Reiko had gathered many of the remaining members of the Kahn Guard and they had set up camp with their armies resources in Outworld's infamous valley that is well known as the Valley of the Dead. The name originated from the dead land that covered the entire valley which consisted of dead nature such as trees that were withering away by already dead bushes. The entire valley was as dry as a desert except instead sand it was equally as dry and trodden dirt. The other reason for the valley's name was in referral to all the fallen warrior's throughout the many battles that had taken place throughout the desolate valley.
Reiko was in his sizable tent and sat at a centre table examining a large map covering Outworld. As he did so he was approached by Shang Tsung and his two enforcers: Erron Black and Garrett Bennett.
"Greetings, Reiko." Shang greeted as he stepped inside the tent.
"General Reiko." Reiko corrected Shang as he still kept his eyes on his map.
"You need to come up with a plan soon," Tsung informed him, much to Reiko's irritance. "I see you don't have the same genius as Shao Kahn or even myself."
"Shut up!" Reiko snapped, clearly stressed. "I have a plan but I am just finalizing it before telling the others."
"Oh?" Shang was surprised. "Do share then."
"I'll share it when it's finished." Reiko stated sternly.
"Is that because you haven't even started?" Shang asked in further attempt to wound up the general.
Erron rolled his eyes in sight of the clear tension between Reiko and Tsung. He and Garrett both cared very little about these matters compared to everybody else at the campsite, though they stuck about out of loyalty to Shang Tsung for all he had done for them.
"Master," Erron called for. "Just leave him to his work."
"Listen to your man." Reiko advised.
"Very well then," Tsung complied willingly. "You do not command me though, Black."
"I'm not wasting time arguing." Erron said with a lack of energy.
"You have plenty of time left because of me." Tsung referred to his gift of slowing Erron and Garrett's aging.
"Yeah…" Erron responded distantly. "Just give us somethin' to do already."
"I need Talon," Reiko spoke before Tsung could. "Care to lend a hand?"
"I shall." Erron accepted the task before walking off.
"Wait!" Tsung called for his servant back. "I need to grant you and Garrett something."
"What now?" Erron moaned as he stropped back to his master.
"Considering the dangers fighting for this idiotic general will be I must grant you all with new abilities," Tsung decided as he began creating fire in his right hand and a ball of souls in his left. "Step outside so I don't burn this place… as much as I wish to."
"Burn?!" Garrett repeated. "What are you planning?"
"Trust me, old ally." Tsung instructed.
"Always." Garrett said as he headed outside with his two allies.
"Stand still." Tsung commanded as he put his fire and soul filled hands togethers. This created the green flame known as the cursed flames. Cursed flames were indeed created just via a combination of fire and soul magic.
Shang Tsung took the cursed flames in one hand and used his other to call upon his ancient scroll as he searched for an old spell. Once located, the sorcerer read aloud the command which casted a spell around the bundle of cursed flames in the palm of his hand. As the spell finished it emitted a beam from the scroll that absorbed into Garrett and Erron who were standing before it which summoned an outline of some form of energy around the two fighters.
Finally, the sorcerer blasted two rays of cursed flames at his two most loyal servants with each surrounding the energy outlines and turning it into a bright and burning green before passing into their bodies, leaving a burning sensation but it was only felt for a brief moment.
"Shit!" Black shouted out in instant reaction to the burning feeling which caused Garrett to laugh at his old friend's shock. "Keep it shut, old man."
"Notice that the term 'old man' applies to us all," Garrett pointed out after he ceased his laughter. "You need superior insults, cowboy."
"Enough!" Tsung quickly regathered their attention to him. "You two behave like children."
"Good thing you got parenting experience." Erron joked, referring to his many creations from the Flesh Pits.
"It's a shame that I'll never have my Flesh Pits again." Tsung remarked with an unexpected sulk.
"Why not?"
"Didn't you hear?" Garrett prompted to explain the events so that his master didn't need to. "The creatures are going under tests and the pits are being filled up."
"Oh," was all Erron reacted with. "Sorry to hear, boss."
"It doesn't matter now," Tsung informed them. "Returning to matters at hand: do you two not feel any different?"
"Well… now that ya mention it…" Erron was realizing what his master was referring to.
"I feel stronger!" Garrett enthusiastically realized. "What is this power?"
"I have blessed you with the ability to cast upon cursed flames," Shang Tsung revealed. "Try it."
