M for language and incoming adult stuff in the next few chapters. Thank you for reading!
Stepping through a portal reminded Cass of an elevator; there's that moment when the car stops and your stomach still feels suspended mid air, barely perceptible until your body comes to stop a breath of a second later. Not disorienting exactly...but weird. Uneasy.
Snow and ice gleamed around them, making the terrain much more visible. Still...something wasn't...right. Behind her, Jin and Jacqui, arguing over who was carrying the communications ruck. Takeda said nothing; his jaw clenched.
You feel it, too? Cass asked. Telepathy wasn't in her skill set but she knew Takeda could pick up things if you directed it at him. He nodded.
"Cassandra." Kuai touched her shoulder. "There is a bad energy here. It does not bode well for us." Full first name. Shit must be serious.
Time to flex that leadership skill. Doing the General proud today. "Takeda is picking up on it. What are the options on an alternate route?"
"If we leave to the north, we will pass through several villages but I can direct us to the harbor. It will not be as treacherous as the forest but it will have far greater visibility." Speaking low to keep the discussion between them hadn't worked. Both Jacqui and Jin were silent,aware that something was going on.
Being seen was an issue since they didn't know who all the players were; did the Black Dragons have contacts in any of the little towns? Lui Kang and Kitana ruled now but there was no official treaty and they were basically launching a covert operation on their turf without a head's up or royal consent. Under normal circumstances, maybe no big... but since their allies went 'dark' ...
"Hey uh, Cass? Why the whispers? " the other woman asked.
"Change of plan. We're re routing." Cass looked back and Kaui who was scanning the trees with a grim expression. "After you, Grandmaster."
" Head's up, Sarge. " Takeda pointed to his wrist. "About time we phone home?"
Unplanned detour not withstanding, the team was on schedule and they had orders-routine reports back to base. After passing through arid fields for the last couple hours, every one needed a break and provisions anyway. Now was as good a time as any.
" Calling it for 10. " Cass dumped the ruck at her feet. 'Coffee break, guys, while I send Earthrealm our love." Much of the trek, Kuai said nothing but kept close to her side. Even now, he was standing over her while she charged up the transmitter. Not that he was much a talker anyway...part of Cass conceded that while he still deffo needed that punch to the groin, for now, she was glad he was here. Everything felt off and, if shit went down, they'd need the extra muscle.
One red button flickered, indicating the battery was on. A second flash and then nothing. Cass tapped it against her hand. Dead battery? Not even. This gear was checked and re checked. No military brat ever forgot that lesson. Calmly, the blond woman pulled out the second battery and tried that. No lights.
The fuck?
"Cassandra?" Kaui knelt down with her.
"Sec." There was still the emergency transmitter. It operated like a smaller portal opener and therefore was always a last ditch effort since it emitted a huge wave of energy that could be detected.
No one would be detecting them. Cass flung the device down. Not working either. "This is bullshit. Everything was inspected and working as of 20 minutes before you showed up." Lovely. Nothing better than looking inept in front your own team.
"I believe you. We must discuss something immediately, away from the others."
The younger sergeant picked up one of the discarded communicators and held it to her ear. "No use freaking them out yet. Walk with me." Turning back to her friends, she signalled a thumbs up then gestured for the Lin Kuei leader to follow her. "Someone tampered with my ruck. I'm positive."
His large body fell into step beside her. "I am inclined to believe you are right. What is happening now cannot be coincidence. Back in the forest, I sensed other Lin Kuei. Now, you are isolated from your base. "
Give him points, they were on the same page. Shame this wasn't a cop buddy movie, they'd be finishing each other's sentences soon. "I remember thinking it was really random to have you sent with us." Of course then she was just too pissed and embarrassed to look passed that... now, it screamed set up. How weird to go from hating Liang and dreading having him with them to this. It was hard to be angry at the guy when he was apparently thrown under the bus with them. Why, though?
What the hell was going on? Such an weird intimate look passed between them. Uncomfortable, Cass averted her gaze to her boots. Very softly, "I need to think. Gimme a few."
"Piping hot new orders, fresh from base." Cass strolled back to where the other four stood. Jacqui sat on the ground cross legged sipping from her canteen. Jin was attempting to engage the older warrior in conversation and Takeda paced covertly watching his girlfriend. Hmm.
Takahashi was her worry; keeping her smile casual and thoughts calm in case he tried reading her...
Panicking them was not her aim. All she knew right now was someone likely wanted them in Netherrealm -isolated, barely armed and with limited resources-so she wanted to get them back to Earthrealm and out of the frying pan. Forget the nukes and the harbor, a good hunch said they probably weren't supposed to have made it out of the forest.
"What's up?" Takeda demanded.
"Didn't say. Some new intel, said to get our asses back ASAP." From the corner of her eye, she knew Kaui was staring at her. She only hoped he picked up her cue. "Grandmaster, you know this area? Any chance of a rogue displacer?" Special Forces had the technology to open a walkway to other realms. Here, with no such equipment, your best chance was catching a displacer, the slang for a kinetic psychic who could open rifts.
He didn't answer and for a moment, she thought he was going to say something that would expedite that punch. Instead, he inclined his head . "There are a few, though they are difficult to locate."
"Wait, our people aren't getting us home?" Ugh. Shut the fuck up, Takeda.
"There's a problem." Yea, she hated lying. But there was no sense in explaining her suspicion until they were on safer ground. "We're on our own for a bit." Kung Jin was not good with pressure and could be a fuckhead even to his friends, and the younger Shirai Ryu had no chill about starting a fight that would blow their cover. Jacqui would...eh, she'd be ok probably. Homegirl had some sense.
Case in point, her friend's eyebrow was raised. I smell bullshit, Cassie. But she stayed quiet.