Chapter IV
"Sisters"

Positive female role models in my life are few and far in between. My mother committed suicide which, thanks largely to my father, I resented her for. Beyond that I remembered very little of her. The only other women in the fortress were some assassins, servants, and slaves.

The assassins were good to me. I guess they understood what I was going through with my training. No one assassin stands out as a mother figure though. Outside of training, I never saw or spoke to them. The servant women were always very awkward around me, like they were afraid to speak to me. Why, I didn't know. My father would always reassure me that they weren't worth talking to anyway. They were mere peasants he'd say.

And then there were the slave girls who were used for dancing and "pleasuring" the soldiers and my father. Them, I wanted nothing to do with. I hated that they used their bodies to survive. Especially since I was training to be a warrior I always felt superior to them. At the time, I never realized they probably didn't have a choice in the matter.

Growing up the only girl surrounded mainly by men can be pretty isolating. A few years had gone by since I killed Zangyaku. I'd been on a few more missions and done a few more assassinations, but nothing really noteworthy. Things were pretty slow in Outworld at the time. I spent most of my time wandering around the fortress...bored and lonely.

One day I decided to do some exercise in the sparring chamber. No particular reason, just to kill time really. I walked in and started practicing some fighting techniques when I heard someone else in the room yelling. I looked over and at the other end of the chamber saw one of the older instructors yelling at someone I couldn't really see. I don't know what had happened, but the instructor was waving his arms around and pacing back and forth. Looked like a drama queen. I got closer and saw he was yelling at a dark skinned girl who was sitting on the floor. She looked about my age and she seemed upset.

"What was that?! You just crumbled to the floor like a drunken fool!" he yelled, still pacing back and forth in front of her.

"I'm sorry master. I slipped." she answered quietly.

"You 'slipped???'" he repeated, dumbfounded. He grumbled to himself and groaned "Teaching you is like trying to teach a crippled mule. I swear you do nothing right! You never listen.....you stumble all over the place...you can't throw a decent punch do save your life....is there nothing you do right Jade?"

"I'm sorry master. I'm trying..."

"Then you're even more hopeless than I thought." he interrupted. "I'm wasting my time here. If you want to learn how to fight, find a new instructor." With that he stormed out of the chamber, leaving the girl, Jade I guessed, sitting on the floor.

I walked a little closer and saw that she was very upset from the instructor's tirade. At first, I was surprised that she would take such abuse from a little worm like that and let it get to her so much. But then I remembered what I went through with Shang Tsung and Zangyaku. And how upset I'd get when my father said I disappointed him. Guess I sympathized with her a bit.

"You okay?" I asked.

She turned around and suddenly jumped up, bowed, and said "Forgive me mistress. If you wish to use the sparring ring I will leave you..."

"It's okay, calm down. I just came to talk."

She stared at me like she was very confused and nervous about something and said "...um...yes mistress. I am at your....service..."

"Please. Don't call me that. Just call me Kitana."

"Yes mis.....um...Kitana..." she answered very awkwardly.

I was aware that some servants may be afraid to talk to me just because I was Shao Kahn's daughter but this was too much. "Could you please just talk normally? What is it that you think I'm going to do?"

She stared at me again then quietly said "The other servants say we should never talk to you. They're all afraid of you and afraid if they say something you'll tell your father and have them killed."

I'd like to say that surprised me. To be honest, I wasn't sure how I'd react if one of the servants or slaves said something that angered me. At that time, I probably wouldn't have killed them.....but I probably would've beaten them into unconsciousness. But I didn't want to say that to her because it would've scared her off and I really wanted someone to talk to.

"I wouldn't do that. Is that really how you all see me?" I said with a forced laugh. I cleared my throat and asked "So your name is Jade, right? Tell me about yourself."

"Well...I'm one the servant girls for the cooks. I decided to start training to be one of your father's assassins because I figured that'd be better than being a cook because...I really hate cooking."

"I understand. I'd feel the same way."

"I asked Instructor Bakayarou if he would train me a few weeks ago and he agreed but....I guess you saw how it's going. He says I'm hopeless. I guess I'll go back to being a cook." she answered very depressed

"Well I'll let you in on a secret, Bakayarou wasn't the best choice. He's kind of a joke." She laughed a little bit then I started to think it'd be nice to have partner my age with me on missions. Someone I could talk to. So I said "Would you like me to give some pointers?"

"You..? Oh no...I couldn't trouble you..."

"No trouble. I really don't have anything else to do." I cut in. "We'll start with a little sparring to see how much you already know."

"I...I really don't know much. Bakayarou didn't teach me a lot..."

"It's okay. It's just a friendly spar. I'll go real easy on you."

Jade nervously braced herself took a fighting stance. I threw a slight punch which she managed to block and I followed with a kick which she was able to dodge. She countered with a punch of her own which I easily avoided.

