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Netherrealm. The city of Nekros. Currently thriving, in its own strange way, under the leadership of the Deadly Alliance. Once, the city was one of the few remaining holdouts against the army of the Wraith-King, Noob Saibot, who had transformed the underworld into a desolate, bleak wasteland. Yet after the betrayal of his ally Havik and the rise of the assembled powers of the Deadly Alliance, Hell is once more looking like its vibrant, bloody and fiery self. Allied with the warlords of the oni and the remnants of Shinnok's Brotherhood of Shadow, they have since taken the city of Nekros as their capital, though they rule from a distant and impregnable fortress, the Nekropolis.

The streets of Nekros are home to beings from across the realms, all having died after living lives of sin and evil, or dark hearts who yet live who made their way into the realm willingly or not. A wretched hive of scum and villainy, and one that certainly doesn't pretend to be anything else. And yet, every so often, there are those here who don't truly belong, but are here for higher purposes, usually a mission or a quest. On this evening, there are four such individuals in Nekros, and one of them has always felt strangely about being in the Netherrealm, for she feels half at home in this place, even though she knows she shouldn't.

She is Andela Vrbada, Vapor, of the Lin Kuei and the New Defenders, and she is undercover. On a spying mission, to be precise. It is dangerous for her to be in this place, not only because she is a New Defender, but also because she is a half-enenra, and as the enenra demons pledged their support to Noob Saibot, there is an order to kill them on sight. Thankfully, she has a unique trait given to her by her father, and that is the ability to take humanoid form. In this way, she appears perfectly human or edenian, and that is in itself a disguise.

Far from being alone on this mission, she is accompanied by Takeda, the Shirai-Ryu ninja, as well as the Kung cousins Ling and Jin. They, too, are undercover, and the four of them move through the streets wearing heavy cloaks, and underneath they wear garments that they have never worn before on missions to further keep themselves hidden. With their weapons concealed and their spacing set, they keep their eyes open as they walk through the crowded streets, heading towards their destination: the slaughterhouse. Their intel suggests that a leading member of the Deadly Alliance is hosting a meeting there.

>Spread out more, into groups of two
>Keep together and take the straightest and most direct path
>Take an unconventional or nondirect path to your objective
>Stop in an alleyway and discuss the situation with your teammates
>Other

>>3241631
>Spread out more, into groups of two
Scumbags are professionals are noting when people are working together and trying not to be obvious about working together. Be wary.

>>3241631
>Spread out more, into groups of two

>>3241631
>>Spread out more, into groups of two

The question is, who do we trust to be on their own team without getting themselves into trouble?

>Spread out more, into groups of two

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>>3241648
>>3241727
>>3241740
>>3241743

Wordlessly, Takeda signals to them to split up into groups of two, using a subtle head gesture. The others nod and Vapor finds herself pairing up with Ling as they carefully and naturally part from Takeda and Jin. Once they have put some distance between their pairs, Ling leans over and whispers to her, "Hey, look over there." Vapor follows her gaze over to an establishment with a familiar sign, a tavern of sorts known as the Wet Devil. They both know it well; it is the primary source of their intelligence thanks to their ally, Wildfire.

"Stay focused," Vapor replies in a hushed tone.

"I'm not suggesting drinks now, but afterwards?"

"We have to report back to base once we observe the meeting," Vapor says, staying single-minded on this matter.

"I know, I know," Ling assures her. "It was just a thought. It could be fun."

Vapor's brow furrows. "Absolutely not."

Ling looks over at her. "It's okay to have some fun and let loose a little, you know."

"Not in the Netherrealm, it isn't. Not in the heart of our enemy's territory!"

"So... in the break room back on the island, then?" When Vapor doesn't respond, Ling probes further. "You never join us for an after-mission celebration."

"That's not true," Vapor replies, somewhat defensively. Before Ling can reply, she cuts her off by saying, "Can we please just focus on the task at hand? I'd really like to."

"Yeah, of course." Ling seems so casual and relaxed. In a way, Vapor admires that about her, the way she can handle any situation that comes at her with the same level of clear-headedness. Her priorities might not be in order, but she is confident and sure-minded.

Andela cannot say the same for herself. This place unnerves her, for many reasons. She grew up in the Lin Kuei temple, a place of cold and discipline, and so should not feel welcome at all in this realm. And yet, every time she has come here, she feels not only welcome, but strangely drawn into it, as though there were something here specificially calling out to her. She knows it must have something to do with her half-demon blood, but she has never given it any attention. Yet the longer she remains her and the more she keeps coming back, the more she feels it.

Pushing those worrisome thoughts aside, she focuses completely on the mission. They are passing into the market district of Nekros now, a strange and bizarre place of many curious and morbids sights and sounds. In a way, Nekros and the underworld at large have fascinated her, not due to her heritage but on a purely scientific level, due to the way it seeks to replicate normal society without many of its constraints. It is not a society without laws, like Chaosrealm, nor is it dominated by them, like Orderrealm, but it falls somewhere in-between, much like Outworld---perhaps a little less strict than Outworld, especially under Kotal Kahn. She never knew Outworld while it was under Shao Kahn, but perhaps it was somewhat like this.

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>>3241767

The people who live here are criminals, murderers, monsters, sinners and more, and yet they live in this place because living outside of it would be worse. The fear of facing the burning plains outside, or Noob Saibot's Army of Darkness, keeps them in line, but so too does the fear of going against the Deadly Alliance, who have the most powerful warriors in the realm among their ranks. They enforce what little law and order there is through fear, and yet there is no opposition to them, as if the populace embraces it. Money, business, trade, the exchanges of goods and services, these are all things that still function and work, even in a place like Hell.

One might walk down the streets and see corpses hanging from spiked walls or men being flayed alive in public and think that's all there is, but that's not true. A complex relationship between the people of the Netherrealm, the various factions they fall into and the Deadly Alliance ruling over them all exists in a framework that Vapor hasn't completely figured out yet, and isn't sure if she wants to. She doesn't know if this fascination is truly brought about by simple curiosity about this hellish culture or because of her half-demon nature, yet so long as she is here, she observes quietly and contemplates all that she sees.

They are about halfway through the marketplace now, heading towards the slaughterhouse, the primary source of meat and food for the population. Their intelligence tells them that the slaughterhouse runs twenty-four hours a day (or what passes for a day in this realm, with its own day and night cycle), constantly churning out raw meat to be separated and sold. Apparently there is a lot of money to be made in this, and Quan Chi has a hand in it, like most of the businesses in the city. In the distance, Vapor spots Jin and Takeda, similarly making their way towards the large structure.

>Linger in the marketplace for some time and gather more intel
>You and Ling head towards one side of the slaughterhouse; Takeda and Jin towards another
>Meet back up with the two of them and come up with a plan of entry
>One team will infiltrate while another hangs back
>Other

>Linger in the marketplace for some time and gather more intel

>>3241768
>Linger in the marketplace for some time and gather more intel

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>>3241774
>>3241847

Paying close attention to their surroundings, Vapor carefully tugs on Ling's cloak and gets her to stop. A moment later up ahead, a fight breaks out in the marketplace, with a large burly undead orc visciously being stabbed by a much shorter, more lithe being, looking like the smaller half of a symbiote pair from Outworld. Vapor gestures to her teammate for them to step off to the side, and they leave the main road of the market and begin moving amongst the back of the stalls, weaving their way between stands and their shouting owners.

Vapor's bright green eyes scan across the marketplace, taking in every detail they can. A lifetime of hiding whenever she felt like it, and she often did, has honed her into one of the most observant warriors in the realms. At the merest glance, she can immediately sense how much of a threat something or someone is, based on countless minute details; body language, tone of voice, their clothing and more. As a being of living smoke, she often hides from anything dangerous through the use of her powers, but that would be dangerous here.

As such, she uses her skill in studying threats to assess a safe path through the marketplace, lingering only when she deems it necessary, but towards the end of the market she is forced to stop for a longer period of time. The outside of the slaughterhouse is busy this evening, as many people are gathering around it. Not workers, but fighters and warriors. From a hidden vantage point, Ling and Vapor look down upon the mass, seeing that many of them are armed with a variety of bladed weaponry and spiked armor of strapped leather.

The warriors, some undead, some living, some demons and some of other strange origins, are entering the slaughterhouse through its main entrance, guarded by tall, red-skinned beings with black helmets and giant axes. The crowd seems rowdy, excited and eager for whatever is to come. Every now and then another fight breaks out when someone bumps into someone else or gives them the wrong look, but never once they step past the guards into the slaughterhouse itself.

Vapor and Ling exchange a glance as they think about what to do next. They look around for Taked and Jin, but have lost visual contact with them.

>Contact Jin and Takeda and coordinate with them; both groups will enter
>Keep your group posted here and send Takeda and Jin's group inside
>Both groups infiltrate the building through different means
>Keep both groups outside and manuever into new positions
>Other

>>3241863
>Keep both groups outside and manuever into new positions

>Keep both groups outside and manuever into new positions

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>>3241902
>>3241909

Holding up her wrist, Vapor communicates with Takeda and Jin. "Where are you two at?"

"Look across the street, under the awning," Takeda replies. They both look past the initial row of market stalls, into a lower area that goes slightly beneath street level, resembling a small alcove beneath a large fabric awning that has been stretched across the corner of a building to a black spire alongside the street. Takeda and Jin are both beneath it, hidden in the shadows, only barely peering out of the gap between the street and the fabric.

Vapor nods at them. "We're going to move into a new position."

Ling nods. "Good idea. We're a bit exposed up here."

The two of them leave the rooftop they were on and slip down into an alleyway, moving towards the edge of the street in front of the slaughterhouse. Crouching low, they both peek around the stone corner at the entrance as the last few warriors enter. The doors to the building close and the guards step in front of them.

"Guess we're not going in through the front door," Ling snarks.

"Were we ever?" Vapor replies, too focused on the doors to pick up on her tone.

"Uh, no. I was being sarcastic."

Vapor blinks and blushes somewhat. "Oh, right. S-sorry."

>Create a distraction and lure away the front guards
>Search for a back entrance
>Go underground and work your way into the building from the sewers
>Scale the walls and go in through a window or the roof
>Other

>Search for a back entrance

Last time we tried the sewers in the Otiak quest, there were almost-indestructible golem creatures down there. Not taking that chance again.

>>3242050
>Go underground and work your way into the building from the sewers

>>3242058
Isn't that metagaming?

>>3242058
>>3242074
Can I get a tie breaker?

Fuck it, I'm changing my vote

>Go underground and work your way into the building from the sewers

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>>3242074
>>3242177

"We should go below," Vapor suggests, changing the subject back to their assignment. She clears her throat to mask her flustered nature.

Ling nods in agreement, raising her communicator to tell the others what they are doing.

With Vapor on watch, Ling dashes forward and across the street when the guards aren't looking. Vapor waits for her opportunity, and as a carriage pulled by skeletal horses with charred flesh clinging to their bones passes by, the grey-clad Lin Kuei makes her move. Once across the stone street and into the dark of the alley alongside the slaughterhouse, she and Ling move along until they find a grate leading to its lower levels.

"Go ahead," Ling gestures.

Vapor averts her eyes. "I don't want to risk it."

Ling cocks her brow. "There's nobody around."

"I know, but..."

"Vapor, if I use my staff to pry this thing off, it might make noise. C'mon! The meeting may start any minute!"

Vapor looks left and right, making sure that nobody else is around, before transforming into a fine grey mist. Enveloping Ling and discorporating her, they drift through the bars of the grate and into the lower levels of the slaughterhouse.

Transporting someone else is always an interesting experience. While she has no physical sense of touch while she is in her foggy form, she is still physically present and able to interact with the world around her. Becoming formless is something she first learned long ago as a small child, before she even knew what it was. To a small child, it was normal, just another way to simply be and exist; sometimes there, and sometimes not.

But transporting someone else, breaking them down into her mass and carrying them from one point to another required lots of practice with a trusted friend. Tundra was the one who shared this distinction. For Vapor to do this, either to a friend or an enemy, she has to completely enclose around them, to feel every inch of their body without actually feeling them, then incorporate them into her. She mingles with them in a way, connecting with them on a level they cannot quite comprehend, even though the experience is usually disorienting for them until they get used to it.

In a way, the trust required to allow Vapor to completely break them down and convert them into a gaseous state is a deep and intimate one, even if they don't realize it. Vapor, however, does.

Once inside, Vapor drifts down and rebuilds herself and Ling exactly as they were. To Ling, it is a murky and strange experience, accompanied by disorientation and a slight sense of weightlessness followed by immediate weight and gravity returning. To Vapor, it is as though she just became very strangely familiar with every inch of Ling's body, an experience that isn't unfamiliar---she's transported everyone on the team at least once---but one that never stops being awkward.

"Thanks," Ling says, looking around.

"No problem," Vapor quietly replies, avoiding looking her in the eyes.

>>3242328

>Contact Jin and Takeda
>Make your way upstairs
>Search the bottom level
>Set up spy equipment
>Other

>Make your way upstairs
>Contact Jin and Takeda

>>3242330
>Set up spy equipment

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>>3242339
>>3242340

The lower levels of the slaughterhouse are where much of the runoff and excess meat end up, and so naturally, the place smells awful. Vapor takes out her mask and slides it over her face while Ling wraps part of her scarf over her mouth as they progress further into the factory. With blood covering the walls and floors, along with piles of maggot-covered gore that flies buzz around, they gingerly pick their way around as they head towards the nearby staircase.

Before they proceed upstairs, Ling pauses to give a brief update to their teammates as Vapor carefully places a small spy device into a hidden recess in the ceiling where it will not be found. Though it is unlikely to pick up any vital information for the future, this recording device is one of several that they have already placed during their journey here. Using experimental technology, they are meant to serve as remote eyes and ears for OWEA intelligence gatherers.

With a nod to Ling, they make their way upstairs. Normally, there would be workers down here, cleaning up the refuse and discarded flesh and bones, but today everyone is on the massive main floor, and as they ascend towards it, they can hear cheering. Vapor and Ling draw their hoods tightly over their heads as they look upon the scene, seeing a crowd of Netherrealm workers and warriors gathered around a central arena as two of them fight. Men, demons and things in-between sit along the higher platforms with their legs dangling off as they cry out for the bloodsport unfolding before their eyes.

As the two of them find a dark corner to look on from, they see one of the men within the ring get his weapon arm chopped off by the other, who wields a large meat cleaver. With his opponent literally disarmed, he then shoves it through the man's belly and lets him fall as the crowd roars in murderous glee.

Vapor scans her perceptive eyes around the room. "No Deadly Alliance members present yet."

Ling, however, is more concerned with the next fight as someone else steps in to challenge the winner. "What do you suppose happens to someone when they die down here?" she asks in a quiet voice so as not to arouse any attention from any of the similarly-transfixed spectators around them.

Vapor looks over. "What?"

"I mean, you're already in hell. Some people aren't dead yet when they get here, so if they die, they're just back here again. But what if they die again?"

"Perhaps they get resurrected as something else," Vapor says. A painful memory runs across her mind which she quickly banishes.

"Yeah, but what? Some zombie or demon or---"

"Can we not talk about this?" Vapor asks her somewhat urgently.

