After they'd finished discussing their plan of attack, Kotal Kahn had rushed them out of his war room. Their mission was time sensitive after all. Cassie and her team followed Ermac as instructed and silently observed the outworld palace. Osh-tek warriors stared at them as they passed. Cassie winked at a few of them just to see their reactions. They either didn't notice or didn't know what winking even was and thought she just had an eye twitch or something. Boring.

The ghostly construct led them all into a small room with what looked like a well in the center. Taking a peek, Cassie found that it was filled with a substance that glowed green and drifted slowly like smoke. Pretty certain that she was looking into a well full of souls, she scooted away from it and stood at attention. The soul collective hadn't said a word to them on their walk over, but now came to float directly in front of her. It was more than a little unnerving.

"Uh…yes?" Cassie marveled at how none of the souls he housed knew about personal space.

"Cassandra Cage, you are the leader, correct?"

"Yep."

"Would you like us to repeat your objectives?"

She scoffed. "No, I think I've got it. You'll teleport us to the flesh pits, we find the prince and his chick, and we subdue them."

Ermac nodded. "Or kill them, if necessary."

"Right." That part made her a little uneasy. SF obviously taught them how to kill, but her mother always stressed to keep unnecessary casualties to a minimum. She would feel a million times better capturing the edenians and letting the emperor do the dirty work.

The team watched as the mummified warrior drifted over to his soul well and began absorbing energy. He made several grunting noises while doing so, and Cassie looked to Jacqui to share in her disgust. However, her friend's expression was stony and unreadable, and she realized it must have been hell to have to work with someone who nearly killed your father.

Seemingly satisfied, Ermac hovered close again. Cassie could feel the raw energy radiating off of him now. "We cannot teleport you directly into the flesh pits. The sorcerer Shang Tsung left wards that prevent this. We will teleport you as close as we can; it will be up to you to find your way. Likewise, the half-god will be unable to teleport. If you are unable to stop them, do your best to weaken him so that upon fleeing he will have little energy left. If he is able to teleport to safety, then you have failed."

Ugh. Magic. "Understood."

"If they make an attempt to flee, pursue them as close as you can. We will be stationed at the nearest exit of the forest and together we can surely apprehend them. If you successfully capture them, you will bring them there as well."

"Got it."

"Very well." With that, Ermac held out his hands and green energy surrounded them. It felt like they were in a wind tunnel, and Cassie swore she heard screams as the gusts passed by. She clinched her eyes shut, having no desire to see if there were pained faces visible on the soul energy. The noise faded, but when she opened her eyes there was a face looking back at her. On a tree. Guess that's why they call it the living forest.

"Yuck." Takeda covered his nose, regretting not wearing his mask. "Is the Outworld Morgue?"

He was right. Corpses and skeletons surrounded nearly every tree. Cassie spotted a relatively fresh corpse who was holding something that resembled an axe. While attempting to cut down a tree with a gaping maw was probably the stupidest idea she'd ever heard, she admired the bravery and saluted the man's spirit in her mind.

Noticing Jacqui still looking uncomfortable beside her, she gave her a light tap with her fist. "Hey, you alright?"

Jacqui sighed solemnly. "I guess. It just doesn't feel right. I mean, my dad said he'd been considering getting full cybernetic enhancements on his arms for years, and that I shouldn't let it bother me. But that doesn't make it any better. Does he think I never heard him screaming in the middle of the night while I was growing up?" Feeling herself get upset, she took a deep breath. "I just feel like I'm betraying him somehow, working with that thing."

Cassie really wished she could think of something profound to say to ease her friends mind. She'd probably be feeling the same way if it had been her dad. Luckily, Takeda came through with something pretty good.

"Your dad only cares that you come home safe. And I'm sure he knows how important peace with Outworld is. You're doing the right thing." Cassie and Jin watched as the couple exchanged meaningful looks and shared a tiny little kiss. Cassie refrained from rolling her eyes and just let them have their little moment.

The shaolin did not. "This week on Love on the Battlefield: A moonlit romp in the living forest." He followed this up with a mock puking sound and the young Cage stifled a chuckle.

"Very funny." Jacqui crossed her arms. "I'm pretty sure I saw some sparks flying between you and that gunslinger"

Laughing openly now, Cassie chimed in. "Yeah, Jin. You never told me you were into older men."

"Oh, drop dead!"

Jacqui wasn't finished. "Betchya they were playing footsie under the table."

