"When you react, you let others control you. When you respond, you are in control."
― Bohdi Sanders
News of Raiden's chilling announcement spread quickly amongst his Earthrealm allies.
Raiden had to change little details to adjust to the Mortal Kombat invocation, and so the story went:
The Outworlders had been spying on them all week, assessing their weaknesses, awaiting the best time and place to avenge their perceived betrayals at Earthrealm's hands, focusing their wrath upon the Thunder God's three closest allies whom they also blamed for their so-called slights.
The four of them left for an audience with the Elder Gods to discuss new arrangement for containing Shinnok and his amulet. The Elder Gods had created a special prison whose location they claimed was best left undisclosed in case his minions came back and tried to torture the truth out of the Earthrealmers. However, no plan was yet formed for the amulet, so Raiden was personally keeping it until a solution arose.
They returned to find the Outworlders had ambushed and defeated the Shirai Ryu, and then immediately the unwelcome visitors turned their attention to the four whom they regarded as scapegoats for their sufferings. They were outnumbered, the Shirai Ryu unable to rejoin the fight, and soon overpowered. Raiden managed to keep a hold of the amulet, but the others were not so fortunate.
In her young life, Cassie had only experienced pure, unadulterated rage three times. The first was when Havik chained her and forced her to watch Skarlet torture her best friend in an unsuccessful attempt to activate her ancestral gifts. The second was when Shinnok tried to murder her father, which did activate her powers. And the third was now, as she was processing what Raiden told them.
Kotal Kahn had turned on them again. He had invaded their realm again. He had blamed them for his own mistakes and sufferings again. And he had taken hostages again, including her mother.
Clearly, none of his previous crimes and blunders were enough for him to learn his lesson. He failed to notice one of his henchmen arranging hers and Jacqui's kidnapping, which led to them later being taken by the Red Dragon and brainwashed by Havik. He arrested her team and intended to execute them for losing the amulet even though he had proved equally incompetent with such things. He attempted to kill them and gift their heads to Shinnok in an idiotic scheme to buy himself time.
It was like he wanted to be pissed off all the time. No other explanation could form in her brain. Perhaps because she was too pissed off to think clearly.
She paced back and forth in the hall, unable to talk to anybody right now, desperately requiring time to get her thoughts in order.
This must be how Sonya felt when she and Jacqui went missing. Hatred, fear, confusion, desperation, and so many other things she could not name, but above all was the rage. And she imagined that as a parent, Sonya's fury must have been doubly intense.
Kotal Kahn was a liar, bastard, hypocrite, monster...and several other things so terrible she could not come up with a proper description. Those words echoed in her ears on an endless loop, to the point that she wondered if she was thinking aloud.
Still pacing, she now held her head in her hands. She ground her teeth with an intensity that it pained her. A choked sound escaped her throat, which prompted a cursed growl to follow immediately afterward.
Suddenly, her chaotic thoughts were interrupted by a hand touching the back of her head and another grasping her wrists to lower them. Then she was pulled forward and soon her forehead was resting on somebody's shoulder. It was a position she'd been in multiple times, though not as often as during her childhood, with someone she cherished to the same degree as her parents.
She relaxed a fraction as Raiden stroked her head in a comforting, fatherly manner."Let it out, Cassandra," he told her.
She had originally intended to get solitude to calm her mind, but that failed miserably. She realized that Raiden must be sharing her guilt, if not twice as much due to having been present when the terrible event occurred, and thus his presence soothed her.
She sniffled whilst a few tears dampened Raiden's attire, then inhaled and exhaled slowly and deeply. Eventually, she moved back and used her sleeve to wipe the remaining tears.
"Forgive me," he murmured, still patting her head."I am weak, I could not save-"
"No." She shook her head."That son of a bitch planned this, he took advantage of us. The one time he actually uses that tiny brain inside his thick skull..." She trailed off with a scowl.
"Honor this, honor that," Kung Jin muttered bitterly as he arrived with Johnny, Jax, Takeda, and Kenshi. The archer scoffed and gave a headshake."He doesn't know the first thing about honor."
Jacqui crossed her arms."I don't understand why he's so fixated on us," she frustratedly wondered aloud.
By this point, Johnny had come to Cassie's side and let her lean against him, which she appreciated as much as she did Raiden's consolations. He heaved a soft sigh."Sadly, this isn't the first time somebody's blamed us for their screw-ups," he reminded them.
Jax rubbed his temples."It won't be the last time either," he wearily stated.
Cassie couldn't agree more with those statements. But she did not hesitate to harden her expression and speak with acid surrounding every syllable:"But it'll definitely be the last time he pulls this stunt."
If anything happened to her mother, Kuai Liang, and/or Fujin, she would put a bullet into the emperor's body where nobody, regardless of gender, wanted to be shot.
Raiden lifted his chin."Of that, we can all be certain." This received nods from most of the others present.
"How is Master Hasashi handling all of this?" Takeda inquired. Cassie noticed his father's arm was around his shoulders and he was leaning against his father. She couldn't blame either Takahashi for being concerned. Given recent events, the invasion and what happened at the Sky Temple, Hanzo was bound to be a guilty wreck.
"He is alright, all things considered." Raiden grimaced."I sent the Shirai Ryu to check on the location where the Kamidogu are supposed to hidden."
Jacqui nodded vigorously."Good idea." Fear lit up in her eyes."Last thing we need is those damn daggers reeking havoc again." Given the serious circumstances, no one noticed, or chose not to remark upon, her unintentional pun. She gave a grimace of her own."Not to mention those daggers are pretty powerful, if they could control you, Raiden."
"Precisely," he agreed, his voice and face full of dread.
Cassie herself had to suppress a shudder as memories of the damned Blood Code flashed in her mind. She still got nightmares about it sometimes.
"And he had to have a good power boost, to put it mildly, to take down Fujin," Takeda remarked, leaning further against his father.
"At least he didn't manage to steal Shinnok's amulet," Kung Jin spoke in a tone that was a mix of contempt and unease."Then we'd really be screwed."
