Thanks for bearing with me :)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Mortal Kombat; it belongs to its creators Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel and their crew.
Chapter Three
Only hours later did the ship Jax and I were on slow in its course. I took that to mean we'd arrived at our destination. I was no less nervous than when we'd first hopped onto this vessel; in fact I was even more anxious but I couldn't let my emotions overwhelm me. I had to keep a clear head. I had to stay sharp. Kano could be here and I'd need to be on my guard starting now.
"Let's get off before they start unloading these things," Jax advised.
I nodded and used the noise that was already present, the noise of the thugs moving about, to mask the sound of me sliding the four crates of weapons away from me and Jax. The ship was only moving incrementally now. They must be anchoring it. We needed to move fast. I skulked forwards on my hand and knees and climbed over the tail end of the ship. Jax was right behind me. We plopped into the sea and swam underwater as far away from the ship as we could get. When I resurfaced, I was pleased at the distance I'd put in between us and the crew. I then hurried with Jax to take cover behind one of the many protruding rock structures along the beach. If the thugs hadn't have been so busy unloading the cargo hold of the nethership, they might have seen Jax and I running along the great expanse of sugar-white sand.
"How long do you think they'll be at it?" Jax huffed beside me.
I shrugged and caught my breath. Then I ducked fully behind the mountainous spike of jagged rock and slid down its surprisingly smooth surface. Jax looked out at the Black Dragon members a moment longer before he hid himself from view as well.
"So now we wait," he surmised.
Jax sat next to me with his back to the rock. He rested an arm over his bent knee and shared a look with me. I couldn't help but indulge in a small smile. We'd made it. We made it this far that is. After those men finish unloading the ship, Jax and I'll follow them in and track down Kano. He's got to be here. I just knowhe is.
"Uh Sonya," Jax murmured. "Is it...hot or is it just me?"
I frowned at his tone and glanced at him. He and I looked from each other to the massive rock behind us. The lower section was glowing faintly and radiating heat. Jax and I backed up. The thing was getting redder by the second. We started to run.
"It's gonna blow!" Jax shouted over the high pitched tinny noise coming from the overheated rock.
He stepped in front of me and brought his hands over his face. The rock did explode, not the whole thing but a giant boulder-sized section. All the little chunks sprayed over us. Even though we both blocked most of the onslaught with our arms, the red-hot pebbles scattering against us was far from painless. They burned the exposed skin on our hands and face but that was the worst of it. Nothing too serious. When it died down, Jax and I stood and looked at the figure stepping through the huge hole. It was the 'criminal mastermind' himself.
"Kano." Jax growled.
He and I both pulled our guns out at the ready. All I could think was how on earth had Kano managed to find us so quickly? The only thing I could figure is that one of the crew members had seen us after all and had alerted their unsavory leader. Damn.
"Those guns ain't gonna do ya' no good," Kano chuckled. "Not while I got these babies!"
As if for emphasis Kano stopped advancing and wriggled his fingers. I frowned. What was he talking about? Never mind. He's probably just trying to stall. Jax and I pulled our triggers at nearly the same time and shot at him relentlessly. However, a transparent red shield erected around him almost immediately.
"What the hell?" I murmured.
All the bullets were just ricocheting off the surface of this shield. It really was useless to keep shooting at him. Where was he getting it from? I surveyed him critically and tried to pinpoint where the shield was coming from but he dropped it. Damn him. I did notice something different though. When he wriggled his fingers I saw that he was wearing new gloves. They were of a black material and in the palms of them were metal rings. Maybe the energy was coming from there?
"Sonya, watch it!" Jax exclaimed.
I raised my gun but I think that's what Kano wanted me to do. He shot a beam of energy from his eye and attacked not me but my weapon. His laser encased my weapon and heated it just like the rock from earlier. I didn't give Kano the satisfaction of hearing me cry out; the thing burnt me badly. I dropped the gun and cradled my pink palm, then glared at the bastard.
"Wait til' I get my hands on you!" Jax scowled.
He strode forward and was about to bring his fist down hard onto the sandy ground below but before he could, Kano stretched forth his hand. As I suspected, the blast that shot out and struck my C.O. emanated from within the metal ring on his palm.
Jax yelled out in pain and went flying backwards. About a third of a mile away he landed on his back. He lay there as still as a log and probably bleeding. I couldn't tell from so far away. I think he threw his arms up at the last minute because the metallic appendages were short-circuiting. He needed help and quickly. I started to make a run for him.
"Don't worry 'bout him." Kano smirked. "He's done for. Nobody survives a direct hit like that."
"Let me go!" I gritted out.