"Not bad." I said. "You know a little bit."

We continued sparring back and forth. I went very slowly so she could keep up and she was doing surprisingly well. She seemed to already know the basics but she didn't have much technique. I wanted to see how far she really was so I started to press my attacks on a little harder. I could tell she was starting to have trouble keeping up.

I guess I was being too easy on her. I was throwing a few punches and kicks without much effort and she suddenly connected with a stiff punch to my face which caught me off guard. I took a step back and felt my lip with was bleeding a little. For someone with almost no training or experience that was a good hit. I looked at Jade and she looked like her life was flashing before her eyes.

"Nice shot." I said.

Jade quickly sank to her knees and started saying "Please forgive me mistress! I didn't mean to do that!"

It's funny looking back on how different Jade was when I first met her. Just a scared servant girl. I decided that I would continue helping in her training. I told one of the better instructors to train her and I would sometimes give her some training myself. She was a lot like me when I was learning. Very eager to learn and she was fast learner. But she developed into her own style. I was usually more defensive and I like to control the pace of my fights. But Jade was fast and powerful. Very hard to keep up with.

Over time, Jade started to loosen up to me. She told me that her mother had died while giving birth to her and she was separated from her father when she was young. She eventually ended up as one of the servant girls in the fortress. She'd say the other servants never really talked to her and she always felt isolated. We seemed to have an awful lot in common and we eventually became good friends. Best friends actually, almost like sisters.

It's ironic really. Because shortly after I met Jade, I was introduced to my "real" sister.

A few years had gone by since I first met Jade and she was coming along very well in her training. I told my father that I wanted her to be my partner on missions. For some reason, he was very apprehensive about my friendship with Jade. At the time, I thought it was because he didn't like his daughter socializing with a lowly servant. But I always figured when Jade proved herself as an assassin he'd accept her.

I remember for some time my father and Shang Tsung were acting very awkward around me. I'd see Tsung sneaking around me which always made me feel uncomfortable. Then I started to hear rumors of a Tarkatan rebellion in the Wastelands. For as long as I could remember the Tarkatans were loyal soldiers for my father. I never liked them. Drunken, violent, mindless barbarians. But a Tarkatan rebellion would be dangerous because they're so many. They're like cockroaches.

One day it came to a head. I heard that a massive revolt had started and the Tarkatans were one their way to the fortress, pillaging and burning everything along the way. My father decided to personally lead the army in a counterattack himself. I offered to join him and help but he ordered me to stay behind. He said I wasn't ready for Tarkatans yet which I honestly didn't believe. But I obeyed and remained at the fortress.

My father and his armies were gone for days with no word, which honestly made me nervous. I started to fear that maybe the Tarkatans had somehow defeated my father and his armies. I wouldn't let myself believe that. My father was Shao Kahn. He would never be defeated. Especially not by a mindless horde of savages.

Finally after days, my father returned victorious. Upon his arrival I went to greet him and congratulate him on his success. When I saw him, Shang Tsung was with him and they were quickly taking someone I couldn't really see to a nearby chamber.

I walked over to see what was happening and asked "Father? Are you okay?"

"Not right now Kitana. I have to deal with this." he quickly answered before he shut the door.

I returned to my chamber wondering what was happening. That night Shang Tsung entered and said to me "Kitana. Your father wishes to see you."

I went to my father's chamber and Tsung was followed. I entered and saw my father waiting for me.

"Kitana. There's someone you must meet." he said taking a step aside. Behind my father I saw a girl who looked my age. She had long black hair which hung in front of her face. She was also very pale and had dark bags under her eyes. I then noticed that she looked like me. Exactly like me. All except she was wearing a mask. "This is your sister, Mileena." my father said.

I couldn't say anything. I just stared at her speechless. After a long time I managed to say "My......sister...."

"Twin sister actually." father said.

I couldn't believe what was happening. It was so surreal. It didn't make any sense. I had so many questions.

"A...a twin sister..? Wh...where has she been all this time? Why am I only learning about her now? I don't understand..."

My father took me aside and quietly began "Shortly after you were born the fortress was attacked by a band of rebels. In the confusion, Mileena was lost and kidnapped by the rebels. We thought she was dead. We never told you because we feared it would upset you."

"Then how did you find her?"

"It seems at some point the Tarkatans got hold of her and I guess they believed she could be used as a bargaining chip against me. But we broke through their ranks and recovered Mileena."

I turned and stared at her. "Why is she wearing a mask?"

My father sighed and whispered "The rebels or the Tarkatans scarred her face. She insists on wearing the mask at all times. I guess she's ashamed of it." I slowly walked to Mileena who was staring at me. My father then said to me "Be generous to your sister Kitana. She has had a difficult life."

