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King Arthur's Castle, Before Kurai Was Captured...
Kurai lands roughly on the floor of the castle dungeon thanks to the large, flaming skeleton hand that had been conjured by Scorpion. Knowing this would be a good opportunity to allow himself to be taken and captured, Kurai waits patiently for Scorpion to show himself in the darkness of the dungeon.
"Welcome, Kurai! You have nowhere to run now. I will personally see to it that you are burned by the fires of the Nether Realm." The specter says to Kurai from a distance in the dungeon hall, catching his attention.
Kurai stares at Scorpion with an expression of indifference. "You'll have to defeat me first if you want to do that, Scorpion." He says simply before shifting to his fighting stance.
Scorpion glares at Kurai as his fists are engulfed in flames. "Let's find out then." He says before pulling out his kunai while grasping the chain tightly.
Kurai vs. Scorpion...
Scorpion launches his kunai towards Kurai, who ducks under it and rolls towards the specter before grabbing the chain. He then yanks Scorpion towards him before clotheslining him to the ground.
Scorpion groans in pain before sitting up and kicking Kurai in the chest. Kurai stumbles back with a grunt as Scorpion stands back up and rushes towards him. Pulling out his kunai, Scorpion slashes at the Edenian prince but misses as Kurai ducks and dodges each of the specters attacks.
Kurai then blocks another attack from the specter with his arm, but Scorpion suddenly drops the kunai and catches it with his other hand. Kurai's eyes widen as Scorpion slashes his chest, causing him to back away in pain while clutching his chest.
Scorpion smirks under his mask with a feeling of accomplishment from finally landing a hit on the Edenian prince, but the feeling went away when he suddenly hears Kurai begin to laugh. "I'll not have you laughing with a smile on your face when I kill you, Kurai! What are you laughing about?!" He shouts angrily at the Prince, who continues to laugh while raising his head.
With a smile, Kurai answers. "Because you're becoming more creative, Scorpion. That's why. And it's about damn time." He says simply and continues to smile, which only angers Scorpion.
With a roar, Scorpion rushes towards Kurai again and slashes wildly at him with his kunai, trying to cut him again. Kurai, disappointed that Scorpion has let his anger take over once again, suddenly catches the specter's wrist before quickly twisting his arm then breaking his elbow.
Scorpion shouts and roars in pain before Kurai kick and breaks his knee, breaking it. The continuous pain causes Scorpion to continue screaming before he suddenly howls furiously and sends Kurai flying backwards through a wall while the dungeon area is briefly covered in flames.
Kurai gets up slowly out of the decayed rubble and shakes his head with a light laugh. "Damn. If only he would stop being Quan Chi's pawn, he'd be an incredible fighter." He thinks to himself before he hears slow footsteps approach the ruined dungeon cell he was currently in.
He looks up at the hole in the wall he was blasted through to see Scorpion, with flames in his eyes, limping painfully towards him. Kurai smiles and shakes the remaining rubble off him before standing up straight. Facing Scorpion, Kurai laughs again lightly.
"I have to say, Scorpion, this was fun, but I'd like to fight you at your best some day." He admits to the specter honestly, but he only continues to anger Scorpion.
"Fool! You are fighting me at my best! It's you who's holding back!" The specter furiously shouts at him as Kurai shakes his head.
"You're right, I am. Because if I were to fight you right now without holding back, I would definitely kill you. But I don't want to do that. Not when you're being controlled against your will." He admits honestly to Scorpion, who shakes his head in anger.
"You lie! And enough with that nonsense! You sound just like Bi-Han! I am no one's slave or servant! Quan Chi does not control me!" He continues to shout furiously as the flames continue to burn in his eyes and a glowing fire like aura faintly surrounds him.
Kurai smiles and nods his head. "You're right. He doesn't... Not anymore." He states simply, confusing Scorpion.
"What?" The specter barely manages to say before Kurai suddenly appears right in front of him and punches him squarely in the chest, making Scorpion gasp in shock from the sudden pain as a feeling of warmth washes over him.
Scorpion clutches his chest with his unbroken arm and collapses to the ground, gasping as fresh air suddenly fills his lungs once again. He looks up at Kurai and tries to speak, but no words come out. Only continuous gasps as he feels his entire body being purged and cleansed of Quan Chi's magic that had brought him back to life.