Kano had made a grab for me mid-sprint. He had his brawny arms round my middle and was trying to haul me back. I had to see about Jax and I wouldn't let this no-count fiend stop me. If I didn't get my C.O. to safety soon, he'd really be in trouble. Kano held firm, though. I stopped struggling and huffed out a frustrated sigh.
"Enough of this!" I said resolutely.
I didn't spend most of my life training and serving in the military to be manhandled and roughed up like some helpless victim. I pushed my feet off against the ground and launched myself over Kano's head. I grabbed his shoulders on my way down and then pressed my feet into his back. The result sent him soaring overhead. While he was down I glanced back at Jax. He was still motionless. I tried again to run to him but was impeded still. Kano yanked my ponytail and hoisted me to my feet. He wrapped one of his hands around my neck and chuckled.
"Make one more move and I'll melt your head right off'a your shoulders." He threatened.
I stilled then, only because I could feel the heat from that ring on his palm encroaching upon my throat. I realized then I had to play this the smart way. I had to get not only me but Jax out of this mess, too. I didn't like Kano's hand so close to my jugular though so I elbowed him in the ribs. He grunted in pain and dropped his hand from my neck.
"Why don't you let me go?" I challenged, "Scared of a fair fight?"
Kano released me but only long enough for him to grip my elbows. He shoved me along in the opposite direction of my C.O.
"Let you go?" He asked with feigned incredulity, "But you went to all that trouble to stowaway on my ship and get here! Don't ya' wanna see what I've been up to?"
I did but not at the expense of my partner. My only hope was glancing back at my C.O. and seeing his chest heave up and down. He wasn't dead so he still had a chance. I just had to make it through this latest situation.
Rain dreamed of his mother.
He'd never met her but he'd heard things about her. Supposedly she was a whore and physically he favored her more than his father. She must've been beautiful then, he thought with a smirk. He lay on his side and brought his knees to his chest. Damn it was cold. It was always cold.
The door slammed open.
Rain frowned and sat up quickly. It was Ermac. Of course. Who else would it be. The prince scowled and was about to lie back down but the host wouldn't allow it. Wordlessly Ermac crossed the small room and yanked Rain up by the arm.
"Let go!" Rain scowled.
He jerked and continued to protest. Ermac didn't release him though. They half-dragged Rain out of the room and down the hall. After so long Rain stopped struggling and let Ermac guide him roughly through the corridor. They led the prince past the throne room with the shattered window and further still, out the front doors. When they continued past the palace gates Rain started to worry.
Where the hell is he taking me? He thought anxiously.
The longer the prince walked with the host, the more disturbed his thoughts became. Is he finally gonna do me in? Probably, Rain figured. He's taking me to some obscure location so that nobody will ever find me. Or what's left of me that is. Ermac is such a sick, demented, sadistic asshole; I'll likely be in pieces when he's finished with me.
By the time he and Ermac reached the courtyard Rain was starting to sweat. He saw the crowd of mortals standing there, talking amongst themselves. He jumped to conclusions. Dear gods, he is gonna kill me! He's gonna have me publicly executed, the prince lamented. When he saw the raised soapbox-style stage at the head of the crowd he really started to panic. He thrashed in Ermac's grip and started to breathe more shallowly.
"Get a'hold of yourself," Ermac grunted contemptuously, "You're not gonna die; not right now."
Rain sobered after hearing the host's words. The truth in them chased away that bewildered look in his dark eyes. He allowed Ermac to shove him up the short steps leading to the stage and then stood there. After he looked out at the crowd of maybe two hundred or so mortals, he frowned. They all look like...peasants. Old hags and younger wenches and poor men, he thought to himself. What is Ermac up to, bringing me before them?
Ermac got everyone's attention via a sharp spike of pain through the contiguous mind link they shared with all the others. Rain flinched and then wondered, how can he have links on all these people? Oh yeah. The amulet. It must be aiding him.
"We gathered you all here," Ermac began, "To warn you of this creature."
For emphasis Ermac shoved the prince to the forefront of the wooden stage and almost caused him to lose his balance. Rain caught himself at the last minute and scowled.
"He might claim to be a prince." Ermac continued. "A god. A 'son of Argus'and a ninja but he's nothing more than a liar, a thief, a notorious traitor, and a deceptive bastard."
That's not true, Rain thought, slighted.
Isn't it? the host jeered within the prince's head.
"If anyone is seen fraternizing with or assisting this creature, they will be penalized." Ermac stated. "Punishment will come in the form of extra chores, longer shifts, or death; depending on the severity of the offense."
