Chapter 7- The Pains of learning- Orton
God, how long have I been here? Weeks? Months? Even a year perhaps? I lost all track of time since this island is screwed up. Yet the more I stay here, the more I start to see myself grow. I am stronger than ever before. I have strength beyond that of a mortal man. Powers and agility like a creature or something… I just can't believe how much stronger I was.
I recalled Kane telling me when we start to punch at a rock. I was able to creak it… just barely. Kahn saw the rock and knew what I did as a first attempt. He brought me back to it as a break from training. I tell ya, instant healing is the best power one could master. "Punch the rock," Shao stated to me rather confidently. "I think you will surprise yourself"
I nodded to him as I stood before it. I posed my stance and took one punch at it. At first nothing happed. Until where I punched began to crack. The bolder split down the middle and fell on either side of me… My God, I did it!
Kahn nodded with a semi impressed look. "Not bad. But this doesn't prove anything" he said to me.
"What the hell are you talking about? I was finally able to break it!" I spat back.
"You did, yet you punched precisely where you had your very fist attempt. That weakness the rock, you had softened it as it were. Therefore the rock showed you nothing!" he stated to me.
I never thought of it that way. I looked to Kahn wondering how I could truly see how strong I was. "Is there another way to know?"
Kahn smiled to me. "I prefer if you didn't know," he said.
"What the hell? Then how can you tell if my powers are powerful enough?" I spat to him.
Kahn smiled to me. "Wouldn't you rather be surprised by your own strength?"
This was getting stupid really fast. "I must know!"
Kahn refused to tell me other wise on how strong I was. "When you face the five, you will see for yourself," he told me.
He has trained me non-stop, showing me no mercy what so ever from every sort of power there was to behold by Scorpion. Fire, harpoon, stealth, everything! Yet I have developed some new tricks. My harpoons can become ablaze of fire. I can whip them around and use them like a chain weapon, as well as setting fires to long distances. Despite all the training I have done, inside I didn't feel ready at all. Shao Kahn was assuring me I was about to be. Yet it ate away at my stomach, how could I be when I got know way of knowing how powerful my powers are! Kahn decided as a treat, he would take me back home so I could catch up with my father. Much to my surprise when I got there… only a week had gone by! A week! My father was stunned when I came out of nowhere in the arena. He hugged me tightly asking how I've been. Well, I can't complain now. I can heal instantly!
"Randy… you don't look like you even started training!" he said to me.
"I know, I feel the same way dad. But Shao has be busting my ass"
My dad and myself caught up. Even thought it was a week at the island, I have been gone for almost a month in total. So we went out to eat and chatted up abit.
"Taker figured those ninja guys would try and kill ya," he told me.
"Yeah the feeling was there when I stared to improve, I think they were already picturing my flesh being sliced into ribbons"
My dad fell silent. "I was told of the bet… what happens if you don't win?" he asked of me.
"I lose Scorpion's mask… odd thing is… I haven't worn the damn thing ever since Kane took over training me"
My father was silent once more. He had a very concerned look; he didn't want me doing this. "Damn, you think those Lin Kuei will kill you in this challenge?" he asked.
"They can try" was my response… and I don't normally say stuff like that when the idea is quite possible! I was rather shocked to hear that come out of my lips.
My dad was too. "Damn it Randy! This isn't some scripted match! They ain't going to go easy on you like the Undertaker, they are going to hit you hard and fast. Take it seriously!"
"Dad, really I am taking it seriously! I just don't know what came out of my mouth. I mean really, I am going to beat them… and they can try and kill me. But I doubt they would get very far" see, there I go again!
My dad had it. He stood up and just glared at me with anger. "I'm talking to Kahn, perhaps he needs to knock sense into you" and he stormed out!
I sat there stunned to what just happened; then again I can't blame him.
Little did I know, Taker was looking over my shoulder; he took my father's seat and looked right at me. "Randy" he said.
I looked to the Deadman. "Don't start too," I begged of him.
"Start what? I wanted to tell you something, perhaps explain it as well"
I was open to the topic. "Ok, what is it?" I asked of him.
Taker gave me full eye contact, I wasn't going to look him in the eyes until he grabbed the bottom of my chin and force me to. "Look at me when I talk to you. I know what's wrong with ya. Quite frankly, you dad shouldn't be upset" he explained. "You're powerful, Kane was telling me about it. As a matter of fact, it don't matter if you lose to the Lin Kuei. The mask has no power anymore" he told of me.
How the hell would he know? "Prove it" I spat back.
Taker had the mask in hand. He put it on, and nothing happened to him. No armor, no changing of the eyes. Nothing.
He took it off and placed it back on the table. "You need to do what would be best. Trust in your own talents. And as well as your own power." He stood up and walked away.
"Mark!" I called out. Damn, I just called the Undertaker by his real name!
He stopped and turned. He had this. 'Oh, you're on a first name basic with me now?' look.
"Undertaker" I meekly corrected myself. "Thank you"
He smirked to me as he licked his lips. "Thank me when it's over" he said.
I sat there at the restaurant. Thinking what could be done. I knew of the high honor the Lin Kuei have of their talents, honor that could be shattered and disgraced when we fight if I were to win.
It got me to think. I came up with an idea, something that will make everyone happy.