Chapter VII

Unwanted

"How much farther?"

Kitana and Mileena stopped to rest after a few hours of travel. The Edenian portal was nineteen miles south of the palace, so getting there through the woods on foot was quite the trek. They left the two surviving Seidan Guards bound to a tree and neither had spoken since Mileena's face returned to normal.

"We're a few miles away," Kitana replied. She looked at Mileena and guessed what she was thinking. "If we stop to rest, we can reach the portal by dawn."

"What do you figure we're looking at if we do?"

"Well," she said, stretching her back. "We probably have another hour or so before the Seidans realize the patrol that followed us never came back. Another hour before they find the two we left alive. Once that happens—"

"Then we're officially fugitives," she said, adjusting the purple cloth she wore as a mask. "You think they'll guess we're headed for the portal?"

"I'm sure someone will think of it if they haven't already. But it'll take time for them to spread the word and mobilize." She scratched her hair and yawned. "We should rest anyway. It's been a long night. I think we can still reach the portal before they lock it down."

"It'll be tight," Mileena said, taking a seat at the base of a thick tree. "How many will be there if we don't make it in time?"

"Can't say," she said, sitting at the opposite side of the same tree. "Too many variables, too much I don't know. We'll just have to hope for the best."

A soft, cool breeze drifted through the forest. Although no moon could be seen, the sky was clear and packed with stars that twinkled gently in the vast void above. In any other circumstances, Kitana would've found it a soothing sight. She might even have sought an open field and watched the sky to try and learn her home realm's constellations.

Behind her, Mileena took one of her sai and absently dug into the dirt with it. "I'm a little surprised you're okay with your back to me like this."

"I know you, Mileena. You want to beat me in a fair fight. Killing me in my sleep doesn't prove anything."

Mileena fell silent. Without looking at her, Kitana knew she wanted to retort but couldn't deny her assessment was accurate. The realization she was that predictable seemed to trouble her more than anything.

"I'm sorry. It's not exactly a secret."

She grumbled and started chipping at the tree's roots with her sai. "Well," she said. "I've learned my lesson. After those bastards backstabbed me in Outworld, I'll be sure to keep things closer to the chest in the future."

"Kotal told me about your reign as Kahnum."

"So you understand why I'm not exactly eager to seek the help of your Earthrealm friends?" she hissed. "I haven't forgotten the part they played."

"Fair. But like it or not, I fear we're all in this together. I don't know who or what the Dragon King that Seidan mentioned was, but I think it's safe to say we have a common foe."

Mileena muttered something under her breath and continued jabbing at the tree. "By the way, how did you get on with Kotal? If he saw me as a threat to his throne, I can't imagine how he must've reacted seeing you alive again."

"There was tension. Though, to be honest, we didn't have much of a chance to get into it—what with Kronika and the merged timelines. After I defeated Shao Kahn, the matter was effectively settled."

Mileena was silent again. This time, Kitana did turn to her and found wide, disbelieving eyes staring back. "Wait," she said. "You're telling me you defeated our father? You fought him yourself … and won?"

"I did," she replied. She paused and just hearing it said aloud made her smile. "All these years … I dreamed of it but never believed I could do it myself. And then … next thing I know, I'm facing him and …" She replayed the battle in her mind and couldn't help but laugh. "I really did that. I beat him. Probably my finest moment."

She laughed again and tried to think of a time she'd ever been prouder of herself. She'd fought countless opponents for thousands of years and overcame all manner of foes—some far stronger and more powerful than her—but they all seemed to pale in comparison. For one joyous, triumphant moment, she—Kitana, daughter of Jerrod and rightful Princess of Edenia—stood victorious over Shao Kahn himself.

"Then I was made Kahn of Outworld. And all the people cheered."

"And what did Kotal have to say about that?" Mileena asked. "He didn't take kindly to my claim."

"He named me, actually. His fight with Shao Kahn left him crippled, and since I was victorious, he deemed me worthy."

Mileena convulsed. If she had been drinking something, she would surely have spit it out. "Are you kidding me?!" she barked. "That Osk-Tekk prick took everything from me, and then he just handed it over to you?!" She growled and stabbed at the dirt with her sai while muttering various curses. "Oh, he will get his! Mark my words: every damn one of them will pay!"