Scorpion's arm trembles as his vision begins to fade. The color of Hanzo Hasashi's dark brown eyes return before he finally gasps from being cleansed of corruption and passes out from the pain and exhaustion.
KURAI WINS!
Kurai sighs deeply but tenses when he hears the sound of footsteps approaching him. He turns around quickly to see a bright red female demon standing right behind him. He could've blocked her attack easily if he wanted to, but he had a plan in place, and he had to start it soon.
Sareena punches him and sends him flying back towards the wall, which he crashes against roughly before he collapsed to the floor. He groans and looks up as Sareena looks down at the unconscious form of the newly resurrected and cleansed Hanzo Hasashi. "Tsk... So we lost you too, Scorpion. Hmm... Oh, well. You can be replaced. Just like all the rest." She says uncaringly before her gaze shifts over to Kurai.
She saunters over to him calmly before kneeling down close to him. She licks her lips with a lustful glint in her eyes before smirking at him. "Hmm, I don't know what Delilah has planned for you, but considering how she is, she doesn't want you to pleasure her. She does have good taste though. I almost want to take you for myself." She whispers huskily before standing back up straight.
She then shrugs. "But, oh, well. Orders are orders. I hope to see you again, handsome." She says with a wink before kicking Kurai in the face, knocking him unconscious, or so she thinks, before lifting him up and draping him over her shoulder.
"Off to Shinnok's fortress we go, my dear." She says with a sweet tone as a fiery portal opens. She steps through it and the portal instantly closes. Liu Kang and Drake arrive in the dungeon not long after to find it empty as they soon discover an unconscious Scorpion, but Kurai was nowhere to be seen.
Present Time, Shinnok's Hidden Fortress, Earth Realm...
"You can figure out the rest from there." Kurai says to his fellow prisoners, finishing his story and filling them in on the events that lead up to now.
Sindel and Kitana both reach through the cell bars and roughly smacks Kurai on the shoulder. "Damn foolish child! Why must you be so reckless?" Sindel whispers harshly with a concerned expression.
Kurai just smiles before reaching for his mother and sister's cheeks and caresses them tenderly. "It's my nature, mother. I learned from the best after all." He teases with a light chuckle while Sindel huffs before smiling coyly.
She laughs lightly before she and Kitana reach through the bars and hug him. They pull away after a moment as Kitana looks at her little brother with a concerned expression. "But how are you going to get all of us out of here, Kurai? The four of us had a plan to escape, but with you here, that's changed. And Raiden and your friends don't know where you are." She wonders worriedly, which causes Kurai to smile widely before taking out the transmitter that Sonya handed to him before he was captured.
Sindel, Kitana, Ophelia and Tanya all look at the transmitter before looking back at Kurai. "Yeah, they do, mother. Don't worry. They'll be here." He reassures her.
Just as he was about activate the transmitter to alert Sonya and the group to their location, a loud bang is heard with footsteps and angry, raised voices following soon after. Kurai quickly hides the transmitter before he and the others all scoot away from each other as to not raise suspicions of their captors.
"Why is the son of Sindel and Jerrod here, Delilah?! I gave Quan Chi and the others SPECIFIC instructions to eliminate him, Raiden, and all the rest of the so called heroes! Why have you brought him here?!" The voice of the real Shinnok shouts furiously at Delilah as she and Shinnok both appear in the dungeon.
Shinnok stops in front of Kurai and Tanya's cell and glares solely at Kurai. Delilah walks up calmly beside Shinnok and looks at the two of them before glancing over at the fallen Elder God. "Lord Shinnok, if you will allow me to explain-" She begins, but Shinnok immediately cuts her off when he snaps his angry gaze towards her.
"No! I will not! You risk everything I have planned by bringing him here, Delilah! What's stopping me from killing the both of you here and now?!" He shouts furiously as he walks over to Delilah and gets dangerously close to her face.
Delilah, inhaling deeply, remains as calm as possible. But it's clear to Kurai and the others in the cells that she does not like Shinnok in her personal space. Kurai glances down at Delilah's hand to see clenched tightly and trembling. "WELL?!" Shinnok shouts again, waiting for her to answer.
