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Fan Fiction
| Return of the Lin Kuei |
| * Prologue - The coming of winter |
By: Shaun Penney |
RETURN OF THE LIN KUEI
(Events occur some time after Legends of the Lin Kuei leading into Deadly Alliance)
A chilling wind encircled the vast and wide arctic, filling the night air with a crisp and dense cold that could freeze even the mightiest of cold blood animals. Erected high and nearly solitary except for the ice capped mountains surrounding it, the Lin Kuei temple stood alone and full of hard fighting individuals training for a new passion and a new purpose. But this night, this cold and death filled night had a different feel to it. Not far from the front of the temple, an arena covered the new fallen snow enveloped by tall spikes of ice growing straight out of the ground and reaching high towards the pitched black sky. From above, ice pellets fell from the darkened clouds shooting straight down piercing the snow and bouncing hard on the stiff arena floor. Gathered around the circular arena were some of the Lin Kuei’s finest. Men and women trained in the silent art of combat, stealth and of the elements. Their destinies led them to this baron and lost temple once used by ancients who long have been laid to rest. Each warrior fixed their young and inexperienced eyes on two individuals locked in the most important battle for the future of the Lin Kuei.
To his knowledge, the ex Lin Kuei warrior Subzero believed he was truly the last of his kin as well as the last member of the Lin Kuei before it was disbanded. Both relative assumptions proved Subzero wrong. The first came when Raiden appeared before Subzero and told him of his brother’s existence and mysterious alliance with Quan Chi. Subzero came to the realization that his brother had turned his back on the Lin Kuei forever and he vowed to find him and make things right, facing his brother if necessary. Subzero did finally find and face his brother in a magically created city made by Quan Chi led by centaurs, Khameleon and Reptile. Subzero fought his brother with the help of Kitana and Night Wolf. It was then that Subzero revealed to his elder brother that they both had a sister neither knew about until Subzero had a vision of his childhood from when he was a young boy watching his parents getting killed by the Lin Kuei. To that exact moment their sister did appear watching from the top of Quan Chi’s imaginary palace. The elder Subzero went to her as the younger Lin Kuei warrior faced the sinister Quan Chi in Mortal Kombat. Kitana relieved Khameleon of her head as Night Wolf sent Reptile racing for his own survival. Subzero damaged Quan Chi in his upper left chest but it did not kill him. With a last anger filled burst, Quan Chi annihilated his fake city and escaped through a dark portal leaving the four mortals to flee from the destruction. Though to his surprise, Subzero saw Scorpion appear waiting for the challenge he had been waiting for since his original death at the hands of his brother. Subzero would have faced him, even in his weakened condition if it had not been for his brother intervening and demanding that he and his friends leave while he faced Scorpion in the destructing city alone. It was then that Subzero realized that his brother did not really betray the Lin Kuei because if the Lin Kuei did not exist then his own soul searching was what was really betrayed. His battle with Scorpion was all he had left in his mind and in that moment the two faced each other one last time as the younger Subzero had no choice but to escape with his comrades. He never knew the outcome of that battle as both the specter and the ice ninja vanished as the city crumbled and turned inward on itself, vanishing without a trace of ever being there. Subzero’s sister also disappeared never having seen her face, only her eyes and her ability to create ice just as he could do. Subzero was again alone without the Lin Kuei or his family. Kitana had asked for him to stay at the temple of light until Liu Kang had recovered from a poisoned attack against him, but Subzero had to leave. He had too many mysteries to solve and his sister to find. Kitana understood and let the Lin Kuei wanderer leave to find his answers.
Subzero wandered for a time accounting for his second assumption that the there were no Lin Kuei left in the world. Broken and disbanded after Shao Kahn’s second attack on Earth Realm, the Lin Kuei simply fizzled like smoke. Subzero knew why though. When the Lin Kuei decided to protect them selves by turning all the members into soulless machines, it was a mark of death just waiting to be washed away. Subzero tried to escape with his friend Smoke. Smoke was captured, changed and sent along with Cyrax and Sektor to kill Subzero for his treachery. To Subzero’s knowledge, after Cyrax was reprogrammed he vanished in a desert and was later found and picked up by Sonya and Jax. His soul seemingly revived and his new alliance with Sonya and Jax created. Subzero was forced to destroy his once friend Smoke now turned into a cyber ninja. He killed his friend while protecting Liu Kang and the Princess Kitana. Sektor waited for the right moment to attack and struck at the Lin Kuei wanderer in an empty ice cave. Subzero and the red cyber ninja fought in the ice and in the end Subzero prevailed and collapsed the ice cave from within. Subzero escaped having believed Sektor perished in the blast. During Shao Kahn’s second attack, the remaining Grandmasters of the Lin Kuei were killed and their plans to save their silent and deadly clan erased having never been known by the outside world.
