Con't VI: Darkness Brewing

In Liu's Tomb, Kenshi and his team emerged from the blindman's portal. Unfortunately, neither warrior knew the location of the last relic, the Temple of Elements. Liu suggested to kontact either Kuai or Hanzo since they were the ninjas who sealed Shinnok's Amulet away. Astonished of the former wraith's fate, Kenshi immediately sent a radio signal to whomever would reach it first.

Hanzo carried the unconscious Kung Lao over his back, out from the Nexus, and into the portal leading to Earthrealm; he figured it was the only safe haven he could be in aside from Outworld where Onaga and his legions ran amok, or even the neighboring realm, Edenia. The Netherrealm was obviously out of the picture, as was the Chaosrealm, even the opposing Orderrealm and Hanzo wasn't konfident on recruiting Hotaru who greatly warred against the kleric, Havik.

Aiko received a sensation, as if she felt something, then a pang in her chest with a few palpitations. She then gazed into the heart gem which ignited in brightness and warmth, while Kenshi sensed Hanzo's essence telepathically, startled that he was still alive! The OIA agent punched around his wristband, and it gave a digital sound.

Hanzo received a signal on his wristband, even muffled words from a voice of a familiar ally ringing in his mind... "Agh-Kenshi! Is that you?"

"Hanzo! Heh, you're alive."

"Yeah. The Elder Gods gave me a second chance to fight. But I was unsuccessful. I was stranded in Outworld, until I found Kung Lao. We were tasked in looking for the realms' Champions to stop Onaga; we believe the Kamidogu are his power source when together."

"I see. Aiko sensed something's wrong, how is Lao?"

"He's unconscious."

"What happened? Did Onaga attack?" Liu added.

"Fortunately, no. We went into the Chaosrealm and found Havik; I doubt Hotaru would be of some assistance. We've yet to find the representative of Edenia." His face filled with dread. "However...with Shao Kahn reigning over it... Kenshi! Kenshi, do you read me? Kenshi!"

The humanized soul noticed the radio signal went dead, as did his receiver. "Hanzo! I lost kontact! Hanzo, kan you hear me!?" Kenshi sighed in disdain, "We lost the signal! Damn! The Special Forces! Johnny, Sonya and Jax must've disabled our devices. Unless... Aiko, I'll need your heart gem." She obliged, and the OIA agent spoke to Hanzo via Kung Lao's own jewel as an alternative route!

Following the weak, though distressed voice, Hanzo responded, "I read you."

"Sonya and the others must have cut off our transmission; I doubt my telepathy can carry over to you for long."

"I still don't know who Edenia's Champion should be."

Sindel was muttering amongst Kitana and Jade, who all shared the same uncertainty. Thinking there was no Champion representing Edenia, on account since the realm lost ten victories from Outworld, thus Kahn's konquest for 10,000 years, it wasn't possible... Kitana and Sindel summarized they won't be eligible to use its Kamidogu, especially since it was merged with Outworld for too long a time...

King Jerrod broke the cloud of tension hanging over everyone as he offered for himself to become its Champion! He might still have the former's essence kollected by Shao Kahn!

"Better to bend the rules to save all realms." Hanzo spoke with a relieved grin.

Liu Kang stated. "Those petty Elder Gods never kared when Earthrealm was invaded by Kahn, nor when I died! Nor of Aiko's dystopian future! Master Raiden and Fujin both abandoned their positions, even when Shinnok attacked! And when I lost my life too... I may be Champion, but if I were to override the rules for those I protect, then so be it!"

Before there'd be a quarrel against the higher-ups, Sindel asked her husband to see if Ermac would find the identity of the past Champion of Edenia. The onlookers, even the knights, could've sworn it was as if the kollector's body was receiving mixed signals as it echoed transmissions from the thousands of dormant souls...

About a minute later, his vessel silenced as he opened his eyes, were churned into a brighter dirty gold, even his skin rippled. "I think I found him, my beloved...! With this...I shall reunite with Hanzo and Kung Lao."

Sindel and Kitana grew worried for his safety while they pleaded him to be careful as they embraced him tightly and to never lose him again... Liu was more optimistic that as a kollection of souls thus housing some of the best dead warriors, he'll have the upper hand; many souls were better than one, he said. "After all, I did possess Kung Lao's body against the Deadly Alliance and won!"

With a quick nod, Ermac offered him a fast ride to Kung Lao's and Hanzo's location near the ancient portal which was kloseby. Although...Liu offered to make a quick pitstop first... He pointed toward the domed roof belonging to the Temple of Light.

A bald monk in blood red garb was kneeling and praying within an opaque chamber. The rows of candles began to flicker, as if there was a rush of air. Yet still, he was deep in his mantra with his head bowed.

