"Father would not have been impressed... I was caught up in trying to profit from both sides... I let them destroy each other. I'm a fool and hardly worth the title Lin kuei... but then what is Lin kuei? Is Sektor... Lin kuei? Is the Grandmaster... Lin kuei"
Notice:
All tournament fights have been suspended after two of the competitors maliciously broke the code of honor. The Grand Master of the tournament Prince Goro and his adviser Shangtsung will personally decide themselves in their own time when the tournament should begin again. Below is an extract from the code that is particularly relevant:
"The word 'Code' has many different definitions. The Shaolin Martial arts tournament is governed by a system of rules of conduct... An Ethical Code.
The combatants respect each other as warriors, no matter what degree of hatred they have for one another ... a code of honor"
The three of them sat in silence.
"You lost Sonya?" repeated Jonny Cage Subzero did not reply. He simply nodded gazing down at the floor.
"We did not find anything either," said Liu Kang, "we were lucky to make it out of there alive"
Subzero looked up, "What happened?" he asked weakly "We were attacked by guards. Shangtsung must have known somehow that we were looking for the dungeon. We killed all of them"
"Where are their bodies?" he asked immediately "Impaled down there with the spikes where they belong. Its only a matter of time until someone finds them"
"I can't believe you lost Sonya!" shouted Jonny Cage, "What happened? Did you just leave her there to fend for her self? What is wrong with you"
"Cage calm down!" said Liu Kang "No I won't! He's doing this! Its Subzero, he's been setting us up all along. It must have been him who tipped off the soldiers or how else would they have known"
"Jonny Cage!" enforced Liu Kang, "There's no way he could of done that. For starters he left with Sonya to go on the mission directly after we had spoken. Secondly if he had he would not have returned here to talk with us now"
Subzero sighed and looked up at the low ceiling, "I'm sorry," he said, "I told her to come over and over but she did not. She wanted to kill Kano so bad. I knew pretty soon that there was nothing I could do that would persuade her to leave him behind in such a short time"
"You're an idiot!" spat Jonny Cage and turned away slamming his fist down on a table. They were in the common room of the square house now only three of them left. Their numbers had dwindled since when they first arrived. The general atmosphere or question that was behind everyone's mind was who would go next?
"I just don't get it," sighed Cage deep with sorrow, "I liked her man. First girl I ever like... I mean like as in really like and for a long, long time... and she's now probably dead. I've got money, I've got talent, and everyone back home likes me. Why"
They were again silent.
"Jonny Cage she may not be dead," said Liu Kang breaking the quiet "Of course she's dead!" he snapped, "What else could she be now with that maniac"
Liu Kang was paused, "No," he whispered, "In fact I'm pretty sure that she's still alive"
"Why?" he asked suddenly concerned, "Why is she not dead? Tell me"
"If you keep saying she's dead then maybe she will be dead!" said Liu Kang raising his voice, "Listen to me: Kano wasn't dead was he Subzero"
Subzero looked up from the floor grimly, "No... he wasn't dead... but not far off it either"
"Then if Kano was not dead Sonya will not be dead also. He is keeping us alive for a reason. We are worth more to him alive than dead, that much I have gathered so far"
"Maybe," interrupted Subzero, "He intends to feed all our souls to the emperor"
"We have to act fast," continued the monk, "Soon they will discover the bodies and will no doubt act upon it. They kept Sonya because she broke the rules they'll no doubt finish us off as well if they find out we killed those men. Remember they need us for Mortal Kombat, and without us they cannot finish what they started. We now know where the dungeons are and how to access them. The only thing to do now is go to them and challenge the Grandmaster; Goro"
"They will guard it better now that they know one of us has entered the dungeons," said Subzero "We have no choice," said Liu Kang, "Still... it is unlikely that they have fully organized themselves. We must go now and bring the fight to them before they bring it to us. They are cowards for hiding him from us for so long. Even now we have not seen him"
"We're probably going to get ourselves killed," said Jonny Cage "But what if we don't?" said Kang, "And what if you get Sonya back after it all. What if you make a movie called Mortal Kombat Cage? What if you prove to the world that you are a real warrior? Would that be worth it"
Cage was silent and turning he looked the monk in the eye slowly, "That would be worth it"
"They are like the king and queen of the chess board," said Subzero, "Take either piece and their power crumbles"
"Yeah," laughed Cage grimly, "except for the fact that we're the pawns"
"When do we act?" whispered Subzero "Morning - before wakeup"
It was a chilly morning outside with a leaf-ridden breeze. It seemed almost as if the entire island had gone towards autumn. There were leaves fluttering in the courtyard through the windows. The three of them, Cage Kang and Subzero, walked down the steps of the square house entrance and passed through into the courtyard as quiet as mice. They did not expect to find anyone. They were stopped instantly before they could walk through the door.
