I am legitimately worried right now. Well, it's going to be a while since I upload due to responsibilities and becoming an adult. So, I will be in Australia to do my Masters in Teaching. Because what better way to instil certain things or inject ideas into people starting from the youngest. To make them care more about nature and view life through different coloured glass will be hard but I have to try.

I'll be ok. Who knows where I'll go from there. But enough about me!

Let's get on with this.

Chapter 45

Both Azril and I got into position. We wanted Kristina to get away from Ermac since Mileena and Ermac are allies. What was interesting was that Ermac seemed to have expressed a few emotions before pushing Kristina amongst the shelves quickly.

Sounds like someone I know!

"Why does she have to be here?" Kristina hissed, standing close to me. We both stayed down trying to avoid getting caught. I can't find Azril anywhere! He must be really good at blending himself despite of his choice of clothing.

"Ermac," Mileena purred, her heels click as she walked towards the construct. "You've been awfully quiet lately. You're supposed to be helping me! Daddy's plans are going along smoothly yet his construct seemed to be absent when he's needed."

"Our apologies," the construct's voice was gravely deep and resonant while he dipped his head in a bow. "We have been engrossed with most of the scrolls and books in this library. We have been studying for-"

"You can read your precious books later!" Mileena interrupted him. "What's important now that I've heard that the Shokans aren't going to be on our side and I heard those Disciples are planning something to over throw my father! As he is your creator, I expect you to help us. Unless you are hiding something!"

"If we were," Ermac eyed her with those glowing green eyes. "You would have caught us by now, Mileena."

Kristina and I exchanged looks, afraid what might happened if we made a sound. My heart sank when I saw behind the young warrior were the Tarkatans. Baraka was among them since he seemed to be the one leading the group but I can't really tell since all of them looked the same with their muscular built bodies and shark teeth gaping out.

"Great, now we're gonna have to take them down if you're going to talk to her," Kristina sighed. "So what's the plan?"

"Take out the Tarkatans without making a sound," I told her. Kristina stared at me as if I grew another head. She gripped my shoulders roughly. "Oh yeah? And how the hell are we going to do that?"

There was no explanation as we both saw Azril taking down two Tarkatans without seriously killing them. More like they are unconscious from whatever technique he was using. Ermac seemed to be calm under all of Mileena's questions. Suddenly, her cat-like eyes darted all over the library before commanding her followers in Tarkatans. Some of them already had their arm blades out while the sexy fanged lady herself took out her sais.

"If you excuse us," Ermac did a small bow. "We need to attend to our study. You do need a good strategy and not repeat the mistakes those have made in the past."

Mileena pondered for a bit before growling: "Fine! Be an archivist but when we really need you, I expect you to be by my side besides Tanya. The rest of you search this library!"

Now that was our cue to move and avoid causing a mess in a place where Ermac holds dear if we wanted him on our side. But somehow one of the Tarkatans spotted us and soon, the library became a place not for solitude but for battles.

"Nash~" Mileena purred before removing the mask that covered her fangs. "I was wondering when you would show up. It's been a while since we talked."

"It has," I agreed. "Are you sure you want to rule?"

The Tarkatan princess lunged at me with her sais but I managed to deflect her oncoming attack with my new hammer. I smirked, before swinging my weapon to knock her on the side. The Takatan guards that were with her had no chance with two of the most dangerous Disciples and an ice wyvern outside who snatched one of them from the window and tossing him into the air before swallowing him whole.

Let's not forget that this chaos has caused some of the residence to panic or be accidentally squashed from Visenya's legs. I felt guilty but at the same time have a sort of sick pride to get back at them for mocking me during my banishment.

"Why can't we be friends like the last time?" I asked while countering her swift attacks. At this point, I'll die from a thousand cuts. The glee in her eyes were both fascinating and frightening at the same time. She was fast enough to knock me against the bookshelves.

We're making a mess in this library!

If I could knock her down, maybe I can get her to listen to me. I guessed it's the only way. But I also need Baraka on our side too since he's one of Mileena's biggest followers. My mind's too occupied fighting Mileena to think about how we're killing some of his people in order to talk some sense into this woman.

"Just listen to me!" I shouted before I straight up punch her under the jaw to which some of her sharp teeth came out. There was a bit of blood but this was nothing if you lived long enough in Mortal Kombat.

