Chapter 3: Betrayed
The next day Ermac was summoned into the throne room. Onaga sat atop his throne with Reiko standing nearby.
"Ermac." Onaga quickly addressed him as he came." It is good you have come."
"You have summoned us Master." Said Ermac." What's happened?" Onaga marched over, took Ermac under his arm and walked him over. Reiko watching silently the whole time.
" We have discovered something." told Onaga. He brought Ermac over to a table that had a map laid out on it." A new realm to conquer." Ermac stood on the opposite of the table while Onaga stood on the others." It is called Hueco Muendo." Ermac looked down at the map of the known area.
"When was it discovered?" asked Ermac. He had now gone into warrior mode, whatever or whoever was in this place he would soon be dispatched to conquer it for his emperor.
"Only recently." Told Onaga." But we know very little of it. That is why I have called you here." Ermac cocked his head up and looked at his master.
"What is it you would have your General do?" he asked.
"Go to this world." Told Onaga." And scout it out. Learn of its people, it's landscape anything you think necessary."
"What if we come under threat?"
"Engage them if you must, but avoid it at any cost. This world is filled with strange people, the likes of which you've never seen before." Ermac was silent for a moment.
"We will do what you command." He said." For we live to serve you."
"I know you will not fail me." Said Onaga resting his hands on Ermac's shoulders." Now go and prepare yourself, I will have your team waiting at the palace gates in half an hour."
"Yes Emperor." Said Ermac. Then he turned and left, going to prepare himself for the mission. Onaga watched him go and then after he departed turned to Reiko.
"You know what needs to be done." He said in a grim voice. Reiko nodded and left. This was the last option. With Quan Chi unable to be reached Onaga would have to wash his hands of Ermac. He couldn't do it himself he was the Emperor and had people for that. His Scouts had already checked out Hueco Muendo and determined it was uninhabited for it was covered it nothing but sand. That would make it a perfect place for what needed to be done.
Ermac wasted no time in preparing himself. Since it was a scouting mission he wouldn't need his armor, but he imagine he'd need his horse for easy travel. So mounted on his black horse Ermac rode to the palace gates where Reiko, Tanya, and Li Mei waited on their own horses each with their own supplies and weapons.
"You are to come with us?" asked Ermac as he rode up and stopped before them.
"Yes." Said Reiko with a nod of his head." We're coming to make sure you don't hurt yourself."
"I'll watch your back." Said Li Mei as she came to Ermac's right.
"I'll watch your front." Added Tanya from his left. Ermac said nothing but gave his horse and kick, forcing him to go forward.
"We'd best get moving." He said and led the way out of the palace. The three prepared to follow but then a voice called out to them.
"Wait!" they all turned around to see Onaga coming towards them, several servants following behind him.
"My Lord." Said Ermac turning to him and dismounting his horse." What is it?"
"Before you go." Said Onaga." I something to give you Ermac, a small parting gift."
"For us?" questioned Ermac." I am honored my lord." Onaga snapped his fingers and the servants came down and knelt down next to him. In their hands was a sword. Onaga grabbed the weapon and turned it to Ermac.
Ermac gazed down at the blade, shining brightly in the light. Onaga turned the blade's hilt towards one point in his life Ermac did not believe in using weapons for he found anything other than unharmed combat dishonorable but this new Ermac had no honor. Ermac pawed his hand around it, then gripped hard. With a great pull he removed the sword from its sheath and held it high in the air.
"It is truly a beautiful blade." Said Ermac admiring the craft." Where was it forged?" Onaga glanced over Ermac. The sword was made for the previous ruler of Outworld thought Ermac didn't need to know that.
"For your own hand." He replied. It wasn't that big of a lie. Ermac gazed upon the blade and admired it some more. But then he stopped and held it before his master.
"It is a wondrous gift." He said as he dropped to one knee." But we would be most grateful if you would bless it for us, Emperor." He bowed his head and held the sword up towards his master. Onaga cocked his head over to Reiko and the others, then he turned back to Ermac with a smirk.
"No blessing will be needed." He said putting his hand over Ermac's head." For I know no ill fortune will befall you." Ermac rose back up to his feet." Go now, go about your business."
"Yes majesty." Said Ermac." And we will slay all who would stand against you with this very blade." He held the blade high and then sheathed it by his side. Onaga just smirked at him once again.
"Yes." He said." Let's hope it does." Then he walked off followed by his servants, but not before he cast a nod at Reiko.
Ermac then mounted his horse and led the way out of the palace. His three comrades quickly gave chase after him. The three rode up and caught up with Ermac. Reiko rode alongside him, for he had the means of traveling to the other dimension. He pulled an medallion from his pocket and pointed it forward. Then a fireball shot out from it opened a portal before the four. Ermac gave his horse another kick and moved it forward through the portal followed by Reiko then Li Mei and Tanya.
Onaga stood from atop the balcony of his palace and could see the portal open and then close.
"Goodbye Ermac." He said with a malicious grin. That meeting he just had with Ermac would be the last.
Meanwhile the scouting party and passed through the portal and ended up in Hueco Muendo. Ermac was taken back. When it left Outworld it was humid and the skies were clear but when he entered Hueco Muendo it was cold and the sand quickly kicked up and hit him in the face.
Ermac put up his hand in defense, his party doing the same.
"What'll we do now?" asked Reiko as he rode up next to him. Ermac tried to scan the area around him but couldn't see more than twenty feet.
"We'll ride ahead." He replied." Try to find some high ground." Then Ermac led the way while the others followed but the environment was harsh. The sand storms would pick up and then just as quickly die down. On top of that the temperature began to drop. The cold didn't bother Ermac but it bothered his companions, so they settled down and rested.
