Chapter 18: I Need To Know
Raiden's Temple
"Excuse me," Stryker said as he approached Johnny Cage. "Is Sonya doing alright?"
Cage held up his hand to wave Stryker off. "Hey, I don't speak Pig Latin." He chuckled; despite the fact it made Stryker appear pretty angry. "Nah, I'm kiddin'. She's fine. She said she wouldn't touch me if she lost both her eyes and needed my face to read brail. She's perfectly fine."
Stryker placed a hand on Cage's shoulder. "Thanks. If the medics are done with her, tell them Kabal needs a little more help. Nothing serious."
"Yeah, no prob." Cage shrugged his shoulders as he turned his attention to all the others gathered.
Just moments after Cage made his remarks, lightning struck the center of the expansive stone floors of the temple. Appearing with Raiden were dozens of Edenian and Lin Kuei warriors, as well as Mileena, Kitana, Jade, Sub-Zero and crew.
As soon as Jade realized they'd been transported, she looked around for the rest of their army. "Where are the others?"
"In the upper levels," Raiden responded as he regained his breath. "It took a great deal of my power to move so many of you. I had to break you all up into groups." The Thunder God placed his hand against his forehead as he felt another pinch of pain enter his mind. Yet another Raiden, and another realm had fallen. He tried to shake it off, but the threat was getting stronger. He clearly saw the champion who fell this time…it had been Sub-Zero. "We must wait until the Soulnado is completed…and Kahn's fortress is erected."
"Why do we have to wait?" Jax spoke up as he approached Raiden and the arriving group. "I've got family out there! You saying I have to let them die?!"
There was no easy way to answer him. Raiden hung his head as he responded. "I can only protect those who can fight for us. I am sorry." He cast his glance off to the side toward Mileena and Sub-Zero. "They will be restored…all of them. Only if we successfully defeat Shao Kahn once and for all." As for the imminent threat crashing the realms…that would have to be dealt with as it arrived. He did not speak of that just yet.
"I'm supposed to just accept that?" Jax was getting furious, as were some of the other warriors who had just considered their families were about to have their souls taken.
"We really don't have a choice." Kung Lao spoke calmly. "We must allow this victory to save our souls."
Liu Kang moved through the group, but hopped up onto one of the many wooden tables inside to stand over most of his allies. "We will fight as soon as the Soulnado is no threat to us. We follow Raiden for this, but after it is settled, we wait no longer." He looked over them all, hoping to inspire the group. When his eyes settled upon Kitana, he froze up for a breath of time, but proceeded. "Our world is in the balance. Our time is pending an end, and we cannot put our lives in the hands of an immortal for everything. Raiden is a wise and powerful guide, yes, but it is not his world to lose. It is ours!"
Kitana nodded her head at Liu Kang's words. He was…always ready to die for the Earth. It was strange that she helped him defend the one thing that kept them from being together. The group was rallied, at least those who were from the Earth. The Edenians and Outworlders among them seemed simply happy to assist. The one thing that bothered Kitana was the lingering issue with the past of Edenia with Jade…and the fact none of what was happening before them now hadn't happened this way before.
Liu Kang's speech continued, but Kitana's mind was drifting. She saw Mileena was happily tending to Sub-Zero as the speech went on, and Jade remained to herself off to the side, much like Frost on the other side of the room. Fukushu sat with her legs crossed in the center of the room near Raiden, and Sareena lingered close by Sub-Zero, Smoke, and Mileena. However…,Skarlet was always near Kitana no matter where she went.
Once the speech was over, Liu Kang stepped down and was immediately among the other Earthrealm warriors. It was a suggestion of Kung Lao's that they all participate in friendly spars to get themselves prepared. Of course…Liu was now busy. As the group dispersed around the temple more, Kitana was left to wander around.
After realizing she was being tailed by Skarlet, the princess turned to speak to her. "I take it you've words for me, or some unquenched curious thirst?" She turned and clasped her hands in front of herself to present a non-threatening stance. "Speak freely, please."
Skarlet squinted her eyes at Kitana and tilted her head. "We are not friends, Kitana. We trained together, or did you forget? You seem…off." She spoke in pure honesty. "I am here because of Ermac…a soul that resides within him has compassion for your safety." She sounded jealous, but not for romantic reasons. Ermac was like family to her, and the thought of being replaced made her very upset. "I am charged with keeping you safe until this is over."
There was a moment of silence between the two women. Kitana glanced over to Liu Kang encouraging Johnny Cage to continue his spar with Kung Lao…then back to Skarlet. "Of course I remember," Kitana said in half-truth, "I will be fine here, thank you."
