Chapter 5: Free Will
In Shang Tsung's throne room, everyone has no idea what just happened. Scorpion stands over Bi-Han, who is bleeding out. He looks at everyone silently before he teleports away. Quan Chi could not help but feel disappointed. He does not know why Scorpion chose to spare him.
Cyrax walks over to Bi-Han, who has long since fell unconscious. He is not happy with what happened to him at the hands of Scorpion. "Scorpion will pay for what he did to you, Bi-Han. I promise you that."
Cyrax turns to some Lin Kuei members and nods to them. They both help Bi-Han up as they take him back to their temple so he could heal.
"The Lin Kuei have always made such ruthless choices." Fujin approaches him. "Such as the Cyber Initiative." This gets Cyrax's attention and is surprised by how he knew about it.
"I am one of the very few who speak out against the grandmaster for this absurd plan. Transforming us into mindless, soulless machines? It eliminates our instincts, our intuition, everything." Cyrax argues.
"That is not the only reason why you are here. Shang Tsung invited you and your friends to participate in this tournament to assassinate warriors of Earthrealm. To weaken our defenses in case Outworld were to win. Victory for the sorcerer would mean the end of life in Earthrealm, including the Lin Kuei." Fujin tells him.
Cyrax does not know what to say. He is at a loss of words. He does not know what to do. He thinks about it as he walks away. But Sektor was not out of hearing range. He heard everything in the conversation between Cyrax and Fujin. He goes his own way and decides to have his own word with Shang Tsung.
The next day. The third day of the tournament. So far, things are going at a bit of a slower pace no thanks to the interruption of Scorpion. But with that out of the way, the tournament can resume normally.
"Welcome, champions. This is the third day of the tournament. Both sides are even right now. But which side will emerge victorious? The next match shall begin. Sonya Blade. You will face Guardian Jade." Shang Tsung announces.
Sonya approaches the field, ready to fight Jade. But as she was walking, for some reason, she felt a spark of anger in her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. Sonya has her ring gauntlets ready and was gonna take her down hard.
"Your so-called boyfriend was weak. As are all those from Earthrealm." Jade said before they fight.
Sonya immediately charges in and does an uppercut to the jaw, followed by two punches to Jade's shoulders followed by two spin kicks across the face. Jade stumbles backwards, but throws a razor rang to distract her, allowing Jade to kick Sonya in the chest, sending her down before jumping backwards. Sonya kicks back up. She and Jade collide together. Jade throws a palm strike at Sonya, but she blocks it. Jade does a backflip and two roundhouse kicks and Sonya ducks and dodges them. Sonya knees Jade in the stomach twice before shooting her backwards with an energy ring. Jade slides backwards and recovers. She brings out her staff and spins it as she approaches Sonya.
Sonya dodges her staff several times and has to fight back. She brings out two tonfas to defend herself from the bo staff. Sonya sees an opportunity and knees Jade in the chest, grabs the staff, rolls backwards, taking Jade with her and kicks her in the stomach, making her let go of her weapon, which Sonya tosses aside. Jade gets back up and throws two more razor rangs. This time, Sonya runs forward, jumps to dodge them and kicks Jade in the face. She stumbles, but then goes for two kicks, which Sonya also dodges. And with plenty of anger she has, Sonya punches Jade in the stomach twice, then across the face twice, and then grabs Jade's head and knees her forehead, does a hard elbow strike to the head, cracking it greatly and delivers a strong kick to the head, sending Jade back and defeating her.
"He is not my boyfriend, asshole." Sonya scoffs before she walks away from everyone.
"Is it me? Or was Sonya just pissed." Jax said.
"I thought that would happen. Staff girl made a mistake. You piss off Sonya, and unless you beg for life, then she'll deliver the boom. And you're done like dinner." Johnny points out.
Given that Johnny remembers, he's not wrong since he used to antagonize Sonya alot and flirted with her before they both fell in love. Even Alex would have to agree with him. Anyone who crosses Sonya like that, should be scared. He speaks from experience given that she easily intimidated him alot when they first met. But still, he can't help but feel bad for Jade, since despite knowing that she used to work for Shao Kahn, hopes that the two may come to an agreement one day.
