Maneater

*Years ago…*

Mileena, Ko'otal, Reptile, & D'Vorah traversed the Outworld Desert. This was once the location of Edenia's courtyard and everywhere that was within a one mile radius of it. Many who pass by tend to visit Sindel's grave. But Mileena uses it as a meetup spot when she wants to discuss things that can't be told to the general public nor her counsel.

Lying beside a small slab of debris were a masked beast and a miniature woman who lied beneath his arm. The two of them seemed to be sleeping, but Mileena knew they were pretending.

"Do you want us to put them out of their misery?" D'Vorah questioned. Ferra pushed herself from underneath Torr and pumped her first toward D'Vorah.

"Bring it on, Bug Lady." Ferra shouted. Torr rose from the ground and peered his eyes across each member of Mileena's group. He growled as them all as he towered over Ferra. Ko'otal, Reptile, and D'Vorah prepared to defend themselves while Mileena stood valiantly.

"Creations of Shang Tsung tossed aside like a failed experiment. I wonder how many other he left behind that have…better manner." Mileena commented. Ferra and Torr turned their attention to Mileena.

"We eat Tarkantans before." Ferra responded as Torr roared.

"You dare threaten your Kahnum?" Mileena questioned as she summoned one of her Sais.

"We serve no Kahn? Only Ferra/Torr!" she rebutted. "Mileena shook her head.

"I too was a creation of Shang Tsung. The others were…eradicated. As your sister, I've come to rid you of this wretched wasteland so that you may join us back at the castle."

"Big teeth no sister of We. Ferra/Torr satisfied here!" Mileena growled towards the two after hearing Ferra's response. "WAIT! We come with you!" Ferra retracted. Mileena was confused.

"That was a quick change of mind." Reptile commented.

"What made you change your mind so quickly?"

"We go, but we kill bug lady." Ferra proposed. Ko'otal and D'Vorah frowned.

"You what?!" D'Vorah shouted.

"This is madness." Ko'otal responded.

"She threatened Torr. We no feel safe."

"No one in Outworld is safe." Reptile commented.

"No kill no go."

"Do the two of you really think—"

D'Vorah is interrupted by Mileena who grabs ahold of her wrist. Mileena smiles as she pulls D'Vorah forward. She then pushes her toward Ferra who grins heavily. Torr raises his right fist across his left shoulder. With all of his might, he swings the back of his fist across D'Vorah's Face and upper torso. A large chunk of D'Vorah upper body and her head was gone. Her blood splashed onto everyone. Ko'otal looked on in disbelief as the remainder of D'Vorah's body fell onto the ground. Mileena smiled.

"Satisfied?" Mileena joked.

"Torr! You no fun!" Ferra shouted. Torr huffed. "Fine." She sighed. "Torr's satisfied so Ferra satisfied."

"Good." Mileena peaked toward Ko'otal who still trained his eye on D'Vorah. "That man over there will look over you two. I suspect he will treat you well. Isn't that right Ko'otal?" she asked. Ko'otal continued to look at D'Vorah's corpse.

"Y-yes, empress Mileena." He responded.

*Present Day at the Courtyard Gates*

It had been hours since the display of Centaurian heads were cleared from the front gates. Many of the citizens had seen the horrific display and told many other of it. The gossip spread faster than K'etz and Nitara could react. People questioned how such an event could go unnoticed. Those of the castle blamed the guards and citizens for not telling who planted the pikes. The guards blamed those of the castle and the citizens for not caring about their safety. The citizens blamed those of the castle and the guards for causing the display to happen in the first place.

Soon word spread to the Centaurs distant of main area of Outworld. Rumors claimed that Mileena had returned and that she may have been assisted by Shao Kahn's missing step-daughter, princess Kitana. Other rumors suggested that K'etz had been working with Mileena the entire time using the false civil war as an excuse to commit mass genocide with each of the races. The Centaurs responded with threats of destroying many of Outworld's towns if their grievances aren't repaid with justice.

As Outworld enters a state of turmoil due to the event, many citizens sought after the assistance of Bo Rai Cho and Li Mei to help prepare them for the upcoming war for Outworld. It was rumored that the remaining members of the Black Dragon returned to Earthrealm in search of new recruits to help sell weapons to both sides. Rumors of the Red Dragon's involvement were quickly silenced by Nitara herself, whom still refused to comment on the situation. There was no word on whether or not the Locust Clan would also get involved.

