"True Friends"
Kitana was exercising by herself in the training chamber of her father's fortress. Whenever she was worried about something, she'd often concentrate on her work or simply exercise to get her mind off of what was bothering her. That's what she would do, however it rarely worked.
For the past several weeks Jade had been spying on the renegade general Armand and his coalition somewhere in the southern lands. It being Jade's first real solo missions, Kitana was worried, but tried to remain confident in Jade's abilities. However, there's been no word from Jade for the past few days. Kitana tried to not to worry, but Jade should've reported again by now.
Kitana had met Armand a few times while he was still serving her father. He was certainly a degenerate amongst degenerates in her father's armies. It came as no surprise to her when she found out he turned against her father and would've paid no mind to killing him herself. However, Jade volunteered to prove herself. Kitana tried not to worry herself about Jade, but the thought of what Armand would do to her if he found her...
After exercising for almost an hour, Kitana decided to check with her father if they'd received any word from Jade. She walked to his throne room where she found him speaking with Shang Tsung and one of his messengers. Upon seeing the messenger, she hurried over to see if it was from Jade.
"Father...has there been any word from Jade yet?" she asked.
Kahn looked at Kitana a moment, then sighed "I'm afraid there has..."
He then handed Kitana a small handkerchief. She opened and found a piece of green cloth wrapped inside. The green cloth was stained with blood and Kitana just stared at it, realizing in horror what she was holding. It was Jade's mask.
"An unfortunate waste." Shang Tsung said, nonchalantly. "So what are we to do now, my lord?"
"I'm sure by now Armand and his men have relocated to someplace else." Kahn sighed. "I suppose we should send someone with more experience this time."
"I will go." Kitana suddenly said grimly.
"What did you say?"
"I will find Armand. And I will bring you his head."
Kahn laughed slightly and said "Armand is of little importance. A flea. Besides, we are still uncertain if knows anything about Jeice."
"That doesn't matter. I have to find Jade."
"Lady Kitana, I'm sure she is dead by now..." Shang Tsung said.
"You don't know that!" Kitana snapped. "I must find her!"
"Kitana, calm down." Kahn said. "Jade is most certainly dead. And Armand is not worth your trouble..."
"I don't care! This isn't about Armand!" Kitana yelled. Kahn and Tsung simply stared at her baffled and she added "And even if she is dead, I want to at least avenge her."
"Kitana...calm down." Kahn said grimly. "Armand will be dealt with in time..."
"No! Jade is my friend and I will not leave her out there!" Kitana yelled before storming out of Shao Kahn's throne room.
Kahn and Tsung watched Kitana leave, dumbfounded by her words. After a few moments Kahn said "It seems Jade did her job better than I thought."
"Suppose Kitana does find Jade alive, my lord..." Tsung began. "What could this mean for you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Since Kitana is apparently that attached to Jade...is this an advantage...or a disadvantage?"
Jade lay curled in a ball on the dirty floor of the basement of Armand's lodge. She had been laying perfectly still for some time, trying to block out the memories of the past few days...or more likely weeks. She didn't know how much time had passed, nor did she really care. The days and nights seemed to simply blur into one long nightmare. She cared little for how much time had passed. By that point, she was simply wishing for death.
Over the course of the past few weeks, Armand and each of his men had been taking turns with her. Subjecting her to their torture. Violating her in ways she desperately wanted to forget. Each would take his turn, leering and drooling on her. They hadn't bothered to ask her any more questions. She was no longer their prisoner or their hostage. She was their trophy. Their play-thing.
Jade kept thinking about why she became an assassin. Why she worked and trained so hard to earn her place in the Emperor's forces. She was tired of being treated like property. And she didn't want to end up becoming one of the slave-girls used to pleasure the Emperor and his soldiers. But now, in a cruel twist of fate, she had become exactly what she had tried so hard not to be.
But the worst pain of all...the one thought that pained Jade's heart more than anything..., was the horrible knowledge that she was alone and helpless. Armand was right. No one was coming for her. She knew enough about the Emperor to know he wouldn't bother trying to get her back. Armand and his men would continue to do whatever they pleased with her, only to eventually kill her, and there was nothing she could do to stop them. She was alone. No one was coming for her. She was going to die on the floor of this dismal hole...alone.
Lying on the filthy floor cold, hurting, scared, and alone...Jade for the first time in a very long while started to cry.
