Chapter 9: Elder Gods Help Us
"But how do we know? Raiden could be having visions of possible futures, not the future," Sony argues. "Sonya's right. Was I supposed to have my arms replaced with these?" Jax asks, holding up his metallic arms, "Or was it caused by interfering with the timeline?"
"My head hurts just thinking about it!" Johnny adds.
"This isn't helpful. We cannot second guess our decisions," Kitana voices, "Raiden, what are your thoughts?" The Thundergod is unresponsive as the attention of the Earthrealm Defenders turns to him. "Earth to Raiden," Johnny says. Becoming responsive Raiden replies, "Yes, that is best."
"What is our next objective, then?" Sub-zero questions, clearly not appreciated remaing motionless. He stands next to Smoke and the far side of the table near the steps.
"Nightwolf!" Liu Kang exclaims, breaking the conversation. The Defenders turn to see the Indian Shaman approaching. "It is done. Earthrealm's souls are safe." Relief is seen. But as Raiden looks at his amulet he sees more cracks appear. "No!" the Thundergod shouts in a voice of distress and irritation. "How is it not enough?" He slams his palm upon the table. The slap echoes through the quiet temple. "I must speak with the Elder Gods. Shao Kahn's violations must be punished," he says.
"But the battle is joined here, in Earthrealm," Liu Kang objects.
"We cannot win without the Elder Gods."
"But Master—" Johnny Cage interrupts before the insistent Monk can finish,
"Liu Kang, close as a shadow…"
"Nightwolf, you will lead until we return," Raiden says, turning his attention.
"As you wish, Haokah."
With hand placed upon Liu Kang's shoulder, Raiden disappears with the Monk in a flash of lightening. Silence falls over the group. "Well, now what? Standing around here won't do us any good," Stryker, voices, seeming impatient.
"Wait!" Sub-zero orders. Everyone stands silent, listening. Looking around he suddenly shouts, "The Lin Kuei! They surround us!" Spoken truly. Multiple cyborgs reveal themselves. The grey metallic opponents are all around the temple. "Attack!" Nightwolf orders quickly.
Kombat ensues. They Earthdefenders charge their cyborg opponents with ferocity, as would those who desire to win against alarming numbers. Nightwolf immediately notes Cyrax's appearance from the others. His mustard yellow metallic form defines him noticeably. Slashing at him with his tomahawk, Nightwolf is parried. A swift hard punch to the stomach and face send him stumbling backwards. As Cyrax moves in, Nightwolf makes an immediate recover allowing him to kick back. Circling ensues. "My speed ands kill are beyond you," Cyrax vocalizes in a noticeably robotic voice.
Meanwhile, Sektor and Smoke battle upon a staircase to the left of the table. Sektor's skills are magnificent. Smoke is no match. Lunging forward, Smoke makes a failed attempt to strike. His opponent grasps his arm to parry. "You are weak, Smoke," Sektor tells him. He blasts the black ninja in the chest with his after-burn move. Smoke flies backwards tumbling down the stairs. "Now do you understand the power of the Grand Master's vision?" Sektor demands, as he leisurely descends the stairway.
Smoke groans slowly getting up. Pain throttles is body. Pushing the ninja down with his metallic foot, Sektor makes to finish him off. However, a sudden burst of ice sends the cyborg stumbling backwards. Sub-zero walks forward. Glancing towards Smoke, his eyes betray his worry. Sektor ignores the display of friendship and blasts a missile at Smoke. Clearly he is intent on finished off his first opponent.
The ninja disappears into a wisp of smoke to appear behind Sub-zero. Seeing that he no longer will have the pleasure of finishing Smoke, Sektor kombats his new opponent. Smoke stays behind his friend parrying off any cyborgs that attempt to step between the fight.
He repeatedly punches a cocky cyborg before kicking it down. Looking around he sees the position and situation of his friends: Kitana decapitates an enemy with her bladed fans, Stryker and Kabal fight together with impressively effect results, while Nightwolf has just defeated Cyrax.
Smoke's attention is averted back to the fight behind him when he hears a grunt of pain then a metallic thud. Sektor is disabled temporarily, lying stiff on the floor. The victor of the match is beyond doubt.
Sub-zero approaches him grasping his arm. Blood seeps slowly through his fingers staining them red. Gently prying away his friend's hand, Smoke assesses the wound as minor, but decides to dedicate some of his shirt to preventing further bleeding.
Nightwolf approaches Kitana. "What is it?" he questions. The jet-black haired woman is looking intently around the temple for something. She does not reply, then upon spotting what she searches, for murmurs, "Mother…"
Sindel walks forward. Arrogance and pride follow her strides. With a smirk, she lets out a loud powerful banshee scream more formidable then her original powers. Sonya, Stryker, and Kabal are pushed to the stairwell. Sub-zero creates an ice shield, which he ducks behind while Smoke behind him. Meanwhile, Johnny Cage is only able to keep balance because he holds onto on of Jax's arms. The military officer proves to have a formidable ability to stand firm against the scream.
