The rows and files of people passing up the beach looked like a small army crossing the desert. Gently the distant boats could be seen out to sea anchored down by their heavy metallic chains. The sun was hot and heated the sand down below so that walking across it with bare feet would have been painful.
The soldiers that had been on the boat had all come across the water leaving nobody behind. Now they all trooped together up the beach towards a distant forest. Their footprints were left clearly in the sand, which was so smooth in places that it almost reflected the sun entirely circularly. It was hard for Subzero to decide which it was better to look at: the blinding sand or the blinding sky.
Shangtsung again that same sorcerer was at the head of the group leading the way. The soldiers followed him with little complaint although you could see the sweat on their brows as they carried heavy equipment; barrels and logs and large crates that needed six men at each corner supported by wooden beams as if they were carrying the ark of the covenant or some other religious symbol. There were many of these objects that needed to be brought in from the boat. What each casket contained Subzero was almost certain none of the fighters knew. He was thankful that he didn't have to do any of this heavy work as the hot weather would have only made it harder.
The other fighters were all located at different positions in the line. They'd been placed in different boats by Reptile so that now they were still separated from each other in the line, presumably so that they couldn't conspiritate or kill each other. Liu Kang and Jonny Cage were further towards the front with few between them. They were the only two possibly able to make conversation of any kind. The Shaolin monk had glanced back in his direction once or twice never acknowledging Subzero but generally looking over in his direction and that of the other fighters; perhaps wondering what to do next. Kano was right at the very front never quite beside the sorcerer but never quite behind him. Sonya at the very back of the line had Reptile close by her and continually struggled to look over or passed the people in front to see her Black Dragon prey. Reptile it seemed judged her as the most dangerous or troublesome of all the fighters.
As they came half way up the beach and the clouds were drifting at a visible pace across the sky; again Subzero found his thoughts turning to murder and assassination. He was going through the various actions he should be taking. In the middle of the row he had little chance against this entire host of soldiers but if he could make his way somehow to Sonya and take out Reptile then maybe the other fighters would also revolt and try together they could crush Shangtsung and his small army right now. He could Polar Blast most of the line behind him but the trouble was in doing so he might accidentally kill Sonya Blade as well. And then of course he'd have the other half of the line to contend with which was not a peaceable option. Another problem with this was that he wasn't sure how cooperative Sonya Blade would be. She already believed him to be working for the Black dragon or at least assisting it (which he was to an extent). The other problem was that he didn't know for sure how powerful Shangtsung was. Martial arts wise Subzero had only seen one or two very swift and accurate moves. These could be lucky or confident strokes or part of a much deeper and greater technique neither of which Subzero could be certain of. There was also the question of what would happen if the fighters did triumph at this moment however unlikely it was. What would happen then? Where should they head for? They had little knowledge lest speculation be the case of how to run and move the dragon boat and they knew next to nothing about this strange island they had just landed on. They could be stranded here forever or until the possible local inhabitants friendly to the sorcerer found out what they had done and probably passionate to his cause decide to enact justice.
This was not the time to act but uncertainty made Subzero want to do something. What was the goal that this sorcerer had to achieve? Quan chi's was simple: recover the amulet to set Shinnok the dark god free of the Neatherealm. What Shangtsung needed was unclear to Subzero and Raiden had given no hint as to the purpose. For all he knew it could simply be their own demises. At this very moment they could be being lead into a death trap or concentration camp of some kind. In this position Subzero was powerless to stop him.
After awhile they crossed the expansive beach and the sand passed away into ready dunes that slid under the feet so that several people stumbled walking up or down the dry sand. This was harder going for the soldiers lumbered with heavy objects. One group dropped a crate onto the sand. Shangtsung turned at the front of the line stopping everyone and gazed at them solemnly while they fearfully scrambled to raise it again from the sand like slaves to a vengeful taskmaster.
At the end of the dunes past the reads and rocks they came into contact with the forest that ended the vast beach. A path became visible through the undergrowth that was virtually impossible to see from any great distance. It was cut as a thin entrance but seemed to widen further inside the foliage.
Shangtsung held out his palm and everyone stopped walking. There was silence throughout the ranks. A soft wind blew desolately against the sound of the distant sea breaking against the far cliffs. Their footprints spread out all the way to the water where the tide was beginning to swallow them. There was silence as the sorcerer looked over them all waiting seemingly for nothing at all. Subzero could feel his eyes crossing the crowd almost as a physical force, like a hand briefly touching all the planks of a fence as a person passes by. Taking a deep breath he spoke standing up high on a rock his robe fluttering half dramatically in a small breeze. This man was a dramatist by vision if not by intention.
