Were it not you that told me to not get attached to mortals?". Raiden turns around to see his brother, Fujin has a stern look on his face it almost looked as if he was disappointed in him.
Raiden: She is a powerful warrior, she-
Fujin: I know who she is Raiden, Bo Rai Cho may not be the most well read of us and Shujinko spends more teaching than actual research but I know who she is. I have read the scrolls of the Keepers and excerpts from the Kronorium that have been translated. That girl makes the necromancy of Quan Chi look like a mere puppet show. I also know that you have been hiding the fact of a pending invasion.
Raiden: You talked to Nightwolf?
Fujin: I haven't spoken to him in months but he reached out not too long ago, he was in Seattle the day Johnny Cage was abducted, he didn't know if he could trust me at first. I told him of course he could trust me but I probably wouldn't of been able to help him that time, I was apart of the effort in New York City to fight off the Avogadro when it reappeared otherwise I would've joined him. That same creature has ties to Samantha Maxis.
Raiden: Only from where they draw their powers, Samantha was coerced into being a weapon. Pernell loves being a weapon.
Fujin: So you know that monsters true name as well? What else are you hiding from us brother?
Raiden: Are you my brother Fujin?
Fujin: I am, and I have followed your orders whether they have came from you directly, the Elder Gods, or your secretive allies. All I ask is for some transparency going forward, the coming war will involve warriors of nearly every realm in this universe. We can't afford to keep this a secret much longer Raiden.
Raiden takes a deep sigh and puts his hand on Fujin's shoulder. The two look at each other although it is a tense moment their body language indicates there will be no fight tonight.
Raiden: You are right brother, Rip Hunter has asked me to act in ways I normally would not. I will try my best going forward to inform you and prepare for the war that threatens Earthrealm.
The next morning in the courtyard of the temple, Samantha wearing Shaolin robes and the sword of Takeo Masaki strapped to her side. Standing in front of her is Raiden with Shujinko and Bo Rai Cho standing on his left and right.
Raiden: Today will be the first of many days where you will hone your powers through the martial arts.
Bo Rai Cho: After speaking with Lord Raiden, we understand that you are already quite powerful. We would like to see a demonstration of that power.
Samantha feels a power gust of wind and turns around to see Fujin floating within a small tornado. The winds making up the tornado disperse and the wind strongly blows in the faces of Samantha and the others, Fujin lands on his feet like nothing happened.
Shujinko: Your first challenge is combat with Fujin, God of Wind and protector of Earthrealm.
Fujin draws his sword from it's sheathe and begins to pace around the courtyard, Samantha draws her Katana and does the same. Both have their eyes on locked on each other, Raiden turns to Bo Rai Cho and Shujinko and smiles. Raiden uses his staff and slams on the hilt of it on the ground and yells "Fight!" and the battle between Fujin and Samantha begins as their swords interlock. Fujin swings his blade with aggressive ease being the more experienced of the two while Sam is trying her best keep her footing. Fujin swings downward and Samantha is able to block the blow, she is holding as best she scan her blade is right in front of her eyes.
Fujin: I know who you are!
Fujin sweeps her feet out from under she falls on her back but still holds on to her katana. Fujin points his sword at her face.
Fujin: In scrolls of Agartha you are depicted as necromancer priestess with powers that rival the Edler Gods themselves, all I see is a scared girl.
Samantha's eyes begin to glow white, she pushes Fujin back with an energy blast with her other hand and gets back up on her feet.
Samantha: I am not scared of you, I have fought much worse and came out superior.
Fujin: That's because you have only ever truly fought mindless beasts and the undead. Any mortal that is in your way you dispatch the dead to do your bidding.
The two lock swords repeatedly and sparks begin to fly. Meanwhile Shujinko and Bo Rai Cho look concerned and voice it Raiden.
Bo Rai Cho: Normally Fujin does not try this hard to get into the heads of his opponents to the extent he is at this.
