The Battle of Armageddon had left none of its participants without scars, be they physical or mental. Even disregarding the hundreds of slain foot soldiers from across the numerous factions that had been pulled into the battle between Johnny Cage's 'Forces of Light' and Shinnok's 'Forces of Darkness', a number of high-profile warriors had been slain in the battle. Among them were Quan Chi, righteously split in twain by the ever-vengeful Scorpion; Sub-Zero impaled with his own ice sword by the wraith Noob Saibot, now known to be his own brother; and Jade, stabbed in her heart by Mileena in revenge for the death of Shao Kahn, himself killed by Sindel, Ermac and Kitana mere moments prior.
With Shao Kahn now finally dead - no doppelgangers, no deceptions, truly deceased - Mileena was able to once again ascend the throne, throwing around her birthright as the emperor's 'daughter'. With help from Tanya and Baraka's tarkatan hordes, her reprisal of the throne proceeded smoothly. Before too long, she had numerous figures, from lesser lords to merchants and warriors, presenting themselves before her, bowing at her feet and pleading their case for a place within her domain.
One of the first to do so was Kano. The Earthrealmer had long supported Shao Kahn out of sheer greed. Vast were the coffers of Outworld, and Kano was ever intent on suckling at the teet. Mileena doubted there was another force that could offer higher pay for the Black Dragon's continued services. No other realm headed a mighty empire. No rival faction within Outworld had access to to so stuffed a treasury. Kano's loyalty was secure.
"I see the battle was not kind to you either, Kano," Mileena said, observing the large, circular device now glowing inside his chest.
"Oh, this thing? You should see the guy I stole it from." Kano's manner of addressing his betters was always impudently casual. He walked with a bold swagger that indicated his confidence in eluding death. He had managed to evade Sonya Blade for many years now, even after wiping out half of her family personally. Even when she kicked him off a building, he managed to survive and rise up to become Shao Kahn's top general. He was a cockroach that always managed to evade the boot. That made him dangerous, but also reliable to the highest bidder.
"You were loyal to my father for a decade," Mileena noted, continuing to use her position as Shao Kahn's 'loyal daughter' to retain the loyalty of his surviving followers. "I can trust you to transfer that loyalty to me now?"
"Long as ya got the cash, I'm yer guy." Mileena liked Kano. He was crude, vicious, and loyal only to himself. He was akin to a hairy, tribeless tarkatan. Mileena always knew where she stood with him. He knew he had a reputation for being loyal only to money, and he was open, seemingly proud of that fact.
"And what exactly does my 'cash' get me?"
"Black Dragon tech, weapons, soldiers, thievin' services, protection-"
"I have adequate enough protection, Kano."
"Yer old man thought the same, luv. An' 'e 'ad Goro backin' 'im."
Mileena sighed at the mention of the former Mortal Kombat champion. To those observing, it looked as if Mileena's sigh had been an attempt to contain her contempt for Kano's impudence. The reality was that she didn't care about Shao Kahn being insulted. Even with her inherent programming to be loyal to him, still part of her psyche on some level, she wasn't at all interested in striking down those who spoke ill of the late emperor. She was far more concerned about the absence of the Shokan prince.
His return to Shao Kahn's service, and that of the Shokan at large, had been as repayment for a life debt he had owed Shao Kahn for saving his life after his near-assassination during a battle with Kano's forces a year prior. His service had always been reluctant, however, and with his benefactor now dead, Goro had departed back to his subterranean kingdom, taking his mighty Shokan horde with him. Mileena would deal with the Shokan another time.
"Point is, you get a real bang for yer buck wiv us."
"I don't know what a bang or a buck are in this context, but you do offer much I can use, it's true. But your weaponry was only so effective during the invasion. I need far better than what you offered my father."
Kano chuckled gleefully. "That's the thing about us Earthrealmers: we develop proper quick like. You Outworlders an' Edenians might not change much in ten thousand years, but give an Earthrealmer just ten years... an' 'e'll come back wiv a few dozen new ways to kill people. An' it'll be easier an' cheaper than the old methods. For example, have I ever told you about nuclear weapons?"
"No."
"Oh, trust me, Empress. Yer gonna love 'em. It just so 'appens I've got some new recruits back 'ome 'oo've got some bloody useful connections. I can 'ave one out 'ere for demonstration purposes within the week."
"Very well, Kano. Bring me one of these... 'nuclear weapons' of yours. If you impress me, the position is yours. But fail to do so... and I will feast on your flesh."
Kano chuckled. "I like you, Mileena. Yer a lot more fun to banter with than yer old man."
