A/N here is the third installment! A bit of a shorter chapter this time around, but this is, at least in my opinion, a very good set up for the next couple of chapters. I hope you guys have enjoyed reading this so far, it's been about 8 years since I've had the motivation to continue a story like I have with this one, and I already have a lot of it planned out. Expect another update before the month is out! Thank you all for reading!
"What are you doing here, Scorpion?" The question was both an accusation and genuine curiosity. Mileena had sat up, her brown eyes casting metaphorical daggers at the two men in front of her. Tanya stood by her side, her eyes following the empress, her expression the same towards the two Shirai Ryu it had always been. One of animosity, a feeling harbored in both experience and prejudice. The flicking light from the candle, the only light source in the rather desolate room, cast long shadows over the wooden walls, adding to the tense atmosphere.
"Empress Mileena" answered Kuai Liang, bending at the waist in a show of good faith. "It has been a long time." The grandmaster wanted to defuse the hostility in the room. Now that the empress was awake his confidence that Mileena would listen to reason and accept his and his clan's purpose for being in Outworld without her knowledge, began to falter. He wanted to avoid the very palpable possibility of bloodshed. Selfishly, he didn't want to lose Jalul. He had already lost enough men for one day.
The empress didn't respond to his pleasantries. Her stare was locked towards the grandmaster, her gaze hard, unkind, even. He couldn't blame her, at least not entirely. After all, she recently just got thrust into dealing with a revolt in her own empire, not to mention his own brother seemingly being a catalyst in the event. He suspected suspicion, anger, even. But now that he was faced with it, the hurdle of keeping the empress on his side seemed less certain to go the way he hoped.
"We are here for Bi Han" Kuai Liang answered simply, when it was clear the empress wasn't going to respond to his attempt at a greeting. Mileena continued to stare him down. The grandmaster took this as an invitation to explain further. He took a step forward, making sure Jalul was behind him in case things didn't go the way he hoped.
"Scouts from my clan had tracked a Lin Kuei supply party out of their last bastion and deep into the forests of Japan" he started. "They witnessed them using a portal, clearly to another realm, but to which we weren't certain. The team I sent through had reported back that the portal's connection was in Outworld, nestled in a grove just outside of Zaterra. I knew Bi Han was up to something, empress. The lack of his appearance in recent skirmishes, and at the major battle for one of their last holdouts, confirmed my suspicions that he was in fact here."
Mileena and Tanya listened intently as the grandmaster spoke. The empress had sat further up the bed, her legs lingering off the side as she gave him her full attention. Kuai Liang did the same, choosing to keep his eyes only on Outworld's ruler. To him, the Umgadi didn't even exist. The reason was one born of pettiness due to Tanya's attitude and his earlier declaration that he would only share his clan's purpose in Outworld to Mileena directly.
"Tomas and I decided that the best course of action was to eliminate Bi Han ourselves, without any knowledge of our presence either by Earthrealm or Outworld. After scanning maps of your realm, and our spies following the Lin Kuei as far as they safely could into Zaterra, we came to the conclusion that the Lin Kuei had situated themselves in Zulfan fortress. If my history is accurate, it was used by your military long ago to keep a zone of control in their newly conquered province.
I designated a small team to accompany us, while the rest of my clan continued to pressure and siege our enemy's final bastion in Earthrealm. We entered your realm the previous day and made our way through Zaterra and to Zulfan. We figured cutting the head off the snake would let the rest of the body wither and die, freeing us both from the cancer that now is the Lin Kuei. Along our journey, we came across a stopped convoy, surrounded by Zaterrans."
"And that would be us," Mileena asked, already knowing the answer. The grandmaster nodded.
"Yes, empress. When we saw your predicament, as well as my brother, we knew the only correct course of action was to intervene. But the Zaterrans were too numerous, and even with your influx of allies my Shirai Ryu and your Umgadi weren't able to hold. Tomas convinced us to retreat, covering our escape in the process. To our knowledge, we are the only four who escaped the ambush. I don't know if any others survived."
"And why, might I ask, did you choose not to inform me of your brother's presence in my empire? Why did you take it upon yourselves to handle what had clearly become an Outworld issue" accused Mileena, her voice as sharp as a knife's edge. Kuai Liang had expected this, however.