Shujinko: He also mentioned that she was in scrolls about Agartha, Lord Raiden I thought you said you found her in the woods?
Raiden is silent and doesn't respond to the comments of the two Shaolin Masters, instead the Thunder God watches the fight with an intense focus. Samantha goes for Fujin's neck but he's able to duck the blade and he very lightly cuts her abdomen, she gasps in pain and hunches over and touches the cut. Fujin turns around to see her grabbing the sliced area of her body.
Fujin: Have you given up yet puppet of the dark one?
Samantha: I am nobody's puppet!
Samantha using her mastery of the Aether is able to heal herself, she closes her eyes for a moment and then opens them and her eyes begin to glow a bright purple. She turns around levitating pulsing with energy around her, Fujin begins to push the air to force her back but this does little to stop her from getting closer to Fujin. The Wind God is struggling to keep Samantha back so instead he decides to go with the current he has created and flies directly at her with sword pointing at her and stabs her in the side. They both fall to the ground, Samantha painfully removes the sword from her body and tries to get back up only to fall to her knees, Fujin walks up to her with his crossbow and aims at her head. A bolt of lighting the strikes the short distance between Samantha and Fujin, he turns to see Raiden walking up to him angrily along side Bo Rai Cho and Shujinko who quickly walk up to Samantha to see if she is ok.
Raiden: Fujin! You were merely supposed to expose any flaws and demonstrate her abilities so that way me train her!
Fujin: Did I not do that?
Raiden: Masters please take Samantha to the Jinsei chamber I would like to discuss Fujin's training methods alone.
Thunderclouds begin to roll in and the wind begins to pick up and both gods have their fists clenched. Bo Rai Cho picks up Samantha and walks her into the temple.
Raiden: I thought we had an understanding brother.
Fujin: We do, you are going to inform me and our allies about the invasion that is coming and I would fight the girl.
Raiden: Not to the death! She is apart of something so grand and vast even the Elder Gods can't stop it from happening.
Fujin: Have you read the stories of Agartha and The Keepers? It took a handful of brave men and women from universes that no longer exist to push them back.
Raiden: Her powers come from that same darkness that was pushed back! We could use her!
Fujin: Raiden, did it ever occur to you that perhaps maybe you and your allies have ushered in this apocalypse by bringing her back to the Earth?
Raiden: You know as well as I do that she was coerced into the position in the texts you cite brother. She is not that scared child anymore.
Fujin: For all the realms, I pray that you are right brother.
Samantha awakes within the Jinsei chamber and looks down to see that her wounds have completely healed with no scars. She turns to see the carvings of the various Titans and Elder Gods within the chamber, she tilts her head downward and sees Shujinko looking on at her.
Shujinko: You seem to have made an impression on Lord Fujin. I am not one to question the gods but he cited texts I haven't read in many decades. Who are you exactly?
Samantha then descends from the Jinsei and walks up to Shujinko, she decides to tell him the truth but her face tells Shujinko that she doesn't want to.
Samantha (sighs): When I was a girl my father was a scientist for the Germans during the war, his experiments allowed them to tap into an energy from another world... a world that corrupted me. I was the pawn for a great evil who wanted to destroy our universe, that energy gave me great power but it used me... I was so young and it took years of my life away...
A tear runs down Samantha's cheek and Shujinko puts his hand on her shoulder.
Shujinko: It is alright child, I to share your pain. When I was young I was tricked by Onaga, The Dragon King of Outworld. He pretended to be a herald of the Elder Gods and sent me on a decades long quest to obtain the kamidogu's and free him.
Samantha: What did you do to atone?
Shujinko: I defeated The Dragon King, Lord Raiden accepted my most sincere apologies and asked me to teach at the Wu Shi Academy. Lord Raiden has now asked me to help train you and I see why has asked me to train you Ms. Maxis.
Samantha: Do you know why Fujin was actively trying to kill me?