Cassie shook her head, her mind becoming overwhelmed with dread and perplexity."I doubt those are the only things he could use against us. The amulet and the Kamidogu were just more convenient since he wouldn't have to use any of his own resources."
Kenshi hummed thoughtfully."Well, the Osh-Tekk have a rich history and as the last of his kind, he is the primary one to have knowledge of such things."
Raiden sighed deeply."Sadly, during all of the chaos, I could not tell what gave his forces an advantage beyond the element of surprise. He was wise enough to be subtle about that."
Cassie scowled."The one time he learned a lesson and used his brain." Once she was done putting a bullet in his lower head, she would unleash the rest of her ammunition upon his upper head until nothing remained of it.
"Maybe we should help Master Hasashi," Takeda suggested, gesturing to himself and his father, who dipped his chin in agreement."Considering what he-"
"No," Raiden interrupted, shaking his head as he responded quite swiftly. Usually, Cassie would be inclined to feel suspicious over such urgent insistence, but given the situation, she figured she couldn't really blame her mentor.
Raiden went on,"It is best if the Shirai Ryu focus on smaller, subtler tasks for now. Recent events have proven that much." Though his words were harsh, his intonation was calm, sounding like he felt more sympathy for the Grandmaster and his clan than annoyance or anger.
Biting his lip, Takeda exchanged a gander with his father, whose brows knitted into a frown beneath his blindfold. After a moment, both Takeda and Kenshi gave curt nods."I suppose that is for the best," Kenshi conceded.
Naturally, Cassie sympathized with her teammate, and although she did pity Hanzo to an extent, she understood Raiden's point.
"But," Kenshi continued."Takeda or I should keep in touch with him, since the others..." He trailed off, knowing there was no need to elaborate. The Shirai Ryu were on thin ice due to triggering Shinnok's invasion and now even more so after failing to defend the Sky Temple, a devastating failure worsened by the fact that Kuai Liang was one of those captured and he had also been among the three people willing to be civil to Hanzo after his infuriating and selfish behavior that nearly destroyed Earthrealm.
"They've got a point," Johnny said. Interestingly, he seemed to be gazing down the hall, his expression displaying strong uncertainty."We shouldn't completely leave Hanzo to his own devices."
"Of course not," Raiden replied, as if offended by the notion that he would be reckless with the ninja."I fully intend to keep an eye on him and give him firm orders-"
"But you can't do that all the time," Cassie found herself stating before Takeda could open his mouth. He glanced at her with a ghost of a smile, relieved that other people were agreeing with him and his father. Truth be told, she was doing this more out of logic than anything else.
Raiden pressed his lips into a thin line and narrowed his eyes at her, then redirected his attention to the telepaths."You are too personal to his case," he coolly stated.
"But they're also the only ones who can deal with him right now," Johnny spoke up.
"Can't say I disagree." Jacqui sent her boyfriend a sympathetic look."Maybe 'personal' is what he needs."
Cassie glanced downwards, furrowing her brows and ignoring to the debate. She wanted to - no, must - be logical, but it was clear her emotions were making her shift between reasonable conclusions or choices. She could not think properly with the argument going on around her, so she walked away to get space.
She tapped her chin with her fingertips and emitted a contemplative hum. A single question echoed in her brain: what would her mother do?
Granted, the last time this happened, in reverse with her and Jacqui as the victims, her mother hadn't exactly been patient in her search efforts. Kotal was bound to remember that, which probably contributed to him managing to take her.
Cassie didn't have enough interactions with him to wholly understand him, leaving her uncertain of his next move, yet that should apply vice versa, him having no clear idea whether she was more similar to her father or her mother, since her snark wasn't sufficient evidence for those types of conclusions.
But, she mused with gladness, Sonya did learn from her mistakes and excelled in developing new strategies, taking pleasure in catching her enemies off guard. It was what made her a good leader and soldier, one of the best, and a large part of why Cassie considered Sonya her hero, even more so (though not by much more) than she did Johnny. And it was a trait that Sonya claimed Cassie shared.
Kotal was not a weakling nor a fool, but he was often ruled by his emotions, more so than Sonya, who learned how to utilize them to her advantage.
His unknown power boost and the element of surprise played the main role in his defeat and capture of Sonya. Of course, there was also the fact that Sonya and the others were outnumbered, yet even with the Shirai Ryu's defeat prior to hers and her three companions' arrival, that wouldn't have been an easy battle, especially when keeping in mind his unsuccessful and intense fight with the Lin Kuei a week before that.
Whatever granted him a power boost was what he owed his victory to, albeit a partial victory due to Raiden succeeding in maintaining a hold of the amulet. She didn't believe this theory would spark a lot of debate.
She decided it wasn't her business to further contribute on the matter of handling Hanzo. Thus, her main focus should be and would be on her mother, and by extension the Wind God and the Lin Kuei Grandmaster.
As she was making these ruminations, her father moved to stand beside her and rested his hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. He gave her a look indicating that he shared her opinions on this topic, a realization that prompted her to smile. This would be their business, above anyone else's.
'Hang on, mom,' she said internally.'It's Private Pumpkin's turn to rescue you.'
Frost's emotions always contained an intense sense of aggression. It didn't matter if she was glad, amused, confident, irritated, sad, or, well, actually angry. Calmness was simply not a capability of hers, no matter how hard she tried to balance it. Although, she must admit that she didn't really want to change that. Maybe that meant she wasn't trying as hard as she liked to claim she was.
Most people, including the Grandmaster, viewed it as a flaw that must be thawed. But she couldn't care less what they thought, even though she did long for her mentor to grant her the approval and respect she craved and believed she'd earned the right for by now.
Her whole life, she never had anything to lose, but she wanted to. She strived to earn it through blood, sweat, and tears. It was power she sought, the power to live and fight and not feel pain or sorrow.
