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plot: home 2011 *backdated to 2/26*
Five days..
Five days since they woke up. Five days since they started on this mission to save their realm (again). They should have woken up by now: five days into this and Sonya had to almost daily shove back the worry that maybe they were going to be stuck here-no, it wasn't for her, it was for Lipton. He shouldn't have been here, this wasn't his fight, and most of all, he had a wife and kid back on the island. Least with her and Scorpion, they didn't have anyone back there waiting for them, especially in way of kids.
Their time spent traveling wasn't long, not by comparison, but it was by no means easy. Physically, because every so often they would run into a band of mutant or centaur warriors, and mentally because nearly everywhere there were remains of people having had their souls already taken. Sonya was only grateful that they hadn't lost anymore people. Indeed, just before they left for the journey, they'd actually..according to her story..gained two more warriors: Kitana and her friend Jade, both 'former' assassins for Shao Kahn. Liu Kang and Nightwolf were willing to give her a chance, but Sonya couldn't bring herself to really let her in so easy. It was true that the damn video game booklet said that Kitana was now on their side-but how could much could she really put her faith in that book, especially when Kitana herself wasn't too keen on giving details as to 'why', only asking that they trust them. It was only because they needed the 'manpower', and out of respect for Nightwolf and Lui Kang that Sonya kept her mouth shut, but she wordlessly kept an eye on the two women.
It was evening on that fifth day when they finally reached the city, the fortress of Shao Kahn jutting against the dark purple sky. For once, they didn't stop to set up camp as evening set, as Kitana had told thm that the security around here would be extremely tight. If they were to find shelter anywhere it would have to be within the city. Centaurs were the hardest to defeat, but they were also naturally claustrophobic, and so a building would offer some protection.
Sonya was past caring about physical comfort. Several days of on and off fighting and her body was already bearing bruises and scrapes. Nearly all of them were bruised up, and that wasn't counting the exhaustion that was threatening them. She had to put faith in that their endurance could carry them through all of this-for every one's sake.
Five days since they woke up. Five days since they started on this mission to save their realm (again). They should have woken up by now: five days into this and Sonya had to almost daily shove back the worry that maybe they were going to be stuck here-no, it wasn't for her, it was for Lipton. He shouldn't have been here, this wasn't his fight, and most of all, he had a wife and kid back on the island. Least with her and Scorpion, they didn't have anyone back there waiting for them, especially in way of kids.
Their time spent traveling wasn't long, not by comparison, but it was by no means easy. Physically, because every so often they would run into a band of mutant or centaur warriors, and mentally because nearly everywhere there were remains of people having had their souls already taken. Sonya was only grateful that they hadn't lost anymore people. Indeed, just before they left for the journey, they'd actually..according to her story..gained two more warriors: Kitana and her friend Jade, both 'former' assassins for Shao Kahn. Liu Kang and Nightwolf were willing to give her a chance, but Sonya couldn't bring herself to really let her in so easy. It was true that the damn video game booklet said that Kitana was now on their side-but how could much could she really put her faith in that book, especially when Kitana herself wasn't too keen on giving details as to 'why', only asking that they trust them. It was only because they needed the 'manpower', and out of respect for Nightwolf and Lui Kang that Sonya kept her mouth shut, but she wordlessly kept an eye on the two women.
It was evening on that fifth day when they finally reached the city, the fortress of Shao Kahn jutting against the dark purple sky. For once, they didn't stop to set up camp as evening set, as Kitana had told thm that the security around here would be extremely tight. If they were to find shelter anywhere it would have to be within the city. Centaurs were the hardest to defeat, but they were also naturally claustrophobic, and so a building would offer some protection.
Sonya was past caring about physical comfort. Several days of on and off fighting and her body was already bearing bruises and scrapes. Nearly all of them were bruised up, and that wasn't counting the exhaustion that was threatening them. She had to put faith in that their endurance could carry them through all of this-for every one's sake.
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She looked to Kung Lao, who was only slightly wary looking as the rest of him was still woozy from the pain killers she'd just given him.
Jane followed her gaze before fixing it on Sonya again. "Lets leave here!" She said, quietly but urgently. "He only told me to stay as long as it takes for you to find me, but we have to leave now."
Sonya shook her head. "We can't. We have to wait for the others," And they will come back. "And besides, Kung Lao's in no shape to travel far."
Jane looked to Lipton, her eyes pleading. "Help her understand, there's no sense in waiting-both of you are still well enough to escape."
