Chapter III
"Corruption"
It wasn't long before I became Master Zangyaku's prized student. I only looked like an Earthrealm sixteen year old, but I was years ahead of his other students and still learning. And through it all, Zangyaku kept his promise to be mean, hateful and degrading to me. And he was right. It was this method of teaching that got me so far. I think deep down though, Zangyaku started to like me. In his own way.
After almost fifty years of training Zangyaku decided I was ready to learn his deadliest technique.
"Kitana, I think it is time you learn the 'Touch of Death.'" he said to me as we approached a training dummy in the corner of the dojo.
"'Touch of Death' master? You're going to teach it to me..? I...I'm honored..." I answered with a bow.
"Be silent! No time for false modesty!" he grumbled at me. I was genuinely humbled by this gesture, because I had heard Zangyaku never taught anyone the Touch of Death. "To do the Touch of Death, you must harness you inner energy. You inner warrior spirit. You focus it, into you're finger tips, and then, when you are ready...you STRIKE!" he yelled as he struck the dummy with his index and middle fingers. He slowly pulled his hand away and after a moment the dummy exploded.
"M-master....I...I don't know it I can do that..."
"If you cannot do it, why would I teach you? Do you think me a fool?"
"No master...forgive me."
"I will teach you what to do. Let us begin."
We spent hours trying to teach me how to harness my inner energy. It's not as easy as it sounds. I wouldn't even know where to begin explaining how one is supposed to do it, I barely understood it myself.
I continued practicing it unsuccessfully into the hours of the night until finally Zangyaku said to me "That'll be enough for now. You are close, I can sense it. Keep practicing and you'll soon get it."
"I don't understand master. Why shouldn't I keep trying now?"
"This was your final lesson Kitana. I have nothing further to teach you." he answered which shocked me.
"I-I'm ready?"
"Yes. I tell you this in complete honestly, with no ego: you were my finest student. You were born to be a warrior Kitana. You took to everything I taught you so naturally. No matter how hard I was on you, you continued on until you got it right."
I was dumbfounded by what he was saying. All the years I knew Zangyaku he never, NEVER said an encouraging word to anyone. Nothing was good enough, nothing was ever enough, but here he was, praising me as his finest student.
"I......I......thank you master." I managed to say with a humble bow. He bowed too and I then hugged him, which I think caught him off guard.
"All right, that's enough." he mumbled pushing me off him. "Tell me Kitana, have you chosen your preferred weapon?"
"I'm still not sure yet, master. So far I like the steel fans best, though."
"A good choice. A deadly weapon in the right hands." He paused for a moment and said "From here, I set you out into the world as a warrior. I believe you have the skill to bring any opponent to their knees. I wish you farewell, Kitana."
"Thank you master." I said bowing again.
I left Dragon Mountain and returned to my father's fortress. I went to my chamber where I continued to practice the Touch of Death, but still to no success. After some time, I was summoned to see my father by one of his messengers. I went to his chamber where he was waiting for me.
"Approach my daughter." he said upon my entrance.
I kneeled before him and said "You wished to see me father?"
"Yes." he answered. "I heard that you're training with Zangyaku is finished."
"Yes it is father. He gave me my final lesson today."
"In that case, I believe you are ready for your first mission."
"Really..? You think I'm ready..?"
"Yes. Now is the time you prove yourself as my assassin."
I was shocked. First Zangyaku, now my father was giving me my first real mission. And an assassination. Even though I was being trained to kill, I had yet to actually murder anyone. I honestly wasn't sure if I was ready for that, but I didn't want to disappoint my father.
"Who shall I assassinate for you father?"
"You're target is Master Zangyaku."
I didn't say anything. I just stared at my father, speechless. After several moments I managed to choke out "What..?"
"I received reports that Zangyaku has recently accepted several new students who are part of the Outworld resistance. We cannot risk him creating warriors such as yourself for our enemies."
"But.....but...kill him..? Can't we just..."
"No. It is too dangerous. And you have the best chance of killing him Kitana."
I remember feeling a terrible sinking in my gut as if I was about to throw up. There were so many reasons why I didn't want this mission. "F-father....I don't think I can do this..."
