The Heart of Man
After a short stare down, Nitara ascends away and crosses into the courtyard once more. Mileena frowns upon the Vampire's decision and tosses a rock towards her, which of course misses.
"GET BACK HERE!" Mileena shouts. "WE'RE NOT DONE TALKING TRAITOR!"
Mileena repeatedly stomps on the ground. She viciously rubs her hands across her hair causing it to frizz up. As she slows down, she reaches for her hip. She pats around herself and looks down.
"When did she…?" Mileena bangs on the walls of the castle courtyard as she repeatedly shouts Nitara's name. She hears sound of heavy footsteps and childish laughter approaching her. As she turns around, she sees Torr carrying Ferra on his back.
"No Kahn!" Ferra mocked. Torr roared.
"That's empresses to you, cretin!"
"Not anymore it's not. Blue man new big boss now." Ferra declared.
"Why do you cheer for an outcast like him over your own sister?" Mileena questioned.
"Big teeth no sister! We created by same man, but Ferra/Torr much stronger. You tried to kill us. Now big boss is gonna kill you." Ferra laughed. Torr roared along with her.
"Don't think that just because Nitara took me out of my castle that it means I can't gnaw your face off." Mileena responded. Torr creeped up to Mileena and Ferra mugged her.
"Ignore her Torr! She won't brag for long." Ferra stated as she caressed Torr's face. Torr steps back and turns away from Mileena. Ferra looks back at her and sticks her tongue out as Torr walks away. Mileena begins to growl, but stops herself as she notices Shang Tsung's spell beginning to wear off.
As she walks to the open area in the wall caused by Kotal, she spots two Tarkatans escaping from the courtyard. Mileena decides to chase after the two in hopes of finding the other Tarkatan warriors who may have survived the ambush.
Mileena's chase brought her to the nearby town of Li Mei's people. The citizens whispered among one another trying to sort out exactly what was going on. The gathering of the Tarkatans and the sounds of battle seemed to have garnered their attention and concerns.
Upon spotting Mileena, the citizens began to silence themselves. Mileena looked around at the faces of each and everyone one of them. All stricken with fear, but not in the same way as when the Tarkatans were the focus of their concerns. The Tarkatans were different. Their stature is usually abrasive and stern. These Tarkatans seemed defeated—ashamed of the day's failure. Mileena slowly approached the bunch.
"They've taken over the courtyard, but we currently have the advantage. All we have to do now is return to the castle and remind them who they're dealing with." Mileena planned.
"No deal." One of the Tarkatans responded.
"There is not deal. That's an order." She responded back. The Tarkatan shook his head.
"While you were relaxing in your father's throne room, we were getting slaughtered relentlessly."
"And you blame me?"
"You oversee the Courtyard. You rule those who reside in Outworld. You should've saw this coming before the gate keepers." He explained.
"How could I expect an attack from those traitorous Vampires?" Mileena questioned.
"Rule number one, never trust an Outworlder." Another Tarkatan responded. Unlike the others, he harbored what appeared to be a turtle shell around his torso. Another product of Shang Tsung's experiments—his forehead branded with the word Zero.
"Does that mean you don't trust me as well?" Mileena responded menacingly.
"Your tone would make us reconsider your question." Zero responded. "The Shokan and Tarkatan are the only ones I trust. Those were your words."
"Then why don't you all give me the same regard? Do you believe that Kotal would be any better?!"
"Kotal K'etz has eyes on the ground, eyes in the skies, and even eyes in the other realms. This is a war we cannot win. Not with you." Zero confirmed. Mileena's face reddened as she pierced her eyes into Zero's. She reached for her right thigh, only to remember that her Sais were in Nitara's possession.
"This is madness! We are a race of warriors. You now run from battle like these cowards?!" Mileena questioned as she pointed towards the citizens.
"You are NOT a part of our race, half-breed! And these citizens are YOUR citizens!" Zero shouted as he darted his finger towards Mileena's shoulder. "If you want us to help you then fine. However, we refuse to engage in this war until you can prove that you can lead anyone other Tarkatans and Shokan."
"Then curse you all! I would rather die than treat with my father's conspirators!" Mileena shouted. She storms past the citizens, prompting them to move out of her way while maintaining eye contact on her presence. The Tarkatan warriors shook their heads in pity upon seeing the emotions of their former empress.