"You are not aloud to pass by order of Shangtsung," said a guard raising his hand.
"Hey buddy!" laughed Cage, "What's the big deal? We're just going for a walk. Don't you guys like exercise around here"
"The gong has not rung yet. Return to your rooms until it has," said the soldier warningly. There were three of them in total and all of them glared.
"You don't understand," said Liu Kang with a sigh, "Look... we have secret business. Shangtsung himself told us to meet him now by the Budha shrine. He said if you didn't let us go I should tell you that the punishment would be... most disagreeable"
"Shangtsung said this?" said the guard clearly shocked Subzero found it strange to hear the soldier's voices. They had never spoken to the fighters before in any detail. This was turning out to be a severe disappointment. Their discourtesy irritated him.
"No!" whispered one of the other guards, "It's a trick"
"Even so what if it were true"
"I don't trust you!" said the third looking from one fighter to the other, "I will go to the shrine and check with Shangtsung, you two wait here"
"You must let us through now!" ordered Liu Kang The guard glared, "I'm sorry," be began reluctantly, "but Shangtsung gave orders and until we receive more orders from him and not from pathetic earth realm mortals like your selves then we have no choice but to carry out our previous commands. All of you will stay here"
"How dare you speak to us like that!" roared Subzero stepping forward, "We are the chosen warriors sent forth by Lord Raiden god of thunder to represent the last dying breath of our realm in mortal kombat. How dare you tell us to go back to bed you pathetic weaklings! None of you are fit to lick our boots. Get out of my way now you little rats or I will personally make sure that every non fatal bone in your body is dislocated"
The soldiers looked at each other for a moment with wide eyes. They quivered looking from one to the other and making a joint decision quickly stepped to either side.
Subzero walked briskly through them. Stopping a moment he turned and glared at one who looked back defiantly. Quickly he punched the soldier in the face and sent the guard flying onto his back. The other two stepped swiftly away nervously.
"Come on!" ordered Subzero harshly to Cage and Liu Kang and they walked across the courtyard towards the palace.
"Nicely done," said Jonny Cage with true admiration "Wretches," growled Subzero, "nobody in the Lin kuei would ever show such disrespect - not even Sektor"
"What is the Lin kuei like?" asked Liu Kang, "I have been interested in it since I've know of it"
"The Lin kuei is full of backstabbing ego-ridden traitors to the code. Most of them possess no real skill, and the Grandmaster is a pathetic wretch only able to still keep control with his assassins. I would not be surprised if the only reason they sent me on this mission was to get rid of me"
"Do you have a good word or two about anyone Subzero?" laughed the Shaolin monk "Dead or alive come to mind," he replied, "for you two ... lets just say, I'm glad you're alive"
"Thanks a lot," said Cage sarcastically They came to the doors of the main building and entered through them quickly. Subzero was sure that one of the guards on the wall had seen them pass through the door but it was too late for that now.
As soon as the doors closed behind them the three set off at a run down through the hallway. They passed through the doors and continued down the passageways towards the throne room. They had to act quickly before everyone woke up.
"You all remember the way?" asked Subzero as they ran "Yes," said the monk and Cage nodded.
They barged their way through door after door and corridor. Footsteps could be heard here and there. There was no denying it. This time the palace was active. There were people on the first floor. They met two as they turned a corner. Two soldiers looked up surprised and immediately backed off.
"What do we do?" said Liu Kang. The two soldiers reluctantly took out Falchions: large curved metallic blades, and began to advance.
"We take them down," said the movie star. Lunging forward at high speed so that it seemed that he almost blurred Cage kicked twice turning on his one foot like a dancer and sent both soldiers flying on their backs.
"Silence them!" called Subzero advancing. He picked the sword quickly up and plunged it into the first fallen while Jonny Cage killed the other. Blood went everywhere and they had to hack several times before they could kill the two men.