"I can only entrust this important mission to you, my daughter. Only you can complete it." He paused for a moment and finished "Do not disappoint me." I was dispatched to return to Dragon Mountain the next morning to kill my teacher. I was so tense the whole way. That this was my first real mission and my first assassination was intimidating enough. That I was supposed to assassinate Master Zangyaku, one of the most skilled and dangerous warriors in Outworld was enough itself. But I was being sent to kill my teacher, the man who taught me everything I know about combat. I felt like throwing up the whole journey.
I finally reached the Dragon Temple and found Zangyaku in the dojo by himself. His other students were exercising outside which was good. At first I considered trying to kill him with stealth, but I knew that would never work, even if I wasn't terrified. Zangyaku would sense me coming from a mile away. Besides, I honestly still wasn't sure if I was going to kill him.
"Back so soon? Don't tell me you missed my disparaging?" he said calmly.
I had to be extremely careful here. If he sensed something was wrong, if I acted in any way out of the ordinary.....he'd have shattered my spine and my skull before I even knew what hit me. I tried to think of reason why I was back and all I managed to come up with is "I decided the steel fans will be weapon of choice." remembering that I brought a pair of them with me.
He nodded slightly and said "Is something troubling you?"
This was getting dangerous. This could get so bad so quickly. Zangyaku was a master of body language and telling people's voices. He'd know if I was lying to him. So I decided to tell him the truth. "Yes, master. My father has assigned me my first mission."
"Yes..?"
"And it's an assassination and I....I don't know if I can to do it."
I expected him to go into a rant about how weak I was as a warrior but he instead gently placed his hand on my shoulder and said "That is understandable. No one's first kill is ever easy."
He turned around and started talking about something that I honestly don't remember. This was my chance I thought to myself. His back was turned and unprepared. I knew if I was going to do this, it'd have to now. I drew my fans and prepared to strike. This was my one and only chance to accomplish this mission, but I didn't know if I could do it. I owe so much to Zangyaku and his teachings. However, cruel he was, he was like a second father to me. That he entrusted me his Touch of Death technique.....he called me his best student.....I couldn't do it....
But then I thought of my father....I couldn't disappoint him...
I could not wait. I could not afford one error. This would be my only chance. If I messed up, I'd be dead. My fans were drawn and I was ready to strike, but as Zangyaku began to turn around, I made a crucial mistake.
I hesitated.
What happened next was pure luck. No other way to describe it. I was so lucky. Beginners luck I guess one would call it. Because Zangyaku turned and saw me with my fans drawn, ready to strike. He could have easily killed me before I even had a chance to move. But...he hesitated, too. For just a moment longer.
I guess is was mostly panic that he caught me that made me do what I did next. Without thinking I thrust my fans into Zangyaku's gut. They cut through his body and pinned him into the wall behind him. He made a horrible gurgling sound as blood vomited from his mouth. I just stood in front of him, frozen.
He looked up at me and spit out "Kitana..! You...traitorous....ungrateful...whore!! I swear...to you....you...will...not.....get...away...with...this...betrayal!!!"
I tried to shut out his words but they sank into me. I closed my eyes and let what had happened wash over me. I still felt a terrible sinking in my gut and I felt my blood and heart run cold. How could I have done this, I kept thinking to myself. He hesitated when he saw I was going to strike. He did like me after all. I almost wanted to cry. But I then thought of my father. He wanted me to be strong. To make him proud.
I felt my emotions turn to steel as I looked at Zangyaku and said "Master, you would be proud to know: I finally mastered the Touch of Death. But I decided to make my own variation of it. I'm thinking of calling it the 'Kiss of Death.'"
With that I focused my energy like Zangyaku had taught me, but rather than focus it into my fingers, I focused it into my lips. I leaned close to Zangyaku and gave him a light kiss on the forehead. "This is my farewell to you, my teacher."
I took a step back and Zangyaku let out a blood-curdling screech as his body began to expand. Veins all over his body began to bulge and the blood in his body began to overflow and break out of his skin. His chest then exploded in front of me, showering me with his blood. I did not flinch or close my eyes as the blood drenched me. After Zangyaku's death, there was a strange stillness in the dojo.
I looked up at the ceiling and closed my eyes. I felt my teacher's blood wash over me and suddenly that horrible sinking feeling went away. As it did, I felt my heart turn to steel and my blood turn to ice. It felt as if something in my had died. At the risk of sounding dramatic, I think that was my childhood dying. It was Kitana, the naive, innocent child who closed her eyes....but it was Kitana the assassin who opened them again.
