Chapter V

"Initiation"

Sareena stood in the far corner of the sparring chamber, waiting for Quan Chi to return. She had been given new clothes and told to wait in the chamber where her training would begin. Her new clothes were all black, which suited her mood, but made her look like a dominatrix.

The chamber was a dark and ominous room, which was how just about every other room was. All along the walls were statues of a large cloaked figure with a stern, staring face. Quan Chi said that it was Shinnok who was the god of the Netherealm and their master. The doorway of the chamber had a strange symbol embedded into it. The same symbol was tattooed on both of Sareena's shoulders. Quan Chi told her that was the symbol of the Brotherhood of the Shadow and that it meant she was now a member for life. There seemed to be no end to the bad luck or bad news for Sareena.

Quan Chi entered the sparring chamber followed by a woman who was dressed in black leather, similar to Sareena. She also had black marks and tattoos on her face and body and had long black hair with piercing black eyes and a harsh look on her face.

"This is Kia." Quan Chi began. "She will be your sparring partner and will assist you in your training."

Kia slowly approached Sareena who was uneasy. "I don't know how to fight." she said tensely.

"Then you'd better learn fast." Kia said coldly before punching Sareena in the face.

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Elsewhere, Reiko was traveling up the Bridge of Immortality with the Prison guard. Reiko had been given a new red and black uniform which had the symbol of the Brotherhood of the Shadow on it's back. The Bridge connected Shinnok's Fortress with the mainland where the Prison of Souls was located. The Bridge was where the final battle between Shinnok and the previous ruler of the Netherealm, Lucifer, took place. Shinnok said he kept the Bridge standing in it's dilapidated state as a reminder of the pain he endured when he was first banished to the Netherealm. And his hatred for the one who put him here.

"The Prison of Souls is where we keep the Damned souls who are banished here." the guard began. "However, a former member of the Brotherhood of the Shadow named Kane is trying to instigate a riot. He used to be one of Quan Chi's assassins, but it seems he's no longer satisfied with being a servant."

Reiko and the guard entered the prison and were greeted with the screams of agony of the millions of damned souls that were trapped there. They took a lift to the upper levels where Kane was said to be riling up the other inmates. Once they reached the top level they saw Kane standing on the platform yelling like a madman to the other prisoners.

"The Netherealm has never had one true ruler! Before Shinnok, it was Lucifer! Before Lucifer, it was Mephistopheles! And so on and SO ON! We say Shinnok's rein is over! It is time we rise up and take this realm for ourselves! Too long have we been trapped under his boot! Too long have we suffered at the hands of his sorcerer!"

As Kane rambled, Reiko looked at the Prison guard expecting him to know what to do. But he did nothing but simply wave his hand in an "after you" motion.

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Back at in the sparring chamber of Shinnok's Fortress, Sareena's training session with Kia continued. It wasn't much of a fight as it was a beating for Sareena. Any attempt she made at defending herself was brutally countered by Kia. As the beating continued, Quan Chi watched nonchalantly.

"Demons are natural fighters Sareena." he said as Kia paused to let Sareena catch her breathe. "Use your instincts."

With that, Kia began to attack again, but Sareena didn't even bother to fight back. She could hear Quan Chi's words but wasn't listening to them. She saw no reason to defend herself. Everything she'd ever cared for was gone. She was now a soulless monster, a slave to a sadistic madman, trapped in a wretched hellhole and getting beaten to death by a woman she had never met before. She didn't want to fight. She just wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

"Fight me damn it! Defend yourself!" Kia began to shout, getting angry at Sareena's lack of effort. "Damn it! This is hopeless!" she groaned. "Master, why are we even bothering with this sniveling excuse?"

"Do not question me Kia." Quan Chi said with a sigh. "Give me a moment." He walked to Sareena who was lying motionless on the floor. "Can you hear me Sareena? I want you to listen to me. A Demon's power comes from their anger. It's blinding hate of the world and the things that have wronged them." he paused a moment, but Sareena didn't move at all. "I'm sure you have plenty to be angry about. So ask yourself Sareena: will you do something about it? Or are you the sniveling, spineless whore that Kia thinks you are?" He then walked away and said to Kia "Continue."