There were no words. The red clad woman turned herself and walked toward the back of the temple to watch the spars. Kitana saw her off, but her eyes once again traveled to Liu Kang. It was painful to know that even if successful, she would never be near him as much as she was now. She was seeing him in his absolute prime; the happiest and strongest he'd ever been.
The love of her long life, the man she longed to touch, and the source of her greatest heartache. To touch him was to break her own heart knowing the eventual outcome if she did not stick to the course of time, but to deny herself was to inflict further doubts and regrets in her mind.
She had to turn her attention to something else.
She wandered past Frost who turned her chin up at her.
"Nice fighting, Princess. Keep your dog on a chain next time." Frost said while her eyes traveled across the room toward Mileena. "Before you get huffy with me, I want to tell you something." She motioned her head toward Sareena, who was across the room with Mileena and Sub-Zero.
Kitana approached, though she honestly wanted to crack Frost's skull.
"That thing that hit the tournament, she somehow stopped him." Frost spoke in a low tone. "She's connected to it somehow. I get the feeling that thing's going to come back, and if we try to kill it, Salt-and-Pepper hair over there is going to give us a hell of a knife in the back."
She hated to admit it to herself, but Frost did have a valid point. Kitana knew the look of love when she saw it. There was emotion between Sareena and Noob Saibot…and she never considered it becoming a potential risk to their fight. Sareena was never present during this time. "I will keep my eyes open, Frost." She spoke as politely as her current attitude for the further insult of her sister would allow. "Also, do not insult my sister again. We will get along fine. Goodbye."
As Kitana turned to leave Frost…the cold Kombatant waited until the princess was out of earshot to whisper 'Bitch' under her breath.
Quite some time had passed before the tournament between friends was over. Liu Kang emerged the victor with a very close contest against Kung Lao. Watching the two brought a smile to Kitana's face, but she remained off to the side to watch the reigning champion help his friend to his feet. There was no anger, just respect radiating off of their eyes. She felt the beating heart of a powerful dragon in them both, but the presence of Liu Kang was much more powerful.
It made her feel safe, even being several meters away from him. Kitana had to keep her mind on the task at hand and not compromise the timeline any further. She could never confess how she truly felt about Liu, and how she wished so deeply she could be with him for the rest of their lives.
She left the room as if something urgent was to be attended to after Liu met eyes with her.
Was she running away? Was she afraid to look at him? These questions floated through Liu Kang's mind as well as her own.
Kitana stepped through one of the open balconies and stood looking out over the mountains that kept them safe from Shao Kahn's treachery. Her fingers gripped the stone railing as her eyes watched the Soulnado whirling in the vast distance, drawing the clouds from every country around the globe. She could feel the souls in the air being ripped from the bodies of innocent people all over again. It was a horrific feeling.
As she closed her eyes, she recalled getting the news of Liu Kang's murder. She revisited the sorrow she felt in her heart, and the anger that led her to her own death at the hands of Quan Chi. To die, to be temporarily reunited with her lover in death, and then to be snatched away again…, and again was a horrible feeling. Her heart had put up with so much stress in their relationship on top of trying to keep her sister and friend on the same page as her.
She wanted to relax…she wanted to have a 'day off' as many people called it. However, there was no off days when even the smallest sentence or action could drastically change the future for everyone around her. She seemed to be the only one taking it seriously…she was even becoming mistrusting of Jade due to Nido suddenly being gone.
Her troubled mind became eased by the electric presence of Liu Kang looming behind her. Her hands crossed and her lungs took in a slow, deep gulp of air. Time was up for her and it was now time to speak with Liu Kang again.
"Kitana?" The Earthrealm Champion spoke as timid as a scolded dog approaching his master. He bowed his head respectfully to her, glancing up to her beautiful brown eyes once she turned to face him. "Forgive me for disturbing you. I was hoping to speak."
Kitana smiled and accepted his company with a nod of her head. She couldn't speak, so she hoped he understood her invitation as she turned to face the balcony again.
Liu folded his arms behind his back. His body language seemed to scream he was open to anything, that he was an open book waiting to be read by the princess. He looked at her more than he did the scenery. The dread the distance was facing somehow became less important than the sculpture of pure perfection near him.
"I…have thought about you." Liu confessed with a slightly bashful smile on his face. "I was hoping that perhaps…"
"Don't do this." Kitana spoke softly while her eyebrows lifted in sudden sorrow. She couldn't look at him now. All she kept thinking about was his eventual death. "Please." She pleaded gently, feeling as if she would shatter if another word left his lips.
