Chapter13: Torches

"We must be crazy to try this in broad daylight," whispered Sonya as Subzero crept across the stands. He nodded once gazing up at the far soldier on the guardhouse roof who patrolled back and forth. As he walked away down the wall Subzero turned quickly and made a hand gesture to Sonya behind him and the two of them hurried forward into the dark passageway of the main house.
The passageway seemed to go on and on. It had the same damp quality to it that it had had the day before. There was no guard as Liu Kang had said. There was nobody waiting for them in these shadows - that at least was a relief. Subzero found Sonya's footsteps irritatingly loud. In his earlier days he'd had to work with an assassin called Kaliga who was even worse at it. He seemed unable to understand that making a lot of noise on a stealth mission was a bad idea. The mission had been to assassinate a guild leader in a ninja clan called the Shakurbo. Long ago it had been quite a prominent rival but now it was mostly broken up via Lin kuei activity.
Subzero and Kaliga had after killing two servants taken their clothes and infiltrated the mansion of the guild leader who lived in North Korea. Kaliga had been making mistakes all over the place and things that over the time the two of them had undertaken the job had gradually infuriated Subzero more and more. Back then Subzero had been quite a bit different. He hadn't liked people who were better than him. Those he detested but respected. The ones who really irritated him were the ones who were stupid.
They'd finally gotten the guild leader alone with the two of them. Subzero stood near the exit with a bell ready to call for service - in actual fact he was a look out to make sure nobody was coming. Subzero gave the sign that all was to go and Kaliga backed off. He was nervous and Subzero could see it. He backed off faltering again and again until finally when the guild leader had his back turned to admire a painting, Kaliga withdrew the poisoned knife that was concealed in his boot. He'd been instructed simply to stab in the back - not cut the throat as the guild leader was himself trained and might throw him through instinct. After the initial stab then they could finish the job and silence him properly, after all one stab was all that was needed to seal his certain death. Kaliga tripped over his robes and the knife rolled out of his hands.
The guild leader turned and shock filled his face as he began to work out the act of betrayal and see his enemies clearly. Subzero instead of feeling intense fear and panic had filled with disgust and loathing at his ally. Subzero knew immediately what to do; it came naturally to him:
"Assassin!" he shouted suddenly picking the role, "Guards! Guards come quick"
Shouts filled the mansions as Kaliga picked up the knife with a look at Subzero with a mixture of shock surprise and eternal hate. The guild leader withdrew a long kitana blade and held it forward tip raised to the ceiling in the commonest used posture. Kaliga stupidly threw the dagger but the guild leader deflected it easily with his own blade as if for the hundredth time in a training exercise.
"Who sent you? … You're Lin Kuei aren't you? No need - I know you won't do any talking!" he hissed and jerked the blade closer The guards came quickly through doors on either side with swords drawn, "What's going on?" they called only to see what was previously thought to be a servant backing off from a sword blow. Reaching for the wall Kaliga took a long-sword off the wall and tried to fend himself. He was unfamiliar with the western heritage blade but seemed to grasp its handlings quicker than Subzero would have expected. There was no curve in the blade and as such it could often feel rigid in the hands of someone who was used to a curved weapon. The Long-sword was a weapon designed to stab and poke rather than swing. The guild leader sensing the rising learning skill of the assassin backed warily off.
"Arrest him!" he ordered to the soldiers Kaliga hadn't actually been bad at fighting - especially when it was for his life. Subzero himself would probably have preferred not to come against him without uneven circumstances. Kaliga's faults however were far from the battlefield. He had no grasp on stealth, tact or social skills in and out of the Lin Kuei. As far as Subzero was concerned he had been dead from day one.
