MARKUS X'S POV

Following the surprisingly intelligent Tarkatan to his tent, I sat down on a bench across from him. Makis and I were evidently in charge of turning his concept into a reality.

Pulling out a map of the fortress's defenses, Makis took a box of colored iron needles and began to place them into the paper. Paying attention, I realized he was marking specific points on the map, most likely as a sign of where groups of enemies or fortifications were.

"So... What's the key here?"

Makis looked at me, not saying anything.

"What do the colors represent?"

He now understood. "Blue represents weapons such as catapults or fortified arrow launchers. Red represents elite infantry, and yellow represents the generic soldiers we will likely run into."

Over the course of half an hour, with methodical pin-pushing into the thick yellowed paper, I began to see a layout of the fortress's guard, and it was not easy. Catapults, arrow launchers, tar pits, and other nefarious-looking items ringed the palace. Around the one accessible area(the main entrance) were many yellow pins, along with a few red ones. I assumed that this gate guard would disperse if attacked.

Questioning how our group was to enter through the outer ring of soldiers undetected, Makis pointed with his blade as a small part of the map. "There are many crags and caves to the south. Hiding there until the soldiers pass us should allow us to slip through. Once that is complete, we can sneak our way through the nearly deserted entrance and slip in."

Remembering how few strong forces we had, I realized that if this began as an all-out brawl, our forces would be slaughtered and there wouldn't be enough time for us to make it out again after killing Sho Dai. It was then that I was inspired by a story I knew very well.

"If there are any narrow pathways through the rocks that lead to the castle, we could attack there and keep the enemies' forces from attacking all at once. That should buy us a few hours, if not days. Greek Earthrealmers famously utilized it against Persians during the battle of Thermopylae."

Makis obliged by pointing to several canyons and mountainous passes leading to the pagoda-like structure. "These canyons lead very close to the fortress. I believe we could break our forces into small units and enter the area that way. It would let us resist the enemy for longer."

I nodded in concurrence. "You think just like I do, Makis."

The Tarkatan General smiled, at least as best he could. "I appreciate the compliment. You are indeed worthy of working with me, your assistance being as helpful as it has been."

Frowning, I continued to work on our plans as the night stretched on. Tomorrow evening, we would attack Outworld's forces and kill Sho Dai...

MILEENA'S POV

The day had come. Within this very set of hours, I would reclaim everything that was mine: my empire, my fortress, and my throne. Sho Dai would, at last, be put to death for his truly despicable and treasonous actions.

As I walked around the fringe of the castle, I heard the sound of shouts coming from some of the guards as a man was brought to me... Though his clothing was horribly shredded and bloodstained, the man himself had suffered no injuries from any battle. His white eyes looked at me, his emotionless face giving me the impression that he was a demigod.

"Empress Mileena, I am Kenshi. I have traveled throughout the realm of Outworld to find Markus X, who Skarlet stole away from the Special Forces. I have come for his safe return to Earthrealm."

Kenshi? I knew he seemed familiar... I had heard the stories of how he became blind after opening a well filled with the souls of his ancestors to get an ancestral sword. However, that I held respect for him as a great warrior did not mean that he would be safe from my sais if he dared to attack me.

"Markus is no longer a pawn in your organization's game, Kenshi. However, once I and my forces have eliminated the Outworld threat, he and I will return to Earthrealm personally and I will speak with the leaders of the Special Forces, to end this nonsense."

The blind swordsman cocked an eyebrow. "Mileena, you do not understand the importance of this! Armageddon is coming, and with all the death and destruction caused by you and your fellow Outworlders, Earthrealm is defenseless! Lord Raiden himself has gone into seclusion to help cope with the grief of harming Liu Kang and being responsible for the many warriors' deaths. Markus is the final key in our army, the Forces of Light. He will be the last one we need to stand a chance against the Forces of Darkness and their leader, Shinnok."

After mulling Kenshi's comments over, I began to laugh. "Earthrealm is of no matter to me, Kenshi. Markus and I will both be in Outworld, safe from whatever devastation may be caused."

However, my smirk quickly turned to alarm. "Mileena, the prophecy was Edenian. It stated that the battle would begin there. As Edenia has not been freed of its merger with Outworld, the battle will begin here. Your realm will be the first to be destroyed by the turmoil of these two armies clashing against one another at full strength. Is that what you truly want? To rule a wasteland full of fire, corpses, and crumbling ruins? If so, then I respect your decision, but remember what I have said to you."

I nodded, and turned to walk away when I felt the swish of Kenshi's sword behind me. However, there was no bite from his blade... I soon heard why as a demonic voice cried out.

SMOKE'S POV

Stealthily lurking in the shadow of a rock, I watched the two foes converse with one another. Even from this reasonable distance, I clearly heard whatever words were being said...

Before I could react, however, a blade slashed through my body. I felt the metal slide entirely through my chest, penetrating my armor before sticking out the back of the smoke that comprised my physical form.

Growling, I lept from my position, extricating the sword from my body. "I'm impressed. You were able to sense me from afar... Tell me, though, why did you carry on if you knew I was listening?"

The blind swordsman's white eyes connected with my red ones. "I feel the tug of Shinnok's influence on you, Smoke. Let me help free you from this..." He took a few steps towards me.

In response, I threw a ball of smoke at him. "Where there is smoke, there is fire! If you wish to do anything to me, you will be burned before you even have a chance!"

Dashing towards the Earthrealm warrior, I quickly switched myself to the other side of him, to catch him by surprise. However, I found myself blocked by Kenshi's katana every time I attempted to punch or chop him. It disgusted me as to how easily he could parry my attack... However, I soon realized that I had an advantage against the sword as I held my hands up, super-heated smoke emanating from them as they began to scald the warrior's exposed flesh.

As I did this, though, a new weapon went through my back. It was Mileena's sais. The momentary distraction of me kicking the hybrid woman allowed Kenshi to focus with his telekinesis on my mind. With minimal protection, I struggled to fight the feeling of dizziness and the urge to sleep, but eventually succumbed to the grey clouding my vision as I passed out...

Upon awakening, I felt different. The eyes I looked through were computer-generated... Though I quickly worried that I perhaps had become a cyborg, my fears proved unfounded as I felt the lower part of my body, still composed of the smoky essence my demonic form was made of.

"You are awake... Good to know."

Looking around, I saw that I had been returned to some sort of base or fortress... Sitting up, I saw Cyrax, complete in armor, next to me. "Where... Where am I?"

The cyborg looked at me. "You are currently at the Special Forces base. Kenshi returned you here after he failed to regain Markus. I took the liberty of giving your body the helmet of one of the cyborgs, along with the gloves and boots. The helmet has been modified to protect your mind from any attempts to control you, magical or technological."

I raised a gloved hand to my face, feeling the contours of my mask. "I... I remember it now... All of it..."

"What? Remember what?"

I visually went through the memories I had unlocked... The kidnapping, the sacrifice... My opportunity to return and seek vengeance... It was all there.

"My true past..."

I had made up my mind of what I was going to do.

"Cyrax, consider me a part of the Forces of Light. I will help you in order to atone for the wrongs I have committed while under the control of Shinnok."

The cyborg merely nodded as I continued to look over my helmet and gloves. Soon, I would need them...