A meeting was being held in Shao Kahn's fortress. The injured Emperor was sat on a mere stone stool along with Shang Tsung and General Reiko as they surrounded a circular marble table in the meeting room. Now was not a time to get under Kahn's skin, though there's never an exceptional time to do such a thing.
"What is next, Emperor?" Reiko asked. "Perhaps you should turn your attentions to Orderrealm."
"I want Earthrealm, General." Kahn reminded. "Orderrealm, Netherrealm and Chaosrealm come later."
"It's impossible though." Reiko stated. "We must change targets."
"Is it really impossible?" Shang queried. He sat at the opposite side of Reiko.
"Do you mock our Emperor?!" Reiko raised his voice. "The Elder Gods will punish our Emperor if we try attacking Earthrealm again to convince them for another tournament."
"The sorcerer's right, Reiko." Kahn informed. "He can revive Sindel under a mind control where she truly perceives me as her loving husband. Thus, she'll be willing to remove the spell that had previously bound me from forcefully merging the two realms."
"Forgive me for questioning your decision-making Emperor, but shouldn't we have performed this action sooner?" Reiko boldly questioned.
"Would you prefer a handout via a competition or a war?" Kahn asked rhetorically.
"A-apologies." Reiko stuttered. "I do know a thing or two about a war so I will get to preparing that."
"Good. Prepare your armies." Shao Kahn ordered. "And Shang Tsung, transport yourself to Earthrealm to revive Sindel."
"Very well." Reiko complied and left the room. Shang Tsung went to do the same but was called back.
"You have one final chance sorcerer." He whispered.
"I understand." He replied before leaving the Emperor alone.
Shao Kahn finally had a moment of peace. He took his damaged helmet off as he examined his wounded face through the reflection of the tables polished marble. It was when Kintaro came crashing through the stage when Kahn had realized that this tournament was a waste of time. If he would have had the effort to do so he could've singlehandedly demolished all of Raiden's allies. And the constant interruptions. How did a damn helicopter burst into his arena? Shao had been lecturing Shang Tsung on how he was unable to keep the participants under control and meanwhile Kahn was unable to control people from outside the tournament from getting involved. Did he own a Coliseum or a circus?! He smashed his fist into the table out of rage, cracking the polished marble beneath his feet and thus leaving a rough surface beneath. His tantrum was interrupted by a knock on the meeting room's door.
"Enter!" He ordered as he put his helmet back on.
The Kollector stepped inside the room with a grin on his face. "Myself and your more... reliable beast masters have tamed the Tormentor's."
"Perfect timing, Kollector." Kahn was also smiling now, some positive news alas. "I was just discussing with Shang Tsung and General Reiko about plans of invasion."
"How intriguing," Kollector pulled a stool over to himself and sat opposite of Kahn. "Here I was under the believe that we couldn't invade Earthrealm."
"Shang Tsung is reviving that old hag known as Queen Sindel." Kahn informed.
"Your former wife?"
"She was merely a symbol of power previously and when revived she will serve as a tool under mind control where she believes she loves me and that I feel the same way." Kahn explained, his anger was recognizable in his tone.
"Genius! Absolute genius!" Kollector exaggerated the greatness of his master. "But is Kitana aware of this?"
"She doesn't even believe my former wife was her mother," Kahn revealed. "I lied about my former wife being Tarkatan so that Mileena would believe she is my real daughter and Kitana an orphan."
"Another showing of your genius, Excellency." Kollector complimented.
"I'm aware." Kahn said egotistically. "Prepare the Tormentor's for the invasion as well as your fellow Naknadans."
"With pleasure."
Shang Tsung emerged from a portal that he had created to an abandoned and secluded building in Earthrealm that had been recently secured by the Shadow Priests. Two of the Shadow Priests went to greet their leader Shang Tsung as he wandered into the dimly lit structure.
"The ritual is prepared." One informed.
"I trust you've studied the ritual." The other hoped.
"Of course, I know what I'm doing." Shang replied defensively as if it was obvious.