"Welcome to my island!" he called, "It is a pleasant place with many beautiful grounds and gardens. Up ahead is my personal palace splendid in architecture and design; some five hundred and a few decades old after the last one burned down. Its a long story so please let me savor it for another time"
"I'm not interested in you or your rat eaten tastes," thought Subzero darkly, "Get to the point you stupid old man before I murder everyone you've ever known or heard of"
"Some of you may be feeling a little trapped if not being forced to be my prisoners. That is not the case. If any of you truly wish to leave this wonderful island then you may do so. You have only to ask me and I will be happy to escort you to the boat and have my men take you back to your own world and out of my magnificent tournament. But... I am confident that none of you will choose to do so. You cannot hide from the truth now behind false reasons. The true reason or reasons why you will not forfeit Mortal Kombat is because you are all here to serve a purpose, a very important one that is not quite apparent to you as of yet. You all have your own personal reasons for being here and that is why you will see things through. You have lifetime tasks to fulfill, destinies if you like but much less than the one purpose that all of you serve. If I were not confident in my words I would lie to you right now and tell you that you are all my prisoners to do with as I wish. But I am confident and in truth the only thing that keeps you all here is yourselves"
"Mortal Kombat has existed for generations and all who have entered have been the very best most advanced fighters from your realm. For you to participate in this Mortal kombat... this most crucial one more so than any other is the greatest honor to you from your gods"
He bowed a moment walking over to a large wooden trunked tree he reached up and broke off a small branch with a snap. He gestured to a soldier near by who came
promptly forward with an empty clay jar. Leaning the branch forward a gentle flow of clear transparent liquid came streaming out. Expressionless he dropped the branch ontp the pebbly sand below.
"The branches of these trees contain a nectar pleasant to the taste. Half of these trees you see throughout the forest will contain such a nectar while the other half do not. It has become a tradition over the many times I've held this tournament to stop here and drink from this one tree. You; fighters in my tournament may converse if you wish to, however you may not spar. I expect you to respect this one rule until we are safely through the forest. Don't leave the path, stay close and please be quiet. The forest is a dangerous place for those who do not understand every detail of it from minor to major. For now, let us relax a little and then we will finish off our remaining journey to the palace"
They all stood in line: the men from the boat and the fighters with a couple of soldiers at the front who had opened a great casket of cups onto the sandy floor. The sorcerer continually pulled branches from the tree of which there were many. All were thin but seemed to contain much of the substance. Subzero held back deliberately putting him self near the back of the line. If it were poison he'd rather watch the front line go down first and make his own escape. Sonya Blade sat down on a rock and continually looked in Kano's direction. Evidently she wasn't going to touch the stuff but her nemesis did. He was one of the first to drink from the cup and gave a gruff laugh as he did so "Good shit this!" he said boastfully out loud, "A toast to Mr Shang here eh"
"That won't be necessary," replied the sorcerer with a pleasant but cold face, "Your present enjoyment is enough to satiate me to any length"
"Whatever," shrugged the Black dragon leader gulping down the liquid and walking arrogantly aside.
Jonny Cage tried it and seemed to enjoy it. So far nobody was dead. Stubbornly Sonya sat on her rock one hand over her eyes keeping the sun out and spying continually on Kano. The Blackdragon leader seemed oblivious to her hate or at least uncaring. He sat on a tree root and was doing his best to talk with the soldiers who seemed to be trying their best not to converse. They replied in short simple answers, usually yes or no. Subzero thought he'd try his luck with one of them beside him in the queue. He was shorter than he himself but looked promisingly agile if he would gain the confidence and ambition to become great. Somehow though Subzero felt he never would. There would always be people to control this worker. He would be easy to crush in conversation and power of control. He was the perfect victim out of all the soldiers for Subzero to domineer into revealing hidden information that Shangtsung might not want spoken.
"Have you tried this drink before"
The soldier looked at him shocked as if the act of speaking to him had somehow been against the rules, he opened his lips and then closed them shaking his head.
"You can speak can't you"
Again he nodded but nothing more. They moved forward in the line. Subzero felt traitorously thirsty and irritated at the same time that this person would not honor him with an answer. He was Subzero, a great name. In an instant he could kill this man if he wanted. Why should this soldier not respect that?
"Do you enjoy your work here"
The soldier nodded and looked away in a different direction as if hoping to steer Subzero's attention onto something else. The cheek! Subzero was the best of the Lin Kuei, he wasn't such a fool as that. This time he'd force the soldier into denial or action.