"Because it shouldn't have had to be your concern, empress. Bi Han, and by extension, the Lin Kuei, is an Earthrealm problem. The fact that they had infiltrated your empire shows a clear lack of control over the situation, from our perspective. We wanted to protect our image, while at the same time liberating your realm of their taint. If everything had gone according to plan, you would have never even known the Lin Kuei were here. And, as you requested all those years ago, I would have given you his head. Payment, for your mother's demise."
Mileena softened a bit at the mention of her mother. Ermac, under the control of Jerrod, held a position in her court. The ability to have her father, and late emperor of Outworld giving her counsel had been an invaluable asset to her rule. And every now and then, when her father could confirm there was no risk of losing control, her mother would come back. Though they didn't always see eye to eye Mileena missed her dearly.
"If I didn't already know you, Kuai Liang, I'd have ordered you killed. You should have informed me of Bi Han's presence. I would have mobilized my military to find and kill him. And maybe, this issue with the Zaterrans wouldn't have gone the way it did" she said, the word Zaterrans making her growl in anger. Tanya whirled about in shock.
"You believe him? You think his actions are justified? Empress, how-"
"Tanya!" The Umgadi took a step back, shock and anger painted across her face. "Your role as Umgadi is to protect the royal family, not advise it. If I wanted your input I would have asked for it. Do your job, and nothing more. Clearly your attention is too focused elsewhere, since our entire convoy just got dismantled by a group of Zaterran rebels!"
Jalul and Kuai Liang took a small step back, the empress's ire coming to the forefront. Mileena returned her attention to the Shirai Ryu as Tanya seethed. "Where exactly is here, anyway?"
"The city of Kaluk, your highness" answered Jalul, making himself known. Mileena regarded him coolly, her temper already having been flared by the priestess. Her eyes gazed over the ninja, sizing him up.
"And who are you, ninja? One of yours I'm assuming, Kuai Liang?"
Jalul bent at the waist, formally introducing himself. "Yes, empress, my name is Jalul. Jalul Kazumi. I was the one who carried you out of the fighting, and brought you to safety, with the Umgadi's assistance."
"Then it seems I owe you my thanks, Jalul." The ninja gave her a nod before she turned her attention back to Tanya. "Kaluk, then? We are less than a day's travel to Sun Do. We will make for the palace at first light. I want your priestess mobilized and ready to move. I will discuss with Kitana, and consolidate multiple of our legions from the major cities around the capital. We will march on Zaterra, crush their insolent rebellion, and destroy the Lin Kuei." Tanya nodded in understanding, her face still betraying her aggravated temper.
"Empress, if I may" started the grandmaster. Mileena nodded for him to continue. "We have grossly underestimated my brother's foothold here in Outworld. Allow me to supplement your forces. I shall travel back to Earthrealm, leaving Jalul as my envoy, and gather my men. I will split them, half dedicating themselves to continuing the siege of the Lin Kuei's final bastion in Earthrealm, the rest joining myself and your military to crush them once and for all."
Mileena regarded him for a moment, clearly considering the offer. "No" she stated, shaking her head. "I appreciate the offer, Kuai Liang, but this is an Outworld problem now. I do not want, or need, more Earthrealmers running around my empire. To second that, I don't want Earthrealm to be involved any further in Outworld's affairs. Your clan has no business in Zaterra, or assisting us in putting down this insurrection. We will manage just fine, without your support."
"Empress, this is an Earthrealm blunder. Allow me to repay our mistakes. My men will not replace your forces, merely be attached to them. Allow us to correct where we had previously failed."
"No, Scorpion. If you and Jalul wish to march with us, I will allow it. But I will not have you lead your clan into my realm, even if it would be under my endorsement. I will handle this, it is my problem now." The grandmaster inclined his head respectfully. He could understand Mileena's position.
"I understand, empress. Me and Jalul will join you, then, if the invitation still stands. As it currently sits, our mission is still moving forward. Not the direction I would have preferred, but nonetheless Jalul and I would see this through to the end. The Shirai Ryu who lost their lives today deserve our victory."
"It does, Kuai Liang. All things considered, it will be good to work with you again. Capable warriors are few and far between these days." The grandmaster nodded his thanks, Jalul copying his motions. "Get some rest, the three of you. We move the moment the sun is peaking above the horizon and not a moment later."