For a time although somewhat frantically he seemed to hold the soldiers off for awhile. But it was clear as was to be expected that he could not hold off five and now six trained ninjas forever from taking his life. Subzero quiet as anything picked up the fallen dagger and aiming carefully for almost a second flung it into the guild leader's head from behind. He fell relatively silently with the soft robes and the noise of the battle. The shocked worried face remained on his face after death. The moment came and Kaliga received a jab to the shin that brought fresh blood on the servant's robes. His footing immediately became poor as he lost more and more space. A second later and they were all hacking poor Kaliga to pieces. Blood and shreds went everywhere as they brought him to the ground in a frenzy. They waited for their master to call them off but he did not.
In the confusion Subzero managed to get out easily passed the front door guards with the simple but ironic message, "Its an emergency! The Sensei's been assassinated"
He hadn't had the luxury of walking through the front door the time before. Quick as anything he'd headed back to head quarters to report the death of his partner and - what had "happened.
"Can you not try and walk a little quieter?" hissed Subzero "Sorry," she whispered back and instantly the footsteps were almost completely silent.
"Now if only I had done that the first time," thought Subzero shaking his head. Raiden had not made a jest when he'd said that Subzero needed to make amends for his past. To this day nobody knew what the real cause of Kaliga's death had been except for Subzero himself.
They came quietly out into one of the red lined corridors that was so prominent in the island palace and closed a large wooden door softly behind them.
"Which way?" whispered Sonya "Down," he replied creeping through the opposite door.
"Oh great," she whispered, "Where's down"
"I don't know"
The more they crept the more Subzero felt the impossibility of the task. It was only sooner or later that they would be caught snooping around the palace. The sorcerer was not stupid and surely sooner or later he would find them. Then Shangtsung would have license to do whatever he wanted with them. Maybe he'd poison them with that nectar?
On the contrary to Subzero's suspicions the strangest thing about the palace was that the more they walked around the more Subzero began to realize that there was nobody at all on the first floor. This didn't stop him from worrying but it made their task a lot easier. They checked the rooms all carefully and quietly looking in from doorways to make sure that nobody was around. The entire first floor seemed to be completely barren of guards or anything that could ensnare them.
They were almost casually searching by the time they did find someone. Sonya and Subzero having located a staircase to the second floor were just about to go up it when they heard voices from above. They looked at each other quickly before Subzero beckoned and the two hid in a small broom cupboard beneath the stairs. A mop poked into Subzero's back but he ignored it and closed the door.
"You getting cosy boyo?" whispered Sonya in his ear "Shut up!" he hissed, "I'm trying to listen"
The voices came hustled as the footsteps sounded out down the stone steps. The noise of robes could be heard in-between the steps.
"Why feed him?" said a soft shadowy voice, "Why not let him fast with us - sei akabe - eme-oroora"
"Darria - em oteb mafuistio - one eye to see - one to be seen, meobian etai - sei akabe - a riddle to be sure one we will work out for him who sees all - eme-eme-sakurio diablos"
"Eme-eme-sakurio diablos who sees all we see but through blind eyes"
"One eye to see - one to be seen who seeked the eye and failed to see - hrakia meboria ,meborio, meborios ekora, eme-eme-sakurio diablos"
The rest was a mumble of chant and strange language. They talked in a variety of different sounds and maybe many different languages as well. Subzero could understand little of what they said.
"What did they say?" whispered Sonya in his ear "I'm not quite sure," admitted Subzero, "But something tells me we should follow them. Hush now, we walk quietly, follow quietly… ok"
She nodded in the darkness. Subzero gently pressed the mop to one side. It didn't quite balance and almost fell but Sonya swiftly caught it. With a little nod he quietly opened the door and listened. The voices were quiet as the people whoever they were had walked round the corner. As quick as he dared Subzero headed down the corridor and peeped his head round the corner. He was just in time to see a flicker of their robe turn off.
Sonya came behind him and the two hurried off as fast as they could down the corridor making as little sound as was possible. A carpet ran down the center of the corridor but the floor to either side was bare and wooden. They were careful to stick to the center and not run on the wood. Subzero again his back to the wall put his head round the corner and watched as a door closed. Sonya quietly came up beside him. The chanting died down to a far away mumble until finally it disappeared.
