Chapter 16
The morning of the twelfth of June started with the door chime announcing a visitor. Ronin had already been up and dressed for an hour so answered the door himself. When he opened the door, he saw an Asian man dressed in red and black sweatpants, red tank top and a red headband around his forehead. Ronin said: "Liu Kang?" With a nod, the man entered as Ronin stepped aside. "Yes, I am Liu Kang. Perhaps I should say I was Liu Kang in life. I must thank you for allowing me to join you, even for a day. It will be good to see everybody again. I've been told I will not be able to interact with anyone until you allow it and I can accept that. Will you please tell me why Lord Raiden?"
Ronin said: "As you can see, I am not the Raiden you last fought beside but that is irrelevant for now. Take hold of my staff and all your questions will be answered." Snapping his fingers, Ronin called his fighting staff to him. Liu Kang took hold of it below Ronin's hand as he opened a portal to Edenia first.
This time, Ronin went directly to the throne room of Edenia's queen. With a clap of thunder the portal opened. He stepped through with Liu Kang behind him as the portal closed to see Kitana's personal guard draw their weapons only to have Kitana, in her voice of command say: "Stay where you are! Would you dare attack my friend and guest, Raiden, God of Thunder and Protector of the Earth Realm in my own throne room?"
The guards were visibly stung by the anger in their queen's voice as they sheathed their weapons and stepped back into their places around the room. Kitana came down the steps from her throne and greeted Ronin and the unseen, to her, Liu Kang. Ronin said: "Today is the day, are you ready to go?" Kitana said: "I already have my clothes chosen. Let me get into them and we can go pick up Kung Lao. I will return shortly."
Even though Liu Kang knew only Raiden could see and hear him he mumbled under his breath: "I've heard that one before." Kitana turned to the voice and said imperiously: "Excuse me?" Ronin shocked that she heard Liu said: "Nothing your Highness, nothing at all." With a brief look of confusion, she turned away and left the room by a rear exit as Ronin turned on Liu and in a low voice said: "I don't know how or why she heard you but be silent until I say otherwise! The Elder Gods have allowed you to accompany me and I don't want to give them a reason to turn down another request of mine if I ever make one. Am I clear!"
Liu Kang looked to the ground and said: "My apologies Lord Raiden. I tried to make a joke but I wasn't expecting her to hear me." Ronin took a breath and regained his temper and said: "Apology accepted. She probably heard you because you two were so close. I can see the questions in your eyes but hold onto them a while longer yet."
Ronin looked out of the corner of his eye and saw two guards snickering. Ronin teleported and reappeared to stand virtually nose to nose with both of them staff in hand and said: "Something amuses you?" The guards went back to rigid attention and said in unison: "No Lord Raiden." Ronin said: "Good. Who is your squad leader soldier?" Again they replied in unison: "Lord, our squad leader is Captain Tram." Ronin smiled at that piece of karma and said: "Is he here in this room?" In unison: "Yes Lord." Ronin smiled even bigger and said out loud: "Captain Tram, front and center."
Tram came to attention precisely and marched over to Ronin on the far wall. He turned to him and said: "These are your men now, Captain?" Tram said: "Yes Lord Raiden, these two giggling schoolgirls are my men." Ronin said: "I know I am not a part of your chain of command but I suggest you teach these men what it means to challenge a god for no reason." A rather predatory smile came across Tram's face as he remembered his own lesson and said: "I will do as you suggest Lord Raiden." Ronin said: "Good. I know than when you are done, they will be the perfect model of a soldier and personal guard to their queen." Tram returned to his post as Ronin heard two audible gulps from the guards behind him.
As Ronin walked back to where Liu Kang stood, Kitana joined them, wearing an elegant blue formal gown and matching slippers. She wore her hair up in a style that was both simple and elegant. Ronin motioned to his staff and said: "Take hold and we will be on our way." When both Kitana and Liu did so, Ronin opened another portal, this time to the Earth Realm.
Their first stop was the old dojo where they picked up Ho Sung Pak. After abrief reunion they were through still another portal and went to get Kung Lao from the grounds of the Order of Light, in China. Another reunion followed as Ronin, remembering the anti-portal ward, opened a portal back to his palace and finally, one last portal to the address in California where the wedding of Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade was to be held.