"The next match will begin now. Jax vs the Kollector. Take your places." Shang Tsung announces. As they do so, Sektor has a private word with Cyrax.
"You were speaking to the wind god earlier. Let this be your only warning." Sektor said.
"I assume you want me to kill someone? To prove my loyalty to the Lin Kuei?" Cyrax asked.
"Yes. Shang Tsung has asked that you terminate the woman who just emerged victorious. Sonya Blade. Fulfill your duties and I will make sure you retain your free will." Sektor orders him. Cyrax nodded in response. But he still has a big feeling of doubt within his heart to do anything.
The next match is about to begin. Jax vs Kollector.
"Your armor plating will give me a fortune. They will suit my needs as I take them from you, whether you care or not." Kollector said, referring to the bionic armor platings Jax is wearing on his arms.
"Bring it, blue, short and skinny." Jax said before they fight.
Kollector holds two blades in two hands, a golden-swinging mace in his third hand and nothing else in his fourth hand while his fifth and sixth hands are holding his bag of collectibles. He swings his two swords at Jax and they hit his armor plates, and they don't leave a mark on them. Before Kollector could stab him with his mace, Jax grabs him by the throat.
"Gotcha!" Jax yelled as he punches Kollector in the face four times and throws him down to the ground three times before tossing him away. Kollector gets back up, only for Jax to dash forward and punches him across the face, swings an arm down on his head, kicks him in the chest and does a dash punch to the face, cracking his skull. Jax then grabs him and throws him to the ground, back first. Kollector swings his swords at his legs, but Jax dodges them and does a strong kick to the face, sending Kollector back more.
Kollector growls and gets back up. Jax jumps to stomp him in the head, but Kollector throws something down and he teleports. He punches Jax in the back of the head twice and swings his golden mace in the back before wrapping the chain part of the mace around his body and throws him, but not too far. Kollector then swings it across Jax's chest, cutting it a little before slamming it onto his left shoulder. Kollector teleports in front of him and grabs his shoulders and kicks him back and jumps to swing his mace down again. Jax was prepared as he grabs the weapon, swings it and Kollector far back to a wall, greatly injuring him as blood spills. Jax runs over and grabs Kollector. Jax throws him in the air, slams his knees onto Kollector's legs, breaking them and then he knees Kollector in the spine and rib cage, breaking his spine and a few of his ribs in the process. Kollector lays there out cold, bleeding out greatly.
"Collect that, bitch. Not even a challenge." Jax smirks before he walks away from the field as guards help Kollector up and drag him away.
"Now for the next match. Cyrax vs Sonya Blade." Shang Tsung announces.
Sektor looks at Cyrax and nods to him, reminding him of what he needs to do. Cyrax sighs and nods as well before he steps onto the field, ready to face Sonya.
"Bring it on, ninja boy. If your ice bitch friend can be beaten, then so can you. Time for a little payback." Sonya said as they begin to fight.
Sonya fires her ring gauntlets at Cyrax, but he uses his electrical net to block the energy rings. Sonya comes forward and jump kicks Cyrax backwards. Cyrax rolls once and recovers quickly. Cyrax leaps forward, punches Sonya across the head, punches her left shoulder and uppercuts her in the chin before he traps her in an electrified net, shocking her before he kicks her backwards. Sonya is a bit dazed, but she growls out of frustration. She brings out her batons to fight back, and Cyrax uses his wrist blades as a response. They clash weapons, switching between offense and defense. The weapons lock and Cyrax blocks a knee strike to the chest and stabs her in the left leg, making her scream. Cyrax then does a kick to the head, cracking her skull slightly and sending her back.
Sonya spits up some blood and yet has a bit of a hard time standing. Cyrax jumps to stab her, but she rolls out of the way and punches Cyrax in the back of the head three times before she uses an energy binder to hold him in headlock, trying to strangle him to death whike kneeing him in the back.. Cyrax had to think fast. He headbutts Sonya in the face and forces her to let go before he does two kicks to the chest, sending her back. Sonya shoots energy rings again, but this time, Cyrax throws microbombs in the air, creating smoke. Sonya sees a saw blade coming her way and dodges it, but Cyrax uses a bigger remote bomb, swings it down on her head twice, cracking her skull more before punching her in the stomach, making her land on her back, defeated.
