WHISPERS OF THE UNDERWORLD
CHAPTER V:
THE SHOKAN WARRIOR AWAKES
He forgot what it felt like; the feeling of being passed harshly through time's reality and physical matter while his mental emotions and thoughts far surpassed anything he had ever thought of.
Scorpion took a deep breath as he set foot on Earth's rich soil for the first time in ages. "I am home." He quietly said to himself.
Mileena followed and as Reptile stepped through, the portal closed, almost taking him with it.
Mileena caught site of the first plant she saw. It all looked the same, except for one single leaf. It had five fingerprints on it. She placed her hand on it. Her hand matched the prints on the leaf. She smiled, not letting the others see.
They stood there in a straight line before the massive Shaolin Temples. Scorpion thought he had seen them a few times, but he couldn't quite recall it.
He stepped forward. "There is no time to waste. Let's keep moving." Reptile nodded and so did Mileena. They walked until they reached the main doors of the center temple, which so happened to be the biggest.
Four bald monks garbed in yellow and orange robes stood there; two in front of the doors and two at the sides of the doors. Scorpion really didn't want to have to go through this process again.
He didn't know much about these Shaolin people, but he did know that they were a very humble people, and that they would do anything to avoid conflict, even if it means the forfeit of their lives.
The first monk stepped forward. "Welcome. It is standard procedure to ask what your business is here, and exactly how long you will be staying." Scorpion frowned. "Look. I am not really having that well of a day. I suggest you move and just let us in those doors."
The monks just stood there and did nothing, until finally he spoke again. "I am sorry. I must know these details before I can grant you access through those doors."
Mileena put a hand on Scorpion's massive shoulder and moved him aside gently. "I think what my companion is trying to say is that we cannot explain why we are here. It is very important, however, that we see someone called Kung Lao."
The monk shook his head. Frustrated, Mileena took out one of her sai and presented it to the first monk. "Here. Show him this. I am sure it will grant us our permission through those doors."
The monk nodded and bowed. "I shall return shortly."
Rayden, Kai, and Kasamia all were in shock as they took in what they were hearing. "And that's why Quan Chi attacked. He wants that amulet back." Kung Lao explained to the three.
Fujin grunted and jerked violently again. Kasamia and Rayden rushed to his aid. He had been on that altar for about three hours now and it almost seemed like the poison that was infecting him kept spreading in those three hours.
He managed to open his eyes, though in uncontrollable amounts of pain. "Rayden, I won't b...be able t....to talk...for much long...longer." He closed his eyes as he grunted through the pain.
Rayden leaned down far enough to Fujin so that he could hear him talk clearly. "What it is, my brother?" Fujin grabbed him by his dark blue collar and pulled him down as far as he possibly could.
"I want you to take revenge! Defeat the warriors that have defeated us. Destroy Quan Chi and get that amulet of power back to its resting-place. I don't care if I am transformed. You know I cannot die. I am a God." Fujin frowned.
Rayden shook his head. "You are weak and filled with anger, younger brother. Rest, and I shall try to find a cure for this dreadful poison." He put a hand on his younger brother's shoulder and looked over at Kasamia.
"I must go now. If there is a cure for this disease, I must find it. If he does change before I get it, there is no hope. He is a God, and cannot be killed."
Sub Zero squinted. "If the worst does come, there is one thing that can save, or...kill Fujin." Rayden looked at him. "And that thing would be?" Sub Zero stood up from where he was sitting. He jerked because his wounds were not healed yet and were bandaged up. The same went for all of the other gods.
"The ancient sword that lies in the pits of the Netherealm. Don't you remember? The Elder Gods tried to hide it there because it was too powerful. If the poison has not corrupted the mind, then the sword will save the victim. If the poison has corrupted the mind, then one must plunge the sword through the victim's heart."
Rayden smiled. "I have forgotten, young one. Who told you all of this?" He questioned the ice warrior.
"My brother told me the story when I was younger. He said he saw it when he was side-tracked from his mission in the Netherealm right before the Mortal Kombat tournament." He sighed. "I wish he was still here."
Liu Kang stepped forward. "What I am about to say is something I did not want to. When Scorpion defeated me back at the Temple, he met Reptile at the entrance. He told Scorpion that they must go retrieve Sub Zero, and join Quan Chi."
Sub Zero's breath stopped. "No. I can't be. You are telling me that thing back at the Temple was...my older brother?"
