Kitana watched as her encampment was being destroyed; her army being killed. The view of the battlefield was shifting from the purplish steel of the rebel armour to the yellowish tan flesh of Rain's tarkatans. She clenched her fists to the point that they shook, unable to fully grasp how so suddenly everything had started falling apart. She herself hadn't been touched; every step from her position to the battlefield had a dead body, a life willingly thrown away for her.
Down in the thick of it was Jade, doing her best to direct the soldiers. To her credit, she did adopt a seemingly effective tactic. She herself would lead a hasty offensive with several skilled soldiers. Once a group of Rain's soldiers had been cleared a group of heavily armed rebels would fill their space. This was a sound tactic at first because the rebels had already established a foothold in the area, but it was starting to fail for two reasons. First was Baraka. His unwavering ferocity kept Rain's army riled up. Second was this massive newcomer, the brown and orange ninja. Kitana had never encountered him before, and she wished that she still never had. He had some kind of control over the earth and rock, and they were all fighting on a mountain. The very ground her soldiers stood on was potentially deadly.
Kitana suddenly noticed something that made her sick to her stomach. Coming into view over the demolished gate was, along with a seemingly endless amount of reinforcements for Rain's armies, the dreaded war machines the traitorous prince enjoyed using. Ballistas, cannons, and catapults. At the base of the mountain these weapons were more of a threat to their handlers, but now they threatened to wipe out the rebel army. Her army. Her people, who she had brought here, now seemingly only to die.
Kitana noticed the Lin Kuei left behind by Sub Zero joining the fight. However, instead of using their considerable combat skills directly in battle, they took to the high ground and utilized bows and other ninja tools; smoke bombs, caltrops, gas canisters. They weren't trying to attack the enemy, they were creating a way for the rebels to flee. The only problem was that the rebels held fast to their orders. Sareena left her group to climb up to Kitana.
"The battle is lost Kitana, sound the retreat!" Sareena pleaded.
"A retreat? That's absurd, we can't abandon our stronghold. Where is Smoke? He could take you and the Lin Kuei and..."
"Smoke has gone after Noob Saibot," Sareena mentally kicked herself for not using the name Bi Han, "You can have your army fall back through the pass, then they can branch out once they reach the opening."
Kitana shook her head at this, but Sareena wasn't having it. She stood so that she blocked Kitana's view.
"If you don't run they'll all die!"
Kitana's hazel brown eyes searched Sareena's white ones for any sign of submission; she found none. Suddenly a fiery spiked ball went flying over their heads, landing on one of the many tents. The war machines had gotten into place and the bombardment had begun. The twangs of ballista arrows preceded soldiers being skewered, thunderous booms were followed by explosive canon balls, and the cracking of the massive catapult whips were the last thing some soldiers heard before they were crushed by fireballs.
Kitana couldn't stomach anymore of it. She hopped down from her precipice into the forefront of the battle. Her own soldiers gasped when they saw their princess undefended, just crouching with two tarkatans coming at her, with hundreds more behind them. The pair snarled with anticipation of an easy kill. Kitana pulled both her fans from her belt and stood up, making dual upward attacks. These strikes cut both the tarkatans with such force that they flipped over, and created a wind gust that staggered another advancing line. Kitana's soldiers quickly formed up around her, but she turned to face her entire army.
"All of you listen to me! Starting from the back I want you all to retreat, head through the pass towards the plains. All of on the endmost lines get to high ground, cover the retreat as we funnel out. Everyone in front, hold the line and fall back slowly!"
Kitana heard her orders being relayed throughout the field by officers, and her words became deeds. The soldiers and servants closest to the back of the fighting starting making their way up the cliffside, creating a constant line of violet steel that flowed upwards and over the bend. Archers and soldiers with long weapons like spears and halberds took to high ground and made bug bites at the enemy. At the front, the most heavily armed soldiers along with Jade and Kitana stood their ground. Kitana found Sareena still standing where she once had.
"Sareena, make sure that my people move safely." Kitana ordered.