Tanya sat by herself in the darkened bar, stewing in bitterness. She'd spent the past few weeks in bars, trying as best she could to drown away her sadness. She hadn't bothered to return home yet at all...instead aimlessly wandering nearby villages. Trying not to think about Jade.
In his arrogance or perhaps because he anticipated the Emperor's forces would expect him to move...Armand and his men remained in the same lodge. Keeping Jade locked away in the basement as some sort of toy. Tanya hadn't returned, but would often find herself trying to go back. Trying to convince herself to do something. But she always found herself turning back around and walking away.
But no matter how much she tried to avoid it, thoughts of Jade haunted her. She kept seeing Jade tied up in Armand's lodge...imagining what he and the rest of his bastard comrades were doing to her. And that constant stinging thought that she didn't help her. That she still wasn't helping her. And the thoughts made her sick.
Tanya actually felt genuinely bad. She did like Jade. She did see her as a friend. More and more Tanya wished she had done something. She had long ago swore to herself she was only going to look out for herself and never care about anyone else. But to her surprise, she found that perhaps deep down, she wanted at least one friend. One equal. She thought she had found someone in Jade. Someone who was just trying to survive and get ahead like she was. Someone who finally accepted her for who she was and didn't judge her.
But now Jade was going to die. And she couldn't help her. Even worse, she turned her back on her. She wished she could have maybe helped, but what could she do? What other choice did she have? If she had stood up to Armand she probably would've been killed or worse. As much as Tanya liked Jade, was she worth sticking her neck out for?
From behind Tanya she heard people talking and made out the words "Armand." and "She's been with Armand."
After a moment, Tanya heard someone approach behind her and a woman's voice ask "Excuse me, but do you know someone named Armand?"
Tanya didn't bother to turn around and mumbled on instinct "No...I don't know Armand."
"Oh really?" the woman answered. "Because people here claim they've seen you with him."
Tanya turned around and saw the woman was a ninja dressed in blue with long black hair and armed with a pair of fans. After a moment, Tanya realized who she was talking to. It was the Emperor's daughter Kitana.
"If you know Armand, I suggest you tell me and tell me fast..." Kitana said grimly.
Tanya hesitated and said "Wait...wait a second." She tried to think of what to say, but wasn't sure what to do. Suddenly a thought entered her mind. A solution to all her problems. And she smiled.
"I don't know Armand...but I know where you can find him."
Jade hadn't moved at all. She remained lying in the same spot on the floor, waiting...and dreading...the next time Armand or one of his men would decide to have their way with her. But mixed with Jade's bitterness and despair, a terrible, growing anger was building. She hated them. She wanted them to suffer as they had been making her suffer. She wanted them to feel helpless and scared. She wanted them to hurt.
"Jade...Jade..? Are you okay?" she suddenly heard someone whisper quietly over her.
She then felt someone touch her shoulder and she suddenly jumped up and almost screamed, but her mouth was quickly covered. As Jade tried to calm down, she saw who it was. It was Kitana.
"It's okay...it's okay...it's me." Kitana said soothingly as she pulled her mask off. "You're all right now. I'm here. You're going to be okay."
As Jade calmed down, Kitana lifted her hand allowing her to speak. "Ki...Kitana..? What...what are you...doing here..?"
"I'm going to get you out of here." she answered. "Listen, stay down here and I'll..."
Jade suddenly grabbed Kitana's arms and started rambling "...no...no...don't leave me here...don't let them hurt me again...don't let them...don't let them touch me...please...don't leave me..."
Kitana stared at Jade and whispered "What did they do to you..." She then looked over Jade and saw her clothes were torn up and she had numerous cuts, bruises and burns all over her body. After a moment Kitana pulled Jade close and gently said "It's okay Jade. I'm not going to leave you. I won't let them hurt you again." She then paused and added, much more grimly "I'll make those bastards pay."
Kitana turned to leave and Jade grabbed her hand and started repeating "...don't' leave me...don't leave me..."
Kitana leaned close and smiled saying "Don't worry. I'll be right back. I am not going to leave you. I promise." Jade started to calm down and Kitana put her mask on and drew her fans. She then started up the stairs and said "I'll be back. Promise."
Jade then took a deep breath and tried to calm down. She should be okay now, she thought to herself. Kitana was here and they'd get out of there. She suddenly heard the sound of a door being kicked in from upstairs and what followed was the sound of loud thumping and screaming. From the basement, Jade heard what sounded like tables and chairs breaking.
