A/N: Hello, fellow readers! I am back once again with a new chapter after a long hiatus of editing chapters, not to mention life getting in the way of things. I hope everyone had a good belated Easter. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the story.

Disclaimer: Killer Instinct belongs to Mircosoft and Rare. Carrie belongs to Stephen King.

A gentle breeze swept on the snow-covered dust on the ground, revealing thick ice. Clouds parted from the sky, allowing the sun's rays to simmer. Polar bears traveled across the land until they came across a pond. Before they could take a drink, sudden steams startled them. A spiral horn surfaced from the water; more emerged as whales bobbed their heads.

The wind picked up the snow in a swirling motion until a portal appeared. Carrie, Orchid, and Kim emerged from the entryway.

Kim rubbed both her arms. "Man, it's friggin' cold! We should've brought warm clothes!"

Carrie did the same. "You weren't complaining about the cold when we were at the Himalayas."

"Point taken." Kim jumped when a hand grabbed her shoulder. Hisako appeared beside her, still swaying side to side while holding her weapon. Kim placed her hand on her chest. "Geez, Hisako, you'd think I'd get used to your sneaky appearance by now."

Hisako pointed at something. The women followed the line of sight towards a wrecked ship from a distance. "Kiba ga arimasu. Watashi wa kare no sonzai o kanjimashita."*

"Let's go. Tusky better not dismiss us this time," Kim said. As the group headed to the ship, Carrie kept her eyes on the ground.

"Something on your mind, Carrie?" Orchid asked.

"When I met Tusk, I sensed a deep sorrow in him."

"He's just moody," Kim implied. "Are you saying he doesn't want to be the Watchman of the Gods?"

"No. More like Tusk hates life."

"Well, being immortal does have its drawbacks, but he shouldn't hate life. More reason I stand by what I mentioned earlier."

The group got closer to the warship, which resembled one used by Vikings. Torn sails flapped gently from the breeze. Two dead warriors lay on the ground, frozen.

Tusk stood before the ship. His sword remained plunged to the ground. His back faced the group as though unaware of their presence.

"He seems deep in thought," Carrie said.

*"Tasuku wa shadourōdo no tesaki to tatakatte kare ni tōtatsu suru tame ni ofu ni natte imasu. Kare no doryoku wa mudada to kanjite, kare wa koko ni kite shinimashita," Hisako said.

Yeo emerged from Kim in his dragon form. "She says Tusk was trying to reach Gargos by fighting his minions, but to no avail. Now he's here, brooding on death."

"Well, I'm about to get him out of that phase." Kim approached the immortal warrior. "Tusk?"

He remained in his position. "Sought me out, eh, and with your friends, no less? War-gram informed me of your presence."

"From our last meeting, you mentioned Gargos has something you want. What is it?"

Tusk sighed, still staring into space. "A dark gift…the eternal slumber that comes to all mortals."

"How could you consider death? You must keep fighting!"

"I visited Kan-Ra in my quest. He informed me that Gargos and I were born as equals. All he needs now is my blade to be omnipotent."

"And you believe him?"

"I don't need the words of a sorcerer to know my fate. Gargos is the only one to grant me death. I'm…I'm just sick of this life."

"So your salvation is more important than the fate of billions? That's the most selfish excuse I've heard in my life! You know what…" Kim scooped a pile of snow, meld it into a ball, and threw it at Tusk. The snowball hit its mark as silence lingered, apart from the wind.

Carrie gasped as she covered her mouth with her hand, eyes widened. Orchid stepped back, sensing extreme tension. Hisako appeared unfazed but gripped her weapon.

Tusk remained still as a statue until he brushed the snow off him. "Did you—"

A direct hit from another snowball cut him off. Kim was already creating the latest one. "I restrained myself from calling you a chicken, but you are pushing it."

"You dare to call me, the great Tusk, a coward?"

"No, but you're acting like one!"

