Tarkatans

Baraka POV

The days in Outworld grow harsher. The tournaments grow closer but what does it matter to us. Shang Tsung offers us scraps and Kotal offers us lies. The Tarkatans have been pushed around for far too long. Yet i find myself limited. We run low on water, we run low on food. Our stocks run low and our people are anxious.

If we are to make it through this season we need to figure out something. Perhaps i should take Shang Tsung's offer. Our people have lived here for generations, but i cannot ignore the bountiful resources of the new world. Even if it isn't the best conditions, i have no other options.

"MY LORD," Shehaja my aide ran into the tent shouting, "I bring news." I was about to berate her for not announcing herself but seeing the serious expression she carried i dismissed the thought.

"What news Shehaja. It better be important if you interrupted me when i have an important decision to make."

"My Lord, the half blood has returned."

I stand up from my chair quickly. The halfblood is one of the biggest shames to our nature. I head out of the tent through the crowds of restless Tarkatans. No matter what we value our own, but the half breed turned her back on her people to follow the bastard Shang Tsung.

As the crowd moves way to let me through i finally lay eyes on her, Mileena and it seems Shang Tsung sent another one with her this time.

"Give me one reason to stop my people from dismembering you limb from limb after our last encounter."

She took a step forward and calmly spoke tensed yet relaxed "Baraka i have come to make amends and to offer our people

"YOU ARE NOT OUR PEOPLE! YOU BETRAYED US TO SHANG TSUNG. NOW WE LIVE IN EXILE OF SHAO KHAN'S LANDS STARVING WHILE YOU FEAST AT HIS TABLE AS HIS PET. YOU HAVE NO PLACE IN THE TRIBE."

I see her shoulders slump in defeat as she held her tongue and i can see the shame in her eyes. Thats when her partner put a hand on her shoulder and stepped forward "Lord Baraka, my name is Benjamin Walker. We are not here on either Shang Tsung's or Shao Khan's orders. We have come here to offer your people a chance to once again flourish as you did before Shao's reign."

I walk forward and stand face to face with this Walker, small frame and his eyes hold no light, "Boy if your master wants to make us an offer he should send more than a blood traitor and a blind fool."

I go to slash out at the arrogant man when i notice my arm refuse to move. I turn my head and my eyes widen as i see the sand holding back my arm. I look at the kid as he has a smirk on his face. Interesting, to control the sands in a desert such as this. If he can control more then he's practically unstoppable in these lands.

I hold my hand up to stop my guards from attacking him as i take another look at him. Small frame but tightly packed. His eyes hold no light yet he seems comfortable as if he doesnt need them.

"Sigh, very well chil- Walker. I shall hear you out." As i spoke those words the sands surrounding me fell back into the ground. I wave my arms as the people disperse and i allow our guest inside "You may enter, but the blood traitor stays."

"She comes with me," Walker spoke with clear conviction "The offer i make unto you came from her and her connection to your people. If not for her insistence i wouldn't have bothered coming this far out."

We stand off against each other before i finally relent and allow her to enter. We make our way back to the tent where Shehaja has already set up chairs. "Very well then Walker, what offer does your master offer us."

"I have no Master. No one owns my life or my fate except for me. As for my offer, i offer you this." He throws me a winesack. Ha he thinks he can offer us his wine to gain our favor. No amount of wine can buy us. But i give him the benefit of the doubt seeing as how Mileena brought him and she shouldve known this.

I open the winesack and take a sniff, yet my nose smells nothing. A weak alcohol perhaps? I bring it to my mouth and take a sip before my eyes widen. Water! Such pure water. Not even Tsung or Shao has water reserves this clean. Where did it come from? I look back in shock to the young man and i can see an amused look on his face.

"Let me reintroduce myself," he said "My name is Ben Walker and i am a champion of Earth Realm. Mileena brought me to this world and with her help we have begun to rebuild the old Edenian lands. With my ability water is no issue and in time food wont either. We already have the Edenians ready to support us, yet a land such as that will need more than us to maintain and secure."

"So you came to us, thinking we shall help protect this new land and as a reward you'd give us lands to cultivate and water," i begin to think of the prospects and realize there's no downside. "I shall come see these lands for myself. If your claims are true, then we the Tarkatans have no ire relocating on the conditions you do not discriminate and supress my people. I have sick and elderly that needs proper rest and water. So if your words prove true, then we have a deal Walker."

He smiles and reached out for my hand. I was startled, no one willingly touches a Tarkatan. From our teeth to our spikes and bones people fear us, so to see this young man reach out without hesitation makes me believe there maybe a future for us without sacrificing ourselves for scraps and filthy water.

I reach out and embrace his arm with my own signalling we have reached an accord. "Shehaja prepare 10 men and some sand runners, we're going to the old Edenian lands. We set out immediately."

She bowed her head and left the tent as i look back at the man then Mileena, "Mileena we have not forgotten how you slaughtered your own for the power hungry sorcerer, yet I'm willing to put that in the past if your actions end up saving the tribe. Enjoy this second chance. You shall not get a third."

She looks back with a conviction and nods her head. I nod back and turn to the blind man, "very well Walker, let's get going."