Chapter 3: The Plans

"No! We're already here later than we were meant to be!" Nightwolf exclaimed.

The four warriors are at the outskirts of the capital city. They are debating what their next course of action should be, considering that they arrived much later in time than expected.

"Let us just go to the island and claim the Crown! No detours!" Nightwolf continued.

"Our rather… public arrival at the Koliseum has made that impossible." Shang Tsung rebutted. "If the Kollector was able to spot us, then it's very likely others have too. Kronika will learn of this from the Outworlders loyal to her, and she'll most likely send Cetrion to guard the Crown until it is ready."

"And our combined power will not be enough to overcome her." Fujin added in agreement. "We will need help."

"But whose help?!" Nightwolf asked. "We cannot recruit any of our allies without altering this timeline's events. And even if we do try, they'll never believe us. They'll think this is a scheme of Kronika's!"

Shang Tsung stood up and walked past Nightwolf, deep in thought. Eventually, he came up with an idea, a smile forming on his face.

"... Sindel."

The other three warriors look at him in disbelief.

"Mother?!" Kitana asked in shock.

"... isn't she on Kronika's side? Even if she wasn't, she's a revenant!" Nightwolf said.

"A revenant that plays no significant role in the battles ahead, and thus can be recruited without altering events. As for her status as a revenant…" Shang Tsung paused, letting the moment hang for dramatic effect.

"... I can restore her back to life."

Kitana was even more shocked at this declaration. "You speak the truth?! How can you do this when all the others could not?!"

"Because I have worked with Quan Chi for a time during the time he was allied with us at the tournaments." Shang Tsung answered. "I have become familiar with how his unique brand of magic works as a result. With a particular ritual I have in mind, I can restore her body to true life, and expunge the necromantic magics that bind her to the Nether Realm."

"Have you any idea how risky this is? Sindel was Shao Kahn's empress; his equal in evil!" Fujin brought up.

"FUJIN!" Kitana snapped at him.

"I do not mean to offend, Kitana. But I was only speaking the truth."

"Only because he had her bewitched." Shang Tsung explained. "Besides, that bewitchment was overridden by the revenant curse. Once she is resurrected, she will return to her original, more virtuous personality."

Fujin was unconvinced. "And how do you suppose we detain her? She was powerful enough to slay most of Earthrealm's champions single-handedly, including her own daughter! It was only through Nightwolf's sacrifice that she was stopped back then!"

"Which is PRECISELY the kind of power we need to match Cetrion." Shang Tsung emphasized. "I will not delude you; it will be difficult. But Sindel is the key to our victory."

"... what sort of ritual will you perform to restore her?" Kitana asked hesitatingly.

"It will require two crucial components." Shang Tsung began to explain. "First, we will need Earthrealm's Jinsei. Its divine properties will purify and restore her body. But it will not be enough to break Quan Chi's spell over her soul. To do that, we will need Outworld's Soul Chamber. With its energies enhancing the Jinsei waters even further, combined with the Chamber's own healing properties, it will fully heal her soul and cleanse it of all outside influence."

Kitana, in sheer disbelief, leaned against a nearby tree. "... this is unreal. I can finally have my mother back after so long." she whispered to herself.

Nightwolf remained unsure, pacing around and trying to think of a better plan. Fujin, on the other hand, looked convinced.

"Do you have another plan, Nightwolf. A better one?"

After another minute, Nightwolf sighed in resignation. "... I do not."

"If I may add something…" Kitana interrupted.

"What is it, my princess?" Shang Tsung asked.

Kitana looked sternly at the sorcerer. "Spare me the shallow flattery. I only wanted to ask: How many times can you perform this ritual?"

Shang Tsung looked thoughtful. "That would depend on how much Jinsei we acquire. Why?"

Kitana walked away from the tree, also in deep thought while looking at the ground. "So, if you only need a certain amount of Jinsei to restore my mother, and we have enough of it left over…"

Nightwolf caught on to her implication. "Are you saying…?"

"... then we can restore more than just my mother!" Kitana finished, turning to face the others. "There were more revenants than just her that never showed up in the final battles! There's the other Nightwolf, the Lin Kuei warrior that answers to Smoke…"

"And Kurtis Stryker, that police officer that aided us during the invasion!" Nightwolf added.

"That would make four kombatants we can save! That will effectively double our numbers!" Fujin said with excitement.

Shang Tsung took some time to consider this new possibility. "... it can conceivably be done, but that would depend on how quickly we can find them, if at all. And if we're too injured or overwhelmed while taking down Sindel, we won't have a chance to acquire any others."

"Any one we can rescue would better our chances, so it's worth the risk." Kitana insisted.

"... very well. If we are fortunate enough to find any other revenants we can convert, we can try to do so. But the priority must be Sindel." Shang Tsung conceded.

"Of course." Kitana agreed.

"A reasonable concession." Fujin agreed.

"... I still do not like it, but it is reasonable enough." Nightwolf conceded.

Shang Tsung nodded. "Then we are in agreement."

Nightwolf then walked up to Shang Tsung and stared intensely at him. "BUT. One hint of betrayal, sorcerer, and WE WILL finish you on the spot and try our luck on our own."

Shang Tsung smiled smugly at the declaration. "I shall keep that in mind."

"... then where do we start?"