Tusk clenched his hands into fists. "I may be many things, but a coward I'm not. I guess there's one way to settle this." He pulled his sword from the ground, preparing for combat.

"You're challenging me to a fight?"

"It is only appropriate. You drew first blood by throwing that snowball at me. In fact, let's raise the stakes. If I win, you and your Alliance will leave me to accept my fate. If you win, then I'll join you on your quest to slay the Shadow Lord."

"Are you sure, with the latter?"

"I'm a man of my word."

Kim tossed the snowball aside and unveiled her nunchucks. "Fine with me."

"Should we stop them?" Carrie asked.

"No. Interfering will only make the situation worse," Orchid said. "Let's watch and see what happens."

Kim and Tusk circled each other. "You won't like me when I'm angry, Tusky."

"I like you already when you're angry."

Is this guy flirting with me? "Once I beat you down, you'll be doing what I say."

"I like you more, young maiden, but War-gram is unimpressed with your dragon."

"Whatever, tough guy. Get ready to join team Wu!"

Kim charged in with two thrusting kicks covered in blue flames until Tusk countered. Flipping back, she evaded her opponent's incoming attack. Kim swept Tusk's limbs out and kicked him away. She dodged a sword attack from Tusk. The weapon slammed into the ground so hard that sparks flew.

Tusk thwarted Kim's incoming flying kick and leaped in the air. He aimed his sword towards her.

Kim rolled away before the sword impaled her. She swept Tusk's legs out and proceeded with a double roundhouse kick.

Tusk blocked them and waited for an opportunity. He brought forth down his blade until Kim evaded again. He counteracted Kim's overhead ax kick with his sword uppercut.

Recovering fast, Kim swept Tusk, tripping him. She continued with her assault once her opponent was back on his feet.

Tusk blocked her attacks, trying to find an opening. He lured Kim into thinking he was going for a Hail Mary, forcing her to jump. In response, he caught her in mid-air and struck her.

Kim flipped back and stopped Tusk with an ax kick charged with flames. She then struck with her weapon until her opponent countered.

Tusk tapped into his ability. The tattoos on his body gleamed a fiery red, the same with his sword. He wasted no time launching his own assault until Kim struck back.

Kim struck with a flaming thrust kick, knocking Tusk to the ground. She was about to do it again when Tusk blocked and countered. She parried an incoming attack from Tusk and caught him with her explosive stomp.

Kim launched herself in the air, delivering a powerful flying kick. She landed firmly on her feet while Tusk slammed into the ground. She went for another flying kick until Tusk struck back.

Geez! He may be slow, but he hits like a truck! I'll have to crank this fight up a notch.

Kim tapped into her abilities and fired a Dragon Cannon towards Tusk. She launched two thrusting kicks and started her assault, but Tusk pushed her away. She threw another Dragon Cannon, forcing Tusk to close the gap.

Tusk feigned to fall for the bait until he struck her with his sword uppercut. He was about to attack until Kim parried, knocking him away. Tusk tapped into his ability and tried to attack, but Kim deflected. He went for another sword uppercut until Kim dodged and struck with her nunchucks. Though she landed a few blows, Tusk still reacted with his own, knocking her to the ground.

Kim dusted herself and glared at her opponent. As she jumped in, Tusk prepared for his next counter, but she evaded and struck. With an explosive stomp, Kim sent Tusk flying before hitting with her upward kick.

As Tusk hit the ground hard, Kim kneeled, panting. The adrenaline flowed through her bloodstream. Minor cuts littered her body, but nothing that Yeo couldn't heal. "It's friggin' cold here, but I'm on fire!"

As he regained his consciousness, Tusk sat up and stared at Kim. His lips curled into a smile before he started chuckling. "I can't believe it…beaten by a mere stripling! Oh, the gods have a sense of humor."

"A stripling? Me? Oh, that is it!" Before Kim stomped towards him, something froze her. From the corner of her eye, Carrie approached her, her arm slightly extended.