The loud ruckus upstairs went on for several minutes until finally Kitana returned downstairs saying "Okay, Jade. We can go now."
Kitana then helped Jade up and to the upstairs. As they walked Jade noticed Kitana was sweaty and had some bruises on her and asked "What...what did you do..?"
"Just a start." Kitana answered. As the went upstairs, Jade saw Armand and all his men lying around the lodge all groaning and twitching in pain. As Jade looked around, confused Kitana stepped aside and said "I didn't kill any of them. But they're not going anywhere."
Jade stared at Kitana and asked "What do you mean..?"
Kitana then took out her fans and handed them to Jade saying "I don't have the right to kill them. They belong to you."
"Kitana...I..."
"You deserve this." she interrupted. She then walked to the front door and said "I'll wait for you outside."
Kitana stepped outside, leaving Jade alone with Armand and his men and started to wait. Jade did deserve her revenge. Kitana didn't even want to imagine what Armand and what his men did to her. But she was thankful she had found Jade in time.
After several minutes, Kitana still hadn't heard anything from inside. As far as she knew, Jade had yet to kill anyone. She wondered if maybe she didn't have the stomach for it? But after what they did to her...how could that be? But Kitana's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of Armand's men screaming from inside the lodge. They were many at first, but eventually, each individual scream was cut off, one by one. And Kitana smiled.
After almost an hour, Jade finally emerged from the lodge. She and Kitana's fans were drenched in blood. She walked, almost like a zombie, towards Kitana. She just stared into space with a strange dead, but horrified, look.
"Jade..?" Kitana asked. "Are you..." She didn't finish as Jade suddenly burst into tears and hugged her tightly. They both sank to the ground as Jade continued bawling. Kitana gently rocked her back forth, soothingly saying "It's okay Jade. Let it out. Let it out."
Tanya stayed at the small inn for most of the night, eagerly anticipating what had happened. Could Kitana really single-handedly kill Armand and all his men? The Emperor's daughter had been garnering a reputation as a very deadly fighter. Imagining her tearing up Armand and his men made Tanya feel warm inside.
As dawn approached, she decided she'd waited long enough and decided to see what happened. As she approached the lodge she noticed the front door wide open. As she went closer she could make out some blood on the walls inside and her eyes lit up. She ran to the lodge and upon stepping inside gasped.
Strewn all about the lodge was Armand and his men...or what was left of them. They had been cut up and apart in various ways and Tanya mumbled to herself "Damn...this Kitana doesn't play around..."
She then went to the basement door and looked downstairs to see if Jade was there. The basement was empty which made Tanya feel relieved. Hopefully Jade was still alive and Kitana had gotten to her in time.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of slight moaning. She turned and saw Armand, who was cut open and lying on the floor. His hand was moving slightly and he seemed to be trying to speak. As Tanya stepped closer she was surprised to find Armand had been left alive.
She knelt down beside him and said "I'll be damned. She let you live." She then thought about why she would do that and realized leaving Armand alive in the condition he was in was actually a worse punishment than death and she laughed to herself.
"Ta...Ta...Tany..." Armand struggled to choke out.
She leaned close and said "What is it, lover? Did something bad happen? Did a certain Emperor's daughter come storming in here, looking for her friend?" She paused then added "You know...like I said would happen?" Armand continued struggling to speak and Tanya said "You know something, lover...I'm tired of wasting myself on you. If I wanted to waste myself and be ignored all day I'd just stay at home with my father. I think it's time I move on. Try new things. But don't worry lover...I've not forgotten you. I'll do one last favor for you before I leave."
Tanya then took a nearby knife and was about to finish him off, but then stopped herself and thought about something and decided she couldn't resist. "By the way...are you by any chance curious how the Emperor's daughter found this place?" She then paused as Armand's groans became more strained and angry. She then smiled innocently and said "I'll give you a hint...someone you know pointed her in the right direction." She then laughed and said "Like you said lover: 'Whatever it takes and to hell with the rest of the world.'" She then paused to spit in his face and finished "Good-bye Armand."
Tanya then took the blade and cleaved Armand's head in two.