Liu clearly read the situation. He seemed confused and his arms returned to hang at his sides. Urgently, he reached for her shoulder, but did not touch. "Kitana..I did not mean to offend." He regretted his words, and his heart suddenly sunk to his navel from what he felt to be foolishness on his behalf. He looked to the ground between them with his eyes scanning from side to side quickly to try and regain his thoughts. "I…I just thought we…could be friends." He recanted his obvious courting offer with a lump of regret lodged in his quieting tone.
"We are now, and always will be friends." Kitana confessed truthfully. "However, I know your feelings. I know them better than even you do." She finally faced him, doing a perfect job at holding her ocean of emotion back. "I want you to know that the feelings you conceal are mutual with mine. Now is just…it is just very dangerous."
The confusion remained on Liu's face. "Dangerous?" He questioned, as if oblivious to the workings of Kahn. "The emperor will be defeated." Liu pursed his lips tightly before continuing. "Once and for all." He spoke with authority and assurance in his tone. He had the fire of a dragon and the heart of a Lion beating inside of him.
The ferocious passion burning in Liu's veins was always reassuring to Kitana. Even if she knew it was him who defeated Kahn, she could not help but worry. "Earthrealm is where you belong, Liu Kang. It is where I cannot be once this is over. Would you have me suffer a lifetime of loneliness as you defend your realm valiantly? Is sorrow of your eventual loss of life a recompense for my unyielding need to be near you?" She was cracking, as was her voice. "I cannot do this. I cannot suffer anymore. I…I have to let you go." She spoke to him as if he was her Liu from the past timeline.
All of this was making Liu think Kitana had gone mad since their last encounter. He looked to her with his eyes gazing eternally into her very soul. He could see the tears screaming for freedom, tears that had waited ages to emerge from their prison for a breath of air. Even though he did not know the heartache Kitana had endured to this point, he could feel it. As if a new breath of life filled his heart. It felt as if another mind joined with his and brought an aching to his chest. He did not question it, but he felt something as he stood with Kitana.
He did not suddenly recall things he hadn't experienced, but he felt as if he'd realized what a terrible mistake he would make if he gained her heart and then dedicated his soul to Earth.
The choice was his to make, and as his large calloused hands found Kitana's shoulders, he made his decision. His thumbs worked over her fair skin in slow sweeps to calm the woman.
"You will not lose me." Liu said definitively. He lightly shook her as he stated it, as to show her he was serious. "I promise. Once this is over, there is no more left. If it means that you and I can become closer…I will follow you anywhere."
These were words Kitana selfishly wanted to hear for many years. She kept her eyes on his, almost unblinking from the surreal nature of this moment. Though it was her greatest desire, it was also a monumental dent she was going to put into the future of Earthrealm.
"I simply need to know…" Liu's serious expression soon to fade into one of uncertainty. "I simply need to know that it is possible for me to care for you. I need to know that it is possible for us to try to be. Through whatever faults we may have, whatever troubles lay ahead in the unknown. If I am to follow you Kitana, if I am to try this, I need to know that you will be willing to try as hard as I am."
"Liu Kang…" Kitana wanted to melt then and there. His words were tearing her apart inch by inch. She was starting to regret her prior statements. "You…do not know what troubles lay ahead."
"No one does." Liu responded with his hands lowering alongside her arms. "However, there is no progress without some digression. If we cannot overcome the troubles of fate, then we cannot be."
Kitana shut her eyes, now fighting her need to sob. "I need…time." She gently broke away from him. "…I am sorry. Excuse me…" The princess pinched the bridge of her nose and made haste to enter the temple again.
This left Liu Kang standing and watching her. Despite the sadness in his heart, he held some hope that one day he could properly ask Kitana to an evening out away from all of the troubles of the world. He turned his gaze away and over the spectacularly horrific view ahead of him. He now had his sights set on ending Shao Kahn to secure the future…
While the princess walked around to clear her mind, Fukushu remained seated near Raiden in silence. At least, silent until now.
"The Soulnado is completed now, is it not?" Harumi, whom used the code name 'Fukushu' spoke out to Raiden.
"It is…" The Thunder God responded after a moment of hesitation. Worry was laced in every word that left his lips, but his expression remained strong. "We must prepare to penetrate the first line of defense."
Reptile moved closer to Raiden, with Khameleon near him. "We volunteer to lead the assault from the shadows."
