Scorpion watched as Bi-Han's lifeless body flopped to the ground; he grasped his heart in his hand. The specter tried to feel anything; after all these years, he finally had his revenge. But the anger still burned in him as he began to see clearly. The cycle will continue.
He released Bi-Han's heart with no sense of satisfaction; perhaps Raiden was correct after all, Scorpion contemplated. He looked at his hands, soaked in the blood of his enemy, an enemy that, despite his and Raiden's pleas, he had killed. He clenched his fists in anger as they started to burn, only to be interrupted by Quan Chi's minions coming from the foliage around him.
"Congratulations, fierce warrior," they told him as they grabbed Bi-Han's body.
"Stop, where are you taking the body? It is to be returned to the Lin Kuei." Scorpion commanded; the minions didn't stop as one turned around.
"Quan Chi has ordered the body to be taken to him," the minion responded. Scorpion's anger festered as he grabbed the minion's throat.
"What does that fool of a sorcerer want with it?" Scorpion yelled as he raised the minion high; the minion choked on his words as he struggled to respond.
"I—do not know—his orders." Scorpion brought the minion closer to his face, looking him dead in the eyes. "I don't know—I swear!" Scorpion threw the minion to the ground, and it crawled away, grasping at its throat. A fiery tornado erupted around Scorpion as he teleported to Quan Chi's tower.
His tower was dark; tools of various natures riddled the walls; blood was splattered along the ground from interrogations. This place was where hope came to die, a beacon of dark magic. Scorpion was disgusted by the place; despite working with Quan Chi, he couldn't hate the sorcerer more.
Scorpion entered the throne room, where Quan Chi sat, waiting for him.
"Ah, Scorpion, back from your triumphant victory over Subzero." Quan Chi praised Scorpion, seeing through his flattery as he walked up to him, staring him in the eyes.
"Why haven't you returned Bi-Han's body to the Lin Kuei yet? The act itself is dishonorable," Scorpion questioned. Quan Chi smirked and stood up from his throne.
"My dear Scorpion, it'll all make sense soon; his body is required for things much greater than your comprehension," Quan Chi explained, walking up to Scorpion, never breaking eye contact. His response angered Scorpion.
"I don't care; if Bi-Han had the decency to return the bodies of my fallen comrades to me, I must return the favor." Scorpion protested. Quan Chi's smirk fell slightly.
"This is nonnegotiable, Scorpion. I'm sorry; we shall talk about this matter later. Now we must address our next moves; after all, the guest of honor has arrived," Quan Chi said.
"Our time here is done; my purpose has been fulfilled. Now release me, Quan Chi," Scorpion demanded. Quan Chi laughed; he snapped his fingers, and a ghostly green chain appeared around Scorpion's neck, pulling him down onto his knees. Scorpion pried at the chain, but its grip tightened, choking him as he fought it.
"Don't you understand, Scorpion? You belong to me!"
Four more chains wrapped around Scorpion, raising him up and restraining him. Quan Chi reached into Scorpion's chest, gripping his heart; Scorpion yelled in pain.
"You are only here because of me, and your soul shall only be released once I give it permission too!" Quan Chi yelled, gripping Scorpion's heart tighter and tighter.
Finally releasing him after a moment, the chains snaked away, and Scorpion flopped to the ground. Scorpion's anger festered as he picked himself up; coughing up blood, he looked at Quan Chi, who smirked.
"Come now, Scorpion, I'll make it worth your while. If you help me end Raiden and his champions, I'll restore your clan," Quan Chi proposed. Scorpion pondered the deal. The sorcerer had betrayed him before, but his soul was already in Quan Chi's grasp. Scorpion didn't have a choice; he nodded his head.
"Ah, good Scorpion, you've come to your senses. Observe Raiden and his champions. He thinks his plan is still secret, but he has no idea of the eyes I have in his ranks," Quan Chi commanded. Scorpion accepted the task and turned to walk away but turned back around, still not having the answer he came for.
"And what of Bi-Han's body?" Scorpion asked, and Quan Chi chuckled.
"His body will become a conduit to something far greater. Now leave me; I have work to do."
A fire tornado whisked around Scorpion as he appeared on a hill overlooking the palace. He spotted Kuai Liang and Fujin running to the servants on the grounds for medical aid. He felt remorse for his actions; he had become the very thing that he had hunted. Out of frustration, he punched a tree; its body cracked and ached as he continued, and his fist started to bleed until the tree fell over. He knelt and looked at his hands. Despite the blood being his own, he could tell he had dishonored Bi-Han with his own two hands. A crash was heard behind him, and a hand fell on his shoulder.
