Alrighty then! We are fresh off our cliffhanger and ready to continue through the story of MK3! This is about how Scorpion finally decides to join the warriors of Earth Realm. In all the time I read the story line of Scorpion, nothing is ever explained as to why he makes the choices he does throughout his journeys. So, hopefully this will give you an idea of what might have happened! Enjoy!
Chapter 11: Decisions
Scorpion woke up in a small, rocky cell with metal bars keeping him contained. He stood to his feet and reached for his Kunai, but found nothing. He approached the cell door and looked around. The only sign of visible life was a man, clad in a purple over mantle, sitting on a chair behind a table, one that provided a resting place for Scorpion's Kunai. Scorpion banged on the cell door with his fists and got the attention of the man sitting down.
"Save your strength," said the man as he walked towards Scorpion's cell.
"Release me," hissed Scorpion.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. Lord Kahn would not like to see a potential ally slip past his fingers. You will remain here until told otherwise."
Scorpion glared at the man with rage in his white eyes. He hated being trapped in a cell. It reminded him of his time spent in the Prison of Souls. He began to pound on the metal bars with his fists, ignoring the blood spilling from his knuckles. The man simply stood there with an evil smirk, obviously amused by Scorpion's primal behavior. Scorpion continued to pound on the bars, shouting out his rage.
Suddenly, the bars fell to the floor after a charging side kick from Scorpion. The man's smirk faded as he stood in a defensive fighter's stance. Scorpion slowly walked over the bars and looked the man dead in the eyes. Scorpion's glare haunted the man, as if he were staring into the eyes of a blood thirsty demon. The man, through some unknown magic, threw at Scorpion what appeared a ball of water at high speed. Scorpion let the water hit him and continued to stare at his enemy, unaffected by the water blast. The man then performed a jump kick but was thrown to the floor by Scorpion's strong hands. The man tried to get to his feet, but Scorpion simply grabbed the man's shoulder with such force that his collar bone shattered. As the man cried out in agony, Scorpion threw the man to a wall, rendering the man unconscious from the impact of the wall.
Scorpion grabbed his Kunai and left the chambers with haste. He ran through the long corridors until he entered what appeared to be a throne room. The room was massive and contained skull designed chandlers on the ceilings and a heavily decorated gargantuan throne. There appeared to be no one inside as Scorpion ventured into the room. Scorpion's steps were halted when he heard the footsteps of what he could only conclude to be hooves of a horse. Amidst the shadows of another room was a massive creature who had the torso of a man, the legs of a ram, the tail of a dragon and the horns of a mountain goat. The creature's breathing was heavy and gave out a purring sound. Standing nearly eight feet tall, the creature pointed its giant hand at Scorpion.
"You have done well to escape the prison cell," spoke the creature. "It seems that Rain was far too careless of your abilities."
Scorpion narrowed his eyes at the behemoth and said, "I have had far too much excitement for one day. Stay out of my way if you value your life."
The beast chuckled and smirked at Scorpion. "Your boldness never ceases to amaze those who have been keeping an eye on you, Scorpion."
At first Scorpion was ready to demand the beast to tell him how he knew his name, but concluded that obviously Shao Kahn has told many of his minions about him. Kahn must have been rather desperate to take such drastic measures in finding Scorpion. "I have nothing to say to your Outworld ruler, beast."
"Regardless, the Emperor will keep you here until he has spoken to you. After that, it will be up to you to decide whether you come out of this alive."
"And I suppose you are to keep me detained until that time arrives."
"If you force me, I will detain you, Scorpion. You maybe a powerful Hellspawn, but not even you can overcome the wrath of Motaro, leader of the Centaurians!"
Scorpion stood in his fighter's stance and said, "Then lay on your attack, Motaro!" With that Scorpion charged the beast with his Kunai in hand.
Motaro leaped high in the air with his four powerful legs towards Scorpion. The Spectre rolled out of the Centaurian's landing and performed a spinning roundhouse on his face. Motaro flinched but responded with a strong back fist, one that sent Scorpion tumbling into a large pillar. Scorpion shook off the blow and sprung up to his feet. Motaro pointed his long tail at Scorpion and charged energy at the tip. Scorpion rolled out of the way of an energy blast from the beast's tail and threw his Kunai once he recovered his footing. The blade punctured Motaro's chest as Scorpion gripped the rope. Seeing that the beast was too large in size to pull towards him, he instead pulled himself towards Motaro with his feet extended towards the Centaurian. Scorpion landed his feet Motaro's chest and removed his blade as he leapt away.