Well so much for using these saps to help me escape, Rain thought dismally. He could see that the mortals in the crowd were hanging on Ermac's every word. There was fear in their expressions. They already didn't trust him.
Ermac then said, "That is all. Now get back to work."
While the people started milling out of the courtyard, Rain brooded. Damn that Ermac, he's turned me into a fucking pariah. Now how am I supposed to get out of this place? The royal's head suddenly snapped to the side at the force with which Ermac struck him with the back of their hand.
"When we speak to you, obey." The host intoned harshly. "Bow to your emperor."
The ready retort that was about to come shooting off of Rain's tongue died on his lips; he wisely kept his mouth shut. Instead the prince glared down at his feet and clenched his jaw tightly. Ermac put their fingers under the royal's chin gently and lifted his head. Rain stared warily and watched the host pull back his free hand. Rain only had a moment to shut his eyes before Ermac slapped him yet again. This time it really stung.
"That's for thinking about it." Ermac clipped.
Rain's body quivered with the sheer amount of stifled rage. In that moment he didn't care what happened next, so long as he got his hands on that damn host. His fingers curved over into claws and his muscles tensed. He got set to lunge at Ermac's back. He was already envisioning wrapping his arm around the demon's neck and choking the life out of them. But in the next instant Rain screamed.
"You son of a. Ah!" He shouted as he dropped to his hands and knees.
He couldn't see anything: not the dirt under his clammy palms or even the skin behind his eyelids. When he opened and closed his eyes it was the same. Darkness. Pure pitch black nothingness. It was terrifying. And if that weren't bad enough he felt as if someone were gutting him with a rusty knife. He didn't care that he was crying. Or that he was trembling all over. It didn't bother him so much that those pitiful cries were coming from the confines of his own throat. He just wanted it to stop. Rain could feel his head compressing as the seconds wore on. His ears were bleeding, they had to be because he could hear the sound of a thousand explosions ringing inside them. When was this going to end? Why hadn't it stopped yet? It never lasted this long.
"P-Please..."
Ermac ignored his pathetic plea and instead kicked the prince hard in the stomach, right where they knew it would hurt the most. Rain screamed, he'd never screamed so much in his life. Onto his side he rolled but he rolled too hard. He fell off the stage and curled in on himself in the dirt courtyard.
"Emperor!" A guard yelled.
Ermac took a look at Rain and sneered before turning back to the guard. However, said guard was looking worriedly at the suffering prince. The guard was new but he'd heard Ermac's warning. The host could tell as much from the guard's conflicted thoughts; on the one hand the guard did feel a great amount of compassion for the royal but his fear of Ermac prevented him of expressing it. Still the guard looked on in distress.
"Don't waste your pity on him," Ermac groused, "Get on with your message."
The guard reluctantly tore his eyes from Rain and said, "There is a man at the gates. H-He requests an audience with you, Emperor."
Ermac frowned and said, "Escort this man to the throne room. We'll be there shortly."
With another concerned look at Rain the guard nodded and then left to do his emperor's bidding. Ermac turned back to Rain. He gazed at the prince aloofly at first but that look then darkened to something more cold and hateful. There was nothing but hate in those iris-less eyes; no remorse and certainly not an ounce of empathy. They restored Rain's sight. They wanted him to see how they felt about him and to never forget it. When the prince realized he could see again, he immediately sought out the glowing eyes of the host. Rain hated the way Ermac looked at him. Like he was less than dirt. Like he wasn't worth shit. It affected the prince more than he let on, and he let on a lot. He couldn't take it though, that animosity and unadulterated loathing, so he eventually looked away. Ermac sneered and crushed one of Rain's hands underfoot before they turned to leave, taking the anguish that plagued Rain with them.
For the umpteenth time I tripped. Who knew there were so many obstacles on the beach. I spit out the sand that covered my face when I landed on the ground. If my hands weren't tied behind my back I could've broken my fall. The culprit behind my binding yanked me up by a fistful of my hair. I didn't even flinch. Honestly I couldn't feel it too much, the pain was a minor thing. Besides, I'd sustained many more injuries in the past fifteen minutes of walking. My wrists were burnt and my forearms most likely bruised, for instance.
"Don't you know 'ow to walk?" Kano griped from directly behind me.
I frowned and snapped, "Well it'd be easier to if I wasn't blindfolded."
Kano laughed and said, "Oh, but that'll ruin the surprise, baby."
"Stop calling me that!" I grimaced.
He burned me, right on my already sore forearm. Again I didn't make a sound but I clamped down on my teeth so hard my jaw started to ache. Kano had the tip of his knife jabbed into my back and was shoving me forward again. I swallowed the rest of my pain and stumbled on.