"As the last of out kind," Khameleon continued after Reptile. "We will fight our former oppressor in the name of Earthrealm."
"You will do no such thing!" Sheeva's voice boomed as she stepped forward with thunderous steps. "The Outworld forces will have your heads within the hour. You require one who knows their ways, and has the power to crush them! I will honor Earthrealm and my ancestors…"
"Not so hasty, Sheeva." Kenshi placed a hand on her lower right shoulder. "Whatever Raiden has planned, we will follow. Liu Kang and his…gung-ho warriors can do what they please, but I wish to follow Raiden's words."
"You ask me to dishonor my people, Kenshi?!" Sheeva looked down to the man with anger in her red eyes.
The blind man shook his head. "Not in the slightest, my friend. Like our friends here," He motioned his hand to Reptile and Khameleon. "I wish to lend my abilities to Raiden as best I can to make way for our final battle."
Li Mei wanted to add in her own opinion, but each time she tried to speak, she got a pinch in her stomach that made her shut up.
Since Li Mei didn't speak, Harumi stood. "We fight as a team." She looked between all of them. "We use the shadows, we use our power, our technique all as one and as Raiden requests. I will use the skills of the Shirai Ryu to aid you, my lord." She placed her fist over her heart and bowed before Raiden, swearing her allegiance.
"Why don't we…" Li Mei finally spoke. "Why don't we send a distraction and then send our real front line into the…main…place?"
Raiden considered everyone's thoughts and since he knew these warriors would follow his lead for certain, he felt the pressure of making the absolute best decision. If Liu Kang led this battle recklessly, he would certainly not be he who must win. However, if he was, if he was less than one hundred percent healthy, then he was surely going to fail.
"We must protect Liu Kang, no one under any circumstance must engage Shao Kahn but him." Raiden spoke the first order of business. "However, I have been corresponding mentally with one who will aid us. Once he completes phase one, we will attack Shao Kahn's fortress in New York. As Li Mei suggested…we will send all we have directly at the fortress and fight to the top." He looked to Sheeva next. "Goro and Kintaro may be present. We will need you to be our main line of assault against them." He now turned to Reptile and Khameleon. "You remain in the shadows and assist when needed. Be sure Liu Kang reaches the top, and be sure those who you stick with survive."
Harumi was now curious. She squinted her eyes at Raiden while inquiring his mystery assistant. "Who is it that assaults the Outworlders alone?"
There was a long pause as Raiden's white eyes glanced toward the ceiling. "Your husband."
"Hanzo?!" Harumi gasped!
Side Event #27: Sent To Destroy
New York City was now a desolate wasteland littered with corpses, abandoned vehicles and buildings, Tarkatans, Outworlders, and Shao Kahn's towering fortress in the very heart of the once great city.
All of Earth (with the exception of those in Raiden's temple) was dead. Not a human nor animal soul was left intact in the air, on the land, or even in the deepest reaches of the sea. Every soul, no matter how tall or small, was part of Shao Kahn's mighty Soulnado, courtesy of his Sorcerer Quan Chi.
Though the inner workings of the fortress remained a mystery to those standing guard outside, they knew many things were being put in place by Emperor Shao Kahn and his loyal servants.
Outside the fortress, Hsu Hao, Jarek, Kira, Kobra, and dozens of Tarkatan soldiers were on patrol outside of its walls. They were expecting Raiden's forces anytime, and was informed to slaughter them all on sight.
It was getting dark…and there was the eerie chill of death in the air. Kira was beginning to wonder just what Shao Kahn was planning to do now, and why it was so important a handful of survivors met their end at their hands. She was also curious as to why Ermac was suddenly called from patrol and summoned to the top floors…
"Hey." Jarek said in the silence of the evening light. "Hey Kobra. Hey."
"What the hell do you want?" Kobra snapped as he sat on the remains of a pick-up truck's broken-down seat.
"Hey, you think we're gonna be in the newspaper?" Jarek asked with a gruff chuckle following.
"Everyone's dead." Kobra said with a straight face. "I don't think we're going to be in anything here."
"Hey." Jarek spoke up again. "Hey Kobra."
"What?"
"Hey, do you think we could go grab an Ecksbawks while we're out here?" He seemed to get excited. "I couldn't afford one before, but they're free now, right?"
Suddenly one of the guards near them was gone. No one took notice yet.
"No, pinhead. There's no point and I'm sure there's no one running the electricity." Kobra palmed his head while looking to Kira for help. "Can you shoot this guy?"
"We're all sticking together." Kira folded her arms while pacing back and forth with her knife gently picking at the tips of her left hand's nails. "I'll just have Hsu Hao beat him up."
