plot: home 2011 *backdated to 2/26*

[lt_blade]

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.

Comments

Re: dun dun dun

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She was putting up a good fight, especially considering her current condition, but from an outside view it was clear that right now her 'best' was starting to stagger. After all, she had been through nearly a week of traveling and combat, while Shang had arrived at the top of his game.

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

[niceofyoutoask.livejournal.com]

Lipton had seen enough people die right before his eyes - he was not at all enamoured with what appeared like the very likely chance that he would see Sonya's death in a like fashion. There was only so much you could expect of the human body, special magic cuffs or not. Then the world started shaking, and Shang vanished into thin air.

"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.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Sonya replied, "I'm fine really, too numb to feel anything."

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..]

[niceofyoutoask.livejournal.com]

Lipton nodded, still concerned but reaching down for Lao. He shook the man's shoulder, checking for any sign he would be able to get up and walk himself, but was tugging him into place over his shoulder and trying his best not to aggrevate anything wounded when he heard Scorpion's voice.

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.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion stepped forward and looked down to Lipton. The undead construct of the Netherrealm cocked his head quizzically. It was strange that Lipton had used his old human name, seemingly by choice as opposed to forgetfulness. It seemed that Lipton was indicating he should take care of Sonya.

"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.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Scorpion wouldn't have had to bother, as only a few minutes later, both Jax and Nightwolf could be seen running over to the building. Even from that distance, it was clear that both men looked beat up, but compared to Sonya and Kung Lao they looked no worse for wear. The others were alright, but with the seperation of realms, they had found themselves in the realm of Edenia, not Earthrealm. It was only because Raiden had teleported the two men back that they were even there in the first place, so as to retrieve their comrades.

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.

[niceofyoutoask.livejournal.com]

Lipton kept his mouth shut, because Scorpion had said pretty clearly how things stood. Most importantly, Sonya would get taken to safety, and that was really the vital thing right now.

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.