"Ahead in Life"
The main kitchen chamber of Shao Kahn's fortress was often bustling with numerous servants and cooks running about trying to get the food ready for the masters. The chamber itself was often nearly deafening due to the sound of steam from the cooking stews and soups, chopping of foods, and on top of everything else, the yelling of cooks shouting orders to the servants. With all the food cooking and crowded people running around, the chamber was almost always unbearably hot. That's the kitchen on a normal day.
But whenever there was a great feast to celebrate something; be it a major victory or a Mortal Kombat tournament or anything Emperor Shao Kahn desired, the kitchen was everything it would be on a normal day...but worse. Because whenever there was a great feast, especially after a great battle, it usually involved the Emperor, his advisors, his lead generals, and sometimes even regional lords of the other planes of Outworld. Depending on the feast, the guest list could go from fifty to one hundred people. They all were there to eat and they all wanted their food immediately.
At the far end a cook suddenly blurted out "Where's the Kuatan salts! I need the salts! Where the hell is Jade!"
"I only have two hands, damn it!" Jade shouted back handing the cook the needed salts. "Where's Lord Shang Tsung's broiled swordfish? He's getting very impatient!"
"Here." he answered handing Jade the large platter of fish. He then handed her another large plate and said "And here's the pork tenderloin, too."
"Right." Jade said, trying to hold the two very heavy plates.
As she quickly made her way out of the kitchen someone quickly stopped her, shouting "Main table needs more wine! Three bottles! Jade get on it!"
"Damn it..." Jade grumbled as she went back to get the bottles of wine. She continued cursing to herself as she struggled to find a way to carry the two plates and bottles of wine at once.
It had been over twenty years since Jade was first brought to Shao Kahn's fortress. Due to Edenian's slow aging, she'd only begun to grow physically. She was actually growing into an attractive young woman. She very quickly adapted to life as a slave and had become very reliable as one of the cook servants. Unfortunately, this meant more work. But through her long years, Jade had slowly grown to accept her hectic life rushing orders and servings around the kitchen and dining hall.
Although Jade had accepted her life as a servant, she was never happy about it. She'd made a few acquaintances with other slaves, particularly Ada, but she mostly kept to herself. Trying to hide her unhappiness. Not a day went by when she wasn't sick to death of rushing orders at top speed and getting yelled at every step of the way. Not a day went by when she didn't wish she was free again.
Jade carefully, but quickly, entered the dining hall and rushed her orders to the main table. She carefully placed the three bottles of wine at different places on the table and gave the pork to the officer who ordered it. She then quickly rushed the fish to Shang Tsung, who upon receiving it grumbled "Took long enough."
As Jade started to leave she couldn't help but overhear the Emperor talking with his daughter Kitana who said "Father, I was thinking of heading to the village of Makeba tomorrow."
"What for Kitana?" the Emperor asked.
"I've heard rumors of some agitators in that area...figured I could do some hunting."
"Are you that bored Kitana?" Kahn chuckled. "That now your looking for trouble? Besides, I believe I already have people stationed there..."
Jade didn't hear the rest of the conversation but was astonished by just how easily Kitana could leave the fortress whenever she pleased. This was not the first time. Jade was often impressed with, not even just Kitana, but how almost all of Shao Kahn's assassins and generals had the freedom do as they pleased. They were free to enter almost any part of the fortress, while the slaves were confined to their designated area.
Another thing Jade often picked up on during her years of servitude was the respect the assassins would get. As a servant, Jade knew little more than constant harassment. She was constantly yelled at by everyone. As a slave, she was little more than dirt. But the assassins could talk to Kahn. And sometimes he'd listen and often praise them when they did their jobs well. Jade remembered not too long ago the Emperor had a great feast simply to celebrate his daughter's first kill.
Jade returned to the kitchen with several more food orders and was only greeted with more yelling from the other cooks. She tried as best she could to remember everything that was being shouted at her from all sides, but deep down she longed for the freedom and respect the assassins had. Although she had no love for Shao Kahn or personal interest in his goals, she very much wanted the status and respect that came from being one of his assassins.
She wanted to be like them. But there was one question that held Jade back: how could she become one?
Tanya and her father entered the village of Makeba in the afternoon. Makeba was located in the mountainous regions of Outworld and was very dreary; mostly desert. As Tanya walked through the dusty, dirty streets, she couldn't help but be repulsed by how filthy the town and its inhabitants were. In the distance the beating of drums in the drum arena could be heard as two warriors fought with each other before a cheering crowd. Tanya vaguely wanted to see the fight, but stayed with her father.