Ling gives her a concerned look. "Woah, yeah, sure... You alright?"

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>>3242473

"Let's just stay focused," she finds herself repeating. She continues to watch the room, but her eyes keep getting drawn back towards the battle to the death at its heart. Ling's question remains in her mind, and for a moment, she considers what were to happen if she were to die in this place.

Would she end up here as something else?

Like her father once did?

She closes her eyes and tries to avoid the flood of memory.

>Sudden flashback; talking to dad about the time he died
>Sudden flashback; listening to mom and dad talk while they didn't know you were there
>Change the topic of discussion with Ling
>Remain focused! Keep your eyes open!
>Other

>Sudden flashback; talking to dad about the time he died
>Remain focused! Keep your eyes open!

>>3242478
>Sudden flashback; listening to mom and dad talk while they didn't know you were there

>>3242478
>Sudden flashback; talking to dad about the time he died
>Remain focused! Keep your eyes open!

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>>3242486
>>3242588

Try as she may, she cannot stop the recollection. A vision, clear as the day it happened, flashes in her mind's eye.

>The Lin Kuei temple, Arctika, many years ago. Andela sits upon the lap of her father, Tomas, looking up at him wide wide, curious eyes as she stares off into nothing with a blank expression. She has often seen him like this, and reaches up to gently place a hand on his cheek.

>"Daddy? Why don't you smile?"

>It is several seconds before he blinks and looks down at her, studying her face as if it is the first time he has seen it, as he has many times before. He traces a hand up through her long, grey hair before pulling her close to his chest, hugging her tightly.

>"Andela... Oh, my sweet little angel..." He rocks her subtly as he rests his chin on her tiny head. Not knowing what else to do, she simply hugs her father back, listening to his beating heart through his chest. It's beating unnusually fast for some reason.

>"What's wrong?" she asks him. When he doesn't answer for a few moments, she tries again. "Daddy?"

>"I'm sorry," he replies, shaking somewhat. "I'm sorry for the way I am."

>"But there's nothing wrong with you," the naïve, loving child says.

>"But there is," he says, and she feels a tear that is not hers drop down onto her cheek. She looks up and sees his face, at the same time blank and yet sad, with tears streaking from his eyes. She would never forget the next words that issued forth from his tortured soul: "I died."

Vapor opens her eyes wide and doesn't blink as she stares at the crowd when they all suddenly cheer. She focuses entirely on what they are all excited about, and it isn't hard to see, for the crowd is parting to make way for someone. A tarkatan and an oni, both tall and powerful and wicked-looking, stride into the slaughterhouse, now ready to address the crowd.

"Baraka and Drahmin," Ling whispers to her as the crowd's roaring dulls to a series of excited murmurs. Vapor tries to calm down and remain focused on her assignment.

>Make your way through the crowd closer to listen
>Scale to a higher level and look down upon them
>Contact Takeda and Jin with an update
>Affix more spying equipment to this main room
>Other

>>3243083
>Scale to a higher level and look down upon them
>Contact Takeda and Jin with an update

>Scale to a higher level and look down upon them
>Contact Takeda and Jin with an update

>>3243083
>Scale to a higher level and look down upon them

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>>3243089
>>3243100
>>3243118

Ling gently nudges Vapor and indicates a wall behind them, and the Lin Kuei nods. They begin to climb to a higher level as Baraka and Drahmin make their way into the center of the arena, pacing in circles and looking upon the assembled workers and warriors.

Baraka, covered in black spines and with his eyes fiery red, is the first to speak, with bloody spittle dripping from his fang-filled maw. "You have all worked hard. And you have all played hard! And soon, you will be rewarded with a glorious new conquest!"

The men all cheer, thrusting hands and weapons upwards. As Ling makes it up to the next platform, she reaches back and helps Vapor up. They both crouch low and look down upon the gathering as Baraka continues to speak. "Earthrealm is weak. Outworld is weak. Edenia is weak. But where they are weak, we are growing strong! We thrive here!"

Extending his arm-blade, he impales the corpse of one of the dead and holds it up high with one arm. "This flesh has fed you, your lust for blood, but it has grown stale. You crave new flesh! You crave fresh meat!"

Again they cheer as he brings up his other arm and slices the body in half, drenching himself in blood. Baraka lets out a feral roar as they all cheer.

Vapor takes out her communicator and contacts Takeda. "The Deadly Alliance are here: Baraka and Drahmin. They seem to be planning something, perhaps another invasion or an attack."

Takeda acknowledges and informs her that they are moving into position outside of the slaughterhouse. Down below, Drahmin continues to pace, staring at the crowd through the black eyes of his mask. His skinless body is unnerving to behold, with his exposed musclulature and rotting flesh attracting countless flies that encircle him constantly. He doesn't say a word, letting Baraka do all the talking.

"The Deadly Alliance seeks the strongest and most willing among you," the resurrected tarkatan says, tearing a chunk of flesh from the dead corpse's innards. "We seek only those strong enough to take what they want, to rip it from the hands of our enemies and feast upon it!"

He sinks his teeth into the meat and shreds it instantly. Vapor swallows uncertainly as she watches the display, but her unease isn't shared by the crowd, who only encourage Baraka as he swallows the raw man-flesh. Dropping the remains at his feet, Baraka announces, "Shinnok and the old ways are dead. Noob Saibot's rule is broken. Now comes the time of the Deadly Alliance! The realms will tremble at our coming! And you will be at its head, feasting upon the sweet flesh of our enemies!"

Drahmin lifts up his bloody, spiked iron club and Baraka does the same with his arm-blades. Their fanatical followers do the same, excited at the prospect of their words.

>Stay and listen some more
>Search for another exit
>Link back up with Takeda and Jin outside
>Move closer to get a better look
>Other

>>3243206
>Stay and listen some more

We need to know what their plan exactly is.

>>3243206
>Stay and listen some more

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>>3243216
>>3243227

Vapor and Ling share a glance before holding their position. They know that the Deadly Alliance is planning something, but no additional details such as when or where such an attack would take place.

When the cheering dies down once more, Baraka proclaims, "Of all of our opponents, Outworld is the weakest. Kotal Kahn's attention is drawn east, across the sea, even while his people die of sickness. His capital is exposed. My people, the legendary tarkata, are ready to attack, and you will---"

He suddenly stops speaking and stands very still. Drahmin turns around and stares at him. Lifting up his head, the tarkatan warlord takes a few exaggerated sniffs of the air.

'Oh, no,' Vapor thinks, suddenly realizing what may be happening.

"Enenra," Baraka growls. "A spy of Noob Saibot!"

"We need to leave, right now," Vapor says. "This was a mistake."

"Yeah," Ling whispers back to her. They both turn and prepare to leave when suddenly a spark flies over the heads of the crowd in their direction, hitting the wall.

Baraka, having launched the projectile from his blades, shouts, "THERE! BRING THEM BEFORE ME!"

"Oh, shit," Ling says as they both pull their cloaks tightly around themselves while the assembled crowd begins to shout in fury, their attention turned towards them.

Vapor's heart races as she tries to figure out what to do next. They haven't seen their true identities yet

>Turn into fog and escape
>Attempt to run away
>Stand and fight
>Call in Jin and Takeda for backup
>Other

>>3243277
>Turn into fog and escape

>>3243277
>Other
We got flashbangs or smoke bombs or some other sort of misdirection, right? We clearly didn't go into the heart of enemy territory unequipped, right? Use them to escape.

>>3243289
Supporting this too.

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>>3243287
>>3243289
>>3243292

Vapor, despite her natural talents, was trained in all aspects of Lin Kuei strategy. Taking a small amount of flash powder out of her belt, she throws it upon the floor as she and Ling turn their hoods aside. The ensuing bright white flare blinds the crowd nearest them and allows Vapor to grab onto Ling, discorporate and drift through a window. They reform upon a nearby rooftop.

"Well, that was unfortunate," Ling says as they take off in a run. "At least they didn't see who we actually are."

"It's because we used my powers," Vapor says somewhat stubbornly. "It made me smell more... enenra-like."

Ling frowns. "Oh..." As they leap into an alleyway, she takes out her communicator. "Takeda, Jin, they sniffed us out. We had to get out of there."

"We're still on the far side of the slaughterhouse," he messages back.

"Well, they didn't see who we are, but they'll be looking for cloaks. I suggest we ditch these disguises and either get out of here or hide."

"Did we learn anything useful?"

Ling looks at Vapor and says, "Yeah, seems like they're going to hit Z'unkarah. We need to get further out; we'll talk when we're clear."

Jin now signals back. "Same for us."

Knowing that the warriors and workers from within the slaughterhouse must be pouring out onto the streets at this very moment, Vapor and Ling take off, sticking to the shadows. Overhead, the red sky crackles with some kind of lightning and thunder, dimming somewhat. They pay it little mind as they focus on getting as far away from the slaughterhouse as they can.

>Hide underground
>Stick to the rooftops
>Attempt to blend into the crowds
>Make your way towards the Wet Devil and hide there
>Other

>>3243314
>Make your way towards the Wet Devil and hide there
It's the closest we have to a safehouse.

>>3243314
>Make your way towards the Wet Devil and hide there

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>>3243317
>>3243320

"This way," Vapor says, leading Ling through the streets. Knowing that they have very few places that could be considered 'safe' in this city, that leaves them with only one option: the Wet Devil. The tavern has a secret back entrance that Wildfire has entrusted to them which they use now, knocking upon it with a secret code. The door opens to the back rooms of the tavern and they are quickly ushered inside.

Wildfire is in her office, a dimly-lit and intimate room of burning incense and other exotic sights and smells, from trophies of exotic skulls to scented candles and oils lining her oaken shelves. Wildfire herself is a beautiful creature, with bright red skin, horns, a tail and a mane of loose crimson-raven hair. She looks upon them with burning eyes and a smile of white fangs. "My friends."

She surprises Ling and Vapor both with a friendly hug, then gives them both a kiss on the cheek. Ling is more receptive to these actions, though Andela can't help but look away and hide her face beneath her hood, an action that Wildfire picks up on immediately. Lifting back her hood and turning her masked face towards her, the half-demon looks upon her with a knowing smile. "There's no reason to be shy in my abode, little one."

As Wildfire steps towards a nearby mantle that has a bottle in the shape of a skull containing a red liquid, Ling says, "We were following up on that intel you gave us about the meeting, but they realized we were there."

"And I thought you were so good about that sort of thing," she replies in an amused tone, pouring three glasses of the red wine. She turns and offers them both a glass, which Vapor immediately declines. Ling, however, does not.

"Ling!" Vapor says as her comrade takes a swig of the glass.

Ling's eyes widen slightly. "That's hot! But strangely sweet..."

"Just like me," Wildfire says, throwing a wink towards them both that causes Andela to become slightly more flustered.

"I told you about drinking on the mission earlier," she says as Ling finishes her glass. Nearby, Wildfire drinks the glass she poured for Vapor, then moves onto the one she poured for herself.

Ling gives Vapor an apologetic look that seems to say, 'Yeah, I know, sorry.' She turns back to Wildfire. "Baraka sniffed us out. Those tarkatans are like Outworld blood hounds."

"Or just blood hounds in general," Vapor says softly.

Ling cocks a brow. "Oh, you have blood hounds in Earthrealm? Do you call them Earthrealm blood hounds?"

"...No, just 'blood hounds' actually."

"Huh. Are they also two-headed?"

"Not really, no... just the one head."

"That's weird."

Wildfire sits upon her plush chair, crosses her legs and looks upon them with a sultry smile. "Well, the entire city will probably be looking for you. That gives us some time. Whatever shall we do?"

>Talk about the Deadly Alliance
>We're only hiding here until Takeda and Jin link up with us.
>Ask some questions about herself
>Ling should poledance
>Other

>>3243337
>Talk about the Deadly Alliance
We haven't heard from them in a while. It's entirely Ling's prerogative if she wants to poledance.

>>3243337
>Talk about the Deadly Alliance

>>3243348
>It's entirely Ling's prerogative if she wants to poledance.

This too.

Ling is slutty and not shy like Vapor so this suits her character.

>>3243352
Rude.

>>3243369
It's true though.

>Talk about the Deadly Alliance

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>>3243348
>>3243349
>>3243408

Vapor clears her throat. "What can you tell us about the Deadly Alliance and what they have been up to?"

"Consolidating their strength," Wildfire replies, gently swirling her drink around in its glass. "But they've been growing restless. Rumor is that some kind of shakeup in Earthrealm has them preparing to make a move."

Ling and Vapor look at each other. 'The saurians,' they both silently communicate.

"From the Nekropolis, they've been gathering loyal soldiers, demons, oni and more. The Netherrealm hasn't been this active since Shinnok's invasion of Edenia."

"What's stopping them from making their move?" Ling asks, leaning on her staff.

"So far, it's just Noob Saibot, but his force has been growing weaker as of late. He's lost almost all of his surface territory, except for what used to be Shinnok's Spire. His Army of Darkness has been pushed into the lower levels of the Netherrealm, and his wraiths and enenra are swarming in the shadows." Her eyes shoot over to Vapor, taking in her reaction. "The Deadly Alliance will soon control enough of the Netherrealm to start becoming a legitimate threat again to other realms."

Ling puts up a fist. "Yeah, well, we'll stop them. As soon as they stick their neck out, we'll cut off their head."

Wildfire looks back over at Vapor, focusing intently upon her. "What about you? Are you willing to cut off their head?"

Vapor gives Ling a look, then replies, "If they threaten my realm or my friends, I would."

"You don't seem like you could harm a fly," Wildfire teases the timid girl.

Ling steps forward and points a finger. "Hey, don't count her out. She's tough enough to take it and dish it out."

"I don't doubt it," the red-skinned girl replies, uncrossing her legs. "She's like me. In fact, just like me. Half-demon, half-edenian." Approaching Vapor directly, she brings up a finger and lifts the shorter girl's chin up to stare directly into her eyes. "In fact, there may very well be no one else like us in existence. I spent a lot of time thinking that I was the only one, and I imagine you did as well." She leans in a little closer, causing Vapor to subtly shake and a bead of sweat to roll down her forehead. "Isn't it nice, knowing you aren't... alone?"

Ling looks on, ready to intervene if the situation becomes strange, her eyes darting between the two of them.

>Handle this yourself
>Ask Ling to get you out of this awkward moment
>Change the topic and talk more about your enemies
>Break away to communicate with Takeda and Jin
>Other

>Handle this yourself

>>3243576
>Handle this yourself

>>3243576
>Break away to communicate with Takeda and Jin

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>>3243581
>>3243586

Vapor holds up her hand towards her friend, then slowly moves Wildfire's hand away from under her chin. "We might share similar origins, but I don't think we're much alike."

"Well, I don't know about that. We should get to know each other. We might have a great deal of things in common." Her lips speak of many things and her eyes hint of more, but Vapor doesn't budge.

"I'd hate to do anything to compromise our deal," she replies sternly.

Wildfire leans back. "Our deal, of course..." Turning around, she walks back towards her hair, tail swinging to and fro as she does, before placing her hands on her hips. "Speaking of our deal, I haven't forgotten the promise you made to me. You owe me, remember?"

"I do."