"First, we go to Earthrealm to secure enough Jinsei." Shang Tsung said. He then walked away from the group, started channeling magics through his arms, and chanted his spell.

Meanwhile, at Kronika's Keep

The Keeper of Time known as Kronika is working her temporal powers on her Hourglass, shaping within it the grand rewinding ritual to send all of creation to the beginning of time. Beside her floated Cetrion, the Elder Goddess of Virtue and Life, and Kronika's daughter. Kronika is so singularly focused on her task that she barely registered the footsteps that approached her.

She sighed at being interrupted and turned towards the beings that approached her. They were Geras, Kronika's artificial creation, Frost, the cybernetically enhanced cryomancer…

And the Kollector, still healing from his previous battle. Kronika raised her eyebrow at the unusual arrival.

"Report." Kronika curtly commanded.

"Fujin, Nightwolf, a doppelganger of Kitana, and Shang Tsung. All of them were seen at the Koliseum." Geras reported.

Kronika's eyes widened, but otherwise did not betray any emotion. "That should not be possible. Those cast into the Void do not return."

"I thought so as well, but the Kollector has confirmed this with me." Geras said, stepping aside to let the Kollector limp forward. He is the worse for wear after his previous battle; while his arms have recovered from being struck by Nightwolf's arrows, his chest still bears the bruises, burns and cuts from before, and he is having difficulty breathing.

"I have seen… *gasp* them all with… *gasp* my eyes, my Lady." Kollector painfully breathed out.

Kronika floated down until she was in front of the Kollector. "I shall confirm this for myself."

She placed one of her hands on top of the Kollector's head, nearly touching it. She then used her other hand to shoot out a small amount of temporal energy towards the Hourglass.

The sands within the Hourglass started shifting to show the recent memories of the Kollector from his point-of-view. Kronika, as well as the others within the chamber, saw the events go down, from the second Kollector first spotted Shang Tsung and company in the arena, to when he lost his fight against them.

Once the memory was over, Kronika removed her hand from the Kollector's head. Worry was etched on her face, and a sinking sense of dread started to form in her stomach. "It can't be…"

She walked away from the group, and used her temporal powers to open a portal to the Void Beyond Time. She quickly flew through it, then came back out moments later, total shock on her face.

"HOW?! HOW COULD THEY HAVE POSSIBLY ESCAPED?!" Kronika loudly asked herself, complete frustration etched on her face.

Cetrion started to look worried herself. "Mother, they are truly gone?"

"... this massively complicates my plans. All other variables have been considered, but actual escapees from the Void? And all of them powerful enough to change the outcome? And this Kitana doppelganger; she COULD be another of his creations, but..." Kronika said, mostly to herself.

"If Shang Tsung were to-" Geras began to say.

"I know full well what he is capable of!" Kronika snapped back angrily. She then took in a calming breath, and regained her composure.

"We must nip this problem in the bud before it grows out of control." Kronika declared. "Geras, Frost, take with you the revenant Kitana and some Lin Kuei cybers and hunt these interlopers down. Bring them back alive if you can so that I may interrogate them; but ensure that they will not be a problem!"

"Consider it done." Frost confirmed, bowing out of respect in the process. She and Geras turned around and left the chamber.

Once they have left, Kronika turned her attention to the Kollector. "Kollector, you are to remain here and guard the keep."

"But what about Shao Kahn and Outworld? Are you not going to aid him in his time of need?" Kollector asked, perturbed.

"He had his chance to ensure his place in the New Era, and he failed miserably. But you, you are of greater value to me."

"I am?"

Kronika floated down and placed her hand on his shoulder, while putting on an affect of consideration. "You tried to stop the interlopers as soon as you spotted them; and only failed because you were outnumbered and overpowered. And even when you failed, you were able to inform me of this potential disaster in time. That is why I shall reward you."

"... you will pay me in riches?" Kollector asked with hope.

"Something even greater: Power. In my New Era, you will be the Emperor of Outworld, and your people will be the masters of all the other races in that realm. Never again will the Naknada be slaves."

Kollector, despite the pain he is still feeling, smiles with genuine joy at this declaration, and kneeled before Kronika out of gratitude. "You are far too generous, Mistress."

Kronika smiled at him, then turned her attention to Cetrion. "Daughter, heal the Kollector, and bring him to the other defenders of the Keep. After you do, keep in contact with the revenants on Shang Tsung's Island. It is very likely the sorcerer and his companions will try and steal the Crown for themselves; should they show up, you are to head there and intercept them."

"Your will be done, Mother." Cetrion said solemnly. She then went over to the Kollector and started healing him with her divine power.

Kronika then floated back over to the Hourglass, and resumed her work on the rewind ritual. But instead of the calm look she sported earlier, she looked much more worried.

'These new revelations, I have never had to deal with them the other times I have played back this scenario.' Kronika thought to herself. 'And I cannot back out now and try again, not when everything is almost completed. As much as i'm loath to admit it… my victory is no longer a certainty.'

To be Kontinued.

AN: And that makes three! There were more plannings on both sides than actual action taking place, but this is more set-up to how much things will change in the future. And yeah, if our heroes (and sorcerer) pull it off, they can get three more fighters on their side, not just Sindel! But they weren't what you were expecting, were you? ;P

Still, don't you worry your pretty little heads. Kombat shall continue in the next chapter!

See you next chapter!

Sine