With invitations having been sent to all allies of Mileena's Union, the Tarkatans were the first to receive their invite. Baraka, ever busy being the leader of his race, would always miss his lover Mileena when they were apart due to conducting their own respective work. He had not seen her since she set sail to the Outworld island where the Lung Hai Temple resided. Of course that led to her being a part of the many Edenians transported to the newly restored Edenia. Baraka was more than pleased to have heard the news of this, and couldn't wait to see the realm with his own two distinct orange eyes. He didn't have to wait long though, as he received a letter hand written by Mileena herself which said:

"Dearest Baraka. I am writing this letter to you regarding the current situation in Edenia. If you haven't heard, my love, it has been restored! We're preparing a party currently at the Grand Palace of Edenia and I would of course like for you and any of our fellow Tarkatans to come along! My mother will be creating interrealm portals for you all on the night you should receive this letter from my personal messengers. I've missed you and I hope to see you soon. Love from Mileena."

Baraka felt a warm loving feeling just from reading the letter again once more. He was in his very spacious tent, organising his belongings. Baraka was now thinking about getting ready for the party after his daily tasks for his people had been accomplished, leaving him with a rather peaceful day until tonight's planned party. Baraka wanted to make sure he had everything ready for when it was time to leave for the party. As leader of his people, one of the skills Baraka exceeded at to be a great leader was organisation. He made sure to prepare everything for the night. On a table hand from a tree log that Baraka himself had cut down and carved using his Tarkatan arm blades, there was a sack containing all the necessary campfire equipment as Baraka assumed his people who came to the party would want their own outdoor camp, as well as any other potentially interested guests at the celebration.

Additionally, on the log table was Baraka's cooking gear with Baraka wanting to prepare meals for the guests at the party. Baraka's chef expertise had become well known throughout Mileena's Union with even the likes of Johnny Cage from Earthrealm giving high praise. At a previous celebration as Baraka hosted frequent barbecues where he would cook the finest meat dishes, Johnny had opted to help prepare the food. The Earthrealm hero was so impressed with Baraka's cooking skills that he handed over his chef hat and a cooking apron that had words on it which read "Kiss The Cook" which Baraka found ridiculous, however, it was amusing and he would wear the attire for his future barbecue events. The next event Johnny Cage had told him that after sharing footage of his work to a thing that was called the Internet, Baraka had learnt that he had become a "Meme" which he was told was the equivalent of being seen as a legend to the Earthrealmers. The final thing he had remembered the actor telling him was that he had received high praise from the most famous of Earthrealm chefs, including a man whose name Baraka struggled to remember.

"Gordon was it?" Baraka thought aloud as he continued to get organised for the party.

"Baraka!" a voice from outside the tent called out for.

"Yes?" Baraka answered the call as he stepped outside his tent only to see his best friend Karbrac. "Ah! Karbrac! Is everything alright?"

"Have you noticed anything suspicious around camp lately?" Karbrac asked.

"No…" Baraka was concerned by the alarming question. "Why do you ask?"

"Young Nania has gone missing," Karbrac revealed in a saddened tone. "Her parents believe somebody broke into their home and took her."

"Who would do such a thing?!" Baraka wondered.

"Where is our daughter, Baraka?!" the mother questioned as she and her husband approached their leader.

"I'm sorry, Karekna," Baraka apologised, "I have no clue! Karbrac just told me about this now!"

"I believe an outsider took her!" Karekna said as she embraced her husband. "How are you feeling, Karter?"

"I'm terrified…" Karter told her as he trembled from anxiety. "I just want Nania back… no matter what has to be done."

"Me too," Karekna related with her lover.

Karekna was a proud warrior of the Tarkatan army, one of the most accomplished throughout the entirety of the tribe. She was seen as a hero to not only her fellow Tarkatans, but also her beloved Karter… who was a Naknadan. Due to the oppression of his people being under the leadership of the corrupt Kollector thanks to Shao Kahn's own decision after he enslaved the entire race after seeing their six arms as a useful tool rather than a trait. Feeling like nothing more than merely a worker, Karter left his people and began his own carting business where he traversed Outworld while carrying goods on his trusty wagon. This eventually led to him meeting Karekna who would buy meat from him to feed her squad of warriors with them getting to know each other better each time they did business. Soon their bond went from just trades to hanging out together for fun by going on dates and having great times. They quickly fell in love and Karekna even managed to convince Baraka to permit the Naknadan to live in the otherwise completely Tarkatan populated campgrounds. They lived together happily and eventually got married and very recently Karekna gave birth to Nania… and now she was stolen.