"Don't feel too bad," Kitana said. "My glorious reign as Kahn lasted little more than a day."

She sighed and closed her eyes, thinking of what went wrong and what she should've done differently. She could've finished Shao Kahn when she had the chance instead of telling herself imprisoning him was justice or proving she wasn't like him. She could've known nothing good would ever come from Shang Tsung's efforts. Fought Sheeva harder and maybe prevented Sindel's resurrection.

If I had known not to trust her. But how could I? She was my mother

"You were right," she said, clearing her throat. "What you said earlier. My mother, she … there was no spell. She wasn't loyal to Kahn because of his sorcery. That's just who she is. When she found her chance, she revived him and they sabotaged my armies during our assault on Kronika. The battle was a disaster, Kotal was killed, and I was forced to watch them torture Liu Kang."

She refused to cry in front of Mileena but shuddered realizing she went from her greatest triumph to complete failure in the span of a day. From Kahn of a cheering Outworld to beaten pariah in mere hours.

"Thinking about it now," she continued. "I think the worst thing is how quickly the people turned on me. After I was defeated, our step-father gave my armies a choice: renounce me as a false Kahn and pledge their loyalty to him again … or go down with me."

She sniffled and wiped her eye.

"I know I shouldn't judge them. The battle was lost, and they chose survival. But I just … I wanted to believe the people, if given the chance, would reject him. That there was a place for hope and peace in Outworld. When they named me Kahn, I thought … I thought it was because they believed in me and what I fought for.

"But they only seek the strongest. Nothing more. They made me Kahn because I happened to be the only one standing at the time. And when the time came … no one stood for me."

She kept her eyes on the ground. Though it felt cathartic to get that out, a part of her regretted saying it to Mileena. Her "sister" only knew loyalty to their step-father and would've gladly helped him tear her down. If anything, she likely relished hearing about her betrayal, heartbreak, and failure.

"Maybe that was our mistake. Thinking they were our people."

Kitana turned and was surprised to find Mileena not cackling over her misery or snidely mocking her pain. She sat with her back to her, staring at her sai, and looked contemplative. And even a little sad.

"I believed our father was what held Outworld together," Mileena continued. "When he was gone, I thought they would rally to me. Who was his heir if not me? But they rejected me just like they rejected you. The ones that didn't jump to Kotal only sought to use me."

It was difficult to tell because her mask, but she seemed to cringe. But like Kitana, she wouldn't cry. She instead hissed and plunged her sai into the ground.

"They're not worth it, sister. They won't have us."

"Maybe when this is over you and I should go off on our own," Kitana said. "Stop caring who rules, hunt down those that wronged us, and just … do as we please."

Mileena snorted. "What a pair we'd make."

"We were pretty formidable together. Imagine what we could accomplish if we didn't hate each other."

Mileena actually laughed. It wasn't her usual cackling or mocking giggle but genuine laughter, and it made Kitana laugh herself. For a brief moment, the pain and hate and betrayal was gone. They understood one another.

It passed, like the soft breeze that blew by, and silence returned to the woods. Kitana's eyes were heavy, and she wished for some sleep. But a question came to her—one that had been nagging at her since waking up from her "coma."

"Mileena?" she said. "Could we … could we ever have been sisters?"

"What?"

"Could you …" she said. "Was there ever a time we could've truly been sisters? Or did you hate me from the start?"

"As I recall," Mileena said. "You didn't exactly welcome me with open arms."

"No, I didn't. I admit that. When we first met, I … I only saw you as an intruder. I feared you'd take my place." She paused. "In fairness, that is what you were meant for. But suppose I had embraced you as my sister, would it have made a difference? Or was it already too late? I'd really like to know."

She sneered, and Kitana thought she'd dismiss her questions or insult or. But she sighed and appeared to really think on it.

"I … don't know," she said. "I really don't remember. I think … I might have …" She thought some more, and Kitana saw a kind of resignation in her eyes. She looked tired. "It doesn't matter. Even if there was a chance, Father made it clear pretty quick you were the obstacle I needed to overcome."