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Tomas woke with a groan. His head throbbed, his sinuses congested and aggravated. His body felt like it was on fire, tingling all over. He tried to open his eyes, but his vision was incredibly blurry, and it made him nauseous. He began to take deep breaths through his mouth, trying to calm his racing mind. The last thing he remembered was Bi Han, punching him down to the ground.
The minutes passed painfully slow, not helped at all by the physical condition of his body. His wrists and feet were latched in place by restraints, spreading his limbs. He could feel splinters digging into his back, clearly locked onto a wooden table or pallet of some kind. Everything, every fiber in his body, hurt. But eventually, he was able to manage the throb in his head and attempted to open his eyes again.
The image was more clear now. He was in a dark, damp room. a lone candle from somewhere behind him illuminated the chamber, exposing moldy cobblestone and tables covered in dry blood, surgical tools scattered about. Rusted chains hung from the ceiling, cuffs dangling freely at the end of their lengths. The constant dripping of nearby water on stone was the only discernible noise he could make out.
"Master…" croaked a dry, hoarse voice to his left. Tomas attempted to look over, but the wooden table he was confined to coupled with the metal cuff around his neck prevented him from getting a look. As he strained his ear he could just barely make out the labored breathing of another individual. He was obviously not alone.
"Hanashi?" He asked, surprised by how hoarse his own voice sounded. Speaking made him acutely aware of how much his throat burned. He attempted to clear it, trying to cough the itch away, but the action only made the newly felt pain rise even further. His face contorted in discomfort at the feeling.
"Yes, master Tomas…it's me" Hanashi responded. From somewhere further in the dungeon roars and screams could now be heard, accompanied by the loud bangs of closing doors and shifting bar slides. Wherever they were, it wasn't good. Tomas attempted to flex his wrists, testing the cuff's strength. No matter how he tugged and pulled the cuffs stayed rooted to the wood.
"Where are we?"
"I don't know" croaked Hanashi. "I woke up some time ago. I can almost make you out fully from where I'm positioned. I haven't seen anyone since I've been conscious. Just the screams and roars…and that damned water." The dripping was growing increasingly aggravating, thought Tomas. He didn't blame Hanashi's venom towards the noise.
The loud footfalls from outside the chamber began to overtake the dripping of the water, growing closer and closer. Tomas gave a final tug on his constraints and huffed in aggravation when it was abundantly clear he wasn't going to snap them. The steps stopped just outside the chamber. The sound of a large, old locking mechanism clicking open reverberated around the moldy cobblestone.
"We have company" croaked Hanashi. Tomas kept his eyes focused on the door as it creaked and swung open. Bi Han entered first, dressed in his Lin Kuei attire. Behind him was what could only be described as a mechanical monstrosity. The figure was bipedal in form, with a metallic grey coloration. As the figure turned in his direction, following the grandmaster, he was able to make out a deep blood-red glow that sat where its eyes should be. Its mouth was covered by a grill, a faceplate that hummed with energy.
"Ah. Our Shirai Ryu dogs are awake" stated Bi Han as he came to a stop in front of Tomas. Hanashi made a sound from off to his left, a glob of saliva hurtling through the air and landing squarely on the grandmaster's chest. His face, mostly covered by his mask, contorted in anger. He wiped the spittle from his vest, turning to the metallic from beside him. "He will be first. Wheel him out to the operation chamber."
"Yes, grandmaster" came the robotic growl from behind the face plate. The heavy metallic footfalls went behind Tomas's vision, the noise of rusted wheels running over cobble filling the chamber. He could see Bi Han watching with satisfaction as Hanashi was being dragged away. The man audibly attempted to struggle, his restraints rattling against the wooden backdrop violently. The heavy door slammed shut behind the robotic figure, leaving Tomas and Bi Han alone.
"What do you mean by operation chamber" Tomas growled. Bi Han's eyes lit up in a smile as he towered over his adoptive brother. He bent at the waist, his face peering over him with an expression of sick superiority. One of his hands gripped his forearm, instantly chilling his skin.