Karekna wore a primarily cherry red coloured attire which she would always pair with mostly black accents. One such example was the added black layers she wore above her red shirt, which connected with the shoulder pads she wore as part of her light armour set. Alongside the shoulder pads were some additional pieces of armour on her sides to protect her legs as well as a distinct helmet of the same matching colour pattern that managed to protect the sides of her mouth yet leave plenty of room for biting her enemies.

Karter meanwhile wore a traditional attire that a Tarkatan would expect to put on as casual wear. Despite being a Naknadan, Karter embraced a lifestyle similar to that of a Tarkatan as the whole tribe accepted him for his kind nature and several good deeds he had performed on behalf of Tarkata. He was no fighter, but he maintained his occupation of carting goods as one of his many daily jobs. His carting business had been created with the skills he gained with his fellow Naknadans regarding his life as one of the many named Trader. Karter never felt suited for the Naknadans culture, finding their naming tradition to be inhumane with the negatives becoming especially clear when Shao Kahn had enslaved them after conquering Naknada. He later changed his name to Karter and while it did match one of his occupations, he chose the name because he liked it and not because it was forced upon him like a status.

"It's the scent of an outsider!" Karekna continued to claim as he brought Baraka over to their tent so he could smell the air for himself with the Tarkatans having such a great scent they could identify individuals just from the strong smells they took in… with Baraka being able to use this trait to identify the apparent outsider…

"Shang Tsung!" Baraka yelled as his orange eyes turned into a redder shade momentarily as he recognised the smell. "I can smell his magic… and his grotesque old flesh."

"Why would he take our daughter?!" Karter questioned as he became even more scared as he was well aware of the infamous sorcerer.

"I don't know," Karekna said before whistling for one of the Outworld native horses that Tarkatans used for transportation arrived. "I do know that we need to follow that scent!"

"We just heard about Nania!" Korhau spoke as he and many other Tarkatans approached the distressed parents. "Need some help getting her back?"

"We have no clue what we're getting ourselves into…" Baraka realised. "But sure! We probably need a good amount of warriors with us," Baraka believed, considering the threat of Shang Tsung. "Everybody pair up and saddle up on one of our fine steeds at the stable and meet up at the main gates to the camp!"

All the Tarkatans nearby complied, rushing over to their well kept stable used for their horses to reside. Tarkatans rode horseback as their main form of travel with Outworld horses having incredible stamina and speed. They were more similar to the Earthrealm equivalent, especially when compared to some of the more bizarre Outworld wildlife. Horses shared mutual names and of course were used for the same purposes between both realms. Outworld horses had unique coat colours though the most common being a tealish colour. Many Outworld horses also had stripes on their coats as well as hair on their face, giving some beard-like appearances. The Tarkatans did as Baraka requested and got into groups of two with each group saddling up on one of the trusty steeds. They then rode off to the main gate where everybody else awaited.

"Everybody on a horse, ride with me!" Baraka commanded. "As for the rest of you… if anybody suspicious shows up then kill them."

"We'll bring her back, Karter," Karekna once more promised her husband as she went to get onto their horse. "I'll see you soon."

"I'm coming too!" Karter decided.

"It'll be dangerous, Karter!" Karekna warned him. "I'm not going to risk losing you as well!"

"I can help," Karter suggested.

"You aren't a fighter, love," Karekna reminded him. "I adore that you're so caring, but your lack of combat experience and… your stress, means it'd be best if you stay with the others," she advised. "Can you do that for me please?"

"Alright," Karter agreed. "I love you."

"I love you too," Karekna replied as she mounted her horse and blew him a kiss. "I'll see you soon. I promise."

"Let's go save that baby girl!" Baraka yelled as he commanded his horse to take off with the others following him close behind.

"Can you still sniff the tracks?" Karbrac asked as he sat behind Korhau who was riding their mount.

"Tsung's stench is strong," Baraka assured him. "We're on the right track."

"Look at the dirt," Korhau pointed to the ground. "Horse tracks here too."

"Could just be from our own people," Baraka pointed out. "Let us just trust our noses for now."

"How are you holding up, Karekna?" Karbrac asked as he turned around to check in on her.

"I'm ready to kill anyone with that sorcerer scum!" Karekna said angrily.

"Easy, friend," Karbrac tried to cool her anger. "Try to stay calm."

"Anybody who had the tenacity will be planted on our blades I promise you that much, Karekna," Baraka told her as they rode down to the beach downhill that was down a path heading to the west upon exiting the Tarkatan encampment. "We're coming to the Bay of Maul now."

