Chapter VIII

"Rage and Punishment"

Reiko stood in the Prison of Souls watching the Demon guards take care of the remaining prisoners. He had received word that something went wrong in the Prison and some of the Damned were trying to escape in the chaos. Details were vague but seems a mortal had escaped his cell and made the statue of Shinnok topple over to break out. Reiko and several other Brotherhood members were sent to help the guards keep things under control.

As the last of the Damned was rounded up, Reiko noticed a Demon messenger walking towards him. He bowed in front of Reiko and said "Masters Shinnok and Quan Chi wish to speak with you immediately." Reiko nodded and left the Prison and made his way to Shinnok's Fortress.

In the many years that had past, Reiko was made a general of Shinnok's army. For the last several centuries, Reiko was in charge of training and preparing the Demons and creatures of the Netherealm for the coming war Shinnok was planning. For thousands of years Shinnok and Quan Chi have been plotting and planning to get Shinnok's Amulet. Reiko didn't know what exactly the Amulet could do, but it was essential to Shinnok's escape and invasion. Once Shinnok had his Amulet back, he'd escape the Netherealm and they'd declare war on the Heavens and Reiko was expected to lead the assault. Reiko was never one to believe in gods or deities, but he knew to declare war on the fabled Elder Gods themselves was something that required much planning and care. He would also take time to train himself to improve his own skills.

During his time in the Netherealm, Reiko would periodically check on Sareena to make sure he was all right since he had vowed to look out for her. However, Sareena had grown to be a formidable fighter herself and little happened in the Netherealm anyway so she rarely needed his help. However, if anything did happen to her, she'd never ask for his help anyway.

Reiko entered Shinnok's Fortress and went to the apex of the pyramid where Shinnok's throne room was located and upon entering he saw Quan Chi talking to Shinnok who was pacing around. He looked furious.

"I will not stand for this!" Shinnok bellowed, his voice sounding like thunder. "This...MORTAL...comes into MY realm and steals MY Amulet?! He dares insult me?! He dares defy ME?!!" Reiko quietly approached. He didn't want to interrupt Shinnok in this state. "I want him dead!" Shinnok continued. "You hear me Quan Chi?! I want him DEAD! I want his family DEAD! I want his friends DEAD! I want everything he has ever known DEAD!"

"I understand my lord. I intend to..." Quan Chi said calmly, trying to keep Shinnok under control.

"This insolent pathetic mortal will suffer for defying me! I will make introduce him to an eternity of pain, suffering and misery the likes of which he couldn't even dream in his worst NIGHTMARE!!!" As Shinnok screamed, the ground began to shake and thunder clouds could be heard outside.

"I will take care of it my lord." Quan Chi said, still sounding oddly calm. "Plans are already being made into effect to deal with the ninja."

Shinnok sat in his throne, trying to calm down, but he was still visibly seething with anger. Quan Chi began to leave until he noticed Reiko in the throne room too. He motioned Reiko to follow him and they left the chamber.

"Ah, Reiko." Quan Chi began. "I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news. As I'm sure you have heard, our realm was just attacked by a mortal." Reiko nodded. "The mortal was a ninja from Earth named Sub-Zero. He was sent here by the Earthrealm god Raiden to steal Shinnok's Amulet. After he escaped the Prison of Souls he made his way here, where Kia, Jataaka, and Sareena attempted to stop him." Reiko stopped short, sensing where Quan Chi was going with this. "I'm afraid, Sareena fell in battle with the ninja." As Quan Chi said this, Reiko felt as though he was stabbed in the stomach with the sudden realization that he had failed in his promise to protect Sareena. His fists tightened as raw seething fury filled his heart. "I can see that this displeases you." Quan Chi continued. "I take it that you wish to do something about this outrage?" Reiko nodded at Quan Chi, trying to contain his anger. Quan Chi smiled and said "Well, you can take comfort in knowing that plans are being prepared to make sure the ninja suffers for this. Come. There's someone I wish you to meet."

Reiko followed Quan Chi who walked out of Shinnok's Fortress and made his way back to the Prison of Souls. As they walked, Reiko tried to come to grips with what had just happened. He promised Ash he'd look after Sareena and make sure nothing ever happened to her. But he failed. When they first arrived in the Netherealm, Reiko diligently watched Sareena, making sure nothing would harm her. As the years wore on, it became routine. He saw less and less of her.And it soon became clear that Sareena didn't need or want Reiko's help. Now, she was gone. He had failed.

For some reason, there was to it than that. He always kind of resented Sareena. Deep down blaming her for being forced to leave Shao Kahn's army. It was for her he came to the Netherealm. He always saw her as burden, never feeling anything for her. But now that she's gone, Reiko actually felt bad. Had he actually grown attached to Sareena in all these years? Especially after Sareena confided in him before they were called out to the Prison, although he never realized it, he actually felt sympathy for her. Reiko couldn't really understand it, but he actually seemed to feel something for her. But now she was gone. Forever.