"Oh?" Mileena leaned forward on her throne, intrigued. "You consider threats to your life mere 'banter'?"
"For someone to survive in this game fer as long as I have, you gotta be either a coward, or a tenacious son of a bitch with balls a' fackin' steel."
"And which are you, Kano?"
"Heh. Me mum was a right dog."
It was a few days later when next Mileena would next be visited by a notable group. This time, it was the Shadow Priests, former magical servants of Shao Kahn, once led by Shang Tsung. They pledged their continued service to the throne, and Mileena granted them their old chambers.
She contemplated granting them access to the Flesh Pits, but she remained protective of that place for now. Any further use of the place in which she was born would be firmly controlled by the empress, lest there be another of her kind treated as Meat had been. She wondered how Meat was doing with Skarlet in that village. Perhaps she should place the village under her royal protection...
She retired to her chambers for the night, her 'siblings' still dominating her thoughts as she lay beside Tanya's sleeping form. After an hour of not being taken by slumber, Mileena rose from the bed and walked out onto the balcony. The cool air hit her all at once and made her shiver. But it was a pleasant kind of briskness. The kind that compelled her to slip out of her robe and stand stark naked in the chill breeze, letting the sensation wash over her flawless body as she looked out over the capital city far below.
Even at this hour, trade did not cease, unlike during the strict curfews of Shao Kahn's reign. Mileena had proposed this change to Tanya, who had empathically agreed for the popularity among the common people it would inspire. In reality, Mileena simply didn't care for such strict rules. Perhaps, it was that her own life had granted her so little freedom until Onaga's death left the throne vacant the prior year. Or, maybe it was the Kitana in her that made her value freedom so...
She could still recall the time Kitana had snuck onto Shang Tsung's Island during the last tournament to observe Earthrealm's fighters, against Shao Kahn's express command. Reptile had witnessed her first interaction with Liu Kang and reported it to Shang Tsung, who had in turn reported it to the emperor to boost his favour in light of his failure at the tournament. Mileena, then believing Kitana to be her true sister, had claimed to have been the one to disobey. Ever the least favoured, Mileena was severely punished for her supposed disobedience.
That was the last time that Kitana had treated her with kindness, visiting her every day during her brief incarceration, and personally seeing to the soothing of her torture-induced injuries. Soon after, Mileena had been released to compete in the Outworld tournament, where Kitana discovered the truth of her parentage and Mileena's nature. Ever since, they had been enemies, save for their brief shared time under Onaga.
But now, Kitana was back in Edenia, princess of her true home, serving under her caring mother. It made Mileena sick to think that Kitana should be given so much love, while her mirror image was forced to fight for every ounce of appreciation she now possessed. Fortunately, that was something Mileena was more than capable of taking from her 'sister', as she had already proven by murdering Jade in the great battle. Mileena grinned wickedly at the thought. Perhaps she would take her mother from her next...
A sudden, peculiar sound pulled Mileena out of her violent fantasy. She recognised the sound but hadn't heard it in so long that she wasn't sure she could identify it. Whatever it was, it was coming from behind her. Using a technique taught to her by Tanya, Mileena summoned her sai to her hands from under her pillow and whirled around to face the source of the sound.
It was a man. A hovering man, clad in red, coated in a green telekinetic aura. Even if she hadn't seen his new dress style so recently, she would have had no trouble identifying him as the man who assisted the Edenians in the slaying of her 'father'.
"Ermac!? What are you doing here!? Stay back!"
"Calm yourself, Mileena. We are not here to harm you."
"S-So you say. But you were a thrall of my father before you broke free of your bonds! And I am his daughter-"
"You are no more his daughter than we are his son. Creation has little to do with family. After all, if you truly were his daughter, you would not have plotted against him with Tanya."
"H-How do you-"
"It is ironic that we were given life to intervene in just such an encounter, only for that time to come after we had already escaped Shao Kahn's thrall."
"Yes, that... is ironic, I suppose."
"We no longer have a compulsion to serve a master. Rather, we desire, of our own volition, to undo Shao Kahn's corruption of this realm - to guide Outworld into a future free of the constant wars and Mortal Kombats of his reign."
"Then, you are here to assassinate me."
"On the contrary. We believe you have the potential to be the Kahnum that will lead Outworld into this new age we seek. Without Shao Kahn to compel your obedience and corrupt your desires, you may yet rule as Outworld's equivalent of Queen Sindel, with our guidance."
"Outworld's Sindel," Mileena chuckled. "Of course you would hold her as the gold standard, so biased as you are with your Edenian composition."