As they approached a nearby cabin, Lysander said "Okay, I'll be in there. I'll probably be a while so why don't you get yourself something to eat or..."
"I'll be in the bar." Tanya cut in. He then nodded and went into the cabin. Tanya then calmly started to walk to the nearest bar.
In the years that had gone by, Lysander still treated Tanya like a ghost. He would continue his great ambitions of freeing Outworld and restoring Edenia to its glory along with his comrades, but in the twenty-or-so years that had gone by, they still had accomplished almost nothing. He would often be sent as correspondence between the Edenian rebels and non-Edenian rebels. Almost like an ambassador.
As the correspondence. Lysander would usually have to leave home on very long trips that would last for days, sometimes weeks. But Tanya paid little mind. Actually, she often enjoyed it. When Lysander would be on his long trips, Tanya would make her home her castle. She soon grew to love her solitude. And the power that went with it. With Lysander gone, Tanya was free to do as she wished, and there was no one to hold her back.
The other children in the village still hated Tanya...but for different reasons now. She treated them as her toys. When she was younger, Tanya sometimes didn't understand why Dex enjoyed picking on her so much. But having tasted that power, Tanya reveled in it. The other children were dirt to her. And not one had the guts to stop her. And Lysander would do nothing. He either didn't know...or just didn't care.
However, every so often Lysander would insist on Tanya joining him on his journeys. Probably some vague attempt on his part to spend more time with her, she figured. But Tanya didn't like leaving her home, she hated traveling to the other dirtbag regions of Outworld, and she despised being forced to meet with the lowly peasants and freaks of the realm. She was never allowed actually join in on Lysander's meetings anyway, so all it did was waste her time.
Tanya entered a small dismal bar and sat down. She ordered a very strong liquor which made the bartender remark "Strong drink for a little girl."
"I'm older than you think." Tanya grumbled. At fifty-three years old, but only looking like an Earthrealm fifteen year old, people often mistook Tanya's maturity. She would sometimes try to use it to her advantage, playing up her appearance as an innocent child...but today she was in no mood. From down the bar, Tanya heard someone chuckle and she said "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. I just admire a girl who can drink like a man." a smug-looking man answered. He appeared to be in his thirties, but in Outworld you can never know. He had short, ratty black hair, with piercing silver eyes with a small scar just beneath his left one. He looked like he hadn't shaved in days and wore beat up black and silver clothes with small pieces of armor attached. He sat closer to Tanya and said "Mind if I buy you a drink?"
"I'm not stopping you."
After the feast, activity in the fortress finally started to die late in the night. Most of the other servants were dismissed, but some remained to clean up. Jade volunteered to help with the cleaning, but mostly because there was something she wanted to ask Ada about. Something that she'd been meaning to ask for a while. When almost everything was cleaned up and put away, Jade waited behind in the darkened kitchen until it was empty except for her and Ada.
As Ada finished cleaning the last of the dishes, Jade quietly began "Ada..?"
"Hey Jade." Ada answered. "What are you still doing up? We're pretty much done here."
"I know...but there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about...privately."
"What is it?"
"Well...I've been thinking a lot lately and I've been wondering..." Jade started, a little nervous about her question. "Is...is there any way...I mean...how do you become an assassin?"
Ada stopped what she was doing and stared at Jade for a moment before asking "What?"
"I mean...how would...could I become one of the Emperor's assassins?"
"Why would you want to be an assassin?"
"It's just that I've noticed a lot...not just tonight but on a lot of other nights...the assassins have it so much better than us. I mean...the Emperor respects them...and they get to do things we can't." She paused a moment then continued "Like...they can leave the fortress and they can...they don't get treated like dirt."
"Jade have really thought about this?" Ada asked. "True, the assassins get to do thing s we don't...but do you know any of the assassins? Almost all of them are degenerate bastards. They kill people. That's there job and that's why the Emperor 'respects' them. Is that really what you want? Jade, you're a good kid and I understand you don't want to be dirt...but would you really rather be scum?"
"That's another thing Ada..." Jade said. "I've been noticing more and more lately a lot of the generals and assassins looking at me." she paused then added "You know...like they look at the slave dancers." Ada didn't answer and Jade finished "One way or another...I don't think I'm going to be a cook much longer."
"You know Jade..."