"You said you make good on your debts."

"And I intend to."

"That I would have your full support in the future when I needed your help."

Vapor swallows beneath her mask. "Well, do you?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." She sits back down and crosses her legs. "And it just so happens that you, my dear, are exactly what I need."

Ling storms forward, but Vapor holds up her arm. "Go on."

"I mentioned earlier that the enenra have been pushed down into the lower levels of the Netherrealm, and it just so happens that they have something quite valuable down there."

"And you want me to get it for you?"

"Precisely."

Ling interjects. "That's rediculous. She can't go down there on some errand, not while we're on assignment."

"I thought your assignment was over since you were found out."

"That's... not the point. Vapor isn't like other enenra demons, she's half-enenra. What makes you think she can just slip by them?"

"She's more than capable of doing this. After all, I thought you said she was tough?"

"Don't take my words and try to twist them against me, Wildfire," Ling warns her.

Wildfire holds up her hands. "Well, if you don't want to keep receing intelligence on the Deadly Alliance and their moves and meetings, so be it..."

Vapor's brow furrows as she considers the situation.

>I'll do it. I always keep my word.
>I want to know more about what you need and why it is valuable.
>I don't want to end our deal. Isn't there something else I can do?
>I refuse.
>Other

>>3243672
>I'll do it. I always keep my word.
>I want to know more about what you need and why it is valuable.

>I want to know more about what you need and why it is valuable.
>I'll do it. I always keep my word.

>>3243672
>I'll do it. I always keep my word.

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>>3243688
>>3243691
>>3243750

"I'll do it," Vapor says, causing Ling to look at her with concern. "I always keep my word."

"I like that," Wildfire says, licking her razor-like teeth with a forked tongue. "In a place like the Netherrealm, such loyalty to one's word is more valuable than gold, some say."

Vapor clears her throat. "Speaking of value, then, what is this thing the enenra possess? And why do you need it so?"

"It is an artifact of some power, to those who know how to wield it. Once it was a treasure of Quan Chi, some say given to him by Shinnok himself. It is a staff."

Keeping herself focused and seemingly detatched, Vapor takes a step to the side, towards a black cabinet, and replies, "That settles what it is, but not why you want it."

Wildfire shrugs as she casually twirls the end of her tail between her fingers. "Because I desire to return it to its owner. Quan Chi."

Ling and Vapor both look at her with shock. "You want us to fetch a weapon for you so you can give it to our enemy?" Ling says, sounding betrayed.

Wildfire shakes her head. "No. I want HER," she points at Vapor, "to fetch a wepon for me so I can give it to your enemy."

Vapor grips the back of a chair. "And just why would I agree to do that?"

"Technically you already agreed to it, honey," she points out.

The Lin Kuei straightens somewhat, mentally slapping herself on the forehead. "Well, I could still refuse."

"But I don't think you will, once you hear me out." Wildfire leans forward in her chair. "Yes, it is true that I am in business with Quan Chi, and this is precisely why you want me to give him this weapon. Doing so could earn me considerable favor in his ranking of minions and business affiliates. The further I am drawn into his inner circle, the more you learn about the plans of the Deadly Alliance. Am I starting to make sense?"

Ling is silent, but then looks at Vapor, who has the final say in the matter.

>Where is it?
>I don't know how to blend in with the enenra.
>I need some form of assurance from you that you aren't going to betray us.
>What will Quan Chi be able to do with this weapon?
>Other

>Where is it?
>I don't know how to blend in with the enenra.
>I need some form of assurance from you that you aren't going to betray us.
>What will Quan Chi be able to do with this weapon?

I'm just going to throw all of this in.

>>3243874
>What will Quan Chi be able to do with this weapon?
>I need some form of assurance from you that you aren't going to betray us.
She already said a demon is only as good as their word, but it's still concerning.

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>>3243881
>>3243885

Weighing the pros and cons, Vapor frowns as she asks, "What will Quan Chi be able to do with this weapon?"

"Truth be told, I don't fully know. Perhaps not so much. But I do know that the enenra guard it from him, as it is a tool that could be used against them."

Ling folds her arms. "As in, it targets enenra specifically?"

"No, no, I mean that only in terms that it is something which would give Quan Chi an advantage over them. You don't think I would hand a weapon that would allow him to influence the enenra into his hands, would you? I wouldn't do that to the mousy one. She's my favorite of you all." She winks again at Vapor.

"Well," Vapor begins, her eeys slowly shifting around the room as she tries to put her words together. "I need some... form of assurance from you that you aren't going to betray us."

"I wouldn't do that to a fellow half-demon-half-edenian," Wildfire says. "You might be my only true friend, Vapor."

Her brow lowers. "That's not good enough. You've upheld your end of the bargain, sure, but..." Her mind falters on what to say next. She isn't good at this negotiation thing, she is quickly coming to realize.

"Yes, I have been. I haven't told a single soul in the city about my dealings with you, or harboring you. You realize that the Deadly Alliance would torture me and have my head upon a pike for what I have done simply by not turning you in, yes? I've gone to considerable lengths to hide my dealings with you, and it has taken effort and resources to do so. Either our deal continues, or it ends, it's as simple as that."

Vapor's shoulders slump. 'She does make a good point,' she thinks.

Wildfire sees her indecisiveness and adds, "You could always turn me into the Deadly Alliance and condemn me to a horrible death or... worse things. You should see what happens in the brothels around here."

"Okay!" Vapor says, shaking her head. "I don't want to think about that and I would never do that to you."

"You're so sweet," Wildfire replies with a smile. "Now then. The staff is in large cavern that the enenra gather in. I can take you to a place outside of the city walls where we can travel underground, to the lower levels. If it would make you feel better, you can bring your friends, but they can only go so far. Eventually, you'll have to infiltrate the enenra by yourself."

>I'll go with you alone. The others will remain here.
>I want my friends with me.
>I want us to report back to our base first, then I will return.
>Ling will go with us, but Takeda and Jin will remain here in the city.
>Other

>I want my friends with me.

>>3244002
>I want my friends with me.
If anything, it gets them out of the city where Baraka is looking for them.

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>>3244002
>>3244163

"I want my friends with me," Vapor is quick to reply.

Ling takes hold of Vapor's arm and leads her off to one side of the room. "Are you sure about this?"

"I don't know," Vapor replies honestly. "But if the Deadly Alliance are only growing bolder, we need to keep our information on them flowing in and Wildfire is our only connection in this city." Looking back over her shoulder, she adds, "Plus, I sort of trust her."

"Sort of trust isn't very reassuring," Ling replies. "I mean, I like her too, but this is risky... how do we even sell this to our superiors?"

"It's like she says, either the information stops or she gets even nearer to Quan Chi. Which benefits us the most?"

"But he's getting a weapon. It might be dangerous. What if even more people end up hurt?"

Vapor looks off to the side. "People are going to get hurt regardless... We can't exactly storm their fortress, the way it is guarded by magic and demons. We're reactionary. When they move, we move to stop them. We need info on them..." Turning around, she says to Wildfire, "Alright, we're ready to move."

"Fantastic. But what about your other friends?"

Ling takes out her communicator and attempts to contact Takeda. "Takeda? Come in. Takeda." There isn't a response at first, but then suddenly his face appears on the screen.

"Yeah, hey, we're kind of busy out here!"

"What? What's happened? Were you found out?"

"Sort of," Takeda says. "So, first of all, we were just---"

In the background, they hear Jin shout, "This was YOUR fault!"

"---just making our way through the market when suddenly we happened to bump into a patrol of guards, who wanted to bring us in for questioning, and now we're running."

Ling sighs and rubs her forehead. "Great. We're at the Wet Devil. Can you make it here without being seen?"

"That might be a problem," Takeda replies. "Baraka is on our tail, I guess he caught our scent or something. I don't think he knows it's actually us, but he's chasing us all the same."

Wildfire stands up. "Do NOT lead him here! He'll smell you all over this place and then I'm finished."

Ling looks at Vapor. "What do you think?"

>Takeda and Jin will lead Baraka and his men away while you make your way out of the city
>Vapor and Ling will leave to link back up with Takeda and Jin, then meet Wildfire out of the city
>We need to cause a distraction in the city to allow Takeda and Jin to escape
>Takeda and Jin will have to lay low until they can sneak out of the city
>Other

>>3244300
>>Takeda and Jin will lead Baraka and his men away while you make your way out of the city

If we leave the bar in a Baraka-wise direction, it might leave a trail back to Wildfire for him to follow. Have to trust them to take care of themselves.

>>3244300
>Takeda and Jin will lead Baraka and his men away while you make your way out of the city
Ling should go and help if necessary.

>Takeda and Jin will lead Baraka and his men away while you make your way out of the city

Back from dinner and writing now.

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>>3244331
>>3244347
>>3244429

Vapor chews her lip, but tries to maintain an air of confidence while covering up the fact that she has no idea what she is really doing. Jin was supposed to be the lead on this mission. Still, she swallows, focuses up and tries to take charge of the situation.

"I think the others should lead Baraka and his men away. That way, we avoid bringing him here and exposing Wildfire, and it gives us a chance to more easily slip out of the city."

Ling puzzles it over for a moment, then nods. She steps away to make the call on her communicator. Vapor is about to relax when suddenly she feels a pair of hands on her shoulders, softly rubbing them.

"You seem tense," Wildfire whispers in her ear. "You need to learn how to relax."

"Could you... not, please?" Vapor replies, feeling rather unnerved at the sensual massage.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?"

"I said please," Vapor reiterates more firmly.

Wildfire shrugs and takes her hands off. "You could learn to loosen up a bit, little mouse. It will help you a lot through life."

Vapor closes her eyes and shakes her head. For a moment, she recalls a time in Edenia when she was visiting her mother, exploring the beautiful land of that pristine realm. The incredibly stark contrast between the cold, dark halls of the Lin Kuei temple and the lush, fertile fields of Edenia couldn't be greater, but that isn't what she was focused on at the time. She had seen her mother, the assassin and hero Jade, do something that forever changed her perception of the world.

Suffice to say, life is somewhat different in Edenia than most other realms, with perhaps Earthrealm being closest. Things are more free and open, a far cry from the disciplined life Vapor had known in the temple, and consequently its people are much more liberated in all matters, free to pursue endeavors of art, architecture or even leizure as they desire. Their long lives allow them the freedom to become as attached or as unattached as they see fit. This also extends to personal relationships, with many few ever marrying permanently, except in cases of great love such as Queen Sindel and King Jerrod.

Vapor, at an age most tender and innocent, once witnessed her mother enter the palace with a beautiful young handmaiden, a willing servant of the house of Jerrod, who drew a bath before joining Jade within to help cleanse her. Even as a child, though she knew not the full extent of what she saw, she knew that what they were doing was far from normal and all pretenses of bathing were quickly abandonned. Invisible and undetected, Vapor watched with frightened, confused eyes, before she could bare it no longer and fled.

Her trips to Edenia were always considerably shorter from that point onwards, preferring the cold, dark isolation of the Lin Kuei temple, though she never spoke of this aloud to either of her parents.

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>>3244752

She snaps out of her memory as Ling returns. "They both understand. Should we go?"

Vapor softly nods. "Yes. We should."

Wildfire begins to take them out of the city, using an underground path that leads out of the tavern. "How many secret paths and entrances does your place have?" Ling asks, crouching low in the narrow, cramped hall.

"Many, and a few you haven't seen," Wildfire replies. "Always have an escape plan. In my line of work and with the people I deal with, you cannot ever be too careful."

Vapor quietly follows along in the rear, trying not to think too hard about all of the memories she has been reliving while here in the Netherrealm. 'Why can't I stop these thoughts?' Her eyes drift to the floor. 'Is it because this is where my father died? Where my mother was rescued, and part of the reason of why they got together? Or is it something... else?'

Not too many know that a pure soul cannot exist in the Netherrealm; the very negative energy of the realm itself would expel them otherwise. To enter the Netherrealm, one must have some kind of darkness within them, a taint upon their soul. It doesn't have to be murder, but Vapor has long attempted to discern through what makes her soul 'dark' enough to exist here. She doesn't feel evil in the slightest, and if that is the case, then it must be because of a different reason, one she doesn't like to think about.

Is the only reason she can exist in the Netherrealm because she is half-enenra? Is that why she feels so oddly comfortable here, when she knows she should not?

Wildfire pauses up ahead. "We're almost out of the city limits," she explains. "Say, how do any of you feel about dogs?"

"Dogs?" Ling asks. "Why?"

"Well, there may be something of a guard dog up ahead. And it may or may not be a massive, three-headed monstrous cerberus."

Ling tries to keep herself from shouting in the tunnel. "And you didn't think it was important enough to mention until NOW?!"

"Take it easy. I'm sure you have a way of sneaking past it." She looks past Ling, at Vapor. "Well?"

>Try to sneak by the Cerberus one at a time
>Use your powers to transport all three of you past it
>Search for a way to distract the three-headed hound
>We should turn back and help Takeda and Jin
>Other

>Use your powers to transport all three of you past it

>>3244753
>Search for a way to distract the three-headed hound
The beast would definitely smell an enenra's active powers, I'm all but certain.

Oh fuck, you're right

>>3244753
>>Search for a way to distract the three-headed hound
Yeah...trying to sneak or mist-form past something with probably supernaturally good senses of sound and smell seems like a good way to feel very stupid very soon.

>>3244891
>>Search for a way to distract the three-headed hound

>>3244891

> Use Powers

Because I have a feeling we need to smell as much like an Enenra as possible to pull our heist off.

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>>3244791
>>3244863
>>3244896

"There must be something we can use to distract it," Vapor says. "I was already sniffed out once today. A three-headed dog must be able to pick up on an enenra."

"I don't suppose you have any of that meat from the slaughterhouse, do you?" Wildfire asks.

"Not quite, no," Ling says. Suddenly, she gets an idea. "Let me take the lead."

Wildfire and Vapor follow her until they reach the end of the tunnel, at which point they look upon a vast hellscape. The tunnel leads into a small valley, situated in the center of which is a large three-headed hound, an absolutely massive creature who rests alongside a pile of bones the size of a hill. All three heads have a different configuration of horns, though even while two of them rest, one keeps its eyes open, alert for any sign of danger.

"Let me take care of this," Ling says with a cocky grin. She hops out of the tunnel and takes out her red staff, holding the qiang aloft and over her head. "Hey! Here, boy!"

"What is she doing?!" Vapor says, moving to help her friend. Wildfire puts her hand over hers, clearly wanting to watch.

The cerberus rises and growls, all three heads locking onto Ling. She whistles and waves the staff over her head a few times, making sure that all three sets of eyes are locked upon it, before hurling it as far and as hard as she can. All three heads follow it, then the great creature bounds after it.

Ling signals to the two of them and soon enough the three of them are running across the fields of the Netherrealm, kicking up red dust and ash behind them. "But your weapon!" Vapor says.

Ling smiles, holds out her hand and summons it back into her palm. "Easy."

"I like your style!" Wildfire laughs. "How'd you know it would work?"

"I didn't. Just tried it anyway."

Vapor quietly reflects that she wishes she had that kind of confidence. However, as the cerberus suddenly leaves the valley and chases after them, she instead changes her mind, deciding that the best of plans are those that are actually planned out instead!