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dun dun dun
Jane on the other hand, wasn't so convinced. "I know you believe it is best," She agreed. "But how far could you-both of you-manage with a comrade who could barely walk let alone fight?
Sonya listened to her, feeling her own exhaustion and pain subside when it was clear Jane was starting to become more hysterical. Obviously, the stress was getting to her and making her panic.
Kung Lao had actually been more or less conscious the entire time, so Jane took both their hands and tried to lead them to where they could all talk in private.
Sonya turned and told him it was nothing. They'd found Lipton's wife and she was just freaking out from stress.
"Please." She whispered, even as Sonya tried to convince Lao that nothing was wrong. "He would only slow us down, and he's too far gone anyway." Her voice became more urgent. "I should have told you, but I was so relieved at seeing you alive that I couldn't bring myself to worry you. But just before I saw you outside, I heard an army of those 'creatures' marching toward this part of the city. If we don't leave now, you will be killed, I know it."
She rung her hands, tears welling up in her eyes before she addressed Sonya. Strangely enough, it was almost like her voice had more urgency when she spoke to Sonya rather than Lipton. "And you..surely you could not wish to stay here any longer, not after last time. To risk recapture and maybe harsher methods as they try to break your will? Why risk any of that for a man who may die from his injuries along?"
Sonya was at Lao's side by this time, trying to ease Lao's anxiety when it seemed to increase, and trying to fight the urge to tell Jane off for even insisting on leaving a wounded comrade.
But the words were only at the tip of her tongue when she heard Jane and her fears: 'recapture'...breaking...?
Slowly, both from stiffness and suspicions that were slowly dawning on her.
"Jane Lipton." She spoke slowly and with force, as she had the sudden suspicioun that maybe Kung Lao was right to feel uneasy: from Janes 'sudden' appearence, that she looked too well put together..her wanting to leave Kung Lao to die. "I don't ever recall telling you that I was once captured."
Re: dun dun dun
At her mention of the creatures, his eyes immediately moved up to meet Sonya's, the arm not wrapped around Jane's waist slipping to the rifle he'd slung back around his back when they'd gone back inside.
As Sonya worked on calming Lao, he attempted to do the same with his wife, tucking her hair gently behind her ear in a familiar movement, and brushing his thumb over her cheek. "Jane, darling..." But her focus remained on Sonya, imploring her to listen. Lipton was listening too, but he was more concerned with the tears in her eyes and the wringing of her hands rather than the details of her argument.
Sonya managed to capture his attention, however, when her tone of voice entirely changed. He turned to look at her, arm still around Jane and his posture becoming automatically a little bit defensive at Sonya's tense statement. He looked back at his wife. "I must've mentioned it to you."
His exhausted mind suddenly couldn't remember if he'd learned about Sonya's capture and torture here or back on the island. A part of him was stubbornly certain that he would never have mentioned something so personal in Sonya's life over tea or dinner, even to his wife, but how else would Jane have known?
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"I don't remember telling you either." Yes, she told Lip about her capture, but she didn't go into details until after they'd arrived here, and even then he wouldn't go and tell Jane just out in the open, not with the time they had.
For Jane, she seemed to pick up on the rising tension in the room-and she started to laugh. Not the merry, soft laughter that she was wont to produce, but something cruel, biting.
It also seemed to be the key answer to the riddle, and Sonya nearly snarled as she twisted the rifle off her shoulder and swung it over at the false Jane, who promptly blocked twisted the muzzle so that Sonya couldn't pull it back. She then followed it up by grabbing at Sonya's jacket and, throwing her body weight back, catching her off gaurd and sending her crashing through the doorway and outside the building.
ooc: finally! Sorry about that, this week was just busy.
Re: dun dun dun
He therefore thought nothing of Sonya reaching for her rifle in the corner of his eye, but when she swung at his wife he automatically moved to protect Jane and grab at Sonya's arm. He needn't have worried - Jane had blocked the swing and thrown Sonya through the door, right before Lipton's stunned eyes.
"JANE!" He shouted at the woman who looked like his wife, turning on her and moving quickly to grab her upper arms, pinioning them to her sides in the process. "What the hell is going on?" Sonya's state outside was a burning question for him, but he knew that his priority lay with the woman in front of him, as long as there was a still a chance that it was somehow Jane.