"Take the weapons with you," said Liu Kang hurriedly, "come on lets get on"
They ran on leaving the two soldiers still dying on the corridor floor. Passing through door after door they finally burst into the throne room and came to a halt hands and blade dripping with blood.
The seat was taken. Not by Shangtsung. Not by Kano... but by Reptile. He sat there in the green Lin kuei or traditional ninja garb and looked at them the mask and face looking slightly unnerving, almost as if they weren't quite his real face.
"I'm afraidsss I cannot let you enter the dungeonsss," he hissed menacingly. His legs were crossed as he gazed at them with a gloat of superiority sitting in a throne that wasn't his.
"Where is Shangtsung!" demanded Liu Kang stepping forward "Shangtsungss is upstairs where he usually issss but hesss is not who you are lookings for isss it"
"You are right!" said Jonny Cage, "We are looking for Sonya, Kano and Goro who we all know to be in that dungeon. Its three against one Reptile. You've been pretty good to us and we'd hate to bash you up now so why don't you be good and run along huh"
"I'm sorryss," replied Reptile with a reptilian snigger standing to his feet, "But we are not as you think... alone"
Turning to the throne he pulled the hidden lever and the throne moved aside as it had done the day before. Inside the darkness soldiers were waiting ready to be called. They came out in twos and placed themselves around the room five in all each one with various different weapons. Footsteps were heard down the corridor and more soldiers came bursting through the doors holding spears, knives blades and maces. One soldier came in last standing a little higher than all the others, enough to be very impressive and be far above any of the three warriors. Cage eyed him. The big soldier grinned back cracking his knuckles he took out a large flail and began to spin the spiked metallic ball round his head.
"Now do you realize patheticss warriorsss that there was neverss any hopes of you winnings mortal Kombatsss. Now you will meets your endsss"
"Here take this," said Cage to Liu Kang "What the?" said the monk clutching the blade in his hands "I want that Flail," said the movie star with intent in his eyes "There's no way we can kill all these men," said Subzero "Hey Subzero!" laughed Cage, "I got two good words for you. Alive for us and dead for them okay"
"We will not survive this battle"
"Kills them all!" shouted Reptile and folding his arms he laughed and watched as the crowd closed in. The fight began and in an instant blood was everywhere.
Liu Kang made good use of the sword as a group of soldiers attacked him. Two were at the front and because of this the others were not able to get in to the fight quickly enough. He blocked one blade with the sword that Cage had given him. Bending back like a ballerina he kicked vertically hitting the attacker in the face and dodged a swing of a mace that would have hit a killing blow to his head. Coming up he stabbed quickly carving across the ribs of both chests and bringing his leg down brought all of them falling over themselves.
Subzero hands glowing blue performed the polar blast and shattered several bodies in mere seconds. He dodged a swipe of a long spear and grabbing the weapon snapped it quickly across his knee, stabbed an attacker from behind with the sword and kicked away the spearman. He turned dodging through the crowd suddenly to be attacked by the soldier with the flail. The sharp ball swung round like a fan going too and throw like a whip. Subzero stepped back unable to find an opening he had no thought but to retreat regardless of what could be behind him.
Cage turned up just in time to kick the soldier in the back. The attention was turned and Subzero had time to turn on the other attackers. They rushed him from all sides and severely surprised he dived low bringing many to the ground with an outrageously wide and risky sweep. Cage dodged the flail, which bobbed about slow and fast like a worm on the hook. Stopped by a pillar Cage dodged only just in time as the flail crashed into it taking lumps of stone and dust out and onto the floor. The movie star kicked the man hard in the shins and he clearly took the pain backing off. He may rise head and shoulders above the rest but this man still had all the same weak spots as any mortal. Again Cage sped forth with one of his fast shadow kicks and struck the man squarely in the chest sending him flying across the floor onto his back.
"Yes!" said Cage quickly taking the flail from his hands he spun it round crushing the owner's skull proceeding to sweep great circles into the attackers. Yellow and red spread out onto the floor.
Men groaned on the floor bleeding horribly to death their own weapons embedded in themselves. Everywhere Shangtsung's soldiers were falling to the ground. The three warriors seemed unstoppable together. Every time it seemed like one would fail another stepped in to block a blow or parry a weapon. It seemed to Reptile in that moment that all armies of the world could be sent against them and fall.