Sareena nodded curtly, and signalled for the remaining Lin Kuei to move through the pass with the fleeing army. As one army fled and another advanced, no one noticed something moving in the embers of the first burnt down tent
Smoke stood calmly in place as Noob paced around him, inching closer with every step. Noob's pale eyes watched Smoke suspiciously, and his brow grew more and more annoyed every second. Smoke's expression was one of painful resolve, hope and pity. Noob's jaw clenched under his mask. Noob attempted a quick backhand which Smoke easily blocked; the attack was halfhearted and the defence had no follow up. Noob kicked at Smoke's leg, then ribs, then attempted a roundhouse. Smoke stepped out of the way, blocked with his elbow, and finally ducked and took a step back. His expression didn't change in the slightest. Noob's had only intensified.
He always was a tough one to rile up. Saibot mused, bored
"Having second thoughts?" Noob asked.
"No." Smoke answered simply.
Noob tried a right hook. Smoke blocked with his forearm and threw his weight, leading with his opposite shoulder into Noob's torso. Noob was shoved back but he recovered into a defensive stance, but Smoke didn't press his attack.
"Fight back!" Noob demanded.
Smokes eyes remained serious but also soft, clearly concerned about hurting his old friend. Noob growled and charged. The two grappled with each other, Noob was larger but Smoke was still strong despite his smaller size. Smoke twisted Noob around and kicked him in his back. Noob stumbled forward but willed Saibot to come forth from him, taking Smoke by surprise. Saibot tackled Smoke to the ground and straddled him. Smoke was forced to look at Noob's dopleganger as Saibot held him down with it's hand at his throat, about to punch him in the face. Smoke vaporized his body out from underneath Saibot in time to make the shadow creature smash it's fist into the stone ground. Saibot felt no pain however, and it merely looked threateningly over at Smoke when he rematerialized.
Smoke was so preoccupied with meeting Saibot that Noob himself was able to take him by surprise, punching him cleanly across the jaw and dropping him to his knees. Smoke tried to quickly uppercut Noob but didn't have enough power from his angle. Noob caught Smoke's wrist and redirected it's momentum, pulling Smoke up and around and then back down again. Noob delivered a debilitating strike to the back of Smoke's head. Noob relentlessly crouched down and gripped Smoke's neck in one hand and the scruff in the other. He heaved Smoke into the air and choke slammed the grey ninja. Smoke coughed out strained breaths and saw Saibot staring down at him. Saibot titled it's head and looked like it was laughing at him, without amy sound. Suddenly it raised it's foot. Smoke realized what was about to happen and quickly vaporized before Saibot's foot crushed his skull.
Smoke reappeared to slide his fist into Noob's gut, then vaporized again almost instantly and reappeared to do the same to Saibot. Saibot flailed just due to the physical impact but Noob was actually stunned by the pain. Smoke reappeared high in the air, about to dropkick Noob.
Got you! Noob heard Saibot exclaim through their telepathic connection.
Without Noob's will, Saibot grabbed Smoke's leg from behind before he could land on Noob, yanking him to the ground and making him smash his chest and head on the ground. Saibot had used it's knowledge of Noob's mind and memories to anticipate this attack. Noob heard Saibot's echo like laughter as it, once again without his will, held onto Smoke's leg as he spun him around, letting go at the apex of the spin send Smoke rolling across the ground.
Smoke grunted and struggled to get up. Noob eyed Saibot, which was staring at Smoke with a deathly glare. Saibot suddenly looked at Noob, and when Noob blinked, Saibot was gone, reduced to a shadow behind him and a voice in his head.
What do you think?
"Not bad."
Liar. Saibot rebutted.
Noob grunted, annoyed at the amusement he sensed Saibot felt. Saibot knew he didn't like the rare occasion when Saibot acted on it's own accord.
"So that's...that's the company you keep nowadays, huh?" Smoke asked.
"It understands me better," Understands us, "Than you or the others ever did." Noob answered.
"You're still so emotional Bi Han, nothings changed." Smoke stated.
"You know what hasn't changed? You're fighting style. I know all you're tricks Smoke, you haven't even begun to see mine!"
Noob ran at Smoke. Smoke gathered a grey and wispy ball in his hand and hurled it at Noob. When it hurt, Noob was suddenly smothered by a thick smog, his eyesight was literally clouded, all he could hear was rushing air, and he couldn't feel the ground.
