Foreigner's Tale, Bk 1, Ch 2

A Foreigner's Tale, Book 1
A Mortal Kombat Fan Fiction
Rated T for violence, language, suggestive themes and potentially disturbing imagery
Chapter 2: A Night Upon the Lost Sea

I scanned the deck. Not only did the boat look ancient, but it also looked like it wasn't very well patched up before it came for us and the other kombatants. The sails were so thin; they were almost nonexistent, more or less transparent. Clumps of plant hung off them, the masts, and the rails on the edges of the ship, and wherever it was, cobwebs were nearby.

I started to step cautiously towards the bow end, beckoning for Cecilia to follow.

"So…" she began. I slowed to let her walk by my side. "…Any chance of meeting Taven here? He's pretty neat," she questioned hopefully.

I flushed. She didn't know it, but she was thinking far into the future."Ah… not yet, Cece. Give it…" I stopped for a brief calculation. "…Give it about twelve, thirteen years or so."

The angel's expression drooped just a little. "Aw, okay. Then who is here?"

I grinned. I always had fun reciting this simple roster. "We've got Kano, Liu Kang, Raiden, Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and—"

Suddenly, there was a crashing noise behind us, and we turned to face it. A blonde woman lieutenant had more or less tackled another contender, a man in a tuxedo with short brown hair and far more luggage than necessary.

As the man got himself back up to his feet, he grunted: "All right, tough guy, you wanna get—" The woman's handgun was soon nestled right under his chin. "…rough?"

"No. Do you?" she retorted.

I leaned closer to Cecilia, to whisper the last kombatant's name in her ear, for she had now arrived. "Sonya Blade."

"Hi," the man greeted, "I'm Johnny Cage. And you are?"

Sonya only questioned: "Where's Kano?"

Aha! It happened just as I'd expected. This incident implied something else about our journey: The events took place akin to how they did in the movie adaptation of the first game – which I was fortunate enough to see several times before our arrival, meaning I'd have a fair idea of what to do and expect.

Johnny slowly nudged the pistol away. "I don't know who you're talking about… but I'm sure I can help you find him."

"Out of my way," she growled, shoving past him.

Then, the Asian man from the harbor – undoubtedly Liu Kang, I finally realized – approached Johnny.

"Just another star struck fan, huh?" he teased, lightly punching the actor's arm before heading in the same direction Sonya had.

Johnny soon followed, looking a bit ticked, and some distance away, I could see Sonya passing through a door that led below the deck, gun still drawn.

"Gancena, were those…?" Cecilia whispered beside me.

I turned a bit and cupped my hand around my mouth, not taking my eyes off that passage. "Yeah. Sonya just questioned Johnny Cage, and Liu Kang…"

Just in front of the entrance was where Johnny caught up with Liu, confronting him, likely not only about the incident we'd just seen, but another act at the harbor that we didn't fully see, but I could remember from the movie.

Johnny had thought – rather stupidly, I daresay– that Liu was a servant of the ship, or something of the like, and attempted to pay him to carry Johnny's luggage. Liu had a very clever reaction, though – he immediately took a suitcase and dropped it into the bay, walking off with the money the actor had offered. The bag caused the splash Cecilia and I heard, and Liu Kang had been pocketing that money when he passed us.

"…This tournament is Liu Kang's destiny," I finished. Cecilia and I still stared at the confrontation, but I knew that it was only a matter of time until…

"Cece, we need to go there," I whispered, "where Sonya went. Liu and Johnny'll be down there within the minute, I'm sure of it!"

"Lead the way, Gancena."

I began the approach, nervous and excited. But when we were a fair distance from the two kombatants, they looked to the doorway for a moment before entering.

"C'mon, Cece!" I hissed, dashing to the area.

We could already hear the encounter beginning when we finally climbed down the ladder to below the deck.

"When I want backup," Sonya nearly growled, glancing firmly at Johnny, "I'll radio for it."