Kitana nodded, not sure how to feel about her response, or if she should feel anything. "Shao Kahn's gone now," she said. "You don't have to prove anything to him anymore."

Mileena turned to her and looked like there was something she wanted to say. But she shook her head and only said, "Get some rest, Kitana. We still have a long way to go."


Sareena awoke from a thin and unsatisfying sleep. Pain flared in her midsection that spread throughout her body. It felt like someone took hold her of her spine and twisted, making every nerve in her fire. She burned on the inside, yet somehow was freezing at the same time. She knew she was getting worse.

Her vision cleared to see it was still night and the campfire burned. Ermac remained hovering in silence nearby, but Scorpion and Havik were leaving. "Where are you going?"

"Scout ahead," Scorpion said. "Go back to sleep."

She took a breath and tried to relax. Her knees pressed to her chest, and she held her stomach tight. She didn't know if curling in a ball helped with the pain at all, but the idea of unnecessary movement made her nauseous. Getting back to sleep was going to be an ordeal in itself.

"Demon."

Shang Tsung sat before her, propped against a tree and still bound in chains. He looked weathered and aged, but not as ancient as she'd heard. He stared at her with cold, analytical eyes that made her uncomfortable.

"You're wasting time going to Raiden," he said. "I hope you realize that."

"Pardon?"

"You're a demon. The Thunder God can't help you. And even if he could, he wouldn't. I promise he doesn't care about you."

She blinked at him, more perplexed that he was even addressing her. She glanced at Ermac, who made no visible indication he was listening, but felt certain he would act if Tsung said or did anything suspicious.

"… okay," she said. "What else am I supposed to do?"

He gave a quick aside glance in Ermac's direction, and she already knew what was coming. "I could heal you," he said. "It would take dark sorcery to undo what Ashrah's sword did. Sorcery that I know."

She frowned and just stared at him. "You must think I'm really stupid, don't you?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Even if I believed you could heal me," she said. "I'm sure there's a price."

"Obviously, I don't work for free. But we can discuss that later."

"And I'm supposed to just let you cast 'dark sorcery' on me?" She scoffed and shook her head. "I've spent enough of my life in the company of sorcerers to know they can't be trusted. I'll take my chances with the Thunder God."

"As you wish," he said, shrugging and leaning back against the tree. The campfire crackled gently, and a warm breeze drifted through the clearing. He watched Ermac a moment, who remained silent and motionless, and sighed. "So … you were one of Quan Chi's were you?"

She said nothing, hoping if she didn't answer, he'd leave her alone.

"Ah. There it is."

"There what is?" she asked.

"You flinch when his name is mentioned. You didn't just serve him. You were his favorite."

She shivered and then felt embarrassed she proved him right doing so.

"I can only imagine what being the 'favorite' of a man like Quan Chi must entail," he said. "He had you. Shao Kahn had Kitana. For the life of me, I'll never understand my colleagues' fascination with singling out a particular woman to torment. If not for me, Kahn's infatuation would've been his final undoing."

"How proud you must be."

"Unfortunate business. But necessary. I endured the indignity of serving Shao Kahn until I found the right time to strike out on my own. As I'm sure you did when you betrayed Quan Chi."

He gave her a knowing look, like he was peering into her soul. It should've unsettled her, but it only made her angry. "I just wanted to be free."

"Of course you did," he said. "And you can play the redemptive demon all you want, but it'll make no difference. Higher beings than you have taken their chances with the Blunder God and regretted it. If you think he's going to spare the effort for a lowly Netherealm creature, you're in for disappointment."

"Don't talk like you're any better or different than me."

Tsung chuckled. "That's adorable."

"It is, actually," she said. "Shang Tsung—the demon sorcerer from Earthrealm. Talk it up however you like, the fact is you spent much of your existence as Shao Kahn's lapdog."

His eyebrow cocked, and there was a flicker of anger. He smiled, but it didn't touch his eyes. Although his demeanor was polite and serene, she sensed the contempt from him. "Bold words from one of Quan Chi's whores."

Hoping that would be the end of it, Sareena adjusted herself in an unsuccessful attempt to get comfortable. She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, pushing away the taunts of Shang Tsung and the doubt he sought to create.

"Demon."

She frowned and tried to ignore him again.

