DISCLAIMER: All Characters are owned by Nether Realm Studios, Ed Boon, John Tobias & Warner Bros. This story is also non-canon and a mish-mash of all MK Story events. You have been warned.
CHAPTER 1. TORN
A burning village engulfed in flames. The smell of cinder and rot sweep the air. Goro leads Kahn's Army; rummaging and destroying as much of the village possible. Shang Tsung observes high above ground as a watchful eye for his Lord and Master. By a pile of fresh corpses, Jade and Reptile clean the guts off their weapons while Mileena and Rain scour the grounds finding the few, petty left-over Edenians to slay.
On the floor, a woman and child cling to each other desperately in the corner of a room. While they shiver, a man's body in front of them is frozen in solid ice. His head is decapitated. With all the love a Father had, he didn't stand a chance to save his own from Outworld's deadliest Imperial Assassins. KITANA stood before them holding her razor Fan Blades by her side and looking down upon them with a steel detachment in her gaze. Right behind her, a vapour of icy smoke hung from the ventilated mask of SUB-ZERO. His absent-coloured, ghoulish eyes sent sheer terror onto the woman clutching her six year old boy. At the last resort, she picked up the courage to plead to the head-strong woman in blue;
"Please. I beg of you. Kill me … but let my boy go."
She took a gulp then pleaded a second time.
"Please. Spare him. Have mercy on us both, have mercy. Have mercy."
Tears ran down her cheeks but the cold-blue Assassins held their impassive demeanour. Kitana eventually responds with a command;
"Give me the boy."
The woman suddenly pauses, unsure and terrified. A million different things started running through her mind, thinking of only the worst to come.
"Give – me - the boy - NOW!"
Half relentless but in fear, she unsteadily yields her child over to the Kitana. Her precious child starts to tighten his grip onto his mother's neck and shoulders; and then starts to crying hysterically, knowing he is being torn away from the only life he knew. Kitana grabs the little boy's hands.
"Quiet child! Sub-Zero take him."
"Kitana?"
"Take him! Take him outside."
Sub-Zero passive aggressively takes the screaming child by the arm and escorts him out of the house. The little boy yelling out his Mother's name echoes down the hall way and out the door into the distance. Listening to the child's cries drives the Mother to quietly weep and strangely start wiping her hands on her Apron; making it seem like she was completely losing her sanity. She begins to mutter;
"It's okay baby. It's okay … It's okay baby. It's okay. It's okay baby … it's okay. Baby it's okay, it's okay, it's okay. It's okay baby. It's okay baby. It's okay. Mama's going there soo-"
A swift slice to the head.
The blood spatters towards the walls and the head rolls away at her feet. Kitana is finished and she walks outside to join Sub-Zero and the child.
"What do you believe we are planning to do with this?" Sub-Zero points to the crying child.
"Maybe we can somehow hand him over to the Lin Kuei," she spoke as if asking herself what to do, trying to come up with a solution to a problem. It was a problem if they were to get caught by their superiors here and now or anyone from the armed forces.
"Lin Kuei? We may as well put him out of his own misery. He will not survive the Lin Kuei, let alone knowing what they are turning into. I have laid many to rest without much infliction. Allow me to do just that," Sub-Zero suggests while Kitana is pacing back and forth.
Suddenly, Kitana crouches and meets the child eye to eye, grabbing his small shoulders to halt his wailing and obtain all focus.
"Listen to me. Listen to me!" she shook him.
"You need to run. Run as far away as you can, deep into the forest. Do not look back, do not stop. When you get to the river, find a way to cross over to Kaanoon and seek refuge there. You stop, you die. Do you understand?" her direction was stern and sharp. She looked into the young souls eyes with grave seriousness.
The boy doesn't respond except rub his swollen eyes filled with tears, however his mournful cries dwindled when she spoke to him. Kitana lets go and rises. Both Ninja's await for his reaction. Eventually, he turns and starts heading down towards the opening of the bushes. It is frighteningly dark and misty back there; and his pace was fragile, but at least he was clearing off onto the forest trail.
"He will not last in there, Kitana."
"He's going to have too … he won't be safe here."
