Earthfall
Its been a little over a year since Kotal Kahn had taken the throne of Outworld from the grasp of the twin Empresses, Kitana & Mileena. Outworld is a much different realm now. For better—and for worse.
Kotal's plan never included Seido's presence. He was one who sought a united Outworld. One that could heal from Shao Kahn's influence. One that could now stand on its own. Not one ruled like a prison. The Seidan Guard had operated as Outworld's lawmen since the portals were destroyed. A blessing that were. Seido had come to seige the realm as Mileena's rule was beginning to affect their own realm. But the destruction of the portals put them at a disadvantage, and Kotal believed tempering their fears would be the best temporary solution. Citizens, however, did not agree. The rules became too strict and negotiations were always dismissed. Some are still jailed for crimes Earthrealmers would call misdemeanors.
Chan had been working with the Seidan Guard to find a way to fix the portals. His knowledge of interdimensional travel has helped them make great progress. So far, they've found a way to communicated with other realms without physically being there. However, the guard has restricted communication to Seido only. They still fear the other realms coming to invade the realm or even aid them in overthrowing the guard leading to panic. And panic leading to chaos.
For three days a week, Lui Kang and Kung Lao would train Cassie, Jacqui, Kung Jin, and Takeda in their parents' stead. After the fight against Shao Kahn and the ressurected, they felt it would be important for the kids to learn how to truly harness their chi. The place of choice was the courtyard on Shang Tsung's island. Or atleast, a replica of it. Chan originally believed they could return to Earthrealm if they'd travel to Shang Tsung's Island on Outworld and sail toward Earthrealm as it was the one clear pathway there without the use of the portals. However, there was no way to test the theory without knowing the exact direct they'd need to travel. After this, no one else would go there, making it the safest place to train away from the eyes of the Seidan Guard.
Far off in the distance of Outworld's major town exists the Sarna Ruins where the tomb of the deceased Emperor Onaga resides. Kitana had been exiled to live in the outer areas of Outworld, and this was the place she chose to restrict herself for eternity. Kitana found the ruins to be more than enough for her to survive on the outskirts. Day and day, she'd observe the writings of the Dragon King, deciphering his ancient language with the bit of knowledge she's learned from Quan Chi as well as the books she read as a child in Shao Kahn's Library. One of the lessons she wished to learn was that of his resurrection spell. She'd hoped to one day use it to revive her sister, Mileena. Maybe even find a method for reversing the spell Anomaly used to bring back Lui Kang.
"Anomaly," she questioned to herself as she always did, "how effective are you at using Onaga's heart?" Kitana put away the notes she'd been studying that day and walked outside of the ruins. "Onaga was able to revive dozens of men in a moments notice. Death meant nothing with them. But Anomaly was so keen on killing Sindel. What for?" Kitana continued to ponder on this. A disturbance in the wind caught the exile's attention. Someone was approaching. A Tarkatan of a thinner build than most. Certainly he wasn't there to kill her.
"Empress Kitana," he greeted.
"I am not your empress Outworlder," she responded harshly. The Tarkatan bowed.
"I bring you urgent news from the Shokan." The Shokan, she thought.
"Are they in danger?"
"The opposite, actually," he said gleefully. "Princess Sheeva has spouted."
"What?!" Kitana explained, nearly stumbling to the ground.
"It is true. She'd been seeing a nurse in secret who's been helping her for years. Over the past few days, the nurse had been running many test to ensure that she was indeed spouted. Today was the day it was official," he explained. Kitana placed her hand over her heart and smiled.
"Is it Kintaro's or Goro's?"
"I...do not know," he responded.
"Centuries," Kitana whispered. "She's been waiting centuries for this moment. No one thought it could happen."
"Centuries?" he questioned.
"Oh, you didn't know?"
"Well, I knew of her condition," he muttered looking away.