"You're being delusional," I continued evading her sais while I kicked her. "You may be Shao Kahn's heir but I don't think ruling with a lot of responsibilities would suit your free nature."

There was a bit I could tell that she was hesitant after what I said.

"If I rule," Mileena growled before biting a bit of my leg, me screaming in pain. "I will have everything! Slaves, servants, all the realms can bow down to me! Plus, I can have everything."

"Of course!" I agreed, spreading her legs to hit below the belt with the hilt of my hammer. "But you're going to make a lot of enemies who would want you dead. Wouldn't it be nice if-"

"GET ON WITH IT, NASH!" Kristina's scream interrupted my offer. I saw her kicking and even choking some of the Tarkatans before blowing their brains out. Great, now how are we going to convince Baraka after this?

I resumed my fight with Mileena, our bodies colliding with each other from her lithe yet sexy figure to my muscular one. I was also trying to avoid her from mauling my face with her fangs or gouge out my eyes with those twin weapon of hers.

After everything I went through, is it bad that I still want her? Sounds risky but I guessed it's the only way to break her off from getting influenced by her father's tyrannical behaviours and let Jade handle Tanya as promised.

So while she decided to have her feral war-cry, I grabbed her by the heel to slam her down to the ground . One foot pinned her hand while the other on her head. She was a hot mess with all that blood, sweat and tears from our fight.

"Finish me," Mileena spoke quietly. "I'm not alone since I got Tanya, who I will appoint as my First Minister."

Not going to happen! I was wondering of something different. I helped her up, seeing the confused expression on her beautiful face. She still is despite the fangs. Smiling, I told her about my proposition:

"It would be a shame to kill you. But I do need you to something for me which will save your life."

She tilted her head. I continued: "I want you to not be empress."

Suddenly, everything came to a halt. Both my friends and the Tarkatans paused their fight, waiting for Mileena's reaction to my proposal except Kristina who blew a Tarkatan's brains out with her gun. Ermac was muttering to himself as he used his telekinetic abilities to restore the damaged library and arrange the books back onto the shelves.

"What?"

"Think of it," I walked to her, gently removing her weapons from her grasp. "As much as ruling is the best thing with you getting everything you want, you're going to make more enemies than friends. And your friends will soon turn against you because of your status. Do you want to be alone forever in this world?"

Mileena was silent after my explanation. She stared at me with those yellow cat-like eyes. But then her pupils dilated and she growled before shoving me off. "Leave me alone! You don't understand me at all!"

She signalled the remaining Tarkatans to follow her back. With that, they disappeared before any one of us could say anything. At least all of us are okay, more or less.

"Whelp, there goes your treaty," Kristina approached me. "So what now? We call the shots and massacre all of them?"

"No, we're not going to cause another war," I told her firmly. "I guessed now we have to get to Baraka."

"Good luck trying to persuade him," Azril sighed, cleaning the blood off of his daggers. "After we killed some of his men, it would be a miracle if he decided to join us."

"We have to try! I want to get out of here and I bet you guys want to see your families too."

Both of them were silent. Then, Kristina spoke: "We better not waste our time then. So, how are we going to find Baraka? Don't tell me we have to infiltrate the palace as much as I would love to kill all of them."

"We know where they are," Ermac's voice made us turn to him. Oh right, he has all of those souls inside of him so some of them must've known the Tarkatans and their history. "They have a kamp at the outskirts of the palace. Be warned that their first instinct is to hunt whatever is moving."

"Noted," said Azril. "And you do know their history as well?"

Ermac nodded. "We do. To get to the kamp, we have a solution."

He told Azril to go and fetch Visenya who had her head peaking through the doorways. Since she's a giant, she could only snake her way towards the construct who's unblinking glowing green eyes gazed at her.

Visenya gave him a warning growl before snapping her teeth which vibrated throughout the library. Ermac levitated close to the wyvern's muzzle to place a gloved hand on it. He murmured something in a language I can't even understand. Then, something interesting happened:

Visenya's blue eyes started to change to green that rivalled Ermac's.

She began to thrashed her head about, as if something was controlling her. Azril tried to calm her down but Ermac's telekinesis abilities prevented him from doing so. Kristina tugged Ermac to release him.

