*backdated to Saturday the 24th*

[lt_blade]

Theme nights on Saturdays at the club made bouncing all the more interesting. Not that she had much to complain about, it was something to do and she got to listen to some nice music while doing it.  

The job wasn't nearly as stressful as some of her others, but somehow her hair was still a little messy even held back in a tail. She stretched her legs and she collected the bag containing her dress from the ball, kept in the back for safe keeping.  Due to the distance, she was compelled to change from the dress to her uniform in one of the dressing rooms of the second floor-an act that made Sonya glad that she wasn't so modest about such things.

She promised Scorpion they'd meet after the club closed for the night, and he finished helping Jane clean up. Why Sonya promised in the first place, she knew that well enough: she was only at the ball for an hour or so, and after all the time teaching Scorpion to dance and only to rush things. But why she felt guilty in the first place, and why she seemed to blush afterwards, was what she'd like to know for herself. Yes, she was being honest with Webster when she said it was nice to have someone who seemed to understand where she was coming from, but that wasn't enough to really mean anything beyond comradeship.

She shook her head  and stepped outside the club: she was probably just making a big deal out of nothing. It felt good talking to him, that's all.

Comments

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"I was in therapy for awhile, but the councilor vanished about a month ago." She resisted the urge to rub her hands together. "I've been doing much better lately, but I've also come to accept that it's going to be a constant uphill battle."

She nodded on what he said of Shang Tsung, but she didn't comment on it directly. She wasn't sure she could trust herself with any promise she made to him regarding Tsung.

"You think you're ready to do some more exploring about your family?" she asked, changing the subject. "I know it's prying, but part of me wonders how exactly you ended up 'dishonored'-I mean honor's a big thing in your book."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Sonya changing the subject was completely acceptable. It was a way to save face, in a way, and that was important. Embarrassing Sonya would not be acceptable to either of them, so he would show no reaction whatsoever, and follow the turn in conversation fluidly.

"Honor is important to me. I do not know how much I can really explore my family from this island in some other realm. But, I have had one realization. I think in English, not Japanese. I think I may have grown up in America, at least for a time. It would also explain why I speak English so well with no accent."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya thought on what he said.

"It could happen. Maybe the clan has 'branches' in America." She paused. "How old were you when you died?"

That would've made the difference. He looked to be in his late 20s, early 30s, which might place him just after the American Military occupation of Japan-it could've been possible that the clan would've 'leaked' into America to gain influence over a more weathly cliental. Or it was possible for his father to have moved to America to break off from the clan, and he would've moved back to be established there.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Hmm, I'm not sure. I would have liked to relearn my past while I was roaming Earthrealm. Perhaps I could have found a birth or death certificate, but the Outworld invasion demanded my attention. I believe I am somewhere in my early thirties? That didn't matter to me when I was immortal."

He furrowed his brow as he attempted once again to remember those vague images.

"I seem to have vague images of living in Japan, however. I must have lived there at some point. My guess is that I spent at least part of my youth in America, and at some point moved to Japan. It is something, but I think I still have a long way to go."

Sonya had made some good conclusions before, and Scorpion had not forgotten in the least.

"You seem to have a talent for piecing bits of my past together. Any sudden thoughts?"

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"It would surprise you to know, that Special Forces agents actually have brains and aren't all muscle." She said, good-humored.

She thought a moment before continuing. "Early 30s, that would place your birth year..sometime in the 1950s possibly, during the last years of the American occupation of Japan. If your father was part of the clan, he may've studied english to allow him to infiltrate American dealings and may've taught you the language."

"Actually, I'm thinking it's the other way. If your father didn't want any part of the clan, he would've possibly moved to America to raise a family away from its influence." She spoke slowly, half to him and half to herself, trying to voice out the pieces of the puzzle. "But..this is a clan and they may've not been so willing to let him go, especially if he has a son that could join them. So, he goes back to Japan with his family at some point, not joining them, but they would most likely keep an eye on him."

Like the Mafia or some such thing.

Sonya rubbed at her forehead. "This place sometimes brings items from home. You could hope for maybe a newspaper clipping or birth certificate, but considering said item usualy invokes some sort of mental trauma-I highly doubt you'll be that lucky."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I can see that now."

Scorpion had replied to Sonya's good-humored comment. It was one of many traits he admired in Sonya. Then he continued listening.

"He..you may be right. I think my father was trying to break away. I have some vague memories of conflict with him. Thank you, Sonya. You've done it again. Small steps like this are progress."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"I just remember you telling me once before, that you think you went against his wishes in that area."

She looked over at him.

"On thing I'm curious about." Her voice and expression was serious. "You were sent to Netherrealm because you died dishonorably, right? Or are we both missing something. I don't really see you being able to make a deal with demons if you were able to have a smooth afterlife."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion's features hardened a bit with the move to a more dark subject.