"You told me when I got here we have to with what life gives us." Jade interrupted. "So yes...I'd rather a killer than those bastards' plaything."
Ada nodded solemnly and asked "So why ask me?"
"You've been here a long time...I can't imagine I'm the first cook who's wanted to become an assassin. Figure if anyone can help me you can."
Ada sighed and answered "No, you're not the first. I've seen it plenty of times so I'm going to tell you right now Jade, the chances of you making it are slim."
"I don't care. I'd rather take the small chance."
"From what I've seen in the years I've been here, the only real way to go from cook to assassin is to hook up with one of the trainers, generals, or assassins...get on their good side...ask really politely that you would like to be trained...and hope they agree. From there I think it's just a matter of impressing the right people."
Jade cringed and said "It's that bad?"
"You don't already have at least some training do you?"
"No, I don't."
Ada groaned and said "That's worse...because I know a lot of them don't like teaching people from scratch."
Jade sighed and grumbled "So that's it? That's my only chance."
"Sorry, kid." Ada answered. "I told you...the odds are slim."
Jade nodded slightly and said "All right, guess I'll call it a night. Thanks Ada, I really appreciate it."
"Jade...are you really sure this is what you want to do? I mean killing people...not everyone can do it..."
"Either that, or I become a whore." Jade said sadly. "We don't get many options, do we?"
Back in the Makeba bar that afternoon, Tanya had been talking over drinks with the man for about a half hour. She hadn't bothered to ask his name yet, partially because she forgot to ask, but mostly because she didn't care. Judging from his appearance, he seemed no better than all the other common dirtbags she'd meet on her father's trips. He was probably trying to get her in bed, she thought. But he was buying all her drinks, so she figured she may as well play along for the time being.
"So what brings a little Edenian girl like you to Makeba?" he asked.
"No choice." she answered. "My father had to come here on business and insisted I join him."
"What's he do?"
"He's an ambassador."
"An ambassador? To what?"
Tanya shrugged, pretending she didn't know her father was a rebel and said "I don't know. Ambassador to the villages or planes or something. I don't know. I don't really care either." He chuckled and Tanya asked "And what do you do?"
"I'm a general in the Emperor's royal guard." he answered, pretending to sound proud about it.
"The Emperor? You work for Shao Kahn?"
"How many other Emperor's do you know?"
Tanya laughed quietly, vaguely impressed she was talking to a general in Shao Kahn's army. "So what's it like working for Shao Kahn?"
"It's not so bad..." he said, before adding "As long as you don't mind being treated like a dog." He took a sip of his ale and continued "See, I got a pretty high-ranking position. Which for most people is pretty damn good. Kahn treats you decent...as long as you do as your told and you get your job done. But at the end of the day...Kahn's the boss. And if he suddenly decides he doesn't like you anymore, you're screwed."
"Well what are you going to do?" Tanya shrugged.
"That's what most people say. Most people just accept that Kahn's god and you take what you can get. But I ain't most people."
"No?"
"Hell no. I say never settle for what you've got. Never accept where you are. Take what you can and don't stop until you've got it all."
"Really?" Tanya said, suddenly getting very interested in this conversation.
"You think I got as far as I did by settling for mediocrity? It ain't easy though. You often find yourself doing things most normal people wouldn't."
"What do you mean?"
He leaned close and said, very seriously "These are harsh times in a harsh world we live in, kid. Sometimes you have to be a real hard, rat bastard...or women's case: real bitch...to get ahead. But if you can pull it off...if you put yourself ahead and not give a damn about anything else...not your family...not your friends...not even your god...if you can do it and get away with...there's no stopping you." As he spoke, Tanya's eyes lit up and he finished "Because the one with nothing to lose...has everything to gain."
Tanya simply stared at him, awestruck. Every word made sense to her. Every word felt as though he was reading from her very soul. She knew exactly what he was talking about. She was already almost there. Her father didn't care. No one else liked her. What was stopping her from taking the next step and taking what she deserved?
The man raised his glass up and said "Here's to getting ahead...and to hell with the rest of the world."
Tanya raised her glass up and said "I'll drink to that."
They both took a big gulp of there ale and the man then got up and said "I best be going. Have a good one, kid."
As he walked away Tanya suddenly said "Wait. I just realized I didn't ask your name. Who are you?"
The man smirked slightly and answered "Armand."