Kung Jin shot them a dark glare and waved his hand dismissively at them, stomping off down the path. The girls giggled at the childish display. They all had entirely too much fun trying to get under each other's skin.

"Knock it off you two." Takeda playfully nudged both of them. "We've got a mission to accomplish."

Cassie shoved back harder than necessary. "Oh whatever. You always come to his defense."

"Because you guys always double team him."

Jacqui snorted. "He always starts it. Don't dish it out if you can't take it."

Ahead of them, the shaolin groaned and shouted over his shoulder. "I can hear you!"

Cassie cupped her hands around her mouth. "Good! Pro tip: don't be an asshole!"

The telepath pinched the bridge of his nose. "We're supposed to catch them by surprise."

Speaking in only whispers from then on, the group moved as silently as they could towards their destination. Ignoring the stench of rotting flesh had been hard enough, but blocking out the moans of living trees had been nearly impossible. Jacqui nearly screamed when a set of roots latched onto her leg. They were quickly disposed of with one strike of Takeda's whip, but they all walked a bit closer after that.

Just as Cassie began suspecting that they had taken a wrong turn and gotten lost, she heard voices in the distance. Checking behind her, the others met her eyes; they'd heard it too. While it was comforting to know the voices were real and not insanity setting in, it also meant it was game time. Drawing her weapon, Cassie continued forward and spotted an equally spooky looking staircase descending beneath the surface. They approached the entrance with caution, taking positions on either side to avoid being seen. She heard the voice of a man and a woman. Targets located.

However, the voices abruptly went silent. Cassie held her breath. She'd planned to ambush them mid conversation in the hopes of catching them off guard.

"Show yourself!" The man's voice-Rain as she recalled-bellowed, echoing up the passage.

Shit. So much for the sneak attack.

Cassie started down the steps at a brisk pace, her team right behind her. "It's over. We've got you outnumbered. Surrender and-" Her sentence was cut short by a powerful blast of water.


Making her third attempt to stand up, Mileena only managed to wobble forward a few paces before she flopped miserably back to the ground. She growled angrily and pounded her fist against the ground. She couldn't recall another time she'd felt so weak. The fact that she didn't know how she got like this didn't help the situation, but she was starting to get concerned. Aside from her still slumbering sister, she hadn't seen anyone else. She hoped that meant Quan Chi was unaware of her presence, and she intended to keep it that way. Which is why she had to get away before her sister woke up. The fancy new getup Kitana sported clearly still represented her revenant status. Mileena was certain Kitana would bring her before the sorcerer or just kill her outright.

Mileena hadn't seen her "sister" since the beginning of the rebellion. Outworld and the Netherrealm had been on the brink of their own war, and her allies advised her that aligning with Quan Chi would ensure victory over the false emperor Kotal Kahn. She'd been opposed to the idea at first, but Tanya had convinced her to at least make contact with the sorcerer. Perhaps he'd be open to taking down Kotal together and settling their differences afterwards. Begrudgingly, Mileena gave in and traveled to the Netherrealm with a small squad of tarkatans. Rain had elected to stay behind, not wanting to taint his godlike soul with the evils of that foul place. Tanya, her most loyal adversary to date, had accompanied her. She was much better at diplomacy, and dabbled in some dark magics herself.

Realizing her struggling was getting her nowhere, she allowed her body a little more time to recuperate and indulged herself in the memory.


As they stepped through the portal, Mileena let her eyes wander. The hellish landscape of the Netherrealm almost bored her. She much preferred the desserts and jungles of Outworld.

"So?" Tanya extended an arm towards the landscape. "What do you think?"

"Barren. Ugly."

The edenian chuckled softly. "Agreed. Thankfully our realm is nothing like this."

"Tell me about Edenia again, dearest Tanya."

She smiled. "Another time, my empress." Tanya tilted her head to the side. "The sorcerer approaches."

Riding on horned beasts, Mileena spotted the wicked man. At his side, likely for protection, were two of his revenant soldiers. At his right, the Earthrealm warrior with the large bladed hat. Mileena remembered her father personally executing him in the coliseum. The thought made her grin, but Quan Chi's other companion made her grimace. To his left, her dear sister, looking much unlike herself. It was strange to see her so changed. They were essentially both flawed copies of the once great princess. However, Mileena was the only one who had been an empress, so she believed that made her superior.

The tarkatan soldiers, who'd been observing the landscape and picking fights with each other, stood closer to their empress when the sorcerer arrived and dismounted his beast. His two revenant attendants followed suit and stood silently at his side.

