"Confrontations"
I was standing outside the fortress courtyard, trying to maintain my composure. I hadn't slept all night. I kept thinking about my coming fight with Liu. I kept telling myself it'd be okay. I just throw the fight, tell my step-father that Kang was too formidable and that'll be the end of it. I kept telling myself that, but deep down I doubted it would be that easy. It couldn't have been a coincidence that Liu and I were chosen to fight each other.
A guardsman walked over to me and said "Lady Kitana, it is time."
I took a deep breath and entered the courtyard where my step-father was sitting in his throne. I had no intention of eliminating Liu from the tournament, but I couldn't make it look like I wasn't trying. I watched Liu enter the arena and he looked very uneasy himself. I'm sure he knew how dangerous this fight was going to be. At best, Liu stays in the tournament and Kahn doesn't catch on I'm no longer loyal to him. Worst, we both end up dead.
Liu and I stared at each other from across the arena and Kahn bellowed "FIGHT!"
I moved in close to Liu and we began circling each other. After a few moments he still hadn't made any moves and I decided to make the first attack. I threw some punches and kicks without much effort and he blocked them all, but didn't make any counterattack. From that first pass I could already tell he wasn't trying.
"Damn it." I grumbled under my breath. It wasn't just me that had to be careful in this fight. If Liu didn't fight me hard enough, Kahn would know something was happening between us. I moved in again and pressed my attacks harder. I ended up catching Liu with some punches and a roundhouse kick that sent him to the floor.
Beneath my mask I cringed. I walked to Liu and grabbed some of his hair and pulled him close. I whispered "You have to fight me or you'll get us both killed." I threw him down and made it look like I was taunting him, which required some acting on my part. "Come on hero! Is this the best Earth has to offer?!" I yelled.
Liu got up and braced himself as I charged at him again. We exchanged some attacks until he grabbed my hand and pulled me into a headlock. "I don't want to fight you." he whispered to me.
"No choice." I quickly answered before I rammed the back of my head into his face and kicked him away. "Don't underestimate me because I am a woman little boy! I've beaten far worse than you!" I started yelling. I figured I could make it look like Liu wasn't trying because I'm a woman. Buy us some time. I charged at Liu and took him down with a frankensteiner which ended with me standing on top of him. I knelt close to him and quietly whispered "Liu, please. You have to fight me." I then smacked him in the face and walked away.
Liu slowly rose to his feet and stared at me for a moment. He gave a slight nod and took a fighting stance. I charged at him and this time he started fighting for real. Fighting him, I started to see how he could have beaten Goro and Shang Tsung. He was very fast, which wasn't surprising for his size, but he was amazingly strong. More than that, his fighting style was difficult to follow. He kept switching between offense and defense making it very hard to keep up with him.
I am curious if I really could have beaten him. But after several minutes of fighting I decided we put on enough of a show and I left myself open for his attacks. I could tell he didn't enjoy beating me up so he made it fast. He took me down with a series of kicks which started at my legs and worked their way up to my head until one last kick launched me five feet away.
I started to get up and was suddenly hit with Liu's Flying Kick. I heard that was the attack he used to defeat Shang Tsung and after feeling it myself I understood why. It felt like a steel beam was shot into my chest at high speed. The kick instantly knocked all the wind out of me and I crumbled to the floor.
No need for acting after that. I was done. I was writhing on the floor trying to catch my breath when Liu walked over and lifted me up by my collar. He waited for me to fight back, but I didn't. I could tell in his eyes he really hated doing this. Shao Kahn was staring at us from his throne, visibly upset about the outcome of this fight. After several moments he yelled out "Liu Kang wins."
Liu dropped me and slowly walked away, leaving me lying on the floor, trying to regain my breath. I watched my step-father get up from his throne and walk away. Far as I could tell, he didn't seem to notice anything wrong. As I limped back to my chamber, I started going over my situation. Now that I was eliminated from the tournament, I could probably find out more about this "Revival" my step-father was planning. I figured I should also reassure Liu that I was okay.
I sat in my chamber and began thinking of where I could find out what my step-father's Revival was until he suddenly burst into my chamber, followed by Mileena.
"Father..." I began until he suddenly punched me in my face. I flew across the room and slammed into the wall. The blow itself was jarring enough, but I was more surprised that he hit me. My step-father hadn't hit me in years. Maybe centuries.
I tried to pull myself up when he suddenly grabbed me by the throat and screamed in my face "WHAT WAS THAT?! WHAT WAS THAT PATHETIC DISPLAY!!" I tried to answer but he was squeezing my throat. I couldn't breathe. "DO THINK I'M A FOOL??!!!" he continued to yell in my face. "DO YOU THINK I DIDN'T SEE WHAT YOU WERE DOING OUT THERE??!!" He then propped me against the wall and lifted me into the air. "I KNOW YOU BETTER THAN YOU KNOW YOURSELF! YOU REALLY THINK I WOULDN'T SEE WHAT YOU WERE DOING??!!" I tried to answer, but I couldn't even really hear him. I was struggling to breathe but his grip kept getting tighter and tighter. I seriously thought he was going to kill me right there. As he was yelling at me, I noticed Mileena watching from the door, quietly laughing.
