Chapter Twenty-Three: Time is Precious

"You really are an idiot."

Sub-zero had Johnny's arm slung over his shoulders. The actor had some scratches and was a bit disoriented, but despite all that, he was still in one piece. Cage had gotten one little poke in before the creature of his interest awoke from his slumber. It tried to claw out his throat and would have succeeded if not for the efforts of one brave little boy. It turned out that the beast was the kid's pet, so he was easily able to tame the animal before things got out of hand. Cage held a hand to his forehead.

"But I still touched it. It was the best two seconds of my life."

"I will never understand you, nor do I want to."

"Your loss."

They stopped when they reached the spot where Kuai had left Tomas with Cyrax. The robot was slumped against some crates, but Smoke was nowhere to be found. Sub-zero frowned.

"Did you see where Smoke went?"

"No. I wonder where he's gone off to."

This was worrisome. Tomas would not just wander off, especially in a place like this. Kuai looked all around for his friend, but he did not see Smoke anywhere. Instead, the cryomancer saw Shang Tsung coming their way. The sorcerer had a smug look on his face as he approached the Earthrealmers.

"Ah, there you all are. I see you are enjoying yourselves."

He looked over at Johnny Cage and the scratches that decorated his body. Shang Tsung then looked at Sub-zero.

"I apologize for my intrusion, but the emperor requests that you return to the Coliseum. He wishes to continue with the tournament."

The sorcerer suddenly frowned when he realized that there was a few people missing.

"Where is the thunder god? And Smoke?"

"They will return momentarily. You need not worry, sorcerer."

"Oh, I assure you, I am not worried. But if Earthrealm's warriors fail to show in the next ten minutes, would that not count as a forfeit?"

Johnny scowled at the sorcerer.

"You're really that much of an asshole that you'd do that?"

"I do not make the rules, Johnny Cage. If you have any complaints, the emperor would be thrilled to hear them."

That shut Cage up and Shang Tsung wanted to laugh at the display. He kept his composure though.

"Ten minutes. Do not keep Shao Kahn waiting."

In a flash of green, Shang Tsung disappeared. Johnny shook his head and placed a hand his hip.

"Jesus. What the hell do we do now?"

"We go to the Coliseum."

"What!? What about…!?"

"You heard what Shang Tsung said. I have no doubt that Shao Kahn will use our absence to claim victory for the tournament. We can not allow him to do so."

I know, but…aren't you the least bit worried about your friend?"

Kuai sighed. Of course he was worried, but the cryomancer knew that Tomas would tell him to go. The tournament is more important, he would say.

"Smoke can take care of himself."

Sub-zero said no more as he walked past Cage and headed to the Coliseum. Johnny sighed, but he followed Kuai.

"I really hope that you're right."

In another plane of reality, Smoke groaned as he opened his eyes. White clouded his vision and the intensity of it caused the ninja's head to hurt. He sat up and looked around at his surroundings, which only consisted of small projections that floated in the air. Those were familiar sights.

"Back so soon, huh?"

Tomas around and saw Pyros walking to him. The telepath stood beside Smoke and offered his hand to help the ninja up. Back on his feet, Tomas pulled his mask and cowl off and ran a hand through his hair. Pyros arched an eyebrow.

"If they are so uncomfortable, why do you continue to wear them?"

Smoke looked down at his mask. A small smile crossed his face.

"It is uncomfortable, yet… it feels familiar. Homey, even."

Pyros nodded, understanding what the ninja meant. He turned around and started scanning the screens. One memory caught his eye and he smiled at it. The projection showed a young Tomas eating ice cream with his master Hydro. That was the first time the boy had ever eaten the frozen treat. His sifu definitely spoiled his students.

"Pyros?"

The telepath turned back to Smoke.

"Yes?"

"…We need to talk."

The seriousness in Tomas' tone worried Pyros. He nodded his head to urge the ninja to continue.

"I know you saw what happened in that house with Esme. Or…whatever her name is."

"Yes, and do not worry about her, she is…"

"I do not care about her right now."

"…Oh?"

"There is someone else I wish to speak to you about. Something else."

Pyros clasped his hands behind his back. He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was headed. Smoke continued.

"When Esme grabbed me, I felt this strange presence well up within me. A dark…sinister presence. It tried to stop Esme from doing whatever it was she was doing to me. It was incredibly angry with her."

"But that was not the first time this thing has appeared. Back in Zhu Zin, when I saw Kuai on the ground being tortured by the Grandmaster, an amazing power flowed through me. It was…overwhelming. Everything went black and the next thing I know, me and Kuai are in Outworld. I did not remember anything until my fight with Kitana. Something kept telling me to kill her."

Pyros listened to what Smoke had to say without uttering a word. The whole time Tomas kept his eyes glued to the mask in his hands, but at one point, he stopped talking and looked at the telepath.

"Is there something you are keeping from me, Pyros?"

"Tomas… I wish I could tell you what you want to know, but I cannot…"

"Why not!?"