At the dojo doors, two of Zangyaku's other students had burst in. I guess they heard the screaming. The found what was left of Zangyaku, shattered to pieces on the floor and me standing over him, drenched in his blood. I turned and stared at the two students, waiting for them to make the first move.
In a rage, the first student charged at me, intent on making me pay for my betrayal. But before he reached me, I, without thinking, almost on instinct, pulled my fans from the wall and charged at him. I ducked his attack and I cut his belly open with my fan. Before the other could react I threw the other fan which embedded itself into his face.
As the two students fell to the floor, I stopped to take in what was happening. This time though, as I killed them, I felt no sinking feelings or anything like that. Instead, I felt righteous. I was strong. They couldn't hurt me. I was the daughter of Shao Kahn and he would be proud of me. I'm ashamed to admit now....but I even started to laugh.
I took my fans and took Zangyaku's head as proof of my success and silently escaped Dragon Mountain unnoticed. I returned to the fortress and presented my father with Zangyaku's head, almost immediately after I arrived. I didn't even take time to clean his blood off of me.
My father stared at Zangyaku's head and at me covered in blood. Even he seemed almost a little surprised. He then started laughing and clapping and proclaimed "Bravo, my daughter! Bravo! I must admit I never expected you to complete your mission so fast, much less this well! You have done beautifully!"
I bowed and said "I am at my lord's service."
My father rose from his throne and continued laughing and said "Come! Clean yourself and we shall have a feast to celebrate you're outstanding success!" My father came close to me and placed his hands on my shoulders and said "You have made me proud, my daughter."
My father left to prepare the feast and I simply stood in front of his throne, basking in my newfound glory. Looking back, I don't know if Zangyaku was really a threat to my father or if I was just sent to kill him as a test. But at the time, none of it mattered to me. My father was proud of me.
Shao Kahn had much reason to celebrate and be proud. He had invested almost fifty years of training into me and I proved his investment was worth it. I was exactly how he wanted me to be. I was now so much more than just his daughter. I was his weapon. His enforcer. His killer.
End of Chapter III
"Corruption"
It wasn't long before I became Master Zangyaku's prized student. I only looked like an Earthrealm sixteen year old, but I was years ahead of his other students and still learning. And through it all, Zangyaku kept his promise to be mean, hateful and degrading to me. And he was right. It was this method of teaching that got me so far. I think deep down though, Zangyaku started to like me. In his own way.
After almost fifty years of training Zangyaku decided I was ready to learn his deadliest technique.
"Kitana, I think it is time you learn the 'Touch of Death.'" he said to me as we approached a training dummy in the corner of the dojo.
"'Touch of Death' master? You're going to teach it to me..? I...I'm honored..." I answered with a bow.
"Be silent! No time for false modesty!" he grumbled at me. I was genuinely humbled by this gesture, because I had heard Zangyaku never taught anyone the Touch of Death. "To do the Touch of Death, you must harness you inner energy. You inner warrior spirit. You focus it, into you're finger tips, and then, when you are ready...you STRIKE!" he yelled as he struck the dummy with his index and middle fingers. He slowly pulled his hand away and after a moment the dummy exploded.
"M-master....I...I don't know it I can do that..."
"If you cannot do it, why would I teach you? Do you think me a fool?"
"No master...forgive me."
"I will teach you what to do. Let us begin."
We spent hours trying to teach me how to harness my inner energy. It's not as easy as it sounds. I wouldn't even know where to begin explaining how one is supposed to do it, I barely understood it myself.
I continued practicing it unsuccessfully into the hours of the night until finally Zangyaku said to me "That'll be enough for now. You are close, I can sense it. Keep practicing and you'll soon get it."
"I don't understand master. Why shouldn't I keep trying now?"
"This was your final lesson Kitana. I have nothing further to teach you." he answered which shocked me.
"I-I'm ready?"
"Yes. I tell you this in complete honestly, with no ego: you were my finest student. You were born to be a warrior Kitana. You took to everything I taught you so naturally. No matter how hard I was on you, you continued on until you got it right."
I was dumbfounded by what he was saying. All the years I knew Zangyaku he never, NEVER said an encouraging word to anyone. Nothing was good enough, nothing was ever enough, but here he was, praising me as his finest student.