"Demon."

She groaned. "I have a name."

He sighed and, to her surprise, said, "Sareena. Tell me, what is it you think you're going to get out this?"

"Out of what?"

"This act of yours," he said. "The poor, wounded creature who only wishes to help. Do you truly believe Raiden or his Earthrealm sheep will accept you as their own?"

She didn't want to answer, seeing no point in explaining herself. She could already tell Shang Tsung was someone who didn't comprehend selflessness or even simply wishing live without dominating others. Quan Chi could comprehend it, but he only saw it as leverage—something to exploit. Tsung just believed everyone deep down was as bad as him.

She meant to ignore him, but curiosity came to her. "What do you get out of it?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I've always wondered," she said, "if you were born a demon and play at being a man, or a man who became a demon. You served Shao Kahn for centuries, waiting for your time to strike. You drain soul after soul, clinging to your youth and power … for what?"

"I nearly had all of history at my command," he said. "I conquered Shao Kahn, gods, and Titans. If could've been me, not this Dragon King, who shaped the realms as I saw fit."

His tone was proud, even wistful, but Sareena saw him deflate. The fact that he'd been reduced to an old man bound in chains despite his supposed victory wasn't lost on him. "Was it worth it?"

He looked at her, and she couldn't tell if he was offended or genuinely confused. "What kind of question is that, girl? If it had not been for Liu Kang, everything would've been mine."

She supposed she should've been impressed or intimidated but felt nothing. She considered how many people suffered and died so that Shang Tsung could almost conquer all of history. Or how many were sacrificed for the ambition of Quan Chi and Shinnok for nothing to show for it but misery.

"I don't suppose you'd understand," he said. "When all you've known is servitude in the Netherealm, I'm not surprised pittance from the likes of Sub-Zero seems like a dream. I aim higher. I deserve greatness."

"Quan Chi used to talk about you," she said. "How you could've been Earthrealm's Champion, but you were too corrupt. Is that why you're so convinced Raiden won't help me? Experience talking?"

He scowled at her, and it made him look older. "Don't presume to know me, demon."

He turned away and would say no more, which relieved Sareena. She looked at Ermac, and if he had been listening to their discussion, he obviously saw no point in interjecting.

The pain in her stomach flared again, causing her to wince. When it subsided, fatigue settled in its place. She sighed, hoping to get some more sleep before Scorpion and Havik returned, and tried to put Shang Tsung out of her mind.


Kitana and Mileena reached the portal just before dawn. They found a vantage point in the woods to get a view of the land first. A dim blue haze came with the early morning hours before the sun rose, and the temple was dark and quiet. They saw only a few Edenian guards patrolling the cobblestone pathway to the entrance, but no Seidans.

"What if they're inside?"

"Possible," Kitana said. "Though Seidans are not known for their subtlety. If they're here, it's not for an ambush."

"How many?"

"If they're in there waiting?" she said. "Fifteen to twenty at least."

Mileena grumbled. "That's ugly."

The Edenian portal was housed in a humble but elegant cathedral with a circular stained-glass window above the entrance. It stood at the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the ocean. Although not quite a fortress, it was built to ensure an invading presence could be contained within and allow the realm's army to rally a proper defense. Centuries of peace notwithstanding, King Jerrod wouldn't allow the passageway from other realms to stand in the open.

With the sun not yet up, Kitana and Mileena effectively utilized their Outworld ninja skills to sneak up to the temple unseen. Though they didn't need it, the crashing waves below covered any potential noise, and they managed to find a way in through a back window.

Inside the cathedral was shadowy and dark. A few dying candles offered the barest light, and stone columns lined the main hall like watching sentinels. As they crept inside, it was easy to imagine Seidan Guards appearing from the behind those columns and swarming them.

But all was quiet and still as a grave. They climbed the central stairs and made their way to the portal chamber without any trouble—which only served to make Kitana more paranoid. The only resistance they encountered were four guards posted in the chamber: two Edenian and two Seidan. They were easily dispatched.

Kitana and Mileena looked at each other, and both shared the same thought: this was too easy.

"Maybe they didn't find those guards yet?" Kitana suggested. "Or they think we went somewhere else?"

