Chapter Eight A Dream, Past, and Flashbacks

During the night, Guile stayed up for awhile while the others were sleeping. He was to fight in tomorrow's tournament along with Ryu. I hope I can win this tournament, he thought. For Charlie. Since Shao killed the man I want to get revenge on, I want to get to Shao and kick his a**!

He shut his eyes. A horrible memory came before him...

(Flashback)

Guile and his best friend Charlie sat on the ground slumped over. They were just given more drugs that would weaken them.

They heard the cell door open. They both looked up slowly. Standing over them was a tall, muscular man in his red army gear, steel boots, and the unmistakable gray cape. His white eyes, which sort of hid behind the visor of his gray cap, stared down at them.

Guile knew who this was. "Bison."

Bison gave them a sneer smile. "My two favorite US Military men. How was your treatment?"

To Guile's surprise, Charlie slowly stood up. "You won't get away with this, Bison!"

"Really?" Bison said. "What makes you think you could beat me in your condition?"

Then, Charlie ran after him without a word.

"Charlie, no!!" Guile cried out. He put out his hand to reach for his best friend, but Charlie was too far to reach.

Charlie threw a sonic boom at Bison. Bison only sneered and pushed it out of the way. The sonic boom flew across the cell and out the cell window. Charlie still ran after him.

As soon as Charlie was close, Bison grabbed him by the neck. He held him up for a few seconds. Then, Guile heard it.....a bone breaking into two.

"CHARLIE!!" Guile cried out. He could do nothing but watch Bison drop Charlie. Charlie fell to the ground like a rag doll. He landed and moved no more. Guile wanted to go after Bison, but he was too weak to do so.

Bison turned around. "Just let that be a reminder to you.....never be a foolish lad." Then he walked out of the cell leaving Guile and his now- dead best friend behind.

(End of Flashback)

Charlie, Guile thought as he began to fall asleep. I will win tomorrow tournament for you.

Nearby, Rolento was up as well. He twirled around his stick thinking about his victory this afternoon.

Then, a beautiful woman appeared in his thoughts. She was tall and thin with long wavy brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. Every night, Rolento would think about this woman.

Denise, he thought.

(Flashback)

Seventeen years ago, Rolento and his wife Denise were coming home from dinner for their ten-year anniversary. They were a happy couple, even thought they didn't have children.

Then, they were passing a factoring when they heard a commotion. Suddenly, they saw a thin man with a beard running off with a gun in his hand. A handful of police officers were chasing after him. Rolento and Denise were too shocked to move. Then, to their surprise, the madman saw Denise, grabbed her, and put the gun to her head.

"Stand back!!" the man said. "Or else she gets it." He began to move back.

Rolento will never forget the look in his wife's eyes. He saw her fear and just seeing that brought him to tears.

As soon as the man was far enough from Rolento and the police, he smiled evilly and said, "Fools!" He pushed Denise away from him and pulled the trigger. The bullet went into Denise's chest. She fell to the ground and became lifeless.

A few police officers chased the man down while two of them stayed with Rolento as he cried and held his dead wife in his arms.

Seven years later, Rolento was investigating Shadowlaw. When he saw a picture of Bison, he immediately recognized the man responsible for Denise's death.

(End of Flashback)

Rolento shook his head. Bison may be dead now, but the man who took his life is another madman ten times worse. I'll get you, Shao Kahn!

(A Dream)

The man stood on a hill and looked up into the sky. A tall, muscular figure stood in front of him. He wore gray pants, spiked bracelets, a gray cape connected to spiked shoulder pads, and a horned helmet. A skull mask covers his face except his chin.

"Guy Hinato, yes?" the man asked.

Guy narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you?"

The man laughed. "The leader of Outworld."

Then, Guy's brown eyes widened. "Shao Kahn!"

"That's right," Shao said. "I've been watching all of you in your little cave. You're the one who's in love with my stepdaughter Kitana."

"Kitana is your stepdaughter?!"

"Yes she is my stepdaughter," Shao laughed. "And when I get my hands on her, I will make sure you watch her suffer before her death."

Guy gritted his teeth in anger. "You stay away from her!!"

"Why don't you make me?"

"I will!" Then, Guy runs after him. He jumps up and gets ready to kick Shao's face....

(End of Dream)

Guy shot up from his sleeping bag. He breathed hard and he could feel the sweat pouring down his face.

That felt so real! Guy thought. Is it true that Kitana's stepfather is Shao Kahn?

Just then, he looks up and sees someone in a long black cloak walking out of the cave. Guy slowly got up and began to follow the figure. Suddenly, he tripped over something large.

Guy was slumped over when he heard a loud groan. "What the...." he heard. Guy looked over and saw Honda beginning to wake up.

Guy straightened himself out and said the first thing he can think of. "You're beginning to digest your dinner, go back to sleep."

"Um, yeah, that's a good thing," Honda mumbled. Then, Guy heard the light snore. Guy got up and walked out of the cave.

Guy looked at the beach area and saw the figure standing at the shore. He slowly walked up to the figure in his fighting stance. He wasn't sure if this person was an intruder.

Then, he heard the soft, sweet voice. "Hello Guy."

Guy lowered his stance and walked up to be next to the person. "Kitana."

Kitana took the hood part of the cloak off her head. The moon lit up her face.

"Kitana," Guy said. "I have a weird question to ask you."

Kitana turned to him. "Yes?"

Guy looked into her dark eyes. "Do you have a stepfather?"

For a few seconds there was silence. Then, she took a deep breath. "Yes, he is my stepfather. The damn bastard took over my world, killed my father, and made my mother commit suicide. He'll pay for what he did!"

She looked out to the ocean.

(10,000 years ago)

"JERROD!!!" a woman cries out. She watched, with her baby daughter held in her arms, as her husband lies on the ground surrounded by his own blood. She looked up at the man who killed him. He held a long, bloody sword.

"Shao, you'll pay for what you did!" the woman cried.

Shao walked up to the Queen of Edenia. "My Sindel, you know that I'll be taking over Edenia now and rename it The Outworld. You will be my bride and help me rule Outworld." He held the knife to her throat. "Is that understood?"

Shao was an immortal. Queen Sindel could do nothing.

A few years later, Queen Sindel committed suicide due to insanity. Kitana as a toddler watched as her mother stuck the knife into her heart.

(Present)

Kitana shook her head.

Guy touched her cheek gently. "You okay?" he asked.

Kitana nodded and took his hand into hers. "I'll be fine." She sat down on the ground. Guy followed. They stared into the ocean that crashed into the shore.