"Those gloves," I said, "That a new trick you cooked up in your underground labs?"
With a chuckle he replied, "Wouldn't you like to know."
Kano couldn't stay silent for long though, true to his nature.
"They're an upgrade. Match my fancy eye, they do. You like 'em?" He gloated.
"I'd like to rip that eye from its socket, that's what." I muttered lowly.
Kano heard me and guffawed. "Ah Sonya, same old feisty broad. I always loved a bit of fight in a woman."
Okay, talking to Kano is getting me nowhere. I just hope we reach that base soon. Almost twenty minutes had been spent walking around and I knew that was no accident. For all I knew Kano was just walking in huge circles to disorient me. I definitely wouldn't put it past him. And speaking of disorienting.
"What the hell?" I growled.
That was the last thing I got out before my throat felt like it was suddenly clamped shut. If I'd realized what was going on sooner, I may not have wasted my breath. The brute had put me in a lock. He was quick about it, too. Kano wrenched my arms behind my back with the hand the wasn't busy trying to strangle the life out of me. No, not strangle me, knock me out. He squeezed my neck tightly in between his forearm and bicep and I tried but couldn't fight the inevitable, dizzying spiral towards unconsciousness.
In the Netherealm things were unusually quiet. Noob didn't mind the relative peace of his gloomy realm. It was better than all the riots.
Especially since Scorpion's gone, he thought: Now he was good help. He just charged a hefty price for his services is all.
Noob tried to work faster at mending a tear in the fabric of the realm though. It was his latest chore and it was making his arms sore. However it had to be done.
"I thought I'd find you here." Someone said lightly.
Noob bristled at the sound of that voice. He knew that voice and did not appreciate hearing it once more. That voice belonged to a viper. A lowdown thief and traitor.
"Tanya." He stated tonelessly without turning around.
The female smirked and stepped over to the wraith. She stopped a foot or two away and folded her arms at her chest.
"Bi-Han." She responded just as neutrally.
Having had his suspicions of who it was behind him confirmed, Noob turned and regarded the woman briefly. She looked almost the same as she did when he last saw her. Except for her eyes; they were all white and glowed in the dim light of the fires of hell. That was new.
"Why have you come here?" Noob asked curtly.
Tanya shrugged her shoulders and said, "I have come as an ambassador. As always."
"You're still affiliated with the Brotherhood?" Noob asked then.
She glanced off to the side and said simply, "More or less."
"Did he send you?" Noob asked.
"No." She answered shortly. "I came on my own."
"So what do you want? Is this a social call then or is it strictly business?" Noob inquired testily.
"Business." She responded.
"Then get on with it." He implored.
Noob rose his fist and the skeletons around him converged to form a simple chair. He could've formed one for Tanya as well. It didn't take a lot of skill, it was a parlor trick really. But he wasn't particularly pleased to see this woman and so he sat and left her standing. Maybe Ermac's foulness is rubbing off on me, Noob then thought. Nevertheless he reclined in his makeshift throne and watched Tanya start to speak.
"Our numbers have depleted." She began.
"By 'our' I'm assuming you mean the Brotherhood, right?" Noob interjected.
She nodded. Noob had to think, though; Did he really used to speak that way? Our and Us and We and other such collective terms? Was he really so brainwashed back then? Could other people spot the hive mentality as much as he could in Tanya? Maybe.
"There are only two prominent leaders now: Myself and Reiko." She explained.
Noob sighed. Of all the people to be left in charge, it just had to be those two.
Tanya said, "Master Shinnok's been banished by the Elder gods to the Nightmare realm. We could use your help freeing him. You do reign over the Netherealm now, right?"
"...I do." Noob answered carefully.
"Good. Then we can use your forces to break Master Shinnok out and."
"No." Noob cut in.
Tanya let her mouth close slowly and then tilted her head. "What?"
"I said no." Noob repeated stoically. "I don't deal with the Brotherhood anymore."
"What are you talking about?" Tanya frowned in confusion.
Noob sighed and said, "Shinnok was Quan Chi's master and now Chi is dead. He was the only reason I hitched up with the cult in the first place."
"We're not a cult." Tanya denied defensively.
The wraith rolled his eyes and murmured, "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Tanya narrowed her eyes at that. Then she smirked and put her hands on her hips. Noob grew wary. That change in posture was not a good sign.
"I see what's going on." She claimed. "I suppose you feel you don't need us anymore, not since you've got your own little realm to rule."
Noob quirked a brow. "Little realm? Um, have you seen this place?"