Her aggression kept her alive as she searched for what she wanted. To be a mere blank slate or cowardly wretch were sure ways to get killed or worse. That was how she ended up at the deathmatch fight club.
She used her time there to make herself stronger, to terrify others into fathoming her might. She wondered if she'd become so accustomed to provoking fear that the idea of true respect, the definition commonly associated with that term, rendered it impossible for her to understand a different concept.
Was that why she tended to prefer fear, why she struggled to comprehend the difference between fear and respect, why she could not shake off the preference?
But she wanted to understand, to have a reason to change, as much for herself as for those around her. Did she project too much of her turmoil onto her mentor? Perhaps she wasn't quite as interested in being persuaded as she liked to think.
Their dynamic had always been shaky. Her eagerness to grow stronger was her primary desire, an eternal aspect almost equaling her eternal sense of aggression, or maybe they were one and the same.
She craved strength, reverence, and acknowledgment, yet she seemed incapable of achieving that.
Was she guilty of self-loathing, hating herself for her past pains and sins? Was that what drove her? Made her project her doubts and indignation onto those closest to her? Her mentor filled the void more than anyone else, so was that why she both hated him and yearned for his approval?
Who was to blame for these internal conflicts? Just her, just him, both of them? What did he think about all this? Recently, she'd been internally battling with herself over whether she should confront him regarding this. It seemed he too was considering it. And that would make sense. Neither of them were foolish enough to believe this issue could or should go unaddressed; it was simply impossible to consider that kind of idiocy.
She brushed off most of his lectures, feeling angry at him for his emphasis on mental evolution and humbleness. Humbleness was an agonizing concept for her to properly grasp, because she feared it. That wouldn't have kept her alive in the past; she had a difficult time accepting it could work in her present circumstances.
What did she actually seek? Had she lost her sense of self-understanding once her days at the fight club came to an end? She'd been there longer than she could count, to the point that she understood little to nothing beyond it, becoming addicted to the killings and cheers that took place there.
The sole thing she was absolutely certain of was the original cause of her current distress, as well as her clearest and most unashamed memory. Her first kill, the person she hated above anyone else: the monstrous lunatic who birthed her.
She never met her father, was not aware of any detail regarding his identity, but she couldn't care less. She didn't desire nor require a disgusting excuse for a sperm donor in addition to the incubator she'd been stuck with during her childhood. Perhaps she would have liked killing him too, but that was a moot point by now, and not worth wasting her thoughts on.
With both pleasure and disgust, she took a moment to recall her past with her horrific excuse of a mother. She remembered being beaten, cursed at, words and hits she forgot the details of. But she never forgot the anger and anguish, that which drove her when she finally hit her breaking point, after a final beating and screaming session, as she realized she could endure no more and her instincts took an animalistic turn.
She snapped, she screamed her lungs out, she grabbed a lamp and smashed it into her face as she was turning to look at her, she watched her fall to the floor from the agony and shock of the attack, she grabbed a plate from the table and hit her so hard the plate shattered to pieces, she groped for any rough or sharp object she could find, until she finally ran out of weapons and her energy faded.
She'd shakily fallen onto the floor, staring back and forth between her bloodied, bruised, and cut up hands and the corpse of her first victim. Her eyes had been wide as saucers, and tears had run down her cheeks. But there was no guilt, nor would there ever be. The incubator deserved to die, to suffer the worst agony possible. If she could return to that day, she would utter the curses and taunts she grew up hearing from the bitch who birthed her. Perhaps she'd cackle too, since a second chance meant she could savor the moment, relive that horrifically fantastic outburst with terrific clarity.
She relished in recalling every detail of the corpse. A face left unrecognizable, neck cut and broken several times over, hands and arms covered in bruises and gashes, chest filled with broken ribs. She inwardly snickered whilst remembering all of it.
She was twelve when that happened. In her mind she never entirely stopped being that girl. It was the moment that cemented her life, and she felt a screwed up version of relief and discontent over that.
Now here she was, her emotions a strange and intense mess as she absorbed Raiden's revelation.
How was she supposed to react? Silence and stillness sounded bad, as did an explosive outburst. Beneath her mask, she was biting her lip so sharply it started bleeding. Her arms were folded over her chest, embracing herself in a painfully manner. Her eyes flickered all about the room, unable to focus on the hologram of the Thunder God, a fact he must be very aware of.
Beside her, Sareena wore an aghast expression and covered her mouth with her hand. Frost fought the urge to copy Sareena, lest that be an improper reaction. She bit her lip even harder, then winced in pain. She realized the reason she was chewing her lip was to stifle a scream of horror that naturally mixed with aggression.
Finally, after ten seconds of stunned silence, she found her voice."How did this happen?" she spoke in a hoarse, strained voice. She hugged herself tighter, feeling her nails dig into the sides of her arms. She lifted her chin, barely managing to retain a straight stance and focus her gaze on the hologram.
Sensing her disquietude, Sareena hooked an arm through hers. She tensed briefly before relaxing. Her dynamic with the demoness was uncertain. They weren't particularly close, but saw a lot of each other due to their respective relationships with the Grandmaster. Frost hardly thought about Sareena, but she wasn't blind to the pair's interactions that extended beyond discussions about Bi-Han. It wasn't her business though, nor was she interested in it.
Her unclear rapport with Sareena aside, she appreciated the wordless support. Subtly the cryomancer tightened her arm a bit, around the other woman's.
"The emperor wasn't exactly in great condition after we beat him last week," she coolly continued."He had help." A statement of the obvious, but she couldn't come up with what else to say, and she might go nuts if she didn't utter a word.
With a lour, Raiden nodded."Yes, I've discussed as much with the Special Forces. We are attempting to find a way to unearth who or what could be responsible for his advantage."
"Even without Fujin there as a fellow victim, Sonya and Kuai Liang on their own are no easy target," Sareena stated with a frown, fear shining in her eyes.