Not every trick apparently! Saibot said, voicing the panic Noob felt.
What was only a moment felt like a few agonizing seconds, and Noob suddenly found himself falling through the air. Smoke ran and jumped, delivering a flying knee into Noob's chest. Being surprised and not stable enough to absorb the impact, the blow was devastating and threw Noob across the ground.
"You've been away for some time Bi Han, it is time I brought you up to speed!"
The battlefield had swapped nearly all of it's combatants for dead bodies. The forward battalions of Rain's army had been exhausted, now a skeleton crew relative to the numbers before remained. The majority of Kitana's army had managed to make into the pass and were making their way through it at this very moment. Having so many people crammed into a narrow space made it slow however. Kitana and Jade along with a precious few rebels remained in the killing field. The war machines had stopped bombarding, likely for the next wave to pass safely.
"Kitana, we should join the others now before they get too far ahead without us." Jade suggested.
"I think you're right, if they just wait at the end without direction we'll be wasting gained ground. Lets,"
"Go? No." A deep voice finished.
Both women turned to see Tremor, the massive ninja they watched spearhead this attack, walking towards them. The ground seemed to shake ever so slightly with his every step. His eyes weren't necessarily tired, but they weren't exuding a hurried attitude either. This made Jade and Kitana very wary.
"Who are you?" Jade asked.
"You look like her..." Tremor said to Kitana, ignoring Jade.
Kitana uneasily remained composed under Tremor's gaze. His eyes widened momentarily and then narrowed again. He looked so fascinated, but also unsatisfied.
"You look so much like her, but you aren't her. The wrong eyes, the wrong..." Tremor's voice and expression turned almost, reverent, "Bite." He finished.
Kitana realized that he must be talking about Mileena.
"You've been spending too much time around my clone." Kitana stated.
Tremor twitched at the word clone.
"Your sister speaks a lot about you. She...misses you." Tremor started chuckling.
Kitana got into a battle stance, as did Jade. Tremor seemed to do so as well, he took a lower stance almost like a sumo wrestler.
"And I'm called Tremor, Jade." Tremor suddenly answered Jade.
The ground started to vibrate, and Kitana and Jade were clueless as to how to defend. Suddenly the earth cracked, and a pillar erupted from underneath Tremor's feet. It propelled him upwards and through the air, up and over Jade and Kitana. Tremor showed remarkable agility and acrobatics, doing a front flip and landing perfectly onto the cliff Kitana had once stood on to oversea the battle.
"I would love to dance with you ladies, but I'm afraid you're already spoken for! I hope to see you soon!" Tremor shouted before leaving.
"What does he mean by that?" Jade asked.
Kitana could only shrug, but her attention was drawn to a squad of tarkatans approaching them. Kitana could scarcely tell one of the bladed creatures from the other, but she recognized one of them instantly.
"Kitana!" Baraka roared, stepping ahead of the other tarkatans.
"I know what Tremor meant by spoken for now. Jade," Kitana said.
"I am here Kitana. We can handle.."
"Go after him."
"Who? Tremor? I won't leave you here alone!"
"We've seen Tremor's handiwork. If he catches up to the soldiers in that narrow canyon it'll be disastrous. I know I'm asking a lot, we don't know his full capabilities..."
"I will be fine Kitana. I'll do as you ask, and you better catch up." Jade said.
Kitana nodded to her best friend, whom returned the gesture and took off in Tremor's direction. Kitana stood her ground as Baraka continued advancing on her, while his subordinates stayed back. Kitana took several calming breaths and held her closed fans in her hands like daggers. Baraka gnashed his teeth in what looked to be a mixed expression of excitement and fury.
"Your army is decimated and on the run Kitana. Rain is not without mercy, he instructed me to offer you a chance to surrender. Will you take it?"
Kitana flipped her hair over her shoulder and stood ready.
"No." She answered defiantly.
"Good." Baraka snarled.