"Grandfather..."

The whisper of his voice brought him out of his reverie.

"Liu Kang...!"

He rose a hand and assured he wasn't a hallucination, but rather he was real! Despite the stupe, Liu asked who Shujinko and Damashi were. "I must know who they are. Shujinko was just a boy before I was even born. I'm certain you know him."

"Shujinko..? I haven't heard that name in decades."

The frail monk stated he met Shujinko ever since he was a tween, always helping the townsfolk with many odd jobs, and often training himself to be the next Champion. He was always so full of himself, like a local celebrity, even though most people were merely taking advantage of him. Until one fateful day when he suddenly left the village and never returned...

"Grandfather, who is Damashi? Do you...know anyone by that name?"

He hesitated, then sulked. "No, I'm afraid not..." Before Liu had the chance to object, he spoke again, "Damashi...is rather...a Japanese word."

He paused for a moment, "...For what?"

The elder raised his head, "It means...Deception, Liu."

The spirit's eyes grew as wide as the setting sun! "Deception...? As in..." He immediately whizzed over the dumbfounded monk's bald head. He implored where he was heading! "I must meet up with Kung Lao and Hanzo! They need to know the truth!"

Liu Kang hollered for Ermac to take them to the ancient gateway! They left in the speed of light!

"Kuai and I arrived at the Temple of Elements via portal, konjured by Raiden. If I'm korrect, it shall be further north. They say it's hard to find, but it should be massive and elaborate enough to stick out like a sore thumb." Hanzo spoke to Lao's heart gem.

The lime-green field materialized beside Hanzo and Lao, with the latter still unresponsive.

Liu asked what was going on, and Hanzo explained Lao became delusional as they were investigating the Chaosrealm; in which Jerrod remembered venturing in once. The man formerly known as Scorpion also stated it wasn't possible to recruit Hotaru as he may work for Onaga; they kould just be fanatical as the kleric but in the ways of strict order.

"Right... Unless perhaps we can find Shujinko, then maybe there's a chance. But Brother..."

Liu offered his spirit to revive Kung Lao, while also piecing together his mind like a jigsaw puzzle. He reminded Hanzo on merging their minds in some meditation sequences prior to Onaga's resurrection. And so, his spirit faded as he entered into Lao's unconscious vessel.

Momentarily, groans were heard even moaning Liu's name. Hanzo and Jerrod watched over him, even when he came to. The blue sky was a welcoming sight, even when it was nearly obscured by the Shirai Ryu's face. "Looks like you're coming around, welcome back, Kung Lao." He assured the former monk they're back at home, in Earthrealm. Relieved, Lao rose slowly...

Seeing his kompanion's translucent, lime soul, he kouldn't help but give a small smile, "Liu Kang... I heard and followed your voice in the dark. You've led me into the light from that void... Thank you, brother."

"Now's not the time for a reunion. Have you found all the Champions yet?"

"We need the victor from Edenia, but...I cannot tell who it should be since Kahn won over the realm for so damn long."

"We...already found him." Liu's essence pointed back to the distinguishable figure.

Lao was paralyzed with disbelief! "Ermac?" His body was a bit numb, but he managed to grab for his lethal hat!

"Wait! He's King Jerrod of Edenia! He's on our side; Kenshi diced Kahn's thrall over him." The stranger never flinched, just shown the back yaz symbol as proof. "With his legion still intact, he kan help us deal with Onaga, by impersonating Edenia's lost Champion!"

"Yes," Hanzo nodded. "However, we still must find Shujinko."

"Hanzo...he's too frail to fight." Lao added.

The ninja sighed, "Better him than no one..."

"Kan you sense his soul, Your Majesty?" Liu jested.

"I kan try." He focused his energy, detecting the weak spirit of the wanderer. "Indeed, he is in his elderly state." A blurred vision entered his mind as he saw a hunched old man konsisting of white hair and a long, olive robe. He pointed towards the northeast.

"Alright, let's go. Are you strong enough to proceed, Lao?"

"I think I should be ok. Head is klearing, body's steadier." He stood up after Liu's koncerned words.

"Hurry, I feel the septuagenarian's soul fading quickly! There seems to be another, more omnipotent, intermingling with his; Interference, intense ferocity."

"Then we've no time to lose!" Hanzo urged. The team dissipated, just moments before streaks of red lightning licked the sudden darkened sky with a large grey-tan cloud overhead!

On their way trekking to the Temple of Elements, the group was stunned by a whoosh of wind! A funnel appeared before them just a few feet away!

Sindel urged everyone to evacuate, yet Kenshi raised an arm. His sword illuminated in a turquoise hue, and he picked up a male passing thru it!

"It's Fujin!" He declared.