Shujinko: That surprised me, you have to understand I have known Fujin for quite sometime now and he normally never acts this way without reason. He most likely read about the entity that gave you your powers and thinks that your goals align with it's.
Samantha: No they never truly aligned to begin with, the power that was bestowed to me was a means to an end.
Shujinko: I trust you Samantha, it takes a great deal of strength, both physical and emotional to overcome the doubts from within and the pressure of those around you. I understand, come with me and hopefully you will both will be able to come to an understanding with one another.
Shujinko then goes to walk upstairs but before he does so Samantha puts her hand on his shoulder, the old shaolin master pauses and Samantha hugs Shujinko. This stuns Shujinko but he embraces her for a moment and the two begin to walk back up the temple. Back in Raiden's shrine the Thunder God is speaking with Sonya Blade through a magic amulet projecting her image.
Raiden: You have had no luck in finding him?
Sonya: Negative, we've tried everything. Locator spells, telepaths, we even tried using satellites to scan for his energy signature.
Raiden: What of the men who attacked your fort?
Sonya: Not a lot of talkers in that group. Kenshi and Takeda have tried but not one of them seems to know where Johnny is.
Raiden: I see this is troubling news indeed, I am currently in the middle of important affairs with Elder Gods. I will not be able to assist you, but I will send more White Lotus out if needed to assist your efforts.
Sonya: I appreciate that Raiden but we already have Kung Jin following up on a lead and I believe Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Kai, and the others are checking an old Black Dragon safe house out in Bengalla. Can I ask you something though?
Raiden: Certainly General Blade.
Sonya: Nightwolf reached out after months of no contact. If we didn't have drone footage of his address I would've just assumed he's dead... he told me that you are somehow involved in all of this. Is that true?
Raiden: The truth is much more complicated than that General Blade. I am currently on a mission from the Elder Gods at the moment but once it is completed all will be revealed. Rest assured that I didn't play a part in the role of Johnny Cage's capture.
Raiden hears a knock on the door and turns his head to the door.
Raiden: I must go, we will continue this conversation another time General.
With a wave of his hand the hologram fades away and Raiden opens the door into the room and Fujin walks into the room.
Fujin: I would like to apologize for my actions brother. My knowledge of the Apathocans has instilled a great fear in me, I had severely overreacted with the girl.
Raiden: It is not I you should be apologizing to Fujin, Samantha is a key that will unlock a door with a way to defend ourselves against the Apathocans.
Fujin: I will speak with Samantha then. I do not mean to pry but I heard the last bit of the conversation between you and General Blade, does Nightwolf think you are the enemy?
Raiden: I do not know what Nightwolf truly believes or doesn't belive. All I know is that I must speak with him soon.
The two Gods walk down towards Samantha's room they can hear Samantha, Bo Rai Cho, and Shujinko exchange stories of battle. Once they enter the door way they see that three of them are sitting around. Bo Rai Cho prepared dumplings and chicken for them all to eat and has a handful of different bottles of wine and whiskey to choose from.
Samantha: You know master Bo Rai Cho you remind me of a soldier I once knew!
Bo Rai Cho: Oh really? Was he as tenacious and noble as me?
Samantha: Haha... his name was Nikolai he was a good soldier and a better man. I met him at a strange stage in both our lives and I eventually got to know him very well. You would've been great friends with Nikolai, probably both of him.
Bo Rai Cho: What do you mean both of him?
Fujin: This looks like a great time, I hope you made enough for the rest of the monks in the temple.
Samantha and the other two Shaolin look up to see Raiden and Fujin standing in the doorway. Bo Rai Cho and Shujinko immediately put their plates and cups down to get up and bow to the two gods while Samantha stays sitting.
Raiden: Master Shujinko, master Bo Rai Cho I would like to go over something with you privately if you would speak with me for just a moment you may return when we are done.
Both Shaolin agree and walk off with Raiden while Fujin stays in the door, Samana is just staring back at Fujin.
Fujin: I would like to apologize for my actions earlier.
Samantha: Never in my life did I think a literal god would apologize to me.