"Where did they go?" she whispered "Into the throne room I think"
"Why? There's nothing there, we already looked it over"
"Obviously not enough, we'd best investigate and find out what it is they can see and we cannot"
Crossing the corridor the two of them crept through and closed the door behind them. They entered into the familiar throne room where they had had lunch a few days before. There was not a sound of the priests to be heard. They had seemingly completely vanished. There seemed to be nowhere in the room that they could have gone to. Without the table the room seemed almost completely barren a stark contrast to the day when all of the fighters had sat down for lunch unable to talk to each other with Shangtsung gloating.
"I don't understand it," said Subzero astonished "I do," replied Sonya with a chuckle "What do you mean"
"The answer is we're stupid"
Subzero raised an eyebrow, "I see"
"Let me show you" she grinned and walking over she came to the throne in the center of the room, "Now in Cage's movie Fire Fist2 the bad guy has a secret entrance behind the chair. All we have to do is find the lever and the chair will move and there's a passage behind it"
"And this one evidently doesn't," interrupted Subzero sarcastically, "Thus I see you have proved that you are stupid. Now how will you prove that I am stupid"
"Simple," replied Sonya reaching behind the chair. There was a deep hollow kalunk of a noise and the huge throne moved aside. Subzero gazed wide-eyed as a large set of steps appeared in the darkness leading down and underground.
"You have to be kidding me - you were right about that"
"Of course I am!" returned Sonya, "And now I'm supposed to say 'I'm always right' because that's what Cage said in the movie"
"But we're not in a movie right"
"We could be in Fury Fist3 if Cage will higher us. You can play Shangtsung - you'd be good at playing an evil character"
"Since when did you become a fan of Cage's movies"
"Since Cage did a package check on Kano of course - now come on lets get moving"
"Package check? Oh… I see"
The dungeon was dark. If it were not for the strange flickering torches that lined the walls there would be little to no light in this place. Shangtsung had said so little about the dungeon or the champion Goro it seemed strange that they could now be in it. The way was dark and seemed only to go deeper underground. Subzero estimated that they had by now gone far past the palace walls and must presumably be somewhere under the grounds. A few torches were placed unevenly down the passage far apart so that it seemed they were in a sea of darkness with distant fires.
Eventually the darkness ended with a single door that they almost missed in the dull light and could have dashed their wits out against it. Subzero opened it and nodded to Sonya to be quiet. Meticulously they crept through. Inside was what looked like a cloak room. A door was at the end and the ceiling was close. Torches in the shape of demonic faces were either side of the room, four in total making the room much better lit that the passageway before. Red robes were hung on the walls on small wooden pegs each one carved into a primitive savage face.
"This is lucky," remarked Subzero quietly "We put these on right?" asked Sonya "Unless we end up looking like complete fools in front of Shangtsung's priests. Alternatively we could go back now and tell the others… we have after all found the so called Dungeon"
Sonya took one of the many robes and swung it on herself quickly, "No - I want to find out more. We go on… okay"
"Its dangerous but then again we are as usual in the dark. We do not know what is going on. For all we know the others could already be dead"
"So we go on," said Sonya matter of factly, "Easy as pie"
"As you wish," he responded taking a robe off the peg. The single door at the end of the cloakroom was braced with metal. The dragon symbol was indented into the door so perfectly that it could only be imagined that some industrial machine stamped it with a mould as it was cooled. So many things and objects across the palace had unusual attributes to them and certain elements of perfection to them that separated them from the earth and mortal men. It seemed that every door was differently made making it very unlikely that a factory produced all of them - Yet the carvings if carved they were or painted as the case sometimes was seemed so perfect as to be uncraftable.
