"Heroes"
My step-father's tournament was structured almost exactly like a Mortal Kombat tournament. Competitors would eliminate one another from the tournament until one remained and that one would fight the champion for the title. Except Goro was the Outworld champion and he was apparently dead, so my step-father immediately placed another Shokan named Kintaro as Goro's replacement.
As the tournament began, my suspicions of its true purpose did not ease. To make matters worse, I began to fear Kahn was growing suspicious himself. Of me. He insisted I enter this tournament probably to figure out what I was planning. I noticed Mileena following me around at all times. He probably had her enter to watch me.
My first few matches were against random warriors who probably believed they'd make a name for themselves by winning the tournament. I chose to spare my opponents lives, which in itself must have added to my father's mistrust. I still wasn't entirely sure what I was going to do with Liu Kang, but I knew whatever it would be, I'd have to do it soon.
On the fifth day of the tournament I looked over the Tournament Battle Plan and saw that neither myself nor Liu Kang were scheduled to compete. I decided that would be the day I meet with him again. The previous day I secretly left him a note to telling him where to meet me and when, and I left early the next morning.
As I left the fortress I passed my step-father's throne room where I saw him talking with two individuals whom I had never met before. I wondered if perhaps these men may have had something to do with the tournament's true purpose and decided to take a closer look. One was a tall man dressed in spiked black armor. From where I was standing he looked bald and had white skin. Beside him, kneeling before my step-father was a man...at least I think he was a man. He looked like a living shadow. All black.
I came close and heard the white-faced man say in a deep, slimy voice "Since you are moving ahead with your planned 'Revival' Lord Kahn, my employer and I wish to offer you the services of one of our finest warriors: Noob Saibot."
"Yes...and what is the purpose of this generous gift?" my step-father answered.
"A simple reminder of who made your 'Revival' possible and in the hope that when Earthrealm is taken you and my employer will remain in good relations."
"Very well. I accept this...Noob Saibot. And I have not forgotten you or your employer's involvement with my plans. And I too hope we can remain in good relations."
The white-faced man bowed and said "I humbly thank you, Lord Kahn."
My step-father then noticed me in the throne room and said "Ah, Kitana. Come and meet Lord Quan Chi. He, his employer and I have had business with each other for some time now."
Quan Chi came close to me and kissed my hand saying "The lovely Kitana. At last we meet."
"Lord Quan Chi." I answered. For some reason, as he kissed my hand, my skin began to crawl.
"Tell me Quan Chi, when will I get the opportunity to meet this employer of yours?" my step-father said approaching us.
Quan Chi smiled and said "In due time, my lord. My employer is interested in meeting you as well."
"Very well." Kahn answered. "Kitana, would you be so kind as to escort Quan Chi to the portal?"
"Certainly, father."
I walked with this Quan Chi to the portal chamber inside the fortress and every step of the way I could feel my skin crawling. I had been around my fair share of unpleasant people in my life, but for some reason this Quan Chi just made my blood run cold.
As we entered the portal chamber he turned to me and said "I take my leave now. Tell your step-father I wish him good fortune in his coming endeavors."
"Yes...I'll be sure to tell him."
Quan Chi looked at me for a moment as if he was expecting me to say something, then said "Forgive me. I meant your 'father.' Not your 'step-father.'" I suddenly realized what he said, but just stared at him. I didn't know what to say. Before I could reply he bowed in front of me then quietly said "We'll be seeing you.....princess."
He suddenly teleported into the portal, leaving me standing in the chamber dumbfounded. Did he know who I really was...and more importantly, did he know that I knew? And what was the "Revival" he was talking about with my step-father? After he disappeared I felt this horrible sinking feeling in my gut. My skin was still crawling and my blood ran cold. I didn't know at the time, but I had a terrible feeling that would not be the last time I'd encounter Quan Chi.
I shook off the bad feeling Quan Chi gave me and left the fortress to meet Liu Kang. I had to be extra careful. I was certain Kahn was having me followed. I spent more time trying to lose anyone tailing me and covering my tracks than actually traveling.
After several hours, I was finally sure I'd lost anyone who may have been following me. I told Liu Kang to meet me near an abandoned temple located on the Outworld Plains, just outside of the Kuatan Canyons. By the time I reached the temple it was mid-afternoon.
I entered the dilapidated temple and noticed it was empty. When I left the note for Liu Kang, I took into account how long it'd take me to reach the temple without being followed and told him to be here at this time.
"Liu Kang?" I called out, but was only answered with silence.
I began to fear that he didn't trust me after all and turned to leave when I heard someone say "Kitana, wait!" I turned and saw Liu Kang emerge from the shadows. "Sorry. Was just making sure this wasn't an ambush."
"I understand." I answered.
"So have you found anything out?" he asked.
"Well, I expect you already know that there's more to this tournament than my step-father says."
"Yeah, I figured. Raiden warned me and others. He thinks Kahn and Tsung are planning something."
"He may be right. Earlier today before I left the fortress, my step-father was having some sort of meeting with a sorcerer named Quan Chi."
"Quan Chi?" he asked.
"Yes. He wished my step-father luck with his coming plans and mentioned something about some sort of 'Revival."
Kang was quiet for a moment than asked "You think this might have something to do with Earth?"
"I know my step-father." I answered. "If this doesn't involve conquering Earth, he wouldn't even bother."
"He hasn't said anything to you or anyone else? I mean, wouldn't he tell his soldiers about his plans..?"
"Far as I know, the only people who know what this 'Revival' is, are my step-father, this Quan Chi and possibly Shang Tsung."
He thought for a moment than said "Well, I guess I can ask Raiden if he knows who this Quan Chi is. Maybe he'll have an idea of what they're up to."
