Intrusion
"We believe it to be Shinnok's amulet"
"What! That is supposed to be in Earthrealm!" Kotal Kahn voiced boomed down the corridor. EJ had to move her ear from the door. Damn, it was rare for Kotal to raise his voice, he was always so calm and measured, to hear him so mad and panicked... "We're looking into how Mileena could have gotten her hand on it." EJ heard her mother say. EJ mother-The Blood Mage Skarlet-had arrived back from her mission a couple hours after the Mileena incident in Sun Do Village. Her Mother usually keeps a quiet, calm but deadly demeanour. The quiet and calm parts were nowhere to be seen when she saw EJ with blood gushing from her nose and her shoulder swelled up. She healed Junior while Senior got scream at. Even the Kahn got an earful too, apparently letting a 15-year-old fight a pyromancer and a half god is not okay. It didn't go down well when the Kahn pointed out that Skarlet was a lot younger when she started fighting. That was a few days ago, EJ Mother, Farther, Kotal Kahn, D'Vorah, Ermac and reptile had basically lock themselves in the Royal guard meeting room, discussing Mileena, the amulet, whole villages disappearing. Outworld was getting crazy then usually.
Apparently, the Kahn thought EJ was old enough to throw down with two powerful warriors, however she was too young to sit in on council's meetings. Makes a lot of sense. EJ had the left side of her face pressed against the huge wooden door, trying to listen in. EJ had heard about Shinnok's amulet: It's the weapon of the fallen elder god, also his prison, it was kept at some super-secret white lotus temple in Earthrealm that only a hand full of people-including the thunder god Raiden-knew about. How did Mileena get her mitts on it? Kano maybe? He still had a couple of connections back in Earthrealm, but EJ couldn't imagine any of them could find the location of the amulet. Could the white lotus have a rat in it rank? Maybe it could be someone high up in the Special forces. EJ was so engross in thought she didn't hear the heels clicking on the stone floor, getting closer to the door. The door is opened quickly, causing EJ to fall flat on her face halfway into the chamber. She lifted her head slightly and saw a pair of blood red boots right in front of her. "Hi Mama" EJ grinned sheepishly up at Skarlet. Skarlet look down at her daughter with her arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. "Hello Kinla (Baby), what are you doing"
"Oh, I just wanted….…. I was passing…. tying my boot….is it worth me trying to lie?"
"No. No it's not"
"Okay, just checking" EJ jumped to her feet.
"Since you have heard most of the conversation, you might as well stay, Erron the lesser." Kotal said looking at EJ and Skarlet with a sombre expression.
"My Kahn, this one thinks that she should not be here. Erron the lesser is still a child and…"D'Vorah was cut off before she could finish
"EJ was at Sun Do village during the attack" Skarlet put emphasise on EJ's name. She hated it just as much as her child when someone refer to her as the lesser. "Yeah, and she fought like hell there too, she has every right to be here" Erron continued glaring at D'Vorah. You could say a lot of bad things about Erron Black and Skarlet, but you couldn't fault them on how much they loved their daughter. "The Kahn has said the girl may stay. She stays." Ermac piped up, Kotal nodded at him. EJ followed her mother to the long oak table were everyone was seated. Kotal was at the top of course, D'Vorah was on his right, next to her was Reptile watching EJ with narrows eyes . On the Kahn's left was Ermac, he
always had a frown on his mummified face so it was hard to know what he was feeling. Erron pull the chair out next to him so EJ could sit in-between him and her mother. He ruffled her loose red and brown hair when she sat down. The meeting continued. "Since the attack, reports say the entire population of Sun-Do Village has disappear. Skarlet, care to show your findings?" Kotal asked the blood mage sitting near the end of the table. "Of course" Skarlet took her blade strapped to her side, slicing her right palm open. She held it over the table, allowing several droplets of blood hit the wood. As quickly as they hit the table they began to rise, glowing bright enough to light the enter chamber crimson. The blood moved around in air until it created a solid image, a symbol of some kind. " This transport symbol was found just outside Sun-Do Village. It similar to the others I have discovered over the past few weeks. However this one was craft for mass travel, to one specific place. Earthrealm. The glow dimmed as Skarlet waved her hand, making the blood recede back into her palm, she sat back down. "You got to teach me how to do that." EJ whispered to her mother. Skarlet smiled at her, patting her on her arm.
"Earthrealm again!" Reptile suddenly exploded "It is clear that they are playing some part in this! We must strike them before they do us!
"Now hold on their Reptile, before you galloped off gotta make sure your reins are secure." Erron cut in. "We ain't got no proof Earthrealm has any idea what goin on here."
"You would say that, Black! I haven't forgotten that you are a native Earthrealmer!" Reptile spat back. "An Earthrealm who has lived here for over 20 years. Who has an outworlder wife and daughter. Skarlet retorted.
"His blood is still Earthrealmer" D'Vorah said, glaring at Skarlet.
EJ could see Kotal was getting visibly angry. She decided to steer this meeting back on course. "So did any else notice that Millena can't control the amulet, or was that just me?" The adults stopped there digs at each other, all turning to look at EJ. She gulped, should have just let them fight.
"This one doesn't remember hearing that you could talk during this meeting" D'Vorah snapped. "And yet she is the only one giving us useful information" Kotal silenced D'Vorah with a glance. He turned back to EJ "Speak, child." EJ rose from her chair. Should she stand? She already was. Skarlet could feel her daughter's heart beating a little faster. When she was in battle, she has so much confidents. Public speaking in such a tense environment… Skarlet took her child's hand into hers giving it a reassuring squeeze. EJ spoke; "Okay so that energy was shooting back out wildly, there was no grace, no direction. It hit you, my Kahn, but I believe that was pure luck. Also I notice when she hit the ground, the arm the amulet was in…it was burned, badly. I could smell it. She was weakened, drastically after using it. We all know what Mileena is like, if she had control over it, she would be flaunting it, instead she only used the amulet as a last resort."
"Kids right. Mileena would of just strolled up to palace with the amulet and blasted us all the way to Neartherrealm if she could handle to power." Erron said, looking at EJ with pride.
"If she is correct, then there might be an energy signal that could lead us right to her" Kotal said rising from his seat. The other followed suit. "Ermac, Reptile. Go to the blast zone in Sun-Do, see if you can pick up a trail." Both Reptile and Ermac bowed to there Kahn before walking out of the chamber. "The rest of you, I believe it time we start making plans to get back into contact with Earthrealm. See what is going on there" Apparently they wouldn't have to wait long, as a guard hurried into the chamber "Forgive me for the intrusion my Kahn, but I bring troubling news"
"What is it? Mileena?" The Kahn asked
"No. Earthrealmers. Reports say member of the Special forces,Shaolin,Shuriu-Ryu and Lin-Kuei have been spotted just outside of town." Kotal eyes widen. His head snapped toward EJ and her parents. "Erron Black, Skarlet, take some of the guard into town to escort the Earthrealmers to the palace. I believe it is time we had words" The Kahn walk out of the chamber, D'Vorah behind, leaving the trio to stand there. "Shaolin, Special forces, Lin-Kuei and Shuriu-Ryu walk into outworld. Sound like the start of a joke" EJ said.
"Wait till ya hear the punchline kiddo" Her farther replied, cocking his guns.