Mileena entered what was once Shao Kahn's throne room in Outworld. The look of the place was drastically different now, but still recognisable for one who had spent much of her time here while in the late Kahn's service. Of course, a dragon motif had been added, such as stone dragons encircling the numerous pillars, but the dragon King had also opted to install a circular pit of jagged spikes that encircled the area before his throne. This suggested to Mileena that Onaga either intended to hold death matches in his very throne room, instead of the Koliseum as his successor-turned-predecessor had, or that he expected many would-be-assassins to try to claim his life here. She pitied any who would try.

Also present was Kitana. A week ago, Mileena would have stabbed Kitana through the neck with her sai and begun eating her beautiful face, but her 'sister' was currently in the grip of Onaga's mind control, forcing her to serve Outworld's ruler alongside Mileena once again. Even without Onaga's explicit command staying her hand, the irony alone would have been enough to keep Mileena at bay.

Both sisters, once more clad in identical attire but in their respective blue and pink, bowed before the Dragon King and said, "You summoned us, Master?" Most would find the implications of this term of address degrading, but Mileena, thanks to the ungodly amount of programming and manipulation that were a core part of her mindset, was more than comfortable with it. Kitana's view on the matter, whatever it may be, was suppressed by Onaga's magic, so it really didn't matter.

"Perfectly in-sync," he chuckled. "Yes. I came across this while remodelling the throne room." He reached behind the throne with one massive scaly arm and produced the discarded helmet of the late Shao Kahn. Some of the former Emperor's blood still stained the area around the teeth and right eye. "The helm of your 'father'," he mused. "Even while serving me, he always did have his morbid interests."

Neither sister said anything in response. Whatever Onaga's intent was, their duty was to wait patiently for him to reveal it.

"Did you know this mask was made of real bone?" he asked, though both women could tell that he didn't really care for their answer. Still, both nodded their affirmation.

He gripped the bone mask at the front of the helmet between his massive thumb and forefinger, squeezing with enough force to pry the remains free from the iron helm. He held out the bone for Kitana to take.

"I am to understand you helped Shao to craft this mask."

"I did, Master," Kitana confirmed. She had little need for emotion as one of Onaga's prime enforcers, but even outside of the strategic trickles of emotion he allowed her to experience to deepen his control over her, there was a clear sense that Kitana was uncertain, perhaps even afraid, of what Onaga might do to her for her having helped the man who killed him in even this insignificant task.

"Did you know that it was the skull of your father, King Jerrod?"

Kitana's white eyes widened in much the same way Mileena recalled her own widening when she first saw their milky undead form in a mirror. "I... I did not," Kitana answered.

Mileena took one step closer to Kitana, concerned by the unusual level of emotion she was displaying as one of Onaga's thralls. He liked to keep them on a tight leash, emotionally. But Kitana seemed like she might break free at any moment. Onaga, seemingly sensing Mileena's concern, held up a hand to halt her.

"Truly, he was a sly worm. He manipulated you in a great many ways. But this may well be the most despicable. Wouldn't you say so, Mileena?"

"I- Yes, Master. I would."

"And you, Kitana?"

"I agree, Master."

"Then, you must defy Shao Kahn's victory over you. Go now and bury this at your father's tomb. Honour him and wipe away the dishonour Shao Kahn subjected you to."

"I will," said Kitana, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Master." With that, she spun on her heel and departed for Jerrod's tomb.

"Speak your mind, Mileena," Onaga commanded once Kitana was gone.

"Kitana seemed unusually emotional just now. She normally serves like a simple puppet, or a twisted version of herself. She seemed much too like her true self here."

"And you think this is a cause for concern?"

"I d..." Mileena stopped herself before she could give her honest answer. But it was not fear of the repercussions that halted her tongue, but recognition that Onaga's question held implications. "You allowed her to have that much of herself back?"

Onaga grinned. "Astute observation. I did."

"Not to question your methods, but-"

"But you intend to do exactly that."

Mileena remained silent. Now, she feared the repercussions of opening her mouth.