As they walked, Quan Chi said "Unfortunately, I'm afraid you personally can do nothing. You see, we cannot just allow Demons to leave the Netherealm. If you did, every Demon Hunter and Huntress on Earth would be after you immediately. We can however, send a reincarnated soul to Earth as a spectre." Reiko listened to Quan Chi's words uncertain of where he was going with this. "There is a particular soul who has just arrived in the Netherealm who also holds a grudge against the ninja Sub-Zero." Quan Chi said as they entered the Prison. "I have received word that Sub-Zero has been invited to participate in the Mortal Kombat tournament on Earth and I intend to make arrangements to enter our spectre in the tournament as well." As Reiko listened to Quan Chi's words he was confused about where he fit into Quan Chi's plan. They walked into a cell that was in the distant corner of the Prison. Inside a ninja dressed in yellow and black sat crouched in the corner. "Reiko, allow me to introduce Scorpion." Quan Chi said. Scorpion rose from the corner and stared at Reiko for a moment.

"What do you want sorcerer?" Scorpion asked.

"Scorpion, I heard that you encountered the Lin Kuei ninja while he was here, correct?" Quan Chi asked.

"Yeah." Scorpion said quietly, almost sounding ashamed.

"But you were defeated again, yes?"

"Yeah." Scorpion answered, even quieter.

"Scorpion, I've come to make you an offer." Quan Chi began. "You see my employer and I would like to grant you an opportunity to return to Earth to avenge your death at the hands of Sub-Zero."

At first Scorpion looked like he was going to accept immediately, but he stopped himself and said "What's in it for you?"

"We have our reasons. We can discuss the fine print later, but I need an answer now. Do you want to kill Sub-Zero, yes or no?"

"Yes. More than anything." Scorpion answered, anger brewing in his voice. "But why give me another chance after I failed once already?"

"You have the power and ability to defeat Sub-Zero, there is no doubt in my mind about that. However, your failing is that you let your anger get the better of you during your encounter. You need to learn to control yourself. And this is where he comes in." Quan Chi said motioning Reiko to approach.

"Who's this?"

"This is Reiko, one of our generals." Quan Chi said. "He also has a grudge against Sub-Zero and is quite eager to help in his defeat any way he can. Discipline happens to be a skill of his and he can teach you to control your anger, and use it to focus." Scorpion and Reiko began to stare at each other ominously. "Reiko is a mute unfortunately, so you'll have to bear with him." Quan Chi said as he was about to leave. "You'll get your chance to face Sub-Zero in two years Scorpion. I suggest you make the most of your time." With that Quan Chi left his cell leaving Scorpion and Reiko staring at each other.

After several moments Scorpion said coldly "So you have a grudge against Sub-Zero too?"

Reiko nodded.

"Then let's begin."

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Sareena awoke with a sharp pain in her chest. She writhed in pain on the ground for several moments trying to gain her bearings. She then remembered what had happened earlier and realized that she was no longer in her human form.

"No!" she screamed seeing that she was now in her hideous Demonic form. She looked around and saw she was in a dark cave that stunk of ash and sulfur. She knew where she was.

"Yes, the infamous 5th Plane of the Netherealm." a voice said at the entrance of the cave. It was Shinnok who stood at the opening with a cold look on his face.

"Master Shinnok, I can explain..." Sareena began as fear gripped her heart.

Shinnok sighed and said "I and your master have long known that you hated it here and you had long wished to escape. But I never thought you'd actually be foolish enough to try something."

"Master Shinnok, please forgive me..."

"I could have just let you die Sareena. I could have let your life dwindle away and you wouldn't exist as anything more than a memory." Shinnok paused, getting angrier. "But I decided that would be too easy for you Sareena. You see, it was bad enough that you betrayed us, but to help that insolent, brazen mortal...." Shinnok stopped as his anger took hold of him. He then took a deep breathe and said "I am not a god of mercy Sareena. And right now I need to take my anger out on someone."

"Master Shinnok! Please don't!" Sareena pleaded.

"You, Sareena, are hereby damned to spend the rest of eternity here in the 5th Plane of the Netherealm!" Shinnok yelled. "Here, you will suffer tortures only reserved for the worst and most vile of souls." With that he motioned someone behind him to approach. From out of the shadows, the Oni Drahmin entered the cave. "I believe you've already met Drahmin. You two are going to be very close for a long time now." Shinnok hissed.

Pure terror shot up and down Sareena's spine and she yelled "Please Master Shinnok! I beg you!"

"It's too late Sareena. You're one of the Damned now. You have no power here. Beg and cry and scream all you want. No one's going to save you now." Shinnok said as he turned to leave. "Not even the mute."

As Shinnok left Drahmin began to approach Sareena who was cowering in the corner of the cave. "You in my world now, bitch." Drahmin snarled.

Sareena's screams echoed for miles within the 5th Plane.

End of Chapter VIII