But Delilah remains calm and sighs deeply through her nose before she answers. "What's stopping you from killing us, is that with Kurai here, and alive, it will keep Raiden from making a move against you." She explains calmly as Shinnok takes a step back with a confused expression.
"What are you talking about, Delilah? Raiden and his foolish heroes don't even know where we are. So why should it matter if Kurai is alive or not?" He asks inquisitively, wondering why it's so important to keep Kurai alive.
Inwardly, Delilah scoffs at Shinnok's idiocy. "Even Shao Kahn would understand if he were still here! Although, I am lying after all. But still, I cannot believe how stupid this man is!" She thinks to herself angrily before she continues with her explanation.
"Think about this for a moment, Lord Shinnok. You have the Edenian Queen, the Princess, and the Prince, all here at your mercy. With them alive, Raiden would not dare to make a move against you that could potentially get them killed. However, if you were to kill them and Raiden finds out, there is nothing preventing him, or his heroes, from coming after you with vengeance in their hearts." She explains as Shinnok slowly begins to understand.
"But they still do not know our location, Lady Delilah. So why should it matter what we do to them or not?" He continues to question. Even if he were to kill the remaining members of the Edenian royal family, Raiden still does not know where he is in Earth Realm. For all the thunder god knows, he isn't even in Earth Realm.
But Delilah shakes her head. "It doesn't matter, my Lord. He will find out where we are eventually. And when he does, if Kurai and the others are dead, you will have even more problems and setbacks for your plans than you do now. Just keep them alive for now until we figure out how to get rid of Raiden and his foolish band of heroes. After that, you're free to kill Kurai then and the realms will be all yours for the taking." She suggests to the fallen Elder God.
Although, she smiles inwardly, knowing that no matter what, Kurai will survive this ordeal. With him still alive and Drake Lee alive as well, her plans will soon come to fruition. She just has to keep Kurai alive long enough and keep the foolish Shinnok from killing him or his family.
Shinnok keeps his gaze on Delilah before switching back and forth between her and Kurai, contemplating whether to listen to her or not. Then he finally makes his decision. "Fine. Kurai will live." He says frustratedly before he begins to walk away but stops beside Delilah and glares at her with a fiery glare.
"But should you undermine me again, Delilah, it will be the last mistake you ever make." He warns her furiously, causing her to calmly nod before he walks away. He walks up the stairs and leaves the dungeon as Delilah glances over at Kurai and winks at him before leaving the dungeon herself.
Kurai and the others watch her leave before they all scoot back over to each other. Sindel looks at Kurai with a worried expression. "Son, what is her interest in you and Drake Lee? She obviously wants the both of you alive, and she is no slave of Shinnok." She asks him worriedly, which only causes Kurai to shrug before looking at her.
"You're guess is as good as mine, mother. Ever since I encountered her on the ship in the Atlantic, she's been a continuous enigma to me and the others. But she's clearly playing on a different board than Shinnok and the rest of us. That worries me." He admits to her as he keeps his gaze on the stairwell where Delilah and Shinnok had left.
He then shakes his head lightly before taking out the transmitter again. "But we can worry about her another time. Right now the main threat is Shinnok and whoever serves him. And we can't escape on our own." He says to his fellow prisoners before twisting and activating the transmitter.
He slips it back in his pocket and leans back against the cell bars. "All we can do now is wait. They'll be here before you know it." He says to them as they all nod and retreat to the dark corners of their cells while Tanya scoots away from Kurai. Noticing this, Kurai looks at her with a puzzled expression. He is about to move over to her to ask her what was bothering her, but then he notices something in the cell next to theirs.
He narrows his eyes and stands up before walking over to the bars that are in between him and the next cell, which was supposed to be empty, but wasn't. As he got closer, he begins to notice that the cell held what appears to be the skeletal remains of a what used to be a person. The remains were held up against the back wall by old, rusted chains.
It was nighttime at the moment and the only source of light was the lit torches that hung on the walls of the dungeon. But upon closer inspection, Kurai could faintly see that one of the skeletal hands has a ring just barely hanging on its finger. Looking at the ring, Kurai recognizes it and realizes who the ring once belonged to.