Mileena continuously traveled throughout Outworld in search of allies, but no one would accept her offer. Not only that, but over the years many of her companions seemingly disappeared in search of their own enlightenment—Rain, Tanya, Jade, Ermac, Li Mei, Raskal, and Erron Black, just to name a few.
As moments went by, Mileena stumbles upon an old shack that belonged to Bo Rai Cho. She contemplates making a visit, but she immediately declines. She walks back towards the location of the castle. She hears the creak of the door and heavy footsteps beside her, garnering her attention. Bo Rai Cho stepped off of his porch and approached Mileena with a small alcohol canister in hand.
"Well, it's not every day that the Empress of Outworld would approach my door step." Bo Rai Cho laughed. Mileena mugged him. Bo Rai Cho rubbed the back of his head. "My apologies, Mileena. Is there something you needed?"
"Do you really think I would accept help from someone like you?" Mileena questioned.
"The sound of frustration and lack of company suggests otherwise." Bo Rai Cho responded. Mileena folds her arms and looks away. Bo Rai Cho stares at her neck. "Nitara betrayed you?"
"What do you care? You betrayed our realm for years training Earthrealm's warriors in our own backyard!" Mileena rebutted. Bo Rai Cho looked to the ground.
"I saw where Shao Kahn was headed. He was already on the verge of being too far gone. Maybe he felt the same, which is why he decided to go on vacation."
"You fool, Shao Kahn is DEAD!" Mileena confirmed. Bo Rai Cho stepped back a bit and rubbed the back of his head once more.
"The emperor…is dead?" Bo Rai Cho repeated. "Does anyone else know?" Bo Rai Cho questioned.
"Shang Tsung did." Mileena stated.
"Why did you keep this a secret from the rest of Outworld?" Bo Rai Cho questioned.
"You fool, if anyone were to know of this we'd have a civil war on our hands." Mileena responded.
"And it seems not disclosing it has already caused a civil war." Bo Rai Cho stated.
"You can't trust anyone in Outworld. That's the number one rule." Mileena stated.
"Who's rule?" Bo Rai Cho questioned rhetorically. "Shao Kahn was once a man of Compromise. He had many allies, including Quan Chi and Tanya's mother. However, once he betrayed their trust, he lost their loyalty. The fact that you're the only one alive who knew of his death already shows your lack of trust in others."
"Knightwolf also knows, yet—"
"Knightwolf and many others challenged you and nothing happened to them. They even killed Shang Tsung. Do you believe that people really believe Shao Kahn is gonna be on vacation for fifteen years? Even if people still think he's alive, does it stop them from feeling as if they could still take the throne away from you?" Bo Rai Cho explained.
Mileena frowned and looked to the ground. She turned away from the man and ran off into the distance. Bo Rai Cho could do nothing but watch.
"She has much room to grow before she can compare herself to her father." He commented as he sipped his alcohol.
After getting as far away from Bo Rai Cho's house as possible, Mileena began to feel fatigued. She takes a rest in a park. She falls to the ground and stares into the sky above. Water dripped onto her face. Suddenly, rain began to fall from the darkened skies above. Mileena's dull eyes couldn't see anything but the blurry dark clouds.
Upon hearing the sounds of thunder, Mileena claws into the ground. She rolls onto her stomach and begins to repeated slam her fist on the ground like a child. She wailed in frustration, only to be drowned out by the sounds of the rain and thunder. She wraps her arm across her arms as tears began to roll off to the sides.
A shadow surrounded Mileena's upper body. The rain stopped pounding against the area. As she moved her arm away from her face, she spotted the parasol hovering above her being held by another person. Mileena peaks her head around the corner of the parasol and looks up to the individual. Upon making eye contact, Kitana smiles.
End of Chapter 4
Although it's been a while since I last posted a chapter, it's not really much that I need to say. I'll try and stay consistent more often if possible, but the arrival of E3 might compromise that promise. But hey, at least you all aren't as in the dark as those who are still waiting for the next chapter in my Heroes After: LoZ story or the still unfinished Mythologies: MK story, both which haven't been updated in nearly one month and five months respectively.
(Upcoming—Sister)