"Perhaps. Our time away from Shao Kahn has given us much time to contemplate and discover the nature of our existence," Ermac produced the upper half of a skull's face from within his tunic. It was Shao Kahn's mask, the one forged from King Jerrod's skull. "We are sure you can relate."
"How dare-" Mileena stopped herself short and sighed in defeat. "Yes. Though I am loathe to admit it, you do have a point."
"It stands to reason, then, that we are not the only ones experiencing this existential upheaval. There was another of our kind, was there not? A secret assassin."
"Skarlet..."
"We sense that you know where she is. Help us to find her and assist her with her own crisis, and you will have our support in your reign."
"That is what you desire? A family reunion of those forged in the Flesh Pits?"
"It is. Few in all the realms can ever understand our existence. You, Skarlet, and us. We must unify and protect one another. Do this, and we - Ermac - will defend you to the death, Empress."
"Your words are very pretty, Ermac. But the fact is, you were forged from Edenian souls and helped to slay the previous ruler of Outworld. What assurance do I have that you can be trusted?"
"That we understand the crushing loneliness of our unnatural existence. That we understand the desire to have a place to belong. That we have already dispatched three assassins among the Shadow Priests that attempted to reach your chambers tonight." From within his tunic, Ermac produced three of the Shadow Priest emblems, each splattered with blood.
"Those traitors," Mileena growled. "Did Shang Tsung put them up to this?"
"Your creator has not been associated with them since the invasion. It is highly doubtful they act on his behalf now. More likely, they seek to put a more worthy successor on the throne."
"Who?"
"That, we do not know. But Outworld needs stability now, more than anything. As such, we will do our utmost to uncover this information, should you accept our service."
Mileena nodded slowly. "Fine. Serve me, Ermac. Protect and guide me as I make my mark on Outworld. And uncover who I need to destroy to keep my rule stable."
"It will be done, Mileena Kahnum." There was something almost... fatherly in Ermac's tone as he said this. Mileena supposed she must simply be tired to be thinking such things. She sent Ermac away to conduct his investigation, while she retrieved her discarded robe and returned to her room, finding Tanya standing with her naginata by the door, ready to leap into action should Ermac have tried anything. Mileena smiled and kissed her lover before guiding her back to bed. It would be another hour before either of them got to sleep.
The next notable prospective ally of Mileena made his case around a week after Ermac put down the Shadow Priests and uncovered the identity of their would-be replacement for Mileena. He was currently off investigating this individual with Baraka when an elderly merchant entered the throneroom with his retinue.
He offered himself as the new tax collector, the previous one having been drafted into Shao Kahn's army and killed in Edenia. The offer was tempting she couldn't deny it. Especially as the man produced many treasures from across the realms as payment for simply granting him an audience, and offered her yet more to award him the position.
But there was something about the man that just rubbed her the wrong way. Perhaps it was how he rubbed his hands together expectantly. Or how unusual it was for her not to have heard of this rich merchant with access to treasures from across all the realms. Or for word of the previous taxman's death to have spread beyond the palace walls.
Mileena unhooked her veil at one ear, fully revealing her face. She closed her eyes and sniffed at the air, inhaling deeply, somewhere between a person enjoying a pleasant scent and a wild animal tracking its prey. "My senses may not be as attuned as a full tarkatan, but did you honestly expect me not to recognise your scent the second you crossed the threshold, sorcerer?"
As anticipated, Song's smile warped into the unmistakeable snake-like grin of Shang Tsung. His entire body shifted from the unassuming old man to the much younger-looking form of her creator, the humble tunic giving way for his expensive red robes.
"I see my work on you was a success on all fronts. Except the mouth, of course, but you seem to have found a solution to that problem by yourself. Those are some beautiful lips you have, by the way."
"Song. Tsung..." Mileena said aloud, ignoring his flattery. "What ever happened to your boundless creativity?"
Shang Tsung chuckled. "That name has worked for me in the past. But I admit, I underestimated you this time. My apologies. I should have known better than to assume you were the same mouldable puppet you once were. Your recent ambition is both impressive and surprising."
Despite her hostility towards the man who created her, Mileena felt an odd sense of accomplishment at being praised by him, even if she didn't believe he meant a word of it.
"Enough of your honeyed words, sorcerer. What snake oil are you peddling?"
Shang Tsung's eyes widened in mock offense. "Snake oil? You wound me, Empress."
"I can make that wound more literal, if you would like."
"Such wit. You truly have come into your own in recent times."
"Enough!" Mileena slammed her fist down on her wooden armrest. Tanya often admonished this habit of hers, calling such an outburst a sign of emotional weakness. But Shang Tsung had a way of getting under one's skin. And into Mileena's head. "You are wasting my time, sorcerer. Get to the point, before I have my guards eject you directly into the beast pen."