K'etz closes off his gates and calls an emergency meeting with many of Outworld's leaders and councilors. These included Nitara, Tanya & Rain's Father who was the Ambassador, Daegon, and Li Mei's Mother whom was the representative.

"Before we begin pointing fingers, I need to remind each and every one of you about a woman named Anomaly who was able to single handedly infiltrate Edenia without notice and kill Sindel. This may be news to some of you, but for people like Nitara and I have seen this type of act before." The Ambassador stated.

"Tanya is the only person capable of such magic. We haven't seen her since the incident years ago." The Representative responded.

"That would mean we have a traitor amongst us. No one should've been guarding that gate and not seeing what happened." K'etz stated.

"And they are currently being investigated."

"I'm more interested in how someone was able to kill so many Centaurs in the Cobalt mines. Even if they aren't as powerful as before, they would still pose a physical threat to anyone who enters." Daegon discussed.

"True, I've never known anyone to be capable of such a feat—not alone anyways." The representative commented.

"Are you saying…?"

"Should it really be a surprise? This WAS her throne at one point." The Representative confirmed. "The daughter of Shao Kahn and you believe she wouldn't use fear tactics?"

"Have you ever determined whether or not the second daughter returned?" Daegon added. Nitara, the Ambassador, and the Representative's minds clicked immediately. They began to remember the years prior to Kitana's disappearance. Everything about the daughter of Sindel returned to their memory. K'etz, however, still didn't get it.

"Shao Kahn having a second daughter would not change this. How much stronger could she be?" K'etz responded.

"How could we all forget about Kitana so easily?" the Ambassador muttered.

"Kitana?"

"She's the daughter of the deceased Sindel and the former king of Edenia, Jarrod." The Representative explained. "She's been away for 15 years. Does this not ring any alarm bells? Do you not remember who else has been away for the past 15 years?" the Rep asked. K'etz shook his head.

"He is dead. There is absolutely nothing that would make him leave Outworld to go on a Vacation." K'etz responded.

"Then where has Kitana been?" the ambassador asked.

"There is no Kitana!" he shouted. "This was an act of betrayal by someone here. I'm starting to suspect that someone is backing out of their end of the bargain." He looks at both the Representative and the Ambassador.

"Emperor K—" Before Nitara could finish her sentence, Ko'otal forced the doors open and stumped his was towards his father.

"What is the meaning of this, Ko'otal? We are having an important discussion!" K'etz shouted. Ko'otal slammed his fists on the table.

"How can you be so blind? Do you enjoy being mocked and disgraced over and over?! When are you going to address this problem?!"

"You dare question your Emperor?"

"I question your leadership! You had Mileena in the palm of your hands and you let her get away!"

"Nitara…" K'etz looked towards Nitara who gave him a death stare. K'etz decided not to address it.

"A true leader does not blame his followers for his own mistakes. You need to eliminate Mileena permanently and investigate this 'Second Daughter.'" Ko'otal suggested.

"You need to stay out of my affairs, child!" K'etz snapped. Ko'otal grabbed his father by the shoulders. The force pushed his seat back a few centimeters. He came back to he senses and released his hands from K'etz. He began to walk away from the Counselors, and his father.

"My people and I will refrain from assisting you any further." Ko'otal decided.

"Your people?" K'etz questioned disgustedly. Ko'otal didn't respond as he left the room. K'etz wrapped his hand around his face as she shook his head. "We shall have a 15 minute recess. Adjourn."

As Ko'otal storms out of the building, he looks around the courtyard. He reflects on the battle that occurred there three weeks ago. He stared at the patched split his father produced when he used the blood code's power against Mileena. He reflects on what his father was saying earlier. "Nitara…" Exactly who was she? He'd interacted with her a few times since Mileena and Shang Tsung's started the bounty system.

Usually when someone wants something, they go to great lengths to obtain it immediately. When she first noticed the bounty system, the main reward that caught her attention was the separation from Outworld. Most people would be accustomed to this realm after being merged for so long. It's especially unusual during a time where more people actually approved of Mileena's rule more so than Shao Kahn's & Shang Tsung's, although that didn't say much. Why is it that she waited so long? Why did she choose to work with K'etz rather than obtaining her freedom through a bounty?

