Alrighty then! No action in this chapter guys. I'm sorry, but I needed to get this chapter out of the way before the important events in the Mortal Kombat mythology began. For all you Quan Chi haters out there, you guys should like this chapter. Watch what Scorpion does! Enjoy!
Chapter 15: Difficult Choices
Scorpion sat on the edge of the rooftops of the Edenian Palace with his legs hanging off the edge. He was lost in his thoughts about what transpired here three days ago. He was involved in the invasion of the Royal Edenian Family and was responsible for the deaths of numerous innocent lives. He killed them to get to the Princess, but that did not make Scorpion feel any better. They were defending their leaders with their lives in vain. He felt ashamed to be involved in such a dishonorable power struggle.
His thoughts suddenly changed with the gruesome flashes of mutilation he received from Quan Chi. He could not shut out the horrifying images of his clan being slaughtered or of his family suffering the gruesome torment from Sub-Zero, the man Scorpion swore not to harm. As the images continued to haunt the Spectre, he placed his hands on the sides of his face, holding it tightly as his breathing quickened.
Behind the tormented Spectre approached Mileena. She saw Scorpion suffering from what looked to be a massive headache. None of the generals ever dared speak to the tortured Hellspawn, that is unless it was under the orders of Quan Chi himself. In a way, with the exception of Noob Saibot, they all feared him. They have all seen first hand what he was capable of, and none ever engaged into any conflict with him.
"Scorpion," called out Mileena as she stopped her approach about ten feet away from Scorpion.
The Hellspawn Spectre, freed from his flashes of the past, quickly stood to his feet and turned around with his Kunai drawn. Mileena grew very cautious of Scorpion, as could be said through her eyes. Scorpion came to his senses and relaxed his posture.
"Quan Chi demands a meeting with you immediately. I am to escort you to the palace armory."
Scorpion made no verbal response and followed Mileena to the armory, where Quan Chi waited for the two. Inside the armory, numerous Tarkatan troops rearranged the weapons and guarded the entrance. Baraka was among them, overseeing production. Once Scorpion and Mileena made their way inside, they approached the powerful sorcerer. Mileena bowed to Quan Chi, but Scorpion gave him no such sign of respect. The pale sorcerer ignored Scorpion's lack of loyalty and proceeded with the meeting.
"Ah, my avenger generals," said Quan Chi. "I see that you, Mileena, have shown great restraint on your pursuit of the now contained Princess Kitana. Very good."
"I am at my Lord's service," said Mileena. "I do not strike until told to do so."
Quan Chi chuckled at her response. "A trait every valuable general has. Very good indeed."
Scorpion halted the meaningless conversation by asking, "What's the occasion of this meeting? I have my vengeance to seek out."
"Ah yes, the ever famous Hellspawn Spectre. Tell me, Scorpion, how are you indisposed on account of your successful invasion?"
Scorpion's agitation grew with each passing second he conversed with Quan Chi. "Sick at the stomach."
"Would you rather have this discussion later? If necessary I can have Mileena record this conversation for you to hear at another time."
"Tough it out, Scorpion, like me," Mileena carefully suggested. "You aren't the only one of us who suffers from the thirst for vengeance."
Scorpion wanted to snap Mileena's neck for her feeble remark. She knew nothing of vengeance and he knew it. Swallowing his pride, he simply said to Quan Chi, "The occasion, if you please."
"The war comes to such an hour that I would have us reach the next step of our strategy. I am aware that Raiden and his Earth Realm warriors have no knowledge of the recent invasion, which in turn gives us an advantage in this struggle. With the capture of Princess Kitana, we might be able to lure the Earth Realm warriors here in Edenia where Raiden has no dominion. Our main concern will be to destroy Liu Kang, and Princess Kitana would be our best asset in luring him here."
"Is there any part of your useless rambling that involves my orders on the matter," asked Scorpion with an ill-favored tone.
"Lord Shinnok and myself are planning an ambush on the Earth Realm monk, of which involves your participation. Is that straight out enough for you?"
"Then tell me what tasks you would give me. Further more, what's my peace for doing so?"
"Scorpion," said Mileena, trying to avoid confrontation between the two.
"Shut up," warned Scorpion.
"Though your boldness is admirable, Scorpion, you are in no position to demand such results from your services. I know very well your neutral state of mind, of which leads you to feel less than comfortable in the situation you find yourself in. But regardless, the only thing that concerns you in these times is that you will benefit from your services to Lord Shinnok."
"Meaning what, you phony bastard," said Scorpion as he clenched his fists. "Who do I kill, what's my pay? Those are to be the terms and benefits of my services?"
"It is highly unreasonable for you to make things that simple, Scorpion," said Mileena. "Especially for someone in your position."
"Keep your retched tongue behind your Tarkatan teeth, Mileena," shouted Scorpion. "Quan Chi made a deal with me simple enough, and I expect results! Now be silent, or I shall bring more deformities to your already 'pretty' face!"
That last remark struck a nerve in Mileena. She drew out her sai and pointed them at Scorpion as she approached him.