Garrett and Erron both focused on this new power and soon cursed flames began emerging from Bennett's gauntlets and Black's gloves. Erron then got the idea of setting his bullets aflame. Cursed flames could be lit onto any material however would only spread on the same materials that were flammable to normal fire. This meant that Erron could light his bullets with the cursed flames and store them in his revolver's chamber ready for action. Garrett meanwhile was testing this power on his sword, as he swung the blade the fire fanned quite an impressively far range which made his weapon's even more dangerous.
"Why didn't cha do this sooner?" Erron questioned.
"I have more important needs for my scroll," Tsung explained in justification. "Now that I've casted a spell from it on the pair of you it is now out of commission for the next few weeks."
"I've been serving you for almost a thousand years and only now you do this?" Garrett further pressed questions.
"Like I said, I had more important matters." Tsung repeated.
"Like?"
"Why do you wish to know?" Tsung fired back with his own question.
"Cuz you're probably bullshitting us." Erron suggested.
"Go find Talon already," Tsung instructed. "And make sure they aren't getting too close to Reiko."
"What? Like lovers?"
Shang Tsung rolled his eyes. "As in allies," he clarified. "Reiko may turn Talon against me and this could potentially expand to him gaining the favour of the-my Shadow Priests."
"Yes, boss." Erron understood and tipped his hat before heading to find Talon's tent.
"What about me?" Garrett sought for a task for himself to do. There was nothing worse for someone as bored as Garrett to be idle.
"Come with me back to my alustrious palace," Shang Tsung ordered. "I have a new suit of armour that my prisoners have made just for you."
"Thank lord." Garrett let out a sigh of relief and moderate happiness. Garrett's armour had of course been damaged in his battles during Shao Kahn's invasion. His helmet was the worst damaged as it had suffered a dent so huge that it was now unwearable.
"You have new gear too, Erron," Shang added much to Black's surprise. "Come visit my palace as well once you get the chance."
"Yes, boss." Erron repeated in complete compliance, excited to find out what other gifts his master had in store for him.
After receiving a few directions from some soldiers, Erron had been pointed to a decently sized tent where apparently Talon was staying in. There was nothing special about this tent, it was plain and tatty like most that the Kahn Guard had on them. Cheap and poor quality these tents were yet they had managed to get the army through at least hundreds of nights while remaining intact somehow. Shao Kahn was never too keen on funding the army with too much, as long as they were given enough to remain a threat he couldn't have cared less.
"Hello?" Erron asked as he carefully tapped on the unsturdy looking tent as an equivalent of knocking a door.
No response.
Erron decided to check if Talon was in and just hadn't heard him so he zipped down the tent's opening and stepped inside the tent that was just about large enough to stand in. Black made sure to dust his large boots before stepping in as he was mindful that he didn't tread any dirt inside.
Black turned to his right and saw a woman on her knees with her hands clasped together as she had her eyes closed, not yet realizing that Erron stood before her due to her immense concentration. Figuring that this wasn't Talon, Erron went to leave but as he did his next step finally snapped the woman into reality.
The woman screamed in shock as she immediately jumped up to her feet. "Wh-what are you doing here?!"
"Apologies, ma'am," Erron quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to interrupt your prayers. I'm just lookin for a Shadow Priest named Talon."
"O-oh." She stuttered.
"I'll leave you be now," Erron said as he prepared to leave. "Sorry again."
"Wait!" she called for him back. "I… I am Talon…"
"You're Talon?!" Erron was shocked. "Here I thought the Shadow Priests were only male."
"They are," she confirmed. "Well… supposed to be."
"How come?"
"Some outdated code the higher ups have," Talon elaborated. "I have to adopt a male sounding voice and use a spell to cover my face in a shadow to get away with it all."
"Well you're secret's safe with me." Erron promised which reassured Talon.
"Thank you."
"How come you're telling me this?"
"Well you needed to find me," Talon reminded him or his words. "And you're not one of them."
"What if I had told them?"
"You don't seem all too dangerous of a threat," Talon analysed and concluded. "You'd be an easy kill."
"Gee, thanks…" Erron said sarcastically. "Figured you Shadow Priests were religious… cuz the name 'Priest' y'know?"
"Alright, detective," she teased with some sarcasm of her own. "Guess you'd have found out my identity after all."
"Well Outworld has a ton of supernatural shit." Erron pointed out which was going to lead to a question until Talon interjected.
"Stop pointing out the obvious." Talon requested.
"Well ain't you polite," Erron remarked. "What are you religious to? if I may ask of course…"
"Shao Kahn." She replied with sadness in her voice
"You seriously believe in him?"