"We never come down here on horseback," Korhau continued to point out important things she noticed as she once more pointed to horse tracks. "These lead to the Highlands!"

"How in the Nine Planes did they take her?!" Karbrac wondered.

"Shapeshifting into one of us probably," Baraka presumed as he knew Shang Tsung's abilities. "It doesn't matter. What does matter though is that they took Nania but we're going to resolve this very soon and bring her back home!"

As the Tarkatans went to turn uphill to the Highlands where the tracks and Shang Tsung's stench led, a sudden click was heard which broke the silence as Baraka brought his horse to a halt and looked down to find the source of the peculiar source. The Tarkatans then began to hear a hizzing sound as well as the smell of smoke. Baraka peered down once more and gasped at the sight.

"Get down!" he ordered as everyone dove out of the way of what was a dynamite trap planted on the ground and a mechanism that once pressure was applied would send a spark to each stick. Baraka's horse ran the wrong direction, and fell victim to an unfortunate explosion.

"No!" Baraka cried out as he ran to his fallen horse. "I'm sorry, boy…" he whispered, "thank you."

"Who would do such a thing?!" Karekna questioned.

Baraka began to sniff the air once more and despite it being difficult to gather all the smells due to the strong smell from the explosives, he managed to pick up a new scent… which angered him once more.

"Erron Black!" Baraka yelled for. "Show yourself, you coward!"

Just then, a rifle gunshot was fired and the bullet was a headshot on one of the poor Tarkatan warriors. The path leading up the Highlands was not only unhill, but beside it were two of elevated land which created a small ravine that let up to the same level of land. Shang Tsung was well aware of the Tarkatans incredible senses and had a feeling he wouldn't be able to get away with him breaking and entering with ease. So to assure safety, he left his trusted servant Erron Black to create a trap to deal with any passing Tarkatans. While the dynamite hadn't killed any of the warriors, this had made them all dismount and were thus vulnerable to his firearms. The gunshots terrified the horses who fled momentarily while the Tarkatans began to desperately run up the open space, with nothing else they could do. The only ranged attack any Tarkatan could conduct was Baraka who had learnt a trick of clashing his metal blades together that would create a spark that would fly off them, but that wasn't effective enough to be used for this.

Erron Black violently gunned down more defenceless Tarkatans as they continued to run uphill for their lives. Baraka, who was still leading the charge, pointed to a large rock which was the only cover they had on their journey up the Highlands. The remaining Tarkatans leapt behind it, with nearly half of their numbers dead from Erron Black's trap.

"What now?!" Karekna asked Baraka for his leadership. "He's going to gun us all down if we don't have a way to fight back!"

"I… AGH!" Baraka's thoughts were interrupted as a bear trap made of bone suddenly latched onto his leg.

"Baraka!" Karekna called out for. "He expected us to hide behind here too?!"

"I've got you," Karbrac reassured Baraka as he pulled the jaws of the trap off of Baraka's now injured leg. "You're not dying today."

"Or ever," Korhau promised. "We'll protect you."

"Look out!" Karekna pointed at a stick of dynamite that was being thrown over the rock.

Karbrac leapt atop the rock and channelled the energy that enchanted the blades on his arms, he sent a beam which blew up the dynamite and knocked Erron himself back. With a gesture of his hands to command them, the Tarkatans immediately began sprinting uphill again while Korhau carried Baraka. Erron Black meanwhile was getting to his feet from the surprisingly close explosion. Karbrac had a new idea and leapt against the cliffside and began climbing it by using his energised blades to stab into the rocks, something only possible due to the Outworld energy magic that his blades had been blessed with long ago. He soon reached the top of the cliff, where Erron was standing with a horse tied to a post by a small campsite as he didn't know how long he'd be waiting for the Tarkatans to come.

"Drop your firearms, Black!" Karbrac ordered.

"Easy, partner," Erron held his hands up and dropped a revolver onto the grass by his feet. "I surrender! Go ahead and take my weapons."

"I'll do just that," Karbrac said as he went to step forward but paused as he knew there was another bear trap ready and he quickly picked up the contraption and violently hurled it at Erron with the trap clenching onto his forearm.

"Shit!" Erron cursed as he cried in agony but still had to fight. "Damn you, beast!"

"I am a Tarkatan!" Karbrac corrected him.

