I will not be scolded like some child!

JADE: You need to be careful. I have never seen your father this angry with

you.

Kitana dismisses this advice and begins to walk away.

JADE: You are a princess. He expects more from you than this.

KITANA: I know what he expects!

JADE: We will talk later. When you are in more of a mind to listen.

She walks off, leaving Kitana alone. At the sound of a lightning flash, she

turns around to face Raiden, Johnny Cage and Smoke.

RAIDEN: Princess Kitana. I request an audience.

KITANA: Earthrealmers! You dare approach me?

JOHNNY CAGE: Hey listen, honey, we don't wanna fight.

SMOKE: But we will if we must!

KITANA: You will learn respect!

They fight. Both Johnny Cage and Smoke find out the hard way that this was

the wrong time to approach Kitana. Caught offguard by her furious assault,

both of them are soon lying on the ground in front of her.

KITANA: Shao Kahn wants death to follow kombat. I will give it to him.

RAIDEN: Perhaps Liu Kang was wrong about you. Or perhaps he sensed, as I

do, that there is conflict within you.

Raiden helps Johnny back to his feet.

JOHNNY CAGE: Thanks. Ow. You couldn't've seen that in one o' your hot

flashes?

He walks off to help Smoke back up, leaving Raiden and Kitana alone.

RAIDEN: Something whispers to you that circumstances should be different.

That you should be different. You are much more like Sindel than Shao Ka--

Raiden sees another vision, one of Sindel brainwashed and screaming.

RAIDEN: But... she is dead...

KITANA: My mother is dead, yes. Why do you--

RAIDEN: You need answers, Kitana. I can help you find them, if you will

trust in me. Go to Shang Tsung's Flesh Pits. Much will be revealed there.

KITANA: The Flesh Pits? But I am forbidden to--

RAIDEN: Yes. You are. And why is that?

KITANA: I... don't know. Tell me--

RAIDEN: You must discover your true path. Alone.

He walks off and teleports away offscreen. The scene then changes to

Kitana walking through the Living Forest. She looks around and then comes

to a standstill.

KITANA: Show yourself, Jade. I know you're following me. Again.

Jade walks in front of her.

JADE: Following you still. I know where you're going. I am ordered to

prevent you from going there.

KITANA: And why is that?

JADE: I do not question the emperor's commands. Kitana, please. Turn

back.

KITANA: I cannot. This path might lead me to the truth. I'm sorry, Jade...

but I will not allow you to stop me.

They fight. While her friend is an athletic and agile warrior, Kitana's

fighting skill and determination see her through the battle. Eventually

Jade is beaten unconscious.

KITANA: I tried to warn you... This is something I have to do.

She walks off and into the Flesh Pits. Looking around, she spots what

appear to be remains of Tarkatans, their blood spilled and flesh removed.

Several tubes of liquid contain unidentifiable humanoid abominations. One