"Good, Cyrax. Good. Now. Finish her!" Shang Tsung commands him.
Cyrax walks over to Sonya and grabs by the throat. He holds her against the wall and brings out a pair of wristblades. Sonya's visions were blurry as she could see what he was gonna do and embraces her fate. Johnny couldn't help but feel nervous at Cyrax's decision, hoping he won't make a mistake. Liu Kang and Fujin both stare at Cyrax. Cyrax tightens his fists and thrusts his wristblade forward… and it makes contact to the wall Sonya was pinned to.
"I won't kill her. She is already finished." Cyrax decreed before letting go of Sonya's throat. She coughs for air as Liu Kang and Johnny walk over to her to make sure she's okay. Shang Tsung looks on with disappointment as Cyrax leaves. Sektor is not very happy as he follows him to the gardens on the island.
"You disobeyed us all. You disobey one, you disobey the entire clan. You were commanded to kill Sonya Blade as she was a threat to Shang Tsung's plans." Sekor reprimands him.
"I used my instincts. My judgment. The woman does not deserve to die. She is already eliminated from the tournament as it is." Cyrax defends himself.
"This is why my father, the grandmaster, has ordered the Cyber Initiative. It will delete all insubordination. All emotion and thoughts." Sektor tells him.
"We are not machines, Sektor. I chose to serve the Lin Kuei. But I refuse to surrender my free will and soul to anything or anyone." Cyrax said before they fight.
Sektor tries to shoot flames at him, but Cyrax rolls under and does a backflip kick, stumbling him. Cyrax then does a punch to the forehead, punches him across the face and upper cuts his jaw. He then does a swing kick to the head and kicks him in the jaw, sending Sektor flying. But Sektor teleports behind Cyrax and upper cuts his back, jumps up and strikes him in the head. Sektor then does a kick to the chin, followed by a back kick to the face, making Cyrax stumble. Sektor shoots missiles in the air, and Cyrax sees this and throws microbombs high into the air, destroying them. But this was a distraction as Sektor does a punch to the throat followed by an elbow strike to the chest, sending Cyrax back as his chest is slightly damaged.
Cyrax recovers and is now pissed. He throws more microbombs at Sektor, who destroys them with missiles. But Cyrax charges in and fires an electrical net, shocking Sektor and does an elbow strike to the chest followed by a horizontal chop attack. Cyrax then does a strong punch to the right rib cage, cracking it and an elbow strike to the chest. Cyrax uses a buzzsaw to attack, but Sektor uses his metal gauntlets to block the blades. Sektor does a backflip kick, sending Cyrax into the air and allowing Sektor to do a dive kick to Cyrax's chest, cracking it greatly as the latter hits the ground, back first. Sektor jumps off of him, but Cyrax rolls microbombs to his feet, forcing Sektor to jump out of the way. Cyrax then does a punch to the chest followed by cutting his chest open with blades, making it bleed greatly. He swings both blades down on Sektor, but he blocks them with his metal gauntlets, parries them away and opens both flamethrowers on him. Cyrax sees this and parries his arms away before he stabs Sektor in both of his shoulders, cracking them greatly and making them bleed so badly. Sektor is weak, allowing Cyrax to do one more kick to the face, knocking him down.
"You can send your father a message. Tell him that I am done with the Lin Kuei. For good." Cyrax declared.
"Y-you bloody traitor. Do not think that this is over. No one leaves the Lin Kuei." Sektor said weakly. This only earns him a punch to the face as Cyrax walks away angry. He goes to be alone for the rest of the tournament to reflect on his life with the Lin Kuei and what he should do next.
Note: Just in case some will wonder, no. This story is not gonna be similar to the likes of MK9. There may be some familiar fights and a couple of events happening, but things here will be different. So Cyrax defeats Sonya while Jax defeats Kollector. I like the nicknames that Cyrax and Sektor had, being mustard and ketchup, haha. Next chapter is gonna be big. hope you enjoyed.