I started writing this out as a one-shot, but the ideas and details that my recently-awakened muse bombarded me with, compelled me to turn this into a short, 3-chapter story.

Simply put, I find Ermac to be one of the most mysterious characters in MK. I believe he, alongside Kenshi, have the most interesting storylines. So naturally, one would wonder what actually happened during the events of Deadly Alliance that resulted in Kenshi breaking the mind-control over Ermac and converting him to good. This story is merely my interpretation of how the events in between these two characters unfolded during Deadly Alliance. I hope you enjoy reading my first MK fic.

Disclaimer: The characters, setting, even the plot belongs to NetherRealm Studios and creators of Mortal Kombat. I'm merely filling in the void in the continuity that should make for an interesting story.

Condolences to the Blind

Chapter 1

"OIA Headquarters, this is Kenshi. Do you copy? Over."

Static. The loud, wavering noise did not merely rattle his sense of hearing, but also annoyed him to no end. Adjusting the controls on his belt that were directly connected to the wireless com link in his ear prove to be futile. No response; Just more static. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut behind the blindfold, he continued calling.

"Jax, this is Kenshi. Radio check, over," asked the weary swordsman, pausing in his path.

Nothing. "Jax?" He asked, tiredly.

"Jax t- Ken… I-Copy…Signal-stren...three-by-five…" came a scrambled, but welcome reply through the com link. "Give-stat-report… over..."

"No sign of Cyrax so far. Have covered the Wastelands. Proceeding forward. Over." Kenshi replied in an almost mechanical tone.

"Roger that." The signal cleared further, "Living Forest ahead- Beware. Trees literally eat. Report back in 8 hours. Over."

"Wilco. Over and out." With that, Kenshi put the com link back into the knapsack at his waist and continued forth.

The cold winds of the wastelands fluttered the tails of his blindfold about him, his hearing picking up the rustling sound, using it to pace his path. A seasoned swordsman, still in his mid-20s, Kenshi had once been a proud warrior, spilling blood merely for the purpose of cementing his superiority in the art of sword-fighting. He recalled how as a young teenager, he had already established a reputation of a ruthless, callous and arrogant fighter – the very characteristics the traitor Shang Tsung manipulated into enforcing his will upon Kenshi.

Unleashing the souls of the warriors ancestors, Kenshi was left blinded in the House of Pekara, his once cerulean iris' bleeding out, leaving him in searing pain, his vision shrouded by nothingness. Waking up to darkness, he heard the Sento call out – a cry for revenge upon the vile sorcerer. A call he could never refuse.

Training his senses as per the directives of the Sento, Kenshi was able to develop a purely spiritual sight, one that would allow him to only see things that are hidden from the naked eye. A vision possessed by few, he would effectively seek out and envision the aura of the place, colouring the background of his vision. Any and all beings possessing the slightest bit of life-energy would be painted as black silhouettes across it.

Some time later, he was able to make out silhouettes of enraged spirits in his mind's eye, withheld by almost cylindrical structures amongst a backdrop of crimson; akin to the freshly spilt blood of a warrior.

'Spirits inside… Trees? Must be the Living Forest,' he mused inwardly as he continued walking. He reflected a bit upon his current mission, rescuing the cyborg, Agent Cyrax. Although he had only spoken with him on merely a few occasions, Kenshi had been made aware of Cyrax's past history and his conversion to a warrior of good – a feat he respected immensely.

Deeper into the forest, he heard moans and groans, of pain and frustration surround him, emanating from the ferocious trees. His objective for now was to simply trek across the area, survive any onslaught and seek out Cyrax. With alarmed senses, Kenshi walked silently and slowly, taking care to not trip over the carcasses of Outworldians and animals scattered about - the usual fodder for the trees.

The acrid stench of rotting flesh, dried blood and looming death caused him to wrinkle his nose. Apart from the trees, there was no other living being present in spiritual sight. Yet he became warier with every step he took; his sixth sense tingling– indicating the essence of a much stronger chi in the vicinity of the forest. His mind's eye could not pick up the source of the life energy yet, but he had a feeling this impairment would not last long.

Telekinetically beckoning his katana to his hands, Kenshi paused behind the back of a dormant tree. He could sense a humanoid figure approaching. His mind's eye contorted an image of a looming silhouette upon the crimson sky, overshadowing the spirits residing within the ancient trees of the forest. As the figure got closer, he realized it was muttering unintelligibly.

Realising that the figure may overpower himself, Kenshi felt a familiar adrenaline rush as he moved forward and stood right in the path of the being. The inner energy of this being was far stronger than any other normal human being that Kenshi had faced. The swordsman held the Sento in front of him, blade raised with both hands, body ready for combat. He heard the figure stop in his tracks, a few feet before him, and he did not require sight to realize that his apparent opponent was sizing him up

He felt the air grow tense in between them, as the opponent stood alert himself. Any ordinary opponent would have made a vocal expression by now. He recalled Sonya's warnings of Outworld literally being starkly different from normality. 'No unnecessary risk should be taken, if you value your life' she had advised.

Kenshi nodded to himself as the words played over in his mind. Taking no chances, the swordsman called out first – hoping for the former yet considering the hostile environment he was in, anticipating the latter.

"Friend, or foe?"

PS: "Wilco" is procedural lingo for "will-comply."

Reviews and constructive criticism is much appreciated! :)