"My entire family and clan were massacred because I did not succeed in my mission. If it had just been me, then I could have passed on. But such an insult could not go unpunished."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She nodded, closing her eyes a moment. She couldn't really think on what to say on the subject, not in terms of morality, and after all, part of her vendetta against Kano was for similiar reasons.

"I have to stress that I'm just going from what you've told me, and drawing my own conclusions." She looked at him. "You remember when we first started piecing bits of your past, and I told you we shouldn't rush things. Well, I did come up with something."

"The termenology of the U.S. Special Forces has some basis in the concept of 'Face', and along with that its facing death with resolve. You join the clan to provide a decent, maybe more than decent, life for your family. I'm not calling you a coward, but when you were killed at a rival's hands, I'm willing to bet that you already started to fear what may happen to your family after your death-which could explain in the first place why you didn't 'move on'."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion was silent for a short time.

"It turns out I was right to fear for them."

He didn't venture any further. He would allow Sonya to continue if she wished.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She nodded, thinking a moment.

"As to the 'why', well, I think we both know that." If Sub-Zero and Scorpions' clans were rivals, they wouldn't be satisfied with just his death-they'd probably go after the family as well so they wouldn't retaliate. "It's the 'how' that's the kicker." She looked at him. "And I'm afraid I don't know that question, I can't even really come up with a theory."

Sonya held back a yawn. "This is frustrating isn't it. Here, you're able to piece together your past, but not solve the other puzzle about your family."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"It would be useful to know what was on that scroll we were both sent to look for. It must have been important."

He hadn't been surprised if he hadn't been told anything about the scroll.

"But, I am content to bide my time here working on recovering memories. If I knew exactly what happened, I would only think about getting back to Earthrealm."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya suddenly didn't feel so tired.

"One thing at a time. What do you mean by 'we'?" Was it a joint mission? Sonya doubt if that was the case, given that the two rival clans were at odds with eachother-that would've been like the Special Forces siding with the Black Dragon.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Sub-Zero was after the same scroll. I don't remember who exactly sent us after it, and why they would hire rival clans."

He looked at Sonya again. By now he was expecting her to figure it out rapidly.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, Dr. Watson." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "That means several things: one, whatever was on that scroll must've been extremely important and valuable for this client to hire two top members of rival clans for the same mission. This person knew one of you would've had to find this map, and was willing to deal with the 'winner' finding out. Which brings me to point number two: This person would have to either be extremely wealthy or be well connected to be able to pay both of your clans at the sametime." Hell, a lone hitman could cost a few hundred dollars, so a skilled assasin and thief would double or triple that.

She paused. "Or..extremely powerful."

The pieces fit, she thought to herself.

"What if.." Her voice was a little quiet, because she was speaking her toughts outloud. "Sorcery isn't uncommon. What if someone skilled in black magic made a deal with both clans: suppose in exchange for the map, he would find a way to get rid of the rival clan."

It made sense. After all, Scorpion himself believed that Sub-Zero wasn't 'wholy' responsible for the death of his clan and family. And someone would have to have either a lot of power or connections to find and eliminate not on the clan members but their families.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion gritted his teeth as his temper rose. Vengeance was much more difficult when one did not know who exactly their target was. Sonya's ideas sounded very plausible, but it made his blood boil to consider some sorcerer.

"If that is true, then that sorcerer will know new meaning to the word pain!"

It was a promise.

Then, a bit calmer, he added, "I do not think this would have been Shang Tsung. He would have concocted some type of plan to dispose of me, as opposed to enlisting me to assist the invasion of Earthrealm. There are others, though."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya reached over and gave his shoulder a tight squeeze.

"Save your anger. It's useless now." She said. "It's well meant, but does nothing."

She nodded. "But then, Shang Tsung truly didn't expect us to live through the tournament, let alone retaliate. He even told me that it was only 'after' I survived the tournament that he took interest."

"Still, it may've not been him. It would be fitting with his nature to decieve you and lead you on, but we have no evidence, no theories except that it had to be a sorcerer, and as you said 'there are others'."

She looked up. The sky was a little cloudy, but Sonya could catch a glimpse of the moon.

"It's late, and will be dawn in four or five hours..." She paused, aware of what she was asking. "If you want to spend the night here, we could talk a little more, see if we could find anything else." Sonya looked at him. "To sleep, nothing more."

Really, they're adults, they should be able to handle one night.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

He nodded. He was perfectly fine spending a night in Sonya's hut. He also appreciated her statement of her expectations. It made things easier. But still, it was a subtle step closer. One that he was willing to accept.

"That sounds fine. We should get some rest."