Just as I was about to pass out, he let go and I collapsed to the floor. I struggled to stand and say ".....f-father.....I.....I.....don't...know what....."
He suddenly hit me again, sending me back down to the floor. "Don't you lie to me! I want to know what you're up to! What are you planning?! Tell me or I swear I will personally tear out your God damn heart myself!!"
"I...I don't know....what you're talking about. I'm not....I'm not planning anything...." I choked out.
"Oh..? Then explain that pitiful display you just showed! You expect me to believe that you could not defeat that pathetic mortal?!"
"He...defeated Goro..and Shang Tsung....maybe he's not as...'pathetic' as you think..."
"As if you couldn't defeat Goro and Shang Tsung yourself?! Do you think me a fool?!"
"You tell me father! You apparently know me better than I know myself!" I snapped back at him.
He hit me again and yelled "Don't talk back to me!" My step-father stared at me for a few moments then grimly said "You're on thin ice Kitana. I'm warning you...if I found out you're planning something against me...do not think I will hesitate in killing you myself!" He turned and started to leave but stopped by Mileena who was still standing by the doorway, giggling over what was happening. "Be silent! Keep your tongue in your wretched mouth!"
Kahn left my chamber leaving Mileena and I alone. As I struggled to stand and catch my breath Mileena quietly said "Well done, sister. You may have father fooled, but not me."
"What are you talking about?"
"You have some nerve you know that? Some nerve to betray our father after all he's done for you."
"'All he's done for me.'" I said grimly. "You have no idea what's he's done to me."
"Do you know how good you have it? Do you know what I would give to have your life, sister?! Do you know what I would give to have father love me like he loves you?!"
Considering all I've gone through in my life with Shao Kahn, there was something about Mileena defending him and claiming he loved me that set me off. I then snapped "Don't call him 'father' and don't call me 'sister.' He's not our father and I am not your sister."
Mileena stared at me for a moment then quietly asked "What do you mean..?"
"Don't play stupid, Mileena. You really think I wouldn't figure it out sooner or later? I know what you really are."
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Do you really think Kahn will accept you once I'm gone? Trust me Mileena, if he wanted you to take my place, it would've already happened centuries ago."
"I don't....I don't know..."
"Mileena, just drop it! Do you expect me to believe you don't know what you really are? Why Kahn never accepted you?"
"Stop it...."
"You know damn well why he doesn't accept you. And you should know damn well he doesn't 'love' me."
"Shut-up! You don't know what you're talking about!" Mileena yelled.
"Oh really? Then take off your mask Mileena. Let me see your face."
"What..?"
"All these years, Mileena. I've never once seen your face. Why not? We're sisters aren't we?"
"Stop it..."
"It's because you're not really scarred are you? It's something else isn't it?"
"Shut-up, shut-up, shut-up..." Mileena started repeating, covering her ears.
"He doesn't love you Mileena. Because of your face. Because you're not my sister. Because you're really just my clone!"
"NO! Shut-up! I won't listen to this anymore!! You're a damn liar!!" she screamed and ran out of my chamber.
After she left, I calmed down and began to wonder if perhaps Mileena really didn't know she was my clone. Or at least she refused to believe it. Maybe Mileena was like me more than I thought. Maybe she thought she was someone only to find out she wasn't. Maybe she's like I was...believing she was the daughter of Shao Kahn and that was her place.
Then I thought maybe by finding out what she really is she'll turn against Kahn, too? Maybe I won't have to go through this alone after all?
I'd have to worry about Mileena later. Although I was still sore from the fight with Liu and the beating from Kahn, I decided to ignore it and try to investigate what the Revival was going to be and what it meant. I took a guess in assuming Shang Tsung was involved as well. It would explain why my step-father spared his life and rejuvenated his youth.
I sneaked to Shang Tsung's chamber and waited outside until I was certain he was gone. I crept inside and started looking through his notes. I didn't find much except numerous journal entries that repeated over and over "Liu Kang must die." I also read some entries that went on and on about his outrage over being defeated by a "lowly fisherman boy." I didn't read too much into it. I had no interest in investigating the mind of a deranged sorcerer.
I finally found a few notes that referred to the "Revival." I looked through the notes and saw the name Quan Chi and also a name I had never heard of: Shinnok. I was unable to read too much because I heard the door begin to open and quickly hid away in the shadows of the chamber. Shang Tsung had returned and as soon as I got my chance I sneaked out unnoticed.
From what I was able to read, apparently this "Revival" was going to be some sort of resurrection. It would also take place on Earth. I started to wonder who would be resurrected and what that would have to do with Kahn conquering the Earth? Maybe it was this Shinnok person? Maybe if he was resurrected on Earth, he'd open a portal to Earth and allow my step-father to invade? Or maybe it was something else?
It didn't really matter who was being resurrected, for whatever reason it was crucial in the conquering of Earth. I would have to tell Liu and his allies and hopefully they'll be able to stop it. I started to make my way to the Earth warriors quarters when I finally realized the purpose of this tournament. The champions of Earth and Earth's defender were all here in Outworld. They wouldn't be able to stop this resurrection in time, even if they knew who it was. This tournament was just a distraction.
