Mortal Kombat: The Phoenix Verison

Chapter 21: Nightmares

General Blade wasn't exactly pleased once the team returned to Earthrealm with news. She didn't bother to hide the disappointment, which her daughter took personally.

"So..." Sonya began, turning to Ember "How do you feel?" The General scratched her nose, her tone a little too fragile.

While her daughter and the team were in Outworld, Sonya had a talk with Jax.

Ember, although acting more like her old self, was their biggest liability.

Jax had explained to the best of his ability that for a while Ember would be much more vulnerable. Sonya had taken his advice to mean that she needed to walk on eggshells for the time being.

"I'm fine" Ember lied, ignoring the knowing looks from Takeda and Kung Jin.

Sonya, not knowing any better, curtly nodded. "Awesome! At the moment there's nothing for you to do...so..." she took a deep breath "you can go to your tent if you want."

Ember's eyebrow raised ever so slightly. It would take an idiot to not see Sonya's efforts, but she smiled and dismissed herself.

"Are we dismissed too, General?" Takeda ventured to ask.

"You know-actually I need an inventory check."

Kung Jin groaned. "Don't you have people for that?"

Sonya shrugged. "I do. But you're here so why not?"

"Wait I can't walk! I broke my leg." Takeda blurted, ignoring the glare Jin shot him.

"That's fair." Sonya crossed her arms. "You go to the infirmary. Jin, you're on inventory."

The corner of her mouth tugged upward in a slight grin, watching the two young men huff off.

Meanwhile, Kenshi and Hanzo had sat down for a small break. The two took a moment of silence before Kenshi broke it with an offering of tea.

"Thank you, Hanzo, for looking out for Takeda. He is lucky he only got out of there with just a broken leg."

Hanzo nodded. It would have been better if Takeda hadn't been injured, but there were worse things to break.

Not too far away, he watched as Jacqui assisted the young man to the infirmary.

"I believe Takeda is harboring affection for Jacqueline Briggs."

The blindfold covered his eyes, but not the wistful smile growing on Kenshi's face. "They grow up so fast, don't they?"

Kenshi's reminiscing was cut short when Ember passed by them on her way to her tent. He couldn't see her, obviously, but her heat signature gave her away.

Through the blindfold, Kenshi regarded his friend. "Say, what are your thoughts on Miss Ember?"

Hanzo choked on his tea, delighting the blind swordsman. "What's the matter, Hanzo?" A grin growing on his face.

Taking a napkin and drying the tea that had spilt on his shirt, Hanzo tried to keep his voice even. "My apologies, the tea was hotter than I had expected."

Grinning with teeth, Kenshi enjoyed the fluster. "Hot like a certain pyromancer?"

Kenshi heard the tea cup being placed firmly on the table. "I don't think Kuai Liang would like the way you speak of his sister." Hanzo warned through a scowl.

The swordsman was unaffected, however, and only found the situation more amusing. "And I know he wouldn't like the thoughts you have about her...you forget, dear friend, that I can read minds."