"If we meet someone," said Subzero opening the door, "Keep your head down and don't make eye contact. For all we know they might recognize us immediately anyway"
"I get ya," she nodded, "Put your hands together as well. That's how they always walk when I've seen them. There like monks or the Ku Klux Klan or something"
Subzero nodded surprisingly not having thought of that himself and crept on through the doorway. The first thing he noticed was that the passageway was a lot colder and a lot darker. Instantly he could hear distant voices. Sonya closed the door extremely quietly and followed on behind. The two walked down the passageway and the voices became louder. They stopped at a cross way because the voices were coming from their left. Subzero looked round the corner and watched.
Across in the darkness half shadowed by a pillar two red robed priests stood facing the wall. It was him again, at last he'd turned up. Kano was strung up unexpectedly chained to the wall like someone crucified. It made Subzero wonder how long he'd been kept there. He looked pretty bad already.
"What's going on?" whispered Sonya "Shadow priests," returned Subzero. He opened his mouth briefly and then closed it quickly deciding that telling her that Kano was there now wouldn't be the brightest thing to do.
Kano's time in this dark place would have been painful to say the least. Left in such a position the muscles in the shoulders get strained and stretched. Eventually the lungs and inner organs are pulled out of shape and filled with fluid destroyed by the weight of the human body. The lungs are unable to get rid of mucus and fill up with their own muck. Such was the fate of the victim of crucifixion, not gangrene from the punctured hand, or death through blood loss but drowning in ones own fluid. Kano however did not have nails through his hands but chains round them instead no doubt making bloody marks on his wrists.
"How are you feeling Kano?" said one priest looking up at him. The voice was cold and whispery. It unnerved Subzero.
"Piss off," coughed Kano grimly in reply "We've brought you some food," sneered the other in a whisper, "Would you like to be fed like the dog you are"
"I made a bargain with that man!" hissed Kano, "I'll fucking kill you and him if I get the chance…" the rest was interrupted by a fit of coughing, "I'll…"
"Shangtsung no longer needs you or your bargain," laughed the other priest, "you lost the tournament - another failure for Earthrealm. Shangtsung is taking you back to Outworld as an offering to the emperor. You should be pleased - mostly Shangtsung takes the souls of those who lose in Mortal Kombat but you will get the distinct honor of meeting with he who rules over all realms"
"Heh is that right? Ruler of all realms eh? Well I'll meet your ruler of all realms and I'll join up with his army. Once I do and earn the respect of your pathetic Outworld I'll come back and give you a special visit. How about that you little shit"
"Its Kano isn't it!" hissed Sonya in Subzero's ear "Hush!" he growled back "I look forward to it mortal but unfortunately for you the emperor is not interested in your pathetic proposals. He would much rather unlike Shangtsung it seems have your soul and be done with you. Whether there is much worth in your soul remains to be seen but I'm sure if there isn't then the emperor can find other ways of using you none of which will leave you alive," the priest walked forward and stood directly under Kano and laughed, "I will leave your food here so that you can collect it when you see fit"
The shadow priest put a plate of cold meats and salad on the floor of the room along with a cup just below Kano. He was of course unable to reach it being so high up on the wool. Chained as he was he was unable to move his arms. The priests laughed as they left.
"Don't make too much noise Kano, there is a meeting in the room next door. If you're a good dog we might lift your food a little closer"
Kano did not reply. His face twisted into one of incredible hate and the single red eye flashed as it caught a distant torch light. Distantly a large door boomed shut and the priests had departed.
"Coast is clear," said Subzero and the two of them walked in pulling their hoods tight.
"More girlies?" growled Kano watching them enter, "What the fuck do you shits want"
Subzero took the hood down and Sonya followed.