Smoke's outburst surprised Pyros. Not that the ninja cared.

"I am SICK of being left in the dark. Do you know how much this is killing me!? Lying to people I care about and saying everything is fine!? Everything is not fine! I am not fine!"

"Tomas…"

"No! I have no idea what is wrong with me! But you know, don't you?"

"There is nothing wrong with you, my boy!"

"Then what is this!? What is going on!?"

Pyros opened his mouth to say something, but he quickly shut it. Smoke shook his head and turned away from the telepath. He closed his eyes and folded his arms over his chest. The ninja just wanted to block out everything, even if it was for only a minute. It felt like forever with the two standing in silence.

The area around Tomas suddenly felt colder and it made the ninja open his eyes. Snow was falling from a night sky and trees surrounded Smoke. He held out his hands and watched as snow fell on them.

"Where are we?"

Voices in the distance answered his question before Pyros could. The telepath walked forward a few steps and Tomas followed. Pyros stopped and looked in the direction of the voices, which belonged to two figures that were walking by. The one walking in front was a buff man with brown hair and the person behind him was a boy with black hair. The taller one, probably the child's father, was holding a small evergreen tree in his hands.

"Your mother's going to be so happy."

The taller person was speaking in Czech. His voice was gruff, yet at the same time, it sounded caring and gentle as he talked to the kid.

"Yeah."

"You going to help her decorate the tree again?"

"Yeah."

The man looked back at the boy and frowned. The child had his head down and was playing with his fingers. It looked like something was bothering him.

"Something wrong, kiddo?"

"…No."

The man sighed and stopped walking. He turned to the boy and kneeled so they were at eye level.

"Okay, spill it."

"It's nothing, Dad."

"Apparently something's eating you and I want to know what it is."

The child looked away and dropped his hands at his sides.

"You'll laugh if I tell you."

At this, the boy's father did laugh.

"See, you're laughing now!"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I promise I won't laugh at you again, okay?"

"…You promise?"

"Of course. And you know I never break promises."

The child finally looked into his father's eyes, which matched his own green ones. He shuffled his feet to warm himself up.

"Dad…is Santa real?"

The father smiled while trying his best not to chuckle. He put his hands on his son's shoulders.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, I…was talking to my friends and they said they don't believe in Santa Claus. They said that anyone who believes in Santa is a big baby."

"What do you think?"

"I don't know. Do you believe in Santa, Dad?"

The man looked up at the sky trying to figure out what he should say. He chose his words carefully so his child could understand him.

"Kiddo… Santa is as real as you make him to be. As long as you believe in him, he is as real as you and me."

"So, I'm not a baby if I believe?"

"No, you're not. If you think Santa's real, then keep believing. There's nothing wrong with that."

The boy smiled at his father's words. That made his dad smile even harder and he ruffled his son's hair.

"Better?"

The boy nodded.

"Good. Now…"

The man lifted his son from the ground and placed him on his shoulder. He used his other hand to pick up the tree.

"We should go on home before your mom gets worried."

"Okay. Maybe she'll make hot chocolate when we get back."

"With extra marshmallows."

They laughed and walked on, unaware that they were being watched. Smoke came out of the shadows with Pyros right behind him.

"That boy…it was me, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"And the man with him…that is my father?"

"Yes."

Tomas continued to watch his younger self and his father walk home. He thought about how kind and loving the man seemed. He reminded the ninja so much of Hydro. Smoke turned around to face Pyros.

"You showed me this for a reason, didn't you?"

"I did."

"So…what is that reason?"

"To show you that people will lie to you, even those who care about you. Your father lied about Santa Claus because he did not want to hurt your feelings. Are you angry with him for that?"

"Of course not. I would have done the same th…"

"Yes, you would have. And does that make you a terrible person?"

"No, but…"

"Exactly. There is a time and place for everything, Tomas, and right now…you are not ready to hear the truth."

"You do not know that."

"Unfortunately, I do. If I told you what you wanted to know here and now, things will not end well for you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Pyros put his hands on Smoke's shoulders. The ninja was about to walk away, but Pyros kept him in place.

"Listen, my boy. I asked to be your guide because I want to help you find the answers you seek, not keep them from you. All will be revealed, I just…I am asking you to give me some time."

"…How much more time?"

"I am honestly not sure, but….it will be worth it in the end, I swear to you."

Tomas shook his head. He was irritated with telepath, but something was telling him that Pyros was right. Maybe the ninja was a little too eager to find out about his past. He just needed to be patient. Or at least try to be patient.

"…Alright. I'll wait."

"Thank you, Tomas."

"But I cannot promise you that I will wait forever."

"I know, and hopefully you will not have to wait that long."

Pyros' hands were starting to go through Smoke. It looks like Tomas is waking up. The telepath smiled at the ninja.

"We will talk another time then."

"Yes. Another time."

Tomas faded away and Pyros was left standing in the snow.