"I haven't been to this island before. Please describe it to me, it sounds like an interesting place"
There! Now this little rat would have to say something or stay completely quiet. There was no sign language he could use this time.
His lips quivered a moment before he looked either side of him. Nervously he spoke, "Island good. Weather good. Mustn't speak"
Broken language; this person had hardly a grasp of how to speak the same language as Subzero.
"So you can talk" accused Subzero with a sarcastic tone, "So why must you not speak?" he persisted, "Shangtsung himself said only just a moment ago that we were allowed to be sociable"
Again his lips quivered. Gazing quickly around him he spoke quickly and quietly, "I am just a servant. I do not speak, I am advised not to speak on this event or about it"
"Tell me honestly!" said Subzero suddenly very intensely. He grabbed the man by the arm and squeezed tight, "Do you think we stand a hope in hell"
The soldier shuddered the red mouthpiece falling momentarily down from his lips. With great worry and fright he whispered back, "Earthrealm has always lost all the old tournaments. This time it loses for good just like all the other realms did. If it loses this time the doors open, and everything you know ends"
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Subzero angrily shaking the man he was almost ready to punch him when he felt those eyes suddenly crossing him. He snapped a look in Shangtsung's direction. He was gazing at them through a gap in the heads of the line. They were close now. The sorcerer glared before turning away he snapped another branch from a different tree.
"Speak you idiot!" hissed Subzero quickly turning back to the man, he tightened his grip, "Tell me what this is all about or I'll wring your neck with your own entrails"
"He saw me! Oh god he saw me say that..." he exclaimed through hushed whispers. The sun was hot.
"Speak"
"I'll say no more! He saw me! I'll say nothing more"
"You will or you will die. I'll come for you later and when I do you will tell me everything or you will suffer a fate worse than death"
"You cannot threaten me! I am a soldier of the sorcerer"
"I don't care who you are. You cannot kill me; I can kill you though. If I do who will care? I am important not you, you little rat. If you don't want to suffer a terrible death at my hands then you'd best give me everything you know when I next ask for it"
"Alright I'll do it! For Edenia I'll do it but it will solve nothing"
Subzero turned away. They were moving further up the line. He'd done it. He'd successfully gained a foreign ally, perhaps a little unorthodoxly with much a use of death threats but it had worked. He needed to know everything about Shangtsung and this tournament and soon. Somehow something was telling him that he should of chose Scorpion over this easy way out. At least he wasn't here to add to Subzero's problems.
It was their turn. The people passed aside and Subzero came up to the table. Shangtsung handed him a small cup and did the same for the other soldiers. All he had to do now was get that person on his own and he could find out everything. Walking aside passed the remaining lines he passed Reptile who was at the back. Glancing aside he watched Sonya on her rock. She still stared and showed no intention of wanting to go for a drink. She was making things hard for herself. Still was she the wise one here?
Subzero sipped it carefully. It tasted good and refreshing. It was excellent and it made him want to immediately gulp down the whole cup like Kano had done but he didn't. He forced himself to sip it slowly as he searched his eyes through the crowd. He'd lost his ally. He didn't know where the soldier had gone and he needed to find him now. This was the best moment to do so. He searched his eyes through the crowd but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. All of them looked the same with there small red mouth pieces and red clothy clothing with baggy black trousers. Wherever he was he certainly wouldn't seek Subzero out on his own. The coward. Subzero cursed himself quietly for not keeping an eye on him. He pushed through the crowds of people searching for some clue. It was useless though. He wouldn't be able to find him like this and the longer this went on the harder it would be for him to remember the soldier's face and voice. Height was the only clear clue he could use.
Suddenly a shout rose up through the crowd. All eyes turned to a soldier who stood up amongst a hustling group and shouted something in a foreign language across the stones. Shangtsung looked up just as he handed the final cup to Reptile with narrow eyes.
"What is it you twit?" he asked sharply, as people began to gather round. Subzero made his way through the crowd to get a glimpse. Pushing his way to the front he looked down to see a body on the floor. Again the soldier shouted out pointing downwards at the scene. A soldier was sprawled on his back, the skin grey and pale. A small trail of blood was slowly coming out of his mouth and nose. It dribbled a little making its way round the curve of his ear.
"Let me though Let me though!" shouted the sorcerer pushing soldiers aside. Coming to the body he looked down on the floor expressionless.