Two patrolling guards were now missing.
No one noticed.
"I always get the dirty work." The Mongolian man grunted in dissatisfaction as he sat and ate more of his rather cold sandwich. "Jarek may be useful yet in a fight. He did fairly well in the 'collection' process for the Soulnado." Hsu took another bite while propped up against a broken down bus stop near the bottom of the fortress.
Three additional guards had vanished in the corner of Hsu's eyes.
He was alarmed in the middle of his chew.
Kira's ears perked up as she heard the rattling of a chain. She stopped in the middle of her step and looked around. "We aren't alone." She said now drawing a second knife from her side. "Everyone! Stay close!"
Two more of their men suddenly vanished in a puff of smoke.
When Jarek noticed, he started to rush to get close to where Kira was standing, but felt something yank his collar upward. Everything was black for a split second, but when his surroundings became noticeable again…it was very deep red and shades of burning orange. He heard the wails of a legion of souls falling all around him. He felt the hellish heat licking beneath his feet as he dangled over a ledge, held by his collar.
"SO LONG, SUCKER." Scorpion's booming voice shouted to Jarek as he released him from where he dangled. He watched the man scream as he fell into the burning flames of the Netherrealm and joined the legion of burning, tormented souls.
"OH SH-!" Jarek shouted before he began screaming during his descent.
Satisfied with the dispatch of the man, Scorpion vanished in a puff of black smoke and was once again in Earth realm.
He sat perched in the sixth floor of an abandoned building and gazed from a broken window in the shadows.
"Where's Jarek?!" Kobra shouted out as he stood in panic. The remaining guards tried to secure the parameter, and Hsu Hao tried using the technologies mounted on his chest to sense out the intruder.
The black puffs of smoke came rapidly, plucking off the remaining help the group had. This panicked Kira.
"I'm going to send for reinforcements!" The woman called as she made a run for the fortress.
"Kira! Don't le-!" Kobra almost shouted out as a chain suddenly wrapped around his neck and yanked him up toward the building Scorpion hid inside of. The man was flung to the furthest wall inside the building and hit spine first through the dining room set inside the complex.
As he picked himself up with a pained groan and dozens of splinters sticking out of his left side, he looked up to see that he was facing a wall.
Scorpion's foot rammed at the back of his skull and smashed his face against the hard surface with enough force to fracture his skull with intricate webbing-like patterns. As the man fell unconscious, Scorpion vanished again.
Hsu Hao, who'd seen Kobra get yanked into the building, was on the defense. The remaining guards were fleeing, but Hsu was blindly shooting beams of pure energy into the air. The frontline of Kahn's defenses was not to go down without a fight!
It wasn't until he realized he was alone that he started to second guess his loyalties. Panicked, Hsu started to make a run for the fortress where the others were going. As he neared the entrance and safety, he felt a sudden pain in his spine.
SHINK!
A large kunai was embedded in his body and refused to dislodge itself.
"GET OVER HERE!"
Scorpion's commanding tone echoed through the wasteland as he yanked Hsu Hao back like a tiny dog on a leash. He yanked his Kunai out of the man's spine and let him roll and tumble through the dirty, duty streets and rip his own flesh on the unforgiving concrete.
Hsu finally landed on his front. His chest piece was badly damaged, and any thought of using it to attack Scorpion was immediately lost. Taking the route of cowardice, Hsu held his hands up for mercy. "Sp-spare me!" He begged. "Please! I will do anything!"
Scorpion stood with a curious look in his white eyes. His head slowly tilted to the right as he viewed Hsu. "YOU WILL BRING NOOB SAIBOT FORTH…" He spoke as he stepped closer.
"I…" Hsu panicked again. He started to scoot away from the specter in fear. "I do not know how to do that!"
"FORTUNATELY…I DO." Scorpion began to reach for the bottom of his mask…
Throughout the Fortress from the ground floor all the way to Shao Kahn's chambers…everyone heard the blood curdling screams of Hsu Hao as he burned. The emperor knew now Raiden had made his first move, and the Calvary was well on their way…
"Tell Quan Chi it is time to bring Noob Saibot back into action." Shao Kahn said to Reiko as he sat on his throne beside Sindel. "Make haste, Sir Ermac still has much to see…"
Kahn grinned darkly, as he turned his gaze upon the immobilized and tormented Ermac. "Skarlet, sweet Skarlet…how your eyes willingly assist me." Kahn's deep voice resonated as he bellowed in sheer amusement.