The chair was no less comfortable than it had been the last time she awoke. That was the first thought to pass through Kitana's mind as she awoke from yet another of her blackouts.

She had been captured attempting to infiltrate Shao Kahn's fortress, now situated in the middle of an Earthrealm city named 'New York', in her attempt to reach her recently-resurrected mother, Queen Sindel. Shang Tsung's necromancy had restored her to life, ten thousand years after she had taken her own life; but changed, corrupted and controlled into Shao Kahn's ideal bride. Kitana herself had been influenced by such magics in the past to keep her loyal to the emperor and to make her accept his twisted alterations to her past. As such, she was desperate to restore her mother to her old self.

So desperate, in fact, that she had come alone after her petition to her Earthrealm comrades had fallen on deaf ears. The group was at the command of Sonya Blade and Jackson Briggs, a pair of pragmatic soldiers that believed the best option was to assassinate Sindel from a distance, removing her from play to remove Shao Kahn's justification for his invasion, as quickly as possible. Despite wanting to help Kitana save her mother, the others had agreed that the already previously-dead queen was worth sacrificing to save the lives of the billions of Earthrealmers Shao Kahn intended to purge from their realm as an example to the remaining realms of what fate would befall those that opposed him. She understood their viewpoint; wanting, as she did, to save her own people from the emperor's wrath. As such, she chose not to interfere in their plans; she would simply have to complete her own mission before they could complete theirs.

Finding Sindel to either free her or kill her would be no easy task, as the emperor had tasked the Black Dragon with keeping her location hidden, even from Kahn himself. That way, his 'search for his wife' remained legal in the eyes of the Elder Gods. While this bought Kitana time to find her mother before her allies did, it also made it difficult for her to properly plan a rescue mission. By the time she found one hideout, it had already been abandoned, leaving Kitana to try to pick up the trail from there.

Sonya and Jax had set up ambushes in a few of the clan's known hideouts, which had managed to whittle down their numbers somewhat, though Kano and his top lieutenants remained at large. Most of them were here now inside this hidden stronghold, and had ambushed Kitana upon her entry. She recalled Kano commenting that he had expected Sonya or Jax to be the first to find them, and that Shao Kahn would offer a handsome reward for Kitana's capture. Of course, delivery would have to wait until Earthrealm was conquered, as keeping Sindel safe was their top priority, by the emperor's decree. This gave Kitana time to think up a plan of escape.

Many of Shao Kahn's generals had attempted to break her - Ermac with telekinetic torture, Rain with waterboarding aquamancy, even Shang Tsung with his mental manipulation sorcery. But Kitana had become much more resilient, both mentally a physically, since she had last set foot in Outworld. They could not break her. Even Mileena, gleefully piercing her 'sister's' flesh with her twin sai, taunting her with her own undead eyes, was unable to make any headway. As such, the emperor employed the dirtiest trick in his arsenal.

"Kitana." The voice shook Kitana to her core. It was so familiar, so comforting, but so alien and wrong. When she saw her, her eyes widened until they threatened to vacate her skull.

"M-Mother?" Before Kitana stood Queen Sindel, in the flesh, for the first time in ten thousand years. Even having already known Sindel was alive, Kitana's blood ran cold upon actually seeing her. This should have been a miraculous, joyful reunion between mother and daughter, but Kitana already knew that Sindel's will had been suppressed by Outworld magic to keep her loyal to her husband. As such, she was now a mere tool of the emperor, but a tool far more effective than any physical implement thus far used.

Sindel smiled warmly. It struck Kitana as genuine, sincere - as if, despite being brainwashed and corrupted to suit her master's purpose, Sindel's love for her daughter had been left untainted. Of course, when mixed with her now twisted morals and desires, her love would be rendered uncanny.

"It's so good to see you again, my dear daughter," Sindel said as she approached Kitana, reaching out to stroke her cheek.

While she wanted nothing more than to accept the gesture, to feel her mother's skin against hers again, Kitana recoiled from the advance. Sindel looked almost hurt by Kitana's rejection - she probably was, all things considered - but Kitana knew she must remain strong. If she gave in to her desire for her mother's embrace, it could only lead to her death or her own corruption. As much as it pained her, she needed to reject the mother she had lost ten thousand years ago.

"Kitana?" Sindel uttered, sounding as hurt as she looked. Again, Kitana had to remind herself that this was all part of the emperor's master scheme. "Why do you reject me? We have been separated for so many years-"

"Because Shao Kahn led you to suicide, Mother," Kitana interrupted. Hopefully, by reminding her of what she had lost because of her 'beloved husband', she might be able to get through to her mother and snap her out of her brainwashed state. It had helped to restore her own suppressed memories, after all.

"Suicide?" Sindel repeated as if the word was completely alien to her. "I was murdered, Kitana. Earthrealm assassins attacked us in the night and-"

"That is a lie, Mother! Shao Kahn has twisted your memories to make you believe your death had no ties to him to keep you loyal to him!"

Sindel sighed and shook her head in a pitying manner. "Oh, my sweet daughter. It is you who has had your memories twisted by a villainous sorcerer. Raiden has infested your mind with a constructed reality, designed to turn you against your father."

"No, Mother. Shao Kahn once twisted my mind too: made me believe the same lies he has now fed to you. My allegiance to Outworld was non-consensual and I am thankful for every day that I am freed from Shao Kahn's poisonous lies."

"Kitana, please don't speak of your father that way." Sindel's tone was a little harsher, though she was still attempting to maintain an air of motherly softness, while trying and failing to hold back her frustration at Kitana's insistence.

"Your mind is so twist that you don't even remember who my real father is," Kitana replied, shaking her head, unable to fully mask her own growing feeling of hopelessness.

Surprisingly, Sindel seemed to also been feeling this way. "Kitana, please! You must rejoin Outworld. We will accept you back, no questions asked. Your father-"

"Shao Kahn is not my father!" Kitana screamed, a previously-unseen determination blazing in her steely gaze. "King Jerrod is my father! Your husband and the man whose death drove you to suicide! Even with Shang Tsung's mind control, how could you ever forget that? Was your love for Jerrod truly so weak that Shang Tsung could tear it from you!?"

Sindel was taken aback by Kitana's ferocity. She was her father's daughter, to be sure. She didn't know where such conviction in her claims came from, but-

Sindel's expression suddenly shifted, transitioning instantly from a look of worried confusion to a truly sadistic scowl, the likes of which Kitana had only seen when she had disappointed the emperor. It was as if a switch had been flicked inside Sindel's mind, tightening the grip of Shang Tsung's spell, similar to such spell triggers he had placed inside Mileena's head as well.