Frost held back an irritable sigh."Much as it pains me to admit it," she dryly began while scowling behind her mask."Blade is as tough and smart as the Grandmaster. Plus, she knows Kotal better than the other two combined." To say she loathed Sonya Blade and Cassie Cage would be an understatement, and it was a mutual dislike. That said, the women were capable of not letting it distract them from the bigger picture, especially right now. Frost imagined the Cage girl was in almost as much agitation, to put it mildly, over her mother's capture as Frost was over her mentor's.
Raiden nodded once more."Hence the investigation."
"What are we to do in the meantime?" Sareena inquired, leaning forward to more closely look at the deity. Her frown deepened and her own body tensed, which prompted Frost to want to return the consolation by putting a hand on her shoulder, awkward as the action might be due to their differing physical positions.
Sighing, he crossed his arms."I believe it is best for your clan to stay on your own turf, so to speak. Your rivals would be eager to take advantage of your leader's absence as soon as they notice it."
Both women stiffened at the unfortunate reminder."Tengu," Frost said, and then Sareena said,"Snow Ninja."
The Tengu, led by Wu Lae, formed shortly before Kuai Liang rebuilt the Lin Kuei. Wu Lae jumped at the opportunity to eliminate a potential rival. Both groups exhausted one another, since they were still in their early days, and thus a tentative truce was created. They by no means got along, merely stayed out of the other's way. Wu Lae's scorn for them was an infamous truth. Soon, he would hear of Kuai Liang's disappearance, and leap at the chance to exact revenge upon them. Although they were by no means in the same damaged condition as Kotal Kahn after last week, a threat like that was the last thing they needed.
The Snow Ninja was a mysterious clan that stayed in the shadows. An unpredictable force able to inspire unease within anybody near their territory. Those who knew of their existence and location, as well as those in possession of a brain, dared not reside nor pass through there.
Both the Tengu and the Lin Kuei never ventured into the Snow Ninja's territory. Legends claimed that travelers who made those mistakes would suffer an excruciating demise. Even without the legends, they'd seen sufficient evidence to believe the Snow Ninja's threat. Many Lin Kuei or Tengu members, or rare passing travelers, that took such risks went missing with no trace of them to be found. Others' bodies were discovered after being poisoned or beaten and torn apart by the enigmatic warriors' dark sorcery or the gigantic Ice Beasts they controlled. And then there was the worst case scenario: their souls were collected and transformed into beings who now served the clan. Needless to say, they were considered a close second to Netherrealm in terms of frightening dark magik.
The women exchanged ganders."The Snow Ninja we can avoid as usual," Frost carefully stated.
Sareena glanced downwards."The Tengu, on the other hand..." She trailed off with a sigh and massaged the bridge of her nose. After a few seconds, she raised her head and went on,"We shall have to double our defenses, apply reconnaissance to prevent or be ready for an attack."
Frost shook her head firmly."No matter what we do, they'll find out sooner or later. Wu Lae won't agree to another truce with the Grandmaster out of the way. If and when we get him back, the Tengu will have attacked us by then." A smirk ghosted her lips, which even her mask could not prevent someone from knowing."It's merely a matter of how our side ends up once the attack is over."
Frost was taking the situation seriously, but she wouldn't be displeased to put a rival in their place. The Tengu were second only to the Shirai Ryu among those she despised. And seeing as she could not get her hands on the moronic ex-spectre, she would be content to handle Wu Lae.
Her blood boiled whenever she thought about Kuai Liang's idiotic decision to trust that undead, self-pitying fool. Now here she stood five years later, her beliefs proven correct, which she had mixed feelings about. It was both relieving and disappointing. But her hatred for the ex-sprecte was stronger. Truly, the world would be a better place if he committed hara-kiri; she would happily tell him that to his face.
Raiden focused his gaze upon her, his brows furrowing like he was examining a small yet curiously pleasing picture. It happened so briefly and subtly that she almost didn't notice. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Sareena noticed Raiden's attention on Frost, and her frown further deepened. It reminded Frost of how Kuai Liang appeared when he was unsure or concerned about something. A twist in her gut made her understand how he and Sareena tended to feel under such circumstances.
At this point, they had unhooked arms, the demoness now clasping her hands behind her back and the cryomancer crossing her arms over her chest. If Raiden noticed their tension, he did not show it, and he'd stopped examining Frost as they went on with their discussion.
"What concerns me the most," the demoness started, a scowl marring her features."Is what Scorpion shall be doing during all of this." This was the first time Frost heard Sareena call him by his old name, as she'd usually use his title, but she had clearly dropped all pretense on politeness for the fool and was content to openly display her disdain for him like Frost often did. Given that the fool had killed Bi-Han for a crime he didn't commit because he was gullible enough to trust Quan Chi, and that he had recently hardened if not ruined the chances of restoring the revenants, Frost couldn't blame her. Sareena doubtlessly shared Kuai Liang's grief over his brother and former comrades, but unlike him, she'd rather die than forgive or trust Hanzo.
At least someone empathized with Frost's vexation. Though they weren't really close, she had previously sensed that Sareena was of the same mind as her, and Frost was grateful as well as relieved that her senses were correct.
Knowing where they were coming from, Raiden explained,"I am keeping him occupied with smaller tasks so to keep him from tarnishing our larger and more crucial-"
"That hinders our plights more," Sareena icily interrupted."One small failure, that would add to his very long list of them, risks destroying our entire foundation. Truth be told, I am amazed that it hasn't occurred yet."
"We must be extremely lucky," Frost wryly remarked.
"Lucky that not everyone is as incompetent as he is," Sareena agreed, then scowled."He trusted Quan Chi and took that monster at his word when he killed Bi-Han. He willingly served Quan Chi and Shinnok during Shinnok's original invasion. He without hesitation dismissed Sonya's reminders that the revenants, each of whom are a thousand times more heroic and deserving of redemption than he shall ever be, could very likely not be restored sans Quan Chi and might as well as have damned them to eternal existence as monstrous husks with half-lives. And he brought about Shinnok's return via that unhesitant selfishness." With each sentence she uttered, her voice grew increasingly acidic.