>1d100 to run!

Rolled 72 (1d100)

https://youtu.be/j2s8yGMEbSs

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>3245018

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>3245018

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>3245018

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>3245018

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>>3245023
>>3245025
>>3245026
>>3245034

"Split up!" Wildfire shouts. "He may have three heads, but he can't chase all three of us at once!"

Vapor keeps going, but Ling and Wildfire both split off from her and run in arcing directions. However, though they are both tracked by two of the monster's heads, the third remains locked upon Vapor and the body follows, chasing after her and her alone. Vapor picks up the pace, charging as hard as she can across the terrain, cursing her bad luck at not being able to use her powers, lest she be seen by---

She mentally slaps herself once more. Just as the cerberus is about to clamp its massive maw down upon her, she transforms into a cloud of fog and whisks herself high up and away.

She encircles some of the red clouds before diving back downwards, into a deep ravine where lava flows freely. Ling and Wildfire are here, having taken refuge in a small cavern. She appears in the cave and they turn towards her. "Nicely done," the other half-demon says with her hands on her hips. "You'll need to use your powers a lot more to blend in with the enenra, however."

"I've never even seen one of them before, and I have always looked like this," Vapor tells her. "How am I supposed to know what one looks like?"

"They don't always take physical form. Being in the form of mist should help you well enough. I must admit, I don't know much about their society, but it shouldn't be too difficult for you to blend in with them. Probably."

Ling cocks her brow and folds her arms. "You sound like you've given this a lot of thought."

"And how exactly am I going to get out once I get the staff?"

"You're clever girl. You'll figure it out." Wildfire approaches the entrance and looks around. "Seems like we're in the clear; he lost our scent. Let's move."

She leaves the cavern before they can ask more questions of her, and with a grumble and look at each other, they follow after her.

>Walk in silence
>Ask her about her father
>Ask more about the enenra
>Ask why she chooses to live in the Netherrealm
>Other

>>3245267
>Ask more about the enenra

We need to know more about them so we don't get caught once we infiltrate their society.

>Ask her about her father
>Ask more about the enenra
>Ask why she chooses to live in the Netherrealm

>>3245267
>Ask more about the enenra

>>3245267
>>Ask her about her father
>>Ask more about the enenra

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>>3245286
>>3245309
>>3245338
>>3245356

"What else do you know about the enenra?"

"They don't exactly stop by my bar and have a drink," Wildfire says with a smirk. "Didn't you ever ask your father about them?"

She is quiet for a moment. "He... wouldn't exactly like talking about it."

Wildfire nods, looking off. "Yeah, you know, I heard stories about him."

Vapor gives her a surprised look. "What? From who?"

"Around. A tavern attracts all kinds of stories. Around the time of Shinnok, your father was one of his enforcers, working alongside Noob Saibot. They were quite a team, all told."

"He was forced to," she insists, readily defending her father. "He was enslaved by Shinnok."

"That's part of it, sure. He told you the other half, right?" When Vapor doesn't immediately responsd, Wildfire continues for her. "He died and was reborn the way all of us demons are: as our base selves, monsters with almost no recollection of who we are. When he died, he was wasn't enslaved by Shinnok; that would've been a convenient excuse. Fact is, your father was already gone."

Vapor stops in her tracks. "I already knew all of that. He told me himself." Wildfire and Ling turn to face her. "He eventually got his memory back, you know, and the things he did during that time haunt him to this day!"

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. You must've had a fun upbringing with that constantly on his mind."

"And what about your father, huh? What about your upbringing?"

"My father killed my mother, and that taught me a few very important lessons early on," she says, waggling a finger. "One, to not go after him if I wanted to live. And two, to never ever follow him, because he's crazy." She folds her arms and smirks. "You should consider yourself lucky you even have parents, mouse. Someone else out there always has it worse."

Vapor loses some of her bluster as she stares at Wildfire, and Ling attempts to break the tension. "You know, my mom's dead too, and I also don't like my dad."

"That's great, we have so much in common, we're all such wonderful unique snowflakes," Wildfire says, rolling her eyes a little. "Now, ladies, can we please keep going? The last thing I want is for us to be caught by a horde of zombies, oni, winged ones or something else unpleasant."

As they continue walking, Vapor eventually musters up the courage to ask, "So, you really don't want to join your father?"

"He's a wacko, like I said. Let him have his Amrageddon cult. I like to live, thank you."

"Can you tell us where he is? He might be a threat to our team."

"I would if I could. I don't know where he or his Red Dragon hide. Somewhere in Earthrealm, that's all I know."

Vapor looks forward, across the hellish, red landscape. "Daegon killed the mother of another one of our friends, Takeda. I think he'd like to know where he is."

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>>3245515

"Again, I'd tell you if I knew. All I ever learned is that they live in some kind of mountain, but I'm guessing that doesn't narrow it down. Earthrealm has many mountains, yes?"

"...Yes."

It isn't too long before they come upon the entrance to another cave, this one built into the side of a winding cliff overlooking what appears to be an endless drop. Looking over the edge, Ling whistles. "What's down there?"

"Spiders," Wildfire says in a tone that they cannot tell if she is joking or not. "Lots and lots of spiders. Now then, this is the cave I was talking about. From here, you go out on your own. It leads down, far down, into the lair of the enenra."

"You sure?" Vapor asks. "The sky isn't even grey here..."

"Like I said, Noob's army have been forced underground, but the enenra have always lived there. This isn't even the main entrance to their home; that would be that massive crack in the ground we're standing next to. Legend has it that a demon the size of a mountain once carved it out with his claws, and the smoke that billowed from his nostrils became the first of your kind as hey drifted down into that abyss. But hey, legend is legend, right? This cave winds down to the lower levels of that giant canyon, where they live."

Vapor swallows nervously. Ling places a hand on her shoulder. "Be careful, Andela."

"Come back in one piece. It'd be a shame to see your pretty little face with a scar," Wildfire says, giving her another wink.

Clearing her mind of distraction, Vapor transforms into mist and drifts into the cave, winding down its spiraling passages, spreading out and feeling the unnatural shape of the stone. This isn't a normal passageway; it seems to have been carved and smoothed out from countless passage of members of her kind, scorched into a strange texture like molten glass, cracked in some areas.

As she travels down, her mind continues to wander as she contemplates her strange surroundings and the situation she is wrapped up in...

>Listening to her mother and father talk
>Listening to Sareena and her father confide in each other about their demon nature
>A day spent with her mother in Edenia
>The first time she ever learned how to use her powers
>Other

>>3245516
>The first time she ever learned how to use her powers

>Listening to her mother and father talk
>Listening to Sareena and her father confide in each other about their demon nature

>>3245516
>The first time she ever learned how to use her powers

We'll be resuming in the morning.

>>3245516
>>Listening to Sareena and her father confide in each other about their demon nature

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>>3245526
>>3245532
>>3245533
>>3245657

Vapor was, of course, not born as a cloud. That would have been quite awkward. As a child, she didn't know how to control her powers, but not in a harmful manner. She would desire to go somewhere in her infantile mind, such as to her father or mother, and simply go there, whisking away in a cloud. This caused them some distress, as they weren't certain she wouldn't end up in a dangerous place, such as a high ledge or atop a staircase, but she never did. Her father was the one to take charge and show her how to use her powers, in the way that only an enenra truly can; he mingled his gaseous form with her own and in a way communicated with her, not with words, but thoughts.

Slowly she came to understand, and when she was ten, finally mastered the use of her powers and could use them willingly. Now the temple was hers to explore; every nook, every hall and every tight space, even every crack in the wall had opened up to her. She had freedom unlike any other living creature, save for perhaps her father, and it was this very joy she wanted to express to him. Searching for him, she travelled through a small passage only a few inches wide, likely meant for air, and looked down into a room where he spoke with Sareena, the wife of the Grandmaster. Always wary of intruding, she waited and listened, as she often did.

He spoke, and even in her young age his words had a great effect upon her.

>"Every time I close my eyes it is the same, and whenever I open my eyes it is still the same. The abyss, yawning before me, and I'm unable to turn away from it. A swirling cloud of black and grey, stretching on to what seems like infinity. A chorus of cries and whispers. There is no... humanity there. No individuality, no personality, nothing." He looked up at her with his pale, grey eyes. "That's what greeted me in death. That's what will greet me when I die again."

>Sareena reached over and took his hand. "But you do not know you will die again. Demons follow their own rules. You may very well live to be as long-lived as an edenian."

>"A single stroke can still sever that long life. And when it does, my dreams will become real again."

>"I often dream of fire. I have died before, and been reborn in the pits of hell as a lesser being, just as you have. I still see those places. I know how you feel, Tomas. You aren't alone, and you are safe here. You have family among both us and your own."

>He closed his eyes, leaning his head forward. "I know. But I fear that I have done something horrible for Andela."

>"What?"

>"I fear I may have passed not only my powers, but my fate as well. Does the Netherrealm wait for her?"

Vapor is brought back to the present when she begins to hear a strange noise up ahead. It is strange and echoing, unlike any she has ever heard before. Though in misty form, she inwardly swallows and considers what to do as she comes to a large curve that seems to open up to a deep, dark plunge.

>>3246453

>Take a moment to steel yourself.
>Move forward and dive in.
>Try and find some strength in what your father has told you.
>Edge closer and just take a peek at what lies beyond.
>Other

>>3246455
>Try and find some strength in what your father has told you.
>Take a moment to steel yourself.

>Try and find some strength in what your father has told you.
>Take a moment to steel yourself.

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>>3246472
>>3246493

Pausing at the edge, Vapor mentally steels herself for what may lie beyond. She thinks about what her father once told her, about how she isn't normal like other children may be. This seemed to make him very sad, as though he had cursed her, the full extent of which she never quite understood. She never hated her father in any way, never truly felt cursed---but now she is about to see what caused him such pain and regret.

Taking the gaseous equivalent of a deep breath, she plunges over the side, and immediately is taken aback. Countless holes in the walls, leading to winding caverns just like the one she just left, open up to a massive circular chamber, a tube of smooth walls carved with grooves that spiral downwards into a black abyss that seems to have no bottom. At first it seems as though the place is alive, the walls moving and twisting, writing with some unknown method, but then it becomes clear what she is looking at: enenra, countless in number, all moving in a cyclone.

Their voices are what she heard, strange calls and cries that seem to echo and amplify. There doesn't appear to be any pattern to them, or if there is she cannot discern it, but the sheer immensity of what she is witnessing is horrifying. The darkness seems to have a life of its own, as the enenra weave between the walls and calling out to one another.

'This is what my father saw,' she realizes. 'This is what he was reborn into...'

Having lost all of his memory upon death, which only slowly came back later on after Shinnok's defeat, he joined this swirling mass of demonic smoke and became one of them. He described it as having no personality, no individuality, a collective where all are one and one is all. In a sense, they were all one entity, or extensions of that entity, simply being enenra, to the point where he even identified solely as Enenra for a time.

Once, in the dark of the night, he came to her and woke her from slumber, his eyes dark and wide. He gave to her a warning, which like most things she didn't understand at the time.

>"Don't lose yourself, Andela. Never lose yourself within it."

She now understands that he was referring to the abyss that is the lair of the enenra, but also to the enenra themselves.

>Attempt to 'go with the flow' and follow the rhythm of the mass
>Go down the center and search for this weapon
>Attempt to go against the flow and in the opposite direction
>Try to mimic the calls and cries of the enenra
>Other

>Go down the center and search for this weapon

>>3246749
>Go down the center and search for this weapon

>>3246749
>Go down the center and search for this weapon

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>>3246763
>>3246780
>>3246882

Unsure of being swept away by the mass, Vapor instead elects to drift down it center, as she sees some of them doing. The enenra seem almost as if a flock of birds, some moving not with the others but all of them travelling in a general direction. As she descends into this swirling chasm, she begins to hear voices, all speaking with the same tone and pace, and many echoing each other. As she makes contact with the whisps of others of her kind, she begins to understand what they are speaking of. Information seems to be communicated by the constant echoing of sentiments and sentences until it reaches every part of the mass, and it takes several moments before she can piece it all together in a way that makes sense.

"The darkness seeps back into the ground."

"It is a passing thing."

"A passing thing."

"The darkness was always here, and always will be."

"The balance shifts as it has before."

"The balance shifts."

"The Wraith-King has promised us much, and not delivered."

"Patience."

"Patience."

"Patience is for the dead."

"The darkness was never meant to be contained."

"It must spread."

"Spread."

"The Wraith-King speaks lies and promises nothing."

"He promises what he has failed to deliver."

"He has failed."

"We must abide by him, for there are no others."

"The shadows will endure long after all others are gone."

"The Deadly Alliance will not forgive."

"The Deadly Alliance may yet forgive."

"Patience."

"Patience."

The constant choir-like chatter and debate overwhelms her, but she begins to realize the truth of what is going on. The enenra are growing restless with the failures of Noob Saibot and his many defeats. With the Deadly Alliance growing in power, some of them are considering leaving him to join with them, while others advocate waiting to see which side comes out on top.

As she considers this newest information, she suddenly sees something. There are many alcoves dug into the walls of this place, containing lost things and treasures guarded by the enenra, but one of them stands out. Here she sees a staff, placed upon an altar of stone, which has the head of a monster, perhaps an oni or a demon. Atop the head, bound by chains, is a crimson orb which glows dimly but noticeably.

'That must be it,' she thinks. 'But what do I do now?'

>Swipe the weapon and make for the nearest exit
>Attempt to add your voice to theirs and convince them that Noob Saibot desires a meeting
>Sow further discontent among the enenra and echo sentiments of your own into their mass
>See if you can convince them to attack the city of Nekros or the Nekropolis
>Other

>Sow further discontent among the enenra and echo sentiments of your own into their mass

>>3246913
>Sow further discontent among the enenra and echo sentiments of your own into their mass

>>3246913
>Sow further discontent among the enenra and echo sentiments of your own into their mass

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>>3246921
>>3246937
>>3246951

Upon seeing the staff through the gaseous miasma of the collective, Vapor pauses in consideration. She loves her father deeply, and never thought him weak, but when he was reborn here, he had no choice but to be weak and influenced by them. This influence became the basis of his being, and when his memories came back, they were only added to that changed state; the influence never truly left him.

But she isn't like he is, and she isn't like any other enenra here. She is an individual, and perhaps able to influence the collective. After all, they do not know she isn't truly one of them, so her voice added to their own must mean that it is just another voice of the mass speaking to them. But there is risk in this; what if they detect someone who isn't supposed to be here by the way she speaks? Or what she says?

It is dangerous, but the risk could be worth it. If she could convince the enenra to go against Noob Saibot, half of his Army of Darkness would be eliminated from his ranks as they rebel. Preparing herself for whatever may come, she floats over to the swirling mass and joins its ranks.

Almost immediately, she is once again overwhelmed. Countless enenra mingle with her, their thoughts loud and echoing. She struggles against this incredible influence and begins to speak.

"Noob Saibot is weak."

She says this several times, until she hears others echoing the thought. Her resolve doubling, realizing she can in fact influence them, she continues to do so.

"The Army of Darkness has failed."

"We have no choice but to sever our ties with him."