"Hello Kano," smiled Sonya sweetly, "are you happy to see me"
Kano gazed at Sonya incomprehensibly for a moment and then sighed, "Aww fuck… hello baby"
"What happened?" questioned Subzero, "How did you get here"
"After the fight with Cage…"
"Who whipped your sad behind," interrupted Sonya "Fuck off… after that they dragged me off. You guys had all gone off somewhere. That back stabbing bastard Shangtsung said I was a pathetic dog and ordered me off through that hidden passage behind his 'special chair' - the pansy-gay-mother-fucking-…" Subzero was amazed at how much Kano could swear in such a position, "…They took me down here and chained me up. Lucky for me you guys found me"
"Lucky for you?" laughed Sonya darkly, "When I'm through with you the only thing that will be lucky is having any balls left at all"
"Heh heh… you think so?" grinned Kano his eyelids drooping, "You see Subzero here is working for me aren't you"
"I work for who I want to," said Subzero sharply, "but as it happens Sonya I cannot allow you to kill Kano"
"You what!?" said Sonya turning to Subzero in disbelief "I've told you this already. Kano is part of my mission. I cannot kill him or I undermine my profession and my work"
"Don't you get it?" said Sonya fiercely, "This isn't about jobs or professions any more. This is about saving the god-damn planet. What part of that don't you understand"
Kano burst out laughing, "Ha ha ha! Some rescue party this is. There's only one way we can sort this out. We'll do this Black dragon style"
"You shut up!" shouted Sonya "Let him speak," said Subzero warningly "Cut my chains and you and me Sonya - we can do it and sort this business about your partner out once and for all"
"You are in no condition to fight Kano," interrupted Subzero, "you're a wreck and haven't eaten…"
"Even weakened as I am, I am far more competent a fighter than you miss Blaze. I've seen you fight before and frankly I'm not impressed. I didn't enter this tournament not knowing how to fight and I doubt I'll leave it any differently. Let me down and we can finish where we left off"
"We haven't got time for this!" insisted Subzero, "We need to get on now and find Goro or get the hell out of here…"
"No!" said Sonya sharply, "He's right. We have unfinished business Kano and I. It will be a pleasure to smash his face against the wall. I'm letting him down"
"And how do you know he won't just run away when you do that"
"First of all I'd kill him if he tried. And second of all I know he won't," said Sonya walking forward, "Help me get these chains off"
Subzero found himself in a dilemma completely, for the first time in ages so it seemed ,unsure of what to do. On the one hand they needed to move away right now, on the other Kano needed to be dealt with somehow or other, but he couldn't just kill him. Reluctantly Subzero walked forward to the wall and looked up. Kano grinned winking his one normal eye. It was bagged and he clearly hadn't slept. Reaching up he held the chain tight in his hand and froze it fast.
"Fuck that's cold!" swore Kano There was a crack and the chain came free; Kano stumbled one foot half on the ground rubbing his wrist with his cheek and blowing it with his mouth. Subzero did the same to the other and Kano dropped to the ground in a heap. He staggered slowly first on his knees coughing weakly and then got slowly to his feet clearly not ready for battle. Sonya turned away and flung the robe to the ground. As easily as anything she turned and flipped herself through the air landing easily on her feet. She took several swings at the air warming herself up surprisingly showing a lot of skill. It suddenly dawned on Subzero that these fighters who represented earth realm weren't as incompetent at fighting as he had originally foreseen. Maybe they truly were the best that Earthrealm had to offer?
"We haven't got time for this," said Subzero again "Screw you," responded Sonya, "I've been waiting for this for 8 years, you can wait a little"
"Its been a long time baby," growled Kano with a cough. He raised his hands in a fighting stance, "Shall we finish up"
"Any time any place," replied Sonya. Subzero was unable to make any wager on the fight. In a way it would have been easier to kill Sonya and take allegiance with Kano. If Kano did not survive then Subzero would continually have to worry about the black dragon afterwards. But if Sonya died then what on earth would he tell Raiden?