"I......I......thank you master." I managed to say with a humble bow. He bowed too and I then hugged him, which I think caught him off guard.
"All right, that's enough." he mumbled pushing me off him. "Tell me Kitana, have you chosen your preferred weapon?"
"I'm still not sure yet, master. So far I like the steel fans best, though."
"A good choice. A deadly weapon in the right hands." He paused for a moment and said "From here, I set you out into the world as a warrior. I believe you have the skill to bring any opponent to their knees. I wish you farewell, Kitana."
"Thank you master." I said bowing again.
I left Dragon Mountain and returned to my father's fortress. I went to my chamber where I continued to practice the Touch of Death, but still to no success. After some time, I was summoned to see my father by one of his messengers. I went to his chamber where he was waiting for me.
"Approach my daughter." he said upon my entrance.
I kneeled before him and said "You wished to see me father?"
"Yes." he answered. "I heard that you're training with Zangyaku is finished."
"Yes it is father. He gave me my final lesson today."
"In that case, I believe you are ready for your first mission."
"Really..? You think I'm ready..?"
"Yes. Now is the time you prove yourself as my assassin."
I was shocked. First Zangyaku, now my father was giving me my first real mission. And an assassination. Even though I was being trained to kill, I had yet to actually murder anyone. I honestly wasn't sure if I was ready for that, but I didn't want to disappoint my father.
"Who shall I assassinate for you father?"
"You're target is Master Zangyaku."
I didn't say anything. I just stared at my father, speechless. After several moments I managed to choke out "What..?"
"I received reports that Zangyaku has recently accepted several new students who are part of the Outworld resistance. We cannot risk him creating warriors such as yourself for our enemies."
"But.....but...kill him..? Can't we just..."
"No. It is too dangerous. And you have the best chance of killing him Kitana."
I remember feeling a terrible sinking in my gut as if I was about to throw up. There were so many reasons why I didn't want this mission. "F-father....I don't think I can do this..."
"I can only entrust this important mission to you, my daughter. Only you can complete it." He paused for a moment and finished "Do not disappoint me." I was dispatched to return to Dragon Mountain the next morning to kill my teacher. I was so tense the whole way. That this was my first real mission and my first assassination was intimidating enough. That I was supposed to assassinate Master Zangyaku, one of the most skilled and dangerous warriors in Outworld was enough itself. But I was being sent to kill my teacher, the man who taught me everything I know about combat. I felt like throwing up the whole journey.
I finally reached the Dragon Temple and found Zangyaku in the dojo by himself. His other students were exercising outside which was good. At first I considered trying to kill him with stealth, but I knew that would never work, even if I wasn't terrified. Zangyaku would sense me coming from a mile away. Besides, I honestly still wasn't sure if I was going to kill him.
"Back so soon? Don't tell me you missed my disparaging?" he said calmly.
I had to be extremely careful here. If he sensed something was wrong, if I acted in any way out of the ordinary.....he'd have shattered my spine and my skull before I even knew what hit me. I tried to think of reason why I was back and all I managed to come up with is "I decided the steel fans will be weapon of choice." remembering that I brought a pair of them with me.
He nodded slightly and said "Is something troubling you?"
This was getting dangerous. This could get so bad so quickly. Zangyaku was a master of body language and telling people's voices. He'd know if I was lying to him. So I decided to tell him the truth. "Yes, master. My father has assigned me my first mission."
"Yes..?"
"And it's an assassination and I....I don't know if I can to do it."
I expected him to go into a rant about how weak I was as a warrior but he instead gently placed his hand on my shoulder and said "That is understandable. No one's first kill is ever easy."
He turned around and started talking about something that I honestly don't remember. This was my chance I thought to myself. His back was turned and unprepared. I knew if I was going to do this, it'd have to now. I drew my fans and prepared to strike. This was my one and only chance to accomplish this mission, but I didn't know if I could do it. I owe so much to Zangyaku and his teachings. However, cruel he was, he was like a second father to me. That he entrusted me his Touch of Death technique.....he called me his best student.....I couldn't do it....
But then I thought of my father....I couldn't disappoint him...
I could not wait. I could not afford one error. This would be my only chance. If I messed up, I'd be dead. My fans were drawn and I was ready to strike, but as Zangyaku began to turn around, I made a crucial mistake.