"It could still be a trap. Though if it is, I don't know what they're waiting for."

The portal chamber was a circular room with an altar standing in the center. Surrounding it were three golden arches arranged in a triangle. They appeared to be made of steel and were forged in a spiral shape like vines. Whether they were integral to opening the portal or simply design, Kitana didn't know.

"Maybe we caught a bit of luck for a change?"

Just as Mileena said that, Kitana noticed the stone slab before the altar with what appeared to be two switches or levers atop it. In the center of the slab was an opening for what she guessed was a key or object, and below that was a series of notches with different runes carved into them like a combination lock.

Looking at it, Mileena asked the obvious question: "You do know how to open the portal, don't you?"

Across from the stone slab, lining the wall, were shelves holding wooden cases marked with runes and Edenian writing she didn't understand. With the benefit of hindsight, she should've known, but it turned out opening a portal to another realm was indeed a process.

"I'll take your silence as a 'no,'" Mileena grumbled. "Shouldn't there be … I don't know, a portal master or something? Someone to open and close it?"

"There probably is," she said, inspecting the slab. "But he's not here now."

"Figure it out," Mileena said as she left the room. "I'll block the entrance and make sure no one else gets in."

Kitana guessed the slab was what activated the portal, like a control port. She then turned to the shelves and removed one of the cases at random. Inside she found another stone with a rune engraved upon it. The rune was a simple square box with another smaller square in the center. The case also contained markings written in Edenian.

Although she didn't recognize the rune, she guessed it was a keystone that, when placed into the open slot, would open the portal to whatever realm the rune represented. Simple enough, she supposed. Now she just needed to figure out which case held the Earthrealm keystone.

The cases were labeled, but again, Kitana's inability to read Edenian hindered her. There were over a dozen cases—some locked—and the runes engraved on the keystones gave little to no indication of which realm they represented.

"Damn you, Shao Kahn," she hissed.

The reality that she, despite being Edenian—royalty, no less—couldn't read her own native language frustrated and angered her. Thanks to Kahn's efforts, she knew almost nothing of her home realm's culture or history. If only her mother could've taught her …

Mélie.

A memory came to her. A foggy, distant memory that could've been a dream. She remembered Sindel smiling and looking happy despite her blank eyes and dark markings—a Sindel she wished had been true. She was teaching her how to speak and read their native tongue. One of the first words she learned was "home."

"Mell-ee-ay," her mother had said, her voice gentle and warm. "It's home. Family."

It had to have been a dream. But it felt real, and Kitana was certain there were other words she learned. Earthrealm was certainly one of them. She searched the shelves, hoping to find something that seemed familiar. Anything she could recognize.

"Sekemenai."

The word came to her. She might have mispronounced or remembered it inaccurately, but she was sure that was the Edenian term for Earthrealm, and there was indeed a case labeled with that word.

Opening it, she found a keystone marked with two circles touching. Like the others, the case contained more runes that looked familiar. One was a small rectangle marked with stripes and a star, and she recognized it as the flag Sonya Blade and Jax wore on their uniforms. Turning to the control port, she understood the keystone opened the portal and the combination markings decided where on Earthrealm the portal would lead to. The flag rune would take them to the Special Forces, but she found another that resembled a lightning bolt—Raiden, no doubt.

Placing the keystone into the stone slot and setting the combination to the Sky Temple, she pulled on the levers and the portal burst open with a loud crack like thunder and flash of light. Kitana felt the air come alive with electricity, and a gentle hum came from the opening in time and space.

"Mileena!" she called out. "I think I got it! Let's—"

"Kitana."

She drew her fans on reflex, expecting Hotaru or one of his fellow Seidans to appear. But instead it was a familiar face that brought relief.

"Jade! What are you doing here?"

"Everyone's looking for you and Mileena now," she said, coming forward. "The Seidan Guard found those men you killed. They were still organizing when I left, but I guessed if you went anywhere, it'd be Earthrealm."

"I'm not surprised," she said. "I'm glad you're here though. You won't believe what's happening. I'm not even sure how to explain it …"

"Kitana, it's okay. Just come back to the palace."

"No, no, you don't understand. You see, Mileena and I, we—"

"Kitana, I do understand. Come back to the palace."