"Same thing, ain't it?" Erron remarked as he drew his other revolver which he had hid instead of dropping to take several shots at Karbrac with each being absorbed by a small red energy force field that Karbrac cast with his blades. "Who gave a Tarkatan magic?!"

"The Shadow Priests for helping them on a mission for Shao Kahn!" Karbrac revealed.

"Funny you- agh!" Erron's speech was interrupted by constant pains from the trap that he was helpless to remove with only one hand free. "You bastard!"

"What's funny?" Karbrac asked.

"The Shadow Priest are here!" Erron told him as he pointed to their home in the distance which was known as the Evil Tower.

"Not here to save you though, Black," Karbrac told him as he approached Erron once he was out of ammo.

"Stay back!" Erron demanded as he drew his sword made of a Tarkatan arm blade. "I ain't unfamiliar with killing your kind!"

"Do your worst," Karbrac challenged. "Nobody fears a mere nomad."

"I'm… I'm more than a nom-AGH! Shit! This damn trap!" Erron continued to complain as the pain was unbearable. "Get off me!"

"Let me give you a hand," Karbrac offered. "By taking yours!"

Erron was confused but soon gasped as Karbrac sliced clean through Erron's left arm from below the elbow. He was now free from his own trap… but in the worst way possible. Erron screamed in agony as he stared at his dismembered limb before throwing himself onto his own Outworld horse before slapping them on the rear to run away as he began bleeding out.

"Get me to Tsung!" Erron demanded of his mount who neighed as they ran recklessly from the shock of being struck.

"Fool!" Karbrac insulted as he hurled the severed part of Erron's arm into the campfire with his revolvers before returning to his allies.

"Karbrac!" Baraka called for. "Thank you!"

"That Tarkatan slaughterer is on the retreat," Karbrac assured the group. "With one less hand than before."

"Well done," Baraka praised. "You'll make a worthy leader when I'm gone, Karbrac."

"You aren't dying anytime soon, friend," Karbrac promised him. "How's the leg?"

"I'll be fine," Baraka claimed. "Let's just focus on saving Nania!"

Upon being called, the horses soon came trotting back despite the frightening experience when Erron Black attempted his ruthless ambush. The horse Baraka had rode on was unfortunately caught in the conflict as were of course many of the Tarkatan enforcers they had brought alongside. Their squadron of around twenty warriors had now been reduced to ten. The remaining Tarkatans were now even more determined to complete the mission and hopefully disfigure Erron Black to an even greater degree if they happened to catch up with him for his crimes against Tarkata. The journey went through the outskirts of the Highlands as they rode around the larger mountain with the enormous sorcerer tower standing at the top imposingly. Karbrac was concerned by the tower as Erron Black had mentioned the Shadow Priests presence there.

"Shadow Priests reside at that tower," Karbrac pointed up to the tall structure. "Black warned me of them."

"They are allies with Shang Tsung," Baraka considered. "It is worth being cautious."

As Baraka spoke about them, a sudden burst of golden coloured magic was expelled from one of the windows of the tower. The Tarkatan squadron gasped as they saw robed figures fly from the window and they were heading down towards them with the robed sorcerers getting rapidly closer. One Shadow Priest landed first, in the centre of the cliffside road as many other Shadow Priests fell behind them. None of the Shadow Priests were recognisable, however, the one at front was clearly the main threat. The new leader of the Shadow Priests, Talon, was secretly busy at the Isle of Dread and was not present at the tower currently which was more than fortunate for the Tarkatans.

"We were watching you," the Shadow Priest told them. "The mere Earthrealmer halved your squadron… Do you anticipate survival here?"

"Were it a fair fight, the gunslinger would've been easily slain!" Karbrac told the Shadow Priest who laughed in response.

"You sent an entire squadron here," they pointed out, "yet you expect fairness?"

"Shang Tsung stole my baby!" Karekna yelled angrily. "Let us pass!"

"So I heard," they replied. "Master Tsung is probably experimenting on her already."

"Die!" Karekna screamed as she lunged forth with her blades activated.

The Shadow Priest faded away in a puff of gold smoke, before emerging behind Karekna and sweeping her leg. The sorcerer laughed as they commanded their own group of allies to attack the Tarkatans which they silently obeyed and the Shadow Priests and the Tarkatans charged forth at each other. The seeming commanding force of this group of Shadow Priests then pressed their foot on Karekna's neck…

"Foolish beast," they insulted while summoning a large scythe with their gold-like magic.

"Who are you?!" she questioned.

"I am called Orelia," they revealed, "and I am your killer."