Liu dropped his head and nodded. "I am afraid so." Sub Zero thought about how he looked. "What could have changed him into what he was?"
Kai was taken back. Could that have been the same sword that his master was ordered to guard?
At that very moment, a yellow and orange robe-dressed monk entered the room holding a weapon. He walked up to Kung Lao and presented Mileena's sai to him. "Three warriors are waiting outside. One of them was a female and ordered me to give this to you. She said it would gain her access to this temple."
Kung Lao frowned. "Our enemies are here." Liu Kang, Sub Zero, Rayden, and Kai all stood up. Kung Lao looked at the monk. "Send them up."
Scorpion, Reptile, and Mileena all waited patiently outside of the doors. The monk came through the doors and walked up to Mileena. "They have accepted your offer, my lady. Your sai has gained you access to our temples."
Mileena nodded and the three warriors walked up the stairs and in to the Shaolin Temples. Upon entering the stairway that would take them to their enemies, Scorpion turned around and talked to his fellow companions.
"Listen. We have just beaten three Gods. One of them is infected with the same poison that has taken over Sub Zero. I want all of you to display honor and concern. They are all angered right now. They will most likely try and attack. Do not do anything foolish." Reptile and Mileena both nodded. Scorpion knocked on the door and waited for a response. "Enter." He opened the wooden door and was immediately lifted into the air.
Jolts and tingles of electricity passed through his body at such a fast rate, he could barely feel much of anything except the painful lightening going in and out of him.
Rayden moved closer into his enemy and held him up against the wall closest to the door in which Scorpion entered the room. Reptile and Mileena immediately began to charge Rayden, but were stopped.
Their feet were frozen to the ground. Sub Zero lowered his hands. "Until you tell us why you are here, Scorpion will not be released." Reptile spoke up. "We have returned here to apologize and ask a favor of you warriors."
Kung Lao winced. "What kind of favor?" He asked the reptilian creature. Reptile crossed his arms. "I will only tell you if you agree to let Scorpion down and free our feet."
Kung Lao just looked at him. He held the spot on his arm where Reptile had burned his with acid. "How can we trust you?" Reptile also looked at Kung Lao's arm. "I guarantee you we mean no harm. If I am wrong, you can kill me."
Kung Lao waited. "Let him go, Rayden." Rayden nodded and released his hands from Scorpion. Scorpion dropped to the floor coughing and holding his body from the electricity that had been passed through him.
Rayden stood back and rested his hands on his hips. "First of all, what is your business here?" The thunder in his eyes was still crossing from side to side. Reptile hissed silently.
"We have come to give a great apology." Liu Kang chuckled, almost silently. "You come to give an apology? What kind of apology can undo this terror?" He asked as he pointed over to where the altered Fujin lay.
Reptile closed his eyes. "I know that what we have done cannot be undone. What I do know is that if we join forces, we can easily defeat Quan Chi and his minions." There was long pause.
Kai looked at Reptile. "Why do you wish to join with us after you just helped that sorcerer steal the amulet?" He frowned. "Foes don't just turn good for the sake of turning good."
Mileena grunted. "Do our feet have to stay frozen like this?" Sub Zero smiled underneath his mask. "It's not that easy to attack us from behind when your feet are frozen to the ground, is it?"
Kung Lao held up his hand. "Enough. There is no point in arguing. What favor have you come to ask of us Reptile?" Fujin grunted again.
Reptile wanted to let Mileena explain their plan to the others, but since he had already done most of the talking, he spoke again.
"We have come up with a thought as to defeating Quan Chi. He didn't exactly reward us with what he promised us."
Mileena laughed. "Except for me." Scorpion grunted. "That bastard gave us false promises, then screwed us out of them." He stood up. Sub Zero couldn't believe that he was mere feet from the specter who took his brother's life. He wanted to kill him now, but knew there were more important matters to attend to.
Reptile continued. "We thought that if you Gods would forgive us, we would all form alliances and travel to the Underworld. We could then destroy Quan Chi and find out what contents lie in the giant statue."
Liu Kang shook his head. "Wait, slow down. Stop. What giant statue?" He asked the reptilian warrior.
Mileena finally spoke up. "Quan told us that we were to steal the sacred Amulet of Power so that he could return it to his master. We would then be rewarded with our promises."