Kia approached Sareena who was still on the floor and gave her a sharp kick to the back. Sareena thought about what Quan Chi said and began to reflect on everything that'd been happening to her. However, this time she did not despair. Instead she felt a deep seething hatred begin to form in her gut that needed to be released.

Kia threw a punch that was suddenly caught by Sareena before it could hit her. Sareena's grip on Kia's fist began to tighten as she rose to her feet, her eyes now burning with rage.

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Meanwhile, Reiko approached Kane, still uncertain of how to handle this situation. Shinnok did not give any specific orders and the guard was offering no help, so he figured he'd just go along and see what happens. Kane turned and stared at Reiko for a few moments. He was wearing all black with the Brotherhood symbol tattooed on his arms. He also had black marks on his face and his hair was black and spiky with white streaks in it. Reiko figured it meant he was a Demon, too.

"We don't recognize you stranger....(Recognize him we do not we don't) You must be a new recruit, in which case we'll give you a chance to see the light....(The light we see is the light we need)......you mustn't trust Shinnok nor Quan Chi, no you mustn't you mustn't.....(Shinnok is the god why the god need the time we need).......we served Quan Chi, yes we did......we were one of his assassins we were.......(why did he fire us, why did he abandon us).......he's a lunatic! He thrives on the pain and misery of others he does! We know, we've seen it ourselves!"

As Kane rambled on, Reiko could see immediately that he was out of his mind. For some reason he kept referring to himself as "we" and he kept interrupting himself with nonsensical ravings.

"Join us you must. Quan Chi will lead you astray he will....just as he did us......(Why did he fire us? We were better than the other two whores).....join us friend and we can make all is well!" Kane then stuck his hand out for a handshake. Reiko turned and looked at the guard who was just watching. "Why don't you answer us?" Kane started again. "Why do you ignore us? You fool, you let yourself be enslaved by Shinnok?!" Kane snarled and then spit in Reiko's face.

Reiko stared at Kane a moment and suddenly the solution to this problem became very clear. He then punched Kane in the face.

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Sareena said no words as she leveled a surprised Kia with a devastating blow that sent her to the floor. Kia shook off the blow and stood up. She charged at Sareena and began raining down punches and kicks but they were all blocked and dodged.

Kia was growing increasingly frustrated when suddenly one of her punches was again caught by Sareena. A low crunch could be heard as Sareena crushed Kia's hand. With that, Sareena took the offense and began to pummel Kia mercilessly. Kia was knocked down to the floor but Sareena was not done yet though. She sat on top of Kia and continued to rain down blow after blow onto Kia's defenseless face.

Sareena's mind was all but consumed with hate. Hatred for what has happened to her. Hatred for all the people who hurt her. Hatred for what she has become. Sareena then began strangling Kia, imagining everyone and everything she had hated. She never wanted any of this. She just wanted to be left alone. She felt her Demonic instincts burning inside her and welcomed them. She let them take over.

"All right, Sareena. That's enough." Quan Chi said seeing that he'd accomplished his goal. But Sareena didn't listen. She was still strangling Kia. "Sareena! That's enough!" he then ordered, but Sareena still would not listen. Quan Chi then kicked Sareena off of Kia and threw her across the room. "Control yourself!" he barked at her.

As Sareena lay on the floor she regained control of herself and realized what she had done. She then felt sick realizing the bloodlust that she had allowed to control her. She felt the Demon side of herself and was horrified at the dark place it takes her to.

"That'll be all for today, Sareena. You did well." Quan Chi said with a sickening smile, obviously satisfied with what he'd done.

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Kane's attacks on Reiko made no sense. They were random, seemingly mindless attacks, however, the were difficult to dodge and Reiko was getting beaten. A final attack sent him down to the floor and Kane began to run around laughing and cheering for himself like a psychotic child.

However, Reiko then realized there was method to Kane's movements. They were just a way of throwing the opponent off, similar to Drunken Fist. Once he realized this, Reiko this time took a defensive position to the fight. He waited for Kane to make the first attack and he blocked and countered them, each blow weakening Kane.

Kane then started to get angry and his attacks started to become more and more sloppy. As Kane began to fight more sloppy he left himself more open to Reiko's attacks. It wasn't long before Kane was left lying on the floor in pain.