A board creaked beneath us, and the three glanced over their shoulders. Sonya turned around and aimed her handgun at us, making my heart jump.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"What are you?" Johnny added. His eyes were narrowed, his head titled, and he leaned away, shocked and confused about the two creatures before him.

Liu Kang stepped forward, his voice hard as the others. "If you are servants of Shang Tsung, I suggest you leave."

Flickering my gaze over the heroes multiple times throughout the confrontation, I saw the sorcerer Shang Tsung for the first time, in the flesh, with my own waking eyes. An aged sorcerer was he, with pale skin and bleak but menacing eyes and a long beard, short moustache, and long locks of white hair on his snowy head. He was dressed in a long, velvety and elegant violet robe. I'm surprised I didn't growl when I saw him.

I already hated the man.

Cecilia stepped forward then, her hands before her. "Hey, hey! There's nothing to worry about." She shuffled around her belt, and when she retrieved it, she opened up her invitation scroll. "We're participating in this tournament, too! We're not your enemy."

"Nor are you normal Earthrealmers," Shang Tsung observed. The three returned their attentions to him. He raised one hand, beckoning. Even from our distance, it was menacing.

I glanced up the ladder, wondering if anyone was nearby… just in case. "You want us to…?"

"Come here," the sorcerer said. "Don't be shy."

I lightly pressed my hand to Cecilia's back, and we slowly moved forward.

"You two," he continued, "despite your radically different appearances, you two certainly act like Earthrealmers, and there is something about all five of you… some common goals… beliefs… fears…"

I tensed. I didn't like this. I knew that since I was down here, though, I had to face the sorcerer, and part of me tried to steel the rest of me, that part that wanted out, out, out!

"My friends," he said, focusing on Liu, Johnny and Sonya, "these two are nothing to be feared or estranged. They are your allies." He smirked. "And I suggest you treat them as such."

Despite who said those words, I felt a bit better. Then… my mind hit a bit of a block. In the movie… this was the part where two warriors, Scorpion and Sub-Zero, would emerge and confront us. However, I was absolutely certain I'd seen Sub-Zero board this ship! If that was the case, then that scene… would be drastically different out here. That, and… this feels a bit odd to say, but… even Shang Tsung looked different here – more like he did in the game. I theorized that we might have been in a version of the universe with elements from both the movie and the game.

However, movement did catch my eye.

I looked to my left and saw… two human figures rushing through the shadows. I focused on them… they flowed past us all… turned to march behind us… when I turned all the way around, four warriors, their heads wrapped in red cloth, charged straight for us, armed with scimitar-like blades atop long wooden poles.

"Whoa!" I yelped.

Suddenly, I heard a fierce crackling sound, and down the ladder came a stream of lightning-like energy. Four bolts shot out of it and struck the offending fighters, whipping them to walls and giving them a thorough electrocution. The minions didn't scream; they didn't even make a sound. It was chilling. I wondered what the others were thinking, where they were looking, but I knew that they most likely stared at whichever fighter was closest to them, only watching the strange sensation.

I sure did, and I sure wasn't going to avert my gaze to see how right I was.

Then, as quickly as it began, it ended. The bolts returned to their source, the enemies fell, and the energy itself materialized into a tall man wearing blue and white, small black shoulder guards and a cone-shaped straw hat – his in-game appearance, I must add. His white eyes stared right at the sorcerer angrily.

But I had to restrain myself from visibly perking up at this sight.

"Enough!" he bellowed.

The sorcerer's smile grew. "Lord Raiden," he greeted. "How good of you to grace us with your presence." He bowed his head as he spoke, but it was a false show. Not that Raiden would care right now, considering that…

"Your grunts attacked my fighters," he began. "That is expressly forbidden before the tournament, as your Emperor well knows."

Shang Tsung's expression seemed to grow a bit more serious. "My sincere apologies. It won't happen again, I promise you."

"Hm. I shall see to that." Raiden narrowed his eyes, and small sparks emerged from them.