"You spoiled, rotten child," Sindel spat, with such calm and collected disgust that much of the wind was taken out of Kitana's sails. "Your father and I gave you life, gave you a loving home, and you repay us by siding with those who killed me?"

"It is you who sides with the man who killed you, Mother!" Kitana regained some of her fire from Sindel's shifting of the blame away from the emperor.

"Still with these lies," Sindel sighed, and Kitana could swear she rolled her blank, white eyes as she did so. "Your mind truly is feeble and weak to have bought into this Earthrealm propaganda so wholeheartedly. 'I could say the same of you,' yes, yes, such a witty retort you were about to send back my way," she added as Kitana opened her mouth to say almost exactly that. "Clearly, whatever those monsters did to you left you with permanent brain damage as well, because I remember my daughter being far more quick-witted and intelligent than this. But don't worry, daughter. Shang Tsung's way with magic is truly breathtaking to behold. He will find a way to restore you to the way you used to be - the way you should be - loyal to your Emperor and Empress and ready to jump at the chance to do their bidding."

Sindel's smile, far from the warm, loving expression it had been upon her entry, was now a wicked grin; quite fitting for the Empress of Outworld, but not at all natural when worn upon Sindel's features. She seemed to almost be enjoying tormenting Kitana, as if this was not even a twisted version of Sindel speaking, but Shao Kahn himself speaking through her, taunting his 'daughter' and revelling in her failure to make anything of her defection. Kitana hung her head in defeat, fresh tears dropping into her lap.

Sindel chuckled sadistically, cupping Kitana's chin and lifting her head to stare into her damp eyes. "You're lucky, you know. In spite of everything, unlike Jerrod, I do still hold a soft spot for you, dear daughter. It is the only reason our Emperor has shown enough mercy to have you reeducated, rather than killed on sight. And believe you me, young Mileena was very much looking forward to hunting you down and making your end slow and agonising. It was I who asked your benevolent father to show you mercy and allow you to return to Outworld and your rightful place as its princess. I want you to think about that as you await your rehabilitation."

With a surprising delicateness, Sindel lowered Kitana's head and released her. She the spun on her heel and departed, the sound of her stiletto heels clacking against the hard floor until they faded away into silence. The only sound that came from the room now was the occasional pitter-patter of Kitana's tears hitting her lap.


Jade bowed as Sindel approached from down the corridor, accompanied by her bodyguards, Sheeva and Ermac. She saw that she had reverted to her Empress persona from the Queen persona she had arrived in. It seemed that Shang Tsung's brainwashing was so refined that two separate personalities could exist inside his subject's mind, ready to be switched between with some sort of trigger. With her own memories having been tampered with in the past, Jade had no way to be sure which version of Sindel was truly her now, if either. Kitana had insisted on the latter, but Jade wasn't so sure anymore. Maybe Jade was succumbing to Shao Kahn's propaganda, or maybe Kitana really had been brainwashed by Earthrealm. Whatever the case, Jade wanted to help her best friend, however she could.

Sindel slowed to a stop before Jade. The Empress already stood a full head taller than Jade, even without her lengthy heels raising her to almost Shao Kahn's level, as if martial and societal power were reflected in physical height. Sindel's expression as she looked down at her follower was almost one of disgust, as if Jade reminded her of Kitana's betrayal - or as if she blamed Jade for allowing it to happen.

"I am returning to my quarters, Jade. Shang Tsung will be here soon for Kitana's reeducation. Do be a dear and try not to fail in your duties this time."

After a moment's hesitation, Jade responded with an impassioned, "As you command, Empress." She bowed again, keeping her head lowered until the sounds of both Sindel's heels and Sheeva's heavy footsteps faded away.

Jade was assigned to guard the entrance of the building, from the inside. Despite her having remained in Outworld when Kitana defected, Shao Kahn remained weary of Jade and wanted to keep her and Kitana apart, just in case Jade was a spy for her best friend. It was likely only thanks to Sindel recognising Jade's skill as a warrior that stopped Kahn from imprisoning or killing her, just to be safe. Sindel found comfort in being in the presence of fellow Edenians, and keeping the subject's mental state calm and comfortable was known to be vital to the success of any mind control plot involving Outworld holding spells, strengthening Jade's fears that Sindel really was being brainwashed into Shao Kahn's service. And his bed chamber.

Before Jade could ponder the implications of this any further, however, the sound of a commotion rose up in the courtyard of the compound. Jade drew her staff from its resting place against a nearby wall and took a battle stance some distance from the double doors to allow her time to assess the situation, should said doors be breached. It took some minutes of waiting, Jade standing statuesque in her stance, before the situation escalated. With a sudden high-pitched battle cry, the doors were flung open, Kano's unconscious form slamming through and colliding with the wall beyond. After what felt like a century of waiting, Jade finally saw the Shaolin Monk that had infatuated Kitana, Liu Kang, stride through the doors and turn to face her, followed soon after by his close friend and brother-in-arms, Kung Lao. She was quickly joined by Tasia and Jarek of the Black Dragon, both seemingly unaware of the emperor's weariness toward Jade. Given that their guards were down around her, she supposed she may as well act now.

With a sharp thrust into the back of Tasia's head and a hard pull into Jarek's face, Jade's staff left both Black Dragons shocked and vulnerable. A kick to the side of Jarek's head right into the wall, followed by a knee up into Tasia's chin left both mercenaries in crumpled, unconscious heaps. The two monks, who had already taken their stances before Jade had made her move, seemed taken aback by the sudden betrayal.

"Quickly," she hissed. "There is little time. Kitana is this way."

Although clearly hesitant to trust one of Shao Kahn's minions, Liu Kang's desire to protect Kitana compelled him to follow the green-clad insider deeper into the compound, while Kung Lao's loyalty to his cousin compelled him to do the same.


"Through here," said a familiar voice, muffled by the locked door between them.

Kitana looked up as the woman on the other side attempted to open the door, only to find it locked. Someone else, a man, told the woman to stand back. A few moments later, something struck the door handle hard enough to break the lock and melt the handle. The door opened, letting in light in the otherwise pitch black chamber, which had gone dark once the alarm was raised. It took Kitana's eyes a moment to adjust to the light, but she soon realised that it was Jade, her closest and oldest friend, that had entered the room. Despite being unsure if Jade was now her ally or enemy, Kitana couldn't help but smile. Jade noticed this and smiled in turn, filling Kitana's heart with hope.