He broke out into a sprint and quickly started closing the distance. Kitana tossed one of her fans at him. It flew through air and opened, becoming a flying buzz saw. Baraka didn't slow down in the slightest. He extended one of his blades and blocked the fan. Baraka dipped his shoulder and crashed into Kitana's stomach, lifting her and carrying her a few feet before slamming her down onto the rocky ground. Baraka tried to finish Kitana quickly. He raised his extended blade and stabbed downward. Kitana rolled out of the way to avoid having her head skewered.
Baraka relentlessly kept up the attack and started sliding his blade across the ground, creating sparks and an ear stinging screech. Kitana kept rolling to avoid the blade. She suddenly kicked her leg out at Baraka's knee, forcing Baraka to stumble. She kicked him in the face, with her heel cutting his forehead. She rolled backwards and onto her feet and called her discarded fan back to her.
"Still as forward and blunt as always Baraka."
"You wanna see how sharp I am?!"
Baraka jumped attempted a downward slash at Kitana. She dodged it but Baraka quickly swung his other arm outward and gashed her tummy just below her breasts. Baraka sneered and licked the blood from his blade. Kitana had to rely on her greater agility to fight; Baraka's blades had more reach than her fans so she had to get close, but when she did she had to be careful no to get overwhelmed by his greater strength.
Baraka slashed upwards but she spun out of the way and came out kicking at his foot. This stumbled him and she successfully landed a heavy side kick to his chest. As he stumbled back Kitana tossed her fan at him again, this time it connected and buried itself in his shoulder. Baraka roared and charged her again, with both blades extended and swinging wildly. Kitana couldn't counterattack against this berserk frenzy, she could only duck, dodge and move back. She didn't pay attention to her position and accidentally backed into a wall. She narrowly moved out of the way in time to avoid being impaled, and Baraka instead plunged his blades into the wall, trapping himself. Kitana took the opportunity to unload on him. She punched him in the side, the head, and kicked his back and legs.
Each blow fuelled Baraka's fury. With a loud yell he ripped his blades sideways out of the stone, taking Kitana by surprise and cutting her arm open. Baraka stretched both his arms outward and forcefully and brought them together. Kitana brought up both her fans in time to stop herself from being decapitated. They both stood there in what looked comically like an overzealous, and potentially deadly hug. Kitana's deltoids bulged as she used all her strength to keep Baraka's blades spread apart and not clamping down on her neck. Baraka suddenly kicked her roughly in the gut, knocking her over. His blades closed in time to nick her nose behind her mask.
Kitana tried to get up quickly but Baraka stomped on her stomach, keeping her in place. He let his blades hover over her throat, Kitana could almost hear her fear ridden breaths reverberate along the metal.
"I'm going to enjoy filleting you." Baraka told her darkly.
He growled and raised his blades. Kitana raised her hand and closed her eyes, hoping that the cuts would be fatal instantly. She heard the sound of metal clashing against metal and she jumped, but felt no pain. She cautiously opened her eyes to find someone's crotch hovering over her face. This newcomer had two swords, and they were blocking Baraka's blades from getting to her. Her saviour grunted and pushed Baraka back and walked away from her. She still lay on the ground in shock when she realized who had saved her.
"You? What are you doing here?" Baraka asked.
"Killing you." Scorpion answered.
Baraka growled and clashed against Scorpion. Both fought skilfully with two blades, but Baraka couldn't keep up with Scorpion any better than he could with Kitana. Scorpion teleported behind Baraka and sliced into his shoulder, the same place Kitana's fan had already cut into him. Scorpion cut deep enough that he severed all the tendons in Baraka's shoulder, making his arm limp and useless. Baraka wildly swung with his other blade. Scorpion ducked and, when Baraka's arm was directly over him, he cut it off at the elbow. Baraka yelled as blood poured from his stump and made a puddle on the ground. Scorpion plunged both his swords into Baraka's stomach, cutting off the yell with a gurgle. Scorpion twisted his swords inside Baraka before pulling them out, and performing a fiery backflip kick that flipped Baraka over. If the stabs to the gut didn't kill him, the fractured neck he now had surely would. The tarkatans that had let Baraka fight now charged Scorpion. The spectre sheathed both his swords and removed his mask. His fiery skull roared before letting lose a jet of flame that set the charging mutants ablaze, making them panic and burn to death in moments.
