Miracles
Li Mei and Chan arrive in the town of Sun Do, Li Mei's hometown. The two of them observed the vacant area where her home once was. The bodies and debris were gone. Some of the other citizens notice Li Mei as they walked by the house. She started to notice and forced a smile while waving her hand. She turns to Chan and grabs onto his shoulder.
"I need you to be honest with me, Chan. When you were on your mission, where did Mileena go? A simple direction would help." Li Mei begged. Chan looked at her but avoided any eye contact. She sighed.
"She was assisting us in escorting some people for Knightwolf. They walked down a path left to them by Reptile and his race."
"The locust clan helping Mileena?" Li Mei questioned.
"Strange, I know. Especially after what they did to Shang Tsung. I just wonder what's going on. This all seems to be about more than a simple feud. And Knightwolf's final words…" Chan pondered on everything that had been going on. Li Mei released her grip and turned around to one of the citizens.
"Excuse me, have you seen my father around?" she asked.
"He was here a few hours ago. He said to let him know when you returned," they responded.
"Thanks. If you see him when he returns, could you tell him I said to stay hidden until we return. I'd like to keep him safe at the very least just in case our empress decides to take her plans a step further."
"As you wish," they responded. "And is there anything you need us to do in your time of loss?" Li Mei hugged them.
"You've done enough already. I would ask that you all remain safe, no matter what happens to me." She releases her arms and walks back to Chan.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked.
"I know where she might be. We should probably break the news to her and see where this goes."
"What do you plan to do after we get her response?" Chan asked. Li Mei shook her head.
"I brought you here to answer that question for yourself, just as all Outworlders have done upon arriving here," Li Mei responded. "You know her better than most people. You also know Kitana pretty well despite your disagreement of that fact. You are the only one I feel could stop them from whatever they may be planning." Chan closed his eyes and sighed.
"Alright."
Kitana traverses the living forest once more investigating the whereabouts of Jade. She searched through the inside of the cabin hoping to find something regarding what happened to her after their raid of the Cobalt Mines. The last time she saw Tanya was when she was unconscious in the castle during the assault against Kotal K'etz. Now, both are missing without a trace. Neither of them was included in the Outworld census, something that's never inaccurate.
As she checked the bedroom, she opened one of the drawers and pulled out her photo album. Her smile widened by the turn of each page. Her birth photo with the Queen Sindel and King Jarrod. The photo of her at two years of age, Shao Kahn, and Eva dressed like Sindel with her silver hair visible. The photo of her at seven years of age with Tanya, Jade, and Shao Kahn at the Edenian museum before it was destroyed. The photo of her at 16 years old with Shao Kahn and the original council members after taking the realm of the denizens of Sun Do. Another with her and Mileena at this very cabin. A picture of the dead Mileena clone killed by Jade. A few different photos of Jade & Tanya. A few of the photos were of Lui Kang & Kung Lao training. Some more photos included the two interacting with Chan, Kira, and Kobra. A few images of Raiden. An image of Johnny Cage, who was being imitated by Tesla. An image of the Special Forces in disarray after the attack by Skarlet. A few photos from the last Mortal Kombat Tournament. And one last photo showing Kitana, Tanya, Jade, & Mileena lying on a bed of white lilies.
Or so she thought. There was one last photo that she was unaware of. One that seemed more recent with its warmth still present. It was a photo of Mileena being embraced by Ko'otal. However, with the squint of an eye, she noticed a reflection of Tanya's golden attire in Mileena's eye. She also noticed a dark shadow in the background that looked exactly like Bi Han.
"What blasphemy is this?" Kitana shouted.
"Empress Kitana! Come out slowly," Khameleon called from outside of the cabin. Kitana slammed the photobook on the desk of the cabin. "We will allow you to hold onto your weapons. We are not as cruel or dishonorable as you are."
Kitana slowly peeked her head outside of the cabin. She spotted ten members of the Locust Clan including Reptile. Kitana frowned as she stared into his eyes. He shook his head. Khameleon stood with one hand on her waist and the other holding a short sword. Kitana stepped out further and noticed one of the members standing on the porch. Of course, Kitana could attempt to take him out with little success but it would probably be best to keep things civil for now. The Locust clan may be few in numbers, but they are far out of her league. As she walked further towards Khameleon, she looked back and saw one member carrying scythes was standing atop of the cabin.
"You may stay there," Khameleon commanded. Kitana forced a smile, though far too crooked to convince anyone that she was calm.
"So, this is where you planned to do it?" Kitana questioned.
"If we wanted any of you dead, the deed would be done. Our invisibility cloak isn't as perfect in this forest. This was my home at one point. Until Ashrah decided it wasn't anymore. We fear the deaths of our family and friends as their souls are forever trapped in this forest until our realm is freed," she explained. One of the trees roared. Kitana stood frightened by the sound.
"Princess Kitana," Reptile began, "as champion of Earthrealm, I hereby sentence you to exile. Your right to be the Empress of Outworld is permanently revoked by law of Empress Mileena."
"No such law exists," Kitana stated.
"Mileena created this law for my protection when Shang Tsung assumed the throne. If he were to orchestrate my assassination, Mileena gave me the authority to fully revoke him of his position."
"So, it was you all along," Kitana stated. Reptile shook his head once more.
"Foolish girl. Reptile is not a member of the Locust Klan," one of the other members stated.
"Worry not." Said Khameleon. "Her time has come. We shall take our leave. We bid you farewell, Empress Kitana." One by one, the Saurians activated their camouflage and left. Reptile gives one final farewell nod before activating his camouflage. Kitana looked around. The presence of the Saurians was nonexistent. Whether it was the camouflage or their speed was unknown to her.
Kitana's ears twitched as the sound of harsh wind traveled towards her left ear. She immediately ducked as a sawblade hovered over her head. She looks at the tree that was struck by what looked like a hat. She alternated her attention between the hat and the direction from which it came. Her arms quivered as she struggled to reach for her fans. Another arm reaches out to pick them up from the ground. She peeps the violet colors coated on her nails as the woman grabs them. She slowly looks up.
"Mother? You're alive?" Kitana whispers. Sindel stares down at her with a strange smile. It was not the smile a daughter would love to see on a mother's face.
"Stand up!" she commanded. Kitana rose from the ground immediately. Sindel tosses Kitana's fans over her shoulders. Kitana continued to stare into her mother's eyes in disbelief. She could not find the words to communicate with her. She looks back towards the hat as it pulled away from the tree and towards the hand of Kung Lao. He smirks before stylishly putting on his hat and spinning it around. Her eyes then move to a nearby tree.
"Why do you look away Kitana?" Sindel asked.
Kitana slowly looked back at her mother. She lowered her sight towards Sindel's feet. Sindel smirks before backhanding her across the face. Surprising to Kung Lao, Kitana was still standing. She lowered her head as her hair covered her eyes. He also noticed that her tiara was smashed against another nearby tree. Sindel simply laughed. Her laughs echo throughout the woods, being heard by the many warriors who were nearby.
End of Chapter 22
(Upcoming—Signs & Wonders)