"Kitana," Jade said, her voice filled with elation. "Are you alright?"

"I am now that you're here, Jade." Jade cut Kitana's bonds and, after giving her a moment to flex her stiff joints, lifted her to her feet and supported her with her shoulder. She led Kitana to the door, where two shadowy figures stood in the low, red light, keeping vigilant watch for anyone coming their way. As she entered the light, one of the men turned to face the two Edenians. "Liu Kang?"

The monk smiled warmly. "I am glad to see you're alright, Princess."

Despite their predicament, Kitana couldn't help but chuckle. "I should have known a man as noble as you would not have allowed me to rot in captivity, Liu Kang."

"I'm here too, you know," said his sardonic companion.

"And you too, Kung Lao," Kitana chuckled. "Thank you, both."

"Don't thank us until we're out of this godsforsaken place," Jade reminded her, to which the princess nodded. "This way," she said, before guiding the two monks away from the front, towards the back entrance.

"I may be misremembering in my delirium, but I thought the entrance was the other way," Kitana said.

"The Special Forces are conducting a raid at the front entrance to divert the enemy's attention that way," Liu Kang explained.

"I suppose we're lucky you were held by the Black Dragon, or else Major Briggs and Lieutenant Blade would never have agreed to this raid," Kung Lao observed.

A knot was tied in Kitana's stomach. "But, they were the ones who wanted to kill my mother."

"We know," Liu Kang replied. "Which is why Kung Lao and I will head back inside once Jade has gotten you to safety."

"You plan to face her alone?" Kitana said in disbelief. "Even if you are the Champion of Mortal Kombat, with Shang Tsung's magic augmenting her, you do not stand a chance against my mother."

"You forget, Princess, I have bested Shang Tsung's magic twice before, straight from the source."

"But even without his assistance, my mother is a highly-skilled warrior. She held her own in the sacking of Edenia. She only lost her edge and surrendered after my father was killed. Without that depression holding her back-"

"Even with that depression holding me back, you'd stand no chance against me, fools."

The four stopped their advance. While they had managed to evade Black Dragon patrols thus far, it seemed that Sindel had anticipated this tactic and placed herself and her two bodyguards directly in their path, ambushing them in one of the Black Dragon's armouries. It was lucky for them that Sindel's reworked persona included an ego to match Shao Kahn's, or else she might have gotten the drop on them before announcing her presence for dramatic effect.

Fortunately, Sindel was 'only' accompanied by Sheeva and Ermac, a Shokan that had impressed Shao Kahn during a time when the entire race had fallen out of favour with the emperor, and an amalgamation of the souls of thousands of dead warriors in the form of a powerful telekinetic warrior. Both monks had defeated Shokans in the past, though they had yet to gauge Sheeva's prowess, and Liu Kang had just about managed to defeat Ermac in Outworld, though he had proven almost as difficult a foe to defeat as Goro, Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn.

Kung Lao was the first to take his stance. He had defeated a Tigrar Shokan in Outworld, and now wondered if he could match one of the Draco lineage, from which Goro himself had hailed. While he would rather face such an opponent himself after having proven himself capable already, Liu Kang knew that Ermac was far more of a threat than Sheeva. This left Jade and the still weakened Kitana to deal with Sindel, whom he knew was not to be trifled with. Their best tactic, now that retreat looked impossible, would be for him or Kung Lao to wrap up their respective battle as quickly as possible and then provide assistance elsewhere.

Liu Kang unleashed his Dragon Fire, which he knew from past experience to be something Ermac's power couldn't affect - an edge he had against the crimson ninja that Kung Lao did not. Ermac casually hovered to the side, but this simple projectile was not his true attack. A Flying Kick closed the gap between the two before Sheeva stepped in between the two. Liu Kang delivered a swift spin kick to the side of the Shokan's head, sending her staggering into the path of Kung Lao's uppercut. Ermac was taken off-guard by this easy dispatching of the Empress' bodyguard, but only long enough for the monk to deliver a roundhouse kick to his head. After receiving this blow, Ermac quickly regained his composure and telekinetically grabbed his opponent mid-Flying-Kick. Another Dragon Fire launch his way forced Ermac to release his grip and dodge.

This left the two Edenians to battle their brainwashed queen. Or, rather, this left Jade to do so, as Kitana was still too weak to do much more than stand under her own strength. Jade helped Kitana to the floor and took one of her friend's steel fans. If all else failed, this weapon would be a more humane method of execution than her own blunt staff. Clipping the fan onto her belt, Jade took up a stance with her staff.

Sindel chuckled disturbingly. "You raise your weapon against your Empress, Jade? Whatever happened to that obedient young girl who placed loyalty to her realm above all else?"

"My loyalty has never once waned, Empress," Jade replied with enough venom to be mistaken for a long-lost Saurian. "My loyalty has always, and ever shall be, to Edenia and to Kitana. You betrayed your realm, your people and your daughter long ago, Sindel. Such a selfish queen is undeserving of my loyalty."

In her current form, Sindel was known among the Outworld forces to become more than a little agitated by her authority being questioned, similar to her husband. Jade's accusations did exactly what they were intended to and Sindel lunged forward to throttle Jade. Wielding a polearm, Jade had a natural reach advantage, which she made adequate use of by jabbing Sindel hard in the stomach. Never one to lose her composure for long, Sindel grabbed the staff and pulled with enough force to drag Jade close enough for one of her long legs to collide with Jade's nose.

After staggering back a little, Jade gripped her staff with both hands, pushed forward in a low stance, and forced her side of the staff up with enough force to bash Sindel on the forehead, loosening her grip enough for Jade to fully reclaim her weapon. Wasting no time, she pulled back and unleashed another jab, pushing Sindel back even farther. In response, Sindel threw her head back before unleashing her signature Banshee Scream. Jade had never been on the receiving end before and the sound was so loud, so sharp, that she could barely think, reminding her somewhat of the times when Shang Tsung had magically tampered with her mind.