"Kim, stop! Can't you see he's hurting on the inside?" Carrie released her telekinetic grip.

"Whoa. Has anyone told you that when you use your powers on someone, it feels weird? Anyway, how do you go about this?"

Carrie fell silent as she approached the immortal warrior. She sat opposite of him, ignoring the biting cold. "Tusk?"

"Ah, I remember you. You ripped that Mimic Aganos in pieces at the Forgotten Grotto. Telekinesis, right? Have you come to mock on my torture?"

"Just to talk. Tusk, you're the first immortal I met in my entire life. When reading about you, I was excited, but now, I'm disappointed. I sensed you hated immortality with a passion. Is it a heavy burden?"

"You speak of a burden when you're undergoing it yourself? Immortality is a blessing and a curse. I have seen things you couldn't imagine: the rise and fall of empires, wars, you name it. It is also a curse because as you live, those around you die. I'm certain you're the same way about your abilities."

"Sometimes. Besides, do you think you're the only one pondering death? Where I was from, people wished I didn't exist."

"Carrie…" Kim said. Orchid was silent as she understood what the telekinetic had endured.

"Why? Was it your powers that fear them?" Tusk queried.

"My powers were only half the factor," Carrie explained. "I did something horrible…and I regretted it. Now, God gave me a purpose for redemption. Don't look at your immortality as a punishment. The Ichoriens gave you that for a reason. You must learn how to cope with it."

Tusk studied the young woman. How could someone so young obtain such wisdom? He could tell that she faced death and never faltered. "Until today, I met no one that understood my burden. You may be young, Carrie, but you have a warrior's heart. Despite the burden I'll carry, you have given me hope. I will help the Alliance slay Gargos. After all, I'm a man of my word." He arose and held his sword high. "I will not sheathe this blade until the Shadow Lord is dead!"

Jago sat cross-legged in the Global Corruption Force HQ training room. His closed eyes locked in concentration until he sensed a portal. Once he glanced over his shoulder, he exhaled softly.

"Welcome back, Carrie," he said.

The young telekinetic arrived in the room as the portal vanished. "I'm sorry. Did I disturb you?"

"Not at all. I thought I used the time to be more in tune spiritually. How did it go with Kim's quest?"

"Apart from the Mimic encounters, everything was fine. We finally got Tusk to join us."

"I heard."

"You did? How?"

Jago pointed at the small comm device in his left ear. "Orchid told me. She also mentioned how you talked him out of his depression. I'm proud of you."

Carrie wasn't sure how to react to a compliment. The last time that happened, it ended in tragedy. "Thanks, I guess. I'm really sorry."

"For what?"

"If I got you worried when going out with Kim on her quest. I should've told you, but I was afraid you wouldn't allow it, considering-"

"Don't worry yourself about that, okay? I figured it'd be a matter of time. Baekho suggested you should go on missions, even if it is to aid."

"Who's that?"

"Baekho? He's my guardian spirit: a glowing tiger skull with unique striped patterns."

Suddenly, an image flashed before Carrie, like a forgotten memory. She saw herself crying inside the Prayer Closet when a voice called to her. When she glanced up, a floating tiger skull bathed in a heavenly light studied her. She remained in a trance until Jago's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Is everything okay?" he said.

Carrie shook her head, placing her hand near her forehead. "I'm fine. Just tired. Can we do some light training?"

"Of course. Let's go to the playroom." Jago arose, and he and Carrie headed to their destination. "You should tell me the story of how you ripped that Mimic Aganos apart."

A/N: With Tusk joining in, the Alliance grows stronger, but will it be enough through the campaign of the upcoming invasion? Well, time for my brain to rest, so I'll see you later.

Translations in Japanese:

*Tusk is there. I sensed his presence.

*Tusk has been off fighting the Shadow Lord's minions to reach him. Feeling that his efforts were in vain, he came here to brood on death.