"The fallen empress. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

With a nod in Tanya's direction, the edenian woman spoke on her behalf. "We seek an alliance with you and your realm, mighty sorcerer. We ask nothing about your future ambitions regarding Outworld, only your aid in defeating Kotal Kahn who is clearly unfit to hold the throne."

"And you believe the throne is rightfully yours?"

Mileena ignored his tone and answered as calmly as she could. "The throne is mine by Shao Kahn's decree. I was usurped by a group of traitorous dogs and want nothing else than to be rid of them forever."

The sorcerer laughed a deep, hearty laugh, enraging Mileena. Her fists clenched and trembled at her sides, and only the subtle stare from her edenian accomplice kept her at bay. They didn't want to make an enemy out of the sorcerer.

"What is the earthrealm expression?" The sorcerer turned to Kung Lao as if the revenant still possessed a sense of humor. "Ah, yes. You're grasping at straws Mileena. Even if you manage to destroy all those who oppose you, your claim to the throne is not enough. More will rise against you. Your efforts are futile." The bald man scratched his chin, contemplating another sinister plot. "However, I will make you a different offer."

Mileena and Tanya exchanged uneasy glances. Neither one of them had been prepared for this.

"Abandon your pathetic cause and join mine. I'm sure I could make good use of you. Just look what I've done for your sister. She's never been happier."

Quan Chi motioned for her to speak, and Kitana nodded in agreement. "It is true. I have thrived under the guide of Quan Chi." Unexpectedly, she turned to address the empress directly. "Aren't you sick of being a victim, Mileena? We have both been wronged by the same people. Shao Kahn lied to me my entire life about my true identity. Her murdered my father and claimed my realm. He may have left you his kingdom, but his former lackeys have turned against you. He created you for a purpose you are now unable to fulfil. I turned against him when the thunder god revealed to me the truth, but look where it has led me. He is responsible for the future we reside in, and he has aligned earthrealm to the side of your enemies." Kitana stepped forward, and Mileena braced herself for an attack. Instead, Kitana offered her hand to the empress. "Join us. There is no place for you in Outworld. We can be truly be a family as disciples of Shinnok."

Mileena's anger melted away as her mind struggled to process her sister's words. She'd never viewed her life from that perspective before. Was it true? Was her struggle for the throne all in vain? She stared at her sisters outstretched hand, glowing with orange veins. Corrupted. Possessed. Her words made sense, but were they really her own? A glance towards Quan Chi revealed a dark, sly smile. Grinding her teeth, she batted away her sister's hand.

"You're merely a puppet, dear sister. I bow to no ones will besides my father's, and he wished for me to take his place."

Kitana's hand returned to her side and Quan Chi clasped his hands together loudly. "I think our meeting is over." He mounted his horned steed again, the revenants doing the same. "My offer stands; feel free to accept at any time as your rebellion is crushed. Until then, I do not want to see you in my realm again." With the wave of his hand, he summoned a portal behind them. "Begone."

Once through the portal, Mileena dismissed the tarkatans and made a beeline for her tent. She swatted the flap open and stormed inside. Seeing the portrait of her late father, she roughly smacked it off its stand and sent it clattering to the floor. The empress threw herself onto her bed, trying to quell her anger and avoid going on a destructive rampage across their camp. She heard someone enter and prepared to skewer them with a sai, but recognized the scent of Tanya and just snarled into her pillows as the woman came to sit on her bed.

"Empress?"

Another deep growl.

"It's no use getting upset over this. We knew it was a long shot."

With a sharp grunt, Mileena sat up and glared at her companion.

"Is there a problem?"

The empress spoke through clenched teeth. "My sister's words are distressing me."

"You mean Quan Chi's words. You said it yourself, she's just his puppet. He was only trying to manipulate you. As if you'd ever consider abandoning Edenia for the Netherrealm. He truly is mad."

Mileena didn't look convinced, but Tanya already knew how to smooth things over. She allowed their legs to softly brush against each other, speaking in a sing-song voice. "I think I know something that will make you feel better."

Tired and confused, Mileena leaned her head on the dark-skinned woman's shoulder, eliciting a giggle. Tanya always knew the right thing to say.


A groan snapped Mileena out of her trance; lost in the memory of her most beloved ally. She'd taken too much time! Her sister was waking up and she still found herself unable to move. Even crawling was too taxing on her sore limbs, leaving her collapsed on the ground pathetically. She did her best to right herself and not appear as weak as she really was. It was impossible to tell how her sister would respond to her presence this time. All she could do was hope for the best.


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