Liu frowned. "That could only mean one thing. Shinnok has to be inside that statue." Reptile answered him. "We do not know for sure. What we do know is that whatever Quan Chi and that statue are planning, it is evil. And we must stop it."
Sub Zero stepped forth and walked over to Reptile and Mileena. With a couple of kicks and punches, he easily knocked the frozen blocks of ice away from their feet. "I've had enough of fighting. Let us join arms and take down this evil put forth before us." He extended his arm out to the group. Slowly, each member put their hand on top of the other, as the pace picked up.
The only one left was Scorpion. Rayden looked at him. "This is the only way, Scorpion. Would you want Quan Chi and his master to resurface? Is that what you want? Place your arm here, and let us battle side by side. I know we can defeat him."
Scorpion walked slowly over to the large group. "Let us pray that you are right, Thunder God." He slammed his hand down on the group. Rayden smiled at Scorpion.
"I am not a Thunder God anymore, specter."
Ermac had been sitting at the same spot for hours with his book of spells resting firmly in his hands. He had just figured out how to tap into the tornado of souls that the Realm of the Heavens kept.
He was exhausted and needed a rest. His master would expect him shortly, and he was no where near finished his assigned task.
As Ermac sighed again, searching through the long pages of spells, the soulnado in front of him became even larger and greener with every passing second. Ermac knew Kintaro had met his death quite some time ago, but it shouldn't have been this hard to find his soul.
"Where are you, oh great four-armed giant?" Ermac asked himself, as if talking to another person. "This task is hell......" Ermac stopped. He wanted to slap himself across the face.
Of course! Kintaro's soul wouldn't be in the Heavens, it would be in Hell. He was such a ruthless killer, the Netherealm would be a perfect place for him to rest.
Immediately, Ermac found the page that had the instructions to tap the Netherealm's souls. He closed his eyes, held his hands up and a red mist began to form around them. As it swirled in a circle, Ermac recited the ancient dark words on the page in the book that gave directions on how to resurrect Shokan warriors. "From the depths of Hell, I command you to arise. Let your soul guide you to this world. Listen to my voice, gather your strength, Show yourself, fallen warrior, show yourself!"
In the cold, dark Throne room of the Netherealm, the stone statue resting by the giant statue of Quan Chi's master seemed to shake. Without warning, a green mist seemed to travel away from the statue, almost resembling a soul.
The demon Sub Zero glanced at it, but decided not to follow his thoughts. He just paid attention to the orders being given to him from Quan Chi and the giant statue.
The green soul from the statue traveled down a number of hallways, then flew through a window, shattering it instantly and then through a portal leading to the Earth Realm.
The soul gained speed and headed for the Temple of Elements. Ermac looked frantically at the green ball of mist flying at him. It changed direction, headed for the Soulnado, and dove right into it.
A low hush filled the Temple and the great Soulnado changed color from green to blood red. All of the souls seemed to come together, forming into one as they took the shape of a well-known and very deadly monster.
Ermac clutched his book and stumbled back. The monster stepped out of the Soulnado, his steps shaking the ground. The monster gained skin color and features, then stopped moving.
The monster now stood at a full height of nine feet. He was bald, with sharp white teeth showing from his mouth. He took the resemblance of a half-man, half-tiger. One indication was the thick, brown tiger stripes lining his four massive arms, legs, and shoulders. Silver belts held in place the yellow center of his chest plate. A large shoulder harness was placed on his shoulders with short, silver spikes shooting out of it, no less than forty on each shoulder. He chose to wear no foot wear, but did have silver and black armbands.
The massive beast crossed two of his four gigantic arms and grunted.
Ermac smiled. He now knew that he had performed the ritual correctly. He stood up to the massive giant in front of him.
"Kintaro."
Rayden stood at the back of the room, letting his weight fall on the wall to his left. His brother needed help. Desperately. If someone didn't do something soon, he would cross over in to the Dark Realm.
Without letting them know it, Rayden scanned the room, peering into each one of the warrior's souls. Every one of these warriors were all very skillful and talented, but none with the caliber of the specter.
If he were to retrieve the ancient sword that could save his young brother's life, or take it away, he would surely need help.
Fujin groaned again. Kasamia took up the water glass again and forced him to drink its contents.
Fujin tried to keep the water down, but his weakened body rejected it. He spit up the water and grabbed his stomach.
Then the unthinkable happened.
Rayden looked over at his brother. A loud growl came from his lower stomach. There seemed to be something clawing out of his lower abdomen. Fujin howled, unable to control his pain intake any longer.