Liu Kang broke away from the crowd and came before the passageway to face Reptile.
"Reptile I challenge you to Mortal Kombat!" demanded Liu Kang "Impresssive... I dids not expects you to fares so wells. I acceptssss Earthrealmerssss"
The two struck fighting stances then and there and in a moment rushed into battle. They sparred and Reptile blocked all the blows that Liu Kang threw at him.
"Too slow!" he hissed kicking the monk across the face. His cheek swelled and he spat blood almost losing a tooth. Liu Kang tried to block but found that Reptile had out maneuvered him. He fell to a throw that seemed to be Jujitsu, but he could not be sure as it was done so fast. Liu Kang down flung a kick and luckily hit Reptile on the knee cap. It wasn't strong enough to cause any major damage but it stopped Reptile from killing him. The green ninja cursed in pain and dodged quickly from side to side.
Reptile ran forward in what seemed like uncontrolled anger. Liu Kang punched a counter blow only to find that the green ninja had leapt out of the way. One foot on a pillar Reptile catapulted himself forward and kicked Liu Kang squarely in the chest knocking him back towards the battle which was quickly being won by Cage and Subzero.
"Youssss are no match for messss," growled Reptile and kicked the air at such speed that you could hear a crack of sound. Liu Kang got up rubbing his bruised cheek and looked at his enemy.
"You're fast Reptile and your skill amazes me. Even so with all your technique and ability you have one weakness"
"And what is thatsss monk"
Liu Kang bowed and raised his hands, "Your mind is not balanced and thus is not in harmony with your body"
"Ha ha! You instruct me pathetic mortal? Let me show you what it takes to become the most favored servant of Shangtsung"
The creature leapt forward now more animal than man in movements and attacked at high speed with a cleverly placed kick. Liu Kang was supposed to have ducked and be kicked anyway as Reptile had predicted but for some reason he didn't. Reptile looked up in surprise to find his leg had been grabbed mid swing. The monk sent him spinning to the ground in one movement. His lips touched the floor. Reptile got quickly to his feet and defended raising his arms. The monk mock-punched and kicked Reptile in the shins. Reptile tried to roll and dodge but a foot caught him and he fell to the ground. Liu Kang stood back and did not advance.
Getting up Reptile tried to bring himself back on the offensive punching wildly at the monk's head. The monk's head moved. Liu Kang grabbed the arm jabbed the shoulder socket almost breaking It and flung the creature in a throw that should have shattered every bone in his upper arm. Instead Reptile leaped to his feet and backed off hissing and growling clutching his arm which hung limp and dead but still active it seemed. The last of the soldiers fell dead and Subzero and Jonny Cage approached stepping over the dead bodies.
"Its over Reptile! Give in now - you don't have to die at our hands," said Liu Kang approaching.
Reptile looked about him panicked and a face filled with shock. He looked at the secret passageway which was not far away from him and easily in reach by the warriors. He had failed his master Shangtsung. The sorcerer had given him half of his army and now all of them were dead. He had failed against what he thought were inferior beings.
"Give it up!" said Cage, "Or get lost"
"Why don't you help us?" asked Liu Kang, "Surely you realize that what Shangtsung is trying to do is wrong? Why not help us defeat him"
By the second the creature looked more panicked gazing about it everywhere like a cornered animal. Its thoughts were in turmoil. Suddenly Reptile leaped forward in an attack, "Never!" he rasped aiming a kick at the monk. There was a flash of bright shinning red light and Reptile stopped in mid air flung back by the force. Liu Kang's hands glowed red as Reptile collapsed onto the ground burning he screamed a reptilian shriek rolling about on the stone floor. The mask began to burn away and underneath the horrible green flesh started to appear that was by no means human. Rolling about Reptile managed somehow to extinguish the flames and leaping up in a shriek charged away smoking through the door. Silence filled the throne room as the three warriors looked at the bloody scene in front of them. There was no wall or pillar that had not been splashed with blood. Subzero's blue garb was stained with dead soldiers.
"What on earth was that?" asked Cage looking at Liu Kang almost as if he were a ghost.
