Chapter Forty-Two: Breaking and Entering

The creaking of a metal door opening echoed throughout the sewers as Tomas entered the Deadpool. He was fortunate that Jade had shown him this passageway when the two of them broke into Shao Kahn's fortress before. It was the easiest way for them to get to the Flesh Pits unnoticed. Speaking of which, Smoke decided to make a quick stop to the lab to see its condition since he did not have the chance to due to Jade's injured state. He made his way across the acidic liquid of the Deadpool and quickly exited the area before any guards showed up.

Avoiding the few sentries that roamed the halls, Tomas arrived at the the staircase that would lead him down to the Flesh Pits. He remembered how he had smelled smoke when he was exiting Shang Tsung's lab, but he did not have any time to go back and see the cause of it. The silver-haired man did not recall himself or Jade making a fire. Maybe there was another Kitana clone that had started one in an attempt to kill Smoke and Jade, but surely the sorcerer would not have allowed his experiments to cause such destruction. After all, all of his life's work was in that lab.

Surprisingly, once he reached the bottom step, Tomas saw that the Flesh Pits looked good as new, excluding the Tarkatan bodies that were laying on tables and trapped within test tubes. The lab was extremely clean and looked like Shang Tsung upgraded the place seeing that he had a few computers and small gadgets and tools laying about. Smoke did not think that the fortress was even capable of producing electricity, but more than likely, there was generator around for that purpose. Now, however, was not the time to be thinking about that.

All the computer screens had the Black Dragon insignia on them. That makes sense. Kano was probably the reason for the Flesh Pits' redesign and technological additions. And seeing as he and Shang Tsung were practically partners now, it was only reasonable that the Australian was able to use the lab as well. Tomas looked around the room to see if any cameras had been installed along with everything else, and he was glad to see none for whatever reason.

Smoke looked over the keyboards and computer monitors and thought about the information that they could be holding. There was a high chance that Kano stored important info within the computers instead of having to write and take notes by hand like anyone else. When he was sure that no one was coming, Tomas took a seat in front of the biggest monitor of the computers and grabbed the mouse. He clicked on the screen and a text box with the words "Enter Password" at the top appeared. Of course Smoke was not going to get into it so easily.

"Why do computers hate me?"

Shaking his head, Tomas heard footsteps coming down the staircase. He immediately hid behind some crates that had been left in a corner and listened as two men walked into the Pits. One of them was Kano, who Smoke instantly recognized due to the Australian's accent. The other had a bit an accent too, but Tomas could not identify it.

"So, what exactly is the deal with this Shao Kahn guy? Are we really going to help him with this invasion?"

"Why not? Don't tell me you've gotten soft."

"No, it's just that there are other things we can be doing with our time. We are helping this guy start a war and for what?"

"Kabal, what is it that I always say?"

The one named Kabal sighed. Smoke peeked around his crate and willed himself invisible to get a look at the two Black Dragon members. Kabal was a few inches taller than Kano and had long black hair that was tied back into a ponytail. He was wearing an outfit similar to Kano's, but it black and grey with the Black Dragon symbol on his back. Kano had a stupid grin on his face as he waited for Kabal to answer his question.

"Always go with the highest bidder."

"Exactly. And doesn't an emperor who plans to conquer all the worlds seem like the highest bidder? You've got to see what Shao Kahn can do."

"After I get over the fact that I've been transported to another world. This is all really sudden, Kano."

"Yeah, yeah. Glad you're on board, old friend."

A gunshot followed by a crash from upstairs followed by a Tarkatan tumbling down the stairs interrupted Kano and Kabal's conversation. The Australian shook his head and stepped towards the fallen Tarkatan.

"What the hell did you do now?"

"Gun…recoil…"

Kano rolled his eyes and headed upstairs.

"Don't worry, Kabal. I'll be right back."

And then Kano disappeared around the corner. After waiting a minute to make sure his comrade was gone, Kabal pulled something out of his pants pocket. It was a red flash drive. Smoke watched as Kabal walked to one of the computers and inserted the drive into it. He logged in and after some clicks here and there, he pressed a button that said "Download" and proceeded to copy files from the computer onto the flash drive. Tomas was confused about why Kabal would need to take those files, but he would think about that later.

"Hey, get the hell off me, you bloody…!"

Another shot was heard and before the Tarkatan on the floor could stand up, two more of its brethren along with Kano toppled on top of him. Kano tried to untangle himself from the Tarkatans, but that proved to be a rather difficult task.

"You gonna help me or what?"

Kano reached his hand out to Kabal and Kabal quickly stepped in front of the computer so his friend could not see the drive.

"Nah, you'll be fine."

