Chapter II

"Sympathy"

The training area of Shao Kahn's fortress was one of the largest rooms. Almost as large as the throne room itself. There were five sparring rings in the center and they were surrounded by weights, weapons and all sorts of other combat training tools. The training area was usually packed with Shao Kahn's soldiers and assassins, but on this day, they were only four individuals. Shao Kahn, Reiko, Shang Tsung, and the young princess Kitana.

It had only been six years since Edenia had been conquered and the land was already practically a wasteland. Reiko and Ash would occasionally have to deal with minor uprisings here and there, but otherwise, they had little to do. The sorcerer Shang Tsung, who proved to be crucial in the defeat of Edenia's armies was given a high ranking position as one of Kahn's Shadow Priests. Unfortunately, he had also been given another job as well: "The personal watcher of the young princess." In essence, Kitana's glorified baby-sitter.

Strangely, Kahn took a real liking to the young girl and decided that as soon as she was able, she'd be trained to be one of his personal assassins. Reiko didn't really understand why Kahn came to this decision. Perhaps he meant it as in insult to the deceased Jerrod? Or was it possible that he genuinely cared for the child? Reiko didn't dwell on the thought that much. It wasn't really that relevant.

Kitana's mother Sindel, however, was not pleased with Kahn's decision. Because of this, Kitana was often kept out her mother's reach and she rarely left Kahn's side. Shang Tsung began teaching Kitana how to fight last year and she was proving to be a fast learner, much to Kahn's satisfaction. Her training regiments were very strict and very long. Day in and day out she was taught how to fight and to be loyal to Shao Kahn. She was kept away from Sindel out of fear that Sindel would try to convince her otherwise. Cruel, but effective.

Sindel wasn't the only one dissatisfied with Kitana's training though. Shang Tsung didn't seem to appreciate being a child's caretaker. Reiko could see that Tsung was very ambitious and sought to gain Kahn's favor above all others. This sorcerer would have to be watched carefully.

"Lord Kahn!" Ash suddenly called entered the training area. "There's word of another potential uprising in the Lower Slums."

"Very well. Then you know what to do." Kahn answered, unconcerned. Ash and Reiko left the training chamber and gathered their weapons. These uprisings were rarely anything worth being concerned about. Reiko and Ash could easily handle it alone.

They left the fortress and caught a Dragonfly going to the Lower Slums. The Lower Slums were the poorest and most downtrodden area of Outworld. Populated by starving peasants and thieves. It was a pit. The Dragonfly would get them there in less than an hour. Reiko sat down and closed his eyes apathetically while Ash stared out at the view.

"I don't trust that sorcerer." He said suddenly. He paused to make sure Reiko was paying attention and continued "I haven't trusted him from the start." Reiko shrugged slightly, acknowledging Ash's concerns, although, in all honesty, Reiko didn't care about Tsung. "I've seen him talking with Queen Sindel. Every time he sees me close by he suddenly stops and walks away." He paused again to see if Reiko had any reaction, but there was none. "I think he's up to something."

Reiko only shrugged again. He didn't care about Tsung or Sindel. Kahn wasn't stupid. If they were up to something that would threaten him, they'd both be dead already. Reiko rose from his seat as he saw that they were about land in the Lower Slums. Ash'd have to worry about Shang Tsung later, they had business to do.

Ash and Reiko quickly and silently moved through the streets of the Slums ducking in the shadows so as not to be seen. If they were spotted a warning could be sent to the rebels. They stopped in front of a small shop near the center of town. Ash mentioned that the rebels were secretly meeting in the basement of the shop.

Ash and Reiko split up. Reiko'd find a way in unseen while Ash would bust in through the front door. Subtlety was never his strongest suit. He walked up to the shop door, drew his blade and knocked. The door opened and before the shop keeper could react Ash had cut him down and charged into the basement.

Ash smashed into the basement where there were twelve rebels gathered around a table that had maps and plans were all over it. As the rebels rose to charge at Ash four were suddenly struck down from behind by a hail of ninja stars. Reiko had already found a way in and the rebels found themselves surrounded by the two generals.

Ash began to brutally cut down the rebels in front of him while Reiko struck down the rest with his ninja stars with deadly accuracy. Thirty seconds after Ash and Reiko stormed in, the rebels were dead.

"Not really worth our time, huh?" Ash moaned as Reiko began to tear his ninja stars from the rebels heads and throats. This peons were hardly worth losing stars for. "I'm going to check around and see if they are any more hidden somewhere." Ash said and began looking in the other rooms of the basement.