The Evil was winning. Rayden couldn't believe his eyes. It hurt him more than it was hurting his younger brother to watch him suffer like this. Then, a sickening tear pierced the Thunder God's thoughts as he looked over at his brother. A hideous black spike ripped through his stomach. Dark red blood came shooting out as it ascended. Then, two more black spikes ripped through each side of his chest, only the one on the right was much smaller.
The spike on the left side of his chest was in far worse condition than the other two spikes. Instead of just black, it was a horrific mix of black and dark green veins. Where this spike came out was where the poison first decided to fester itself in Fujin.
Rayden froze. Everything seemed to halt, as the other warriors present in the large room stared in horror. Fujin grabbed the spike, which the poison was around and screamed.
Rayden could take it no longer.
"That is it! I can no longer stand by doing nothing as my younger brother slowly gets eaten alive by the dark side! I need you, Scorpion, to journey with me into the Netherealm and retrieve the sacred sword. It is the only thing that may save my brother."
Scorpion crossed his arms. "My save your brother? You seem to say as if you have no faith in the sword, Thunder God. Is that true?" Rayden's eyes burned with lightening. Scorpion could feel the anger shooting out of him.
"If the poison consumes him fully, then there is nothing in his path that will stop him. The sword is the only key to defeating him if that just so happens. So either way, we need the sword."
Scorpion felt the anger in him subside. He looked at the ground, then back at Rayden. "I will aid you. This will not be an easy task." Rayden looked at his brother then closed his eyes.
"Easy task or not, I must retrieve that sword."
Shao Kahn was growing very impatient. It was not a good idea to ever keep him waiting, especially when he gave specific orders.
"That little worm better be here soon!" As soon as Shao Kahn said what he wanted to say, the large chamber doors creaked open and in stepped Ermac and the hulking four-armed monster he had asked for.
Ermac rushed past Kintaro and was almost running up to his master's throne. Out of breath, he explained himself.
"Master, I am deathly sorry. There was a minor mistake made and I in no way meant to keep you waiting. Please forgive me..."
Shao Kahn held out his hand and out shot three purple beams, which latched on to Ermac's skull. He screamed and fell to the cold floor, clutching his pounding head.
"Save your pathetic words you fool! If I wanted an explanation, I would have asked for it! If you hadn't of walked through my doors just now, I'd have personally used you as Kintaro's prey!" Kintaro grunted and grinned. "Yes," he thought, "This is Shao Kahn." Shao Kahn released the vice from Ermac's head. He coughed and grunted, trying to catch his breath. He stood up and adjusted his throat.
"Sir, I present to you, your fallen General, Kintaro." The massive giant stepped forward and bowed slightly. Shao Kahn smiled. "It is good to have you back, Kintaro of the Shokan."
Kintaro crossed two of his arms, almost as if he'd been disgusted. "Personally, I would have wanted my soul to rest, to finally have peace, but I guess that wouldn't matter to you. What do you want?"
Shao Kahn was taken back. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. Not even the warriors that had defeated him. "If you ever..."
He stopped. He needed Kintaro, and Kintaro had the power to return himself to the Netherealm. "I need you to take down the older of the two Sub Zero brothers."
Kintaro laughed. "That is it? I am disappointed. I thought you of all people would have a challenge for me." Shao Kahn grinned.
"It will not be as easy as you think. He has been infected with a poison from a far away realm. He is guarding the statue that holds the sacred amulet. I need it. I have put together a small task for you. If you pass, then I will use you for my bidding. Should you fail, I will destroy your soul. Your soul will never rest in the Netherealm again."
Two giant, black-cloaked spirits with black doll masks on holding giant knives and pairs of scissors came out from behind Shao Kahn's throne. Kintaro laughed again. "This is pitiful. I've had to deal with these before." One of them rushed at Kintaro. Kintaro grabbed the giant knife from his hand and cut off the spirit's head. It fell to the ground, then vanished. Kintaro threw the giant knife into the other black spirit, then leapt up high into the air.
He came crashing down on the spirit with both of his legs, repeatedly pounding on it until it disappeared as well. Kintaro returned to where he was standing before, with his arms crossed, as if what he had just done to the spirits hadn't happened. Shao Kahn was very pleased. Now everything he had come to hate would pay. He looked at his four-armed General.
"Excellent!"
Next Chapter: INTO HELL