Aiko cheered the elemental's name as her heart raced for hers and Lao's klose mentor! She ran toward the decimating whirlwind.

The Kombatants raced toward the Wind elemental who seemed to have a refugee in tow.

"Fujin! Boy are we glad to see you!" The cardiokinetic chorused.

"Yes, indeed it is a pleasure to meet up with you too, little one."

"Fujin... What of your brother?" Kenshi queried. "I sensed suspicious activity from Outworld, enough to disturb me as I was mourning for Hanzo."

The ancient sulked, "I'm afraid Raiden has taken a turn for the worst. Ever since he sacrificed himself to save the lot of us from Onaga... He's been almost a vegetable in the Jinsei Chamber. I watched over him, until I'd no choice but to abandon my post, to assist Hanzo and Kung Lao, as she was defecting from Outworld." He shown them the stranger. "This is Li Mei. She's a young soul of Sun Do whom I helped to seek asylum."

"That's Johnny!"

Aiko gasped while everyone muttered in disbelief, seeing the fallen undead lying beside the escapees!

"I had never dealt with Revenants before! I believe he's still enslaved by Onaga's corruption indefinitely after Kung Lao stopped him, unless if the Dragon shall be slain. Sonya and Jax are still bound to him too."

The Edenians glanced over at Kitana, who had no answers. "I... I kan't be sure how to restore him."

"I fear the Jinsei would be infected upon Johnny's dark soul, and him being recuperated would resume his blind loyalty. If we'd not find a solution, he may have to be..."

"He should be kontained at least. If he seems too resistant to reason." Kenshi suggested.

"We're on our way to the Temple of Elements. I'm sure we should take him there, for now at least." Sindel lamented; even she was klueless on dealing with another suffering from her resurrection and servitude to a great evil.

"I am certain Onaga shall be hunting for the last relic, at the Temple."

"Yes. However, we aren't certain where it is, ever since Hanzo and Kuai arrived there by portal."

"I will teleport all of you there in a millisecond, Kenshi. This sacred fortress was built by my brother, and I and a few of Earth's Guardians fell to Bi-Han." He was still dumbfounded about that incident being bested by a mere mortal...

"Whew, thank goodness..." Aiko perspired, relieved never to traverse thru a mountain range, nor wandering aimlessly in search of the place.

With a wry smile, Fujin ordered everyone to hold on tight, before he lifted the heroes off their feet!

As time passed, Aiko was discussing her relationship with Kung Lao to Li Mei, who seemed rather intrigued. The Outworlder saw the crimson heart gem in her possession, which was the same one Lao presented her as she was tending him, symbolizing their love. Aiko mentioned it'd be used as a power source and kommunicator, and if enough life energy was emanated, she'd make another individual give her and the recipient strength both physically and mentally. She assured there's still so much to learn of her powers.

"I never encountered Outworlders with that kind of skill. Hmm, I believe the stronger the bond is to the person, the more energy is given." Li Mei stated in wonder. "It seems you have a deep konnection with Kung Lao. I was about to feel the same, until he mentioned his heart belonged to someone else; apparently, it was you.

"Have you known him long?"

"Over a few years now...! He was the one who shown me the Shaolin and assured the Chinese aren't a bunch of war machines, nor labor slaves... And his nephew, Kung Jin, is a joy to be around. ...But...I doubt that the White Lotus would welcome otherworlders..."

"Hm, I see. My village seems to share some kustoms of Earthrealm, even when I trained under Master Bo' Rai Cho; he'd talk about the Champion, their rice wine, and even his disciples, including Lao, a lot."

"That's a relief, if Bo' doesn't become drunk. Unlike when I first met him...!" She became irritable as she recalled meeting the big oaf intoxicated and even harmful to her, all because he failed to save the Sun Do being enslaved by the Deadly Alliance...

"He saved my life, and I was on my way to Edenia when I heard my survivors were evacuating, when Onaga was resurrected... Until I found him and Hanzo." Her mind then shifted. "I heard...Bo' lost his soul as he was helping Kung Lao, and before that, he made peace with the Shokan, even the vicious Goro... And he slaughtered the Deadly Alliance. He truly is a hero of his realm."

Aiko smiled widely as her eyes lit up; it was about time he was able to inspire another realm and increase his self-worth.

"Yes...he certainly is..!" She zoned out for a moment, until she took out her heart gem, which still had its crimson luster. "Liu Kang is also our realm's greatest hero too, even though he's a spirit. I kan see why you love Kung Lao so much...

"No-I mean, I-I'm sorry."

Li Mei just waved the statement away like a fly, "Not at all, dear. You should be happy he has been attracted to you. And that heart jewel is proof."