Tanya then threw a nearby candle on the floor and left the lodge as it went up in flames. As she started back home, she realized she was now back where she started. But she paid little mind. On the contrary, she felt very pleased with herself. She had gotten all she would ever get from Armand and needed to move on. Jade was alive. Armand was dead. New opportunities would present themselves in due time.
Jade shot up suddenly from her bed in a cold sweat. Her dreams were haunted with memories of Armand and his men and what they did to her. In her dreams, she could still see their sneering, grinning faces. Still smell their foul breathes as they breathed on her and feel their disgusting hands on her body. She felt repulsed, horrified, and helpless all at once.
"Jade...you okay?"
She turned and saw Kitana sitting beside her bed. They were in Jade's chamber in Shao Kahn's fortress. Her wounds had been bandaged and she was lying in her bed. Jade calmed down and quietly asked "Kitana...what...what happened..?"
"We came back to the fortress." she answered. "You've been asleep for a while."
Jade waited a moment and tried to remember what exactly happened the night before. Everything was so awful and happened so fast it seemed like a blur. "What...what are you doing here..?"
Kitana smiled and gently said "I wanted to make sure you were okay. And I figured when you woke up you'd want to see a familiar face..."
Jade turned and said "You were here all night?"
"Of course. Where else should I be?" she answered.
Jade groaned and said "God...I feel horrible..."
"I'm not surprised. But you should heal in no time. You're pretty lucky...physicians said there'd be no bad scars." She chuckled slightly and added "I know that's probably the last thing you're worried about..."
As Jade tried to clear her head she asked "What happened to Armand?"
Kitana stared at Jade a moment, confused why she was asking. She then realized Jade might be blocking it out and gently said "Don't worry about Armand. He's gone now."
"I...I don't remember much..."
Kitana wasn't sure if she should help Jade remember what happened or if she should let her forget it and said "Jade, you should rest for now. Worry about it later."
As Jade's memory became more clear, it suddenly it her, "You...you came for me..?"
"I...yes. I tracked down Armand and got you back."
Jade stared at Kitana for several moments and asked "Why?"
Kitana chuckled and said "You're my friend Jade. I wasn't just going to leave you out there."
Jade just continued staring at Kitana and quietly said "You...you came for me..."
"I just thank God I was able to find you in time..."
Kitana was cut off by Jade lunging from her bed and hugging her tightly, quietly repeating "You came for me."
Kitana smiled and hugged her back as Jade began sobbing. Jade couldn't believe it. Kitana could've easily ignored what happened and just left her for dead. She could've gotten a new companion. But she didn't. She came for her. She saved her. All this time...Kitana did care for her after all. She really did see her as a friend.
Jade then started whispering "Thank you."
Kitana chuckled slightly and said "It was nothing, Jade. Besides...you would've done the same for me."
Suddenly Jade felt horrified. All this time, she looked at Kitana like a spoiled brat. All this time, she'd been resenting her and secretly deceiving her when she really was a true friend after all. Jade looked at Kitana and swore to herself she'd be different now. Things would be different. Kitana wasn't just her job anymore. She owed Kitana her life and she was going to stand by that. No matter what.
She then said solemnly "Yes. Yes I would." Only this time, she meant it.
Kitana and Jade were then interrupted by Shao Kahn at the entrance who said "Kitana, go to your chamber. I want to have a word with Jade, a moment."
Kitana then smiled at Jade and gently said "I'll be back later to see how you're doing, okay?"
She then left the room as Kahn stepped forward. Jade lay back down in her bed and started to feel very nervous. Kahn stared at her with his burning red eyes for several moments then said "You know what this means, don't you?" Jade stared at him, not sure what he meant and he continued "I'm sure you're feeling very warm and tender right now because of what my daughter has done for you...but do not forget your place. You serve me. Youe job is to watch Kitana...for me. Do not let Kitana's actions distract you from that."
"I..."
"Do NOT forget your place." he repeated, very grimly in Jade's face. "I am your master. You serve ME. NEVER forget that."
Jade just nodded slightly and Kahn left the chamber, slamming the door behind him. Her blood then ran cold. What was the meaning of all that? Why doesn't the Emperor trust his own daughter? Jade then thought of the possibility that she would some day have to choose between the Emperor and Kitana and a chill ran up her spine. She knew full well what the Emperor could do to her and she did owe him her loyalty...but Kitana had just proven she deserved Jade's loyalty. What would she do?
Jade lay back down to rest and hoped to herself she would never have to make that choice.
End of Chapter VI