A THOUSAND DREAMS AWAY 

a story of beauty and the beast

****

... and then she turns over on her stomach, and looks at me. I lay exhausted on the bed, a bit dizzy after wild sex we've just had. Her bare breasts, so soft and wonderful, they drive me insane every time, they press gently on my naked chest, and then she bites me, playful as a pussycat ... Mileena's teeth are long, sharp, and can be quite deadly, but my mutant's skin is naturally designed for rough foreplay. I watch her in silence, and the moment is filled with joy and happiness, with peace I've never known before ...

****

... in the last attempt to save her life, Mileena thrusts her only remaining sai with all the strength that is left in her tired, wounded body, but Kitana easily avoids this clumpsy attack with speed that can be called a family feature. Kitana, Mileena - and Jade, recently, have been the Emperor's best asassins. So much alike, but much more different than one could possibly imagine. With a swift strike Kitana forces her twin to the knees and the last sai drops to the ground. Two pairs of eyes, one full with hatred and one full of pleading, meet, but contrary to what you might think, it's Kitana the one pleading. Silence hangs in the air while sisters look at each other and unspoken words can be easily added:
- Sister, please stop! Join us and ...
- Traitor ! I'd rather die than betray my Emperor !
- You don't understand ! At least don't attack me any more ...
- Never ! I must and I will kill you !
- Then you leave me no other choice.
- GO TO HELL !!!
None of them really speaks, but they grew up together and need no words for understanding any more. Kitana closes her eyes and slashes with her fan, decapitating the woman whom I love more than my own life. I scream in pain and despair ...