"I have to believe in something!" Talon snapped rather aggressively. "If I didn't then I'd fall… I'd break… and now the man I believed in has fallen himself..."
"Sounds rough," Black replied with a lack of knowledge on how to comfort her. "Didn't realize y'all were so passionate about this."
"And I didn't realize that you cared so little about the place you've spent years attaching yourself to," Talon rebutted, which hit Black hard. "What do you believe in?!"
"I-" he was speechless as he began considering his life choices. "Nothing… I believe in nothing…"
"Then why stay here?"
"Look," Erron dismissed the question and returned to his task which he had become distracted from twice now. "Reiko wants to talk to you."
"I'll go right away." Talon informed him as she wrapped her purple cloak around her and concealed her face.
Talon headed to Reiko's tent as Erron headed off to Shang Tsung's Palace. As Talon entered the tent she immediately noticed two heavily armoured and intimidating warriors that Reiko was interacting with.
"You wished to see me?" Talon asked Reiko who hadn't even noticed her until she spoke.
"I wanted your opinion on a plan of mine." Reiko explained as he presented his book which presented a page he had taken notes of a plan for.
One of the warriors made a throat clearing sound behind their metal helmet that was shaped just like Shao Kahn's own helmet however these two warriors' helmets were more suitable for armour.
"Our plan." He corrected himself.
"Who are these?" Talon referred to the warriors.
"You don't know?" Reiko was surprised. "These two are known as guardians in the Kahn Guard. They're quite well known and respected in our army."
"Names Skull." One guardian introduced himself.
"And I'm Raza." As did the other guardian.
"Hello Skull and Raza," Talon greeted though she did so as she read Reiko's notes. "Village conquests?"
"A step down from conquering realms I know," Reiko admitted how petty his plan of invading villages seemed on paper. "But it's crucial for us in order to gain not only territory but new allies."
"Plus new enemies." Talon added, showing doubt in this plan.
"You do realize how popular Mileena is already in Outworld right?" Raza questioned the Shadow Priest.
"We've got enough enemies as is," Skull finished his friend's point. "Taking over some villages won't change that fact."
"We can threaten the villagers to join us or die." Reiko brutally added, feeling no sympathy of the thought of all the victims there'd be from this plan.
"Which grants us the supplies and support necessary to overthrow Mileena." Skull concluded.
"A genius plan!" Raza complimented loudly, sucking up to Reiko.
"Indeed." Skull agreed.
"Thank you," Reiko said in appreciation of his two close allies. "What do you think, Talon?"
"I'm worried," Talon admitted. "Emperor Shao Kahn ruled with fear over those who served him and look how he ended up… if you were to do the same then-"
"Have some faith in me," Reiko interrupted Talon and gave her a request which came off as a demand. "It sounds like you're doubting my plan."
"No!" Talon denied Reiko's claim immediately. "I'm with you always! It's what Emperor Shao Kahn would've wanted."
"Good," was all Reiko commented with before moving on. "Now I'm sure you've all heard of the apparent announcement that Mileena is making today."
"Of course." Raza confirmed. "Who hasn't?"
"Me." Talon muttered.
"Anyway," Raza moved on quickly. "What d'ya need, general?"
"An assassination?" Skull guessed.
"Well I doubt we can commit an assassination this easily," Reiko believed realistically. "But we of course need somebody to go and hear this announcement so that we can remain up to date on this false ruler's policies."
"I'll go." Skull offered.
"As will I." Raza was also willing to do so.
"No," Reiko refused their offers. "You're too valuable to be doing such a minor task as listening in to Mileena's speech. I need you to do it, Talon."
"Am I not valuable?" Talon asked after being insulted by Reiko's choice of wording.
"You are very valuable," Reiko reassured her. "I meant you can use your teleportation to get to the speech and back with ease. Or you can send another Shadow Priest to do this."
"Speaking of which, where are they?" Skull questioned out of curiosity.
"At our home in the Highlands," Talon answered truthfully. "No offense but why would they move here?"
"Fair point." Skull admitted. "And what of the Hail?"
"Rain told me they're just preparing to move their stuff down here." Reiko informed him.
"As long as they're all loyal to General Reiko then fine." Raza commented.
"Of course they are!" Talon snapped a bit too aggressively.
"Calm down!" Reiko also raised his voice. "Will you go to Mileena's speech or not?"
"Of course I will," Talon sighed. "When is it?"
"At four o'clock exactly." Reiko informed her.
"Understood." Talon noted.
"What about us?" Skull asked.
"I need to discuss with you our first target," Reiko informed the two guardians. "The Drum Canyon…"