Motaro roared at Scorpion as he held his new wound. Enraged, the mighty beast charged Scorpion at high speed with his head lowered to ram his head into Scorpion. The Hellspawn Spectre performed a cartwheel flip out of the way but was unable to land on his feet as Motaro used his long tail to wrap around Scorpion's legs. Holding the Hellspawn Spectre upside down, Motaro used this advantage and kicked Scorpion's chest with his incredibly strong hind legs, sending Scorpion several feet in the air. To Motaro's surprise, Scorpion was able to shake off the attack that would shatter a man's ribs into a thousand pieces by disappearing from sight before his back hit the floor. Motaro was then unable to dodge Scorpion's flying fist as the Spectre appeared behind the beast. The blow caused Motaro to stagger as Scorpion landed on his feet behind the Centaurian. As Motaro turned around to face the Spectre, Scorpion was already right in front of him at point range, throwing numerous punches and kicks at the beast in a blind frenzy.
Motaro finally found an opening in Scorpion's assault when he grabbed Scorpion's over mantle and lifted him up from the ground. Scorpion freed himself from the beast's grasp by digging his Kunai into the arm of Motaro. The Centaurian dropped Scorpion and backed away a few paces as blood began to ooze from the wound. Scorpion stood his ground and stared down Motaro as the beast growled at the Spectre. Scorpion gestured his fingers at Motaro, encouraging him to come forth. Motaro roared at Scorpion and started to gallop towards the warrior.
"Enough," shouted a deep voice in the distance. Motaro halted his charge and turned his sights where he heard the voice. Emerging from the shadows behind the large throne was none other than the Emperor of Outworld himself, Shao Kahn. Scorpion turned his gaze to the giant immortal for the first time and saw a seven foot tall man clad in red, spiked shoulder plates and shin guards. His gauntlets were similar in appearance to his armor and his skull decorated helmet alone would strike fear into the hearts of any that dared to oppose him. Motaro immediately bowed to his master to show his loyalty. Scorpion simply stared at the Emperor.
"You are indeed a powerful fighter, Scorpion," said Shao Kahn with an evil smirk. Kahn then turned his sights to Motaro and said, "Well done, Motaro. You have kept the Spectre detained. Report back to your post and tell your men to ready for the ambush."
Motaro again bowed his head and left the throne room, but not without giving Scorpion an evil glare. Shao Kahn sat in his throne and clapped his hands in applause for Scorpion's skill. Scorpion gave no verbal response.
"Welcome to my palace, Scorpion. Do you know who I am?"
"You are Outworld's Emperor, Shao Kahn," said Scorpion. "A man I have no reason to speak to."
Shao Kahn kept his smirk and shook his head. "Now, now, is that any way to treat the one who freed you from the Netherealm's grasp?"
Scorpion narrowed his eyes and said, "Don't insult my intelligence, Kahn. My freedom was never your intent."
Kahn chuckled and said, "I wouldn't dream to insult your intelligence, Scorpion. I am merely asking you to consider my offer."
"I have no interest in your war."
"Oh but you will, Scorpion. What alternative is there? Even if you could escape the palace you will not survive the invasion. Those who oppose me will be destroyed. My extermination squads will hunt you down like an animal until you are dead. However, I can give you purpose. Join me and destroy what's left of Raiden's chosen warriors. I shall award you with the rank of General, leading my troops to victory once and for all!"
Scorpion turned his back on the Emperor. "There is no peace you can grant me in doing so."
"What possible peace could you ever hope to achieve, Spectre? You are an undead Hellspawn, fit to rot in the pits of the Netherealm. Your blood thirsty nature earns you the punishment of such a title. I, however, can grant you peace from the Netherealm. You will never suffer the demons of Hell if you serve me."
Scorpion turned around again to face Kahn. "I would remain one of your pets, unable to live a mortal life. I would rather die than to serve a ruthless tyrant just so he could use my abilities!"
Kahn's amusement in Scorpion's rebel behavior caused him to laugh. "A mortal life? Why give up such talent just so you could live a meaningless life and die? You have extraordinary power, Scorpion. Embrace it! I can help you perfect your abilities. All that I ask is for you to respond when I have need of you. Men will tremble and quiver with fear at your name. Such power is not obtained so easily."
"I told you once, my lord. I have no interest in your war, or your offer for that matter. We are finished with this discussion."
Shao Kahn pounded his arm rest and stood from his throne. "YOU HAVE NO CHOICE! You will serve me or you will die! I will send you back to that forsaken realm forever! You can not win, Scorpion. You will destroy Raiden's forces or you will perish from this realm forever!"
"Raiden's forces are not my concern. If you think you can send me back, do it! You may be the ruler of Outworld, but you do not intimidate me. I will not be used as one of your pets, Kahn! You have no power over me!"