"You have seen the error of your ways, Scorpion; now you must start the path to redemption," Raiden's voice comforted him. Scorpion stood up to face Raiden.
"Even in only brief glimpses, I see the same desire and fire I had for revenge in Kuai Liang. I have not avenged my family; what you said is the truth, Raiden, and now, I have passed a similar curse onto Kuai Liang," Scorpion said with regret in his voice, knowing his actions were irreversible. Raiden hesitated to respond, not knowing what to say.
"Quan Chi has sent me to spy on you, Raiden; he suspects a plan from you. I cannot help, as Quan Chi has chains that bind my soul. After my attack, I suspect he plans to further cripple and mangle your champions to make Earthrealm helpless in the tournament," Scorpion explained. Raiden looked at him in shock; his worst fear had been realized.
"Scorpion, if you obtain any future knowledge of attacks, you must bring it to my attention immediately," Raiden requested. Scorpion hesitated but nodded. Raiden smiled and nodded back. He walked toward the edge of the hill, gazing over the palace.
"Do you have a plan?" Scorpion asked.
"There is one, one that may end all future bloodshed if executed correctly; the chances are slim, but we must maintain hope," Raiden responded, searching for hope within himself.
"Thank you, Raiden."
"Thank you, Hanzo. Have faith that it will work out." A bolt of lightning struck, and Raiden vanished. Scorpion pondered how to escape the clutches of Quan Ch'i's curse, but as the sun set, he was summoned elsewhere.
He teleported deep into the jungle; darkness enveloped everything. In front of him, two Tarkatans awaited. They greeted him with a bow as he approached them.
"Why have I been summoned here, Tarkatan?" Scorpion inquired.
"A weapons deal Shang Tsung wanted you to oversee," one responded, while the other nodded in agreement.
"And where are the buyers?" Scorpion asked. "Right here." An Australian voice emerged from the shadows, a red eye glowing, and Scorpion reached for his katana.
"No need for that; we come in peace." Kano emerged from the darkness, accompanied by several men. He grinned, his yellow teeth shining. He extended his hand for a handshake, but Scorpion simply stared at him blankly.
"Not the social type, I see. Well, I'm Kano. These are my men and my right-hand guy, Kabal. Since you match the description, I'll assume you're Scorpion. Now that we are all acquainted, we can begin our business," Kano stated, his teeth still gleaming. Kabal rolled his eyes at his comments but followed Kano's every move.
"Give us the weapons, then leave," Scorpion commanded. Kano laughed at him, prompting Scorpion to clench his fist.
"Oh, come now; you thought it would be that easy? We went through a storm here; wouldn't you say that warrants some additional payment?" Kano proposed, "Scorpion stared him dead in the eyes, and Kabal rested his hand on his gun.
"Come on, let's just hand over the weapons and leave," Kabal suggested.
'We almost died back there. I'M GOING TO GET A BLOODY BONUS, EVEN IF I HAVE TO BEAT THIS YELLOW PAJAMA-WEARING MAN." Kano yelled. The Tarkatans backed up in fear, but Scorpion stood his ground.
"This is your last chance," Scorpion said calmly. Kano shook his head, looked down, then smiled.
Kano took out his knife and lunged at Scorpion, who caught him and threw him to the side. He pushed Kabal to the ground and sliced another man's head. One started to run, but Scorpion appeared in front of him, grabbing his lower and upper jaw and pushing them apart until he heard a pop. He went back to Kano, who was picking himself back up, and held a katana to his throat.
"The weapons, now," Scorpion ordered. Kabal snuck up behind Scorpion and pressed his gun against his head.
"Now what are you going to do?" Kano teased, believing he had the upper hand; Scorpion locked eyes with Kano.
"I've died once before. Do you think death still scares me?" Scorpion replied, not blinking once; Kano's expression shifted to one of shock.
"Give the bloke what he wants, Kabal," Kano commanded, finally backing down. Kabal lowered his gun and transferred the weapons to the Tarkatans. Kano leaned against a tree, observing the entire scene and muttering to himself about how absurd it all was. Once all the weapons were unloaded, Kano and Kabal returned to their ship.
"Tell me, Tarkatans, what does Shang Tsung want with these weapons?"