"Of course. Until you reach the island, where you have," he paused, smirking, "no dominion."

"My dominions are well known to me, sorcerer!" Raiden boomed. Then, more calmly, he added: "Thank you."

"What tournament?" Sonya asked, annoyed.

The sorcerer smiled more widely. My stomach turned. "You've been chosen, Sonya… much to my delight." On that mysterious note, he turned and moved into the shadows of the chamber. I swallowed.

"You really are Raiden," I heard Liu Kang say. My attention then went back to the Thunder God.

"All of you, come with me," he commanded, shifted into the stream of lightning again, and flew back up to the deck.

There was a moment of silence, charged with a strange and potent mix of awe, confusion and curiosity. I looked at Cecilia, and I saw her glance my way, wearing a smile just short of a grin, before she took the first step towards the ascension.

As we moved, Johnny began:

"Okay. I'm sorry if this offends either of you two ladies, but… this is too weird." The air was cooler above deck. No others were in sight. "We have one girl who looks like she's part tiger, we've got another girl who's purple all over, and there's a man who, as far as I can tell, is made of electricity. I mean, how did he disappear like that? What is going on here? Who is this guy!?" he shouted, turning to us and tossing his arms up.

"Let's just… think this through," Sonya answered. "There is a rational explanation for this."

"He's Raiden, god of thunder and lightning and Protector of Earthrealm," Liu explained. I smiled to myself.

"Well, great," Sonya muttered.

Johnny gestured towards Liu Kang. "Well, there's your rational explanation." He turned quickly towards us. "But what about you two?"

"Listen," Raiden's voice ordered. We all looked to him, standing before a pack of barrels. "What you are about to face is more important than…" he looked to Johnny, "…your ego," then to Sonya, "your enemy," to Cecilia, "your honor," to me, "your desires," and finally, to Liu, "or your quest for revenge.

"You have embarked on a sacred mission. You have been chosen to defend Earthrealm in a tournament called Mortal Kombat."

"Defend it from who?" Sonya questioned.

"Your world is but one of many realms," Raiden explained. "One of them is a forsaken land called Outworld, ruled by one who has crowned himself Emperor. Now he seeks a new world to conquer and enslave."

"Now, wait a sec," Johnny interjected. "If this guy is so powerful, then why doesn't he just invade us?"

"To enter Earthrealm, the Emperor's demon sorcerer Shang Tsung and his warriors have to win ten straight victories in Mortal Kombat. They have won nine. This will be the tenth tournament."

"A handful of people on a leaky boat are gonna save the world," Sonya summarized.

Raiden pointed at her. "Exactly." He began to walk as he spoke, "The essence of Mortal Kombat is not about death, but life. Mortal men and women defending your own world." He stopped, ending up closer to me and Cecilia.

"Why are you telling us this?" Sonya questioned. "What about the others?"

"They are all great fighters," Raiden answered, "but I have looked into their souls… and yours. One of you five will decide the outcome of the tournament. The fate of billions will depend upon you."

I tensed. It was beginning to sink in just how much was riding on us… on me, and on Cecilia, and on Johnny and Sonya and Liu… how did they feel now? Where they at all overwhelmed? Was it sinking in for them? What about Cecilia? She wasn't overly nervous, was she? No, no, of course not… right? Maybe I was the one who was feeling overwhelmed, and that was why I felt compelled to speak and allude to a fear of mine…

"And yet we are no safer," I added. "In fact, because we are the chosen, we're more likely to be in even worse danger, aren't we?"

Raiden looked me in the eye. I was completely captivated by his power, his wisdom… I even felt a bit soothed.

"It's true that you are no safer than any contender in the tournament. And what I know of you, Shang Tsung knows as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he manages to attempt another ambush against you. But remember that you are never alone. You and your friends will always look after each other. And when you do that, you can survive much more than what you could alone."

My ears twitched. I was afraid he'd say something like that, but… My mind was calmed, even a little, by the last part of his answer. My body was not; its tension would not die down. A bad sign. I kept my eyes on the Thunder God as he began to circle us again, heading for the spot he'd originally stood.

