Chapter Twenty-Eight: Tranquility

Back in Shao Kahn's throne room, the emperor's most loyal followers gathered to discuss future plans. With their leader gone, a new emperor must be chosen to rule Outworld. The Centaur Motaro was the first to speak up.

"Shao Kahn is finished."

For some reason, Motaro felt the need to establish that fact. Almost as though he himself could not believe that the emperor was really dead. Baraka spoke next while pointing at Mileena.

"Mileena was his heir. She should rule."

Shang Tsung scoffed at the Tarkatan.

"Mileena? She exists only because of my sorcery."

"And you breath because I restrain mine."

The booming voice startled Shang tsung and he and his allies turned to the entrance of the room. With his hand on his chest wound, Shao Kahn stumbled towards his minions with Quan Chi behind him. Everyone, except Shang Tsung, bowed before the emperor.

"Emperor!"

"You live!"

Everybody was in shock. They had seen their leader fall before Liu Kang, and yet, here he was. Shao Kahn was alive.

"I am not so easily killed. Quan Chi accelerated my recovery."

Shang Tsung looked nervously at his superior as Shao Kahn stomped in his direction. The sorcerer was the most surprised to see the emperor and with Shao Kahn alive, Shang Tsung's plans to take the throne have been ruined. How cruel life treated him.

"Emperor, I..."

Shao Kahn stopped before the sorcerer.

"Not. One. Word."

The emperor was absolutely livid with Shang Tsung. Every word he uttered was filled with venom.

"Because of you, Outworld can no longer merge with Earthrealm!"

Quan Chi calmly included himself into the conversation.

"There may yet be an alternative, Emeperor. Invasion."

Shang Tsung shook his head in disbelief.

"Uh..Invasion!?"

Shao Kahn quickly held his hand up to stop the sorcerer. Shang Tsung immediately closed his mouth and the emperor turned back to Quan Chi.

"Do you mock me? Sindel's Ward prevents me from setting foot in Earthrealm."

Shao Kahn's late wife Sindel was the queen of Edenia before the emperor invaded her realm and murderer her husband, King Jerrod. The queen and her daughter Kitana were taken by Shao Kahn and he forced Sindel to marry him. Although he would never admit it, the emperor had fallen for the Edenian queen and actually felt guilty when she killed herself in order to protect Earthrealm from him. If it had been under different circumstances, maybe Sindel could have returned Shao Kahn's feelings of affection. Quan Chi knew of the queen's spell, but he continued.

"Have you considered why your wife and empress chose to betray you in this particular fashion?"

"Of course. But even after millenia, her motives are a mystery."

Shao Kahn continued on to his throne while Quan Chi was talking.

"She realised that the safeguards afforded by the Elder Gods through Mortal Kombat are but fiction. She sacrificed herself to give Earthrealm protection the Elder Gods could not. So Earthrealm could not suffer as had Edenia."

The emperor sat down in his chair and looked at the Netherrealm sorcerer.

"Indeed. So, what point are you trying to make by stating these facts?"

"What if I were to tell you that I know of a process that can bring your wife back to life?"

The room suddenly went silent. Even though shock was not apparent in his face, Shao Kahn was honestly surprised by what Quan Chi had said.

"Is such a feat even possibly?"

"I am capable of taking souls, Emeperor. Would you not think it possible that I am capable of bringing souls back to the world of the living?"

Shao Kahn placed a hand under his chin in thought. With Sindel revived, the spell would be lifted from Earthrealm, but after that, what of the queen? She would definitely still be against Shao Kahn and the emperor was not sure if he could watch her die again. Quan Chi saw the doubt in the tyrant's eyes.

"Once the empress is returned to you, you will find her much more...cooperative."

"This is a very magnanimous offer."

"I wish only to serve, Emperor."

The emperor knew Quan Chi was talking about mind-control and at first, the idea did not sit right with him. Shao Kahn did not want to force Sindel to serve him, but maybe over time, she would help her husband willingly. The emperor smirked at the idea.

"I am weary of sorcerers, Quan Chi. Prove your worth. Bring her to me."

"As you wish. I will take some time to gather the proper materials, however. During that time, I suggest that you allow the Earthrealmers to continue to believe that you are deceased. Give them a sense of security and when the time comes for the invasion, will we have the element of surprise."

It did not take long for Shao Kahn to approve of the idea. Outworld needed the advantage.

"Very well. Take as much time as needed."

"You are too generous, Emperor. However, there is something else that I request of you."

"What is it?"

A grin crept its way onto Quan Chi's face.

"I only ask for a soul..."

Two Days Later

"Right this way, Lieutanant Blade."