****

... and wake up, screaming. All my essence wants to cry and to kill, to fill the entire Realm with blood. My soul wants revenge, and wants to bring my beloved back, at any cost. My unseeing eyes still hold the image of Mileena's face, my skin remembers her touch, my ears still hear her voice. Slowly, I begin to control myself. My body shivers, but I swipe sweat and tears off my face and get up. Dressing doesn't take much time - I didn't undress and frankly speaking, I don't care if I smell or look badly. Once I did, but it was all for her - Mileena hated my strong mutant smell and she always dressed so accurate, that it was impossible to approach her without proper look. At least for me. No other mutant from my tribe, hell, from any tribe in the Outworld, would ever trouble himself with anything like bath for any female - women are considered things to be taken by force, but she changed me the very moment I saw her. Besides, I'd like to see someone to try taking her by force. I saw her killing a young Shokan for calling her 'babe', and I fell in love immediately.
I come out of the shabby cave that was my shelter for the night and sit down staring blankly at the morning fog. I try to count how many times I have seen this dream. I don't even remember the time when it didn't come. What's the counting for, you might ask. That's a whole story. In fact, I learned to count for this special occasion. But allow me to begin from the very beginning.
My name, as you could easily guess by this moment, is Baraka. Former General Baraka. I was the leader of the Emperor's Shao Khan extermination squads. In fact, we got all the dirty job that General Kintaro didn't want to take. The Emperor had quite a huge army, so my position couldn't be called a very high one. Let's see, there was Prince Goro, Emperor's favourite, but he was almost always out on some mission. Then there was General Kintaro, leader of Empire Armies. Both of them are Shokans and the most powerful of their race. When brute force wasn't enough, Shao Khan had Shang Tsung - a black sorcerer and his Shadow Priests at his disposal. Then, the famous asassins - Kitana, Mileena and Jade. Mileena had taken more missions than both her sisters, but they were equally effective. Jade, on the contrary, acted so rarely that her very existace was questioned sometimes. Oh, and I almost forgot Reptile. This creature, even less human than me, was Emperor's best spy and bodyguard, due to his invisibility talent. Of course, Master's palace was always packed with good fighters waiting for an opportunity to advance: Rain, Ermac, Sheeva and many, many others. Shao Khan had use for them all.
Ahh, sweet memories. It was all simple and right then. And suddenly, everything went wrong. For me, it began when Emperor's dog Shang Tsung sent my troops to the world named Earth. It was then when I felt trouble first. The task itself was no problem for us - kill and destroy, nothing new. It wasn't even a fight, just a slaughter. There were good fighters, but they held no chance against a surprise attack of the best Outworld murderers. They had nothing to fight our arm-blades with, and they had to protect their children and aged ones. Those few who survived our rage, perished in the fire which destroyed their Temple. Maybe because it was a Temple, Gods put a curse on me. But it was then for sure when I aquired my worst enemies - White Lotus society. Many of them came from that Temple, many of them had friends or relatives there. Liu Kang and Kung Lao went on a hunt for my head, as well as for the heads of Shang Tsung and Shao Khan himself. It was then when I felt trouble. Well, I wasn't afraid of death. It had come for me not once, and when Kung Lao killed me, it wasn't a first time for me. I was revived by The Emperor, as he always did with his loyal servants. But something was different this time. Don't get me wrong - I am a murderer and I know it. It never worried me. Since my childhood everyone was an enemy for me, even my own tribe members, and I grew to expect no mercy and to show none. But these people, somehow I felt that they were no threat to anyone. I had killed children not old enough to walk by themselfs, but they were still an enemy, enemy that they could become. Well, then there was a tournament, and Master Khan was defeated. It was a shock for us all, but it was not an end. Just the beginning of the end.
It was soon after these events when my life changed forever. I was out of the palace on a mission to capture a rogue Shadow Priest named Caine. I got him quite easily, in fact he was waiting for me in the Tower. What Tower? Look at the palace, any more questions? The most trouble was climbing all these damned stairs. And ... I kind of dislike height. For a mutant born in the wastelands it's quite natural. Even looking up the Tower gives me creeps. Looking down from the Tower terrifies me. I'd kill a man who decided that huge curiously shaped holes in the walls can do as windows and provide a nice _side_ view at the clowds at the same time. Believe me, I'd do the best to find the bastard, if not for the knowledge that the Tower is ages old and he is most likely dead already. It could be nice to know that he was thrown out of one of these damn 'windows', but no-one remembers anything about it. Well, Master Khan may know but I would never ask him. Anyway, that Caine was waiting for me and looked straight in my eyes when I entered. Usually the first sight of my frown and ever-frozen smile scares people, or at least gives them a start, but he was calm as a rock. With a faint smile he began speaking:
- Oh, it's our brave General Baraka. Furious monster they call him, but they just don't see a human behind the beast's face. Great warrior they call him, but they don't see a decieved soul behind the murderer's fame.
- You are coming with me.
- Sure. But you are tired, so answer some questions while you rest.
- I am not here to give you answers for some stupid questions.
- Ah, but I am not the one who needs answers. You are. For example: why did you join Shao Khan's army? To save your tribe and yourself from sure death? But where is your tribe now? Dead, all of them. And just think how long will you live when you are of no use to the Emperor any more? Or if you fail him?
- Shao Khan is kind to his loyal servants.
- Is he? Look around. Look at his loyal servants. Reptile - serving for the sake of his race, but fearing every moment that Khan will enslave them, the thing he already plans to do. Scorpion, he strives for revenge, but it is really his life he wants back - will he ever get it? Alive he holds no value for the Emperor. Shokans, these once proud warriors are afraid that one day they will fail their Master and their race will be put aside to make place for the new favourites - Centaurians, their natural enemies. And even Shang Tsung himself is forced to give up little pieces of his own soul to maintain youth and get even smaller portions of power from Shao Khan. Then, we have our trio of ...
- Enough ! Serve well, and be rewarded. Fail, and be punished. It's a law.
- But is it a good law? You have been serving well, but are you rewarded? Is your tribe safe? Is Mileena back to life?
He looked at me for a moment and said in a lower tone:
- So you didn't even know that? She was sent to capture Kitana, who found out about her true legacy, and they fought. Mileena lost. Now go, ask your Emperor to revive her and see for yourself what your services earned you.
- You are coming with me.
- Of course.
And I did go to Shao Khan and I did ask him. And the answer was that I had no rights to demand anything. I mentioned my services and began to get angry. The Emperor ordered to have me thrown out of the palace. He was in a good mood that day. After a long thought I went to see that Caine. I found him in chains, but not in prison. He was held in a small magic tower near Reptile's lair in the Living Forest. He must have been something special to get such treatment. The snake eye looking thing there obviously watched me, but I gave no damn. Caine smiled at me as I approached.
- Welcome, general. Pardon me for not offering you a sit, but there is ...
- How can I return her ?
- Oh, but you can't. Unless you study necromancy long enough, there is no way. Your masters will not do it, for she failed in her most important mission, and the Light Gods will not because she's - face it - kind of evil. Of course, you can offer someone a deal, but I can't see now what and how. Besides, what do you think she'll do as soon as she's revived ? She'll fight Kitana and fail again.
- And if not ?
- She'll fight Shang Tsung, Khan himself and the list is long enough. She can't bear her nature, and she can't survive it.
- What _can_ I do ?
But then Reptile arrived with a small army of Emperor best guards. I put up a good fight and many of them stayed there forever. In the end Reptile threw a strong metal net on me from behind and since he was invisible, I had no chance to evade it. I was beaten nearly to death and dragged to the prison. But just before losing conscience I heard - or imagined to hear a faint voice:
- You'll see her again. It's not at all difficult. She's only a thousand dreams away.
Prison itself was not as bad as dreams that began to come to me. One dream. Always the same, every night. First, I saw Mileena making love to me. This never happened, but I had had such dreams before. Love and happiness filled this part of the dream - the feelings that I had never had before. I did feel passion and a wild desire of her body, but true love came to me only after Mileena's death. Then I saw Mileena's death at the hands of her sister. This did happen, but I didn't witness it. Mileena really hated her twin. Well, I keep calling them 'sisters' and 'twins' just because I am used to it, even though the truth is that they are not. Shang Tsung had created Mileena long before I appeared at the Emperor's court. She was a clone designed to be a secret weapon should Kitana or Jade claim their rights as Edenia Princesses. She hated her sisters, hated Shang Tsung, and most of all, as I can guess now, she hated herself.
Hatred. Unlike love, this feeling is the one I do know. Sometimes I think it's the only feeling I knew through all my life. You see, hatred is a survival trait for the mutant nomads of the Outworld. Hatred is what makes us the most dangerous species of all in this dangerous place. Always strike back, always fight to the end, make no retreat and show no mercy. Weaklings are meant to die. If not for this rules, we could have easily been swept away by the physically stronger enemies like Shokan or Centaurian races.