Liu Kang looked at his hands that were still orange with light at the tips, "The fire of the Shaolin Temple. It is this that I hope to use to defeat Goro"
"We must go on," said Subzero, "I am surprised by you power Liu Kang but there are more surprises to come. We must go now before Shangtsung arrives"
"Agreed!" said Liu Kang and with Jonny Cage they hurried down into the passageway. The movie star stopped and looked back up the dark dismal steps.
"Hey Subzero are you coming or what"
Subzero looked down into the darkness. Walking round the throne casually he pulled the lever and the throne began to slide shut.
"Hey!" shouted Cage, "What the hell do you think you are doing"
"Subzero!" came Liu Kang's voice, "What kind of treachery is this"
Subzero stayed silent for a while. Taking the lever in his hands he snapped it in two as close to the gear as he possibly could. The throne thundered shut trapping them all in the dungeon.
"What's going on?" came Liu's shouts from below. A hollow thumping sound came from the throne as they beat their hands against the roof.
"I'm sorry," said Subzero softly, "but there is something that I must do"
Quickly he hopped over the dead bodies and ran through the door. Passing back the way he had come he took a different route - one he knew well from creeping around the day before. A solitary guard came running from the other direction and raised a stance as Subzero approached. Subzero reached into his boot and finding nothing there reached into a different fold of his clothing.
"Blast," he cursed, "if only I had prepared before I left the Lin kuei"
There were no shurikens anywhere that he could lay his hands on. The soldier withdrew two shiny rapiers and attacked. He thrust forward and Subzero caught both wrists the small swords falling to the ground as he twisted breaking the wrist bones. The man screamed in pain backing off looking at the hands which were bent the wrong way. Small drops of blood started forming at the places where the flesh was under most pressure.
"If you had studied more," said Subzero picking up one of the small blades, "then you would have learned numerous counter throws for that long ago"
Pushing the soldier aside into the wall Subzero ran on presuming it unlikely that his temporary enemy would follow him. He ran on and passed the broom cupboard where he had hidden and ran up the steps that lead to the upper floor. A soldier burst through double doors at the top and came running down. Seeing Subzero the soldier tried to kick him in the head using the added height advantage. Subzero grabbed him by the foot and flung him down screaming. He landed and rolled down the steps bashing his face against them. Getting up he ran up to follow Subzero. The Lin kuei assassin turned and shooting ice down caused it to spread out and downwards across the steps. The soldier had no chance and slipped falling back down to intense his agony. Closing the door behind him Subzero rested his hand on the key hole and froze. The Ice spread out covering the handle and surrounding area in a thick blockade.
"... Now Shangtsung its just you and me"
The upstairs was different to the downstairs floor. Blues and purples were the preferred colours here. There was no art or work here only the occasional strange face or sculpture carved into the marble like walls. There was one long corridor here stretching out on and on. Doors glanced off at either side. There was only one room Shangtsung would be in. Subzero ran down it and reaching the end he found the double doors locked.
He stood back briefly and with icy hands struck the door with a cold blow. A blue frozen crack ran diagonally either side. Ramming his shoulder against them he pushed them slowly open. A cracking sounded from the lock and the doors gave way allowing him to enter. Shangtsung watched across the room sitting in a large marble chair. The room was very large with a circular pit in the middle. Below was another room in the floor below that Subzero had not seen before. It must exist somewhere on the first floor inside the walls.
There was silence as the two looked at each other. Subzero breathed heavily tired from his run. Neither spoke for what seemed like hours. The gazed at each other, Shangtsung with superiority in his eyes and a look of gloating, Subzero with cat like unwavering eyes waiting for a mistake. Candles were lit on stands all around the room flickering.
"You had a pleasant journey I trust?" said Shangtsung at length, "I hope you did not kill too many of my men. Reptile said that you and your friends were quite a bunch of murderers"
Subzero took a step forward and bowed Lin kuei style for a moment lowering to his knee and one hand on the ground he then stood to his feet.
"Shangtsung I am on a mission"
"A mission?" laughed Shangtsung standing to his feet. He walked down the steps his robes softly gliding, "Whatever for? Would this be Kano? Or is it the Grandmaster himself who gave you such a mission as to break down the doors of my humble home and kill my men"
"No, a mission from god"
With that the sorcerer burst out into a howl of laughter. He seemed hardly able to control himself. He walked slowly round the room to face Subzero in front of the circular opening.