They started to make their way back to regroup with the Army. For every onslaught, it seems to be the same. Two cold-blooded killers leave with a heavy weight on their shoulders, as though they drag a mass of dead horses behind them. Neither feel content, nor feel the need to converse, both feel dead inside. And so they tread back in absolute silence.
REFUGEE CAMP ASSEMBLY, OUTWORLD.
"Are you done here?" GORO, a four-armed, giant mass of muscle commanding the holocaust Army; approaches the Blue Assassins for a report.
"All has been cleared," affirmed Kitana.
"Yah-ha-ha-haaaaa, that was so much fun!"
MILEENA, cart-wheels jovially then twirls her Sai Swords skilfully in each hand. The particularly intense Assassin dances into her entrance totally drenched in gore, whilst RAIN, her supposed co-op follows with little enthusiasm and quite unsullied in comparison.
"How did you do dear Sister, did you suck? I bet I squished a lot more rats than you heh-heh-heh."
"Yes, Rats is all she dealt with." JADE comes into the circle spinning her long-range weapon whilst taking shots at Mileena. The electric Pink fighter instantly hisses at the slender Emerald Assassin and returns the remark;
"Why don't you go back to cleaning your weapons, you worthless sag of tits!"
REPTILE; Jade's reptilian co-opt, rolls his eyes at them and hopes Jade says no more for his sake. Ignoring all of them, Kitana continues her conversation with Goro;
"We have scoped the perimeter closer to the outer skirts of the village near the woods. There is no one left. Sub-Zero and I made sure of it."
"Good. Then our mission is done." He lifts two mighty hands and signals BARAKA, in which the Lieutenant of the Tarkatan Army then turns to signal the rest of the horde. Goro announces;
"Let's move out!"
SKULL TOWER FORTRESS, OUTWORLD.
The delicatessen smells of a roasted beast filled the dining room court and was displayed marvellously in the middle of a grand, elongated table prepared in boned-cutlery wear, silver goblets and candelabras. The highly decorated feast was served only to the important ranks that dined with the Emperor. After every tyranny, the Emperor wanted news from his Commanding General Goro. Shang Tsung was absent this time, attending to other matters in which the Emperor was in favour off. Most of all, his Lordship wanted to know the progress of his colour coordinated Special Forces.
"I am pleased with your report Goro but I have received word that another Edenien Camp lies in the city of Mangen. It will need to be taken care off immediately."
SHAO KAHN, the Conqueror of Outworld (and other worlds) downs his chunk with a goblet of red wine. He is crowned with a warlord helmet of a masked skull with a crest sitting upon his forehead. His piercing eyes are a flaming colour, glowing through the holes of his skull sockets in which the pupils stand in the shape of upright spears. This intimidating figure has enormous spikes protruding out of his shoulder pads and gauntlets, and wore a skull medallion over his strapped chest. Although, if you looked at the Emperor long enough you would be able to see past his armoured exterior and find years of blood-curdling brutality within hell-fire eyes, which eventually, losing your soul within the process.
"Yesh [chomp] of 'ourse your Lor-ship. We 'ill march [chomp]t' our necht 'attle in a few daysh," the Shokan brute tries to respond with a mouthful, but the beautiful, rich flavours of dark meat proved to be more appetising. Nevertheless, the Shokan Prince isn't known for table manners. "Will we nee' oth'r ashishtance in Mangen region ashide from Tark'tans?"
"I would predict you leading the Holocaust Army to be adequate enough for the task. Not to mention you do have my Imperial Assassins. Shang Tsung will notify me if there are greater threats and I will send the Lin Kuei to your aid. But know that this will disappoint me Goro, I expect much from a Shokan Prince with many victories under his name. As for my daughters, what is their progress exposed in battle?"
"Forgive me Father, but slaying artisans and farmers do nothing to increase my abilities. I need something more formidable to test my might. How can you be so sure that the Mangonians are keeping Edeniens refuge? They aren't as inviting to outsiders that isn't of their own kinsman."
"Are you questioning my orders, Kitana?" Shao Kahn cuts her off. "My informers have never been wrong yet and you should know by now I won't take any chances. You will get your skills worth. I may have great battle plans for all my Imperial Assassins in the next coming of weeks if Shang Tsung falls short in Earth Realm."
