Another bright and sunny morning, the smell of fresh fruit and flowers, and many, many voices, fill the marketplace. Days earlier, I had met the great Kung Lao and his friends, but we were more of acquaintances than friends at the time. I found it fairly hard to trust people, especially when, in that day and age, trusting someone usually led to a knife in the back. I was unaware of it, but the assassin, Mika, was keeping a close eye on me ever since I first arrived in the marketplace. I wander the area, asking people for directions to any mine they know of. I had been looking for some cobalt, if even just a little. Something to take back home for study, for it was a mineral not found in the area I live, and many of my people were curious of it. After spending many hours of searching, I eventually call it a night, climbing up a tree just outside of town, and lying down on the highest branch, relaxing.
Despite there being Inns, I still keep to the trees, out of an obvious habit. Falling asleep under the stars, relaxing, in the summer coolness of the night, fireflies and crickets flying around. Breathing a sigh of relief, I slip into a deep, relaxing sleep, something that I haven't had in years. I suppose I was feeling safer, with a belief that Raiden watches over everyone in the area.
Mika, her job done, returns back to Quan-Chi's fortress, to give her report to him. She approaches him as he sits on his throne, weak light filling the room from the windows and torches in the room. "Sir, I come with the report, of the newcomer." Mika starts, getting Quan-Chis attention, he turns to her, his gaze is enough to urge her to continue. "She seeks cobalt…" She finishes, and his eyes widen slightly in slight surprise. "Cobalt?...Why would a human seek that…Are you sure she is human?..." He questions, rising from his seat, approaching her. "From what I can tell, yes, I didn't witness anything out of the ordinary since I've been watching her." She shivers slightly, as her master draws closer to her. "Good…Keep up your watch, do not reveal yourself…just yet….It will soon be time, to give her a proper welcome…We must keep the cobalt out of peoples reach, it should remain in the mines, where it won't do harm to myself or any of us…Now, leave me be…I have much preparation to do…" She bows and leaves the room quickly, as he turns his attention to his work, his plans, plotting silently. Mika walks over to her companions, Sciann and Sora. A red haired female and the other black, respectively. "Well, we have our orders…locate, capture, simple…The sooner the better…" They nod in agreement, and venture out into the forest where I was sleeping. The moment they were in proximity, I knew they were there, they weren't exactly subtle either. I knew they were there, but did nothing to stop them or retreat, being too tired to even move let alone run. When they reach my tree, it is Mika who climbs up and gets me, holding me over her shoulders while I sleep. They argue a bit, which irritates me. "Who cares if she knows of cobalt, or if she attains any?" Sora complains slightly, thinking of the mission as ridiculous and redundant. "Because, it's our orders…I don't particularly care, but we can't afford to go back to the Netherealm, and you know that.." Mika says with a low growl. After that, they fall silent, and I once again drift off into a deep sleep, with Mika holding me.
I slowly awoke, in a dark room, chains hang on the walls, and bones of past victims sprawl on the floors near the walls. I find myself in shackles attached to the wall, with very short chains, securing my place to said wall. Nothing much more to the room, a few torchs on the walls is my only light source, and a small bowl of fresh water at my feet. I drink it down quickly, the coldness helping me wake up faster. "Well….it looks as if all I have to do is wait…I don't have the strength to bust these shackles…yet.." With that, I stand against the wall, awaiting my captor to reveal himself. An hour later, he finally appears to me, glaring slightly. I look at him, locking eyes with him. "...Can I help you?..." I ask, slightly absent-minded. "Maybe you can, there is talk of you asking around for cobalt...now, ill only ask once, why are you after it..." He asks/states, I sigh slightly. "Because that ore isnt found where I come from, I am on a small quest to find a deposit and bring it back for examination and tests.." His gaze relaxes, but only slightly.
"Maybe I can use you after all..." He smirks slightly at me, his tone sends shivers down my spine.