First, an apology for the previous chapter. As I was re-reading it again, I noticed a few little mistakes. One such was due for me deciding against using one of my characters named Rath in preference to Licon. To remove Rath's name from the document, I had the word processor just find and change all words containing the word 'Rath'. Stupidly, I forgot that the word 'rather' would be included in that. Hence the invention of the wonderful new word 'Liconer'. Once I think of a meaning for it, I shall submit it to the dictionary people. .
As ever, if there are any suggestions for characters, good or evil, to be included – I'd love to hear from you. :-) I'm not a fan of Baraka, really… so the less time I spend writing with him the better! L
Anyway, I do hope that people enjoyed the last chapter despite that little mistake.
CHAPTER TWO
Liu Kang meandered through the streets of New York, silently relishing the opportunity. Ever since the whole business of Mortal Kombat had entered his life fully, there had been little time to actually continue on with the masquerade of normality that he tried to throw around himself. It wouldn't exactly be beneficial to dub himself the Champion of Mortal Kombat in normal circumstances. Announcing to the world that he, along with several other fighters from in and out the earth realm, had helped save the world from demons and monsters from another realm? Well, you had to agree – it was going to get him thrown in the recesses of a mental institute quite quickly.
Did he ever regret actually participating in the tournaments? In the endless fighting? Of course he didn't. He'd been raised to fight. He was, after all, an ancestor of the great Kung Lao. His very lineage had threads of responsibility entwined in it. It couldn't be helped. Besides, he had a natural talent for what he did – he could hold his own in a battle. What more could he ask then to have the opportunity to fight to protect his home world? It was a bigger opportunity than most people got.
Or most people wanted for that matter.
So, where was he going this hot and sticky June day? Well, to be frank, he had a few things to settle with his landlady. He'd left the Order of Light years ago after his brother's death to flee to America. In settling in the States, he'd taken on residence – an apartment deep in New York. Since Mortal Kombat had stolen him away for quite a number of weeks, he'd have no choice but to face the wrath of Mrs Gregson. It wasn't exactly an enchanting prospect – she was a batty old witch as it was. Nevertheless, the rent was reasonable enough – and she didn't much care what you did or where you went so long as the money was in on time. Sadly, he'd skipped the last three payments accidentally and he fully expected that his apartment had been ransacked and the locks changed in his absence. It was just a good thing he carried the majority of his possessions around with him. She couldn't do too much damage. Hopefully.
The slight summer breeze ran its fingers through his shoulder-length ebony hair as he moved, turned the corner that would present to him the sight of Mrs Gregson's small apartment building. Before that rather decrepit, ramshackle grey-bricked place could even meet his gaze, though, the intruding smell of smoke filled his nose – and the disturbing sound of morbid human curiosity filled his ears. Something deep within stirred, informed him before he even looked round that the disaster would have happened at his apartment block. It wasn't paranoia – it was common sense.
Billowing clouds of smoke, the sound of flames licking at wood and brickwork, the blare of fast-approaching sirens. This couldn't have happened long ago by the looks of it. What the hell had happened? He made his way closer to the group of assembled people, trying to put himself across as a normal concerned passer-by. He did catch one end of a telephone conversation a man a couple of people away was having – but little else.
"Yes… just went up. Well, I suppose I'm a witness… but I didn't see anything… yeah, some big guy went in to try and help survivors out… authorities'll probably be here soon…"
For the time being, Liu stood there dumbfounded. What should he do? Go in and try and help whatever man had gone in before him? Stay here, helpless, and just watch events unfold with the rest of the crowd? He'd never liked just being a pathetic bystander. There was no honour to that. Yet, fire was fire and smoke was smoke. The last thing he needed was to make more work for the emergency services when they got here…
"Liu?"
The surprisingly stern, concerned female voice caught him, forced him to turn round and look for the one who'd spoken. It was no real surprise when the form of Agent Sonya Blade forced her way through the little crowd, looking him up and down with a deep-set frown on her face. From the look of her, she'd expected him be in the building.
"Sonya? What happened here?"