"The realm of Earth? I believed the Elder Gods only allowed a certain amount of warriors to enter." Kitana asks.
"Yes. Well we may have finally found an opening in that regard. There are just a few, minor complexities but I will wait for Shang Tsung's viable report. On another subject, is your Subordinate doing well obeying your commands?"
Kitana flared her nostrils subtly and took in a deep breath to subdue her annoyance. Sub-Zero thought nothing of it but she hated that word 'Subordinate'. It was not the way she saw her ally in battle; but it was a hierarchy status that was given to a second-grade Assassin assigned to the Imperial Assassins: - Jade, Mileena and herself. Sub-Zero held loyalty, honour and most of all integrity. He was not one to stab her in the back. She wasn't sure as to what Reptile and Rain was like; but it was those lingering traits that he had she didn't see upon her Emperor.
"I worked mine to the bone! Rain needs to keep up. His tendency to drown his victims in bubbles do not excite me at all. I still stand that Scorpion should have been assigned to me," Mileena unashamedly omitted in front of Rain sitting across the table. Her purple garb Ninja doesn't react; it seems he has just accepted her ghastly behaviour. Besides there is nothing he could say or do in the wake of his Emperor without consequences.
"… But I do know that we would've had the highest kill count, unlike my lesser members who heaven knows what they were doing at the time," Mileena continued while shooting a smug kind of glance at Kitana and Jade sitting beside her.
"Yes, Mileena. You're hard efforts of doing helpless villagers are something to boast about," Kitana stated sarcastically.
"And what took your time near the woods Kitana?! Were you having your way with Sub-Zero behind the bushes and trees! Father, I can't believe you would still partner them together after all the deceitful things they've done to you - "
"That was an error of judgement in the past that clearly would not happen again! Sub-Zero and I did what we were expected to do. There's nothing more for me to say." Kitana looks down at her plate, almost untouched. Her mind was thinking of the boy running into the forest.
"As long as you serve me well Kitana," Kahn diverts his gaze towards Mileena "I am satisfied with your Kin and her Subordinate. Come, let us conclude this meal and retire."
WEST WING, HALL PALACE, OUTWORLD.
"I'm sorry you had to speak on my behalf. The fact Mileena brought the past upon us tonight, it seems she won't let go until she gets what she wants."
Sub-Zero and Kitana walk along side each other in the great halls of the palace. The moonlight shines in between large pillars, igniting their way down the halls. Out of battle, the Ice-Gatherer retires his hooded mask and cares little for his identity out in the open, even if it goes against Lin Kuei's rules.
"Don't apologise for that snaggle-toothed rat. She doesn't deserve your civility. I hope she never has Scorpion; only because her suffering delights me so."
She brings forth a fiendish smirk that made both comrades share a low-key smile of amusement. Further behind them, Jade acknowledges their chumminess; while also trying to seem interested in her co-partner's analysis on the temperature. She wonders what they are so cozy about.
The first room they reach is Kitana's bedchamber. Gigantic wooden doors embossed with tiles of pyramid patterns spread across the board and mounted with golden studs as the border. She turns to see Sub-Zero off before she retreats.
"As always, thank you for all your efforts in the past few days. I feel our duality is getting stronger in each battle."
Sub-Zero bows to bid her Goodnight. "I agree. Until dawn, rest well Kitana."
"How touching?"
Mileena leans against a wall picking her teeth with her Sais, for she too has abandoned her mask for the night. "You're all so noble sister, giving little talks to your Lackey. Why don't you just lift that skirt of yours and show him your tender goods. That will get the blood pumping, heh-heh-heh."
"I thought you'd be slumbering in your own pile of filth by now. Away with you, you disgusting creature."
"And you disgust me more! Your respect for each other makes me want to suck both of you in and puke both of you out in one heap! Eventually I'll convince Father to severe you from your Pet."
"What is your quarrel, Mileena?" Sub-Zero intervenes.
"My quarrel? Both of you have deceived my Father, my Emperor! And even then he still rewards this bitch by assigning you to her! I have done nothing but abide by him and meanwhile I can't even get the Subordinate I want!"
