Redemption: The action of saving, or being saved from sin, error, or evil.
Redemption is different to each individual that perceives their situation with such a loaded word. There is no such redemption without an equal detriment, either to yourself or others.
Absolute perfection requires absolute sacrifice.
As an immortal Raiden feared no one on the ship. No one could kill him, nor even bring him to the brink of death. Not Quan Chi, not even Liu Kang.
What Raiden feared was the loss of valuable life. The pain and suffering he'd cause at the expense of what he believed as a better world. He feared that in this journey to reconstruct the best timeline possible for the current generation that now lead themselves down the unsteady bridge toward Mortal Kombat, that he would undoubtedly destroy another.
He feared to fail Liu Kang again, Kung Lao, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage.
He moved with the weight of boulders that burdened and weighted his heart as he slowly traced Cage's footsteps. The winding path along this ship from one end to the other made him believe Johnny himself did not know where he was going. Raiden did not know what path Cage had taken either.
The sconces on the wall were dim. The fires kept low as not to burn the ship beyond the metal plates that held him above every other door. It was perfect for him to follow Cage, but he knew more than one person could be as stealthy as he and kept as quiet and hidden as even a mouse could.
Cage travelled down a staircase that creaked and cracked, and lifted dust with heavy steps as the man turned each sharp angle to reach the lower levels of the ship.
At the end of Cage's journey, Raiden watched him enter the first cabin on the right before another door that lead down a hall from one end of the ship to the next, just below the cargo hold. This is where the dregs of society would be that had been entrapped, or enlisted by Quan Chi. The Black Dragon, The Lin Kuei, and Johnny Cage.
His footsteps were light as a mouse and his tattered old robes barely wafted any dust or wind as he moved, but yet as he leaned on the wall net to the door to listen, he had a moment of panic that he had been heard.
"What are you doing?" Johnny asked from inside.
"I am Bi-Han, of the Lin Kuei, Kano demands your presence."
He was relieved to hear he had not been caught, but worse yet, he'd be trapped in the hall as the two may exit and even more that Johnny would be wedged by fate between two vile, and dangerous gangs.
Raiden's energy dissipated as the door cracked and the two men stepped outside. The assassin known as Bi-Han, dressed in black and their clan color of blue, almost medieval in style, lead Cage down the hall past the first gate that would bring them to the middle of the ship.
In this empty stretch with only two doors on each side of him and the portal door to the next stretch closed in front of him, Raiden felt safe enough to return to physical form.
"Spying, are we, Lord Raiden?" As his foot pressed against the wood, the right door cracked inward and Quan Chi's voice weighed Raiden down.
His eyes scanned into the shadow room, a figure of green dim light outlined Quan Chi's presence and welcomed Raiden in.
He opened the door wider as Quan Chi lit two sconces inside and then from across the room, turned to reveal a wry smile and raised brow at the Thunder God.
"One might ask the same of you."
"This is my ship, I know everything that goes on in it."
He noticed Quan Chi was dressed down. Black tunic, breeches and leather boots. No armor, no presentation for the Thunder God. He was almost like a dark version of Raiden with old linen, weathered clothing, save for the long torn cloak and conical hat Raiden adorned.
"What's your motive?"
"Victory in Mortal Kombat."
Raiden shook his head, "no, with the actor."
"Victory in Mortal Kombat." He repeated, slower, deeper.
"Why him?" Raiden narrowed his eyes. Up until this moment, he had not known what Quan Chi knew, and only now had begun to suspect. For such a strange and random target for the sorcerer to select, he had to have something up his sleeve.
"I'm a fan." Quan Chi's words were a barrier Raiden could not breech. Behind that fence he knew something sinister brewed, but could only hint at. He didn't want to entertain the idea that Quan Chi had known of how this timeline had come into being, but the thought did enter his head.
"He fights for Earth Realm." Raiden added, "he from this realm and much like Bo' Rai Cho could not fight for Earth, Cage cannot fight for Outworld."
"That is where you are wrong, Lord Raiden." Quan Chi slowly cracked his fingers. He was frail and withered, but that didn't suggest he was not powerful, nor stupid. He continued, "is Shang Tsung not from Earth Realm?"
"Shang Tsung bound his soul to Shao Kahn in order to fight for Outworld. The denizens of the Netherrealm also cannot fight in the name of Outworld. I would not dare doom the mortal to fate of being bound to the Netherrealm."
"No, Raiden, you wouldn't. Fortunate enough that we are not the same." He lead Raiden to the door and opened it further for him, a kindness he would not offer again. "Kotal Kahn will be watching this tournament very carefully, Lord Raiden. I suspect you will adhere to the laws that run this tournament?"
"Only if you do." Raiden searched for the answer within Quan Chi's eyes. Why Cage? Why now?
"Then we will see who who comes out victorious. Me, and my denizens, or you and your pitiful mortals."
"The people of Earth Realm are full of surprises," he added as he stepped out of the room and matched Quan Chi's dark, coy grin, "you never know what they're going to do."
With no reply needed, Raiden dissipated and his light swiftly swept up the staircase.