"We must survive, and the Wraith-King will only bring death."

"We must endure."

When others echo back to be patient, she fights against that notion, arguing that the situation is only deteriorating. The balance of power is shifting back into the hands of those who once worshipped Shinnok. Noob Saibot never truly worshipped anyone other than himself. She really hits it home when she mentions that Shinnok's imprisonment could be a fate shared by all dark denizens of the Netherrealm, a thought that is readily picked up and carried by many voices.

Discontent surges within the ranks of the enenra, and soon enough their spiral picks up as more voices argue and debate; many voices now compete for dominance. The discord sown proves a great and powerful distraction, allowing her to finally find the cavern that the staff lies within and enter it. She floats over to the staff, envelopes it completely and incorporates it into her mass, and the enenra are far too busy discussing where their loyalties should lie for any of them to notice.

Elated, Vapor prepares to leave.

>Influence them more
>You've got what you came for, get out
>Attempt to goad them into attacking Noob Saibot
>See if you can find some remnant of your father within this mass of consciousness
>Other

>>3247012
>See if you can find some remnant of your father within this mass of consciousness

>See if you can find some remnant of your father within this mass of consciousness

afterwards

>You've got what you came for, get out

>>3247012
>See if you can find some remnant of your father within this mass of consciousness

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>>3247024
>>3247029

Though she now carries the staff within her mass and knows she could leave, Vapor hesitates.

'This place is where my father's nightmares lie,' she thinks to herself. 'There must be something... some way to help him.'

Carried by her compassion and love for her father, she instead descends further into the abyss, searching for a means to offer him some kind of freedom from his torment. Further and further she travels, passing alcoves of lost items and forgotten corpses, tomes of ancient lore and things lost to history and time, until all light goes out and nothing remains but the absolute, all-consuming darkness. Her heart races as she pushes out the words of the enenra, focusing only on what lies ahead.

Somewhere, in that void, she discovers something. Or perhaps, in a way, it re-discovers her. In a black cave she must feel her way around in, there is a mask upon a pedestal. She feels a strange connection to it, though she knows not why. As the whisp of a tendril brushes past the mask, she suddenly experiences a horrible vision, something once viewed through its ruby eyes, a vision of torture, mutilation and death.

This mask belonged to her father, when he was one of the many enenra encircling this in their endless cyclone-like dance. The cacophony of their voices seem very far away now as she looks upon this mask, feeling it with her enveloping fog. Whatever item this is, it is something the enenra hold dear, for it is hidden deep and dark within their lair.

Perhaps some part of her father yet lingers within. Perhaps bringing it to him would allow him some measure of peace, perhaps if he were to destroy it. Or perhaps she should destroy it right here...

There is a voice here, one that sounds like her father's. It seems to be asking her a question, though she cannot quite hear what it is. For some reason, she begins to believe that if she were to put it on, she could hear it...

>Leave it
>Take it
>Destroy it
>Put it on
>Other

>Other

Ask the voice if it's her father

>>3247160
>Take it

>>3247171
>>3247253
Can I get a tie breaker?

>>3247171

Supporting this guy.

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>>3247171
>>3247328

Drawing the central bulk of her mass nearer, she attempts to commune with the mask in the same way she communed with with father and the other enenra.

"Father? Is that you?"

Initially, there is silence, but then a faint response eventually reaches her ears. "Yes, my child."

"How can this be?"

"I am trapped here. I have been trapped here for a very long time. Waiting to be rescued."

Vapor hesitates in confusion. "But you are back at the temple."

"Part of me," is the reply. "I was torn from myself, left to languish within this shell... The enenra brought me here, to this dark place."

"What must I do?"

"You must return me to myself. Take this mask and return it to my physical form. I must return to my rightful place."

"You mean, place the mask on your head?"

"Yes... it must be so. It is the only way to return me to my true self."

At first she doubts, but then the mask says, "Andela... you must help me. I am in pain. The consuming darkness of this place is like a prison and I must be made whole again. Please, help me..."

She wants to believe, desperately. How could this mask know her name, if it truly was not her father? She was born after the time of his enslavement. And yet...

"Andela," he says again. "We don't have much time. The enenra are growing restless. You must return me. You must! Don't you love me? Don't you love your father?"

"I... I do, but..."

"Every day of your life, you have seen me in pain, staring blankly off as though something is missing. You can help me, Andela. You can save me. Don't you want to?"

"I... Yes, of course..."

"Then take the mask to me, Andela. Place it upon my head. Save me."

>Take the mask
>Refuse
>Destroy the mask
>Put the mask on
>Other

>Other

Ask him a personal question only he would know in order to make sure he's not conning you

>>3247356
I'll second >>3247361

>>3247356

support >>3247361

>>3247361
Support.

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>>3247361
>>3247372
>>3247432
>>3248816

Vapor materializes in front of the mask, reaching for it, but then she hesitates. Her lip trembles beneath her mask as she closes her eyes, trying hard to think about if this is right or not. She wants to help her father, desperately, but what if this is a trick?

'It knew my name, but... what if...'

Concentrating as hard as she can, she conjures up a memory, putting it into the forefront of her mind.

She looks upon the mask. "Father, tell me... the day you first told me that you died. Tell me... what did you call me?"

The mask seems to take a moment before it echoes back to her. "I called you... my darling, my shining star."

Vapor's eyes narrow. "No. You didn't."

"What?"

"You're reading my mind," she realizes aloud, knowing that even if she were to think it, the mask would understand. "You aren't my father, you're something else! You're... you're what enslaved him, aren't you? When my mother tore you off of my father, he was freed!"

"How dare you," the mask says, its eyes glowing red. "How dare you!"

Vapor is suddenly and forcefully knocked backwards by a pulse of power from the mask. She skids along the floor, opening her eyes to look upon the red lens staring down upon her. The mask seems to levitate upwards as it takes a form beneath it, one of black cloudy mist.

"I sought to return to my rightful place atop the greatest of the enenra warriors. Long have I stored what little power I wrenched from your pitiful, pathetic patriarch when I was separated from him, but now I will simply take the next best thing: his child!"

The mask and its conjured body surge forward, and Vapor holds up the staff between herself and it, trying to keep him at bay. The red eyes of the mask stare into her own. "You will be mine, child! I will parade your body before your father and promise that if he takes me back, I shall release you! And in his weakness, he will, and I truly will be whole once more!"

The mask, given life by its own dark magic and what power was left behind from your father's separation, begins to attempt to overwhelm her, rolling over her and consuming her in its thick, black fog. She knows she must either fight or flee, but first she must escape its grasp!

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>3249233
Do a Wonder Woman spin to try and get the smoke off of us.

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>3249233
bash its solid face in with the staff

Rolled 72 (1d100)

Sense for an opening to the enera's face and perform a Vibrating Punch upon contact. Then pin him to the ground , holding his right arm behind his back

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>>3249242

Vapor lets out a cry as the mask's power begins to envelope her entirely, pinning her down and preventing her from transforming. The mask lifts itself up and turns around, preparing to fall upon her head and entrap her.

>>3249245

However, as her grip tightens upon the staff in her hands, Vapor realizes that the mask is just like the staff: physical. With a sudden burst of strength, she shouts and lifts the head of the staff, knocking it into the mask and casting the helm aside to clatter and clank against the cavern wall.

Vapor stands up, looking as the thin whisps of black smoke attempt to make their way back towards the mask. With narrow eyes, she immediately notices that the mask itself is not very strong; what power it has kept and stored is finite and running out.

>>3249270

When it collects once more, she charges over to it and leaps high into the air, descending upon it with a devastating punch. As she does so, thrusting her fist directly into its center mass, she uses her power to violently vibrate her arm, discharging much more power into the blow. The mask lets out a hollow, echoing cry as Vapor annihilates what remains of its physical body, draining its reserves of every ounce of power it held.

She reels her fist back to her side and watches as the mask falls to the floor, once more banging upon the stone, turning to gaze upon her.

"How?"

"You put all of your power into one shot to try and take me over, but if it didn't work, that would be it. If you had met my father when he was at his peak, the same would have happened," she replies, looking down upon the mask. She shakes her head. "There's nothing left of my father within you, only a scrap of his power. Nothing to offer him other than a painful memory."

"It's only a matter of time," the artifact replies in a spiteful whisper. "Eventually, one of you will return, and I will be waiting."

>Leave
>Attempt to destroy it
>Take the mask with you and hide it
>Take the mask with you to destroy it elsewhere
>Other

>Take the mask with you to destroy it elsewhere

>>3249346
>Take the mask with you to destroy it elsewhere

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>>3249351
>>3249354

Bending down, she picks up the mask. "I suppose you're right. Then the only other option is to get rid of you."

"You cannot destroy me. I was forged by Shinnok himself!"

"Even if I cannot, someone can. I have lots of friends."

Transforming into her vaporous form, she leaves the dark cavern where the mask resided and travels back upwards, through the mass of enenra. Their argument has escalated and the turmoil generated by their discontent has reached a boiling point, and the enenra now surge upwards from their home. Realizing what may befall her friends, Vapor rushes towards the surface, putting the cries of the other demons far from her mind as she races to the head of the pack.

Shooting upwards with speed unlike any she has ever known, driven by her desperation, she finds the path she took into this abyss initially and dives into it, even as the flood of her kind follows. Knowing that she has precious little time, she prepares to reform and at the last moment, before she and the rest of her kind burst out of the ground and into the world above, she transforms and tackles Ling and Wildfire to the ground just outside the mouth of the cavern.

Vapor holds them down as the enenra sweep over them, blind to their hidden place amongst the rocks, their attention focused solely upon the sky as they twist upwards, joining other tendrils of their kin, all joining into a winding serpent-like wave, headed for Noob Saibot's seat of tower, Shinnok's Spire.

After the last of the demons pass, Vapor picks herself up, as do her companions. Wildfire shakes her head. "What happened down there? Did you get the staff? Were they alerted?"

"That was my fault, but not because they found me," she explains. She looks to her side and holds up the staff. "Here."

Wildfire's eyes go wide. "You did it! Mouse, I could kiss you!"

Vapor pays her little mind as she looks around, seeing the mask lying nearby. Reaching for it, she picks it up and looks at it.

"What's that thing?" Ling asks.

"Just something else I found," Vapor replies, somewhat distracted. "Something that needs to be put to rest."

>Return to Nekros; link up with Takeda and Jin
>Meet Takeda and Jin out in the hellscape
>Create a portal back to the island
>Speak with Wildfire about her end of the bargain
>Other

>>3249606
>Meet Takeda and Jin out in the hellscape
>Speak with Wildfire about her end of the bargain

>Speak with Wildfire about her end of the bargain
>Meet Takeda and Jin out in the hellscape
>Other

Comtemplate tossing the mask into a river of lava

>>3249606
>Meet Takeda and Jin out in the hellscape
>Speak with Wildfire about her end of the bargain

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>>3249611
>>3249615
>>3250042

After quickly re-establishing contact with Takeda and Jin with their communicators, the five of them coordinate to meet up outside of the city of Nekros. Vapor, Ling and Wildfire travel briskly and with purpose, sticking to low canyons and valleys to avoid being seen by anything above. Using the in-built tracking devices, the teams eventually meet up, and as the three of them around a bend in a canyon they see Takeda and Jin up ahead, moving underneath a bridge of stone. They all jog up to each other.

Takeda wipes the sweat from his brow. "Man, am I glad to see you guys."

Jin leans on his staff, giving a heavy sigh. "We've spent what feels like two hours hiding from Baraka and his goons. We definitely lost them, though."

Ling nods, patting Takeda on the shoulder. "That's good. We were pretty busy too, but it was mostly Vapor."

Jin looks over at the Lin Kuei girl. "Oh yeah? Care to bring us up to speed?"

Vapor is about to speak, but Wildfire steps in and cuts her off. "Let's just say that your little grey friend has secured a higher place for me in Quan Chi's hierarchy. I'll be able to feed you much juicier details on the Deadly Alliance from this point."

Takeda looks at her, then at the strange staff she is holding, particularly at the severed demonic head at its top. "The hell is that thing, anyway?"

Jin's eyes narrow. "That's a living weapon," he says, holding up a finger. "I recognize that from the Shaolin scrolls."

As they look on, the head of the weapon opens its eyes slightly wider and its mouth opens, though it does not speak. They all take a step back. Wildfire dismisses it with the wave of a hand, saying, "Oh, don't be frightened. I can't use it. But Quan Chi will be able to."

Before Takeda and Jin can react to that sentence, Vapor steps up and says, "Hold it! She's going to give it to Quan Chi, yes, but only because it'll make her a more trusted servant. She's still on our side." Looking over her shoulder at Wildfire, she looks for confirmation.

"That's correct," the other half-demon confirms. "Now, I'm sure you four have masters of your own to report to. I really must be getting back to my business." She turns and looks at Vapor. "Thank you for your help today, little mouse. But before I go, would you mind terribly if we spoke in private?"

Andela looks at her friends, then back at her. "About what?"

"Just a half-demon half-edenian wanting to look out for another," she replies with a smile. "Well?"

The younger girl hesitates. She doesn't want to offend Wildfire after working so hard to get the staff for her and uphold her end of the deal, but is wary of her intentions.

>Speak with her in private.
>Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of my friends.
>Promise to visit her later; you have a lot to do right now.
>Refuse to speak with her in private.
>Other

>Speak with her in private.

Sure, why not?

>>3250618
>Speak with her in private.

>>3250618
>Speak with her in private.

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>>3250630
>>3250640
>>3250844

Andela looks back at her team, then nods briefly at Wildfire. "Alright."

Ling frowns in concern, but says, "We'll get the portal set up and ready to go."

Looking down at the mask in her hands, she hands it to Ling and says, "Please watch this for me. Don't put it on."

"Why would I?" she asks, turning it around. "This thing is ugly as hell." She then looks at Wildfire. "No offense."

"Please, none taken." She gives Vapor and smile and indicates for her to follow along.

Wildfire strides around the corner, with Andela following. The smaller girl folds her arms and stands somewhat guardedly. "What's this about?"

Setting the staff against a nearby wall, the half-demon shakes out her red hair and takes in a deep breath. "Ah, smell that Netherrealm air... the sulphur, the brimstone, the acrid smoke... You don't get this kind of atmosphere in that cramped city."

Andela's eyes dart to the side and she taps her foot. "Okay."

Turning to face her fully, Wildfire gets a strange look on her face, one that Vapor cannot quite read. "This place makes you uncomfortable, doesn't it?"

"Yes."

"But that's a lie," she replies, her eyes flaring. "You're more comfortable here than you're willing to admit. I can see it in your eyes, your body language. I can read people, you know. It's a gift." Before Vapor can reply, suddenly Wildfire steps closer, making her back up into the wall. Wildfire's red fingers trail up her arm and twist a lock of her stark-white hair. "Do you know what I think? I think you hold yourself back. You're young, unconfident, shy, but you have such power and such strength of will, of character... It's too bad that you aren't willing to confront your deeper desires."

"I d-don't know what you're talking about," Vapor says, trying not to make eye contact.