"Mileena, we were far from rewarded! In fact we were horrendously punished because of your meddling. Enough of this! Why don't you try and be civil with Rain for once. He may save your assets some day," Kitana retorted.
"Too close of an alliance ... is a very dangerous one. An alliance that one day will likely betray the Emperor, that can only be formed by two deceivers. It's only a matter of time before you and Sub-."
"This is absurd! Crawl back into the hole you came from Spawn."
"Is it not true that you killed everyone on the outer skirts of that village …
...except one?"
Kitana's nerves were shot. She froze completely. She felt a horrible feeling in her gut that something dreadful was coming up and her viperous sister sensed it and licked her lips.
"Yes my dear, sweet Sister. You let one little morsel slip. How careless of you. As I was slashing away some lowly Edeniens, Rain informed me that he heard cries coming from the forest. I told him, 'Let Kitana deal with it' being of course that you were in range. But then a little black bird told me, that maybe you and Sub-Zero weren't as competent with your missions as everyone would like to think. So I went into that forest, tracked the trail – for it wasn't too far – and snagged the little sucker! You should have seen the look on his face … it was covered in blood, haaah-ha-ha-hah."
Kitana trembled.
Her whole body shook as if a something had possessed her; setting fury, anxiety and Adrenalin in one overpowering batch. The rage took over and then she couldn't contain it.
"You ...
...YOU SOULLESS PILE OF -"
She lunges forward, unequipping her blades as daggers in mid jump.
But Sub-Zero anticipates Kitana and grabs her around the waist; securing her clenched wrist holding a fan dagger as best as he possibly can.
Mileena swivels her Sais also ready to strike.
But Jade quickly raises her staff against Mileena's plunging Sais, sending her to rebound back.
Reptile grabs the maleficent one; twisting her arm behind her and trapping her at the neck with his forearm, holding her back.
Held against her will, Kitana instead throws words;
"I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD ON A PIKE AND PLACED OUTSIDE MY WINDOW YOU LOWLY, UNSIGHTLY WHORE!"
"I CAN'T WAIT TO DECORATE MY ROOM WITH YOUR GUTS KITANA! I'LL CRADLE YOUR HEAD AT NIGHT BEFORE I SLEEP!"
"YOU WILL NEVER BE IN FATHER'S FAVOUR!
You were told we have the same Mother! But do you know what the little birds are saying in the Kingdom? That you are most likely a bastard child from a haggard-looking Mistress. That's why you were forced into darkness until coming of late. Father must have been too ashamed to show your hideous, perverted face! As long as I'm here – you will never be next to rule."
If Kitana's daggers were not to penetrate, she made sure her condescending words did. And it did. She knew how to strike her sister's heart and that was the centre of the ego. Since Mileena was introduced to the palace not as an infant, but as a young adolescent teenager, the gossip was that she was an illegitimate child because it was later confirmed she had Tarkatan blood; and Tarkatans were known for being a savage race that lacked any intellect or diplomatic behaviours. During their training, Kahn complimented Kitana's achievements; while criticising heavily on Mileena's faults. They competed for his acceptance and almost always gave the upper-hand to Kitana. In the eyes of many, Kitana knew how to charm and hold herself well, whilst Mileena, only consulted herself to accept her own beauty, as the girl with the jaws of death. Mileena played second-fiddle to her supposedly twin sister and it absolutely infuriated her with madness.
Mileena swore profoundly. It took both the Green Assassins to drag her away. The hatred was so great that all you could make out from Mileena's echoes were "I'LL KILL YOU!" over and over again.
Kitana finally pushed Sub-Zero away and ran into her room. She slammed the door shut and tried to breathe in order to regain some composure. But she couldn't. Her chest was locking up; her eyes started to sting. She just couldn't understand what she was feeling. She knew she was trained to be a natural born killer. But if she could save just one; just one of the innocents in her unholy, Godforsaken life; maybe there will be a release; a promising deliverance from all the weight she dragged around.
Struggling to breath, slowly sinking to the floor, she finally buried her head deep within her arms at sat in darkness.
- END -