No worries! :D
Re: dun dun dun
It took a moment longer than it should for her to get back up and recover from the breath being knocked out from her. When she did, the sound of footsteps marching was even clearer and atleast now she knew that part wasn't just a trap.
"Scorpion!" She yelled out in the direction where he was lurking. "Tarkatens headed in his direction!"
'Jane' meanwhile, only frowned when Lipton tried to pin her arms at her sides.
"Unhand me, you fool!" He may have had her upper arms, but she kicked a leg out from beneath him and leaned her weight forward, the combination throwing his weight off of her.
Free from his grasp, 'Jane' scowled before addressing him. "I should thank you, Carwood Lipton. I could sense the others' souls enough to find them, but with you, I could find your hide out with 'much' suspicion. Still, the charade's gone on long enough.
Kung Lao had been watching the event long enough, and trying to get in a fighting stance even though he could barely stand let along fight. His urgancy only strengthened when 'Jane' became surrounded in a green mist, and when it disappeared, in her place was a tall, well built man with dark features and richly clad in red and gold.
Both men's attention was diverted to the sounds of cries outside, and the smell of burned flesh. Even more so when Sonya finally ran back through the door way. Seeing Shang Tsung, her features twisted in anger.
"Damn you, Sorcerer!" She reached out for her rifle, but Tsung mearly held out his hand. Sonya cried out in disgust and threw the weapon as it turned into a snake right there before her.
"I'll deal with you later-"
Sonya didn't give him time to finish as she rushed at him. "You'll deal with me now, you fucking bastard!"
Re: dun dun dun
He was a humble man, and harder on himself than he'd ever be on anyone else, and the knowledge that he'd made such a mistake, blinded by his concern for Jane... there were no words for how low he considered himself at the moment of that realization.
He pushed himself off the wall, swinging his own rifle around in the desperate hope that he could get a kill shot off before his weapon met the fate of Sonya's.
Re: dun dun dun
It was for this reason he was able to see her fist coming at him and was able to dodge, returning it with a strike of his own, striking at her torso. Sonya was just able to twist to avoid him getting at what felt like the most painful side of her ribs, catching Lipton just as he reached for his rifle. She hooked an arm around Shang and tried to twist him within the rifle's rifle's range, but the sorcerer could see as well and went with the attack instead of against it.
The move sent Sonya hard onto the ground, knocking the breath from her. Shang used the diversion to thrust out a hand towards him, using sorcery to send him flying back against the closest wall and conjuring up a set of chains around his wrists to keep him rooted to the spot and unable to interfere. He then turned his attention to Kung Lao, who was still trying to summon the energy to put up a fight.
By this time, Sonya had gotten up to her feet, trying to not wheeze as her lungs tried to fill up with air. She quickly rushed over and managed to get the energy to jump kick the sorcerer right in the back, showing that while she may not be at her best-she wasn't down for the count yet.
She watched him recover and look at her with an amused expression.
"Shang Tsung!" she called out, somehow able to sound forceful even as the rest of her was screaming in pain. "I challenge you to Mortal Kombat."
It was stupid and liable to get her killed: Shang was at the top of his game, and she wasn't even sure if she could win against him on her best day. She could only hope that her sparring with Hanzo had made her more quick to react in a fight.
Re: dun dun dun
It would be no use to call out for help - Lao could barely stand, and he knew better than to distract Sonya when she already was at a severe disadvantage health-wise, and attempting hand-to-hand combat with a sorcerer. He pulled at his wrists, frustrated, dreading having to watch Sonya fight what was shaping up to be a losing battle against Tsung.
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"Are you mad?" She must have been. "This is no tournament, and you can barely stand. What makes you think you've a right to challenge me."
Sonya nearly laughed. She could stand (albeit shakely) and so she could fight.
"So what's the problem then." She said, her tone biting. "Just one battle against a woman in this state-should be an easy win for you."
He frowned: it was a matter of pride that he accept this fight, as well as to teach Sonya a lesson. "You bring this one yourself, Sonya Blade."
She wasn't listening, part of her was hating herself for her rashness. This would be just like the tournament: her team being held hostage, her winning would mean the difference between their lives or their deaths.
Sonya shut the voice up and took a stance. She wouldn't think that: it was true, this wasn't the tournament, but she needed the distraction and if this could get the job done-so be it.
Re: dun dun dun
There was no way Tsung could refuse odds like this, but he honestly hated - loathed - the idea of being held here and forced to watch Sonya be killed by that son of a bitch. He stared at where his rifle lay, out of reach, on the ground, and knew both that it would be not only impossible to reach his knife, but that it would be useless against the chains, and he had no ability to throw it with the way he was held.