Orelia went to lower their scythe, but Baraka dove in and parried the weapon with his metal arm blades. Orelia's eyes glowed a bright gold through the hood that cast a magical shadow to conceal their entire face. They hissed angrily before throwing their scythe into the air and using their magic to cast an energy shield to block Baraka's swings using his arm blades. Orelia meanwhile was directing the heavy weapon they had thrown surprisingly high into the air to attack some of the Tarkatans as the scythe spun through the air like a spinning blade that beheaded one Tarkatan with no trouble at all. Karbrac instructed their remaining allies to fall back with him using his powers to protect them in a large energy bubble.

"Peculiar," Orelia commented as they suddenly ignored Baraka and began approaching Karbrac. "It's… you…"

"What about me?" Karbrac questioned.

"The council gifted you that power," Orelia recalled hearing news of the time many years ago when a Tarkatan warrior aided a group of Shadow Priests on a mission. "Now you use it against us?"

"I was helping fellow servants to Shao Kahn," Karbrac gave the reason for his actions, "I have no attachment to sorcerers."

"Perhaps Lady Talon was right in eliminating our pathetic council…" Orelia considered as they recalled many times their former superiors had been foolish.

"I couldn't care less about your group's personal issues!" Karbrac snapped as he stepped through the bubble he had made to protect his allies and drew his energy charged blades.

"You only care about killing me," Orelia presumed as they called for their scythe back. "Typical nature for a savage like yourself."

"Step aside and live," Karbrac offered to which Orelia laughed at.

"Empty threats," Orelia claimed. "You couldn't possibly kill me!"

"But I can!" Baraka yelled as he used his remaining strength to attempt to stab Orelia in the back only for them to dash to one side before stomping on the inside of Baraka's injured leg.

"You can rot with the rest of your soldiers," Orelia told him as they grabbed Baraka and dragged him to the cliffedge.

"I won't let another one of them die today!" Baraka told Orelia as they dragged him across the ground.

"And you exude empty promises!" Orelia yelled before vanishing in a puff of smoke once more before emerging again… this time inside the shield bubble. "Hope you all lived joyful lives."

The Tarkatan warriors immediately attacked Orelia all at once who with a swift spin while their scythe hung over their own shoulder, cut through them all. Karbrac pulled his husband Korhau away just in time but the rest couldn't be saved. Only Karbrac, Korhau, Karekna and Baraka remained…

"No!" Korhau screamed as Karbrac ran at Orelia with a barrage of attacks which they vanished once more and returned beside Baraka while holding him by the neck.

"The people of Outworld see you as a legendary leader!" Orelia told Baraka. "Yet you're weak and pathetic!"

Baraka tried to ignore Orelia's words and focused on stabbing her. He suddenly extended his blades again, impaling Orelia in the stomach. Baraka withdrew and went for a finishing blow, but Orelia maintained their grip around him despite the pain… and used their strength to hurl Baraka over the cliffside.

"A cowardly attempt to defend yourself," Orelia said as they winced in pain while brushing over their stomach with their hand… covering their two stab wounds with a layer of golden skin for protection. "Who is next?!"

"Get back," Karbrac instructed as he readied his blades. "I'm next!"

"Seriously?!" Orelia was surprised. "I just sent your leader to undoubtedly their demise and yet you don't retreat?!"

"Tarkatans never retreat!" Karbrac claimed as he stepped forth. "And you'd be surprised at our ability to survive high falls," he pointed over the ledge. "Take a look."

Orelia stepped closer to the edge and looked down and Karbrac's prediction was correct. An ability Baraka had performed numerous times, most notably in surviving being hurled off the roof of an Earthrealm skyscraper when he stood up to fight Shao Kahn, he used his arm blades to scrape down the side of whatever he had been thrown off to slow his fall. Orelia saw Baraka clung to the cliffside with his signature blades. She began constructing a ball of energy in her hands, but was suddenly kicked in the back by Karbrac which sent her flying off the cliffside herself… knocked too far back to hang onto the edge like Baraka. Before falling to her doom, however, Orelia vanished once more.

"Let me help you up," Karbrac offered as he reached down and offered his friend and mentor a hand.

"Thank you," Baraka said as he took his hand and was pulled up. "Are you alright, Karekna?" he checked in with the mother as she was blatantly distraught.

"So many lives lost…" she remarked, "all for Nania."

"And there is many more to be lost," Orelia spoke as she reappeared before the remaining group of Tarkatans with their Shadow Priests beside them.

"Leave us alone!" Karekna demanded.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Orelia replied as they began conducting magic in their own two hands. "Prepare to join your allies."

