True Colors
The Emperor has arrived. Kotal struts along the sixth platform, Warsaw laying across his shoulder. D'Vorah caresses a huge Larva held in her right arm. Ferra and Torr walk behind the two, bumping into the numerous civilians stunned by their presence. They expected many others to follow behind them, yet the group remained in place. Individuals of many different races. Some that looked like them, and others looked more like the wraiths portrayed in the realm of Chaos. Some of the civilians fainted as their lives flashed before their eyes.
The main plaza of the platform was heavily populated with people hoping to migrate to their instructed Safe Haven. However, that path was currently occupied the Outworld's forces. Panic was starting to brew as the civilians knew they were helpless in their current situation. The guardsmen whom were supposed to escort them were nowhere to be found as they were gathered to join their respective generals and wait for orders. The estimated time of their arrival should be soon, but not soon enough to stop Kotal's forces from slaying them all. One of the civilians falls ill looking at D'Vorah's pet. He earns her attention as she glared at the man.
"Do you find this one's presence revolting?" she asked. The man remained silent. D'Vorah smirks before looking down at her pet. "Or is it him?" No one said a word.
"Clap trap no speak?" Ferra questioned. Torr's eye directed toward the group of civilians.
"We…" was all the man could come up with.
"Catch your breath, Seidan," Kotal suggests as he stops walking. The man inhaled and exhaled rapidly, though it slowed down with time. Kotal looks around at the frightened faces of all the civilians. Their wide colorless eyes. The dark bags along their lids. Their long faces. Something he's seen many times before. Every merger he's seen under Shao Kahn. Every merger he's seen under Shang Tsung. Every merger he's seen under Mileena. Every look he's seen under his Father's rule. He knew the feeling all too well.
"They're still staring," D'Vorah whispered. Kotal shook his head.
"Seido's laws begrudge physical discrimination of any kind. You all should mind your eyes." The citizens seemed to perk up. He smiles, yet D'Vorah was baffled by the reaction. It was as if his words brought life back into them. Another citizen stepped up, drawing everyones attention.
"How is it that you know about our laws?" they asked. Kotal laughed.
"The Osh'Tekk people have a tradition. Every adult male partakes in a pilgrimage where they must travel to another realm, only returning when they have brought something of purpose back to our Realm. Many decades ago, an Osh'Tekk arrived to this realm and with it, he brought its laws."
"He stole the book?" one of the citizens questioned.
"He only read it, noting everything necessary for maintaining order and how to prevent chaos. Yet one thing his teachings has brought is the way in which my people would rule. One where everyone can maintain peace. My father failed this task and was removed from leading Outworld. Kitana also failed this task and was removed from leading Outworld." Kotal stood next to a statue of a Seidan Guardsman, with his hand placed on the shoulder of the statue. "I am Outworld's emporer now. For one year, your soldiers were trapped in my realm due to an agent of Chaos. For one year, we worked together peacefully to bring them back. For one year we've prepared to defeat this agent of chaos and bring peace to both realms."
"Kotal Kahn grants mercy for all," D'Vorah added. "This one also fell into chaos once. Yet it was Ko'otal who brought this one back."
"Head for your safe haven as instructed," Kotal commanded. "Do not let chaos reign over you all."
At first the civilians seemed too afraid to come near the emperor. Kotal signaled his allies to step aside, which they procede to do. The civilians move pass them, heading toward their safe haven. Many of them bowed to the emperor, thanking him for the civility he showed. As the remaining civilians passed by, Ferra groaned and shook her head.
"Why big boss no feed Torr?" she asked. "You betray we?"
"This one believes—"
"We cannot fault the citizens for the decisions of their masters, Ferra," he responds. He hears clapping coming from the direction of the civilians. Coming their way was Governor Tallen and numerous Seidan guardsmen—about two dozen. The men surround Kotal's group with their weapons drawn and guards against his army who initially guarded the area. The Governor remains behind them, however, with eye contact being given between the shoulders of two guardsmen.
"What a wonderful speech that was," Tallen said. "I must applaud you for your knowledge of our laws and standards, Emperor."
"This one supposes you are a leader among those residing in this realm," D'Vorah says curiously.
"Governor Tallen," he greets. "I am the Governor and general of this platform."
"Is that so?" Kotal said rhetorically. "Then you would be able to bring Eunomia here?"
"Eunomia is currently busy dealing with important matters," the man said.
"Such as our invasion of this realm?" Kotal questioned. Tallen seemed taken aback. However, he nods to himself.
"An invasion?" he asked. "Did you not say you would prevent chaos from spreading throughout this realm?"
"I mad no such claim," he responded.
"Then, we share a common goal," Tallen said. One of the soldiers looked back at him."
"You what?" Tallen gave the man a sorrowful glare.
"We are not equiped for a full scale invasion. It would only lead to further chaos." Tallen explained. We know that if the ruling individual is the cause of concern, then we must remove them."
"Do not tell lies!" Kotal snapped. Tallen and his guards flinched. "This isn't about politics or the power struggle in Seido. Your people invaded my realm. You made a public declaration of war against the people of Outworld. You interfered in affairs that were not your own, and because of it you've brought chaos to my home!"
"But that was Eunomia's doing," Tallen said.
"You are the one who ordered them to come, Governor Tallen!"
"This one has learned a particular phrase during their time with the Earthrealm children," D'Vorah said, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Suddenly, one of the maskless guardsmen yells in pain, hunching over wrapping his arms around his stomach. He begins to vomit out blood, which starts to melt the ground. The sight stuns the soldiers, with one getting grabbed by Torr before being ripped apart. Some of them rush in to strike Kotal, but the Osh'Tekk overpowers them with his Warsaw Blade. The sickly man's belly popped and numerous wasps escaped from it. The insects slipped through the exposed gaps of the guards' armor, injecting their acidic venom into their veins. Kotal uses his blade to strike the paralyzed men down until only Tallen was left. Tallen's mouth was wide open. D'Vorah's hive of wasps escaped from her enemies' armor and returned to her as many of them wisp pass the Governor. The four warriors slowly surrounded the man. He began to hallucinate them as decaying souls from Chaos Realm.
"Eunomia w-won't be s-so easy," Tallen stuttered before tripping over his own step. Kotal's crew stood over the man.
"We know," Kotal says before nodding to Ferra.
"Yahoooooo!" she shouts as she and Torr raise their arms. "Ferra/Torr gotta eat!" Ferra leaps off Torr and lands above the mans' head. She raises her bladed gauntlet in the air before slamming it down. The blade slices into his unusual hat, but only scrapes across the top of his head. She tastes his blood from the blade and spits it out. "Soup Man no good. Have full share Torr!" the beast growled before leaning toward the man. Tallen yells in fear, until he finally passed out from the pain of being eaten alive.
End of Chapter 9
To those who were expecting new chapters to release in previous weeks, I apologize. I don't know exactly how to explain the situation but on my end it was as if a new chapter for my story was not showing up at all. Not only that, but on my end it was also showing as if no one was viewing my stories nor profile throughout that entire time and out of fear of people accidentally skipping chapters, I decided to hold onto them until the issue was resolved, and here we are.
You may also be wondering why I released this Saturday and not Friday. Family comes first at all times and because of this I never got around to submitting the chapter. However, I plan to catch up by releasing Chapters 10 & 11 on Tuesday and Friday respectively, but as I work the evening shift tuesday, it's likely that Chapter 10 can be released Wednesday instead, but Tuesday is the primary goal. Appreciate you all for understanding and I hope you're still enjoying the story so far.
(Upcoming—The Ordained)