"Let her absorb all of the information we transferred to her central cortex," Ermac explained before releasing Azril. I watched in awe as she was fighting the information inside of her, hearing screams and cries of terror from outside. I feel the odd satisfaction from hearing them being scared.

"Don't look too relieved, Nash," Azril stood by me. "Those villagers will soon calm down. Their minds are as fickle as followers in political campaigns. I wouldn't be surprised if Shao Kahn's replacement, that is K'oatal that we voted for will get the same support just because of the thrills or something calm."

Wow, that's a lot to take in!

Visenya's violent thrashing ceased, her head slumped to the ground. Her eyes slowly turned back to normal before she rumbled a growl. Azril simply stroked her face to which she gave the oldest Disciple a lick.

"Now she has the location mapped in her and bearings within her," Ermac announced. "We hoped you make haste before Mileena has all of their support and Shao Kahn has made them obeyed his wishes."

"Thank you, Ermac," I thanked him. I swear to god I saw that ghost of a smile on the construct's thin lips. Azril was the first to climb on his dragon and then me. Kristina on the other hand was talking about something to Ermac. I hope it doesn't take too long considering we don't have much time.

"We believe that your outcome may be…ambiguous," said Ermac. Kristina now looked worried, so was I. "Nonetheless, if you can change the course of the action, the outcome might be satisfying."

Before I knew it, Ermac kissed Kristina gently on the forehead.

It was not long before she climbed up at last with a smile on her face. Her expression changed to a frown when Azril and I exchanged glances.

"What are you boys looking at? Let's go!"

…

3rd P.O.V

There were too many undead for Riana to count. No matter how much the four of them tried to fend them off, they seemed to rise up again. Riana hardly used her venom since on the first try it had little effect so it's best to save it. In this case, it was more of punching, kicking and even ripping out limbs to slow them down.

"Ugh, does anything stay dead anymore?!" Bryan screamed from the inside of his suit. He was firing and beating up most of the undead army but he looked disgusted as some of them were clawing at his suit.

"We gotta hold them off until we find another way out!" Erron Black yelled while firing bullets and reloading them. He switched between his pistols and the rifle on his back.

Reptile had spitted out most of his corrosive acid that seemed to cause a puddle for the undead army. The minute they stepped into the green liquid, their whole body melted. But it was not enough for the swarm of the undead that kept pushing on.

"Here Riana! Sorry I held it for so long!" Bryan tossed Riana her prescribed spectacles, who the young woman was relieved that her sights were back. Another thing she was concern was the whereabouts of her beloved bearded dragon.

"It's no use!" Riana shouted from the side, fending of the undead that was surrounding her. "We really need to find an escape route and fast!"

The four of them thought that this was the way their lives were going to end. Just then, something small came out from the ground. A familiar head popped out before he leaped onto one of the undead soldier, coming out of its eye socket and into his owner's arms. Kurt was safe but he looked distressed. He tugged Riana's sleeve with his mouth, pointing his head at the other direction. His tail was thumping rapidly.

"He knows a way!" said Reptile, who splits the head of one of the soldiers. "I think I know where he wants us to go."

With their minds still focusing on the fight, the whole team went to follow Riana's pet without question where all of them entered a cavern. "This is getting weird!" Bryan shouted, a bit suspicious at this.

"We don't have time to think about that!"

There were different tunnels and sized caves so the team tried their best to lose the undead by going into different ones together. Somehow, they seemed to go further underground.

"Do you think we lost them?" Bryan asked.

"Looks that way," said Erron, eyeing the entrance.

Riana petted Kurt before letting him climb onto her shoulders. Reptile too smiled at the little bearded dragon before his expression changed. He growled a little.

"You know this place, Syzoth?" Riana asked. Reptile nodded, a bit wary of the surrounding. Now, they have to find another way out to avoid meeting the undead armies. Their only way out with the aquatic herb had been destroyed during the fight. Bryan's suit was going to need a lot of buffing and the undead did more damage than anything had.

"We have to report Nash about what happened," sighed Riana. "I hope they're doing a better progress."

"My beautiful suit…" Bryan lamented, getting out of the armour to inspect it much to the two Outworlder's annoyance. "They damaged it. Now it's ruined! How the hell are we going to escape when everything we have is destroyed?!"