She threw her triblade, only for Sindel's scream to prove powerful enough to cancel out its momentum and leave it clattering impotently to the ground. Jade felt as if her head would explode if this went one for much longer, as had been proven to be the outcome of prolonged exposure to the power of Sindel's scream. With her free hand, she plucked Kitana's fan loose from her belt, unfolded it with a snap of her wrist, and waved it with enough force to release a gust of wind that cut through the scream and hit Sindel, forcing her to stop her scream and recover. Using this chance, Jade leapt forward and thrust her staff out, close this gap just enough for her weapon to find its mark on Sindel's throat.

Staggering back and coughing harshly, Sindel glared murderously at Jade. She whipped her head around to send her knee-length hair arcing towards Jade's still extended staff. The hair wrapped itself tightly around the weapon and yanked on it. Despite only holding it with one hand, Jade's grip was tight enough to be pulled along once again. This time, Sindel wasn't taking any chances. She grabbed Jade by the throat with one hand, discarding her weapon with the other. As she was lowered to her knees by Sindel's iron grip, Jade once again plucked her best friend's weapon from her belt. Keeping it closed like a knife, Jade thrust the weapon towards Sindel's thigh, only to be rebuked by her other hand, which applied enough pressure to her wrist to force her to drop it.

After choking Jade to the point of near unconsciousness, Sindel released her grip on her former servant and let her flop bonelessly to the floor, gasping for air. Sindel took her time, stalking around Jade like a predator toying with its wounded prey. She pushed Jade's right arm out from her body with her foot.

"Is this the hand you raised against your Empress?" Sindel rasped darkly before raising her knee and jamming her four inch stiletto heel into the flesh of Jade's wrist. In spite of the intense training she had undertaken to make herself resilient against pain, Jade couldn't stop herself from letting out a bloodcurdling scream that shook her friend to her core. Sindel, meanwhile, revelled in the agony she was causing. She lifted her foot, finding Jade's limp arm rising along with it thanks to the jagged heel embedded in her flesh. She lowered the arm to the ground, stepped on Jade's fingers with the toes of her other boot to pin it down, and smoothly pulled the other foot free, breaking Jade's fingers as she did so.

By now, Jade was on the verge of passing out from the pain, vision growing fuzzy as her brain burned and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Sindel helped her along by kicking her in the face with enough force to send her limp body spinning almost a complete 360° before slowing to a stop. Sindel used her foot to roll the unconscious Jade from her side onto her back. Grinning wickedly, she raised her foot above the Jade's helpless skull, bloodied heel dripping red onto her forehead to mark its target.

Then, Kitana swung her fan at Sindel's foot, cleaving the heel right off. Sindel hopped back a few paces, keeping the now defanged boot off the ground, remaining perfectly balanced, in spite of her Emperor's choice for her footwear. With a quick tilt of her ankle to survey the damage, Sindel's milky eyes met the brown eyes of Kitana, who could swear she saw a glint of approval.

"Finally ready to fight for yourself, Kitana?" she taunted.

In spite of her shaky legs and heavy breaths, Kitana took her stance and flicked open her fan. "Rich, coming from the one who imprisoned and tortured me. Were you, perhaps, too afraid of fighting my at my strongest?"

Sindel threw head head back and cackled theatrically. "Poor, sweet Kitana. Did you honestly think such hollow insults would 'get through to the real me'? If, perhaps, you were not the weak, helpless princess-in-distress, you words might have carried some credibility. Alas, words lack power when not backed up by history."

Kitana's expression shifted to one of frustration. Having already learned that appealing to Sindel's suppressed motherly instincts was ineffective against Shang Tsung's magic, she had hoped that targeting Sindel's newly-instilled pride might have some effect - even if only to anger her enough to make a mistake she could exploit. Having seen through all of this, however, Sindel smirked toyingly.

"But, worry not, Daughter. For your loving mother will teach you all the secrets of manipulation I used to deceive that foolish Jerrod, just as soon as you give up on this adolescent rebellion and come back to your rightful place in Outworld."

"I would rather die," Kitana replied bluntly.

"Then, it is a shame you will have no say in the matter. You will return, if I have to break your will, your body and your mind to do so."

Tears began forming in Kitana's eyes again, but she wiped them away quickly. With every word Sindel spoke, she seemed more and more a lost cause. But, she needed to hold on to hope. Otherwise, she was sure to lose her mother again. And that was something she could not allow.

After taking a deep breath to centre herself, Kitana resumed her stance and said, "You will have to defeat me first."

"Finally, some genuine convic-" Sindel's taunt was cut off as Kitana's foot collided with her jaw, propelled by her fans in a manner not too dissimilar to Liu Kang's Flying Kick.

"Just shut up and fight!" Kitana demanded.


Speaking of the Flying Kick, Liu Kang's attempt to perform this move was caught by Ermac's telekinetic grab. Once again, a well-placed fireball forced the Outworld assassin to release him. With well-practised efficiency and speed, Liu Kang closed the distance before Ermac recovered and delivered a fierce roundhouse kick to his head, sending him staggering towards the battle between Kitana and Sindel. Something about this clash between mother and daughter seemed unnatural to Ermac. He desired the battle to end, for mother and daughter to finally be reunited on the same side of the conflict, but he wasn't entirely sure which side he wanted them to be reunited on.

He had been feeling these strange emotions ever since Sindel's resurrection. He had assumed it was due to the countless Edenian souls used to comprise his being, each loyal to their queen and desiring to see her at peace. However, Mileena, an artificial abomination, a disgrace to Kitana's name, had had much the same effect on him. Despite all evidence towards it, Ermac wasn't sure he could say it was simple loyalty to Outworld and its ruling family that was causing this.

Spotting a chance to use his powers to hold back Kitana's arm as she attempted to cut her ankle free of Sindel's prehensile hair, which now held her upside down above Jade's unconscious form, Ermac reached out with his power and pushed Jade out of the way as Kitana cut herself free and landed in the spot her best friend had previously occupied.

Ermac felt a forceful shove in the centre of his back, launching him off his feet and into the air. It took him a moment to realise that he had left himself open to Liu Kang's Flying Kick for the first time in any of their encounters. He grabbed himself and recovered via levitation. Whirling around to face the monk, he found the man flying towards him from the side. Unable to grab the monk while also levitating himself, Ermac could only react by turning towards Liu Kang, taking the full fury of a Bicycle Kick to his chest. With one last kick, Ermac was sent flying into the far wall, falling forward and landing flat on his stomach.