Fujin: Many mortals think we are self centered beings but I like to think I am above that, I am here to protect and serve mortals and that includes you. Your powers come from a great darkness that I have studied. I'll be honest and tell you that your potential for chaos troubled me.
Samantha: I understand where you are coming from truly but those days are long behind me. I am not and will never be the Dark Aether's puppet ever again.
Fujin: Understood, Lord Raiden wanted me to tell you that him and I would be training you to master your abilities. Shujinko and Bo Rai Cho will be responsible for different disciplines.
Samantha: What disciplines?
Fujin: He did not tell me that only that the two of us would be responsible for mastering your powers starting tomorrow morning.
Samantha: I will be prepared as I can be.
Fujin: Good I will see you in the morning then.
Fujin backs out of the doorway while Bo Rai Cho and Shujinko re enter and get back to eating and drinking. The next morning. Samantha is standing in the court yard waiting for Raiden and Fujin, she's being impatient but she then feels a slight raindrop and looks up to see two figures hovering up in the air by the rooftop of the temple. Samantha uses her powers to fly up to the two gods to speak with them.
Samantha: What am I learning today?
Raiden: While you have a mastery of flight, you will learn how master the rest of your abilities. Concentrate your energy and hit that hill.
Raiden points to a hill off in the distance, Samantha sticks her hand out aiming at the hill and she closes her but no energy comes out of her hands. Fujin looks at Raiden unimpressed, which causes the Thunder God to interject some advice.
Raiden: Samantha, concentrate on what motivates you. Focus on what you thought of when Arkantos and I rescued you.
Samantha: My father, I thought of my father.
Raiden: Focus on your father then.
Samantha remembers a time when she was a young girl reading bed time stories with her father, playing with him and her dog Fluffy, and a time when she got to sleep in the same bed as her father due to a nightmare she had. Samantha begins to almost rapid fire energy blasts at the hill both of the gods smiling and are excited but something happens, Samantha blasts the hill with such a powerful blast that she shoots a crater into the ground. Samantha opens her eyes and they are a dark purple. She sees a vision of the Shadow Man and a zombified version of Dr. Edward Richtofen, both of them towering over her.
Samantha: No! You don't control me anymore!
Shadow Man: I always have power over you.
Richtofen: And I will be there... Whenever you have doubts, when ever you have nightmares just know IT WAS ME!
The giant vision of the zombified scientist goes to eat her but in the real world she Raiden grabs his amulet and shoots Jinsei energy from it healing which restores Samantha. She looks to the hole has now turned into a massive crater.
Fujin: Samantha what happened?
Samantha: The Shadow Man and the Doctor, I saw both of them and they spoke to me. They know I'm here.
Fujin turns to Raiden, the Thunder God looks sternly onward as he contemplates what she says.
Raiden: You have many demons Samantha Maxis, I know a warrior with similar demons to yours.
Samantha: Yes I spoke with Shujinko last night.
Raiden: You and Master Shujinko have a had a similar tragedy befell you but he is not the warrior I speak of. This warrior much like you and Shujinko was corrupted by a darkness but he fought the darkness that lingered within by thinking of his family much like you did when you thought of your father. You may consider your experience and powers a curse but they do not have to be and that is the lesson that Jackson Briggs learned.
Samantha: I do not know a "Jackson Briggs".
Raiden: One day you will, now think of your father and shoot at another hill. We are not coming down until you are a master of your abilities.
Samantha gets right back to work and starts shooting at a different hill but this time her eyes are glowing white indicating that she is in control of her powers. Not too far away from the Rip hunter from the safety of his Time Sphere is watching the training exercise while in the woods a rotting hand grabs onto the trees revealing an undead Richtofen but it's not a typical zombie raised through Apathocan necromancy. This Richtofen is wearing a Black Lantern ring with the the symbol of the Black Lantern Corps on his arm band. Richtofen looks on before flying away discretely.
To Be Continued...