"Stay away from my wife!" yelled Karter who had suddenly arrived on one of the remaining horses at the stable back at Tarkata.

Karter hadn't come alone as behind him was a surprisingly large group of Seidan Guardsmen who were being commanded by none other than Hotaru himself. His fear of the danger his Tarkatan family was in being too great, Karter had rode over the the nearby city of Lei Chen and pleaded for the aid of the guards there. Having been saved by Tarkatans once before when Reiko and his forces had attacked the city, Hotaru knew it was only fair to return the favour and assure the Tarkatans completed their mission.

"Cowards," Orelia mocked. "You Tarkatans need others to do your work!"

"You're all under arrest," Hotaru declared, "for assault, murder, and I presume an involvement in the kidnapping of this man's daughter."

"You think you could possibly imprison us?!" Orelia questioned before laughing once more. "No shackles can bind us permanently!"

"I never said anything about imprisoning any of you," Hotaru said as grabbed his naginata which was slung over his back. "Final chance to surrender."

"Never!" Orelia refused. They looked back at their obedient Shadow Priest allies and then ordered for them to, "Attack!"

The Shadow Priests flew at the Seidan Guard with Hotaru slashing at the incoming sorcerers with a large line of lava which of course seared their robes quickly and then their flesh. The ones who avoided the lava were taken down by the impressive form and teamwork of the Seidan Guardsmen. Baraka, Karekna, Karbrac and Korhau soon joined in on stopping the ground of a dozen or so Shadow Priests who were incapable of conducting spells uninterrupted as their enemies had surrounded them. Realising what was happening and knowing that this wasn't a battle worth dying for, Orelia sent several beams firing in several directions at any nearby enemies to get them away from their fellow Shadow Priests before instructing them to retreat. The Shadow Priests soon all faded either through portals or with teleportation back to their tower atop the Highlands.

"Thank you, Hotaru," Baraka expressed his gratitude as the two shook hands once more.

"I owed you," Hotaru told him. "This was actually an expression of my gratitude."

"Did you get their help, my love?" Karekna asked Karter as the couple embraced.

"I did," Karter confirmed. "I was terrified and… judging by all the corpses… I take it I was right to be concerned."

"We'll gather those we lost once we get Nania back," Baraka promised as he was saddened by the sight of many familiar Tarkatans due to their close community… who were now all deceased.

"Let's go then," Hotaru recommended, "we have a baby to save."

Everybody got onto the horses once more, with Baraka needing help from Karbrac onto his horse due to his badly injured leg. Baraka was still determined to continue though, as were all the allies who stood beside him. Karekna especially as she immediately took off at the forefront while Karter clung his arms around her out of fear of being flung off their fast steed. They travelled past the mountainous Highlands with the trail they had been chasing leading right behind the tall landscape.

The group was shocked at what they had found. Hidden behind the mountains and beyond a gate with a symbol pointing north, there was a massive structure: Shang Tsung's Palace. The Outworld home of the infamous sorcerer had gone undetected for countless years, but today it was unveiled to the Tarkatans and their Seidan allies. Baraka was certain this was where the trail of scent he had picked up led to, and now it was time for he and his allies to march downhill and towards the grounds of Shang Tsung's Palace.

"Let's dismount here," Baraka suggested as they reached the bottom of the hill and were now on the courtyard of the palace grounds. "Remain calm, Karekna and Karter… for now."

At the doors inside Tsung's Palace was Erron Black being carried inside after his horse made it to their home. His injury was severe but sorcery would easily cease the bleeding and allow his survival. Karekna growled as he watched the murderer be brought into the safety of the structure's walls. Baraka gestured for his allies to move forth which they did so. Karekna held Karter's hand along the way as Baraka, Karbrac, Korhau and Hotaru stood at the front with a squadron of now Seidan Guardsmen in place of the Tarkatans who died on this mission. It was a short journey, but felt like an eternity for the Tarkatans due to all the obstacles they had faced.

"Shang Tsung!" Baraka called out for as he limped forth. "Get out here, you spineless coward!"

"What do you want?!" Hachiman questioned as he guarded the doors with a group of fellow Masked Guards. "How did you even find this place?!"

"Your master reeks!" Karekna yelled. "And we want our daughter!"

The doors suddenly burst open as the sorcerer approached while draped in red robes around his golden armour. He held his straight sword in the firm grasp of his right hand with his left being concealed behind his back. The Masked Guards bowed in his presence as he walked down the polished smooth stone steps.