Closing his eyes and looking away from the remains, he now realizes where he is. "Shinnok, you son of a bitch." He whispers in quiet anger but Tanya and Ophelia faintly hear him before looking at him with concern.
"Kurai? What is it? What's wrong?" Ophelia asks him with concern as she walks back over to the cell bars. Sindel and Kitana, hearing Ophelia speaking to Kurai in a worried tone, walk up beside her near the bars to see Kurai standing on the opposite side of his cell looking into another cell.
Kurai says nothing at first, but then opens his eyes to glare at the at the remains of the one person he once despised in all of Earth Realm. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Kurai answers with an angered tone. "I know where we are now." He says to them, but the four women look at each other with confusion before looking back at Kurai in concern.
Meanwhile, back at the Earth Realm Special Forces Base...
Sonya nervously paces back and forth in the command room of the Special Forces base, hoping that Kurai activates the transmitter soon. "Come on, Kurai. What's taking you so long? You've had plenty of time." She whispers worriedly as she continues pacing while keeping a close eye on the tracking device.
More time passes and still nothing.
Now Sonya begins to feel greatly concerned for Kurai's well being. Had Shinnok and his group found the transmitter she had given him? Had he been killed before he even had the chance to activate it? Had he actually been killed back at the castle and Shinnok's group decided to take his body as a trophy to show off?
Multiple questions continued to plague and haunt her mind as she even began to bite her nails in anticipation for the transmitter's activation. Had she and Kurai made a mistake? Should she not have given him the transmitter and continued guessing with Raiden and the others?
She shakes her head in frustration. "No, no. I can't think like this. Kurai has never given me a reason to doubt him, and I can't start now. He'll pull through. I know it. He always does." She thinks to herself confidently, but that confidence is beginning to waver.
Walking over to the large table in the center of the command room, she sets the tracking device down on the table and continues to wait. "Damn it, Kurai. Come on. Come on. Please..." She pleads quietly before she looks down with her eyes closed while she begins to tap her foot anxiously.
Beep, beep, beep!
Her head snaps up with hope when she hears the tracking device activated. She looks closely at the device to see a bright red dot on the screen before she screams happily. "YES! YES! I KNEW you'd come through for me, you crazy son of a gun!" She continues to scream happily as Jax and the group, plus Jade, burst into the command room to see Sonya celebrating with the tracking device in her hands and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Sonya, what's wrong? Why are you shouting?" Jax asks her worriedly. Sonya looks over at him with a relieved and happy expression.
"Kurai, he activated the transmitter." She tells him, causing the group, including Jade, to look relieved. Though they were all still worried deep down.
"Well? Where is he?" Cage asks her eagerly, causing Sonya to nod her head and look down at the tracking device.
Though she looks confused for a moment. "He's still in Earth Realm, but..." She begins but trails off.
The group all look at her with concern and anxiousness as they wait for her to continue. But Jade couldn't bear the drawn out silence. "Sonya! Where is he?!" She shouts anxiously as Sonya looks up at them.
"He's in...
"India." Kurai says to his fellow prisoners while still keeping his heated glare on the skeletal remains.
Sindel and the other women all look at each other with confusion before Kitana looks back at her brother. "Where in India, Kurai?" She presses for a more definitive answer.
Kurai sighs deeply before turning around to face the four women, who instinctively take a step back when they see the frightening expression on Kurai's face. One they never thought they would ever see on him. Anger, hate, and rage. Tanya, scoots as far away from Kirai as possible the more she sees the look on the young Prince's face.
After taking a moment to collect herself, Sindel speaks up. "Kurai, where are we, darling? Why are you looking at us that way?" She asks with pure concern as tears begin to fall down Kurai's face, despite the frightening expression on his face. This makes her even more worried.
Kurai turns back around to continue glaring at the skeletal corpse. The skeletal corpse who was once Prince Fahran. The fallen, disgraced Prince of India. The one who killed Sadira after he had bested him for her hand.
If Fahran's corpse was in this dungeon, that only made one thing clear to Kurai. Shinnok had taken Sadira's old home, her palace, and made it into his stronghold. This fact alone infuriated Kurai to the point that it's making his blood boil.