The other Earthrealm Defenders are either able to ward off her vocals with their powers or weapons, or are simply thrown against their will. Nightwolf is the only warrior unaffected. "Come forward, if you dare. I will finish what the Lin Kuei could not," Sindel boldly taunts. Her opponents quickly recover themselves. "Let's do this," Jax shouts, shaking Cage off his arm.
"Attack!" Nightwolf orders as he charges, tomahawk rose menacingly. His attempt to slash her is unsuccessful, as Sindel parries him before punching him across the face, knocking him down. Cage tries next. Parrying his moves as well, Sindel grabs his arm, knees him, and then kicks him down allowing him to drop.
Sonya takes offense immediately afterwards. Sindel finds her increasingly easy to defeat. The military officer flies backwards unconscious to land next to Jax. Kabal attacks just as she finishes. However, as he rushes forward Sindel raises her heel to kick his respirator. Moments before contact Strkyer pulls pistol and shoots the heel clean off. Sindel snorts in frustration as she simply knocks Kabal unconscious instead of gaining her anticipated kill.
Stryker makes to move forward, but Jade and Kitana rush forward together first. A pleased look passes Sindel's face upon seeing her daughter.
Jade moves ahead of Kitana and makes to punch her opponent. Sindel, however, grabs the fist before this can enact. Punching Jade's face twice she then ducks to successfully avoid Kitana's roundhouse kick. Grabbing her daughter in a chokehold, the sorcerer kicks Jade away. Sindel then casts aside Kitana to turn her complete attention upon Jade. A gurgling pain scream echoes the temple as Sindel tears Jade's stomach out. Time seems to pass in a deliberate motion as Jade's body hits to the ground, lying lifeless. Her eyes are wide as though the notion of death surprises her.
Heedless to her nauseated action, Sindel tosses aside the organ to turn her attention to Kitana. Choked by the death of her friend, Kitana attacks again, but with blinded anger. This is not way to attack such a dangerous opponent.
Beaten ruthlessly within moments, Kitana is only able to get unto her knees. "Mother, please!" she begs. "I am no longer your mother," Sindel bitterly replies.
"Mother, this is not your way. Shao Kahn has corrupted you!"
"Shao Kahn has resurrected me! You have betrayed him. Embraced a pathetic cause."
"Remember Edenia, Mother. Remember you rule before Shao Kahn's invasion!"
"Quiet child. It is time for you to join your friend."
Generating a purple swirl of magic, Sindel begins to drain Kitana's soul. Eyes wide with pain, Kitana is unable to react or even scream as her body spasms helplessly. "Demon!" Smoke shouts as he approaches her. Sindel stops the spell, dropping Kitana unconscious to the floor. "A survivor?" she muses. "No matter. Soon you will reunite with your fellow Lin Kuei to serve Outworld."
Smoke narrowly dodges the heel to his throat as he makes to kombo punch her. Raising her foot to kick his groin, she is, instead, met by an unforeseen parry. Sub-zero smacks her leg onto the floor, protective fury seething within his icy eyes.
Using his teleportation, Smoke escapes her attempt to grasp him with her elongated hair. Hissing with frustration, Sindel wraps her hair around Sub-zero's neck instead. Gasping from air, the ninja clutches his neck in a failing attempt to free himself.
Kung Lao, who had been blown over the railing, recovers himself in time to see the events portraying. He jumps rather clumsily over the rail and runs towards them while grabbing for his bladed hat. Stopping, he aims then throws. Spinning furiously, the hat scalpes the top of Sindel's head off. Blood spurts down side of her face, while she screams in agony and hysteria. Catching the hat as it flies back towards him, Kung Lao whips blood and hair from its blade, and a taunting grin crosses his face.
Anger and humiliation seethe from Sindel's face, though she is still too hysterical to attack quite yet. Sub-zero yanks the hair from his neck, with the assistance of Smoke. Knowing the kombat must end now they both move in to attack with their combined forces. Sindel lets out another horrific banshee scream onto them stopping their assault then and there. Both fly backwards. Sub-zero hits the temple wall in a sitting position leaned against the cool stone, while Smoke piles into him. He leans idly against Sub-zero breathing heavily. Both are too exhausted to move, even as Sindel approaches them.
Regaining consciousness, Nightwolf sees the destruction around him. The sight of Sindel scalped beholds such an unusual sight that the Shaman momentarily simply watches her is surprise. Upon seeing what she approaches, however, he quickly regains himself. Summoning a bow, he takes aim. The mystical green arrow strikes his target threw the abdomen, gutting out the other side. Screeching in pain, Sindel unsteadily turns. Attention now brought upon Nightwolf, she wobbly moves towards him. "You will united with you ancestor shaman," she crisply comments.
"Face the spirit's judgment," Nightwolf replies. Chanting in his native tongue the light from the heavens begin to surround him. With a blast of lightening he strikes Sindel. However, this is not strong enough to overcome her. Using her banshee shriek, she sends him pivoting in the sacrificial alter. Limping towards, him Sindel lifts him with her magic. "Victory is mine, Shaman," she snaps. Blood glugs down her cheeks for her grotesque wound.
"Not if I… take it… from you!"