"Give her back!" Karekna demanded as Karter trembled in fear at the sight of the wicked sorcerer holding their own daughter.

"This?" Tsung asked as he presented his left hand which was carrying Nania. "A Tarkatan and Naknadan hybrid… such a rare and interesting specimen."

"Why did you take their daughter?!" Baraka interrogated. "An innocent and pure baby!"

"I've been watching," Tsung revealed, "each and everyone of my closest enemies… which is a lot of people!"

"Get to the point!" Karekna ordered as she had become anything but calm.

"When I saw the two of you," Tsung continued to speak as he pointed at Karekna and Karter, "I became intrigued. A Naknadan in Tarkata… it was a unique sight. Even more unique was the fact you had reproduced.

"So you decided to kidnap her?!"

"My Flesh Pits were ruined years ago," Shang Tsung elaborated further, "no thanks to Baraka."

"Your underground lair was a wicked chamber of torture!" Baraka yelled angrily.

"It was a chamber of life!" Tsung corrected. "I want to return to bringing life to Outworld… and your unique baby makes for the perfect test subject. Do you have all your answers now?"

"Now I'm killing you!" Karekna threatened.

"Keep hold of the subject," Tsung ordered as he handed Nania to one of the guards. "Get inside!"

"No!" Karekna cried out as she ran forth only to be tripped over by the sorcerer as she tumbled face first onto the hard ground.

"Attack!" Hotaru ordered his fellow Guardsmen who all charged at Shang Tsung with the Masked Guards intercepting as the two sides thought.

Hotaru used his magic to dash forth, moving through the wall of Masked Guards and punching Shang Tsung in his face which knocked him into Karekna who took a bite into his head with Tsung forcing her off with his sword. He then spun around to strike Hotaru, who blocked the sword with his naginata. Before Hotaru could return the favour, Hachiman shot an arrow directly at one of the flags on his back, causing it to fall over and cover his face as a momentary distraction for Shang Tsung to take advantage of by shapeshifting into a former servant of his: Reptile. The sorcerer slid forth, tackling Hotaru by the legs and kicking him in the back as he came down. Tsung then used the Saurian availability of blending into the environment as he tried to avoid danger. Baraka, though, was still able to sniff him out and tackled him before impaling him with his arm blades. Tsung's sword fell to the ground but he blasted a fireball to launch Baraka off of him.

Shang Tsung then found a bunch of Seidan Guardsmen surrounding him after they had overpowered the small group of his Masked Guards. Hachiman ran forth to the rescue, but Hotaru took him down with his sequence of signature grasshopper kicks. Shang Tsung proceeded to shapeshift into his former Champion though and spun around with all four of Goro's fists lit aflame. Any nearby Seidan Guard was either crushed or knocked across the courtyard by the might of a Shokan. Tsung then swapped his form into Sindel, to gain the ability of flight. He flew up, hurling purple energy projectiles that rained down upon the Seidan Guardsmen as he did so before being shot down by Karter who had picked up Hachiman's bow which he dropped when Hotaru attacked him.

"Agh!" Tsung grunted as he crashed against the steps to his Palace doors. "Hachiman! Gather reinforcements! I want to make sure these trespassers are all dead!"

"I need a little help myself, sir!" Hachiman said as he was still in a confrontation with the determined Hotaru.

"You aren't going anywhere!" Hotaru told him as he blasted a beam of lava at Hachiman who rolled aside before stabbing at him rapidly with his pike. "My armour is no match for such a weapon!"

"How about this!" Shang Tsung yelled as he had morphed into the body of Shao Kahn and thus gained the possession that was most commonly beside him: the Wrath Hammer.

While just a very temporary replica made through sorcery, it was still an exact copy. Tsung's sorcery always worked by him shapeshifting into people with their most common gear and belongings too. The duration would be short, unless he had the soul of the person he was shapeshifting into… then he could remain as them for an unknown amount of hours. Tsung threw the Wrath Hammer at Hotaru which knocked him to the ground, similar to the time Reiko was beating him by using such a feared and powerful weapon. Tsung then returned to the form of a Shokan, this time Sheeva, and crushed Hotaru into the ground with their signature jumping stomp. He then leapt back to the doors of his Palace and once returning to his regular form, he opened them for Hachiman to run through to gather the other residents at the giant home.

"What's going on?" Inka asked as he cautiously approached the door.

"These Outworld monsters have come with a group of Orderrealmers to try and attack us, Inka!" Tsung warned him in a tone that made him feel like the victim. "You must help protect our people!"

