Mortal Kombat: The Three Titans

Chapter Twenty-One: Lurking

-Bi-Han's POV- 'How,' I write. 'are you still alive?'
'I'm not,' he answers. 'I have been dead this whole time.'
'Then how are you speaking with us?'
'All I know is that I can only speak through this book if you are far away from the Hourglass. Kronika used the Hourglass to create me from nothing. Since she is gone, I cannot physically return to your world. But I am still bound here by the Hourglass.'

'Why are you just deciding to communicate now?'
'I couldn't before because it took too much energy. I had to wait. Sit back and observe. I'm stuck in a Limbo state. How many years has it been since I died?'
'It's been eons.'
No response.

'Are you still there?'
'Yes. How has Papa handled this? I can only observe so much.'
'He's still grieving for you.'
'Take me to him. I want to talk. Or take him to the Hourglass. I can speak easier from there.'
****
"No, there's no way," Kuai shakes his head furiously. "If this is some joke, it is in very poor taste."
"Just...write in the book, Kuai." I beg, holding it out to him.

He looks at me, nose curled in disgust, but takes the book. I watching write as he sits down, looking over his shoulder.
'Hello?'
'Hello, Papa.'
Kuai drops the pen and looks at me. "If this really is some joke...."
"Just keep writing, please." Frowning, he continues.

'Is that really you, Kana?'
'Yes.'
'Have you been here this whole time?'
'No.'
'Where have you been?'
'Stuck.'
'Stuck?'
'Within the Hourglass. I am bound to it. I cannot physically exist within the mortal world, but I can still communicate.'
'Tell me something only Kana would know, just to prove it's you.'
'Snowball was your pet name for me when I was a toddler.'

With a choked gasp, Kuai covers his mouth, dropping the pen again. "I-it's you...." he whimpers.
'Yes.'
"How? Why haven't you spoken to me sooner?! Have you heard me speak to you at all?"
'Communication took a while to relearn. I could only watch and listen the entire time. Since none of you have used the Hourglass in ages, it allowed me to build up strength to speak. But I can only talk through the book currently if you are far away.'

"You were the one updating the book?" I ask.
'Yes. Merely observation with all of your powers. Curiosity. But I did not see Papa's downfall would be because of me.'
"No," Kuai shakes his head, tears streaming down. "Baby, my fall wasn't your fault. We knew this would be coming. I let power get to my head....."

'Come to the Hourglass. We can speak better there.' With that, Kana stops responding.
****
The walk down to the Hourglass itself is through a door in the ground and a long flight of spiraling stairs.
Raiden decided to follow us, just to see what would happen.

In shaky legs, I walk toward the ancient device first. Dust had collected on it over the years of inactivity.
Raising my torch higher, I look up at it.
"Okay," my voice echoes in the cave. "We're here."

"Kana?" Kuai calls out, walking forward and touches the glass surface. Sand in the device swirls around as it powers you again. The image of the cave distorts and shifts as time and space are being manipulated.

"Hello, Father..." Kana suddenly appears next to Kuai, his hazy image distorting like ripples of water.
"K...Kana..." Kuai kneels down, purple eyes wide in shock. Kana looks like he hasn't aged. He still looks to be five, but his vocabulary has gotten better over the eons.

"I called you all down here for a reason. There are more Titans appearing on the borders of Pangea Ultima. A dozen of them, in fact."
"What?" Hanzo walks over. "You came back from your resting place to tell us that?"

"Yeah. I know this is sudden, but your people need each of you. Keep in mind, I can only stay on this mortal plane spiritually for so long, then I'll have to go back." As he says this, his image fades in and out.

"I can't stay here too long. I'm getting drawn back to the Spirit World. Father, listen to me. I've always been with you, and I still love you. But please learn to move on. I'm sorry...I can't stay longer..."
His apparition suddenly fades away.

We all stare at the empty space where Kana stood.
Kuai blinks away his tears. "Kana is right. I need to move on. But seeing him one last time....I do feel better."
"More Titans are coming. We need to go back to our respective empires. We don't need more deaths," I realize.

"We'll need to put up defenses," Hanzo orders, looking serious. "Preferably within the borders of each empire. Titans aren't something that can be taken down easily. This could drag on, especially if there are twelve like Kana warned us."

"I need to return to Shadow Canyon, anyways. I have a weapon that could help us in the fight." Kuai says, already going towards the stairs.
"It's not a pistol, is it?" I ask.

"Nope," Kuai smiles genuinely, looking more relaxed. "I'll show you guys later! For now, hurry with the defenses!" With that, Kuai is already gone.