I nodded then said "I should go now. If I find out anything else I'll contact you again."
I turned and started to walk away when Kang said "Wait. Do you have to go so soon?"
I stopped and asked "Why?"
He shrugged and replied "Kind of would like to get to know you better."
Ask me now, I couldn't say why I decided to stay. Ever since I learned the truth about my parents and Shao Kahn, I felt so isolated. In the years that followed, I was so alone. I guess I was just lonely and wanted someone to talk to. We sat down next to each other near an opening of the temple where we could see a good view of the afternoon sun. It was actually very pretty, which is rare for Outworld.
"What would you like to know?" I asked.
He looked a little nervous then awkwardly said "Well.....what do you...like...?" I started to laugh and he asked "What's so funny?"
"I honestly don't remember the last time I was hit on."
He laughed and said "I find that hard to believe."
"Cute." I mumbled. "What about you? Tell me about yourself. I don't know anything about you."
"I've been trained by the White Lotus Society for as long as I can remember." he began. "I always heard stories about Shang Tsung and how he took over the Shaolin Tournament and how he's been using it as Mortal Kombat. They said I showed the most promise in freeing the tournament and saving the Earth and I just wanted to do whatever I could."
"Awfully noble of you."
He shrugged and said "I guess. I wasn't really looking for glory or anything. I was trained by Master Bo' Rai Cho and as soon as I was ready I entered the tournament." he laughed a little and finished "And I won. Not bad, huh?"
"Do you like fighting?"
"It's all right I guess. I actually prefer fishing, to be honest."
I laughed a little then said "The mighty Shang Tsung...bested by a fisherman kid. I never would have dreamed it." He let out a slight laugh, but he seemed a little upset. I figured he was thinking about what Shang Tsung did to his temple. "I'm sorry about what happened to your temple."
"Yeah." he answered quietly. "So am I."
We were both silent for a moment then Isaid "Mind if I ask: why didn't you kill Shang Tsung after you defeated him?"
He looked at me and answered "My Shaolin brothers always taught me violence solves nothing. It is not man's right to deal out death and judgment...no matter who it may be for. And I....never killed anyone." He paused then continued "Even now, even after what Shang Tsung did to my temple.....I'm not sure if I could kill him in cold blood. I'm just....I'm not sure if it's something I could live with."
"I understand."
"Could you?"
"Could I what?"
"Live with something like that?"
I stared at him for moment and really thought about what my answer should be. "I've learned to live with a lot of things."
He was quiet and looked a little confused about my answer. I thought about my past and the things I've done. I had led him to believe that I was always against Shao Kahn and I had never done anything wrong. I wanted to tell him the truth.
"Liu, there's something you should know about me..."
He stared at me expecting me to say something. I looked into his eyes and I saw something I wasn't expecting. He actually seemed to care about me. More than that...he actually seemed to like me. I didn't want to keep lying about myself...but I didn't want to lose that trust. I wasn't sure if I could bear losing his confidence.
"Kitana..?"
I couldn't do it. I couldn't tell him. Not yet.
"I...I'm not a very hopeful person. All my life I've seen Shao Kahn triumph again and again and only grow in power more and more. You seem like a good person....and it's just that..."
"What..?"
"All the heroes I know are dead. There's so little hope left here. I don't....I..." I trailed off. I didn't know how to say what I wanted.
I was staring at the floor and I felt Liu gently take my hand. I looked up at him and he said to me "There is always hope, Kitana. Whatever happens, I won't let you go on alone. I'll always be there for you."
"You really mean that?"
"Till the end of the world." We stared at each other for several moments then he quietly said "Kitana, can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Can I see your face? Without the mask."
I realized I still had me mask on. Whenever I left the fortress I'd put my mask on. Force of habit. Both times I'd met Liu, I was wearing my mask. I took off my mask and Liu for a second actually looked dumbfounded.
"You're....beautiful."
I couldn't help but smile. It had been so long since someone said that to me and actually meant it. Most of the time it was my step-father's soldiers and servants trying to get one my good side. We just stared at each other for several moments. We almost even kissed....but then I noticed the sun was almost down.
"....I...I should go. It's late."
"You're right. I should go, too. If you find out anything about Quan Chi or this 'Revival' thing you'll contact us right?"
"If I find anything. But I don't think Kahn'll tell me anything, anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"I fear he may be suspicious of me already. He's been having me followed and watched at all times. That's why I took so long in getting here. I had to make sure I wasn't being tracked."
I started to walk out of the temple when Liu said "Kitana...be careful. If things get find us, okay?"
I left the temple and returned to the fortress. It was strange. When I was with Liu, I actually felt...like things would work out after all. That maybe there was hope for me and Edenia. But more than that...I actually felt...safe with him.
I just wished I could tell him the truth about myself. About my past. But I was afraid of how he'd react. I would tell him. Someday...when I was ready.
I was on my way to my chamber when I was stopped by my step-father. "Where have you been?" he demanded.
"Out training. Since I wasn't scheduled to complete today I decided to get some extra practice." I answered.
Kahn stared at me and I could just feel he didn't believe that. After a few moments he grimly said "Don't betray me Kitana. I've no desire to see you dead."
"I've no desire to betray you father. Why would you think such a thing?"
He was silent for a moment then said "Rest for tomorrow, Kitana. I'll think you'll be needing it."
He walked away, leaving me wondering what he meant by that. I went to the Tournament Battle Plan and looked at the planned matches for the next day. As I saw the final match that was scheduled for the dayI felt my stomach sink. The competitors who would fight in tomorrow's final match read:
"Liu Kang vs. Kitana."
End of Chapter XII