"I will!" Inka opted. "It is what my father would've wanted!"

"Yes…" Tsung replied with a sly smile.

"Come here!" Karekna yelled as she tackled Tsung and the two fell inside the Palace where the grand main hall was revealed.

Karekna was not distracted by the grand size and decor of the hall though, her attention only latched onto Shang Tsung. Inka ran at Karekna in an attempt to protect him from harm. In retaliation, Karekna struck Inka with a jumping knee to his face and caused the young man to stumble and fall down the steps. This was still enough of a distraction for Tsung to attack from behind with a kick to the back of her legs which brought her down. Tsung's hands then glowed green with soul magic as he zapped his powers gifted to him by Shao Kahn to begin the soul stealing process.

"My love!" Karter cried out as he rushed over while dodging any attacking Masked Guards. "I'm coming!"

Inka had gotten to his feet and proceeded to stand in Karter's way, only for Karbrac to take him down with a shoulder block takedown which gave Karter the opening he needed to run up the stairs and in a surprising act of bravery, wail at Shang Tsung with all six of his fists. Shang Tsung eventually retaliated by attacking with his own string of strikes, using his skills with his mastery of the Snake martial arts style to defeat the non martial artist. Karter fell back but Karekna had recovered and stabbed Tsung in the back before sprinting after the Masked Guard holding her daughter.

"Give Nania back!" Karekna demanded. "Or die!"

The Masked Guard turned away and went to run from the determined mother, but was quickly stabbed from behind with Karekna grabbing Nania before the Masked Guard collapsed from the fatal blow. Karekna then ran out of Shang Tsung's Palace as reinforcements flooded downstairs, dragging her husband along while holding his hand and cradling Nania in the other.

"You got her back!" Karter cheered as he felt some relief.

"Of course!" Karekna replied as the two ran into the courtyard. "But now we have to get out of here!"

"Behind us!" Hotaru ordered as he and the Seidan Guardsmen had formed a line. "We'll give you enough time to escape!"

"Thank you, Hotaru," Baraka once more expressed his gratitude for the aid of the Seidan Guard.

"I'm simply returning the favour," Hotaru said to him. "Now go!"

"Goodbye, friend!" Baraka said as he, Karter, Karekna, Karbrac and Korhau all got on some horses. "My family, let us ride!"

The Tarkatans rode away as the Masked Guards pursuit was halted by the wall of strong Seidan Guardsmen. Karter rode one horse as Karekna sat behind him while checking on their beloved Nania. Baraka as always led the group home, despite his injuries, he pushed on on their journey back to Tarkata as Hotaru gave Mileena's Union the rare aid of Seido. Baraka and many of his Tarkatan friends decided to still go to the party in Edenia, except for Karekna and Karter who wanted to keep close to their daughter with Baraka promising to have ample protection at the camp for the foreseeable future… as well as promises to bury the brave warriors who gave their life on the quest to save Nania from whatever Shang Tsung was planning.

Eventually, the Seidan Guard made their own retreat after Hotatu felt as if they had given the Tarkatans enough time. This left Shang Tsung and his allies alone to deal with the mess at the Palace. Tsung was frustrated as such a small mission for him had led to the revelation of his secret base of operations. He began thinking to himself as his allies began cleaning the courtyard from spilt blood and corpses.

"What do we do now, Master Tsung?" Hachiman asked as he approached from behind.

"We continue with my main plans," Tsung decided as two more figures exited the building. "My return to experimentation will have to wait… but once Captain Shayde returns with the Nethership, we leave for Hell."

"We will follow you there and back," spoke one of the allies as they knelt in Tsung's presence.

"Hime," Shang Tsung addressed the woman by her full name, "took your time getting out here."

"Myself and Lady Kasem were organising your plans," Hime defended herself, "like you requested."

Okita Hime wore the armour of a samurai and carried many weapons relevant to such times. A naginata, similar to Hotaru's, along with a pair of wakizashi which were a type of sword. Hangaku Gozen had such equipment because she had been a musha, the female equivalent of a samurai. She was one of the several Earthrealmers who Shang Tsung had offered slowed ageing for their services through various means. Replicating the kneeling gesture behind her, was Lady Kasem. The woman wore almost entirely black robes, with a veil covering her identity. Her skin was entirely concealed to protect her personal identity. With a gesture from Shang Tsung, Kasem rose to her feet and whispered in the sorcerer's ears with Tsung grinning at the news.

"Then we are ready to depart," Shang Tsung decided. "Our friend awaits…"