I hesitated.
What happened next was pure luck. No other way to describe it. I was so lucky. Beginners luck I guess one would call it. Because Zangyaku turned and saw me with my fans drawn, ready to strike. He could have easily killed me before I even had a chance to move. But...he hesitated, too. For just a moment longer.
I guess is was mostly panic that he caught me that made me do what I did next. Without thinking I thrust my fans into Zangyaku's gut. They cut through his body and pinned him into the wall behind him. He made a horrible gurgling sound as blood vomited from his mouth. I just stood in front of him, frozen.
He looked up at me and spit out "Kitana..! You...traitorous....ungrateful...whore!! I swear...to you....you...will...not.....get...away...with...this...betrayal!!!"
I tried to shut out his words but they sank into me. I closed my eyes and let what had happened wash over me. I still felt a terrible sinking in my gut and I felt my blood and heart run cold. How could I have done this, I kept thinking to myself. He hesitated when he saw I was going to strike. He did like me after all. I almost wanted to cry. But I then thought of my father. He wanted me to be strong. To make him proud.
I felt my emotions turn to steel as I looked at Zangyaku and said "Master, you would be proud to know: I finally mastered the Touch of Death. But I decided to make my own variation of it. I'm thinking of calling it the 'Kiss of Death.'"
With that I focused my energy like Zangyaku had taught me, but rather than focus it into my fingers, I focused it into my lips. I leaned close to Zangyaku and gave him a light kiss on the forehead. "This is my farewell to you, my teacher."
I took a step back and Zangyaku let out a blood-curdling screech as his body began to expand. Veins all over his body began to bulge and the blood in his body began to overflow and break out of his skin. His chest then exploded in front of me, showering me with his blood. I did not flinch or close my eyes as the blood drenched me. After Zangyaku's death, there was a strange stillness in the dojo.
I looked up at the ceiling and closed my eyes. I felt my teacher's blood wash over me and suddenly that horrible sinking feeling went away. As it did, I felt my heart turn to steel and my blood turn to ice. It felt as if something in my had died. At the risk of sounding dramatic, I think that was my childhood dying. It was Kitana, the naive, innocent child who closed her eyes....but it was Kitana the assassin who opened them again.
At the dojo doors, two of Zangyaku's other students had burst in. I guess they heard the screaming. The found what was left of Zangyaku, shattered to pieces on the floor and me standing over him, drenched in his blood. I turned and stared at the two students, waiting for them to make the first move.
In a rage, the first student charged at me, intent on making me pay for my betrayal. But before he reached me, I, without thinking, almost on instinct, pulled my fans from the wall and charged at him. I ducked his attack and I cut his belly open with my fan. Before the other could react I threw the other fan which embedded itself into his face.
As the two students fell to the floor, I stopped to take in what was happening. This time though, as I killed them, I felt no sinking feelings or anything like that. Instead, I felt righteous. I was strong. They couldn't hurt me. I was the daughter of Shao Kahn and he would be proud of me. I'm ashamed to admit now....but I even started to laugh.
I took my fans and took Zangyaku's head as proof of my success and silently escaped Dragon Mountain unnoticed. I returned to the fortress and presented my father with Zangyaku's head, almost immediately after I arrived. I didn't even take time to clean his blood off of me.
My father stared at Zangyaku's head and at me covered in blood. Even he seemed almost a little surprised. He then started laughing and clapping and proclaimed "Bravo, my daughter! Bravo! I must admit I never expected you to complete your mission so fast, much less this well! You have done beautifully!"
I bowed and said "I am at my lord's service."
My father rose from his throne and continued laughing and said "Come! Clean yourself and we shall have a feast to celebrate you're outstanding success!" My father came close to me and placed his hands on my shoulders and said "You have made me proud, my daughter."
My father left to prepare the feast and I simply stood in front of his throne, basking in my newfound glory. Looking back, I don't know if Zangyaku was really a threat to my father or if I was just sent to kill him as a test. But at the time, none of it mattered to me. My father was proud of me.
Shao Kahn had much reason to celebrate and be proud. He had invested almost fifty years of training into me and I proved his investment was worth it. I was exactly how he wanted me to be. I was now so much more than just his daughter. I was his weapon. His enforcer. His killer.
End of Chapter III