"You made a mistake you did!" Kane began to yell as Reiko started to walk away. "Shinnok will betray you he will! And Quan Chi will drive you mad just like he did us!" Reiko had enough of Kane's raving and gave him a stiff kick to the head than knocked him unconscious. Several sentinels came and pulled the bruised and bloodied Kane away. The Prison guard approached Reiko and motioned him to follow. Their job was done. They left the Prison and began to return to Shinnok's Fortress.

As the left it became clear to Reiko that this mission was just a test. The gurad wasn't meant to help him, he was just there watch and see what Reiko'd do. As he walked, Reiko couldn't help but think about what Kane said. True, he was probably just a deranged maniac, but what if he really was one of Quan Chi's assassins and he was driven mad by the sorcerer?

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Sareena sat near an open area of Shinnok's Fortress shivering and staring out at the view. She was shivering, not just because of the cold, but because she was also thinking about what she had done earlier. Never before in her life had she felt such blind rage and hate.

When Sareena's mother was alive the two of them scratched out a living in the Lower Slums of Outworld. Sareena's father had deserted them when she was born leaving her mother to raise Sareena by herself. Before she was found by Ash, Sareena spent her life surrounded by thieves, murderers, and rapists and lived in constant fear of the mutant Nomads who terrorized the Slums whenever they got the urge. Sareena hated the Nomads and she hated the dirty, evil people who lived by their rage and anger.

After her mother died Sareena spent two years fending for herself as a petty thief until she was found by Ash. She liked Ash because, even though he served Shao Kahn, he seemed to have a good heart. He seemed like the only good person in a world of filth. She only lived with Ash for two years, but it was the happiest she had ever been in her life.

Now she was here, in this wasteland called the Netherealm. She was alone and could feel the darkness growing in her heart. When she attacked Kia, she could feel the rage inside her and it made her feel sick. For just a few moments, she had become everything she hated. And what made it worse, there was a part of her that liked it. The power it gave her to hurt everyone who had hurt her. The freedom.

Sareena's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp kick to her back. She turned around only caught a glimpse of Kia as she was struck again. Kia was not alone either. She was with another woman with dark skin and long white hair and also had the Brotherhood of the Shadow symbol tattooed on her arms. Sareena didn't know but this was Jataaka who was Kia's partner.

"Who do you think you are you little bitch?" Kia snarled at Sareena. "You think you can make a fool of me in front of Master Quan Chi?" she continued kicking Sareena again. Jataaka joined in and began kicking Sareena, too. "Don't think your anything special just because you caught me off guard. I've seen whores like you come and go for years. I earned my place and I'm not going to let some stupid, spineless bitch from Outworld show me up!"

"Honestly, I don't see why Master Quan Chi keeps trying to recruit another one. We're more than enough." Jataaka said, pausing for a moment. "Oh well. Welcome to the Netherealm, bitch." she then sneered at Sareena and then started beating her again.

Suddenly Jataaka was violently kicked away. Kia turned to see what happened and was greeted with a stiff punch to her face. Kia and Jataaka looked to see what had happened and saw a tall man wearing a red and black Brotherhood uniform standing in front of Sareena.

"Who the hell are you?!" Kia demanded, but the stranger wouldn't answer. Sareena looked up to see what was happening and recognized that the stranger was Reiko. He was standing between her and Kia and Jataaka but she was confused about why he was helping her.

"It's him, the mute general Master Shinnok was talking about." Jataaka whispered to Kia. "He came with the girl. Reiko, I think his name is."

"Stay out of this general." Kia said sternly. "This isn't your business." she continued approaching Sareena. "Just leave us with-" Kia was cut off by a stiff kick to her gut then sent her tumbling to the floor. Reiko shook his head and pointed to the door behind Kia and Jataaka.

Jataaka helped Kia get to her feet and they started to leave. Kia then turned and managed to cough out "This isn't over..."

After they left, Reiko turned and looked at Sareena who was struggling to stand. "Why...why did you help me?" she asked, out of breathe.

Reiko didn't answer and only walked away. As he left, Sareena finally understood that she was truly alone. Reiko would never answer her. Kia and Jataaka already hated her. And Quan Chi and Shinnok were degenerate lunatics. She couldn't even find comfort within herself because she felt empty except for the darkness that was growing inside her.

She was alone. All alone.

End of Chapter V