"I know you all think this is because of my coma, but I'm telling you I—"

"Kitana! I know!" She paused to let that sink in before repeating: "I know."

Kitana stared at her and felt the cold prickle of dread in the pit of her stomach. "You," she said. "You mean you remember …?"

Jade sighed and nodded. "For the most part. It fades more and more every day. I told you your memories would come if you didn't fight them. If you just accepted this, then—"

"Like a dream," she said, remembering how Mileena described it. "In the moment, you don't question where you are or where you've been. It just makes sense." She shook her head and tried to maintain her composure. "Jade, please … not you."

"Not me what?"

"We have to stop this," she said. "This is wrong, you must see that."

"Why though? We have everything we ever wanted. Everything we ever dreamed. Why shouldn't we accept it? Why is that wrong?"

"It's a lie! We don't know who's behind this or why they've done it! And the Seidan Guard … they were sent here to make sure we fall in line!"

"Then make them leave," Jade said. "Have your father tell them to go. He'll listen to you."

"No, Jade. We can't let this go on. We have to—"

"Why are you being so selfish?!"

Time seemed to stop for a moment. Even with the hum of the portal, Jade's voice echoed through the chamber. She shut her eyes and took a breath, leaving Kitana in stunned silence.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you." She took another breath and continued, "Kitana, I just … I understand. I do. Shao Kahn lied to you—to us—our whole lives, and I understand why you would expect the worst out of something like this. But really think about what you're looking for. You have your home. You have your parents the way you wish them to be. You have Liu Kang. You have peace. Do you really want to go back to the way things were?"

She shut her eyes and cringed, and Kitana saw she was holding back tears.

"It wasn't right, what happened to us," she said. "I remember the Sea of Blood. We were supposed to win that battle."

"Jade, I—"

"No, no," she interrupted. "I know how it sounds, and I don't know how I know, but I … I feel it in my heart. We won that battle, and someone or something took it from us!"

Kitana could only stare at her, dumbfounded. Did she think Kronika manipulated time to make it so they lost? Or something else? The very idea chilled her blood. Had they prevailed, only for someone to alter time and make it so their siege was sabotaged?

"We have a chance now," Jade said, her voice shaking. "We can be happy. You have everything you've ever wanted. And I … I have Kotal back. I have my parents back! My mother and father! I can know them finally!" She took Kitana's hands, and the hopeful joy in her eyes was enough to break her heart. "I have a brother, Kitana! Can you believe it? I have my family now!

"Kitana," she continued. "I've been by your side for so long … I ask for so little, but I'm asking you now …" She shook her head and knelt. "I'm begging you … please, let this go. Come back to the palace. It's not too late. Just accept this."

Kitana felt as though she would burst out of her skin. Her heart ached, and her stomach tumbled. She didn't know what to say or do. Could she really just let this go on? Walk away and accept this world as truth? For Jade, if no other reason?

"I don't care who's responsible. I don't care why. We deserve this. We deserve to win for once. We've earned it." Jade looked at her with shiny, wet eyes. "Haven't we?"

She tried to speak, but no words would come—all stuck in her throat. She had no answer. The thought of breaking Jade's heart left her frozen.

Before she could respond, she looked up and saw Mileena approaching Jade from behind. "Mileena!" she said. "Wait! Don't—"

Too late. She cracked Jade over the head with the butt of her sai. Jade crumbled to the floor at their feet unconscious, leaving Kitana to glare at her "sister" in fury.

"Why did you do that?!"

"Relax," Mileena said. "I'm not going to hurt her. At least this way you can put the blame on me."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked as she checked on Jade to make sure there was no significant damage.

"We both know it would've come to this," Mileena said, sheathing her weapon. "You were never going to just 'accept' this. That's just who you are." She sighed, sounding more like a groan. "Let's move, before more guards show up."

She entered the portal with a flash, leaving Kitana to kneel beside Jade. She caressed her hair, and felt ill. She'd endured and feared so much betrayal and lies, and now, in a wretched turn of fate, she felt she'd betrayed her one true friend.

"Please forgive me, Jade," she said before entering the portal. "Please forgive me."

End of Chapter VII