"Oh, I think you do. I saw it the first time you stepped forward and said you'd be willing to make a deal. I saw something in you then, and I still see it now, but you're not willing to see it for yourself." She leans in even closer, her face mere inches apart from the suddenly trembling girl. Vapor knows she could escape by simply discorporating, but doesn't, drawn in by Wildfire's suddenly alluring voice. "You know of what I speak."

Vapor closes her eyes and shakes her head, but deep down her heart is racing, threatening to beat right out of her chest. She's never been good with confrontation, especially on a level this close and intimate. Nearly terrified of physical contact, she always lingered in the distance, unseen, as she would watch others or, sometimes, invade their personal space without them knowing. It made her feel horribly guilty, but she couldn't help herself. Much like the time she glimpsed her mother and the handmaiden, she would always look for as long as she could bear before her guilt eclipsed her morbid curiosity.

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>>3250925

She remembers reading Sam's diary when she wasn't there. Spying upon Cassie in the shower. Watching Sheeva's workout in the gym. Listening to Ling and Frost's private conversations. Sifting through the clothes of Jacqui's drawyers, and more. Perhaps it is the limitless nature of her powers, her freedom to travel anywhere and break any physical boundary she desires that helped fuel these moments of shame and personal weakness, but she'd be lying if she tried to admit that her own strange fascinations and perverse thoughts weren't to blame.

"You haven't allowed yourself to enjoy what you want openly, proudly, without shame or guilt," Wildfire whispers. "You're a young woman, fighting urges you cannot control. Why fight them? Why not embrace them?"

"I... shouldn't," she says, looking aside.

In the Lin Kuei temple, she was taught discipline and self-control, a code of ethics that extends from combat to personal conduct. And yet, in Edenia, the freedom and liberation she experienced was a completely different thing, a strangely tempting and alluring lifestyle.

"You're stretched thin. Pulled in two different directions. I've seen it before, you know." She tilts her head and smiles. "With me. We're the same, I'm just older and wiser and more... experienced." Bringing a nail underneath Vapor's chin, she lifts it up. "When I was your age, I felt as you do. I wanted more than anything else for someone to help me, to understand what I was going through." She then whispers in her ear, "You know, I could be that person for you..."

Vapor suddenly feels something on her thigh, and realizes that the tip of Wildfire's tail is gently caressing it. Her fingers continue to play with her hair and her breath is warm and hot, hotter even than the ambiant air of the Netherrealm. Her eyes are like low, burning embers, quietly waiting to be stoked.

No one has ever approached her like this. She's always been too far away to draw much attention, but now she suddenly feels as though she is tanding center-stage, frozen like a deer in headlights. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out; her mind is similarly blank. She's afraid, and yet excited and nervous.

>Teleport away!
>I'm not ready for this kind of... thing.
>Refuse these advances.
>Allow her make the first move.
>Other

>>3250926

> Other

Physically back her up/remove her hand and tail.

If bitch wants us, she can ask. Instead of just trying to pressure us into it. We have higher standards than this skank.

>>3250926
>Teleport away!
>Refuse these advances.
>I'm not ready for this kind of... thing.

>>3250926
>I'm not ready for this kind of... thing.

>>3250947
I don't think Vapor has standards at all because she's never thought about this sort of thing.

>Other

Go all in, enough running away from your desires.

>>3250965

We're half edenian. Elder Gods rules state we are at least 9/10.

We can do better.

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>>3250949
>>3250955
>>3250965
>>3250947

Slowly, Vapor reaches up and takes hold of Wildfire's hand and tail, pushing them away.

Firmly, though with a shaking voice, she says, "I'm not ready for this kind of... thing."

Wildfire's smile seems to dim somewhat, and she looks down. "Oh." She steps back, allowing Vapor room to breathe. Reaching over to pick the staff back up, Wildfire frowns. "Perhaps I was too forward. I've just never met anyone... like me."

Vapor rubs her arm. "Sorry."

She holds up her hand. "Don't be. You shouldn't be sorry for being what you are. I guess that's really what I was trying to say, but..." She smirks. "Well, I'm not good at much else other than what I do."

Turning around, she begins to walk off, but then stops and looks over her shoulder. "Offer's still on the table, you know. If you ever decide that's what you want."

She vanishes in a bout of flame, taking the staff with her. Vapor lets out a heavy sigh. This trip to the Netherrealm has proven difficult in more ways than one, making her think about things she often tries to suppress.

Such thoughts often made her feel unclean or guilty. She shouldn't look at the others in that way, but she can't help it. She begins to wonder if there really is something wrong with her. It can't be a crime to just look, can it? Always hidden, always the voyeur...

Life was easier in the Lin Kuei temple.

As she approaches Takeda and the Kung cousins, she gives them a sheepish look. "We can go now."

Ling nods, holding up her personal portal generator, having adjusted it to their location with Takeda's help. Just as she is about to create a way home, they hear a loud barking and snapping sound, like that of a wild animal, and look up.

Baraka stands up the edge of the cliff above them alongside Drahmin and several Netherrealm hounds, along with other warriors, all staring down at them. The tarkatan growls in satisfaction. "Well, well, well... Look what we have here. Children lost in the Netherrealm. Quan Chi will be most pleased."

"Aw, shit," Takeda mutters.

'Oh, no,' Vapor thinks with wide eyes. 'I took too long! We should've left when we had the chance!'

>Quickly make a portal
>Fight
>Run
>Attempt diplomacy
>Other

>Quickly make a portal

>>3251078
>Quickly make a portal

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>>3251082
>>3251086

"Make the portal!" Vapor says as Jin takes out his bow and rapidly fires off an arrow. Drahmin lifts his club and blocks the attack with it like a shield, causing the projectile to bounce harmlessly off its bloodied surface. Ling quickly activates the device, which takes several seconds to charge up and create the temporary rip in the realms, and while that happens Baraka sends the hounds down to meet them. Takeda's whips fly out and the blades upon them engage as he twirls in place, creating a wall of razors that they cannot pass. The warriors behind Baraka and Drahmin similarly charge down the hill on the opposide side, some of them throwing weapons like spears.

Vapor ducks as a bladed disk is launched in their direction. When the portal opens, Ling grabs her and rushes through, followed closely by Jin, who fires another arrow before diving backwards through the rift, and Takeda, who goes in headfirst. The four of them end up piled on the other side in the portal bay.

However, they aren't alone. One of the Netherrealm hounds, the size of a man and with the temper of a hornet, leaps through the portal and lands on Takeda, clawing and snapping at him as he tries to hold it off. Ling shouts and presses a button on the device to close it before more can get through, sealing it just in time.

Jin spins on the ground and kicks the side of the hound with both feet, knocking it off of Takeda. Ling throws her personal portal generator aside and takes out her staff, extending its head and transforming it into a speartip as she lunges at the feral beast. The hound leaps aside, instead looking at Vapor and leaping at her.

A single, loud gunshot rings throughout the bay as the creature is blasted out of the air. They all look to the side and see Jacqui, her shotgun-gauntlets smoking as she pants, having just ran here. Vapor breathes a sigh of relief as Jin stands up and sinks another arrow into the monster's head just to be safe.

"We were expecting you," Jacqui says, walking over to help up Ling and then Vapor. "But we weren't expecting that."

A moment later, other staff run in, including guards. Their reaction time leaves something to be desired, but at least nobody is hurt. It isn't long before the four of them are in the debriefing room, getting grilled by General Cage.

"This was supposed to be a reconnaissance mission," she says. "I can understand retreating once discovered, but you didn't return to base."

Kung Jin, the team leader for this assignment, clears his throat. "With respect, General, there was a lot going on."

"You should've maintained positive control of your team," Sonya says. "We've got two other teams running missions right now. You knew that reinforcements would be sparse."

Jin bites his lip and simply nods. "Yes, General."

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>>3251169

"What I cannot understand is why you were in the Netherrealm for more than an hour after your mission was compromised. Your team was split up, so you should have immediately regrouped and returned to base."

Jin looks over at Ling and Vapor, then back at their superior. "Again, with all due respect, we didn't approach this mission from a military perspective. We are a Shaolin, a Shirai-Ryu, a Lin Kuei and a student of Master Bo' Rai Cho's school. Each of us did what we felt was prudent in the moment."

"It was a calculated risk sending you out without one of the established team leaders, and we recognize that," Sonya says. "But I am frankly surprised at the lack of coordination on your part, Jin. You're one of the most intelligent people on the team."

Through it all, Sonya continues to question Jin on the mission, but Vapor cannot help but feel terribly guilty. It was because of her that Baraka sniffed them out, chased Jin and Takeda all over Nekros, and that they remained in the Netherrealm for so long due to her promise to Wildfire. She wonders if she should explain herself or simply remain quiet and let the others do the talking.

Inwardly, she dreads having to explain about the staff and the helmet to the general.

>Take the blame for the mission going awry.
>Explain that you felt you had no choice; you didn't want to lose your contact.
>Remain quiet.
>Use your powers to slip out and go into hiding.
>Other

>>3251172
>Take the blame for the mission going awry.
>Explain that you felt you had no choice; you didn't want to lose your contact.

>Take the blame for the mission going awry.
>Explain that you felt you had no choice; you didn't want to lose your contact.

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>>3251180
>>3251193

Vapor looks up. "It was my fault, ma'am."

Sonya looks over. "What?"

"Baraka sniffed us out because he knew the scent of an enenra, and then we stayed in the Netherrealm because of a promise I had made."

She then goes on to explain herself to the general, who is mostly patient, asking questions only when she deems it is needed. Vapor goes into detail, but leaves out the part about the mask that once was worn by her father.

Needless to say, Sonya is less than pleased about arming Quan Chi with a magical weapon. "That wasn't your call to make, Vapor. We could have secured another contact or established intelligence-gathering of our own. Furthermore, you endangered your teammates and potentially compromised the base when the enemy caught up to you and nearly followed you through the portal."

Her eyes drift down. "Yes, ma'am."

Sonya goes on for a while longer, speaking of the importance of coordination and communication, but is interrupted. The debriefing ends sooner than expected when she is pulled away for another meeting with some top brass from Earthrealm. As the four of them leave, they catch some of the general chatter and rumors going throughout the SF half of the base. After the interrogation of Secretary Blake and the attack on Area 51, several arrests have been made across high-level government positions, sometimes by members of the team. Cassie is on assignment right now, leading two others in tracking down a saurian politician.

Many of the saurians have gone underground, however, but not without their expected level of response. Kidnappings of high-ranking officials have been made and governments all over Earthrealm are in disarray. The common rumored theory is that they are going to attempt a prisoner exchange with the humans. It is expected that if things do not go well, all-out war between the two species may erupt.

The team has been working non-stop, it feels like. It has been many days since the entire team was present at once with nobody on assignment. Now, with the scant information gained from the Netherrealm scouting mission, it seems as though the Deadly Alliance are going to become more active as well, but to what end? So far, Quan Chi and his lot have yet to make their motives completely clear.

"I need a shower," Takeda says with a yawn, taking off the goggles he was wearing on this head. "As fun as this costume was, I don't think I'll be wearing it again."

Jin nods in agreement. His own outfit, a dark thief-like garb with a hood and mask, is filthy from their trip to the Netherrealm.

Ling nods at them both. "Try not to have too much fun in the shower together, boys."

Jin snorts. "Very funny." As he and Takeda step off to their respective rooms on the first floor, Ling and Vapor proceed upstairs to the female floor. Ling looks at Vapor with some concern. "Hey, are you alright? You haven't said much since the debriefing, or about whatever you and Wildfire spoke of. Everything okay?"

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>>3251307

>I'm fine, thanks.
>Talk to her about your conversation with Wildfire.
>Talk to her about your father's mask.
>Don't say anything; whisk away into your room.
>Other

>>3251311
>Talk to her about your conversation with Wildfire.
How would you feel if a half-demon half-Edenian made the moves on you?

>Talk to her about your conversation with Wildfire.

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>>3251326
>>3251341

Vapor nervously fidgits. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure, of course."

They proceed into Vapor's room, which is sparsely decorated save for a few very personal keepsakes. She almost immediately regrets inviting someone inside, as Ling picks up a white teddy bear that is very precious to her. "Hey, this is cute! Haha," she says, feeling its softness.

Vapor reaches for it and takes it into her arms somewhat protectively, then sits on her bed, hugging it close to her chest. Ling cocks a brow, but says nothing as she sits down in a chair and waits for Vapor to speak.

"Wildfire said some things to me," she begins, her eyes glued to the floor.

"Yeah? Like what? About the Deadly Alliance?"

"Um... no, not particularly..."

Ling gets a serious expression on her face. "Did she threaten you?"

"No. She... um..." She struggles for a moment to find the right words. "Made a... 'pass' at me."

Ling blinks. "A what?"

'Oh, right, Outworlder...' Vapor shifts uncomfortably. "She wanted to... you know, DO things."

"Oh," Ling says, her brows rising in understanding. "Ohhh. Hm. That's..." She thinks for a moment. "She didn't try to touch you or hurt you, did she? Anything you didn't want?"

"No."

"Surprising for a demon." Vapor gives her a strange look. "Sorry. I didn't mean you, obviously. But, uh... how'd it make you feel?"

"I don't know. I've never really thought about anything like that." She looks back at the floor. She is glad that the mask is in temporary containment as it is analyzed by the OWEA, otherwise it could influence her in this vulnerable moment, for her thoughts are betraying her. 'You liar. You've thought about it before. Otherwise, why would you have done the things you've done?'

Ling seems deep in thought, unsure of how to handle the situation. "I mean, I know you're pretty young, but sometimes people flirt with other people? And sometimes it's not always a man who flirts with a woman, but... uh..." She scratches the back of her head and Vapor begins to regret making this so incredibly awkward for her. Ling finally takes a deep breath and says, "Look, I'm pretty open about almost everything. I like girls just as much as I like boys. I don't really know how things have been for you in, you know, 'that' area, but if you have any questions or anything, I could help you."

"That's how she phrased it."

Ling's eyes shoot open and she waves her hands. "No, no! I didn't mean it like THAT! Don't get me wrong, you're beautiful, but I've never looked at you like that. I've kind of always seen you like the little sister of the team, you know?"

Vapor's shoulders slump. 'Little sister...?' Burying her face in the white bear, she thinks about all of her voyeurism and suddenly feels much, much worse. 'These people trust me and care about me and I'm violating their privacy!'

>Confess to her
>Thank her, then be alone
>Ask Ling about how she knew when it was 'time'
>Turn invisible and slip away
>Other

>>3251449
>Ask Ling about how she knew when it was 'time'

>Ask Ling about how she knew when it was 'time'

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>>3251453
>>3251454

Swallowing her guilt, Vapor asks, "How did you know when it was 'time' for you?"

"Ah, hmm... Me, I was always a little bit... bold." She smirks as she sits back and thinks. "Long nights at Master Bo' Rai Cho's school and lots of people my age, all of us fighting and getting hot-blooded. It started out as simple games, really, like tricking others into getting naked or stealing their clothes. I did that to Takeda once."

"You did?"

"You should've seen the look on his face. Priceless." Ling giggles at the memory. "I'm sure he'd kill me over me telling you that, but it was hillarious." She straightens up. "But seriously... I've never been too fond of Earthrealm romanticism of romance. Outworld has it too, but not as much. What I mean is that I never really had a 'time' or some kind of magical moment; it sort of just happened."