Liu Kang stepped forward. "What about Shang Tsung?"

Raiden then focused on him. "Still concerned only with vengeance? If you challenge Shang Tsung now, you will lose your life and your soul."

"He is going to pay for my brother's death," Liu stated firmly, as if the sorcerer's fate was already sealed.

The immortal shook his head. "You're not ready." Then he lifted his gaze to the dark sky. "Look."

We did, all five of us. Thick streams of energy that vaguely resembled thin clouds twisted, and there was a thunderclap. I was unsure if Raiden directly summoned it or if Shang Tsung did or if it was natural.

"It has begun," Raiden declared.

Demented sights began to dance within our vision. An ember-colored skull rushed across the visage with fiery snakes slithering out of its mouth. The thunder boomed once more, and we only stared as if we were dreaming.

We saw the sorcerer himself, that fleshed demon Shang Tsung, holding his hands high – he created this spell, but for what purpose, we did not know – and would never know.

"It has begun!"

Above, there was a vague image, a horned skull helmet glaring at us. Two more snakes emerged from its eyeholes, and the visage disappeared, dissolving into flame.

---

Within four hours, I was back on the decks – alone. Each contender had his or her own quarters for the boat trip, and then would either be alone or in a pair with another for the actual tournament.

I'd woken up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Then, I remembered one final incident upon the Lost Sea.

A confrontation involving Scorpion and Sub-Zero.

Thus far, I had only glimpsed Sub-Zero once and had not seen Scorpion yet at all, and their absence below the deck confirmed what I'd been suspecting – and, admittedly, hoping for. I'd thought they'd taken their in-game roles within the tournament.

Sub-Zero represented his clan, the Lin Kuei, and had another assignment besides the tournament.

Scorpion was hunting Sub-Zero.

I knew that Scorpion would find his prey and give him a haunting warning of his intentions. I strongly intended to see it for myself, however dangerous it could have been.

I moved, swiftly and as silently as I could make myself, from the bow to the stern and back, over and over again, searching hungrily for the sound of a voice, the feel of odd sensations, or even a flash of yellow or a smudge of dark blue – I was looking for any evidence that it was happening.

Then, at one point at the stern, I turned back towards the bow, deliberating whether I should continue my pursuit or go back to my cabin when I saw… a fire-like glow. One that greatly resembled what I'd seen that fateful night, beneath the crack of my door.

That had to be it.

I dashed the first half of the trip, but for the second half, I slowed to a quick, but relatively stealthy walk. By the time I got there, I could see the fire-glow again from behind the corner of some storage unit.

I listened. There were no words. There was barely a sound save the water beneath the Nethership.

My shoulders slumped – seeing how there were two glows, I… I probably missed it.

Despite that, I peeked around the corner. What I saw would stay with me.

It was just Sub-Zero, a dark smudge against a more oblique backdrop of light fog and dark water and starry skies and stained wood. However… he was panting. I didn't hear it, but it certainly showed. His hand rested at the base of his throat. Wide, blue-green eyes – the most haunting piece of the picture – stared at the floor, with seemingly unspeakable fear shining right through. I shuddered.

I found it odd because I wasn't afraid of Scorpion. I never really was, although in my safe and cozy old life, I really had no reason to. And yet… this was a perfect example of the terror he could induce.

The Lin Kuei's panting slowed. His hand slipped back to his side… and those unforgettable eyes looked up… and for a heartbeat, they passed mine. He saw me.

My ears pricked. I whipped around and ran back to my quarters.

I still found it odd because I wasn't afraid of Sub-Zero, either! And again, there was absolutely no reason to.

But I didn't think that at the time. I just focused on getting inside the room, shutting the door and scrambling underneath the sparse covers of my bed. I calmed within moments and soon fell asleep.

As it turned out, that was nowhere near the end of that story – even in regards to beyond this, the first tournament.

But I expected that, too.