At the Special Forces Base, an officer was leading Sonya, Raiden, and Sub-zero, through the hangar. They walked past some a few jets on helipads that were near a large body of water. Kuai took his time looking through the base while Raiden and Sonya walked ahead.

"How is Jackson adjusting to his prosethics?"

"Its been hard, but he's getting used to them. Some missing limbs aren't going to hold Jax back."

"I believe you, Sonya. May I ask where he is now?"

An explosion answered the thunder god's question. The four Earthrealmers slowly crept their way to the huge hole that had been created by the detonation and peeped within it. On the other side of the hole, there was a large, gray room with a hospital bed to the left side and mutiple cabinets with various medical items to the right. In the middle of the room was Jax, who had his arms stretched out in front of him with his hand in a fist. The African-American rubbed the back of his neck and let out a nervous laugh.

"Uh..My bad, guys. Didn't mean to that."

A woman wearing a white coat and big, rounded glasses sat in a chair behind Jax. Her mouth was wide open and she had dropped her pen on the floor. Sonya arched an eyebrow at her friend.

"I see your having fun there, Jax. Maybe a little TOO much fun."

Jackson flexed his prostethic metal arms for everyone to see.

"Practice makes perfect, right?"

Sonya shook her head and walked through the rubble with Raiden and Sub-zero right behind her.

"It is good to see you on your feet, Jackson Briggs."

"Thanks, Raiden. And, uh...who's the guy behind you?"

Jax pointed at Kuai Liang, who was no longer wearing his mask and cowl. He was wearing a blue, long-sleeve shirt with baggy gray pants and black boots. Sonya forgot that her comrade has not seen the Cryomancer's face.

"Oh, right. Jax, this is Sub-zero."

"Wait, are you serious!? I'm sorry, man, I really didn't recognize you."

Sub-zero waved a hand at Jax.

"No need to apologize."

"But hey, I do need to thank you for saving my life. Sonya told me how you helped her carry me to a portal so I could get back here. If you hadn't, I'd probably be dead."

Jax held out his hand to Kuai and the Cryomancer nodded. He then clapsed the major's forearm and shook it. Once they let go, Jackson folded his arms over his chest and frowned.

"So, what are you guys doing up here anyway? I'm sure it wasn't to visit me."

"Well, yes and no. I'm taking Sub-zero to see a friend of his, but we all wanted to see how you were doing, too."

Jax nodded.

"Mind if I join you? I've got nothing better to do, and..."

The major looked over his shoulder at the doctor.

"Hey doc, am I good to go or is there something else I need to do?"

Shaking, the woman nodded and gave Jax a thumbs-up.

"E..Everything looks g..good."

"Great. Thank you."

Jax and the others walked away leaving the poor doctor alone. Hopefully she could call someone to fix her office. Walking down another hall, Jax and Sonya started a conversation while Raiden and Sub-zero walked silently behind them. After some time, the thunder god spoke.

"Will your other friend be joining us, Sub-zero?"

"He told me that he would meet me and Sonya at the base, but I have not seen him. I am sure that he..."

"Sorry we're late!"

Kuai groaned when he realized who had shouted at him and Raiden. The two turned around and saw Johnny Cage waving his hand in the air with the biggest smile on his face. He was wearing a gray vest over a white, long-sleeve shirt with black pants and dark brown loafers. The actor also had his signature shades sitting on the top of his head.

"We had to make a stop at my agent's place. Someone offered me the role of the new Terminator! What do you guys think about that?"

Sub-zero shook his head, but Raiden chuckled.

"He has been going on and on about it the whole way here."

Kuai turned his head to the person standing next to Johnny.

"I thought you would be used to his rambling by now, Smoke."

Smoke laughed. For the past two days, Tomas has been staying with Cage at his home. Yes, the actor loved to ramble about the craziest things, but Smoke enjoyed it. He enjoyed the normalcy and how he could be himself without worrying about what the Lin Kuei would think about his behavior. Tomas even enjoyed the fact that he did not have to wear a uniform anymore. Right now, the silver-haired man was wearing a black hoodie with sleeves that stopped at his elbows and dark blue jeans with black shoes. The time Smoke had spent with Johnny has really made him feel like a normal person.

"Johnny means well. How has it been at the academy?"

"It is alright. Master Bo Rai Cho and a few of the other Outworlders have been staying there to train."

"Is that so? He has not been annoying you, has he?"

"...No?"

"Ha, ha. Be nice, muj pritel."

"Hey!"

Smoke and Sub-zero looked ahead as the others were about to turn a corner. Sonya was the one who called out to them.

"You guys coming or what?"

Tomas looked at Kuai and the Cryomancer nodded at his friend. The two warriors then jogged down the hall to catch up with their comrades.