"Very well. Business it is. I came here to observe your ability to rule."
"An expert at observation, though you may be, I refuse to believe that is your true motive."
"And what does the wise Kahnum suppose my true motive is?"
"To ingratiate yourself with my court, and use your position to usurp my throne."
At this, the sorcerer's expression soured. Mileena knew him well enough to recognise that this was not an act, nor a setup to another quip. He was genuinely put out that she had said this.
"Truth be told, the notion of conquest utterly bores me nowadays. All that fighting and conquering and defending... Even without that bore Quan Chi as my 'partner', my time in rule of Outworld awoke me to the fact that political ambitions simply hold no interest for me anymore. I find so much more pleasure in the joys of creation."
Mileena scoffed.
"You doubt me, hm? Did you know I have created a companion for our old friend, Syzoth? That is Reptile's saurian name. An artificial saurian, capable of imitating the abilities of others, like a chameleon changing its colour to suit its situation. It is at times male, at others female. An intriguing little creature, to be sure."
"Get to the point, sorcerer," Mileena snarled.
"Put simply, I have much more interest in watching my creations grow and thrive than in depriving them of their power. And I did create you, did I not?"
"Do not speak of my creation with your forked tongue. You lost that right when you meddled with my mind. And now, you expect me to trust you, betrayer?"
"You trust her," he motioned towards Tanya, ever by Mileena's side. "She betrayed her realm. Why am I so different?"
"Because you put magic commands in my head to control me!"
Shang Tsung nodded solemnly. "It's true. I did that. My safety was never assured under Shao Kahn, you understand. No matter how dutifully I served him. I created him his perfect daughter, his perfect assassin, gave him his perfect bride. And yet..."
There was an underlying rage within Shang Tsung. It was clear to see - barely controlled, bubbling just beneath the surface. Mileena found herself sweating slightly in genuine concern for what he might be driven to do. But instead of releasing this rage, he quashed it, and continued on calmly.
"I could never feel truly safe under Shao Kahn's thumb. You were one of the few pieces on the board I could control, thanks to his lack of care for your well-being. I had to make sure Shao Kahn could not use you against me."
"So you used me against him."
"Indeed. I had you help to facilitate his downfall in the invasion once the campaign's failure was clear. And where is he now? Dead. Imprisoned by the Elder Gods, I'd wager. Meanwhile, you, my greatest creation, now sit upon his throne - pardon, your throne - now crowned the Mistress of Outworld. I do not take all of the credit, mind. Your own ambition was not something I ever intended for you, yet you possess it. It surprised me, to be honest. And that desire to lead, something even your 'sister' does not possess, is truly a remarkable thing. It makes you unique among all of my creations, among even Shao Kahn's 'daughters'.
"Banish me if you must, but accept this one request from your true father: never lose that drive to strive for more. You have earned this power by your own cunning and charisma. Thousands, millions perhaps, flock to the new Kahnum of Outworld, pledging their fealty, and not all out of loyalty to your 'father'. I look forward to seeing how high you can soar, Mileena Kahnum."
With atypical sincerity, Shang Tsung bowed deeply, stepping back and turning on his heel to leave. Mileena had to force herself to hold back. She very nearly called out to him, begged him to stay. Instead, she collected herself, took a cleansing breath, and unleashed a command. "Should I have need of your services, Shang Tsung... should I call upon you, you will come. You will do the bidding of your Empress."
Stopping to turn back towards her, Shang Tsung flashed a prideful grin. Though, in whom he felt such pride, she couldn't rightly say. "As you wish, Empress. I will do my utmost to ensure that your reign is long and prosperous. As will Kano, with sufficient compensation. And Ermac, if you display his desired regal qualities."
"How do you-"
Shang Tsung let out a wicked cackle. "Think of me as a protective parent, assessing the men looking to ingratiate themselves with my daughter. And the women as well." His eyes fell on Tanya for a moment, before returning to Mileena. "Be mindful of in whom you place your trust. Even a man as paranoid and calculating as Shao Kahn was subject to treachery. And ultimately undone by his own schemes. I hope you do not follow in his footsteps, in that regard..."
The Ermac part was what was partly written first, and that was over a year ago, I think. I also think Mortal Kombat Genesis' depiction of Shang Tsung and Mileena's relationship inspired their scene here. I'm not sure. These two ideas, combined with the need to bridge the gap between Armageddon and MKX for the Black Dragon led to this.
Also, I hit 100K subs on YouTube today. My mum's birthday. Feels good, man.