Chapter 4: Special Forces/Don Corleone

Shan was now 16 years old and has master all of her skills, weapons, and powers. Her grandfather was most proud of her as she excels in her skills. But Pai Mei felt she was still unworthy of one secret technique he has kept hidden all of her life. One day as Shan arrived at the steps with buckets of water, 2 people approached her. One was a bulky black man with a cigar in his mouth, and the other was a blonde woman in green attire. Both were from the military. The blond said, "I'm Sonya Blade, and this is Jax Briggs from Special Forces. We need to speak to Pai Mei, your master."

Shan looked at them suspicious. 'Are they telling the truth?' she thought. The North and South figures of her tattoos glowed. If one lies, it would've been East and West. "I'll take you to him but first, you need to ditch the cigar."

Jax asked, "Why?"

Shan said, "He hates the smell of cheap tobacco and as for you Sonya, you need give him the upmost respect. Despite being a wise and knowledgeable White Lotus priest, he also was racist (specifically towards Caucasians), xenophobic (towards the Japanese and Americans), and a misogynist. So, you better have a filter Miss Blade."

Sonya said, "I will."

Jax put out his cigar. "Smoked too much today anyway." Then he asked, "Does he allow cigarettes?"

Shan said, "Not unless it's filled with opium."

Jax muttered, "Should've taken that London job."

Shan said, "Now fallow me." She got her buckets and the 3 walked up the steps to the temple. There at the doorway was her grandfather. "Master, Sonya Blade and Jax Brigs of Special Forces. They need to speak to you."

Pai Mei nodded as Shan left. Sonya and Jax kneeled before him in a respectful manner. Jax said, "Pai Mei, we journey here for your assistance."

Pai Mei asked, "What is you need of me?"

Sonya said, "We heard of your granddaughter and her abilities, we ask you if we can use her to take down a powerful and dangerous man in the US."

Pai Mei said, "I've seen evil men in my life. Some made, and some unfortunately born. What makes this man a threat?"

Jax said, "Because he was once your student, and we have information about the death of your family."

Pai Mei's eyes widen. Then he heard a small gasp and saw Shan hiding not far, but luckily the 2 visitors didn't notice. Pai Mei asked, "What do you know?"

Sonya said, "Recently we have heard word that a village was destroyed 13 years ago. When our men arrived, we found your lost village found unnatural ashes. We tested them and found out there was evidence that someone deliberately tried to wipe you, your student, and your family out."

Pai Mei stood up. He looked toward Shan who was holding her mouth in shock and was tearing up. "What kind of evidence?"

Jax said, "We found test tubes, and a broken kit next to the village river that transferred to the village well. However, the sickness can be naturalized if the watered is boiled."

Pai Mei said, "I never turn off my kettle at that time and my daughter always boiled hers for Shan." He couldn't believe someone would murder his clan and family and the cure was something so small but what stinks is that he was the only one that was smart enough to boil water from the river and well. Then he asked, "And the man you want to hunt?"

Sonya said, "His name is Michael Corleone or as some would call him, Don Corleone."

Pai Mei nodded. He remembers his old student. Born in 1940, Michael is the youngest of Carmela Corleone. He has two older brothers, Santino "Sonny" Corleone and Frederico "Fredo" Corleone and a younger sister, Constanzia "Connie" Corleone. He never wanted to carry out the family business but after Sonny's death from a hit of a rival family, Michael took charge. But instead of using it like an original mafia he changed things making him the black sheep. He is the founder and leader of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Because the code names of the members are all referring to venomous snakes, Michael's code name is Snake Charmer. The only member of his family in the squad was his brother, Fredo known as Sidewinder. Michael was once his student when he was younger. He wanted to ditch the Italian way since he had a fascination with Asian culture. Pai Mei asked, "May I please see your file on my ex-student?"

Jax handed it to him the file holding Don Corleone's information. As Pai Mei read it over Jax said, "Since you know him already, we can't ask you to help us take him down."

Pai Mei said as he continues to read, "So you are recruiting my granddaughter." He looked at them and slammed the file shut. "A foolish request. She is only 16 years old how can she handle a man such as him?!"

Sonya said, "It's an undercover job. We just need her to get familiar with the squad and then we can infiltrate them."

Pai Mei asked, "What if she gets hurt, gets stuck in a situation, or killed? What would you do then?!"

Shan walked up. "Master, if I must, maybe I can do some negotiations." Pai Mei nodded at her. Shan turned to Sonya and Jax. "IF I join Special Forces and work undercover, I have some conditions. One: You will give me the info on who killed my clan and family. Two: Once this is done, I end ties for Special Forces but I will be your ally when you need it. And three: I will not use my powers. Just skills and weapons alone."

Jax said, "If we accept, you need to show us you can fight without your powers."

Pai Mei stood up and said, "Then a contest. Shan Mao vs. Jax Briggs & Sonya Blade first one to get 2 wins win." The 3 walked to the walk way and the 3 get into a stance. Pai Mei yelled, "Fight!"

Sonya said, "Let's what you got." She started to fight Shan and Shan did her very best to dodge and fight back.

Shan already won the first match. Jax ran up. "Tag in!" So, Shan started to fight Jax. He was a bit stronger then Shan but his mussel size was his down fall.

Shan said, "I thought Americans were more hardcore."

Then round 2 started and the 2 charged Shan together and started to fight her. Shan fought back until the 2 over powered her. Jax said, "You're not as strong as we think you are."

Sonya said, "All tied up. Think you can get the last win?"

Shan bounced back up with ease. "Oh, I know I can." She started to fight them back but didn't hold back this time. Soon she defeated the 2 and said, "I won't break a bone if you take it back."

