Flames licked quietly at the ground, in the same way they had for eternity. The pillars of corpses that lined the path continued to writh in agony as the souls of the fallen continued in their futile struggle to release themselves from hell's grasp.
But to the man strolling through, vanquishing embers under his feet with every step he took, the sight had been witnessed a thousand times before. The figure with white skin and red tattoos sauntered his way through the Netherrealm landscape without a hint of regard to the scenery around him.
He came to a pause in the middle of the path. Smiling, he raised a hand to summon a portal. As one formed in front of him, a swirling mass of purple energy that hissed and crackled at the edges began to grow. The bodies in the pillars robotically stretched out and tried to reach for the only visible exit, completely immune to the realization that their attempts were in vain.
Quan Chi waited for the portal to safely finish forming before walking through. Within seconds he found himself in the old emperor's throne room, which was empty and had been so ever since news of Shao Kahn's defeat. Without Kahn, Sindel, or Shang Tsung to keep them in line, many of the palace servants had made a break for it, fleeing to their old homes. From what Quan Chi had understood, Mileena was the last person who was meant to hold control, but she was prone to frequent vanishing spells that lasted for days at a time. Rumors circulating around what was left of the imperial staff hinted that she spent much of this time "strategizing" with Baraka. Whatever the case, Quan Chi paid it little mind. He had much more pressing matters on his hands.
And they would be coming to fruition right about... now.
A large, disembodied image of a head began to materialize from thin air. Quan Chi smirked as he recognized his red-haired partner with whom this meeting had been arranged.
"I assume all is well, Quan Chi?" Shinnok inquired politely, though not without an ever-present, mocking undertone.
Quan Chi continued to smile knowingly, respectfully bowing before the fallen Elder god before continuing.
"Even better than we could have ever hoped to imagine, my lord," Chi responded. "Your prophecy about the Thunder God has indeed come true."
With that, Shinnok looked down approvingly at his cohort. "Of course it has," he bellowed in a self-important manner. "For once, it seems the Elder gods have done something right. You do, however, know what this means, Quan Chi?"
Bowing his head again in deference, Chi responded with another grin.
"Which reminds me, my liege," he added, taking off the artifact which hung on his belt and holding it up for Shinnok to view. "I have brought what you have requested."
Seeing his amulet for the first time in many years, a wicked glint appeared in Shinnok's eye. He gave another menacing grin and nodded in approval.
"Well done, Quan Chi," he replied. "I trust that you will keep it safe until we can make good use of it."
Pausing, Quan Chi gave his superior an odd look.
"That was actually what I came here to discuss, Lord Shinnok," he answered, almost a bit uneasily. Shinnok, not a fan of anything that could throw a monkey wrench into his carefully devised plan, raised an eyebrow threateningly. Quan Chi rushed to explain.
"With all the preparations I myself will be making to carry out your plan, perhaps I am not the one best suited to keep an eye on your amulet for the time being."
Shinnok continued to look at him impatiently. Quan Chi knew he was hoping he had not made a mistake in trusting the sorceror and was already contemplating a replacement. Knowing this, he continued to explain himself.
"Instead, I have an accomplice that would be willing to guard your amulet. He would protect it with his life."
"Have you betrayed our plan to this man, Quan Chi?" Shinnok barked angrily, expecting clarification.
Immediately realizing he had used the wrong words, Quan Chi scrambled to correct himself.
"Of course not!" he denied quickly. "No one has any knowledge of this but us two. I am just saying that there is someone with whom I have worked out a bargain in order to gain his cooperation. He knows not of what would be carried out, but he is willing to work with us for his own benefit."
With this Shinnok seemed to rethink his doubts.
"Who is it?" he demanded.
Faithful that he had regained his partner's trust, Quan Chi put his finger to his lips and let out an ear-piercing whistle that rang through the empty palace halls.
"Reptile!"
Within moments a distortion in the air at the doors to the throne room materialized into the familiar lizard-like warrior. He walked over to where Quan Chi was standing, hissing but kneeling in anticipation for his assignment.
"Are you ready for your first task?" Quan Chi asked. The reptilian ninja nodded wordlessly.
"Keep this," Quan Chi instructed, handing him the amulet. As his companion inspected the shiny artifact, Quan Chi continued.
"I trust that you will keep it in safe hands."
Still a bit distracted by the appearance of the jewel (as most Zaterrans tended to be; polished, glimmering objects had that sort of effect on them), Reptile snapped his head up after acknowledging he had been addressed and bowed as a sign that he understood his objective.
"Very well, then," Quan Chi stated, satisfied. "You are free to go."
Reptile nodded one more time and vanished with a hiss.
Quan Chi turned around to face Shinnok once again, glad to see that his friend was obviously pleased with his foresight.
"I commend you, Quan Chi," Shinnok said. "I have not given you as much credit as you deserve."
"All in due time, my lord," Quan Chi retorted, bowing.
Giving one last look of approval, the vision of Shinnok's floating head dissipated from the throne room, leaving Quan Chi to his own devices.
As soon as Shinnok vanished, the sorcered sneered calculatingly. Luckily, Shinnok had been oblivious to the fact that the amulet he so treasured had not truly left the room with Reptile.
Quan Chi patted the pocket on hip assuringly as he turned to make his exit from the throne room.