"I don't think you realise how pathetic your 'Gods' are!" he sneered, "Raiden if that's who you are talking about although an adequate challenge for myself is just as material as the rest of us. He can easily be killed and stripped of his so-called immortality. Look here Subzero do you know what this is?" said the old man pointing to the opening in the floor.
Subzero gazed at it curiously, "No I don't" he replied.
"Long ago a god lived in this place. Not just any 'god' like your pathetic Raiden who is unable even to intervene in this tournament and unable to have the guts to break the rules set out by the elders! Do you know what god lived here Subzero or do you know nothing of the history of the universe"
"You already know the answer to that sorcerer," replied Subzero grimly "Indeed!" he laughed, "and I know a lot more than you think I do god slayer. Tell me... did Ditdoe give you a bucket of her formula or did she kill Quan chi herself"
Subzero's eyes widened. Shangtsung turned away to look at the opening, "No matter. I'm glad he was gone. He was new and dangerous to me. I cannot abide by sorcerers like him - free roaming and getting up to all kinds of schemes. Now to enlighten you Subzero the elder god Shinnok was the one who ruled in this palace. He was a 'good' god once - an angel of heaven if you like. Things seemed to be going well until of course the amulet was forged. Deep in the recesses of his humble home he abused his power to open a rift in the life stream. All souls came through here to be judged by the god or abused before they could pass on. When the elders found out they were furious. Wars and chaos spread to a celestial scale - how ignorant you are"
Subzero took a step forward and raised his hands to fight, "No matter what you might say my mission remains the same. I am here to assassinate you sorcerer! I challenge you to Mortal Kombat"
"How dare you!" spat Shangtsung turning round. The spit hit the ground at Subzero's feet as the old man turned away to walk round the opening.
"You Subzero have not even had your first fight yet. You are not even worthy to oppose Goro let alone myself. Jonny Cage took on Kano and won. Sonya took on Goro and lost. Liu Kang took on Reptile and won. Everyone has had their share except you Subzero and you want to go straight to the top don't you"
"I want nothing but your death!" roared Subzero "Ungrateful wretch! Now you realise that I know what your friends are doing. It was obvious to me when I found out that two people had snuck into the dungeons, the discarded cloak showed me all I needed to know. You betrayed my trust Subzero. I protected you and now that protection ends"
"I want nothing from you sorcerer! You are just the same as Quan chi"
"A pity ... a pity you could have been so much more than this with the emperor. I will not bring you back alive. Your soul will be mine for all eternity, isn't that right... Hanzo Hasashi"
Instantly the room was dark... the lightened candles went out in puffs of smoke.
"What?" gasped Subzero "Yes Subzero. Scorpion followed you here as well. Did you really think you could escape your nemesis so easily? There is no running from a dead man"
Across the room the wall rippled. Scorpion came through white eyed and deadly just like he had been before he had died.
"You traitor!" hissed Subzero looking at Shangtsung Again the sorcerer laughed, "You thought you had me really good didn't you Subzero? Let me tell you that your friends do not have a chance against Goro. Prince Goro has one nine generations of mortal kombat against the worlds toughest warriors. You I was worried about. You Subzero are the chosen one - the cold one written about in the prophecies. You are the one chosen by Raiden to defeat Goro and me. Well its not going to happen Subzero. Ditdoe's luck no longer courses through you like it did before. I knew you might be a problem so I brought the only assassin I knew who had ever surpassed your skills - Hanzo Hasashi codenamed Scorpion. It is he you will face and not Goro and it is at his hands that you will die! Chosen one hah! The tenth tournament will be won by us whether you like it or not"
By now Scorpion had walked across the room and faced Subzero like a machine poised for battle. Moans and cries of another realm echoed half in and out of the world from his body. His yellow untouched shinning clothing looked far more impressive than Subzero's blue bloodstained clothing.
"As for your friends," continued Shangtsung, "I will deal with them now. Reptile tells me you broke the lever of my chair. There are plenty of other ways into the dungeons you know. That labyrinth leads into Kuatan itself and the realm of my beloved emperor. I will deal with your 'friends' myself. Good bye - Subzero"
And with that the old man suddenly seeming young jumped through the air robe waving and went straight down through the gap in the floor. Scorpion awaited. The eyes flashed. Subzero was afraid again. He backed off and the moaning seemed to grow. Whispers saying his name and his enemy echoed in his mind. Turning he bolted.