All a sudden they heard distant roars and grunts emanating from somewhere inside the Temple. The duo of women followed the uneasiness, to a nearby pit which looked to be about twelve feet deep!

An ambush ensued, as the thralled Johnny was resisting the Edenian knights. They carried and tossed him into the ditch below!

"That should hold you!" One of them retorted to the traitor.

The monstrous slab began to descend from above, making the guards panic! Kenshi immediately halted with while encasing it in that turquoise hue.

"It's a relief we got a telekinetic in our ranks!"

"If he should try anything, we should krush his guts and make this his tomb!" Another man barked!

Kenshi began to share the Edenians' disgust, thinking to do the same! "Wait! I shall take this...!" Thru his skills, he was able to detach and lift up Johnny's hi-tech gizmo, even his own wristband. "He'll never kontact his infected associates without these...!"

"How do you know all this?"

"I happen to be a part of the Special Forces, more specifically, the Outworlder Investigation Agency, established by the infested Jax...!" He grunted in disapproval.

Aiko and Li Mei looked into the pit, with the former aggravated seeing one of her allies in a sorry and resentful state! Although Cage was stunned, she won't hesitate to beat whatever's left living in him! Kenshi put a strong hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of her anger. "I know what you're thinking, Aiko. But we must stay alert and patrol the Temple of Elements; it's most likely he passed on the intel to his troops before he was captured-and maybe the Wu Shi Academy too...!

"I kan sense something amiss near Liu Kang's Tomb. I'll konjure a portal there. And..." He looked up. "That heavy thundercloud. It wasn't there before." Aiko nodded, relieved she won't have to deal with that undead and holier-than-thou trigger! Kenshi passed the news to the Edenians, to guard over that "immense darkness" the blindman's been feeling... Much as the unsettling activity in Outworld, or like restless leg syndrome. It certainly was tugging Kenshi's nerves...

Knowing of Aiko's stressors, the Elder Gods knew where Onaga and his numerous followers were, Sindel assured her of her deja vu to her ruined future of enslaved revenants, before she and Kenshi went back to the Academy...

"Aiko? ...Even if you feel the realm would turn against you... Know that I'll always remain by your side. ...Remember that." She responded with a smile.

The cardiokinetic beamed as she nodded, and the duo made it to their destination, but when Aiko and Kenshi reached the tomb walls, they received a distress call from their own kineses...

The Wu Shi Academy was under attack!

Kenshi sensed the immense dark aura emanating from a wrecked temple, believing it only to be debris. However, the opaque smoke clouds distracted them and gave them the answer they needed!

A/N: I know a lot of fans would prefer Kung Lao to hook up with either Jade or Li Mei, it really bothers me since it has NEVER been established in the series, just fan speculation and sometimes lust! It's irritating, especially since Aiko loves him a helluva lot more than those harems! So, I settled the score as she was discussing with Li Mei on her own genuine relationship with him; there won't EVER be a threesome either! And... if anyone should be a replacement for Liu Kang, it should be Kung Lao! He's more deserving than the newbie is!

Also, this was where the neat, exotic song, Kawa no nagare no yoo ni (the instrumental) would play when Li Mei komes to terms with Lao and Aiko; I first discovered that tune from the Seiko clock I have, and I'd grown hooked ever since, as a sort of nod to them, maybe an idea by Li Mei.

Honestly...I was lucky to kome up with the idea on Kitana restoring her memories with Jerrod thus breaking her revenant thrall; not sure how to deal with them, other than beating the shit out of them! Especially if there should be no reversal or they just refuse to see the light again! And I figured Ermac taking the identity of the slain Edenian Champion might be a nice solution as to who'd use the Kamidogu; after all, Ermac always konceals his face and eyes so why not take advantage of it like Shang Tsung, as they kan both kontrol souls given by Kahn.

I was kind of getting tired with Konquest too, so I think the next segments may just be flashbacks or something... Same kase with Deadly Alliance really. The ideas were just dragging on for too long, so I'd to split again.

Aside from Kawa no nagare no yoo ni, Sneaking from Code Lyoko shall play here, along with the instrumental version of that Japanese song by Misora Hibari, followed by the Seiko clock I mentioned, Defenders vs. Cyborgs from Defenders of the Realm - Paul Unfaces, and... sometimes Shaolin Monks reminds me of Super Metroid; the tournament victories unlocking the Foundry's similar to the bosses unlocking Tourian, Norfair seemed similar to the Netherrealm, finding abilities were similar, and just the exploration itself much like out of the arena and cockpit in Starfox Adventures. There was a track picked, Chozo Statue Awakens, as Kenshi and Aiko head toward the source of the omnipresence; rest would kome later.

Hopefully, the next part shall be up soon... See you then.