Hatred. Mileena knew no other feeling for sure. Maybe it was this way because of her mutant origins, maybe because of Shang Tsung's magic, but most likely that it came right from her heart. She was raised knowing that she differed from all who surrounded her. Then she knew that her appearence would only call for disgust, though her figure attracted everyone. She knew that if only once she were to take her mask off, everyone would be turning away. That's why she was so sensitive to any courting, any slightest hint of possible relationships involving sex or simple attraction. So she pushed everyone away. She hated Shang Tsung for knowing the truth and for making her what she was. She hated Kitana for loving her as a sister she never was and for being what she herself longed to be so much. And she hated me for knowing the truth and still loving her, loving exactly what she hated in herself. But it couldn't be the other way, you see. Shang Tsung created exactly what he wanted to create and was satisfied with the result. She amused him and was his most favourite toy to taunt and watch twisting in pain inside but struggling to show nothing outside. For that, he earned my hatred too. But that amused him even more - to see the beast I am caught in the feelings that would make me the laugh of the Outworld and holding that as just another secret, another string to pull whenever he wanted to manipulate me.
But, back to the history.
Shao Khan cheated in some way, and opened a portal to Earth, huge enough for him to claim the souls of almost the whole population and to let a horde of Centaurians go through it and kill the survivors. Then there was another tournament and Master Khan was defeated again, this time disappearing and leaving us without guidance.
By this time I'd kill him myself if I had a chance.
Anyway, his defeat broke all the hell lose here. A struggle for the throne, or simple survival began. All those who were bound by the Emperor went mad and brought death and destruction wherever they went. Shokans and Centaurians, for example, managed to rush a completely surprise attack at each other at exactly the same time. They are still happy fighting their ever lasting war, I guess. The rest of the Outworld was no better. In this boiling cauldron of fury I made my escape. Not that prison troubled me much - at least I had a regular meal there and the place was dry. In fact, it was much better than the world outside, but too many people knew where to find me. It was only a question of time when someone would finish his last available nearby enemy and
think what a nice idea it would be to pay a visit to our ex-general. The fact that I had no friends was quite nicely compensated by the number of my enemies, which included almost everyone I ever knew.
And that's it with history.
I am awakened from my thoughts by the strong feeling of being watched. The fog is gone, but I can't see anyone. Slowly I stand up and look around. And there I see Mileena. She leans on the tree and looks directly at me, sparks of laugh in the corners of her eyes.
- Hello handsome. Wanna have fun?
She comes up close to me, takes her mask off and gives me a long deep kiss. Well, doing it when you have mutant teeth like ours is a bit complicated and involves crazy tongue work, since lips are unavailable. She manages it with perfect skill, and throws her head back while still embracing me. She laughs:
- My, you _are_ a beast. Surprised, honey ? That is just a beginning.
That feels wonderful, but somehow strange. Unnatural. Unlike her. I just stand making no further movement. She looks at me slightly irritated and says:
- What's wrong, darling ? Don't you want me ? Or you would prefer my sis ? Or that Earth bitch Sonya ? Or ...
With these words she morphs into Kitana, and then Sonya. Startled for a moment, I push her away.
- Sheeva ? Sindel ? Jade ? Tanya ? You name it, stallion.
I quickly revise my memories of the shapeshifters and come to the conclusion. I've never seen her, never believed in her existance, but it can't be Tsung for sure. Definetly not his style.
- Chameleon !
- Wow, you don't know how pleasant it is to be recognized.
- What do you want from me ?
- What a girl might want ? You know it ...
She moves towards me, but I extend my arm-blade and point it at her. She morphs into Mileena again and slowly presses her chest to the blade, until a small drop of blood appears. Then she moves my hand up with a finger and licks the blood off the blade. I take it away, cutting her gloves a bit with a fast movement.
- What do you want from me ?
- Oh, you are so boring ! I expected so much more !
- What - do - you - want ?
- Nothing anymore. The Emperor wants you back. He offers you redemption and possibly a resurrection of Mileena for your services.
- The Emperor is dead !
- Oh is he ?
She laughs as if this possibility amuses her to the death.
- I _don't_ want her back.
- Wow, don't you love her ?
- I do. And I think she deserves whatever rest she found in death.
- That's a surprise. But the Emperor plans to resurrect her anyway. He needs all the fighters he can gather, and he thought she might be a good welcome present for you.
I launch an anttack at her for I never had much patience. But she drops through the ground and teleports above of me, stricking me down - a Mileena's trick. When I get up, she's nowhere to be seen. But her laugh can be heard and then her voice:
- I was to bring you back or to kill. Don't think that I couldn't. But you'll come by yourself now, won't you ? Emperor's camp is in the wastelands.
And she disappears completely.
Finding the camp is even easier than I thought. Getting through it is even more easy. As I come to the biggest marquee, two guards cross their spears and block my way.
- The Emperor wishes to see me.
- General Reiko expects no visitors.