"Which has led us to our current plight with the Grandmaster being captured by that bloody emperor!" Frost finished, hissing like a snake."Everything he does ends in misery for Earthrealm, and I for one, I am beyond accepting him as anything other than a hindrance, to put it nicely!" A sarcastic laugh not quite left her throat."I don't think I was ever willing to accept him!"
"Nor was I," Sareena agreed, practically growling in a manner that suited her demonic heritage."We ought to banish him to rot while we still can, before he completely annihilates Earthrealm and beats our enemies to it. A power boost was not the sole reason the emperor was able to so easily take Kuai Liang. He practically hands us over to our foes on silver platters on a daily basis."
Frowning, Raiden held up his hands and vehemently shook his head."An exaggeration."
"Or a delusion on your part," Frost sharply retorted."Useless does not begin to describe him." She pondered for a second."On second thought, useless describes a person that wishes to help but is unable to and though he has failed many, many times, I doubt he ever truly wished to help."
"He is helping now," Raiden firmly stated, looking and sounding beyond frustrated with their behavior.
Sareena felt a little guilty for starting an argument, but with a heavy emphasis on little. For both Frost and Sareena, this unleashing of indignation had been a long time coming, and it was difficult to quell. Holding it in would pose a greater risk than simply bowing and accepting a decision they were sure would worsen their circumstances. It was as much a matter of personal pain as an attempt at brutal logic.
"Enough," Raiden irritably declared, waving one arm. His blue eyes were so filled with anger that Frost, very briefly, imagined them flashing red."Arguing in circles is getting us nowhere."
Frost stiffened, realizing that most of her frustration had seeped out of her body thanks to its long needed release, and that seemingly applied to Sareena too. Yet she still had a final protest:"So is putting trust in him." Her voice was quiet but firm.
Raiden inhaled and exhaled through his nose; Sareena massaged the bridge of her nose; Frost rubbed her temples. The argument had drained the trio.
"Listen to me," he implored, holding one hand up."I swear to you that I shall keep a close eye on him."
"You can't do that all the time," Frost stated, raising her eyebrows."I'm sure somebody else has reminded you of that."
"Hence why they are small tasks," he returned."It will be easier check on him that way."
"Why not have another person be with him?" she suggested."I'm sure somebody else has told you that too."
He grimaced."Yes, they have. But we cannot waste resources to essentially babysit him."
Sareena now arched her own eyebrow."Ensuring he does not make yet another crucial mistake is hardly a waste. Frankly, in case we haven't already made it clear, we consider him infantile enough to require constant monitoring." She scoffed as she finished speaking.
He gave the deepest sigh Frost had ever heard him emit."Please," he implored."I need you to trust me. I will make certain he does not cause trouble, and if I fail, then he will answer to you, a promise I have conveyed to him already."
Frost and Sareena exchanged tired glances. Sareena shut her eyes. Frost rubbed a hand down her face, taking that time to lower her mask due to having felt suffocated by it as sweat suffused her facial features thanks to this altercation, which she acknowledged was in part her fault. The groan Sareena let out from beside her indicated that she shared the feeling.
Frost grunted."Whatever," she tiredly conceded."Let's get this discussion over with so we can get started on our own preparations." She moved her hands behind her back and stretched her arms to ease the tension in her body."But don't expect us to be sorry."
"Make certain Scorpion is perfectly aware of this," Sareena hoarsely added, having restarted massaging the bridge of her nose.
Raiden gave them a rueful, wan smile."Naturally." After a moment, he exhaled."I do not believe there is anything else for us to discuss today. Now that we have established the situation and what you must focus on, I bid you farewell and good luck. Until tomorrow." Sareena and Frost simply gave curt nods in response before at last ending this (to put it mildly) stress-inducing call.
The duo took a moment to fully calm down, deciding to sit on a nearby bench, their mental and physical tiredness making them wobble as they were sitting down. They let out simultaneous sighs. Sareena leaned forward to plant her elbows on knees and then rested her chin on her palms. Frost leaned backward until the back of head lightly touched the wall as she began stretching her arms and legs.
Neither knew how long the silence lasted, though it felt like forever. Eventually, Frost decided to break it."Hey, Sareena?" she tentatively spoke. Sareena jerked to attention and her head turned so swiftly to Frost that it was a wonder she hadn't hurt it. With her mask off, Frost was painfully aware that Sareena could see her biting an already injured lip."Thanks for earlier." Her voice had dropped to a murmur.
Sareena blinked, taking a second to process what she'd just heard, and then a small smile graced her face. Her expression conveyed that she thought Frost silly to say that. Reaching out, she patted Frost's shoulder."Whatever are teammates for? You did the same for me."
Frost made a quiet, grim sound. She supposed the other woman was correct; she had touched her shoulder when the latter expressed worry for their new course of action. It wasn't much compared to Sareena's complete absence of hesitation when she supported her, but she now felt pride that it meant something to her teammate.
Then she recalled another detail, and immediately her eyes narrowed at the memory:
Sareena had looked at Raiden with suspicion, and that action had actually been the second reason that inspired Frost to comfort her. That, in addition to the way Raiden had gazed upon Frost herself, filled the cryomancer with discomfort. What had caused the demoness and later the deity to do those things? Had Raiden been trying to ignore Sareena by briefly focusing on Frost instead? Perhaps because Frost's body language had been, and still was, more clearly agitated? Sareena seemed suspicious whereas Raiden seemed intrigued.
"You don't believe him," she surmised without looking at her.
Sareena blinked again before she fathomed what she'd heard. She lowered her gaze and chewed her lip. When she responded her voice was soft."He is hiding something. He knows more about Kuai Liang than he is letting on."
"If so, that would definitely apply to Scorpion too," Frost said, now openly skeptical and further agitated. She hugged herself."I don't like where this is heading."
"Does anyone?" Sareena responded, hugging her knees to her chest.