The end of the Lin Kuei marked Subzero truly alone and without much cause. His travels after leaving the temple of light led the ice warrior far into the arctic never finding his sister or his elder brother. Instead, Subzero found something else that keened his interest.
His bare fingers and hard covered shoes climbed over an icy edge of a proud standing cliff in the icy arctic. A relentless blizzard had just ended filling Subzero with a deeper cold he had ever felt on his body. His training had prepared him for such encounters, though his heart was not as prepared. His emotions flared within him like a mad wild fire spinning his mind out of control. His questions overlapped each other over and over again filling his head full of mixed assumptions and nothing to go on. What happened to his brother? Who trained his sister? Is Earth Realm really safe? Is Scorpion still full of vengeance? As his body rolled over the edge he breathed heavily through his hard slender mask and blinked his eyes hard at a structure towering before him. At first he thought it was an illusion, but upon closer examination he realized, he had found a temple lost to the world. He made his way inside the temple and searched out every room and wall the temple had to show until he finally made the biggest decision of his life. He felt the temple had spoken to him, how he was uncertain, but somehow the impression of the temple almost beckoned him. Subzero clenched his fists and swore that the Lin Kuei would be renewed, and he would be the Lin Kuei’s new grandmaster.
Subzero searched out individuals worthy of training and periodically brought them to the temple to be trained in the silent and deadly arts of Lin Kuei. His training helped many along the way, but even at his fullest Subzero still felt he lacked the primary quality that would make him a the ultimate grandmaster. Subzero then journeyed to retrieve the ancient Dragon Medallion held by the last Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. Subzero traveled back to the old Lin Kuei temple. It was still a baron waste of destruction set by Shao Kahn’s army. He searched in the most hidden of areas and found the remains of his last master. Subzero found the medallion and claimed it in the name of the Lin Kuei reborn. He swore then that he would use the power the medallion had for a force of good and never let the Lin Kuei he trained to falter. With his new powers in hand, Subzero returned to his temple in the arctic. It was there that upon his arrival he found two slain young students lying in the near frozen river that passed through the temple front yards. Enraged he demanded to know who killed his two pupils. His answer came with a fierce kick through a large bulge of snow. Subzero felt his body crash through an ice spike sticking straight up to the heavens. It scattered to pieces as Subzero hit the frozen floor of his newly created training arena. Subzero looked up and saw to his astonishment the red cyber ninja he believed he had destroyed, Sektor.
From above, ice pellets fell from the darkened clouds shooting straight down piercing the snow and bouncing hard on the stiff arena floor. Gathered around the circular arena were some of the Lin Kuei’s finest. Men and women trained in the silent art of combat, stealth and of the elements. Their destinies led them to this baron and lost temple once used by ancients who long have been laid to rest. Each warrior fixed their young and inexperienced eyes on Subzero and Sektor. Subzero waved his hand by making sure that his students did not interfere. Sektor’s presence met only one thing. Domination. Sektor spoke telling Subzero that his own programs were shattered and broken since their last fight and that he now had every memory returned to his soulless body. He tracked Subzero down over a long period of time and found him here in the arctic. Sektor’s new rage came out, explaining to Subzero very intently that this new Lin Kuei clan would be led by him and not the ice ninja. Subzero, angered by the death of his two new students and angered for not having finished off Sektor, strapped on his new medallion and told Sektor he would have to get past him first. Sektor, made no bow or any honorable confirmation, he simply attacked.