"Were you eavesdropping on them?" Kitana asked. The tarkatan looked away with a wry smile. Kitana laughed, slapping her legs. She was trying holding it in as tears were beginning to form in her eyes. "I've never seen such a childish act from a Tarkatan before," she commented before wiping the tears away.
"I—I knew she wanted privacy in fear of the Seidan Guardsmen discovering this. Atleast, that's what I...overheard. She wanted to tell you, but the nurse advised her not to leave until the baby was born."
"Who is the nurse?" Kitana asked.
"I don't remember her name," he said, "only that she wasn't native to our realm."
"No women were part of the Seidan Guardsmen and we don't have many nurses specializing in child care these days. Especially not since Shao Kahn's conquest in Edenia. There had only been one new Nurse as far back as I can remember."
"She was not much older than you, Kitana."
"Oh I know," Kitana responded. "She superseded my age by a few hundred years. Omegis I believe. Such a young and beautiful woman. Did you know she was an ex-girlfriend to Shang Tsung?"
"She...was?"
"Shang Tsung was a strange man. He was to take over Earthrealm and once betrayed Outworld all for his immortal lover," Kitana joked. "One day, Shao Kahn himself sent an invitation to her after his many assassins failed to kill her. The only reason she did retaliate was because it was what she desired. Eventually, Shang Tsung learned that her powers could not be given to him because it was a curse placed on her by her his own former master. The one person who could give him what he needed was already burried. The body nor soul exists within the physical realm's reach. And so, I was the one sent to kill her. Mother's Vial and the innocent face of a nine year old girl was all it took to take that immortality away." Kitana's devilish smile startled the Tarkatan. But not as much as the fan she'd just opened in from of him.
"Empress..." His words were cut off—as was his head. Kitana slammed her fingers against the sides of her fan and put it away. The headless body slumped over with its rear pointing to the sky above. Kitana kissed her hand and blew it toward the corpse, and one of the nearby tornados carried it off.
"You were a fool to reveal this to me. You would put the fate of my friend in danger for petty gossip? How dare you!"
Anomaly arrives onto the borders of Japan, much to the surprise of the Armed Forces as they anticipated her . Anomaly Yawns and raises her hands once more. Only this time, she summons a large ring of fire into the air and directs it towards the center of Koto City. The citizens of the town look onto the blazing ring in terror as it descended down onto them.
"Here my truth. You all shall die a swift, painless death," she declared.
Immediately as the ring crashed into the city, a violent shockwave shook the inner sector of the ring. Buildings crashed everywhere and the screams of the citizens was loud enough to muffle the sounds of the crumbling earth, that is until the buildings stopped falling. And as the woman said, they all died a swift and painless death. Anomaly uses the dead to create a new miniature Soulnado. It was not as strong as the one she made in the European front, but it was enough to give her more power in the Eastern front. She opens more portals leading into the port bringing over her army of nine.
"Yet another city already demolished by our slave master," Kreeya complained.
"You wanted stronger warriors. Look no further, Kreeya." Anomaly points in the direction of a smoking building off in the distance. Kreeya cocks her head to the side.
"You point me to a battle that's already ended?"
"No, Queen Kreeya. That, my dear, is the main target." Anomaly smiles. Quan Chi laughs.
"My enemies reside here as well. Even a cryomancer remains here."
"A Cryomancer? In Earthrealm?" Vorpax questioned.
"The true test of power begins," Shang Tsung comments.
"You all speak highly of these...warriors. You have my interest."
"Good," Anomaly sighed. "Their army will come our way any minute now, so we'd best start heading that way."
"Swiftly indeed," Kreeya responded. A bullet strikes the woman's shoulder, knocking her back a bit. She looks forward and sees a new group of soldiers approaching, this one much smaller than the rest. Anomaly looks at the woman and leans her head toward the group. Kreeya huffed before approaching the group. They continued firing on her as she blocks them with her sword. Vorpax began walking towards them, but Anomaly's kobu jutsu held the woman back.