Scorpion put his mask back on and walked over to Kitana, who had remained on the ground for the entire fight. She extended her hand to him, and he extended his as if he were going to take it.
"Thank you.." Kitana began.
Scorpion bypassed her hand and firmly grabbed her wrist and roughly yanked her to her feet.
"I didn't think I'd have to intervene, I expected more from you." Scorpion told Kitana.
"Well why did you intervene in the first place? Last I checked I had you tied up."
"I got out." Scorpion gestured to one of the crushed, burning tents.
"As for why I helped you, well the rebels need their leader."
"Since when do you care about us?"
"I don't." Scorpion deadpanned.
Kitana looked at him with frustration, and his angry brow furrowed more.
"I want Quan Chi dead, but he has an army. Everyone around here does nowadays. I can't get to him alone."
"I never offered you any help Scorpion."
"And I didn't offer you this help either, but the way I see it, you can't be too picky when it comes to recruitment now. I'm no enemy of yours Kitana, but I wasn't your ally before either and I'm not going anywhere without Quan Chi's skull. Give me a reason to not consider your people fair game." Scorpion half threatened and half reasoned.
Kitana didn't appreciate the blackmailing undertones, but she definitely didn't want Scorpion as an enemy.
"Fine Scorpion, we have a deal. The only condition is that you follow my orders. Is that clear?"
Scorpion didn't answer, he instead look towards the broken down gate. He could tell that the second wave of Rain's army was nearly here.
"We need to move. Let's catch up to that army of yours.
Smoke and Noob parried each others blows and try to unitize their respective powers to throw each other off. Smokes eye was cut open and a piece of Noob's mask was chipped off, with his bloody blue gums showing underneath a cut open cheek.
"Why can't you just stop Bi Han? Kuai Lang can save you, we all will save you!" Smoke proclaimed.
"There you go again with your pathetic naivety. You, Sub Zero and Sareena are foolishly throwing away your lives for some hopeless cause."
"Stop saying that!" Smoke demanded, running at Noob.
Noob feigned a run himself but instead created a black hole along Smoke's path. Smoke fell into it and the hole closed behind him. Smoke found himself floating in black emptiness.
Smoke...
Smoke turned around awkwardly, unsure if he was floating or standing on solid ground.
Hahaha...it was always fun watching you get flustered Tomas.
Smoke grunted his irritation.
"Show yourself!" Smoke demanded.
A pair of pale eyes with a purplish hue appeared in the darkness, staring at Smoke as they circled around him.
You're so afraid, you just can't let it go. Can't let go of your guilt that I died and you were nowhere to be found.
"I don't care about you creature, I care about my friend, Bi Han!"
I know you care about me Smoke. You spent so much time alone before the Lin Kuei that you're afraid that everyone and everything will leave you for the simplest thing. You're terrified that Sub Zero will hate you, and you're afraid that he'll hate me. Smoke, Sub Zero, Noob Saibot and Sareena all in one big happy family! Oh please..
"Quiet!" Smoke shouted, his own voice akin to a thunderclap in this place.
Suddenly Smoke felt fingers at his throat. The eyes had gotten closer and he could barely make out a hand and arm reaching to him.
"Stop...speaking for him. You know nothing!" Smoke defended.
I know everything.
"Lies! Bi Han, what is it that you're afraid of, huh? Answer me!"
I'm not afraid of,
"Shut up! Bi Han, why do you refuse our help? Is it because your scared? Too scared to try and reconnect with your friends and family? Why? Is it because you're too afraid to admit that you've let this...thing take control of you?!" Smoke asked the last question with a rhetoric tone.
Saibot growled and squeezed Smoke's throat tighter. Smoke built up steam inside of him and that released it, creating a burning air burst. Smoke swore he heard Saibot scream, it was a terrible sound, and found himself back on the rocky plateau. The chill had more of a bite, and the rock was sharper compared to the memory of the empty place he had just escaped. Before Smoke could get up someone grabbed his arms from behind and hauled him up. He realized it was Saibot when he saw Noob coming up to him.
"You talk too much!" Noob growled.
Noob punched Smoke straight in the face, snapping his head back. Saibot followed up by kneeing him in the back. Noob almost managed to kick him in the gut but Smoke vaporized in time to avoid it. Noob ended up kicking Saibot, making the clone pop into shadow.