Vapor feels bad about asking so many questions, but she goes on to ask, "Who was it with?"

She shakes her head. "Just some other boy at the school. It wasn't love, you understand. Just playing at it."

"What happened to him?"

"He was cute, but couldn't tough out the trials of the school. Left for his home village. I guess he liked me more than I realized, because he asked me to run away with him, but I couldn't do that, not for him or anyone." She pauses. "Well, maybe Lex. She's my 'special' friend, more than he was. But she was tough enough to make it through the trials with me."

Ling pauses as she looks at Vapor. "You never really had that kind of experience socializing with others, did you?"

"The Lin Kuei temple doesn't allow such things."

"Cold," she says, then immediately realizes her accidental pun. "I'm sorry. But you've been to Edenia, haven't you? When you would visit your mother? Didn't you ever play with other kids there or learn about this kind of stuff from your parents?"

A brief flash of her times in Edenia flickers across her mind's eye. "My mother is edenian, very long-lived. It's hard to think about how she is more than ten-thousand years old. I don't think she ever realized how quickly or slowly I would mature, always treating me like I was the same age, a child. And my father is... well..." She snuggles her bear. "He means well, but he doesn't understand. He's got so many problems that I don't think it's ever occurred to him."

"Wow," Ling says, sitting back in contemplation. "I never realized what it was like for you."

"Well... I think this is the longest conversation we've ever had."

Ling laughs. "Hey, that's right! It's nice, isn't it? I'm sorry you never talked much to people, I never thought about that."

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>>3251490

"It's mostly my fault. I like to hide. Always did. I never played with many other people, except Zian." She thinks about what she told Frost during their mission to Area 51. "When Frost woke up, I was hoping that we could be friends, but... Well, she yelled at me, so I hid from her too."

"She's not so bad," Ling insists. "In fact, she's recently gone through some things of her own. She could really be a good friend if you both give it a shot." Setting that topic aside, she leans forward and says, "But listen, everyone is different, and only you can know when your 'time' is, you know?"

Andela nods, and Ling asks, "Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

>No, nothing. Thank you.
>I've been spying on people.
>What would you have done in my position?
>I think I like girls. Only girls.
>Other

>>3251493

> I've been spying on people.

>>3251493
>No, nothing. Thank you.

>No, nothing. Thank you.

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>>3251503
>>3251589

"No, thank you."

Ling nods and stands up, moving to the door. "If you need anything, let me know. Things are getting hard these days. We need to stick together."

Vapor manages a small nod in response, and as Ling closes the door, she stands up and turns off the lights, then returns to her bed, curling her knees close to her chest. Despite her best efforts, she cannot stop thinking about all that has transpired and what it all means for her. How eerily comfortable she felt in the Netherrealm, her being able to go there in the first place, the confrontation with the mask, the things Wildfire told her...

Deep in a drawer, buried beneath several different items, is a picture. She rarely likes to look at it for the memories that it brings, but now she feels compelled to. It is of her, and her father and her mother. She is just a baby, still with long, white hair, held between them both as they smile. She recalls that this photo was taken by Johnny Cage with his camera, almost seventeen years ago. She can't remember anything, so it is not her memory of the moment that brings about sadness, but rather her memories of her early childhood.

Her parents were never married, and they never truly loved each other. Smoke had helped rescue Jade, but had died in the attempt, resurrecting as an enenra and becoming an enforcer for Shinnok. Jade had made it her mission to free him out of guilt for what had happened, and succeeded, desiring nothing more than to help him heal. In the end, Andela was the result. And yet... the two of them never stayed together for very long. Perhaps they realized they didn't have much in common, or simply fell out of love, or perhaps it was because of her father's trauma turning him into what he is now, but she remained in Edenia and he remained with the Lin Kuei.

And as for Andela... she simply grew up, a product of the choices of her parents. But was it a choice they truly wanted to make in the first place?

She lifts her head, her eyes suddenly quite wet. 'Was I a mistake?' she wonders. 'If they didn't want to stay together, but only did so because of me... then...'

>Spend some time alone.
>You want to speak to someone on the team.
>You want to see your father.
>You want to see your mother.
>Other

>>3251729
>You want to see your father.

>You want to see your father.

Lets bring this story full circle.

>>3251759
Half of it.

>>3251729
>>You want to see your father.

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>>3251736
>>3251759
>>3251981

After several minutes of sitting in the dark, she resolves that the only way to get closer on these matters and begin moving forward is to, in a sense, move backward---to the beginning. She wants to see her father. Picking herself up, she changes into her proper uniform and washes some of the Netherrealm soot off of her face before leaving. As she is puzzling over what she will say to him, she encounters Sam in the hall.

"Oh, hey Andela," Sam says with a smile. "How was your mission?"

"...Not the best," she admits.

"What happened?"

"A lot," she says, avoiding eye contact. Even though she confessed to reading Sam's diary once to her, she's always felt awkward about the situation, despite Sam's forgiveness.

'It's only because you thought she was cute,' Vapor says to herself. It was oddly disappointing to learn that the Stryker girl was so enraptured with Zian, yet she was happy that the two of them seemed to like each other. She felt horribly guilty about how she learned of Sam's feelings and to this day hasn't let it go.

She then realizes that Sam is staring at her expectantly. Beneath her mask, Vapor blushes. "O-oh! I mean, a lot went wrong. Baraka and Drahmin and all kinds of things. Um..."

She shuffles in place as Sam looks her in the eyes. "Well, at least nobody got hurt, right?"

"R-right, yeah..."

After checking her watch, Sam says, "Well, I have a briefing in a few minutes. You know how it is these days, right? One thing after another."

Vapor nods as Sam gives her a small wave and walks past, oblivious to the mental storm of emotions going through the younger girl. Free once more, Vapor quickens her pace through the hallways, hoping to not run into anyone else, and thinking that if she were to do so, she'd probably just turn invisible or teleport past them. She'll simply sign out a personal portal generator, visit the Lin Kuei temple and speak to her father.

She pauses when she considers the mask. She wanted to have it destroyed, but should she show it to him? Will it try to influence him? Right now the OWEA are studying it, but will they destroy it? Can they?

>Leave the mask here.
>Take it with you to him.
>Attempt to destroy it.
>Wait until you hear your father's opinion on the matter.
>Other

>>3251989
>Wait until you hear your father's opinion on the matter.

>>3251989
>>Wait until you hear your father's opinion on the matter.

>Wait until you hear your father's opinion on the matter.

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>>3251995
>>3252019
>>3252119

She shakes her head and decides that it would be best to speak with him first. It is a simple matter to requisition another personal portal generator. Normally, she would inform one of her superiors of this matter, but they are all busy with meetings. She steps out onto the sands and takes a moment to appreciate the sun and the waves before opening a portal to the Lin Kuei temple in Arctika. From tropical to frozen wasteland, she steps through and shivers, but inwardly relishes the cold. It is a familiar thing.

She whisks herself away into the temple, using the old familiar routes she discovered years ago with her powers, travelling through small shafts and old halls in search of her father. He is not in his room, nor is he in the combat arena where various Lin Kuei warriors are sparring. She passes by a new wing, the aviary, in which a series of white dragons are being raised and trained by animal handlers. He is not with the Grandmaster, who is in the main hall and conferring with his wife. That leaves few other locations for him to be.

There is a meditation room, a warm chamber lined with many countless candles. Numerous braziers of great flames sit in the corners, and the room's northern wall is dominated by a massive carved relief of a blind woman. Vapor has sat and stared upon this woman for many years, always wondering who she was. It was her mother who told her that she resembled a figure from Edenian lore, a sage known as Delia, but very little information from so long ago still exists; the mystery of how she came to be in this temple is one that has always intrigued her, but one she has never pursued.

It is within this chamber that she finds her father, sitting in quiet meditation. She feels badly for disturbing him, yet wafts over and reforms in a seated position in front of him. Slowly, he opens his dull, grey eyes and looks upon her, having sensed her approach.

"Andela," he says, a lightness to his voice. He rises, as does she, and they embrace. He buries a hand in her hair as he holds her close. "It is good to see you again."

"You as well, father," she says, almost calling him 'daddy' in a moment of childishness. She chastises herself inwardly, even though she didn't actually say it. "I wanted to come and see you."

"How are you doing on the team?"

"We have experienced many challenges and difficulties," she begins. "But... I wanted to speak to you about something specific."

He looks down at her with a puzzled expression, then bids her to sit. "Please tell me."

She takes a deep breath.

>Begin by telling him of your assignment.
>It's about you and mom.
>I wanted to talk to you about your mask.
>I feel conflicted and torn in two directions.
>Other

>>3252224
>Begin by telling him of your assignment.
>I wanted to talk to you about your mask.

>Begin by telling him of your assignment.
>I wanted to talk to you about your mask.

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>>3252233
>>3252249

She begins by explaining about their mission; receiving the intel, forming the team, travelling to the Netherrealm and spying upon the meeting at the slaughterhouse before being detected. She is slow and methodical, and through it all, her father listens carefully and quietly, showing no outward signs of being upset at the mention of either the Netherrealm or her travelling to it. Perhaps he had always known that the responsibilities of being in her position on the team would take her there and made peace with that fact. She elaborates about her deal with Wildfire, and it is here when she stops.

"What is it?" he asks. "What happened next?"

She hesitates. "She wanted me to retrieve something from the enenra." She looks up into his eyes. "So, I agreed. And I saw it."

He is very still. "The pit," he whispers.

Her lip quivers, but she continues. "I felt very strongly that I had no choice but to confront it," she says in a low tone. "Not just for the sake of my promise, but for you. I had to see what had caused everything that happened to you with my own eyes."

"I see." He closes his eyes. "What did you encounter there?"

"I saw the enenra for what they were, and what happened to you," she whispers. "I understood, all at once, everything you had ever told me when I was smaller. I understood how you became one of them." She waits, gauging his reaction. For several moments he doesn't move, but then his brow twiches slightly, a subtle movement that she catches.

"Andela... You didn't have to go there to see what I saw. It is a fate that I never wished you to experience."

"But part of me wanted to and I couldn't turn away," she says, feeling guilty. "I have found myself unable to ignore many things of late." Before he can ask her to elaborate on that subject, she continues with her story. "When I was there, listening to them, searching, I... found something."

"The weapon?"

"That, but also something more. I found something that... once belonged to you." She looks up into his eyes. "A mask."

Though his gaze is meeting hers, he is staring very far away, his dull eyes soft and still. "Andela... That mask is..."

"I know what it is," she says. "You never told me, but mother did. About when she tore it from your head and cast it back into the Netherrealm. The enenra found it and carried it to their home, and there it waited, until at last I found it."

"Tell me you didn't wear it," he says, his eyes twisting into a visage of pain.

"No. But it tried to wear me. It wanted to trick me to bring it back to you, and when I saw through its telepathci deception, it attacked. I discorporated whatever essence it had and took it out of the Netherrealm. It's being researched by the OWEA. My hope is to find some means to destroy it."

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>>3252463

He continues to stare past her. "It cannot be destroyed," he whispers. "It was made by a fallen Elder God. It would take a being just as great or greater to destroy it." He closes his eyes. "Andela, I am sorry you had to face this shadow of the past. Had I the strength, I would have faced my own fears long ago and returned to deal with it myself, but instead I did nothing, and it fell upon you."

"Father..." She holds up a hand, but does not reach for him. She considers her next words.

>I have never resented you for being the way you are.
>Do you think I was---am---a mistake? Did you and mother not want me?
>I have come to learn that we cannot do everything by ourselves.
>In a way, I am an extention of you and your life. I was always going to face what you could not.
>Other

>>3252471
>Do you think I was---am---a mistake? Did you and mother not want me?
>In a way, I am an extention of you and your life. I was always going to face what you could not.

>>3252471
>>Do you think I was---am---a mistake? Did you and mother not want me?

>In a way, I am an extention of you and your life. I was always going to face what you could not.

>>3252471
>>I have never resented you for being the way you are.
>>I have come to learn that we cannot do everything by ourselves.
>>In a way, I am an extention of you and your life. I was always going to face what you could not.

The second one is really more of a question for Jade, it's too obvious Smoke cares.

>I have never resented you for being the way you are.
>I have come to learn that we cannot do everything by ourselves.
>In a way, I am an extension of you and your life. I was always going to face what you could not.

>>3252471
>I have never resented you for being the way you are.
>I have come to learn that we cannot do everything by ourselves.
>In a way, I am an extention of you and your life. I was always going to face what you could not.

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We'll be resuming tomorrow, after I get home from work. Thanks for playing so far! I hope you're enjoying the story.

>>3252726
I'm enjoying it so far. Wasn't there a character that we learned has a crush on Vapor while we played as Kaito in Konquest? I think it was either Zian or Takeda.

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>>3252485
>>3252536
>>3252552
>>3252652
>>3252673

Slowly, she reaches over and takes hold of his hand. Though they would mingle and exchange information as the enenra do, they only very rarely ever have. Much like she reflected upon how she could 'feel' Ling's body when transporting her, it isn't the same as actual physical contact. She and her father, though both of incorporeal origin, have always felt it necessary and key to maintain their human forms, to live as a human, to experience touch and taste and smell as a human, to BE more human.

Such subtle nuances are lost when in their mist-like forms. She gently runs a finger over the back of his hand, then stares into his eyes, until he looks back within hers. "I have never resented you for being the way you are," she says to him firmly, yet there is a gentleness to her tone, one of understanding and love. "You are unlike anyone else in all the realms, and that alone is wonderful. You're wonderful, and I love you."

There is a pang of emotion upon his face, breaking through the barrier of his trauma. His eyes grow softer as she continues, "And, I don't want you to feel guilty about what you have or have not done. In a way, I am an extention of you and your life. I was always going to face what you could not."

"Andela... that's not true," he says. "You are your own person. I helped create you, to bring you into this world, but you were never under any obligation to bear my burdens. I carry so much, that I would worry you would crumble beneath the weight."

She smiles. "Not if we were to share it. I have come to learn that we cannot do everything by ourselves."

He manages to smile, a rare gift worth more than a mountain of gold. "How was I blessed with such a daughter?"

Her heart swells with pride, but then she deflates somewhat in guilt. "I've always wanted to help you, from when I was small and would see you stare off into the distance. For a long time, I thought I never could. I never knew how, and perhaps I cannot do much, but---"

He stops her then, with a hand over her own in an urgent motion. "Andela. I know I have never been the greatest father. I never could be. But knowing that I helped bring into these realms someone as sweet and caring and perfect as you, knowing that I made the realms that much brighter with your presence, has helped me more than anything else. You are my angel."

Vapor feels tears welling up in her eyes upon hearing those words. They pull each other into a hug, tightly clinging onto one another. She is happy, and yet despite his words coming from a genuine place, she feels guilty. 'Perfect?' she repeats his word in her head. 'But I'm not...'