Days later, Emperor Shao Kahn walked through the darkened, gloomy halls of his fortress with his lead advisor and Lord Shadow Priest, Shang Tsung. They had met earlier that morning and were discussing the usual affairs. Mostly military planning, governing of regional planes, and future realms targets for Mortal Kombat tournaments. Things were being discussed as planned, but there was one question that had been plaguing Shao Kahn that he'd been waiting to ask.
"So what is the status of our Gemini project?" he asked.
Shang Tsung moaned, dreading that question. For many years, the Emperor had put a significant amount of effort in training his adopted daughter Kitana and making sure she was loyal to him without question. Why such great interest in the girl, Tsung did not know, but although she had grown up thus far with no knowledge of her native realm or true parents, there was always a concern that should she ever discover these secrets she'd turn against the Emperor. For this reason, a plan to create a more loyal and more vicious replacement for Kitana was placed on Shang Tsung's shoulders.
"My lord," Tsung began, "as I've told you before I fear this Gemini project of yours will not succeed."
"Come now, Tsung." Kahn calmly replied. "Do you mean to tell me that despite all your great skills in sorcery, this simple task cannot be done?"
"It is hardly simple, my lord. I've done extensive study in the necessary spells and what you are asking for is..." Tsung paused, to gather his thoughts. He then glanced around to make sure no one else was listening then continued "Traditionally a clone is created solely for decoy purposes. They are never meant to be independent, living beings. What you are asking for is not just a identical clone...but a clone with special modifications to guarantee a certain degree of loyalty and viciousness."
"So..?"
"So what you are asking for my lord, is something that may be beyond even my skill." Tsung paused then added "And also, creating such a clone requires a extremely delicate balance...so even if I were able to create this being, I cannot guarantee it will come out exactly as you wish."
"This news does not please me, Tsung..." Kahn grumbled.
"Forgive me, my lord. I shall attempt to create this clone as you desire...I am merely warning you now that the chances of this Gemini project working are very small."
Kahn nodded and said "Understood. In the meantime, I'm concerned about Kitana."
"What do you mean, my lord?"
"Since her training's been complete she's had very little to do. I've seen her wandering the fortress. I've found her requesting permission to leave more and more. I fear if she remains unoccupied for too long she may stumble onto something...we do not what her to find."
"What do you suggest we do, my lord?"
"What I need is someone to keep an eye on her. Especially if this Gemini project doesn't work as you say...we may need someone to watch her."
"You mean like a guard?" Tsung asked. "You have her watched enough as is, my lord."
"No." Kahn answered. "Not a guard. Someone who can get close to her. Someone she can trust. Someone who can keep her occupied. Like a companion."
"Who?"
Just then, both Kahn and Tsung heard some talking echoing from down the hall. One voice sounded very agitated while the other belonged to a girl and sounded almost pleading. Curious, Kahn went to see what was happening and spied down the hall one of his assassins yelling at a young servant girl.
"For the last time, no!" the assassins yelled. "I don't train anyone!"
"But I'm a fast learner!" the girl pleaded. "I won't be any trouble to you, I swear. And in the meantime, I'll be your personal servant. I'll get you things and..."
"I said no! Now get out of my way!" the assassin grumbled as he shoved the girl down and stormed away.
Curious, Kahn walked to the girl who seemed visibly disappointed and said "What just happened here?"
The girl looked up and her eyes widened immediately. "Forgive me, my lord. I'm not causing any trouble..." she said quietly and sheepishly as she slowly backed away.
"Stop." Kahn barked. "Come closer." The girl nervously approached the towering emperor as he asked "What's you name child?"
"Jade..."
"What just happened here?"
"I...I requested if I could be trained to be...serve as one of your assassins...my lord." she answered, obviously terrified.
Kahn smiled slightly and said "How old are you child?"
"I...I am fifty-seven years old, my lord."
"Fifty-seven?" he repeated, perplexed by her age.
"She may be...one of them, my lord." Tsung said.
Kahn hissed quietly and asked "Tell me child...do you know what Edenia is?" Jade hesitated, not sure if she should know or not. After a moment Kahn added "Speak up child, do you know what Edenia is? Yes or no?"
After a moment she nervously answered "I...no, I do not, my lord. Forgive me, I am just a simple servant...I do not..."
Kahn smirked again and calmly said "Excellent." He paused, then continued "So you wish to be an assassin? How ambitious of you."
Tsung stared at Kahn, confused about where he was going with this and said "My lord..?"
"Jade," Kahn said quietly. "I may have a use for you..."
End of Chapter II