"Fighting a wounded opponent, Tsung? That the only way you know how to win a fight?" He didn't want to destract Sonya, but if he could destract the sorcerer, well, that seemed to be the only way he could help right now.
Re: dun dun dun
"She is the one who initiated the challenge. It is a matter of honor that I respond." He looked to her.
"You always were persistant-an admirable trait-but you must realize how the situation is now like the tournament." His voice was nuetral, but Sonya could feel he was mocking her just the same. " And we both know what happened to you and your 'last' team, when you faced your last challenge."
Her eyes narrowed, but she gave no other sign of reaction to his goading: she was too familair with Shang and his methods, her demenor sinking back into how she was in Outworld.
Name..Rank..serial number.
She was Sonya Blade, Liuetnant in the United States Army and Special forces-her team right now needed her.
Sonya held up her fists. "Just remember Shang-calling on your army now..it's the same as a forfeit. Just you and me-no one else." That was the important thing: their staying alive, keeping the tarkatan warriors from attacking.
Shang's face didn't betray any emotion afterwards, only giving a small bow (of which Sonya didn't return) before calling the start of the match.
She started the fight with a side jab at his head, using his block as a distraction to land a sweep kick under his feet. This was dodged and Sonya fell back to avoid a kick at her sore ribs.
It didn't take long for the fight to become heated, though in truth it seemed more urgent from Sonya's half. It was only partially true that she wanted to defend her friends, and this was the only way she could do it from both shang and the tarkatans: the other half was personal. This man tried to get her to betray her realm, killed her team, her family..
She wasn't even sure where the energy came from-unless what he told her was true-but the feeling like a machine once again came over her. She felt and saw herself blocking and attacking Shang, but somehow the pain from the attacks didn't register with her.
It wasn't all total instinct: just thinking on her feet. Her arms had taken more of a beating than her legs, but Shang could read an opponent, so even when her arms were numb from punishment, she had to keep reminding herself not to rely so much on her leg attacks.
Re: dun dun dun
He bit the inside of his mouth to keep from calling out to Sonya. It would only be words of encouragement, but she seemed in a determined world of her own. It was eerily similar to the kind of vacant expression on some guys' faces when things had gotten really bad, but this had far more of a focus to it. She was, well, still alive, which was in itself a phenomenal acheivement given everything. She was also still holding her own, which was even more impressive.
Re: dun dun dun
"We are merely taking what should have been ours five hundred years ago."
That was all he could get out before Sonya's challenge, and while this wasn't the tournament: declaring a mortal kombat match was still legitamate, and so were the rules on interfering. It was impressive that she could even fight in her current state, and he found himself actually having to try and find ways to bring her down: strikes at her arms were more effective, but that only led to her flipping and keeping her distance, getting more leverage out of leg and sweep attacks.
It didn't mean he was powerless, and Sonya soon found herself on the recieving end of a powerfull kick to her ribs, sending her sprawling.
She was so numb by now though, she barely even felt the blow, and only slightly acknowledged the dizziness as she struggled to get up on her feet.
Shang's eyes widened at her nerve. "Why do you keep fighting? The emperor has already defeated your friends, you're only making it harder on yourself."
She responded only by tilting her head back and spitting blood at his feet before launching herself back at him. She knew very well that the odds were against her, but like hell was she going to let it stop her.
ooc: jesus..sorry for the delay.
Re: dun dun dun
"Cummon, Sonya!" Is what he heard himself shouting instead, watching the progress of the fight anxiously. He could do nothing but hope and pray, at this point, a situation that no man, especially one who had been to war and knew exactly how horrible it felt when men - and, truly, women - were dying every moment and you could do nothing but sit tight and wait. "Get that sonovabitch!"
Re: dun dun dun
An attack straight at her head left her open to low kick, sweeping her on her feet and leaving her with just enough energy to continue. On reflex, she swung her legs outward, trying to get herself back up, or trip up her opponent.
She didn't really get the chance to do either, as an intense green light filtered out from the window outside, followed by an earthquake that knocked her from her feet again. The interior of the place seemed to remain lighter, the sun managing to poke through the black clouds that Sonya and the others had seen too much of for the past several days.
Shang seemed to catch on to the quakes meaning faster than her, because he vanished just as Sonya recovered.