"He's right about the Tengu, though," Frost said as she began vexedly tapping her foot."That weasel Wu Lae is a bigger chaotic moron than Scorpion; he simply has more guts." She snorted."Not that that's a hard trait to develop, assuming he wasn't born with it."
Sareena chuckled."Do not even get me started on that." She hummed thoughtfully, taking a few seconds to be certain of what she was about to suggest. After a moment of unease, she firmly spoke:
"Kuai Liang would not want us to shirk our duty...nor be blindly obedient."
Frost widened her eyes as she fully turned sideways in her seat to face Sareena."We split up," she said in realization of Sareena's suggestion."One half focuses on guarding and readying our clan for the Tengu." She paused and smirked."While the second half quietly investigates Raiden's claims."
Smiling, Sareena nodded."Precisely what Kuai Liang might suggest."
Frost's smirk became a wide grin from ear to ear. She was disappointed that she hadn't been closer to Sareena prior to this. Sareena definitely knew Kuai Liang better than anyone else within their clan, and Frost enjoyed the idea of using his own tactics to further prove that Scorpion was an untrustworthy wretch. This might also mean that she at last had a chance to establish where she stood in her clan and their dynamic as mentor and student.
The two exchanged a long look before simultaneously nodding. Then they stood up with much straighter postures than earlier and hurried to gather their clanmates to inform them.
Of course, the question remained as to who would lead which role, but they'd figure that out soon enough.
At the Kang Temple, the primary master and leader Shujinko and the occasional visitor Kai were conversing with Raiden via hologram call. Both sat with their knees and legs tucked underneath them, one sitting at Raiden's right and the other at his left.
"Are you certain the Kamidogu are uninvolved?" Shujinko questioned, an anxious flicker flashing in his eyes. Over the years, he had learned how to school his emotional displays, a necessary skill for a high-ranking head in charge of this revered place. However, that did not mean he became a robot. The Kamidogu were, to put mildly, a sore spot for him, memories of being Onaga's unwitting pawn for the majority of his lifetime and Havik's brainwashed minion during the events of the Blood Code haunting him. Ten years had passed since the disappearance of Dragon King's essence and seven years since the death of the Cleric of Chaos. He still endured nightmares and nervous breakdowns, just far less often than in the past.
Raiden nodded, giving him a comforting and somber smile. He understood Shujinko's pain in that subject better than anyone else."Master Hasashi has gotten back to me and confirmed that the Kamidogu remain safely hidden."
It was Raiden that Shujinko had to thank for saving him and the realms from Onaga's return. Shujinko had been halfway done with the quest when the Thunder God confronted him, explaining his visions and warning him that 'Damashi' was in fact the Dragon King Onaga's essence in disguise. Damashi (if he should even call him that anymore) denied the accusation, but his words fell on deaf ears and soon he realized there was no swaying Shujinko into believing him. He vanished, declaring that this would not be their last meeting. Raiden had entrusted Shujinko to protect the Chaosrealm Kamidogu and lead the Kang Temple to atone for the years he wasted as a pawn, but later Havik had emerged and claimed many victims for his blood magik scheming, including Shujinko and his subordinates. It didn't torment him quite as much as the earlier manipulation, as he was aware that almost all of his allies suffered similar fates at the Cleric's hands, but it was a close second.
Shujinko inclined his head, an acceptance of the reassurance despite the natural anxiousness remaining in his heart and mind.
Kai lifted his chin as he studied the hologram. Ever since the defeat of Shao Kahn twenty-two years ago, his relationship with Raiden had been...well, he was unsure how he should describe it.
Kai had once been part of the White Lotus Society, alongside Liu Kang and Kung Lao. When news of their deaths during the war with Outworld was revealed, he had been overwhelmed with a painful mixture of emotions, grief the foremost one. He could not stay with the White Lotus Society afterwards; the memories were too painful. Nor could he look Raiden in the eye without having to resist the urge to attack him. The rational part of him knew Raiden genuinely regretted the deaths of his allies and was not to blame while the emotional part of him wanted to wrap his hands around the Thunder God's throat.
And so he left, traveling the world on a quest for self-enlightenment, trying to find his place in the world and a way to move on from his grief. Of course, he could not abandon his old home, keeping in touch with Bo' Rai Cho and occasionally speaking with Fujin. Every few months, he would visit the Kang Temple and had developed a camaraderie with Shujinko. Raiden, however, he avoided like a plague. He truly wanted to forgive Raiden, yet grief prevented him from doing so. Raiden understood, letting him have his space and never pursuing him.
Despite his mixed feelings toward Raiden, he still had a tentative form of respect for him, and did not wish for others to suffer his turmoil. He was the one who finally convinced Kung Jin to accept Raiden's invitation to join the Shaolin, and he kept tabs on the young man to ensure the cousin of one of his best friends was alright.
Kai had assisted in the fight against Shinnok during the fallen Elder God's first invasion by fighting alongside Bo' Rai Cho on the sidelines. He left as soon as Shinnok was defeated, ignoring Bo' Rai Cho's pleas that he speak with Raiden.
What could he say? Oh, Raiden, I wish I could forgive you for unintentionally causing the deaths of my two closest friends, but every time I see you, I want to strangle you! Now that would have been a lovely choice of words, Kai sarcastically mused.
The second Netherrealm conflict occurred too quickly for Kai to react, so he decided to revisit the Kang Temple and assist with recuperation. And now here he was, learning that the situation had become twice as painful thanks to Outworld.
Kai was tempted to speak up, but could not come up with any words. Shujinko met his gaze over the hologram, careful and swift so that Raiden would not notice. Something about the gesture indicated that there was something else troubling him and he was asking Kai to let him take the lead in this conversation. With equal carefulness and swiftness, he nodded in reply.
"Where shall we go from here?" Shujinko asked.
Raiden kept his attention on Shujinko, likely because he was nervous about directly communicating with Kai."During these last several days as I was recovering, I have been contemplating reaching out to other realms. We cannot hope to fight threats such as Outworld alone, a fact I am certain has become clear to us all by now."