So many questions about someone who's been in Outworld far longer than the Zaterians. Everyone should know about her and her motivations. Someone in Outworld must've worked with her one before. There had to be a way for her to accomplish her goal without Kotal K'etz. The question is: Why so long?

Ko'otal walked towards the gates and noticed D'Vorah waiting for him. He looked to the ground as he walked pass her. She followed him as the both ventured off to the south east of the Castle.

"What did he say?" she asked.

"He still chooses to be stubborn. He knows what Mileena is capable of, yet he relies so heavily on the blood code and his ego." Ko'otal ranted.

"You can't be serious? It should be clear to anyone that Mileena still has allies outside of the castle grounds. There are even rumors that she was once allied with Earthrealm at one point." D'Vorah commented.

"There's actually more. Someone mentioned a woman who was said to be her sister."

"Her sister?" D'Vorah wondered. She closed her eyes as she attempted to think of who or what Mileena's sister looked like. Her first thoughts were Ferra as she referred to her as her sister. However, she doubted that Ferra would be smart enough to conspire against K'etz. Not to mention that fact that Ferra does not like Mileena.

"It was as if all of them never knew she existed until today." Ko'otal responded.

"And you do not know of this…sister?"

"I never saw either of Shao Kahn's daughters until Mileena assumed control of the throne along with Shang Tsung." Ko'otal confirmed. "The only other sister I knew was Ferra."

"That is strange." D'Vorah stated.

"We can put this behind us for now. Did you get what you needed in the mines?" Kotal asked.

"No." she responded quickly. Kotal stared into her eyes, to which she looked away.

"Did you…"

"No." she stated in a calm manner. "She escaped.

"Were you satisfied?"

"No."

"Is this because of what happened to your realm years ago?"

"No."

"Then…why?" he questioned. D'Vorah looked to the ground. "D'Vorah, I know how you're feeling."

"You don't." she responded. "Not even I know how to feel right now. I might have made a fatal mistake."

"We've gotten our use out of her. You don't have to worry."

"She could've been a useful ally against Mileena. I just couldn't help myself."

"After what she did to you and your people, it's no surprise. Someone who can betray their own people does not deserve to live. Tanya may be an effective sorceress, but in she has always been a coward at heart." Kotal noted. D'Vorah nodded. The two began to walk further.

"In the event that you encounter her, do not engage." D'Vorah demanded. "I want her for myself."

As the two of them walked into the distance, Jade walked from behind a tree. Her eyes were wide, red, and strained. Her mind raced as it replays all of the events that occurred in the past. From the moment the two met all the way up to her rescue from the Cobalt mines. The sound of her heartbeat became louder than the words played in her head as she reminisced on the past.

…

"So you were going to guard the first blade and allow her to dodge the second one, but in return, you'd be sacrificing yourself." Rain explained. Tanya looks at Rain and looks back at Jade. Jade simply smiles.

"If it means that she lives, I'm all for it. If it means we die together, then so be it."

"I had to rely on you! You almost died because of me! I should be ashamed of myself! I wish I was stronger! If only I could-" Tanya finally stopped beating the ground.

"It's alright. I know how you feel. Go to your public quarters and rest. Shao Kahn has a special…engagement for us in 6 days." Jade stated.

…

Jade uses an Earthrealm flashlight to illuminate the room. She points it towards Tanya and looks horrified.

"Ki….ta…." Tanya passed out before she could finish her sentence. Jade looked worried as she examined the wounds on Tanya's body.

"She endured all of this for over 3 weeks?"

"These wounds would be impossible to heal without treatment. Besides, no one leaves the torture room alive." Kitana confirmed. "Whoever did this knew what they were doing."

…

Tanya begins to stumble from exhaustion, prompting both Jade and Rain to catch her.

"We got you." Jade stated. Tanya smiled at them both.

"I'm surprised you're here to rescue me, brother." Tanya joked.

"Step-Brother." He grunted. "I'm here upon Kitana's request." Tanya chuckled at his response.

…

"All of this time…" Jade whispered. "All of this time…Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung, Mileena…it was her. All of this time…she ignored me…after…"

End of Chapter 8

We are finally back on track. This chapter was supposed to release last week, but…circumstances. However, you expect the next chapter to be released not long after since it's pretty much done (but as always, take this with a grain of salt).

(Upcoming—Liability)