Scrambling to one knee, Ermac raised a hand as Liu Kang quickly closed the gap, clearly prepping for one last Flying Kick. Out of the corner of his eye, Ermac saw Sindel gain the upper hand over Kitana, holding her fan hand out to the side and punching her daughter repeatedly in her beautiful face. Ermac reached out with his power and grabbed nothing, his strength failing him. Liu Kang's foot collided with his face, sending the back of his head slamming back into the wall hard enough to leave a large crack in the plaster. The red-clad ninja collapsed to the ground, slipping away into the darkness of unconsciousness.


Sheeva had been chosen as the bodyguard of Empress Sindel by Shao Kahn himself. While arguably not quite as high an honour as being personally chosen by the Empress herself, as Ermac had been, Sheeva was no less filled with pride at her accomplishment. Sindel was the linchpin of the Emperor's entire invasion scheme, and for him to assign a Shokan to protect her, at a time when the entire Shokan race had fallen out of favour with Shao Kahn due to the recent failures of Prince Goro and General Kintaro, it was a gigantic accomplishment - especially for a woman who, until recently, had merely been one of Goro's seven wives. But, she had clawed her way to the top and she refused to allow herself to fall back down again.

Granted, it would not be easy to maintain her precarious position at the top, challenged as she was by the Great Kung Lao's descendant. While allegedly not on par with his cousin, this Kung Lao was certainly still a force to be reckoned with, having slain Kintaro in the Outworld tournament. Either monk would prove the greatest challenge in Sheeva's long life, but loathe to admit it as she was, she was grateful her opponent was the lesser of the two monks.

Shokan skin was thicker than most other races, perhaps topped by the scales of a Saurian or a particularly hulking Oni, but Kung Lao's hat was rimmed with a razor blade sharp enough to cut fairly cleanly through Kintaro's flesh to sever his arms. Each time the monk threw the hat and she narrowly dodged it, occasionally losing a little hair in the process, Sheeva found herself wishing she was fighting the monk with the Flying Kicks and the fireballs instead.

Sheeva raised her lower arms, blocking the hat with her spiked gauntlets. Despite being forged in the famous Kuatan Forge, the razor hat dug deeply enough to become embedded in them. Luckily for her, Shokan had two extra hands, which she could use to pull the hat out. It took only a few seconds for her to do so, by which time, both the palms of her upper hands and the wrists of her lowers arms had been cut open. Almost as soon as the hat was removed, its owner took advantage of the distraction to deliver a jumping spin kick, hooking the leg around to Sheeva's back and knocking her off-balance.

The hat was yanked free from her bloodied hands as she stumbled across the room. Kung Lao swung the hat like a chakram, narrowly missing Sheeva as she stepped forward, raising one knee before her and throwing it back like a horse, kicking Kung Lao back across the room, his hat clattering to the ground. Sheeva turned, bending her knees low, before launching herself through the air towards the monk, who narrowly rolled to the side before Sheeva's large foot smashed into the concrete floor where his head had been.

She stayed low, turning to face him as he threw his now recovered hat towards her. Even without the immensely powerful leg muscles inherent to her race, jumping over the low-flying hat would be child's play. As such, she leapt over the hat, which had been thrown at a slightly upward angle, released vertically from Kung Lao's hand. Kung Lao seemed unable to react in time as Sheeva began her downward trajectory to land directly on top of him. However, it was not fear that kept him rooted in place, but confidence. As planned, the hat ricocheted off of the wall and shot further upwards, colliding with Sheeva's back and sticking itself into her spine.

Completely thrown off by this surprised attack, Sheeva landed exactly where she had intended to, but face-first rather than feet-first. Kung Lao simply stepped to the side to avoid her colossal frame from crushing him, as it left a wide crated in the floor. Infuriatingly casually, Kung Lao stepped closer, raised one leg as if about to deliver an axe kick, and brought it down just above Sheeva's buttocks, hitting her pelvis with enough force for his hat to fly out of her flesh, whereupon he caught it in midair and placed it back upon his head with that smug blade-wiping hand motion.

Unable to move from the damage dealt to her spine, Sheeva was powerless as Kung Lao kicked her in the face hard enough to break her nose and leave her unconscious.


Sindel lunged forward with her own flying kick, her feet having touched the floor exactly once since the fight began. Her left heel, still attached and unbloodied, was extended out to puncture her daughter's flesh. Kitana held up her fan to block the attack. Sindel's heel tore right through the material, but she was slowed down enough for Kitana to grab her mother's ankle, swing her around and throw her back the way she'd come. Sindel, as usual, recovered quickly, stopping her flight and using her momentum to swing her hair around to grab Kitana's raised fan hand.

Forseeing this, Kitana spun around and raised her leg to that same height, her ankle becoming tied up again instead. Sindel had only a moment to smirk smugly, before Kitana finished her kicking arc, slamming her foot down with enough force to drag Sindel along with it. Too stunned to react, Sindel landed limply on the floor beside Kitana, who quickly gripped her mother's hair in her free hand and deftly sliced through it with her fan, leaving her mother's most versatile tool cut down to no more than shoulder-length.

Seeing her beautiful hair cut so short, Sindel attempted her Banshee Scream, which was still considerably weakened thanks to her throat injury. It was strong enough to push Kitana back, but not enough to bombard her brain with intense pressure. Kitana fought her way forward, swinging her fan wildly to push back against the scream. This only intensified as she found her second fan and doubled her pace. One swing came close enough to scratch Sindel's cheek, ending her scream in a pained screech. Releasing the fan from that hand, Kitana swung her fist back towards her mother, striking her face with the back of her hand.

Sindel crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Kitana stood over her, panting, legs shakier than ever, as she almost fell, only for Liu Kang to rush over and support her with his shoulder.

"Tha-Thank you... Liu Kang," she said breathlessly.

"Any time," he replied with a proud smile. "Will this be enough to break the spell?"

Kitana shook her head with a gasp before replying. "I doubt it. My true memories didn't return every time I slipped into unconsciousness. We will likely need magic of our own to undo the spell."

"And Lord Raiden has limited power, thanks to the merger," Liu Kang noted in frustration.

"Perhaps, Nightwolf could help?" Kung Lao suggested. "If the true Sindel is somewhere deep down in her soul, he may be able to find her."

Kitana nodded. "Do you know where he is now?"

"He should be with Lord Raiden, dealing with the Soulnado," Liu Kang explained.