Bryan's mouth was then closed off by Erron's gloved hand. The cowboy seemed tired to listen to Bryan's dramatic complains. The sooner they leave, the better. He would go to the nearest bars to get himself a strong drink to forget about the shit he went through.

"My, what do we have here?" a slithery, oily voice crooned. It sent shivers down Riana's spine. Sounded something sinister lurked in this cavern. Kurt nestled close to her next for comfort.

Bryan screamed when he looked up. There, there was a lanky figure with ruby red eyes peering down at them like a predator. Erron aimed his gun and fired while Reptile spitted his acid but the figure dodged it with nimbleness like that of a spider. Both the Disciples and pet huddled close when the creature stepped into the light.

He was very skinny, had sharp nails on every appendage, four arms and wore a blue hood. Bryan gasped and points a finger at it: "Oh my god! It's an emaciated Shokan! I can see his ribcage!"

This made the four-armed creature leaped down before crawling close to Bryan like an actual spider. This made Bryan whimpered at how uncomfortable close this guy was. Riana was standing close to Reptile, afraid that this thing would take Kurt or worst.

"I am not a Shokan!" he snarled, pointed teeth were seen. "I am a proud Naknada. We are more superior than those brutes. Reptile, Black, are these two your payment for visiting me in my grotto? Or is it an appeal for what the both of you had done to me?"

Riana wasn't that surprised that the gunslinger and Zaterran knew him since they at some point have been on the island and both of them do have some connections with Shang Tsung. She wondered why this new being looked feral at the sight of her two friends.

"Woah pal!" Bryan raised his arms in defence. "We're not prostitutes! Our bodies are priceless but what's with your place? It could make Gollum's cave look like a conservatory church for all I know."

"Leave us be, Kollector," Reptile hissed. Towering just by the head over the blue-armed creature. "We will be away from your territory."

"Wait, his name is Kollector?" Riana asked in disbelief. Erron Black nodded, adjusting the mask that covered his mouth. "Sure is. He lived up to his name for Shao Kahn."

"Oh, just what we need!" Bryan scrambled away from Kollector's close up to cling onto a very annoyed Reptile. "A Shokan version of the IRS! What's next? We get ourselves a ghost lawyer?"

"I am Naknada you ignorant imp!" Kollector growled to jump on him but was shoved back by Riana. "I do not have four arms."

"Lemme guess," Bryan called out from behind Reptile, still shivering with fear. "Your extra hands are in-between your legs?"

All of them minus the Kollector were horrified at what Bryan just said. But the Naknada turned his back to revealed two tiny arms that were smaller than the other two pairs, opposable as it could only move vertically.

It was terrifying yet so fascinating.

"Six arms and legs," Riana whispered to Bryan. "Just like a real spider. So, you have any back up gadgets?"

"My spy bats are all over the place-" Bryan told her until a dawn of realisation came into place. He grinned a mischievous grin. "Ooh, I am going to roll-call all of them here. I have an idea!"

Kollector was peering at the chubby woman up and down. "You have something on you that's precious. I can offer you a deal to get out of here in one piece if you hand it over."

Riana clutched Kurt who was nestling close to her chest. Her eyes narrowed, she has to think fast since this guy may be nimble in combat. But he seemed to be the kind that loves bargains. "Kurt's not for sale. How about this, we can settle our payment over a little game? Two actually."

This made the six-armed man hummed. "And what game would you challenge me to, Earthrealmer?"

"Be smart in your deal," Reptile told Riana. "Kollector isn't the one who would take deals lightly."

"I was thinking," Riana began, her gloved hands flexed a bit. "One is by combat of your picking while the other is a game of the mind. So, do you accept the challenge?"

Kurt was eyeing at the blue creature from his perch. He would not let him harm her or his new friends. Bryan, Reptile and Erron were watching to see the outcome.

"The stakes?" Kollector prompted.

"My soul along with valuables such as my gloves," said Riana. The three guys were shocked at what they were hearing. Reptile grabbed her arm. "Riana no. I am not going to let you risk your life!"

Riana gently touched her lover's cheek tenderly, their gazes met. "I'll be okay, Syzoth. We all want to get out of here in one piece."