As I realized this, I started to run to the Earth warriors' quarters, but I feared we may already be too late. The Earth warriors' quarters were located on the other end of the fortress. I didn't bother trying to cover my tracks in getting there. I figured we were out of time and Kahn already practically knew I was up to something anyway, so it didn't matter.
I found their quarters and quietly went inside where I found Liu standing on the balcony outside with the other Earth fighters Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, and Jax. I quietly walked to the balcony entrance and called "Liu!"
Liu turned and saw me and said "Kitana! What are you doing here?"
"Hey, so this is Kitana?" Johnny Cage said.
He and the others came inside and I began "Listen to me, you all have to get out of here now. This tournament is just a trap."
"What do you mean?" Liu asked.
"After our fight I looked through some of Shang Tsung's notes. This 'Revival' they're planning is some sort of resurrection."
"Who are they resurrecting?" Kung Lao asked.
"I don't know. But I do know it's going to be on Earth. I don't know how, but this will somehow allow my step-father to invade and conquer."
"So what does that have to do with us?" Johnny Cage asked.
"With all of us here, who's left to stop the resurrection on Earth?" Kung Lao answered for me.
"Exactly. And it's probably going to happen soon so you all need to get out of here as soon as possible."
"We need to go now." Kung Lao ordered.
Kung Lao, Cage, and Jax started to gather some of their things, but Cage and Jax stopped and came to me and Cage asked "Hey...Kitana, right?"
"Yes?" I answered.
"Listen, have you by any chance seen or heard of Sonya Blade?"
"Tall blonde wearing green. Face is a constant sneer." Jax added.
"Yes. I met with her before you were all brought here. She's still alive."
"Where is she?" Jax quickly asked.
"She's being kept in the dungeons below the fortress with another one named Kano. Third level in the far left corner."
"Wanna go now?" Cage asked Jax.
"It's what we came here for, didn't we?" he answered.
"All right. Hey thanks, Kitana." Cage said patting my back. "We'll meet you guys after we get Sonya." he then added before he and Jax left the chamber.
I then noticed that while this was happening Liu was still standing in front of me. "Kitana," he began, "I want to apologize for what I did to you out there."
"It's nothing. I told you to do it." I answered.
"Are you okay?"
I let out a slight laugh and said "Sore...but I'll live."
He smiled for a moment then said "Where'd you get that bruise on your face? I didn't give that to you did I?"
I didn't even realize my face was bruised but figured it must've come from when Kahn hit me. "Probably not. After our fight, my step-father decided to discipline me for losing."
"He hit you?" Liu asked grimly.
I could tell Liu was not happy to hear Kahn hit me, but I said "Liu, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Liu was quiet for a few moments then said "Kitana, I want you to come to Earth with us."
"What?"
"It's not safe for you here anymore. I want you to come with us. And maybe we can find a way to stop this resurrection thing and figure out how to fight Kahn."
"Liu I....I don't know..."
"Kitana, come on. He's hitting you. And now we're all going back to Earth...he's going to know you had something to do with it. with us and we can figure something out from there."
I thought about it. I felt strange about leaving Outworld so suddenly, but he was right about it no longer being safe for me. "Okay. Just let me get some of my things, and I'll meet you all in the portal chamber."
I started to leave but then I heard Liu say "Kitana...be careful." I nodded and left and started to make my way back to my chamber.
As I walked down the hallway I was stopped by a deep, powerful voice saying "Dangerous game you're playing." I turned around and saw it was Raiden. I don't know where he came from, but he was right behind me. I never realized how tall he was, but he towered over me. He stared at me for a few moments with his glowing white eyes and quietly said "I know who you really are."
As he said that I felt my stomach sink. I quickly tried to say "Please I..."
"But," he interrupted, "I have looked into your soul. I know your intentions are genuine, so I have not told them about your past." As he said that I breathed a sigh of relief. "You should tell them though." he continued. "You should tell Liu. Better he finds out from you than someone else."
"I know." I answered quietly. "I want to tell him...but I'm afraid."
"I understand. I do not expect it to be easy, but you should tell him the truth, nonetheless."
"I know. I will...when I'm ready."
Raiden nodded and said "Just don't wait to long." I nodded and he continued "I heard what you told the others. This is most disturbing news. We must return to Earth soon."
"I know. I just hope there's still time to stop it."
"Yes." he paused and said "Go now. But be on your guard." and he suddenly teleported away.
After Raiden disappeared I continued to return to my chamber. Along the way I kept thinking about what he said about telling Liu about my past. About the things I've done. I should tell him. The longer I put it off, the worse it would be. But with everything that I was happening I figured it wasn't the right time yet.
I entered my chamber and quickly ran to my closet. I only intended to get my fans, figuring I'd be needing them soon. Looking back, I wish I had put more attention in Raiden's warning about being on my guard.
I rushed into my chamber so fast, I didn't even notice Mileena was already inside waiting for me.
End of Chapter XIII