"Take me to him." Kitana released herself from Liu Kang's grasp and crouched to lift her mother the same way. Liu Kang stepped forward to help her, but not by supporting Sindel from the other side; instead, he placed himself between both women and supported them both. Kung Lao, meanwhile, lifted Jade in a bridal carry and shook his head at Liu Kang's overdone display of chivalry.


The trio were met by Sonya's team outside the compound. She was none-too-pleased to learn that Kano and all but one of his lieutenants had managed to escape in the chaos, but she was unable to hide her relief that Kitana and the others had managed to capture her mother without having to kill her. While she continued her investigation of the compound, Stryker and Kabal escorted the three back to their Field HQ for medical attention.

Once Kitana had reluctantly passed Jade off to a medical team and had her mother restrained in a cell, she and Liu Kang headed to the Command Centre to meet with the recently returned Raiden and Nightwolf.

"Lord Raiden," Liu Kang greeted with a bow, copied by Kitana. "Major Briggs. Nightwolf."

Raiden smiled. "Liu Kang. Princess. I am glad to see you both returned safely. I take it, then, that your mission was successful?"

"Yes, Lord Raiden. Queen Sindel is currently being held in one of the cells down the hall. But, it seems that releasing her from Shang Tsung's hold will require more than a simple knockout blow. We were hoping Nightwolf might be able to assist with that."

"If there is anything I can do, I will gladly provide assistance," the shaman replied.

Inside her cell, Sindel remained unconscious on a sadistic-looking gurney, her wrists and ankles restrained by shackles. The gurney had been brought over from another Black Dragon compound just in case it was needed for just such an occasion. Additionally, Sindel's mouth was stuck closed with duct tape and her minor injuries wrapped and bandaged.

Upon entering, Nightwolf pulled up a chair, closed his eyes and placed one hand over Sindel's sleeping forehead. He sat motionless for what felt like an eternity, before finally reopening his eyes and placing his hand to his chin as he pondered his conclusion.

"There may be something I can do. This kind of magic is like a sickness or a virus. It resembles an... inky black splotch added to a basin of water in my mind's eye. It can be expelled from the system, given time or a suitably strong antivirus."

"In this case, that would be...?" Kitana questioned.

"A reminder of who she once was. Your attempts to get through to her were blocked out by Shang Tsung's magic. Think of it like a protective helmet, blocking projectile attacks. However, if we can speak directly to her inner soul, bypass the magic barrier, your words may have a far greater effect than before."

"And you can do that?" she asked hopefully.

"Possibly. I may be able to connect your soul to hers, allow you to access her soulscape to help her fight off this dark influence. Bear in mind, though, I can only connect one other soul with hers at a time, and any failed attempt may push her further into hopeless submission."

"It has to be me then," Kitana stated simply.

"Princess-"

"I know, Liu Kang. I know you are by far the most skilled fighter among us, but my mother needs to find her own strength to fight this magic off; not have someone else do it for her. 'Teach a man to fish', as the Earthrealm saying goes."

Although he was hesitant to do so, Liu Kang had to admit that there really was no other option. While he was worried that, like a virus, this magic might somehow infect her as well, he chose not to voice this concern, and instead simply encourage Kitana to bolster her will.

"Okay. I believe in you, Kitana." He placed a hand on her shoulder and she placed hers on his.

"I know. Thank you, Liu Kang. It was you who gave me strength to reject ten thousand years of lies to seek the truth. And you give me strength now to take back my life from Shao Kahn. I swear I will succeed."

He nodded his acceptance and brought over a chair to place beside Nightwolf. Kitana sat down and nodded to the shaman. He placed one hand on Sindel's forehead and the other on Kitana's. She felt as though her mind was being sucked out of her body through a narrow tube, compressed and twisted, her eyes rolling up in their sockets as this bizarre sensation rocked her very being, before finally releasing its grip on her mind, a sensation of order being restored hitting her all of a sudden. She could now think and feel and truly take in the strange, ethereal yellow-green plane she now found herself in.


There was a vast empty void beyond the rather small patch of land she stood upon. It reminded her somewhat of her singular visit to the Chaosrealm some seven thousand years ago. Nearby, she saw her mother, and it was a sensation totally different from how she had felt upon seeing her recently that overcame her. The uncanny nature of their past interactions was gone, replaced by a... tightness in her stomach, as if she had gone from dreaming about being reunited with her mother to actually being so. In a way, she supposed, that was the case, as the woman that had tortured, tormented and fought her was not her mother. This woman before her was.

But she was not alone.

Above her was a kind of living shadow, somewhat reminiscent of Noob Saibot or the Lin Kuei's Smoke. It was tall, wide, and exuded an intimidating aura Kitana recognised instantly. This shadow creature had taken the form of Sindel's greatest fear: Shao Kahn. It was him, down to the smallest detail of his iconic armour.

The creature didn't seem to be doing anything beyond standing over Sindel, who was curled up in a ball, cowering by the wall of some ruined structure. It was most likely a representation of the fallen Edenian Palace, but it had been so long since Kitana had seen it (coupled with Shao Kahn's manipulation of her mind) that she honestly couldn't be completely sure. Every now and then, the shadow taunted Sindel, which seemed to sap her strength with each word spoken. It seemed that Nightwolf's claim of bypassing the physical to interact directly with the soul being more impactful held water.

As such, Kitana sprinted towards the creature and brought her weapons to bear. Somehow, as she held them, Kitana had the instinctive feeling that only a weapon one considered a part of themselves could be manifested in this spirit world. She supposed, for example, that Kung Lao would be able to bring his hat, while Sonya Blade would not be able to bring her guns.

Kitana swung her fans through the creature's midsection from behind. The gap between the two halves closed up quickly, the creature's stance unaffected by the attack. In fact, it didn't seem to notice her at all. As such, she swung her fans, not to slice the creature, but to blow it back with a blast of air. This seemed to work, the creature's form breaking down into an undefinable black mist that brought Nightwolf's description of the beast to mind. It did not dissipate, but it had to move away to reform itself. Using this chance, Kitana closed the gap between herself and her mother.

"Mother?" Kitana spoke softly, placing a hand on her mother's shoulder. She had to move some of the matted hair out of the way to do so, as her hair was as long as it had been when Kitana had cut it, and also broken out of its usual tail-like style, as if a bucket of water had been thrown over her head.