"By trading you?" Erron questioned. "Fuck that! Let's just shoot him and loot his stuff."

Riana gave her team a reassured smile and then winked at Bryan. Who realised what's the plan but kept his mouth shut from screaming it to the heavens. Riana gave Kurt for Reptile to hold, to which he cradled the bearded dragon close to him.

"What do you want to trade yourself for, hm?" asked Kollector, who was inspecting a ring with his other pair of hands.

"A boat."

"A boat?" Kollector repeated, baffled by the answer. Riana nodded an affirmation. He pondered before walking towards her back. He traced the barks of scars on her back.

"I can if you allow me to skin your back," said Kollector. "Your scarred back would make a fine addition to my collection."

"No!" Reptile stepped forward in-between them. "I will not let you barter yourself like a livestock. Riana, please think rationally about this!"

Riana pulled the Zaterran back, whispered something to him which made him blinked. He moved away. "If you insist, dear."

"Alright Kollector, deal," Riana confirmed.

Everyone watched as the young woman and Naknada shook hands on the deadly deal that might sealed their fates all together.

…

Nash's P.O.V

It felt like hours before we spotted a camp that was close to the palace in Outworld. From below, it looked like red dots to me before Visenya descended down. Now it is a true camp with all of the tents pitched up, some…human flesh dangling against a hook near camp fires and some tables full of weapons.

All of the Tarkatans were shouting orders in their own languages the minute the wyvern landed.

"I don't understand a damn word they're saying," Kristina grumbled, annoyed at how they scatter. "Your plan better work, Chosen One. If all this fails I think we all know who to blame."

"Calm down Kristina," Azril held her to diffuse the situation. "Nash, you can negotiate with Baraka. If anything happens, we got your back. Kristina, no killing."

Kristina reluctantly put away her guns. All three of us climbed down Visenya to show ourselves to the Tarkatans. I stepped forward.

"Tarkatans," I began. "We meant you no harm. We just want to talk to Baraka, your leader!"

But the Tarkatans weren't listening. Some of the females; surprised to know that they do reproduce, were ushering the little kids to hide in their tents. The males were growling before pointing at me.

"Trakka tor no rataka!" one of them yelled. A gunshot was fired in the air which startled all of us except Azril.

"English, motherfuckers!" Kristina shouted. She was aiming her guns at some of them. Babies were heard crying while some of the adults looked angry. "Do you speak it?! Where is Baraka?!"

This somehow triggered the Tarkatans into attack with their arm blades out and teeth baring. Both Azril and I glared at Kristina.

"Now look what you've done!" I yelled while using my hammer to swing some who were coming closer. "All I want is a peaceful talk and you just have to itch your fingers on the trigger!"

"No way we can reason with them!" Kristina argued. "They eat human flesh! They are nothing more than cavemen with shark teeth!"

"We could actually made progress if you had listened," sighed a frustrated Azril who was aiming his daggers at the Tarkatans' bodies to stun them. We don't want to kill them after what had happened in the library.

Even Visenya was assisting by grabbing a mouthful of Tarkatans to shake them around like rag dolls before tossing them over. She must've heard Azril through his thoughts. Her tail whipped them like a crack of thunder.

"Kristina," I shouted. "Don't kill them! We don't want to start a war with them!"

"Fine!" she growled while kicking and punching some of them. She knocked most of their teeth out. I wonder if tooth fairies exist in this world by how many teeth Kristina had damaged?

"Just to remind you Chosen One, this is Mortal Kombat not Mortal Kindness!"

Suddenly, a loud horn was heard before all of them ceased. Footsteps approached, chanting of 'Tarkata' was heard in the tribe itself. Azril and I stopped but we had to pull Kristina away before she goes berserk on all of them.

Baraka has emerged and he doesn't look too happy to see us.

Shit, both sides are screwed! Nash might as well start another war thanks to Kristina or how he failed his goal. Riana on the other hand has sealed her team by dealing with the Devil.

Good luck to both of them!

I guessed the only sweet moment was Ermac, don't worry I have things planned for Erron.

Since Kollector is here, how do you like how I portrayed him? If you think it needs to be improved, let me know through PM messages.

Please review for Visenya and follow this for Kurt :)