Love & War 4
Chapter 17: Cold Nights Pt. 1
Chris, Sonya and the others found Mavado's body, with a bullet in his head and what's left of his manhood.
"My girl did this?" asked Johnny.
"Thatta girl. She's still alive."
Chris investigated Mavado's body. He then found two guns on the ground. A Beretta 90Two and the Intervention rifle. The 90Two belonged to Melody.
"No..."
"What's wrong, Chris?"
"Not only Cassie and Jacqui were taken away, but Melody as well."
"Who's Melody?"
"My adoptive daughter. I thought I explained to you about her."
"You think Kano took her as well?"
Chris started breathing hard. His legs were shaking.
"We have to find them," said Jade. "If that bastard murders all three of them..."
Chris fell on all fours. It seems Kano has done it again. "Melody is too green for this."
"Red Dragons... there were too many," said Erron Black, apparently beaten within a inch of his life.
"Where are they? If my daughter..."
"...they took the girls to pass on a message."
"What message?"
"You've been invited."
On Shang Tsung's Island...
"Shang Tsung is dead. Who's on this island?"
"Reiko is hosted there by his spiritual advisor, an ancient cleric named... Havik!"
"Please enjoy your meals we've prepared. It may be your last!"
Meanwhile, after returning to Outworld, Tanya continued her travels. She was worried however that Melody could eventually run into Kano. She found Chris and the gang, already in grief that his daughter was captured.
"Chris."
"Tanya!"
"What's going on here?"
Chris showed her Melody's weapons. Her heart immediately dropped.
"Don't tell me..."
"I'm afraid so, Tanya. Our girls were captured along with her. We need to find them."
Tanya thought of a person to speak to, although this would go against her principles of her mission to free Edenia and stop her evil twin. But she decided to put her journey on hold for now.
Z'unkahrah, Outworld...
"I only meant to... serve you," Erron Black said shamefully. "I beg your mercy."
"Crushing you skull would be mercy, Erron," said Kotal. "Considering your misguided servicenearly provoked another war we cannot afford! How are we to repair this offense against Earthrealm?"
"You can start by offering us a safe passage to Shang Tsung's Island," said Tanya.
"And then we pray we find the girls alive and well... if not..."
"Pull yourself together, Sonya," said Johnny.
"Fuck off!"
"Real mature, Colonel."
"Cage, if you took even the smallest amount of responsibility..."
"Enough! D'Vorah, Reptile, take Erron to the dungeon. Before you Earthrealmers arrived, Reiko and Goro had butchered my people... to spite me. My brother, my family... I am all that is left of the once proud Osh-Tekk."
"I'm sorry for your loss," said Chris. "But that means you know we'll do whatever it takes to bring our family home."
"I know all too well. And Reiko will pay for his crimes."
"What's the catch?" asked Sonya.
"My swiftest ship will take you to Shang Tsung's island with a battlion of warriors. We will save your family. We must survive the coming dawn. You see... after Goro slaughtered my people, I defeated him, but I refused to honor him an noble death. The Shokan are a proud race. I expected King Gorbak, Goro's father, to reject him. Blinded by my vengeance, I overlooked a simple truth, that all fathers love their sons."
In a subterranean kingdom known as Kuatan, an armless Goro kneels before King Gorbak, his father.
"Rise, Goro," said Gorbak. Tears were falling from Goro's eyes.
"Kill me. I am not worthy to be your heir."
"Silence. You are my son. What Kotal Kahn took from you, he also took from me. TheShoakn people have suffered the indignity of of imperial rule long enough. Let us act quickly, while the Osh-Tekk emperor's strength is compromised. Tonight...the Shokan march for Z'unkahrah!"
Aw, shit!