Sindel stiffened into rigidity as Kitana's hand touched her shoulder. Her terrified gaze slowly turned around, to meet Kitana's eyes. It was heartbreaking that the first time in ten thousand years that Kitana saw her mother's brown eyes, they were filled with such fear, even as they turned to face her daughter. In fact, she could almost swear she seemed more fearful as their eyes met.

"Back to t-taunt me with m-my daughter's form, are you? W-W-Well, it won't w-w-work."

Tears began welling up in Kitana's eyes at the pitiful sight before her. Whether in her true memories, her false memories, or the recent dealings with the brainwashed version, Kitana had never once seen Sindel in such a vulnerable position. She hadn't realised it back then, but Sindel had always put on a brave face for her daughter, allowing her fear and sadness to take over only in private.

"No, Mother," Kitana replied softly, shaking her head. "It really is me. This place is-"

"Lies." Sindel muttered with an anger Kitana had only seen in her brainwashed self. It seemed that the perceived imitation of Kitana disgusted Sindel out of her timid state. She shove Kitana, who grabbed her mother by the wrists to stop herself from falling over. She then pulled herself back toward her mother and wrapped her arms around her. Sindel tried to break free, but Kitana held firm. She forced Sindel to her feet and held her tight.

"I'm here to save you, Mother. I'm here to free you from Shao Kahn's control."

"No. You're trying to get my hopes up so you can shatter my spirit. I will not fall for..."

Sindel trailed off as Kitana fixed her with a determined gaze. Sindel's recollection of what she had been doing while under Shao Kahn's hold was hazy at best, but that expression on Kitana's face was the same one she had borne when she had accepted the inevitability of their battle and taken up her battle stance. Such a look of sincere determination was not something one could falsify so easily.

"K...Kitana? It really... is you."

Kitana smiled. That radiant smile that never failed to brighten Sindel's day, which she had long thought lost after Shao Kahn's conquest of Edenia.

Sindel hugged her daughter tightly. "Kitana. By the Elder Gods. It's been so long..."

"I know, Mother. And we can resume where we left off ten thousand years ago, if you can fight off Shao Kahn's influence."

Sindel's head whipped around to face the shadow splotch that had reformed and was now hovering back towards them in a manner strangely reminiscent of Ermac.

"That... That thing is Shao Kahn's influence over me?"

"Yes. But, only you can stand up to it and defeat it."

"I... I cannot, Kitana. Shao Kahn is too powerful. He annihilated our armies, bested Jerrod- Oh, Jerrod... How could I have forgotten my dear husband? If this magic could make me forget even the man I loved, how can I ever hope to defeat-"

"That's enough. Mother, you are the Queen of Edenia. With father gone, it falls to you to stand up to Shao Kahn and protect our people. Father never would have married you, had he not believed you were up to the task. Nor would I have found the strength to face my long-held beliefs of being Shao Kahn's daughter, had I not had you as my role model. You can do this, Mother. Father and I both believe in you."

Sindel once more looked into her daughter's eyes. She slowly reached out, her fingertips gently touching Kitana's cheek. Tears blurred her sight as she smiled, somewhat forcefully, and said, "You have your father's eyes." She then threw her head back, took a deep breath, and unleashed the full, unrestrained power of her Banshee Scream, tearing the shadow demon apart.


Both Kitana and Sindel gasped as their eyes shot up and they bolted upright from their sleeping positions. It was so sudden that Nightwolf was practically yanked onto the bed by Sindel sitting up. Sindel and Kitana took a moment to catch their breaths, eyes never once breaking contact.

Liu Kang, muscles tensed and ready to jump into action, was put at ease by Kitana holding up a hand in his direction. He relaxed in response, as did Nightwolf, who moved from his seat to allow the princess to move closer to her mother, while he unlocked her shackles.

"Mother? Are you...?"

Sindel nodded silently. Kitana then removed the tape on her mouth to allow her to speak.

"Yes, Kitana. I am... I am myself again."

Kitana positively lunged forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her mother. Tears flowed freely from the two as they held each other for the first time in over a hundred centuries. After a while, they eventually broke off the hug and an infectious smile spread throughout the room, as Raiden, Kung Lao and Jade were now stood in the hallway outside.

Liu Kang placed a hand on Kitana's shoulder. She looked up at him, spotting his smile through the blur of her tears. She stood up, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. She pulled back just long enough to let out a quiet "Thank you" before kissing him again.

Sindel was at a loss for words. The last time she had seen Kitana, she was a teenager with no experience or real interest in men. Now, what, in many ways, seemed like only moments later, she was suddenly in the loving embrace of a man Sindel had never even met before.

"They grow up so fast," Nightwolf joked, exchanging a knowing smile with her.


Once Sindel openly disavowed her marriage to Shao Kahn, his right to remain in Earthrealm was revoked by the Elder Gods. Despite this, he made no effort to undo the merger or pull back his forces. As such, Raiden's jurisdiction was temporarily extended to Outworld, restoring him to full power for the fight ahead.

Kitana remained behind with Sindel and Jade to recover, while Liu Kang and Raiden led the rest of Earth's active heroes into the final battle with Shao Kahn. Liu Kang bested the emperor for the second time and returned with a palm-sized glass orb, filled with a mystical green mist. He handed the sphere to Raiden, who had far greater knowledge of such things. Despite his victory, Kitana noticed, Liu Kang seemed despondent upon his return.

"Liu Kang?" she asked, placing a hand gently on his arm. "What is the matter?" She then realised the problem. "Where is Kung Lao?"

With tears in his eyes, he opened his mouth to reply, but words eluded him. Despite this, Kitana already knew the answer. She pulled the surviving monk in close and held him tightly. Sindel and Jade also silently mourned the passing of the monk that had helped in the rescue of Kitana and Sindel.

"What is that thing?" Sonya asked Raiden as he looked over the orb with intent.

"This is a Unity Orb," the Thunder God explained. "It is an artefact that contains the magic used to merge Earthrealm into Outworld. If the orb is shattered, the magic will dissipate and the realms will be separated."

"So then, if we found more such orbs, we could release other realms merged with Outworld?" Nightwolf asked. This question gave the Edenians hope.

"Yes. However, Shao Kahn was a shrewd, cunning man. He will have hidden the orbs throughout Outworld, hidden in difficult-to-reach places, such as deep chasms and lava pools. Finding them could take years, even centuries." These words deflated the hope the Edenians had developed.

"Unless the emperor was prideful enough to keep the symbol of his greatest conquest close by for gloating purposes," Liu Kang suggested as he produced a near identical orb with a golden mist swirling within.