They point their spears at me and I smile beneath my hood. I push it back and allow them to see my smile. I show them empty palms and say:
- I come in peace.
With these words I extend my blades, piercing their stomachs before they can react. I come in, they stay on the doormat. Darkness within could be complete if not for a couple of blue glowing eyes in front of me. I can't see anything.
I hear a voice, reminding the one of the Emperor but without his thunder effect and not so loud and filling every little piece of the place.
- Baraka, my disgraced general. Good to have you back.
- Is Mileena alive ?
- Not yet. I didn't expect you to be back so soon. But she will join us in no time, and since you are back with us ...
- I don't want her back. She's earned her peace.
- _I_ want her. Don't be miserable, you'll be a perfect team.
- I'm not here to fight for you. I am here to stop you.
- Are you ? That IS NOT FUNNY ! How dare you refuse your Emperor !
The torches on the walls suddenly light and I get a small burn from the one on the close wall. Then comes a shock to see a man in a dark purple ninja outfit with mystical black painting on his face. Shang Tsung got the same painting when he was revived and given youth again, and this man looks much younger then the Emperor, though his black hair has some silver. His eyes glow blue and his figure is smaller than Shao Khan was. Emperor mask is nowhere to be seen. An imposter ? But he spoke so much like the Emperor, not only in tone, but all the reactions were his all right.
- YOU WISH TO STOP ME ! YOUR LAST CHANCE - JOIN MY ARMY, HELP ME GAIN WHAT'S MINE BY RIGHT, AND I _MAY_ SPARE YOU AND YOUR PRECIOUS BITCH !
And then I do the most foolish thing in my life. I attack. As I launch my body forward, slashing almost without aim, the man spins and moves, circling me in a fast whirl of movement. He grabs my neck in a lock from behind and teleports us both to the Living Forest. Then he throws me on the grass and I see a small glade. Then I see Kintaro. Damn. I thought he's dead, but if the Emperor is back, he can resurrect anyone. Well, as I understand necromancy, anyone whose soul he claimed once as a servant, or anyone defeated at the hands of his warriors - or himself.
- Do you think that your service is so important ? With Generals Goro and Kintaro I have no real need of it ! And while Kintaro waits for his chance to kill Kung Lao, he may as well have fun with you !
Damn, we never get along with this tiger-skinned walking mountain. Kintaro roars and walks towards me. He looks starved for entertainment all right. I make a last effort to improve the situation:
- Kung Lao is already dead !
- Sure thing. But I'll resurrect him just for this occasion.
And with these words the Emperor teleports away. Kintaro tries to get a hold on me, but I jump back, slashing madly. I manage to dodge a couple of his next moves and deal a couple of wounds to him, but I know that they are just the surface ones and only make him annoyed. Soon he'll corner me and beat the life out of me. I have to think of something, fast. Well, there is an idea which I had for a long time, right since the first time I saw him fight. Before I can try it out, Kintaro reaches out with unexpected speed and punches directly forward, sending me right into the far trees. When I get up and make my head clear, I see him advancing. Not allowing him to cover the rest of the distance, I shoot an electrical spark at him, and soon the second one, and the third ... They don't do much damage, but it irritates him and when I do the third one, his body shoots up in a Shokan teleport. But that was the trick, to make him do it. I didn't shoot the last spark, just pretended to. As soon as he appears above me, I stretch my hands up and extend the arm-blades. When the stars in my eyes make room for the image of the grey raining sky, I
try to see if I have survived. Kintaro groans and crawls to me, but he's obviously dying. Collecting my last strength, I slash his throat open and he falls for the second time. Of course, it wasn't as clear and impressive as once done by Kung Lao, but he's dead. When he jumped on me, he crashed my ribs and I think made a crack in the skull. A couple of fangs are missing, one arm-blade slipped and broke under his foot, but the other one pierced his stomach and went into the lungs. I try to get up and realize that legs are the only members that don't hurt. In fact, I can't feel them - possibly a result of the spine damage. All right, just some time and this tireness will go and I'll get up. Eyes don't want to open, and through the red clouds I manage to see some green vines gently kissing my flesh, sucking blood and life out of me. In a moment I'll extend the blades and cut them off, nasty deadly things. They can inject a drug in you and you'll be happy to sleep there, feeding the damned plant. I feel so tired. But I won't give up. In a moment ... Just in a moment ...

****

Mileena sits there, on a soft grass in the shadow of the big green magnificent tree. I come close and see her smile, normal human smile. She doesn't have mutant teeth any more. I lay beside her and put my head on her knees. She strokes my hair and gives me a kiss. Suddenly I realise that I too no longer have mutant teeth, or arm blades - and I feel that I won't need them here. Istead I have hair on the head and normal features. I smile at her and say:
- Where are we ?
- You are dreaming.
- I don't want to wake up. I want to stay here, with you.
- You will.

- the end -