Kreeya reached the men and began wailing on them. Left and right, the men were tossed away. The blood from them covered her arms like sleeves. With the group disposed of in mere seconds, Kreeya sighs.
"Weak," she says.
"They were able to make you bleed," Anomaly joked.
"Another group is approaching," Metric said.
"Great, more—"
"Hold that thought, Kreeya," Anomaly interrupted. She covered the roof of her eyes and looked in the distance. Approaching them were six figures. The six remaining members of the Black Dragon Clan: Kira, Kobra, Jarek, Tasia, Kabal, and Tremor.
"The Black Dragon!" Metric shouted. Capitol and Fang perked up.
"So they decided to finally show their faces?" Fang questioned. Capitol's mind goes into a frenzy as he relives his final days prior to Anomaly's resurrection.
"You remember it too?" Quan Chi asked. Capitol snaps out of his episode.
"The Black Dragon ambushed us over a decade ago. We were suppose to just arrest them using the information from my contact. He betrayed us and shot me right in the back of the head," Capitol said, rubbing the back of his skull. The hole was gone, but the memory of it still haunted him. Quan Chi points toward Kobra and then Kira.
"Those two betrayed me as well," he said. "I offered them a better life, along with hundreds of young men and women in the country of Russia. Many orphaned teens died at their hands the day I perished. Killed before my eyes right before a woman from Outworld assassinated me."
"Quite a story you've told, Quan Chi," Shang Tsung commented sarcastically. "I've been told quite a different story." Quan Chi glared at Shang Tsung and smiled. Skarlet stares directly into the eyes of Tasia, who grits her teeth.
"You…" Tasia muttered.
"The blood witch?" Kobra asked. Kabal nodded.
"She's a real piece of work, that one," Kabal said.
"Gave us our new powers," Jarek complimented. "We should give her a taste of our appreciation."
"Don't get too cocky," Kabal said. "Been there, done that."
"Such a waste of a handout," Tremor said.
"Please Tremor," Kira said. "you had power and no understanding of how to use it. You still struggle with our Chi training."
"Yeah," Jarek said, "Careful not to die, comrade."
Back at the Special Forces Japan facility, Jax and company watch in awe as the Black Dragon arrive. He sighs shaking his head. Kenshi still seemed troubled by something. Yet no one knew what. Shujinko smiled.
"Now is the best time," Shujinko suggested. "Jax nodded and Shujinko walks to the MOKAP prep room. Sonya's face churned as she stares at the members on screen. Apparently Johnny noticed and he walks up to his spouse, holding her gently.
"If you need to, take a few minutes to cool off," he suggested.
"I'm fine," she said with a crooked smile. Johnny leaned his head down low enough for the woman to see his eyes behind his shades.
"Take fifteen, lieutenant," he demanded. "That's an order."
"Who made you major?" she joked.
"You did," he exclaimed. When you made me a major part of your life." He made his charming smile toward the woman.
"Yeah," she said before playfully tapping her fist into his shoulder, "a major pain in my—"
"Yeah, yeah," Johnny brushed off. Sonya chuckles.
"Fine, Johnny," she said in a mocking tone. As she drew distance from the command room, she raises her wrist up to her face. A different frequency channel was displayed on her communicator. She holds down the button to speak.
"Operation Hourglass is in effect," she said.
"Time?" a voice questioned.
"When it best fits itself." She sighed as she set the channel back to the main frequency.
End of Chapter 3
Some of you may be wonder who a lot of these characters are that have been named such as Vorpax, Kreeya, & Omegis who are not in the games. These are characters who were created specifically for the Mortal Kombat Conquest TV Series. Their personalities and roles have been revamped to best fit the story at large. There will be many characters like them from cut characters from the games to comic characters (as show in Chapter 1) and other forms of MK Media. I hope you all enjoy and be prepared for next week's chapter.
(Upcoming—Black Dragon)