"This colour..." Sindel muttered, stepping forward and taking the orb from him.

"The colour of the mist comes from the energies of the Kamidogu within," Raiden explained. "The Kamidogu are artefacts that represent the realms themselves, which are vital in any merging ceremony," he added for the benefit of all but himself and Sindel. "Earthrealm's energies are green, and gold is the colour of Edenia."

Kitana and Jade exchanged a frantic glance before rushing to Sindel's side to gaze into the orb with fascination.

"Th-This orb is the key to Edenia's freedom?" asked Jade.

"Indeed," Raiden confirmed. "Once the orb shatters, Edenia will be separated from Outworld. However, such a thing is a rare occurrence, so there is no way to predict in which realm the inhabitants of the two realms will find themselves. Many Edenians may become stranded in Outworld, and vice-versa."

"Then, we will arrange expeditions to find and recover our people," Kitana proposed boldly. "No matter how long it takes, we will bring all of our people home."

"I volunteer for these expeditions," Jade chimed in. Kitana nodded gratefully. Sindel smiled proudly at her daughter's aptitude for leadership.

While Raiden began weakening the orbs with his magic, the Edenians said their goodbyes to their Earthrealm allies. Sonya offered Earthrealm's aid to Edenia, in the event Outworld sought war with them, and Sindel promised the same. Jade asked to be informed of when Kung Lao's funeral was to be held, wishing to attend it herself. Likewise, she would also attend Johnny Cage's funeral. Kitana offered to have an Edenian healer attempt to heal Kabal's scarred flesh, just as soon as they managed to bring one home.

Kitana then turned her attention back towards Liu Kang. "Thank you, Liu Kang. You have done so much for my realm and for myself. I only wish I had more time to thank you properly."

"This is not goodbye, Princess," he replied, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. "No matter what, we will meet again."

Kitana smiled before leaning in and kissing him once again.

Once the kiss concluded, Sindel approached and embraced the monk. "You have saved my realm, my soul, and my daughter. My gratitude is unquantifiable, Liu Kang."

Liu Kang patted her on the back. "Then, please hold onto them and keep them safe. Especially your daughter."

"I will. And you take care of my daughter as well," she added at a whisper, causing the monk to blush slightly. "We are ready, Lord Raiden," she said as she stepped away from the hero.

"Then, with this, may our realms be forever freed from Outworld's tyranny," the Thunder God declared.

Raiden and Sindel struck the two orbs against one another and a blinding white light engulfed them all.


"I'm surprised this place survived," Sindel said in awe.

The newly-restored queen hadn't expected the tomb of her late husband to still be standing after ten thousand years of Edenia being merged into Outworld. Shao Kahn had allowed her to have the tomb constructed to placate her, but she had expected him to have torn it down the second she took her own life.

"He must have known it would have incited the Edenians to rebel," Kitana replied. "They would maintain it out-of-pocket, in respect for their fallen king, while he lost nothing in leaving it standing."

"True. But, he never really struck me as one to worry about rebellions. I'd have thought allowing a monument to an enemy king and the former husband of his wife would wound his pride too much for him to allow it to stand."

"You didn't know Kahn for very long, in retrospect. He was far wiser and more patient than you give him credit for. If nothing else, one cannot say he didn't earn his empire."

"You almost sound like you respect him."

"I suppose, in a way, I still do. He was a monster, to be sure, and he deserved his death, but he was able to maintain his realm's power and autonomy for millennia. It may be unfair to say, but the same cannot be said for Edenia."

Sindel was infuriated by Kitana's assertion, but she couldn't quite bring herself to disagree. While it was unfair to say, as Kitana had admitted, King Jerrod had fallen before Shao Kahn's overwhelming might. He had been unable to protect his family or his people from millennia of suffering. And so had his wife.

"Shall we go inside, Mother?" Kitana asked, turning to face her mother upon receiving no response. "Mother?"

"Kitana, I..." Sindel's words became lodged in her throat. There was so much she wanted to say, all at once. How she was sorry for abandoning her in her suicide, how she was sorry for her psychological and physical assaults on her daughter during her mental enslavement, how every word she had said while controlled by her dark empress persona had been a lie, how-

"I know, Mother. You weren't yourself. I know you loved Father - love him still - and that you would never truly betray him or our people. That was all Shang Tsung's twisting of your mind for his master's purposes. They often did the same to me, making me believe Shao Kahn was my true father, that Mileena was my true sister. So, while I was hurt by what you said and did to me, I know that it was not the real you."

Sindel was shaking now, tears rolling down her cheeks. Kitana stepped closer and wiped away her mother's tears, as she remembered she had done for her in her youth.

"I am... un-undeserving of the love of such a wonderful daughter as you, Kitana."

Kitana smiled warmly. "Then, earn my love."

Sindel fixed her with a confused look.

"I mean, become the queen I always knew you were capable of being. Prove yourself worthy of my love, and that of our people. And make sure that, when Father watches over you from the afterlife, he can rest easy, knowing that you are keeping our people safe."

Sindel wept openly, holding her daughter tight. Why was Kitana so forgiving after Sindel had abandoned her so selfishly? Why did she think Sindel deserved such forgiveness? She tried to ask these questions, but all that escaped her lips was a wail of anguish. Seeming to have developed the ability to read minds in the last ten millennia, Kitana embraced her mother tightly and softly explained.

"I know you think what you did should not be forgiven, but all Edenians have suffered under Shao Kahn's reign of terror. No one can hold your desire for release against you, especially in the wake of being forcibly betrothed to your husband's murderer. You should not be deemed beyond redemption and forgiveness for doing what most would, in your position. Now, come. Let us go and pay our respects to Father."

Sindel gripped Kitana's arm tightly as she led her inside, wanting so badly to tell her that she would earn her place on the throne. She would prove herself worthy of the love and adoration of her daughter. She would be the Queen that Edenia that her people deserved, and the mother than her daughter deserved.


I started out just wanting to write a short about Sindel's real personality in the wake of the leaks about Sindel's horrendous new persona in MK11. It was just going to be Sindel apologising for the MK11 persona, which I have as the personality she was given by Shang Tsung. Then, I felt that actually depicting said persona was important for the later scene to have any impact. Then, I ended up going super deep and depicting damn near everything in between and it took three and a half weeks to write help

Discussion of the Sindel leaks: watch?v=V9eC7wDNmbw