Both Shujinko and Kai nodded in agreement, although the former was particularly cautious and uneasy about which realm Raiden could be referring to. A knot twisted in his gut as he awaited the answer, and it tightened when his suspicions were confirmed:
"I believe that Seido, otherwise known as Orderrealm, would be an ideal ally."
Shujinko was only half-surprised to hear that, and quite displeased."Hotaru," he said, not requiring elaboration as to why that would be problematic.
Raiden gave him another smile, this one strained as Shujinko was now narrowing his eyes."I completely understand your unfortunate history. But you were comrades in the past, until a simple misunderstanding."
Shujinko gave a rueful sigh."That is one manner of putting it." His mouth formed into the shape of a thin line."He wanted me dead, and I've no interest in granting him that. I am far from perfect, but I shall stand by my opinion of him as the most hypocritical man I have met. Even the Cleric," he paused to cringe afore finishing,",possessed a method to his madness." He sighed once more."That being said, I understand why you would be interested in seeking him out, but I urge you to be cautious for everyone's sakes."
Raiden gestured toward Shujinko."It is because you are more familiar with him than anyone else within our ranks that I am sharing this with you first."
Shujinko straightened his back, again narrowed his eyes, and tightened his fists that were resting on his lap and gathering fistfuls of his clothing. Kai glanced at him and then at Raiden, inkling to speak up yet still unsure what he could or should say as well as feeling tentative to break his silent promise. His mixed distrust for Raiden made his own gut twist into knots.
"I assume you would like me to be an...ambassador, or go-between to put it less formally," Shujinko stated, vexation flashing in his eyes."Need I remind you that, former comrade or not, he wanted me dead?" Acid subtly entered his inflection."I would not put it past him to try to spin that my execution would be for the greater good, given my...mistakes..." He trailed off with a sigh and lifted his gaze.
Raiden scoffed."By that logic, he ought to condemn me just as much, if not doubly so, for my own great lapses in judgment." He glanced sideways with a frown. Then he looked back to Shujinko with a rueful half-smile."I am not guaranteeing anything, I merely ask that you keep an open mind if and when that occurs."
Shujinko once again pressed his lips into a thin line and glanced to the side afore giving a minuscule, almost imperceptible, nod. Raiden inclined his head as a silent gesture of appreciation for the trust and compliance.
"And on that note," Raiden went on whilst folding his arms over his chest,", I do not think there is anything else to discuss here, for now. We shall speak again later."
Shujinko nodded again, not uttering a syllable as the call ended. He waited a minute before sighing and disappointedly stating,"He has already made that decision, he is merely hoping to back me into a corner."
Given his emotional train-wreck regarding his dynamic with Raiden, Kai did not feel he had a right to comment on that plausibility; he flat out did not trust himself. He settled for a simple response:"So it is definitive that you'll be going there," he mused. It soon occurred to him that it was rather unexpected of Shujinko to confess mistrust for Raiden.
Shujinko folded his arms over his chest. His face now wore a somber expression. As if reading Kai's mind, he tentatively muttered,"I do not understand why, but," he paused, and his voice shook slightly as he finished,"since the beginning of that call, I felt...ill. Faint, but it grew painful as we went on. I-I have not felt this unwell since..." He paused and closed his eyes,"Damashi. I really ought to cease referring to him by that name."
"Shujinko-" Kai began, only to trail off and bite his lip, feeling more lost than he had in years.
"I fathom your own conflicts with him," Shujinko spoke as he stood, and Kai also stood."I obviously do not wish to jump to conclusions, I owe much to Raiden, but there has to be something amiss that he is holding back or twisting." He swallowed thickly."I owe him the benefit of the doubt. Yet I owe the realms a reassurance that my failures will not risk dooming us all ever again."
Kai folded his arms behind his back."Then what are we to do?" he wondered aloud.
By this point, Kai was following Shujinko to a desk. Shujinko hesitated for a moment, but then his features adopted a grave look and he reached for a quill and paper, carefully beginning to write. After a few minutes, he nodded to himself in self-affirmation, then looked back to Kai, who instantly understood what he meant to do.
"Going to Seido is inevitable," Shujinko began as he folded the paper in half."Raiden will be reluctant to keep you too nearby."
"Vice versa," Kai added. He glimpsed at the letter."To Seido?" he rhetorically inquired, as willing to assist his comrade as to be farther from Raiden. He accepted the parchment, bringing it near his eyes as he was noticing a name and directions for the recipient scribbled onto the outer part
Shujinko carefully explained:"An...acquaintance of mine tends to frequent that area, easy to find. Mention my name; that should bring cooperation, and contact me once you have succeeded." He handed him a small communication device.
Kai examined the paper for a few more seconds before meeting his gaze and nodding."Good luck with Raiden," he told him.
"Good luck to all of us," Shujinko solemnly responded. He had enough sorceries to open a general portal to Seido, and soon Kai had departed.
In spite of the fact that Li Mei had been lying on a cot for the last hour, her restlessness was intense as ever. With a sigh, she sat up, hugged her knees to her chest and then rested her chin on them.
Peace of mind was a foreign concept. This was the price for her duty as chieftess and protecter to the people of Sun Do.
It was why she ordered their flight to Earthrealm to escape the increasingly intense civil war, particularly to avoid Mileena's wrath thanks to that madwoman getting ahold of one of the most dangerous weapons in all the realms and as usual focusing on whomever was nearby.
She supposed she should not be shocked her kin were stuck into the middle of a tyrant's sadism. They had dealt with the mad empress for a long time and her thrice mad father for far longer. Zero tears were shed when those tyrants got their just desserts. No, that was incorrect, hundreds of joyous tears were shed.
In hindsight, Li Mei had to wonder if Mileena would have targeted them anyway, to punish Li Mei for so-called treachery. And by 'treachery', she meant her refusal to break down and give those monsters what they wanted from her, and by extension from her people.