"Sheath those blades of yours at once, Mileena," demanded Quan Chi, of which she did as instructed and backed away from Scorpion. "There's a good girl. Do not forget your place in this war, for if you do I will send you back to the Hell from which I found you."
Mileena bowed her head at Quan Chi to remove further conflict. Quan Chi then turned his sights back to Scorpion.
"As for you, Spectre, you will receive your orders once Lord Shinnok and I have agreed in principle."
"Orders," began Scorpion, "are the only principles I am allowed to live by. But I will not wait an eternity for those orders. I have my own affairs outside of this war and I will tend to them. You have two days to give me my orders for the ambush. After that, I will take my leave from this war and seek out my vengeance alone. So unless you supply me with orders before that time expires, then you and I have had our last word, sorcerer."
With that, Scorpion left the armory. Any other soldier or general would have faced certain death for such traitorous behavior, but Quan Chi had other plans for the tormented Spectre. He watched Scorpion leave the room with an evil smirk on his lips, looking towards the future and Scorpion's fate.
Scorpion navigated the palace of Edenia and eventually made his way to the prison chamber by mistake. Once inside, the Tarkatan guard took immediate notice to Scorpion's presence and stood from his seat.
"Are you supposed to be-" the guard's words were cut off by a hard right hook from Scorpion, one that knocked the guard out.
Afterwards, Scorpion simply stood over the limp Tarkatan and stared at nothing in particular with his head facing the floor. The prison chamber had many rooms, this being the first to venture to when entering the chamber. Scorpion's reason for being in there was unknown even to Scorpion himself. His mind was in a state of anger as well as shame. He wanted no part in this mindless struggle, but he could not leave just yet. If there was a chance for Scorpion to retain his mortal form, he needed to take advantage of it.
"Scorpion," whispered a female's voice from one of the cells.
Scorpion turned around to see a dark figure behind the bars of one of the cells. He walked towards the cell and finally made out the figure. It was Princess Kitana, the only prisoner in this room of the prison chamber. When Scorpion finally got a good look at the captive, he turned his head away. She wore no mask over her face, revealing her near perfect beautiful features.
Kitana finally spoke, breaking the awkward silence with her angelic Edenian accent.
"When I heard about what you did for Liu Kang and the others at Shao Kahn's palace, I found it hard to believe that one warrior would be so bold as to hold off an entire garrison of soldiers in order to give the warriors of Earth more time to destroy the Emperor. I refused to believe it until I saw the dead bodies myself as we left the palace. You were celebrated as a hero after the end of the war. But now you have turned the tables on us. Why?"
Scorpion kept his sights away from the Princess. "My business with Quan Chi is outside of this war."
"And yet you invade my mother's palace and slaughter my people?"
Scorpion's shame brought him to turn completely around, facing opposite from her. "Unwanted terms to my service. I must obey him. He alone holds the keys to my mortality."
Kitana rested her hands on the bars in front of her. "But at what cost, Scorpion? Do you really think that your soul will find peace once your services have expired with that sorcerer? You may be free from the Netherealm, but as your guilt burns in you now, so shall it be when you retain your mortality. Your actions on Kahn's palace alone make you worthy of nobility. Don't stray away from that."
Scorpion gave no response to her. He lowered his head as the guilt in him intensified. Though his back was turned, Kitana could sense Scorpion's torment. She pitied him. She knew all too well about the guilt of wrong doings, for she was responsible for the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, during her time spent serving as Shao Kahn's assassin, thinking she was doing her apparent father's bidding. That alone kept her from hating the Hellspawn Spectre for invading her people.
After a long moment of silence, Kitana finally spoke. "Whatever you choose in the future, Scorpion, I wish you well. Though I wish you would have come to your noble senses when Quan Chi made whatever offer with you, I still respect you as a great warrior. Good luck, Scorpion, on all your journeys."
Scorpion finally turned around to face the Princess. He stepped towards the cell and stared into her beautiful eyes.
"I was once told that you have escaped prison cells like this one in the past. For your sake, I hope you still have your skills in check. Your fans should be located in one of the weapons shelves behind the table here. Once you escape, leave this place and warn your friends as fast as you can. Quan Chi is planning an ambush on the Shaolin monk, Liu Kang. I can not say when or where, all I can tell you is you are the intended bait."
Kitana let out a slight smile. Perhaps there was still hope in the Spectre after all. Scorpion turned towards the door of the cell and headed that way. Before he opened the door, however, he halted his steps.
"Last word, my Lady. If you fail to warn your friends in time, don't bother asking me to come to your aid. I am to be involve in the ambush, and I will kill the monk if the opportunity presents itself to me. I still have my own battles to fight, and I have not the time to get involved in this war anymore than I need to be to insure my freedom. Good-bye, Princess Kitana."
With that, Scorpion left the cell room as the guard slowly began to wake up. Kitana waited patiently for the guard to approach her cell. Her resolve was strengthened a thousand fold. She rested her hands on the bars and waited for the right time to strike.
Oh boy! Scorpion seems to be caught in a serious crossroads with his morals! What will become of Kitana? Will she escape in time? Or will her friends suffer their fate at the hands of Quan Chi and Shinnok? Time will tell! See ya next chapter!