Jax got up. "Got to give it to you, you have spunk."

Sonya said, "Since you have beaten us, we will accept your conditions."

Pai Mei walked up and asked, "What will you do to keep her safe?"

Jax said, "New identity, new paper works, new everything. As for your new name Shan, you will be known as Beatrice Kiddo."

Sonya said, "As for your things here, they have to be destroyed."

Shan said, "They're material things I can live without. But there is one I will take just in case." She went to her room, and got her hairpin stick that belonged to her mother. As for her clothes, they're mainly training clothes that can be replaced. Once back to the group, she handed it to Sonya. "Keep this safe, it was my mothers."

Sonya nodded and took it. Pai Mei said, "Please be careful Shan."

Shan hugged him. Pai Mei wasn't used to hugs but had to problem returning them. Shan said, "We'll see each other soon. I know we will."

~(MK: S)~

In New York, one night a man in a fancy suit walked inside of an Italian restaurant. It was Michael Corleone. He was alone that night and the only ones inside was someone at the bar, and 2 others at a table. He had a meeting with them. One of them was McCluskey, a crooked cop, and the other was Sollozzo, a mafia heir. The 3 sit around a rather small round table near the center of the room. There are empty booths along the sidewalls; with a handful of customers, and 1 or 2 waiters. It is very quiet. McCluskey asked, "Is the Italian food good here?"

Sollozzo replied, "Try the veal; it's the finest in New York."

The solitary waiter brings a bottle of wine to the table. They watch him silently as he uncorks it and pours three glasses. Then, when he leaves, Sollozzo turns to McCluskey. "I am going to talk Italian to Mike."

McCluskey said, "Sure, you two go right ahead; I'll concentrate on my veal and my spaghetti."

Sollozzo starts to talk in rapid Sicilian. Michael listening carefully and nodding every so often. Then Michael answers in Sicilian, and Sollozzo goes on. The waiter occasionally brings food; and they hesitate while he is there; then go on. Then Michael, having difficulty expressing himself in Italian, accidentally lapses into English. Michael said, "Most important...I want a sure guarantee that no more attempts will be made on my family's life."

Sollozzo asked, "What guarantees can I give you? I am the hunted one. I've missed my chance. You think too highly of me, my friend...I am not so clever...all I want if a truce..."

Michael looks long and hard at Sollozzo, who is smiling holding his open hands up as if to say: "I have no tricks up my sleeve". Then he looks away and makes a distressed look on his face. He reached into his coat to get his gun out but Sollozzo was quick on his draw. "I don't think so Don Corleone." McCluskey didn't care for the scene. He just wanted to eat. Sollozzo said, "You have been a thorn on the mafia's side since your father's heart attack." Then he smirked, "Now I can finally end the Black Sheep."

The person at the bar had been stiff with attention. Sollozzo leans toward Michael who sits down comfortably and his hands move under the table and unbutton his jacket and put the gun on the table. Sollozzo begins to speak in Sicilian once again but Michael's heart is pounding so hard he can barely hear him. The waiter comes to ask about the order, Sollozzo turns to, and without warning, tried to shoot Michael but the woman from the bar shoves the table away from him with, and with her right hand puts the gun right against Sollozzo's head, just touching his temple. She pulls the trigger, and part of Sollozzo's head blown away, and a spray of fine mist of blood cover the entire area. The waiter looks in amazement; suddenly his white jacket is sprayed and stained with blood. Sollozzo seems in a perpetual fall to the floor; through he seems to hang in space suspended. McCluskey frozen with the fork with a piece of veal suspended in air before his gaping mouth. The woman fires catching McCluskey in his thick bulging throat. He makes a horrible, gagging, choking sound. Then coolly, and deliberately, the woman fires again, fires right through McCluskey's white-topped skull. The air is filled with pink mist. The woman swings toward the man standing by the bathroom wall. He does not make a move, seemingly paralyzed. Michael was actually impressed and took the gun from the woman. The waiter steps backward through the mist of blood, an expression of horror on his face. Michael looks at the two victims: Sollozzo still in his chair, side of his body propped up by the table. McCluskey finally falls from the chair to the table. Michael is wildly at a peak. He grabbed the woman starts to move out. His hand: is frozen by his side, still gripping the gun. He moves, not letting the gun go. Michael's face; frozen in its expression. His hand: still holding the gun. His face: finally, he closes his eyes. His hand relaxes; the gun falls to the floor with a dull thud. The 2 walks quickly out of the restaurant, looks back. He sees a frozen tableau of the murder, as though it had been recreated in wax. Then they leave. Once at an alleyway, he pushed the woman against the brick wall. "That was some weird shit you pulled in there." said Michael. He saw the woman was Asian.

She asked, "Then what should I do? Let them kill you? All you did was defend your honor."

Michael asked, "You speak Italian?"

"That and Japanese and Chinese." she replied.

"And you're good with a gun." said Michael.

The woman said, "You have to know a weapon if you want to survive." She made him let go of her. Then she smirked. "What if I told you I could also master the sword?"

Michael said, "Then I would say: why didn't you use it?"

She replied, "Because a gun is a less of a mess."

Michael asked, "Why were you after those men?"

She replied, "My own personal vendetta. But now that they're dead it's of no important. What's your reason for going after them?"

Michael said, "Buy me a drink and we'll talk."

The woman said, "Afraid I can't. Only 16."

Michael smiled. "Don't worry, with me the rules don't apply." He held out his arm. "By the way what's your name?"

The woman gladly took it. "Not on the first date senor but for now call me Kiddo."