"Motherfuck..." She gasped, her ribs protesting.
She didn't have time to run after him or even celebrate, instead going over to were Lipton was chained and trying to find a lock mechanism to pick. She wasn't sure if Shang created them with one in mind, or the concusion she was sure to have was keeping her from finding it.
There was always the less sophisticated method.
"Brace yourself, Buddy." She took a step back and set her hand on the wall behind him, sending an energy ring directly at the wall. The force, combined with the earthquake, weakened the wall and managed to dislodge the chains.
"Come on, we need to get Kung Lao out of here." She was on her last leg, but she didn't allow herself to rest or celebrate just yet, not when there was the rest of her team missing or wounded.
Re: dun dun dun
"Yessir." Lipton said, pressing himself back against the unsteady wall as everything started coming to pieces around him - luckily, including the goddamn chains. He reflexively grabbed the wrist of one hand once he was free, the skin rough, broken and scraped under his hand and mirrored on his other wrist. He ignored them, drawing his hand away as soon as he realized what he was doing, and grasping Sonya's shoulder. "Thanks - you gunna be okay?" He looked steadily at her, needing to make sure that she wouldn't pass out while he saw to Kung Lao. He was still perfectly capable of throwing the guy over his shoulder, fireman-style, if he couldn't walk, but he wasn't so certain that he could carry the both of them out.
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Then out of nowhere, Scorpion materialized in their midst.
"Shao Khan has been defeated. The realms will separate once again. Your Earthrealm is now safe."
And it was their Earthrealm. Scorpion inhabited the Netherrealm now.
"The other Earthrealm warriors have survived and are waiting for you."
Sonya threw a tired fist in the air, just before she collapsed.
[OOC: Written with rights from Robin, of course..]
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He turned, listening with Sonya to what Hanzo had to say, and had just breathed a sigh of relief when Sonya buckled to the ground. Shit! He was too far too grab her, and wouldn't be able to get there quick enough with Lao still on his shoulders.
"Hanzo," he said, worried, using his old name rather than Scorpion, because this was his wife that had just collapsed, and the war was over - hopefully he would still see to her, and they could get out of here as soon as possible.
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"Hanzo Hasashi is dead, Carwood Lipton. You should understand by now that I am not a human anymore."
Scorpion thought this was as much explanation as necessary. Lipton should be able to understand hellspawn do not have human wives.
"I will take Sonya Blade to the others. The Earthrealm warriors are due east of here. After I leave Sonya, I will wander Earthrealm once more before the merger is undone and I am sent back to the Netherrealm."
It did not matter to Scorpion what Carwood Lipton and Kung Lao did from here on out.
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It was Jax who entered the building first, rifle strapped to his back. Seeing that even more damage was done to the room, combined with a now unconscious Sonya Blade draped over the Dead ninja's shoulder-he could only guess what happened.
"I thought I told her to stay out of combat." This he said mostly to himself as Nightwolf soon joined him.
The Shaman spoke up next. "We should take them to the rendevous point, to meet up with the others. Raiden will be able to heal the worst of their injuries from there." He was a god after all and had the power, but only enough to keep the two warriors from death's door.
With that, he motioned for the group to follow him outside. The area still had the look of a warzone, but unlike their last time outside, there were actual people about-confused and shaken but still there. It was a mixed blessing, as the confusion meant they could hurry without attracting much attention, as most seemed too disoriented to notice. The change of enviroment and and temperature also made it clear that they were now on Earth, and no longer a part Earthrealm: the light seemed normal for the time of day, and the air no longer smelled like death warmed over.
None of them felt like celebrating at the moment, though they had every cause too. Right now, the only thing that mattered was regrouping and taking care of the wounded.
Ten minutes later, Nightwolf found their location, hidden well enough from view in an abandoned cathedral. It was only a second later that the Earthrealm warriors were to find themselves teleported back to Edenia (another realm recently freed by Kahn's defeat) where the others were waiting.
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It did leave the issue of how he and Lao would get out, but before he could work out how to phrase that without getting even more of Scorpion's ire, Jax and Nighwolf appeared, miraculously alive and in more or less one piece.
Lipton cracked a humourless smile at Jax's first words - there had been no stopping her. It was something of a relief to let the two newcomers take the lead. He barely noticed the change in the world, focusing on putting on foot infront of the other and keeping Lao on his back. When he found himself facing the others, he merely nodded, dull with exhuastion.