>Confess about your misuse of your powers
>Talk about how confused you have felt of late
>Ask him about the nature of love and why his relationship with your mother never truly worked out
>Remain silent and do not worry him with your problems
>Other

>Confess about your misuse of your powers
>Talk about how confused you have felt of late

>>3254709
>Confess about your misuse of your powers
>Talk about how confused you have felt of late
>Ask him about the nature of love and why his relationship with your mother never truly worked out

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>>3254713
>>3254714

When she pulls away, he sees a face that isn't happy, but rather one that looks hurt and confused. He gently takes her hand and holds it tightly. "What is it? Andela?" He waits for a moment. "Is this about the mask?"

"No, no," she insists. "It's about me. I'm not... perfect."

"But you---"

"Dad, please," she pleads, meeting his gaze once more. "I have been... horrible. I have done awful things, I've misused my powers and I don't know why or why I cannot stop."

His brow lowers. "I don't understand," he says, searching her green eyes for a clue. "How have you 'misused' your powers?"

She shamefully hides her face. "I've spied upon some of my teammates and... interfered with their personal space," she admits, though it pains her to do so. "During their private moments, or when they thought they were alone, or their personal conversations, I... Sometimes I would linger nearby, listening, watching. They never knew, because... well, how could they?"

He watches as her shoulders slump and she shakes her head. "And I've had these horrible thoughts and feelings, and I can't stop having them, and I'm just so confused. I keep looking into their belongings or sneaking into their rooms or... or..." She stops herself from admitting the truly embarassing things she has done when alone.

He is silent for several moments as he takes this information in. Finally, he asks, "Who have you done this to?"

"The... girls," she admits, utterly ashamed. Her heart races and her face burns. Her fingers fidgit terribly in her lap. "I couldn't help myself. I can go anywhere and see anything and never be caught unless I want to, and..."

"Shhh," he says, pulling her in close once more. He runs a hand down her hair as she softly cries against his chest. "There's nothing wrong with you, Andela."

"But there is," she insists.

"No, there isn't. You're just... growing up," he says, trying to keep himself from smirking. He stops when she looks up at him. "I must admit that I... am not terribly experienced in this area. I did not exactly have the most liberating of childhoods."

Breaking away, she sniffles slightly as she listens to him. "When I was reborn as an enenra, the Lin Kuei took me in. I knew only a life of cold, hard, ruthless discipline. The old Lin Kuei was nothing like what Kuai has transformed it into, save for certain aspects. There were fewer women, certainly." He manages a chuckle, but she doesn't join him. He clears his throat. "I never had to worry about... well, the problem you're facing. There is also another factor to consider."

"What is it?"

"The other half of who you are," he explains. "Vapor, there is no one like you in existence. Half-edenian and half-demon..."

Her eyes drift to the side for a moment. "Well... Half-edenian and half-enenra, yes."

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>>3254818

He tilts his head somewhat, but then continues. "It may sound strange, given who your mother is, but I know very little about the edenians personally. How they age, how they change, how their moods are governed like humans. It could very well be that the part of you that is making you behave this way is your edenian half, yearning for some kind of self-expression or release."

"But I don't know if I want it," she says. "I feel so guilty over what I have done. The thoughts I have had. I don't understand them and I don't know if I want to."

"Andela..." He seems as though he is about to say something more, but then stops and sighs. "I... do not know how much help I can be to you in this area, I am sorry to say. But I think I know someone who can."

"...Who?"

"Your mother."

>But I think she's the one who did this to me.
>I don't know if I want to speak with her about this...
>I think you are right. I should speak with her next.
>Would you like to come with me?
>Other

>>3254820
>I don't know if I want to speak with her about this...
Has Jade ever had "the talk" with Vapor?

>I think you are right. I should speak with her next.

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>>3254826
>>3254873

Vapor seems to become slightly smaller as her head and shoulders shrink down. "I don't know if I want to speak with her about this..."

"But why?" he asks innocently, from a position of genuine concern. "I think she must know more about this matter than I."

"Oh, she does," Vapor mutters.

"Hm?"

"It's just, I don't know if she has my... perspective on this matter," she explains. "She hasn't been a teenager in... well, more than ten-thousand years."

"Yes... I suppose that is a factor..." He coughs slightly awkwardly into his hand. "So, she never had the, uh, 'talk' with you?"

"No..."

"I see... Well..." He pauses. "When a man and a woman..." She looks up at him with a slightly hurt expression. "THAT IS, when two people, uh, love each other..."

"Dad," she says in a deadpan tone. "Please, don't. This is more painful than I thought it would be."

"Right, right..." He thinks for a short moment before saying, "Your mother, ahem, led the advances in our relationship."

She puts her hands on her ears. "Dad, please!"

"Now, just hang on," he says, putting her hands down. "What I'm trying to say is that she's more familiar with sexuality. I have only known one lover in my life---her, of course. But she has lived much longer than I, and she is edenian after all..." He pauses. "Come to think of it, I don't know why she never spoke with you on this matter, but... Well, perhaps it is time that she did. It would only be responsible of her."

"And it would only be responsible of you to make her do it, right?"

He blinks. "Andela, please. There is only so much that I can do." He is about to say more, but then stops himself and reevaluates. "I want you to know something."

After avoiding his gaze for a moment, she finally looks up and asks, "Yes?"

"No matter what you do with your life, no matter who you love or how you feel, I will always love you, and you will never be anything less than an angel in my eyes."

Upon hearing those words, she is relieved and what feels as though a great weight has been lifted from her shoulders, or at least part of it. She hugs him once more, feeling not quite as uncomfortable or guilty as she did before, knowing that she isn't judged by him. She still feels bad, but in the warm and comforting embrace of her father, she is happy.

"I love you, daddy."

"And I love you, my little white cloud in the sky."

"Dad, that's so corny," she says, laughing as he chuckles along with her.

>Go visit your mother in Edenia.
>Return to the island and talk to someone on the team.
>While you are here, talk to Sareena.
>Spend some more time with your father.
>Spend some time alone.
>Other

>>3254976
>While you are here, talk to Sareena.

>Go visit your mother in Edenia.

>While you are here, talk to Sareena.

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>>3254980
>>3255001

Leaving the side of her father, Vapor respectfully approaches the Grandmaster and his wife. Upon seeing her, Sub-Zero's expression is as it often is, which is to say stern and cold. With his arms at his side, he looks upon her and speaks.

"We were unaware you were among us," he says to her.

She bows to him. "I did not announce my arrival, Grandmaster. My apologies."

He bids her to rise with his hand. "You rarely do. The governments of Earthrealm are facing a crisis; the saurians have made several high-profile kidnappings. The Lin Kuei are going to do their part to combat this menace that has grown under our noses."

Sareena places a hand on his arm. "She is a New Defender, dear. As is your son and Frost. They must follow their own orders."

Vapor respectfully averts her eyes as Sub-Zero replies, "General Cage may not know how to best utilize them. I am beginning to question the validity of her leadership."

"But what about Kaito?"

"Him, I do not question. I do not want the Special Forces nor the OWEA to see the New Defenders as a personal task force. Their refusal to inform me of Secretary Blake's impending capture leads me to grow suspicious of how forthcoming they are with their allies."

"Excuse me," Vapor says, interrupting them both. "I was hoping to speak with your wife in private, Grandmaster." His thick brow lowers. "It is of a personal nature," she explains.

"Very well," he replies, nodding to them both. He leaves to impart orders to several of his lieutenants. Sareena takes Vapor by the shoulder and leads her to a secluded chamber just off the main hall.

After ushering her inside, she closes the door and faces the younger woman. "What is it you wished to speak to me about?"

"I seek guidance," Vapor replies, rubbing her arm. "I know that there is much going on, but..."

"There is never so much going on that I cannot offer guidance to a friend," she replies with a smile.

Vapor nods. "Well..."

>Talk about your difficulty growing up in the temple
>Ask what she knows about the particular habits of demons or half-demons
>Inquire about being 'different' from other people
>Ask if she would be willing to talk about the Netherrealm
>Other

>Talk about your difficulty growing up in the temple
>Ask what she knows about the particular habits of demons or half-demons
>Inquire about being 'different' from other people

>>3255189
>Talk about your difficulty growing up in the temple
>Inquire about being 'different' from other people

We'll be resuming tomorrow, so stay tuned!

>>3255189
>Talk about your difficulty growing up in the temple
>Ask what she knows about the particular habits of demons or half-demons
>Inquire about being 'different' from other people

>>3255197
>>3255200
>>3255990
I am back and writing.

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>>3255197
>>3255200
>>3255990

Andela shies away somewhat, nervous about speaking to her. She has often spoken with Sareena, so it is not that she is uncomfortable of her presence, only the topics that weigh heavily on her mind. In the past, Sareena has taken a proactive role in helping Vapor adjust to life in the temple, drawing on her own experiences to assist her.

"Things haven't always been... easy, here in the temple," she says. "It's not that the things asked of me are too difficult, but I'm starting to realize now that I am on the team how little interraction I have had with others of my age who aren't, well, Zian or Frost."

She nods. "That's why you snuck away onto Kaito's ship, isn't it?"

"Part of it," she replies, nodding as well. "I was curious."

Sareena smiles and looks back, over the younger girl's head for a moment, as if staring into a memory. "Yes, I imagine the world was beginning to open up. But you also had time in Edenia, yes?"

"Yes, but... only to visit my mother and the royal family. I never made any friends there, and those who were my age were... smaller."

"Edenians do live long and grow slowly," Sareena says with a grimace. She looks at Vapor with an understanding expression. "Are you having difficulty adjusting to life with the others on the island?"

"...You could say that, yes." She lowers her eyes. "I feel very different from them all."

Sareena smirks. "Trust me, Andela, I know a thing or two about feeling 'different' from other people." She reaches over and puts an arm around the younger girl's shoulders, walking her over to a stone bench carved into the wall. After sitting her down and sitting alongside her, she continues, "But we're all different in our own ways, not just in origin. Our experiences, our relationships, our actions all add up to a unique individual that is unlike anyone else in all of the realms. There's nothing wrong with feeling different."

"What about demons?" Vapor asks, looking up into her eyes. "You were one. I'm one. My father is one. What if there is a part of us that, no matter what, makes us different from non-demons in a way that can affect our personalities? That can make us 'act' in strange ways, or something? Like, habits of demons, or half-demons..."

Sareena pauses, repeating that question over in her head a few times. "Well, it seems like you're searching for a convenient excuse to blame something on, if you don't mind me saying." Vapor seems let down, but Sareena smiles and takes her hands back into her own. "Andela, not all demons start out as individuals, it's true. But you did. You have always been who you are. It took me time to become who I am, and it took your father time as well, and believe it or not, we're still growing as well, learning and changing and facing new experiences that further shape us as individuals. So are you."

"I guess I am," Vapor says. "It's just..."

"What has you so troubled?" she asks.

>>3257215

>Nothing, thank you for talking.
>I'm experiencing a lot of guilt.
>There are changes happening to me, scary ones.
>I'm afraid of what being a half-demon really means for my future.
>Other

>>3257216
>I'm afraid of what being a half-demon really means for my future.

>I'm experiencing a lot of guilt.
>I'm afraid of what being a half-demon really means for my future.

>>3257216
>>I'm afraid of what being a half-demon really means for my future.

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>>3257218
>>3257219
>>3257233

There are several things that have her troubled, but one in particular is something she has yet to explore but Sareena has great knowledge of. She knows this is a delicate subject, but eventually she swallows her fear and says, "I'm afraid of what being a half-demon really means for my future."

Sareena listens carefully as Vapor stares off into the dark corner and says, "I was... comfortable there, in the Netherrealm. In a way I knew I shouldn't have been. The others always talk about how they feel like they don't belong there, but I felt like I could... exist there, and it wouldn't be wrong to do so, even though I knew it was wrong and everything in me screamed as much. But... is the Netherrealm what awaits me?"

At first, Sareena is quiet. She is clearly contemplating many things, and Vapor waits on the edge of her seat for an answer.

"I wish I could tell you with certainty that it isn't," she eventually replies with a sad look on her face. "I wish I could say with certainty that it isn't my fate, either."

"But you purged yourself of demonhood," Vapor says, and the look that comes upon the older woman's face says much that she cannot discern. "...Didn't you?"

Sareena sits very still. Finally, she looks over and says, "We all have something waiting for us in our future, Andela. I do not think we have no control over what it is. I never have. But, even if we can, we do not always know how. It can be a difficult thing, battling fate. I have stood in defiance of everything most people hold sacred just to have a chance at a normal life; demons belong in the Netherrealm, and mortals cannot love demons."

Squeezing Andela's hands, she goes on to add, "But that isn't true. I love with all the heart and soul of a mortal, no matter what I am. And no matter what you are, nobody can say what you can and cannot do. I do not know what lies in your future, for it is yours to shape as you desire. You have the power and strength to make whatever end you think is best suited for you to come true. I know it, your father knows it, and you know it."

Pulling her in for a hug, she finally says, "Do not live your life in fear of the Netherrealm. It can be a terrible curse." There is a forlorn sense of sadness in those words, as she is clearly speaking from the heart on a matter that is deeply personal to her. Rather than question the implications this raises, Vapor merely returns the hug and leaves with her to the main hall.

"Where are you off to now?" Sareena asks.

>To visit my mother.
>I am going to return to the island.
>I wish to speak to someone else here at the temple.
>The Netherrealm.
>Other

>>3257298
>To visit my mother.

>To visit my mother.

>>3257298
>>To visit my mother.

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>>3257307
>>3257335
>>3257526

"I'm going to go see my mother," Vapor replies, managing to sound confident. She takes out her personal portal generator and sets it for Edenia. Giving one last look to Sareena, she says, "Thank you," before activating it, spending its second charge to travel to the lush, fertile fields of that beautiful realm. As she leaves, Sareena waves her off, telling her to visit again if she ever needs another talk.

Stepping from the main hall of the Lin Kuei temple onto the green plains of Edenia, she is immediately welcomed by a cool breeze sweeping across the nearby idyllic forest. A peaceful river runs silently nearby, coming off of a set of picture-perfect mountains. The sky seems to have just the right amount of clouds in it and the warmth radiating from the sun is heavenly. Grass lightly tickles her ankles as she stands within the glade, and nearby is the royal palace, a place of white and gold, as flawless and elegant in its architecture as those who live within. She can see pristine waterfalls and gorgeous fountains, pillars of marble and statues of gold and more.

'I hate this place,' she thinks sadly. 'It always makes me feel so... inadequate.'

Many would find Edenia to be a paradise, but for Andela it is a source of anxiety. The people here are tall, intelligent, graceful and powerful, regal in every sense of the word, and she doesn't feel that way at all. She feels small, out of place and unwelcome, even though that coulnd't be further from the truth. She is the daughter of one of the realm's most respected heroes and welcome in nearly every home, a privilage she would feel terribly guilty about accepting and so never would.

She swallows nervously. Things were simpler when she was on the Dragon Wing in the southern seas, exploring with a crew of unique and fascinating people. Life here in the north, in the royal palace, always felt so unlike everything she desired. Servants waiting on you hand and foot, regal dresses and ceremonies, entertaining guests and learning things like singing and art...

And then, of course, the incident that made her want to spend less and less time in Edenia as she got older. Filling herself with determination, she steps off in the direction of the royal palace and her mother.

>Sneak inside
>Walk up to the main gate
>Spy from a distance
>Approach a nearby village
>Other