"You always were an asshole, you know that mate?"

"Oh, I know. And love it."

With a chuckle, Kabal jogged to Kano and the Tarkatans to help them. While he was busy with that, Smoke looked back at the computer with the drive still plugged into it. The flash drive would be easier to get to than just looking on the computer itself and whatever it downloaded could be useful. In a flash, Tomas had grabbed the drive and by some miracle, he was able to get past Kano, Kabal, and the Tarkatans while keeping himself invisible. He quickly ascended the steps in his smoke form so as to not make any noise and reformed at the top of the stairway, letting out a sigh of relief.

"I definitely need to be more careful."

Tomas did not have time for a break before he heard voices from up ahead. He saw multiple shadows on the walls at the end of the hall and he went to the opposite side of the hallway. There was an archway that served as an entrance to another room and Smoke used that as cover. Heavy footsteps were getting closer and closer to his position.

"Everything is near completion, my lord. We should be prepared to strike shortly."

"We better be, Shang Tsung. You have failed me twice now. Do NOT fail me again."

That voice. It could not be. Tomas' eyes widen and he could not bring himself to move until people started walking past him. He almost dropped his invisibility from shock when he saw someone he thought he would never have to see again. Scorpion had been telling the truth. Walking down the hall, with Shang Tsung and Baraka accompanying him, was the emperor himself. Shao Kahn.

"What other materials are you in need of, Quan Chi?"

"There are only a few, but those are simple to acquire. The spell will be ready soon enough."

"Good."

Shao Kahn turned to Shang Tsung.

"Have my army prepared for battle in two days. We cannot make any mistakes when we go to Earthrealm."

"Of course, my lord."

So they were planning an invasion on Earthrealm. Two days of peace before Shao Kahn came to take his revenge. But what was the emperor talking with Quan Chi? What materials did the sorcerer need and why? And Tomas remembered Raiden saying that there was some kind of force that was preventing Shao Kahn from setting foot in Earthrealm. Did he find some way to counter that force?

These were questions that Smoke would have to answer later. Right now he needed to return to the Special Forces Base and inform the others of what he has found out. They had only two days to prepare and Tomas could not afford to waste the limited time they had. Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi had made it to the other end of the hallway and turned the corner without noticing the silver-haired man. He rummaged into his pocket and pulled out the teleporter before anyone else came by. When his destination was set, Smoke had his finger over the activation button and was about to press it.

"What do you plan to do now?"

Tomas winced as his head started to hurt. Why did that thing have to show up now?

"What?"

"Do you think you will be capable of defeating Shao Kahn?"

"Why do you care?"

"We do share the same body. If you die, I will die."

"Then LEAVE. Go back to the Netherrealm where you belong."

"You would love that, wouldn't you?"

He knew he should ignore Enenra, but Tomas took his hand away from the sphere and let his arms fall to his sides. He started speaking to the demon through his thoughts so no one could hear him.

"Then just tell me why."

"Why what exactly?"

"You know what I mean. Why me?"

"What? You think you are special? There were plenty of other candidates…"

"And they all died."

"...Yes. And?"

Enenra was not the least bit concerned for the children whose lives it had taken. It took everything in Smoke's power not to hit himself if it meant hurting the demon.

"What do you mean by "and"? Those children…you killed them!"

"They were collateral damage."

"How can you say that? They were fucking children!"

"What is the matter? Did I anger you?"

Clenching his fists, Tomas was absolutely seething. But what did he expect? Enenra was a demon and it was in its nature to cause chaos and destruction. If this monster stayed in his body long enough, Smoke was afraid that he was going to be caught in the monster's madness.

"...What do you want?"

"I have already told you. I want to be free."

"And how exactly can you gain freedom if you are in my body? If you think that I am going to allow you to control, then you are mistaken."

"It is a shame that you still think you have a chance against me. Besides…I am unable to leave your body at the moment."

"Why? What is keeping you here?"

"...How about this? We will discuss all of this tonight. Once you fall asleep. I will help you better understand my situation. Fair?"

Now Enenra was willing to talk? After their last confrontation, Smoke was not sure if he should trust the demon. But as he said before, this discussion was bound to happen. He needed answers and Enenra seemed to be willing to give them. For now.

"...Fine. But you better not try anything like last time."

"Why of course. And try not to let Pyros interrupt us. This meeting is reserved for the two of us and I am not fond of Earthrealmers call "third-wheels."

Smoke could feel Enenra's presence fade back into the darkness of his mind. Tomas shook his head to clear his thoughts and once he regained his composure, the silver-haired man activated the sphere and disappeared. Now he had two conversations he was not looking forward to.