As Reiko finished gathering his stars he suddenly heard a low crash and someone curse. Ash wasn't in the room anymore so he walked to where it came from. Reiko tossed aside a large box that was in the way and found a small girl on the floor lying by a turned over table. She only appeared to be ten years old, but you could never know for certain in Outworld. The girl had short black hair and dark gray eyes and was wearing ragged black clothes.

The girl stared at Reiko for a moment and suddenly blurted out. "I didn't do anything! I swear! I didn't even know these people! Swear!" Reiko then noticed that she was also lying in a pile of food and gold coins. She was no rebel. Just a simple thief.

"Yeah, uh... wrong place, wrong time, eh?" she said with a nervous laugh. She then paused hoping to get a similar reaction from Reiko but got nothing. "Right. Uhhh...Then I guess I'll be going now..." she continued trying to gather as much food and gold as she could and get up.

"Reiko who the hell you talking too?" Ash suddenly called walking over. "Who the hell is this?" he said seeing the girl.

"I didn't do anything! I swear! I didn't even know these people!" she repeated.

"Yeah." Ash answered, a bit confused. He then turned to Reiko and asked "So who is this kid?"

Reiko pointed to the girl's ragged clothes and the pile of food and gold she was clinging to and Ash understood. "Oh. So you're a thief, right?" he asked kneeling down in front of the girl.

The girl nervously backed away and answered "Y-yeah..."

"What's your name kid?" Ash asked.

The girl stared at Ash for a moment, uncertain why he was asking and said "um, Sareena."

"Sareena, huh? You got a family kid?"

Sareena stared at Ash confused and nervous about where this was going. Reiko was also staring at Ash, equally confused about where he was going with this and why.

"No. My mother died a few years ago and I never knew my father."

Ash was silent for a moment then said "How'd you like to come back with us?"

"What?" Sareena said, shocked. Reiko was also shocked at Ash's request.

"Came back with us. You can stay at the fortress with me. I'll look after you."

Reiko couldn't believe what he was hearing. Why was Ash offering to let this thief girl he just met live in the fortress?

"Um...okay, sure. If it's okay..." Sareena answered nervously, figuring if she'd refused he would have killed her.

"All right. Let's head back. I'm Ash. This is my partner Reiko." Ash proclaimed unusually cheerful.

The three of them left the busted up shop and made their back to the Dragonfly that would return them to Shao Kahn's fortress. Along the way, Ash noticed Reiko glaring at him.

"Don't look at me like that, okay. I can feel your look."

Reiko, Ash, and Sareena returned to the fortress and made their way to Ash's quarters where he said to Sareena "Let's get you cleaned up and some new clothes. Then we'll get something to eat."

"Okay." Sareena answered cautiously. She still didn't understand why Ash was being so nice to her, but she figured she might as well wing it and see what happens. After she was cleaned Ash gave her some clothes, none of which fit her. But it was better than the rags she was wearing earlier. They went to the dining hall where Sareena quickly gathered as much food as she could carry and began stuffing herself.

Sareena continued eating until she noticed another young girl walking through the dining hall. She looked younger than Sareena and had long black hair and blue eyes with a stone cold look on her face. Sareena courteously waved and said "Hi." The girl stopped and stared at her for a moment. She didn't say anything and then kept walking, right out of the dining hall.

"Um, okay." Sareena mumbled.

"That was Kitana, Lord Kahn's step-daughter." Ash said. "You'd probably be better off not talking to her."

"Okay." Sareena answered. "Are you sure this is going to be okay? You know, me staying here?"

"Don't worry about it. I'll just say that you're my new servant girl. As long as you stay out of people's way, you'll be fine." Ash answered. He then paused and said "So how's the food? Good, huh?"

Sareena grinned and nodded cheerfully and continued stuffing her face with food. Ash laughed a little until he noticed Reiko was still glaring at him. He motioned Ash to step aside where he could get an explanation for all this.

Ash walked over to Reiko and quietly said "Alright look, she reminds me of Riana okay." Soon as Ash dropped Riana's name Reiko began to understand what he was thinking. "So y'know, I felt liking taking her in. And no offense, but it'd be nice to talk to someone who can talk back." Reiko rolled his eyes still not agreeing with why Ash would bring in this strange thief whom he had just met and barely knew just because she kind of resembled Riana. "And I just got a feeling about this kid, y'know. I don't know, just feels good. So just relax." he finished returning to the table.

Reiko watched Ash talk with this girl Sareena and he got a feeling about her too. Bad luck. Somehow, Reiko could just feel it. This girl was a walking jinx.

End of Chapter II