She charged him. The movement was so quick Subzero almost missed it. Sonya was very quick on her feet but somehow something went wrong as she charged Kano and she ended up with a punch straight in the face. Sonya fell to the ground dazed. Kano laughed, "Too easy"
A moment later Kano fell himself on the ground as she tripped him. She'd be seeing stars Subzero knew for sure after that first punch but she seemed okay. She was blinded with the lust for revenge just as Kano was by his metallic face. There was a red mark above her nose where the punch had hit. A little lower and it probably would have broken her nose. Kano rolled to his feet as Sonya approached backing off. She attacked with flurry of punches that he staggered to block. He tried to counter with a firm punch to the chest but she easily countered him dodging lightly aside she twisted his arm painfully and elbowed him in the back. He let out a cry falling to the ground Sonya proceeded to kick the black dragon master over and over again. He grabbed her foot and tried to pull her down with him. He failed and instead she lost her balance for a moment and wobbled backwards giving him enough time to get to his feet.
Kano dodged as she tried a jump kick but she was so swift that he had no time to attack her even as she landed. Sonya had successfully combined both her feet and hands making it impossible for Kano to get a single move in.
"I'll kill you, you slimy bastard!" she shouted and with a lightning fast kick pushed his blocking arms aside and punched him squarely in the face so that he fell onto his back. He groaned lying on the floor. He was no match for her in his current state just as Subzero had feared.
"Get up," she insisted. He staggered to his feet clearly hardly able to even stand.
"Sonya hurry up and kill him we need to move on," said Subzero impatiently "Subzero!" called Kano, "I order you to kill Sonya Blade"
Subzero laughed finally taking a side, "I would but you're busy with her. The Blackdragon master should have no problem defeating a Special Forces agent. You have business to attend to. I would not dishonor you both by intervening"
"Your lucks up Kano," said Sonya approaching him.
"You idiot!" said Kano to Subzero, "I could have paid you a lot of money to work for me. Your just as pathetic as the rest of them unable to choose who can lead you to the top. Come on then bitch"
Sonya attacked and Kano summoning some kind of hidden strength parried the blow and winded her in the stomach. She seemed somehow to recover from the massive blow and block Kano's own combo. His punches were thick and strong like a Gorilla and never seemed to lose strength yet he was not as precise as Sonya or as nearly as quick.
The two of them spared and Subzero was powerless to do anything. As he watched a frightening sound came to his ears. Distantly the doors opened with that same loud booming sound that the doorway, now and then, unseen had made. Many voices sounded out across the dungeon.
"Sonya!" called Subzero, "They've finished their meeting! We've got to go now. We have to get out of here. Leave Kano here"
"Never!" shouted Sonya attacking again. She backed off a moment and Subzero spoke again.
"This is no good. If you wait here you and him will be captured. We have to go back and tell Liu and Cage what we found otherwise we're no use to anyone. She turned to glance at Subzero and in that moment Kano ran. Sonya roared and chased him, "Oh know you don't!" she shouted and rugby tackled him. Footsteps sounded loudly clearly running after hearing the noise "Stupid fool!" hissed Subzero and looking in either direction quickly hid himself behind the wall in the passageway.
"Bitch!" roared Kano landing face down on the stony floor. Turning him over Sonya began bit by bit to choke his wind pipe. Clenching her teeth she held her head high to escape Kano's own muffled cries and attempts to grab her neck. His hands flopped about madly like a dying man as she clenched harder round his neck. The footsteps became louder until they were a torrent of noise and shouts. Kano's muffled noises stopped as Sonya was kicked aside by one of many guards. Subzero shook his head and looked at the floor. Quietly he snuck away down the corridor. Shangtsung's voice rang out.
"Well, well, well. Sonya Blade… did you not listen when I said no fighting amongst the competitors without my permission? - obviously not. I'm afraid you'll have to take a penalty, punishment or should I say great honor. You can be the first to take on the impervious prince Goro"
Sonya's voice did not reply, Kano's breaths were heavy and gasping.
"What the fuck is that?" came Sonya's voice " 'That' said Shangtsung dangerously, is prince Goro champion of Mortal Kombat and victor over Kung Lao. Would you do the honors prince Goro of removing this pathetic woman from the tournament"
"It would be my pleasure Shangtsung," said a very deep and very powerful voice. Knuckles cracked. Subzero shook his head and quietly closed the door behind him just as a scream let out and laughter filled the dungeon.