"That remains to be seen." The Shadow Priest remarked. "We shall begin the resurrection process now."
"And that is for me to decide." Shang Tsung retorted. "Though I agree, let the revival commence!"
Shang Tsung and the Shadow Priests gathered in a circle as another dragged a skeleton to the centre of their gathering. Shang Tsung opened the small canister that he had been carrying and absorbed a singular soul from it into his hand. The Shadow Priests began chanting a spell in sync as organs and flesh began to grow in their regular places in and around the skeleton, layers of skin being formed shortly after. The Shadow Priests had intentionally left a hole in the chest of the body so that Shang Tsung could blast the soul from his hand and allow it to enter the body before the hole was also encased by flesh and skin. A regal, rich purple gown was also being created and dressed on the corpse by Shang before the Shadow Priests finished their work by adding features such as hair and nails to the body.
"She is finished," Shang Tsung confirmed. "Fine work my friends."
As soon as the ritual concluded the women's eyelids opened. "Where am I?" She asked weakly as she scanned the room. When she looked up, she recognized one of the men surrounding her. "S-Shang Tsung?!"
"Empress Sindel," Shang Tsung greeted. "It has been a while."
"What happened?"
"You had died while fighting by the Emperor's side," Shang fibbed. "Unfortunately, you attempted to perform a spell that would heal you but instead it created a barrier over Earthrealm that now prevents Shao Kahn from merging it into Outworld."
"How foolish of me!" Sindel sighed. "Take me to my husband so I can plead for his forgiveness."
"Why certainly, Empress." Shang complied and created a portal back to Shao Kahn's fortress. "Follow me."
Shang Tsung created a portal before he and the Shadow Priests moved through. Sindel shortly followed after performing a spell that began diminishing the protective barrier that came over Earthrealm. On the other side of the portal met Shao Kahn. The tricked Queen sprinted over to Shao Kahn and the two embraced in a hug.
"Wife, I have missed you." Kahn claimed.
"I'm truly sorry for the barrier I accidentally wrapped around Earthrealm," Sindel apologized. "I've already made sure the curse has been lifted, husband."
"Thank you." He said as gratefully as he possibly could, trying to keep his act legitimate. "We will invade Earthrealm as soon as this is accomplished."
"Where is our daughter?" Sindel asked. "I can't wait to see my beloved Kitana."
"I see you haven't retained your memories correctly," Kahn proceeded with the deceits. "Our daughter is called Mileena."
"I see..."
"Summon Mileena, sorcerer." Kahn ordered to Shang Tsung.
"Yes, Emperor."
"All the time those Earthrealmers stole from us." Kahn muttered.
"We will make them suffer, husband." Sindel promised.
"Indeed, we will."
Mileena walked in the room with expectations of seeing her Tarkatan mother, she didn't realize that her 'mother' was Sindel at first. "Father? You said mother was here?"
"It is I, Ki-Mileena." Sindel informed.
"But... You aren't Tarkatan."
"Her body is now changed upon her resurrection," Kahn quickly explained. "And she looks just as beautiful as before."
Sindel blushed at the compliment. "I'm sorry we couldn't have made many memories together daughter. But I promise to make as many new ones as possible." She said while embracing Mileena.
"Thank you, mother." Mileena returned the embrace and wrapped her arms around Sindel.
"We prepare for invasion soon, Mileena." Shao informed.
"Oh!" She was surprised by this information. "Then... may I stand by Baraka in fighting for the Tarkatans?"
"Already embracing your Tarkatan nature?" Kahn was also surprised but by Mileena's new and sudden desires to express her Tarkatan side.
"Now that I know it stems from lineage and not a vile curse." Mileena informed, taking her face mask off which Shao Kahn had never seen her do before.
"I'm very proud of you, Mileena," Kahn expressed his proudness by a hug. "Tell the Tarkatans about the upcoming invasion and that I have allowed you to join them."
"Yes, father." She obeyed.
"Earthrealm will be ours my family."