"We're not entirely sure. Kabal went in to see if he could do something. I've been asking around. Apparently the place just erupted. It looks sort of cleanly done. Not the work of any normal arsonist – the flames came on very suddenly as well…"
Liu allowed his eyes to clamp closed in exasperation. There was that unspoken word between them – they both knew it. A single word that clung to the air and taunted them. Outworlders. The work of Outworlders. That's what Sonya expected – it had to be if she and Jax were here. The government that knew of Outworld and its planned invasions to the earth had allowed them to set up a nice little group to defend against it. As far as Liu remembered, the ex-Lin Kuei cyborg, Cyrax, was a member last he heard. Then there was a strange newcomer, Hsu Hao. Kabal, though? He'd never heard of his associating too closely with Sonya or Jax's group…
"Why do you think…?"
Sonya shook her head, that blonde ponytail of her swinging at her neck, the frown not disappearing. Liu silenced at the gesture, watched as she sighed, ran her hands down her dark green uniform as she tried to formulate a response. It seemed to take her a few seconds as she averted her gaze every few seconds – as if she wasn't quite sure how to break what she had to say to him. When next she spoke, it was as if she were addressing a child, although her voice was low, whispering despite the screech of ambulances and fire engines close by, their sirens still screaming. It really was quite a chore to actually hear her correctly.
"Liu… you're the Champion of Mortal Kombat. This place has a lot of witnesses, no normal person would try an arson attack in the middle of the day with so many people around. I find it a bit coincidental that you'd live here? Seems obvious to me that someone's trying to get rid of you…"
"Well, the vote of confidence is appreciated, Sonya, thanks."
Both he and his companion turned their gaze as several fully-suited firemen made their way into the still heavily-smoking building whilst others tried battling the flames that still ate away at the exterior at some of the higher levels. His mind moved to Kabal and a question finally asked:
"Why is Kabal with you? He's known to be a bit of a wildcard, you realise? Where the hell is Jax?"
Sonya glanced back to him, a shrug lifting her shoulders. She'd found it quite odd herself that Kabal had sought her group out. He tended to change alliances more often than most people had hot dinners. It was difficult to know whether to trust him or not. He'd once been an assassin in Shao Khan's services, she recollected. After the Emperor's betrayal, after his recovery… well, he'd done his best to fight against him. Needless to say, the man was a little odd – and needed to rely on a respirator these days. At least the gas-mask he wore served to hide his scars away from other people…
"Jax had things to deal with back at headquarters. Kabal… well, he came to HQ, demanded to know where you were and then headed out as soon as he found out where you lived. I followed him…"
"Is he going to be alright in there?"
"Heh… I think so. That respirator feeds him oxygen, doesn't it? I don't think the smoke's going to bother him too much. Not sure how he'll get on with fire. He's quick, though. Can't see him letting a little bit of flame bother him…"
As if on cure, there was a dart of energy, a burst of speed, out the door just as another few firemen were attempting to make their way in. The energy seemed to materialise into a tall figure, clad in a long trench-coat, leather trousers and a red-and-black shirt. Of course, the gas-mask was there too, pulled tight around the back of his head and attached to that pack he carried around with him. Under each arm was an unconscious person. These he deposited with a decided lack of gentleness next to the ambulance. All questions were ignored from the stunned-looking paramedics – instead, he turned away, lifted that hidden gaze up to scan the crowd. It didn't take long for him to catch sight of Sonya and Liu, obviously. He made his deceptively slow way over to them, his trench-coat catching lightly on the summer breeze. Idly, Liu wondered why he insisted on wearing the thing in this heat. He was too hot in the simple t-shirt and trousers he wore, however he guessed that the strange man had his reasons.
"Liu Kang…"
Kabal's voice was muffled, thanks to that gas-mask he wore, and his breathing jagged and hissing. Liu studied the taller man for a few seconds, before offering the slightest bow of respect. Kabal returned it with a nod, his hand rising up to brush longs tendrils of ebony hair back, away from his mask's visor.
"You were looking for me, Kabal?"
"Yes. I have a few things to tell you. However, perhaps in a little less… crowded area."
Sonya merely shrugged and shook her head as Liu cast an almost sceptical gaze to her. He'd mumbled something about Outworld and Rayden as he'd headed back out the door – and her questioning on the way here had yielded little result. Aside from telling her that he'd explain once they got hold of Liu, he'd said nothing else on the matter. She turned her gaze between the two men, allowing her arms to fold absently across her chest.
"Well… I guess we can go back to headquarters…"
And there we go… let's end on a bit of a cliffhanger, shall we? Comments really would be appreciated – especially since I don't think this is very good. :-s
