Chapter 3
It's Indefinite
The black sun in the skies over the vast lands of Edenia was lined in blood red. This cast a bloody shadow over the ruins of the land stretching in all directions for all of eternity. Remains of friends lay in dying grass as cycles of seasons pass under the blood red light. Edenia was not the only one to fall. Outworld, Earthrealm, and countless realms between were all soaked under the light of the 'Blood Moon'. At the center of it all stood Jade. She gazed upon the crimson light endlessly as the world around her withered away. Echoes of screams filled her ear and only became louder as she gazed unblinking.
The noise stopped when the voice of her mother, Edenia came to her. The sparkling woman stood side by side with her and gazed at the Blood Moon with her.
"This is what awaits. This is the future we inherit. Under the light of the Blood Moon, Blood Magic rivals the strength of the Elder Gods. The realms will run red. You will fall from power and return to servitude."
"Power is not what I live for." Jade replied. "I will prevent this Blood Moon's curse by any means. Armageddon has been changed once."
"But are you willing to lose Nido all over again?" Edenia questioned with a sadistic grin.
"You may return to your dark corner, mother." Jade glared at her. "Whatever it takes, I will protect Edenia and the realms of my allies. This is my calling."
Reality restored when Jade opened her eyes. She was standing on the very tip of her staff with a single foot while the other crossed her knee in a '4' formation. She breathed slowly and maintained her balance until she managed to leap off of the weapon and land gracefully on the floor of her personal chambers. "Six hours seventeen seconds." She said as she consulted with her timer. "Still plenty of time in the day no less."
"Over-working yourself Brown Sugar?" Nido chuckled as his armored frame walked in through her doors.
"Hardly working, Nido." She chuckled. "I take it you've finished reconnaissance?"
"Everything's secure. Last I checked, the Special Forces were securing the border after a brief scuffle. We've got some Outworld refugees on our turf though, a few I've never seen before." He grasped at belt in a typical 'cowboy' fashion, despite looking like an armored Viking of darker skin.
"Outworld refugees?" She narrowed her eyes. "If they come in peace, I will see them."
"One of them is a Kahn." He added. "Calls himself Kotal Kahn – does Kahn mean 'King' or something?"
"What was that name again?" Jade's eyes widened.
"Kotal Kahn. Should I be worried?"
"Worried? No. There is nothing to worry about, Nido. The name is just familiar – and yes. Kahn is our term for ruler in Outworld."
"Well, should I send them up or are you coming down?" He approached her slowly. His long dreads sway with every step. "We can have one of the nobles handle it too. You and I can go for that long walk we planned on a week ago."
"Nido-…" She chuckled. "We will have time, my dear. Send their leader to me. I will meet with them privately to see what they wish for. I can handle myself if things go badly."
"Alright. No problem at all." He stood before her and placed a small kiss on her lips. "Don't stress yourself out, alright? I'll be right outside the meeting room when I send their Kahn up."
"It shouldn't take long." Jade smiled, though her heart anxiously beat in her chest.
Twenty minutes passed, and Jade relocated herself to the meeting room. It was as large as her throne room with a round table in the center of it. Leaders of other realms and groups were to have a seat at her table to discuss matters rather than engage in war and Kombat with one another.
She stood in wait, rather than sit.
Her mind cast visions of Kotal walking through the door over and over. Each time looking exactly the same as he did in her youth prior to the events at Shang Tsung's Island. After all of these years and two lifetimes, she thought Kotal to be dead. A distant memory never to be fixed. A man she saw in Nido when he stole her heart away.
When the doors opened and the hulking frame of Kotal Kahn entered, she was as surprised as she was silent. The creaking of the door shutting behind him broke the silence, but thickened the air between them as they seemed to be standing worlds apart.
"Jade." Kotal spoke. "Queen of Edenia, suiting for you."
"I thought you were dead." She said with a quivering voice.
"It was only the thought of you that helped me survive." Kotal added. "I managed to escape Shang Tsung…and I have been battling he and his wife ever since. I have been a free man since before Shao Kahn and Shinnok's defeat. I named myself Kahn…and I have gained the respect of many people of Outworld as such. But no one ever told me you were still alive."
"I would have freed you, had I known." Jade timidly fiddled with her thumb. "I have been through so much. If only I could explain…"
"There is no need for words, my love." Kotal approached her. Every footstep of his made her heart tighten. "I do not wish for our connection to ruin your rule or mine. I ask for asylum to recover. There is a war for territory in Outworld, and my defenses have been crippled."
"A war?"
"Yes—Reiko and Rain have joined forces. They are co-Kahn in their own words. Opposing them is Noob Saibot, a self-proclaimed Kahn with an army of the undead and the Black Dragon at his call. Then there is my rule…the true vision for Outworld in peace."
"What of the Shokan and Tarkatans?"
"Undecided in their allegiance. There has been separation among some of them, Jade." Kotal explained. "Please, I ask of you, my queen. Will you give us shelter until we have healed?"
"Yes—" Jade said without hesitation. "I just ask that you help me cure King Jerrod – Ermac – of his ailments. Upon his revival, it seems that Blood Magic cursed him. You know of this magic, yes?"
"My people do. Perhaps I can be of assistance in return for shelter." Kotal said as he stood in front of Jade. "And for your presence."
Jade froze in place.
Kotal placed his hand at her cheek and caressed it. As he leaned in to her, Jade turned her head away with a shortened breath.