Tanya ignored him and said offhandedly, "It'd be a real shame if somebody were to take all this away from you."
The wraith was silent. He knew a threat when he heard one. He also knew how the Brotherhood operated. If you weren't for them, you were against them in Shinnok's eyes.
"Well I guess I'll be going." Tanya said after a pause. She then added, "Oh, before I go; you wouldn't happen to know where the Master's amulet is, do you?"
Noob hesitated. He did know where it was. At Ermac's waist. He didn't feel he should divulge that kind of information though. Not because Ermac couldn't handle himself or anything, it was just. Well. Noob had been a part of the Brotherhood, he knew what kind of threat they posed. Ermac had so much on his plate as emperor right now and Noob didn't think the host would be able to juggle his existing issues plus the added headache that was Tanya and Reiko. It'd be best if I warn him first, Noob surmised.
"A yes or no answer would be nice, Bi-Han." Tanya said irritatedly.
"No." Noob replied at last.
She eyed the wraith critically but seemed to believe him. He was glad to see her gone.
When I finally came to, I was still blindfolded. I tried to bring my hands up to remove it but they were restrained and unmovable. So was my waist. I was sitting down though so I had to be tied to a chair or something. My movement incurred the movement of someone else in the room. I froze. It was only Kano though.
"Finally come to, eh?" He spoke as he took off the blindfold.
I blinked in the dirty off-white beam of light from an overhead fixture. I was in a white room. Four walls, no windows, no other furniture besides the chair I was tied to and the metal table in front of me. The floor was also metal and dusty and there was Kano leaning on that table across from me. Something felt off though. I looked down and saw why. I'd been stripped. I still had my clothes on, but all my weapons were gone. My boots and socks were gone too; I was barefoot and gun-less and my belt was missing. So was my Kevlar vest and my jacket. My shirt was all wrinkled. That made me shudder. It disgusted me to know Kano had probably been the one to search me.
"Why did you take my weapons?" I asked him.
How long was I out? Not more than an hour I hope. If I waste any more time Jax is gonna be done for.
Kano said, "You won't be needing any of those doohickeys."
"Where am I?" I demanded.
I already had an idea; in his underground base. I just wanted to get as much information out of him as I could. It was so hard to get my hands on this slippery fiend I didn't know when I'd have the chance again. Meanwhile Kano was opening his arms dramatically and gesturing to the whole of the tiny room.
"Your new home!" He exclaimed. "Like it?"
"What are you up to?" I frowned.
"Nothing you need to worry your little head about." He assured me.
I rolled my eyes and said, "Why are you holding me here?"
"You'll see soon enough." He replied cryptically.
"What are you gonna do?" I wanted to know.
Kano stepped away from the table and started to pace. His good-natured smirk was gone. In the small room he also looked brawnier than usual as he walked to and fro. It would seem he's already fed up with my interrogation. Not good.
"You ask too many questions. You're giving me a headache." He complained.
Serves your ass right, I thought viciously. I watched Kano make a face and pull a cigarette from his back pocket. While he was lighting it I started up again.
"How did you find us so fast?" I asked.
"Surveillance baby," He retorted, "I got cameras all around my premises. Saw you and your twit partner hightailing it along the beach immediately."
"That doesn't make sense," I stalled.
"Course it does." Kano retorted, "You just can't wrap your head around it, is all."
His accent made me cringe and his answers were hardly satisfying but I had to keep him talking.
"You're a long way from home." I remarked.
He took a drag on his cigarette and said, "Yeah. Don't too much care for Outworld but business is good here."
Oh is that so? I wonder who he's selling to and if I can get in touch with them. Okay Sonya; one hurdle at a time. I have to get out of here first.
There was a loud banging on the door. I looked over at it. It was a heavy metal door with a window of thick-looking glass cut into it. There was a random thug at the door. Kano went over to answer it and they exchanged a few words. Apparently somebody was here and wanted to talk to Kano.
"This island's pretty popular today, eh?" He chuckled. He told me, "Sit tight baby, I'll be right back."
He left. I heard the locks click into place automatically behind him.
Man this mission went sour real fast. Jax is critically injured. I got captured. All my weapons are gone. And to top it off Kano is stronger, more equipped than before. I couldn't lose hope though. Maybe Jax has managed to escape. And at least I know where Kano is now, that's a plus. I might not have my gear but I'm resourceful; I'll find a way out. I just need a moment to think.
A/N: The next chapter is coming. Please spare a moment and tell me what you think so far. I'm boring myself or maybe I'm just tired; it's quite late here. Anyway, I'll see you all next chapter!
~DymondGold~