Kahn laughed once again at Scorpion's bold words. "You are indeed brave, Spectre. It is a pity you must share the same fate as the Earth Realm warriors. With my victory complete, I think I will place your head on my trophy collection next to Sub-Zero's. Two ninjas side by side, suffering the same fate. How deliciously tragic."
Scorpion's eyes widened at Kahn's referral to Sub-Zero. Apparently to Scorpion, Sub-Zero was in fact one of Raiden's chosen warriors. Kahn had made the mistake in revealing his plans for the Lin Kuei, for Scorpion now had a reason to stand against the tyrant. Scorpion tightened his grip on his Kunai and approached Kahn while the Emperor's back was turned.
"You will not harm Sub-Zero!"
Scorpion lunged at Kahn and dug his Kunai through the Emperor's shoulder plate, puncturing his flesh. Shao Kahn reached behind him and grasped Scorpion's over mantle, using his superior strength to throw Scorpion over his head. What the Emperor didn't expect was the flaming rope attached to the Kunai, allowing Scorpion to pull himself back towards Kahn. Scorpion landed both feet on Kahn's chest, causing Kahn to stagger back a few steps. Scorpion removed the Kunai from Kahn's shoulder and leapt away from the Emperor.
Blood began to ooze from under Kahn's shoulder plate. Kahn looked at his wound with a smirk and pointed at Scorpion.
"Is that your best?"
Scorpion charged Kahn but was over come by a sliding shoulder thrust. The blow sent Scorpion to his back and afforded Kahn the advantage as he leapt towards Scorpion. The Spectre rolled out of the way of Kahn's descending knee and performed a twisting scissor kick, causing Kahn to Join Scorpion on the floor. Scorpion sprung up to his feet but was sent up in the air again by a powerful uppercut. Kahn laughed at Scorpion as the Spectre landed hard on the ground.
"You are nothing!"
Scorpion got up on his feet and charged Kahn once again. Kahn threw a hard right hook but hit nothing but air as Scorpion disappeared from sight. Kahn tried to balance himself before he completely lost his footing but was forced to the ground by Scorpion's Teleport Punch. Scorpion kicked Kahn repeatedly as Kahn slowly rose to his feet. Scorpion's kicking frenzy was halted when Kahn threw another right hook. Scorpion ducked under the punch and threw a right hook of his own, followed by a left hook and a right uppercut.
Kahn staggered back three paces and stared into the glowing eyes of Scorpion. "That was pathetic!"
Kahn's hands began to shine a green aura as a large war hammer materialized into his hands. Scorpion tilted his head back and forth, popping his neck, and waited for Kahn to make his move. Kahn charged at Scorpion and swung his hammer horizontally. Scorpion ducked under the attack and countered with a spinning roundhouse kick to Kahn's jaw. Kahn tried a vertical swing but hit nothing as Scorpion side stepped out of the way and received a well placed right hook. Kahn continued to swing his hammer in every direction but could not collide it with Scorpion's body.
Finally, Kahn managed to grab Scorpion's throat and lifted him off the ground. He then through the Hellspawn Spectre upwards and swung his hammer, hitting Scorpion's chest before he could hit the floor. Scorpion was sent several feet in the air and collided with another pillar. Scorpion tried to get up but was over come by a green energy bolt from Kahn's hand. The bolt of energy felt like it punctured his skin and the pain caused him the inability to move. Kahn launched five more bolts at Scorpion, causing the Spectre to shout out from the agony he felt in his chest and stomach.
Kahn laughed triumphantly at the defeated Spectre and dropped his hammer. "Such a waste. Time to die, Scorpion."
Scorpion, with what energy he had left, summoned the flames of Hell by gesturing his hands upward. While Kahn suffered the rising flames, Scorpion quickly stood up. Realizing that the more time he spent in the throne room with Kahn, the longer it would take for him to aid Sub-Zero. Forgetting the urge to defeat Kahn, Scorpion ran towards a large glass window and dove through the glass.
Kahn, no longer engulfed in the flames, searched for Scorpion in the throne room. Suddenly, a shadow priest appeared from the shadows behind the throne and approached the Outworld Emperor.
"He has escaped, my lord," whispered the Shadow Priest.
"It makes no difference," said Kahn with a slight smirk. "He will die along with all the rest of Earth Realm's warriors. Victory will be at hand. Go and fetch me Kitana from the prison cells and summon Sindel. A family reunion is in order before I destroy Princess Kitana."
The Shadow Priest bowed its head and left the throne room. Kahn sat down on his throne and waited for events to come.
BWA HA HA HA HA!!!! Another cliffhanger! What will happen to Scorpion? Will he fall to the hard ground below? Will his physical form perish and will his soul return to the Netherealm, keeping him from aiding the man he swore to protect? TIME WILL TELL! See ya next chapter!