A fire was started and the four huddled around it.
Ermac held the sword that Onaga had given him, he twirled it over in his hand as he admired the blade again and again. Tanya and Li Mei would look at Ermac and then to Reiko, who sat back with an angered look on his face as he watched Ermac.
"Well." Said Tanya as she huddled up under a blanket by the fire." What'll we do now?" Ermac took his attention off the sword as he pushed it back into its sheath, making a clicking sound.
"We'll camp out for the night." He told." A begin our search in the morning. We recommend getting some sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us." With that Ermac rolled over and prepared to sleep. Reiko gave into Ermac's demands and kicked sand over the fire, putting it out.
Ermac fell into a deep sleep but once again he was haunted by nightmares. The visions of the battle and the other ninja who died in all were all vividly the same. They cried out his name with their last breaths until they died bloody deaths.
He was awoken form his sleep violently, jolting up and kicking his arms and legs around. Once he remembered he was in the dessert in Hueco Muendo he slowly began to control himself.
"Same dream over and over again." He panted with his hand to his face." Why now?" He picked his head up and his bright green eyes shined in the night.
Since he was a being of super human abilities he could see very well in the dark. And he would make out Reiko, Tanya, and Li Mei standing over him.
"What is it?" he asked them. Just then Reiko lunged forward and kicked Ermac in the stomach, sending him rolling through the sand. Ermac groaned as he sat up and Reiko knelt down to pick something up. He grabbed Ermac's sword and held it in his hand.
"What are you doing?" asked Ermac confused s he rose to his feet.
"Tying up a lose end." Said Reiko drawing the sword from it's sheath. Li Mei and Tanya stepped up preparing themselves. Ermac glanced around and observed them noticing the look of malice on their faces.
"When Onaga learns of this." Said Ermac in a growl." He will take your head!"
"When he learns?" replied Reiko with a chuckle." Fool, he ordered us to do it." Ermac lowered his head to the ground as he considered the situation over. Whatever was happening he knew one thing was clear, he'd been betrayed. He didn't know why but it was happening." Kill him." Ordered Reiko. Then with that Tanya and Li Mei flung themselves at Ermac.
But Ermac was quick and when they both came at him, he quickly jumped back and avoided their attack. But when he jumped back he saw Reiko hand jumped into the air and was coming down at him, bearing his sword.
He came down and swung the sword, Ermac only narrowly managing to dodge it. The sword slashed him across his ride side, mostly cutting up his cloths but it did make contact with the skin.
Reiko bared the blood-tipped sword and prepared for another strike. But Ermac who was already down low swept across the ground, knocking Reiko off his legs and onto his back.
Ermac rose up to his full height and only now did he realize the wound which Reiko had given him. The sword had cut along his right side, not deep enough for anything fatal but it was a problem when he moved around.
And before he knew it Ermac was set upon by Li Mei again. She came down in the air and stabbed her knife at Ermac. When she made contact on him she managed to falter Ermac, but he stood tall and caught her wrist before she could stab him. Then he turned and through her away.
Ermac looked straight ahead of himself and saw his horse several paces in the distance. He would have to escape. Now Ermac never liked the idea of retreating but in this case he couldn't surrender or forfeit his life. Not only that but up until now he only ever fought for the glory of Onaga and he'd seen how that turned out.
Ermac prepared to dash forward, ready to run to his horse. But then Tanya appeared blocking his way. However she was a small obstacle and with one swing form his fist Ermac sent her falling back and out of his way. Then in another bound he jumped forward and onto his horse.
Grabbing the reins in his hands and took off on his horse. But his pursuers were persistent.
"Get him!" yelled Reiko. Li Mei drew from her pouch an assortment of needles. With fast swings she sent the needles through the air and towards Ermac. He was already a good distance away but the needles caught up with him.
They flew through the air and struck his horse in several different spots on the neck. The animal gasped for breath as it swayed back and forth until ultimately it fell onto the ground.
Reiko, Li Mei and Tanya saw this and quickly moved in for the kill. Ermac crawled out from under his horse and sat next to it. He didn't know why his beast had become so delirious but upon observing it he saw why.
Several long and thick needles had been driven into the horse's neck, it's blood spilling out of its neck and onto the sand. Ermac felt his heart sink, the only thing he'd ever cared about the only thing that understood him was now gone.
He picked up his head and saw his three attackers close in on him. An endless rage filled Ermac's stomach and his heart became heavy as he began to rise to his feet. While the events leading up to now had all been a mystery he knew one thing. If he was going to leave the world tonight he'd be bringing company to hell with him.
Ermac rose up to his full height and prepared to fight. But as he did a sharp pain shot up his body. He fell to one knee and looked to the origin of the pain, the wound in his side. Ermac looked forward and saw his former allies still approaching.
He thought then and there that It would be best to live and fight another day, so that maybe he could learn the cause of these incidents. So Ermac took a cloak form his horse's saddle, turned and ran off.
He ran but he knew they were still following him. He could hear their feet hitting the ground, their panted breaths, the hatred in their eyes following him. So Ermac ran, he ran and he dared not look back.
But then suddenly as he was running his foot caught on something and he was sent down onto his face. He slid onto the ground rolling over and over as he went down a hill. Long he fell until finally it stopped and he landed face first on hard earth.
Ermac slowly propped himself up to see he had fallen several dozen feet down. Looking up at the ledge above him he saw Reiko, Li Mei and Tanya pass him right by.
So without a moment to lose Ermac got to his feet and despite the pain he kept moving, for the fear of being caught and killed drove him. So he ran, he ran until he lost his breath till he nearly collapsed from exhaustion, until he knew his enemies were far behind him.