"You see, Mileena, subverting another's will is not as simple as casting a spell and washing your hands of the matter. The mind naturally desires freedom. It will always fight against control, unless sufficiently motivated not to. Tell me, have you ever trained an animal?"

"I had a Tai-Gore that I tamed in my youth," Mileena replied after a brief, uncertain pause.

"A fine example. And also a fine test of skill. Well done."

"Thank you, Master." Mileena couldn't quite explain why she felt as pleased as she did at the praise, but she certainly was very pleased.

"Controlling a mind is like taming a pet. It requires reinforcement. You can incentivise obedience, or you can disincentivise disobedience. What was your method with your Tai-Gore?"

"A little of both, I suppose. I scared him when he disobeyed and held him close when he behaved as I desired."

"A basic approach then. About what I expected. My method is one of much greater highs and lows. It requires careful increases and decreases in the subject's freedom of thought. Combined with expertly planned reinforcement, it creates a much deeper sense of control. Eventually, the subject may no longer need their will subverted to remain loyal."

"E-Even Kitana?"

"Even her. I already had a foothold with her, in particular, since we share a mutual hatred of Shao Kahn. What is that old Earthrealm adage?"

"'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'?"

"That one, yes. Careful wording to emphasise what he did to her and that she and I both oppose him creates and strengthens a link between us in her mind. Even the simple act of exacerbating her hatred of our mutual enemy serves to pull her closer to me and my will. I then perform an act of kindness toward her as positive reinforcement to influence her view of me, while controlling her just enough to keep her logical mind from pushing back with knowledge of who I am and what I am capable of. Allowing her to retain some of her old self while I do this strengthens the effect further by preying on her own natural emotions."

"This sounds like a dangerous approach."

"It is, of course, but the reward is very much worth the risk. You don't doubt my ability to manipulate her heart and mind, do you?"

"I-I don't, Master!" Mileena shrieked, instantly dropping to one knee with her head bowed. "Your masterful use of her as a tool against Sindel is all the evidence one needs to dissuade any doubt!"

"Good. But there is one more key component to this method of mine. Would you like to hear it?"

Mileena nodded eagerly, moving closer as he leaned forward to whisper.

"In truth, this helmet was a fake." Onaga casually threw the hunk of metal into the spike pit at the chamber's perimeter.

"Then, the skull..."

"Also a fake. This way, I can wait for a later time and 'discover' the real skull, which I 'believed' I had already given to Kitana. Her loyalty to me will ensure she believes the story, and I can earn her thankful loyalty all over again, strengthening my grip over her mind ever further."

"That... That is brilliant!"

"Indeed," Onaga replied with a smugly satisfied grin. "Of course, this tactic has limited use. Even with her trust in my word, using this tactic too many times would break the illusion, and the realisation that I was lying to her would drive a wedge between us in her mind."

"And her ability to resist your will would strengthen."

"Precisely. And that might make the end goal impossible to achieve."

"The end goal of brainwashing her like Shao Kahn did."

"Even more completely. Deception can get you far, but understanding and manipulating the baser instincts of those who would otherwise be your enemies is where true power lies."

"I see..."

"In the end, Kitana will be made to be like you. She will be loyal and will enact my will without hesitation. And then, I will do the same to her mother. You will have your own perfect family that will serve me in my singular realm. After all, that is what you desire most, is it not?"

Despite her instinct to deny it, Mileena found that she simply could not. Servitude truly was what she found comfort in, and her old programming to view Kitana as her sister had been so deeply ingrained that she still did on some level. The thought of having her sister back and having a mother who would love her just as much as she did Kitana was simply too tempting to deny. And Onaga was absolutely powerful and intelligent enough to make this dream a reality.

"I do, Master. Whatever you need of me, I will do. Your will is mine to fulfil."

Onaga's draconic white teeth were on full display as his lips curled into a wicked grin.


Random inspiration is random. I had to double check to see if the mask was mentioned in The Royal Retribution and it was, so it's fake here, which I think actually helped the story.

The alternate title was The Shadow's Lesson.