"I have business to tend to." She slipped away from him suddenly. "Please. My royal guard will see your people to a safe haven."
Jade quickly saw Kotal out – but also she could not make eye contact with Nido in her haste back to her personal quarters. Her maidens were instructed not to allow anyone, not even Nido, inside of her room due to 'sudden illness'.
She paced her room in thought. Her hand over her mouth as the electricity of nearly kissing Kotal coursed through her veins. But there were larger matters than that of her heart and body. Outworld's conflict would certainly not remain contained. She felt it in her bones.
"You know what you must do." Edenia's voice echoed in Jade's head. She repeated the phrase over and over again, no matter how Jade grasped at her skull. Finally, she caved in. Sneaking out of the Edenian palace through the balcony was easy. She moved like a shadow along the balcony and climbed down the side of the building with carefully placed motions until she could safely leap down.
She scanned the area for anyone who may have seen her secret exit point and quickly fled into the greenery of Edenia's gardens. Ten minutes of travel passed before Jade reached her destination. A tiny shrine in the middle of the gardens protected by six warding runes. It took her an additional ten minutes to temporarily sever all seals and make the circular latch accessible.
When she opened the latch, the gem of Shinnok's amulet glowed and illuminated her face. Its light called to her. It called to her heart and soul like the weeping of a child.
Her fingertips grazed over the gold of the amulet before she plucked it free of its prison. She held it close to her heart and her eyes took on the same glow as the amulet's jewel. In an instant, the world around Jade was gone.
She stood in the same space as Kitana as she conversed with Shang Tsung prior to her enraged scream and thunderstorm. The next flash of vision was Mileena being stabbed through the cheek by an unknown assailant. She heard every word the woman said before she kidnapped Mileena's daughter. Next Jade's visions flickered her in and out of the past, present, and future – taking her back ultimately to the bloody light soaked realms floating in space. Each time she saw the future play out, it led back to that. Each one with Outworld invading Earthrealm somehow – and Edenia.
"But how?" She questioned as she spun the visions back to a point where things became blurry – but she was stopped by a blade at her throat.
"Your tampering ends." The woman in black stated as she held the blade firmly to Jade's throat. "Do as you are supposed to do. Take what is given and accept it. It is the only way."
"Who—who are you? How are you here?" Jade questioned, but dared not to move.
"Tessen." The woman answered. "You are aware that I have the child. I am protecting her until the time is right. Gather Mileena and Kitana, come to Outworld. Take what is given and do are you are supposed to." She said with her eyes going off to the side as if someone was there. "You've done this before. Fix this." She removed the blade from Jade's neck and stepped back. Her slanted eyes hinted at her Asian descent, but her regal tone toward the queen did not come from imitation.
"You are Edenian?" Jade asked, grasping at her throat.
Tessen turned her back to Jade as they stood in the frozen blood-lit lands. "Liu Kang will fail. He must." She coughed violently into her fist and mask as time restored itself and Jade was sent back to present day.
Being left alone again made Jade gasp for air. She clutched Shinnok's amulet tight to her chest as the wisdom she obtained soaked in. "Kitana and Mileena…this conflict requires them." She peeled the amulet away from herself and gazed into it endlessly. "Armageddon will happen due to our negligence – peace has blinded us." She stood and hid the amulet away within her clothing for later consulting. "We must fix this together or this future will continue to play out endlessly."
Later on…
"I have made a decision." Jade said as she stood before the gathered Outworld followers of Kotal, with Nido at her side. They all stood in Edenia's grand courtyard, surrounded by the Royal Guard and the gardens of the realm. "Edenia will house you all for a time, but this struggle with the other factions in Outworld trouble me. I will reach out to my allies and see if we can stop this civil war and bring unity to the realm. My plan is to seek audience with the Tarkatans and Shokan for starters, and then the larger factions to see if there is an agreement that can be met."
A slight buzzing near Jade's ear led her to follow the sight of a fly returning to D'vorah. The green skinned insectoid twitched slightly before speaking. "This one believes it is senseless to speak. Reiko and Rain rule their territory with an iron fist. The Hive would be much happier shedding their blood than hearing their speech. Survival is at least guaranteed after their deaths."
"Beat up Wet man and mask man!" Ferra shouted out. "No Kahn! No Kahn! Only Big Bossy!"
"If it comes to that, then yes." Jade agreed. "But we will first try to speak. As for Noob Saibot, he and I have history. If he wants a fight, leave him to me."
"I could give you some intel on locations of camps for the right price, Queenie." Erron Black stepped forward next with his spurs jingling with each step. "Though you might want to get some back-up. Edenia is a big place, but Earthrealm has better fire power. Saibot's got undead and Black Dragon on the payroll. You might want to beef up."
"I am considering all options." Jade assured. "My Royal Guard are enough to defend the realm, but I am aware that their technology may give them some advantage. Nido – will you accompany me to Earthrealm to visit Kitana and Mileena?"
"No need to ask." Nido replied. "If any of you want to present your plight to Kitana, now's the time. If you need to heal up, no one's going to think lesser of you."
Kotal Kahn held his chin high. "I will leave my people under the protection of D'vorah, my trusted lieutenant. I will join you to seek audience with the Thunder and Wind Goddess."
"Then let us set sail." Jade said as she slammed the end of her staff to the floor to signify the end of their meeting.