The village's previous leader had died mere weeks prior. Li Mei was elected to succeed him thanks to her often assisting him in his own duties, to the point of essentially leading alongside him. She was younger than most that had been elected in the past, but they were adamant that she earned it, and that doubled her determination and devotion. She lived up to it the night Shao Kahn attacked and the years to come.
The emperor had been seeking something smaller to satisfy his bloodlust between tournaments, even if it would be too easy a conquest. They must have been the first thing he randomly noticed and decided to target.
One minute everyone was gathered at the center exchanging amusing stories, the next there were his men bursting from all sides, disrupting what had been a peaceful and happy evening. Screams filled the air, blood covered the area, the chaos an odd mix of painfully slow and ridiculously fast.
There was only so much they could do to resist, even the chieftess herself. Men and elderly were slaughtered, women and children forced to kneel. But even then, Li Mei was quick to act, managing to free herself from the lackeys restraining her, and running in front of her people to act as a shield. She was unhesitant as she stared him down and calmly stated she was the one in charge. She correctly predicted what would be done to her in response, and she was glad for it.
The villagers were put in cages and the chieftess chained, her bonds connected to the cages behind her. She was forced to drag the weight of her imprisoned loved ones during the journey to the palace, Shao Kahn on his steed taunting and whipping her the whole way. She said nothing, shed no tears, alternating between glancing back to see how her loved ones were enduring the journey and moving forward, and held her head high.
Never would they break her. They were the weaklings, having broken themselves long before they met. They coped with their pathetic weakness by doing worse to others. She enjoyed denying them those earnings. How easy it was to reveal the fools that possessed less maturity and intelligence than children. Shao Kahn was harder to expose than Mileena, but not by much.
They wished to destroy the chieftess first, in order to make it easier to mentally destroy the rest of Sun Do people. Better to savor their victory that way. An interesting idea, but it required patience they did not really have.
For years, the chieftess was chained in the coliseum, tortured and put on display during fights. Sometimes she was there, sometimes in a cell with her people. Everyday grew more intense for her torture, and so did their indignation at her endurance. Seeing their frustration strengthened her resolve, ensuring that her people did not break.
Shao Kahn, vexed though he was, did not pay anywhere near as much attention to them as his heir ended up doing. At the time, there was nothing of concern for Mileena, at least not anything she valued, and she had seen enough of Li Mei's defiance to be driven mad by it.
Thrice a week, the empress would approach Li Mei while she was chained at the coliseum. She bit and scratched her, and slashed and stabbed her with her sai. Attacking her with a longsword or the hammer were obviously not options; killing her would ruin the whole point. Li Mei remained stoic as ever the entire time, retaining eye contact and staying stiff as a board, a mask concealing her satisfaction, and even a smidgen of amusement, at Mileena's tantrums. It drove her even madder.
Then, it suddenly ceased, the painful routine finally reaching an end. She remembered yelling all around the idea, relief and triumph over Mileena being overthrown, even though she had escaped and went on to build a rebellion. Still, it was a start, and that was worth celebrating.
Kotal Kahn immediately began freeing prisoners. Li Mei was again chained at the coliseum at the time, disoriented and half-asleep as she tried to register what had been happening. Kotal roused her and freed her from her chains, then personally carried her to the dungeons where her people had been kept, handing her the keys so she could do the honors herself. She would never forget that, giving him her support and receiving a spot as a speaker amongst various villages as the new ruler was established.
Li Mei would and could never describe anyone as flawless, particularly leaders, a standard she held to herself too. That was why she did her best to ensure that those in charge remained honorable and competent. At first, they could handle Mileena's rebellion, then it all changed once Shinnok's amulet entered the picture.
Practically everything and everyone became scattered. Sun Do and several other villages were spared no mercy from this new turning point of the war. Li Mei was quick to get her people out, knowing there was nothing to be done by nor for them. And so here they were.
Li Mei let out another sigh as she got out of bed and went outside. Her clanmates were resting, enjoying a peaceful respite from the previous horrible days. Hard though it may be for their leader to rest, it relaxed her to know that they were safe and sound. The Special Forces welcomed and took proper care of them; she was eternally grateful to them for that.
Still, her thoughts lingered on Outworld. She would not deny that the emperor deserved punishment or rejection from Earthrealm, and from the villages he failed. But she hesitated to toss aside an old friend, and for some reason, she could not shake off a bad feeling about Raiden.
She crossed one arm over her chest, rested the elbow of her other arm on it, and rested her chin on it. She gave a thoughtful hum as she pondered. Unconsciously, her fingers started tapping her chin. Her people owed Raiden their gratitude as much as they did to Sonya Blade. Yet an uncertainty remained toward the deity.
There had to be more to the story that he was telling them. She had not ever shared the typical ill will and mistrust of Outworlders toward Earthrealm. She felt faith in the Special Forces, particularly Sonya Blade. Raiden, however, was making her feel increasingly uncomfortable. Not quite a dangerous feeling, but an unpleasant one nonetheless.
Honestly, he wasn't obligated to give her a complete explanation. Yet he had to have known this would reach her. Surely, he would not and could not think to alter certain details depending on the audience. That would guarantee a need for suspicion.
She stiffened, guiltily wondering if she maybe did qualify as a distrustful Outworlder. But she had not previously experienced such a feeling.
She knew Bo' Rai Cho well, and by extension was aware of his friendship and loyalty for Raiden. Somehow, that worsened her unease.
For the third time, she sighed, this one louder and deeper. She rubbed her eyes with her palms and stifled a yawn, all while resisting the urge to start pacing.
What should she do? Should she do anything? She hated sitting on her hands and doing nothing, but she was equally loath to stick her nose in others' business. Except this was her business. It involved her realm, and she had a right to keep aware of these things.
Perhaps subtlety was key here. She could look into it herself without interrupting the main investigation. Plus, she figured she owed an old friend the benefit of the doubt.
Li Mei glanced at the sky, hesitating for a minute afore nodding in self-affirmation. She headed back inside to begin planning.