"It's the final stage for our new Lin Kuei recruits, brother. The results have been incredible." Bi Han removed his hand, standing himself to full height in front of Tomas. "This is what will propel us out of our stagnation. It will lead us to greatness, to bending the realms knees at our feet."
"What are you talking about" he seethed, his eyes shooting daggers at the grandmaster. Being so close to the traitor, yet completely at his mercy, was torture. It fueled a fire deep in his chest, a devastating blaze that burned at his heart. He wanted nothing more than to slice into his jugular with his karambit.
"The cyborgs" he answered, sounding full of himself. "It's the pinnacle of human design. Completely loyal warriors, unlike you and Kuai Liang. Fighters that feel no pain, no mercy, no hesitation. Enhanced far beyond what is capable of an ordinary man."
"You…you're mutilating your own clan? What is wrong with you!" The grandmaster laughed, enjoying the look of disgust that spread over his face. "Let me go! Let Hanashi go! Kill us if you must, but where is your honor? You're going to mutilate a prisoner of war?"
"Honor? You dare to speak to me of honor," roared Bi Han, connecting a right hook to Tomas's cheek. The blow caused his teeth to bite into his lip, his face not being able to absorb the blow as it was held in place by restraints. Blood and spittle flew from his mouth, spraying against the pallet and his arm. The throb in his head came back with an immediate vengeance, his vision going blurry once again.
"You betrayed your oaths! You turned your back on your grandmaster, on the Lin Kuei. And you have the nerve to speak to me about honor? The irony is sickening, brother." Bi Han sprung forward, his icy palms encompassing his forearms in such a way that the numbing cold spread throughout Tomas's body.
"You and Hanashi will be transformed into something so much greater than you have ever thought possible. You will serve the Lin Kuei better than you ever did before. You will bend your knee to me once more, Tomas. And you will personally end the insult of a clan you and Kuai Liang erected to battle me."
Bi Han released his icy grip, his stare cold. He studied the still reeling Tomas, the weak, not loyal, worthless man he was in his eyes. He watched as he groaned and clenched his eyes shut. A disgusting display of weakness. It was not something he would tolerate. Tomas would be better than ever, he would make sure of that.
He spun on his heel and marched out of the dark chamber. He would leave the ninja in his confinement until the other Shirai Ryu was done with his procedure. Until he too was transformed into something better. Earthrealm would be his, and he wouldn't rest until it was. As the door slammed shut, the lock clicking into place, Tomas could hear the screaming of Hanashi begin.
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They rode hard. The beasts panted beneath them wildly, kicking up clouds of dust as they galloped down the road. Their pace was steady, an even mixture of sprints followed by trots, which were only done to allow the horses a chance at reprieve. Tanya had her arms wrapped around her empress, Jalul and Kuai Liang on their own steeds.
They had left the town in the early morning, as previously planned. The animosity Tanya felt towards the two Shirai Ryu didn't falter in the slightest, but the relationship was cordial between them and the empress. As far as Kuai Liang was concerned that was all that mattered. The opinion of the priestess was of no concern and of zero consequence.
The afternoon sun beat down relentlessly, only alleviated by a cool breeze that zipped through the trees. The forest had spread the closer they got to Sun Do, the trees encroaching less and less on the border of the road than before. The biome was slowly but surely changing yet again. From the humid swamps of Zaterra to the dense forests and rolling hills around Kaluk, to the sparsely vegetated grasslands that surrounded the capital city of Outworld.
"Over that hill," started the empress as the group slowed their horses yet another time. "We should be able to see Sun Do from its crest. When we reach the other side we will resume our haste, the downhill sprinting will be easier on the horses." She bent down and patted her beast's neck as it panted and neighed.
Mileena's three companions voiced their agreement before continuing in silence. All four were sore, the pace that they had been keeping up wasn't easy on their bodies. The promise of real food and, in the Shirai Ryu and priestess's case, a real bed to sleep on lifted their spirits considerably. It was only a matter of a few hours before they could take a much-needed reprieve, to tend to their wounds and ease their bodies.
As the group crested the hill and laid their eyes on Outworlds' capital, their hopes were slashed. Smoke rose from the city in various places, and fires could be seen raging against the backdrop. Wordlessly they started back into a sprint, Mileena's mind whirling with the sudden revelation. Sun Do was on fire.