Smooth. Saibot said sarcastically.
Suddenly Smoke had his arms wrapped around Noob's stomach. Smoke heaved Noob up and over, slamming him down headfirst onto the ground. As Noob tried to push himself up Smoke turned and kicked him in the face. The blow sent Noob skidding across the ground.
"I'm speaking the truth Bi Han. Listen to me, listen to your soul, find yourself!" Smoke said whilst stepping to Noob.
Noob sat up and gathered a ball of white energy in his hands. The sight of it made him think of his ability to use ice, but this was a different attack all together. He fired his ghost ball into Smoke, making Smoke stop in his tracks. Smoke gasped as his vision starting spinning. His body wouldn't obey him, he tried to move a finger and his shoulder jerked, he tried to speak and his foot shifted. He couldn't even focus his eyes enough to see Noob attack him.
Noob savagely pummelled him, with Saibot's help. Smoke's vision kept spinning around and around as Noob punched him one way and Saibot the other. He was beaten so badly that, even when the effects of the ghost ball had worn off, the damaged he had sustained left him dazed.
Noob eyed Smoke up and down. Blood poured from his wounds, his breathing was strained, he could barely stand, he was beaten. There was a pulse in his head, adrenaline and something else. A compulsion. His compulsion to kill, to finish his opponent. Noob struggled to do it.
Finish him.
Noob gripped Smoke's shoulder. Smoke managed to focus enough to look into Noob's eyes. Noob met his gaze, they both were searching for something. Smoke was searching for any sign of the bright blue eyes he knew Bi Han had. Noob was looking for any sign of the killer instinct in Smoke, something to justify his desire to kill his old friend. He found none. Slowly, Noob started to loosen his grip.
Finish him!
"He's done."
Noob wanted to leave, Smoke was finished. This desire to kill just wouldn't let up though. It started growing. He involuntarily started reminiscing about all the times he had killed. Contracts, self defines, for fun. The first time...
Noob shut his eyes, trying to shake the thought. He couldn't even remember what it was, but something subconsciously made him repress it. His chest tightened as if, he were afraid of something.
Suddenly he felt an impact on his fist. He opened his eyes to find his fist buried up to the wrist in Smoke's chest, blacker than even he was.
"What?"
Noob blinked and his arm was now the proper shade of black, still buried in Smoke's chest. Noob's eyes widened as Smoke coughed up blood behind his mask. Noob could only let out disbelieving breaths as Smoke weakly touched his arm.
"Don't...let it..control you." Smoke said with such sincerity that it moved Noob to try and speak, but only coughs came out.
Smoke pushed himself off Noob's bloodied fist and fell to the ground. His chest had caved in and punctured his heart. He died in moments. Noob stared at his bloody hand, shocked.
"What have I done?"
...We won.
Sub Zero stood before a cradle. It wasn't a homely, safe looking cradle. It was small, plain, just enough to make sure that the baby it held didn't fall to the ground. He looked to his left and saw blurred images of what must've been more cradles, the right was the same. If the babies were crying the sobs came out as flat moans. Sub Zero had thought he couldn't be surprised by anything on this spirit walk anymore, but he was wrong. He took a closer look at the baby inside the cradle. It was a baby; small, bald, fragile. It had noticeably pale skin, much like his own and Bi Han's, once upon a time.
"Bi Han, as a baby. I've never even thought about something like this." Sub Zero whispered.
"It's not Bi Han. It's you." Nightwolf told him.
Sub Zero made no comment. This would explain why he had no memory of this. Sub Zero turned away from his younger self to look out into the endless white behind him.
"Am I supposed to connect with my inner child here?" Sub Zero joked.
"Your inner child no, your brother's, maybe." Nightwolf told him.
Sub Zero sighed and turned back to the cradle. He nearly jumped out of his boots when he found a child in front of him, looking into the cradle. Sub Zero walked around the other side of the cradle to get a better look at the child. His features were younger, but his demeanour made it unmistakable; it was Bi Han.
"This is the end." Nightwolf said.
Sub Zero noticed Bi Han's shadow. The child's shadow was fully grown.