To be honest, I never totally believed that she was my sister. There was always something that didn't seem right about her. For some time we never spoke. There was always this animosity between us. My father said Mileena was to be trained to be an assassin as well. At first there was a part of me that feared she'd become father's favorite, but strangely, nothing really changed. Actually, father treated her as he did any other soldier.

After a short while, I was summoned to meet my father for a mission. I entered his throne room and bowed before him asking "You wished to see me, father?"

"Yes, Kitana. I have a small mission for you that should require very little time." he answered.

"I am at my lord's service."

"Seems there's some kind of....philosopher I suppose....who's been riling up peasants in the village of Lei Chen. His name is Dietrik and I'd like you to silence him for me."

"It shall be done my lord."

"Mileena will be joining you on this mission to back you up." he then said. I turned and noticed Mileena was standing behind me. She was dressed exactly as I was, except she was wearing purple. That was a bit....unsettling. "She is fully trained and ready for her first mission."

"...um...father..." I began, "do you think this is really necessary? Surely I....either of do this alone."

"I'm sure you could." he answered. "But I believe it would be best if you two started to get used to working with one another."

Mileena and I gathered our weapons and left the fortress later that day. Lei Chen was only a few miles away, so we walked. The tension during the whole journey was brutal. I kept feeling like I should say something, but I really couldn't think of anything. I really didn't want to be on this mission with her. And I suspected she didn't want to be with me either.

We finally reached Lei Chen by dusk. In the village square we saw Dietrik standing in the center of a large circle of villagers. He was yelling all sorts of nonsense about father and how he oppresses the people. It was not the first time I had heard such rambling. I never understood where these peasants got the gall to demand equal rights with the likes of my father and I.

"I say we wait till he calls it a night then we kill him in his home." I said.

Mileena looked at me and asked "Why don't we kill him right now?"

"He's surrounded by a mob of angry villagers. If we kill him in front of everyone it'll start a riot." I answered.

"So? We can handle them."

"We probably could, but father only said to kill Dietrik. Not to start a massacre."

"There won't be a massacre." Mileena quickly said. "We kill Dietrik...then maybe a few villagers will attack us. We kill them, then everyone else will run scared. They're not warriors down there. Just farmers with pitchforks, lazy middle class people and people with families. No one's going to fight to the death. Besides, we'd be better off killing Dietrik and anyone with him in public. It'll set an example."

I have to admit, I agreed with what she said. "Okay. So how do you want to do this?"

Mileena looked at the crowd and said "Let's just walk right up and kill him."

It wasn't usually my style to do a hit so openly, but Mileena was right about setting an example. This way no one will start trouble in this village again. We got up and calmly walked to the village square. No one seemed to notice our approach until suddenly Mileena blurted out "DIETRIK!"

Dietrik looked up and was greeted with a large sai plunging into his forehead. Villagers began to scream. Some were in fear. Others were in anger. I was just staring at Mileena. Not so much because of her audacity...but because she stole my kill.

She looked at me and shrugged and said "Sorry. Couldn't resist."

A few villagers were staring at Dietrik's dead body outraged at what had happened. One of them yelled "How dare you?! How dare you do this?!" He turned and started yelling at the other villagers "Are we going to let them get away with this?! This is what Dietrik was talking about!"

A few other villagers shouted in agreement and charged at Mileena and me. I drew my fans and began cutting down any villager who attacked me. Mileena was right about these people not being warriors. As a matter of fact, I think they were drunk.

I turned and watched Mileena easily taking down any villager who came at her. As I watched her movements, I couldn't help but notice how easily she fought. According to father, she had only begun training after he found her, which was only a few months ago. Yet she was fighting like she had years of training.

Watching Mileena fight made me feel very uneasy. Something about her moves seemed very familiar. Then she suddenly did a diving kick that I know I had seen before. Then I realized: that was a Zangyaku kick. Those were my moves. She was fighting with my techniques.

When she finished with the last villager, the rest scattered. She tore her sai from Dietrik's head and yelled "Let this be a reminder to you all! This is what happens when you question the rule of Shao Kahn!" She started cleaning off her sai then she noticed I was staring at her. "What?"

"Where did you learn that kick?" I demanded.

"What kick?"

"That diving kick you just did a moment ago. Where did you learn to do that?"

Mileena thought for a moment then answered "I don't know. Just came to me."

We returned to the fortress, but I felt very troubled the whole way. I was already suspicious of Mileena, but now I felt much worse. My suspicions didn't ease when she took credit for the whole mission and made it sound like I just stood aside while she did all the "hard" work.

From that day forward I always felt this terrible feeling around Mileena. Like deep down in my gut, somehow I knew something wasn't right about her. I soon began to fear some day this was only going to lead to something bad.

End of Chapter IV