"Diepos," said Shangtsung softly, "A pity. He only joined us recently. He like all Edenians had a habit of talking too much but alas now he'll never speak again. One of you soldiers must have broken a branch from the wrong tree"
"What do you mean?" questioned Liu Kang who had pushed his way through the crowd. The monk gazed with wide eyes at the fallen soldier on the floor.
"What's the problem?" grunted Kano over the heads of everyone else but he was ignored.
"As I said," continued Shangtsung, "Half of this type of tree is filled with nectar. The other half is filled with similar tasting nectar with the rub that is deadly poisonous. Somehow one of us must have gotten the branches mixed up. A pity: him being one of the few and only Edenians left in my guards. You two bury him!" he ordered to some soldiers standing by his side.
Subzero gazed down at the face with slow terrible understanding. This was his former ally. The face although now grey with blood matched the person he had spoken to only a few moments before. This was the first time he had heard his name and now he was dead. There was no question about it. This had been intentional on the part of the sorcerer. He had done this to stop Subzero finding out more. He had to be much more careful from now on. Shangtsung seemed hardly to care about this man's death. Subzero didn't expect him to nor care about the death of any other living being. Subzero could expect any depth of evil or dark deeds to come from this man because he had seen people like this before. He had seen them from the deep pits of the world. They would not grant mercy, and begging they in turn would not be given any from their killers.
It was incredible how after that short interlude the soldiers were able to return to normalcy. Perhaps they had never left what was normal to them. They seemed always constantly gripped with fear over the power that their superiors held over them. One wrong move and it seemed to Subzero that death was never very far away. None of them would speak now no matter how much he erdged them. He had used up his only chance with that ploy. From now on he would be on his own with the other fighters. They needed to work together. The web was closing fast around them and it was so hard for them to see the threads.
This measure had failed. It was time to get back onto the primary objectives. The most important measure was of course to have entered the tournament. The Grandmaster had made him do this no doubt in exchange for some stupidly high price. It was not said in the contract whether he had to win the tournament or not. That was optional but it would please the Grandmaster if he did and again put Sektor down a satisfying notch. The problem with winning was that it may conflict with Kano's aims to which Subzero was still unsure of. He needed to speak to Kano urgently and preferably alone.
He searched his eyes across the crowd. Two soldiers in the distance were digging a hole in the dirt and sand. They had only dug down barely two feet when they dropped the body in and started filling it again. Subzero had heard personally from grave diggers that graves were supposed to be dug five or six feet deep to stop remains surfacing, and that was with a coffin.
Liu Kang talked quickly and quietly with Jonny Cage. Evidently they had been unsaddled as well by the death. He spotted Kano on a rock talking to the sorcerer.
"Got any more of that drink?" he rasped holding out the cup to the standing sorcerer.
"If you would like to break the branch yourself, you are welcome to as much as you like"
"I think I'll pass," he grumbled in reply quietly gritting his teeth. He was more like an animal than a man.
Subzero felt a tap on the soldier. Turning warily he came face to face with Sonya Blaze.
"Are you ready to talk yet? I saw you talking with a dead man just a moment ago. Did you have anything to do with that Mr. ...Subzero"
Subzero sighed as he looked at her. She was letting herself be overclouded by this obsession with Kano. He could see it in her eyes. She wasn't interested in him or anyone else. As soon as she had Kano she had no need of anything else. It was stopping her from seeing the bigger picture; not that Subzero ever went in for any of that clear the mind and follow your heart ethical crap. If need be he could use her hate of Kano to his own ends if he could find a way to do so. For now he'd just have to put her off.
"To tell the truth Sonya Blaze... right now I know as little as you do. I try not to talk to dead men if I can help it. They're usually not very responsive"
"Time to move!" called Shangtsung, "There will be more refreshments once we arrive, until then we march"
Subzero gave a mock bow before moving off at the guidance of Reptile. Sonya glared at Subzero. Reptile glared suspiciously at them both before he ushered Sonya hurriedly into her place. Getting up and moving back in line they started on the long trek through the forest.
The water rippled. The boat was still and quiet. There was nobody aboard and the spirits within the black planking had all the peace and quiet to themselves but they dare not speak in broad daylight. Ghosts only come out at night or so the saying goes but some take exception to the rule. Sometimes ghosts venture out into the day and these ghosts are much more dangerous than the usual kind. These kinds of ghosts are the ones that actually kill.
At the base of the planking a small blade with a piece of rope attached to it tensed up on the line. With a sudden yank it came out of its hole and plopped away into the water where it sunk down into the depths as if some great fish had pulled it away to be consumed. The sun was hot on the waves as the clouds drifted. The boat was quiet. The boat was still.