Subzero immediately jumped into his Shotokan stance anticipating a straight kick from Sektor. Sektor came in fast but instead came down low with both robotic fists balled up tight striking Subzero just below his knees. Subzero, blocked too high as his legs felt the initial pain of metal hands pounding into his hard covered cloth. Subzero bent forward as the force almost knocked him too far ahead of himself. Sektor wasted no time gaining his speed as his fists came together and upward like a club swinging directly into Subzero’s falling face. Both forearms connected sending Subzero up into the air. Sektor stood straight up and moved forward spinning each arm around rotating his body left then right. Each powerful swing struck Subzero in his side while his body tried to maintain balance in the middle of the air. Subzero, completely on the defensive, trailed back and let his body fall. His hands slapped the ground hard enveloping the fall. His body then rolled back as he stood up back into his original stance. To Subzero’s surprise, Sektor was not attacking like he used to. Sektor knew in his robot form only the style of ninjitsu, but perhaps when he was human he knew other forms as well and above all was exploiting them now. Sektor continued offensively and brought his forearm up prepared to block any chest attack from Subzero while at the same time he spun his body downwards whipping his metallic leg onto the floor like a fan. Subzero leaped into the air to dodge the sweep, but saw from above Sektor coming around and spinning once more with the same leg. Sektor really was treating his leg like a fan as it spun around for a second turn. Because of Sektor’s inhuman shell, his body would not suffer form any muscle strain and could withstand spinning his body around, even as many times as it took till the job was done. Subzero spread his legs, one forward one back and shifted his balance back away from Sektor. The second turn of his leg barely missed Subzero’s left foot as he lifted it just in time while leaning back on the other leg arching his back. The continued spin for Sektor to get back to his feet was enough time for Subzero to enter his own combination of attacks. Sektor’s helmet like face came up and met a bare fist crunching hard like an echoless pang across the brow. Sektor’s face flew to the right then immediately to the left followed by the other fist. Subzero then brought both hands together then inward towards his chest. And with a powerful chi like yell, Subzero thrust his arms out and dove them into Sektor’s hard plated chest. The impact cratered into Sektor forcing his massive weight to magically shift altitude and launch the robot halfway across the arena floor. The hail from above began to soften up into soft driblets of rain making the ground just slick enough for Sektor to slide across as he fell back first onto the cold arena floor. With a quick roll from his side Sektor was up in no time at all as his cracked face almost gazed an evil red eye at Subzero.
Outside the arena, the new Lin Kuei watched, some in awe of their master, others ready to step in just in case Subzero called for their help, but all of them knew that Subzero would not do that. Still, they stood ready for any response their master may give. Subzero did not let Sektor wipe the snow off his body, in a snap he leaped into the air and shot both legs straight out high kicking at Sektor’s head. Sektor’s sensors reacted just as fast as his chest opened and a long steel pole with a flat blunt end spewed out and lifted up into Subzero’s feet, tumbling the Lin Kuei master onto the ground. Subzero dove his hands out and kept his face from slamming onto the arena floor. Sektor retracted the pole and bent down to grab Subzero by his blue outer garb. With earth shattering force, the vengeful robot whirled Subzero into a tornado like spin letting him go right into another large ice pike sticking out from the snowy ground. The ice met with the Lin Kuei harsh and unforgiving as it split into many shards, some sharp enough to cut into Subzero’s gear. However the pain may have inserted into his flesh, Subzero numbed the pain from his body. He knew if he let his guard down completely that it would be over and all he had hoped to aspire to create would be gone in an instant. Simply gone. The risk was too great for pain to be considered. Subzero rushed back to his feet and charged the inhuman automaton. Sektor held his forearms out and parried a series of flat fist attacks and low kicks towards his knees all the while stepping back mildly. Subzero had no way of knowing emotionally what state Sektor was in. His mechanical helmet had no features of a real face nor did the robot have the ability to show fatigue. Everything Subzero threw Sektor easily pushed out of the way. Clearly Subzero’s opponent had increased much since their last encounter.
Fairly taking over the match, Sektor closed in and unleashed his own combination of spin fist attacks landing a straight foot shot right into Subzero’s gut. Subzero flew back a few feet but landed firmly on his feet panting a heavy breath from his cold body. His feet glided across the arena as he charged his right hand up with an ice blast. Without warning, Subzero brought forward his arm and shot out a glowing orb of ice sending it straight at Sektor’s body. The fluid motion ripped through the hail that came down and almost split the air with a hellish cold from within the Lin Kuei. Sektor could not move fast enough and held his left forearm up. The ice seized his arm tightly and began growing like an infection freezing his circuits and continuing over his hand and running up his shoulder. Sektor reacted like a computer sizing the situation quickly and began dashing at Subzero.
“What is he doing?” Thought Subzero. Surely he couldn’t fight with that one arm useless to him now. Subzero’s eyes saw too late Sektor’s inhuman like speed as he took hold of his frozen wrist with the other arm and tore off his entire left one off ripping the circuits out by the tendons by the shoulder. Sektor raised it high into the air and cracked it down over Subzero’s head shattering the frozen arm over the Lin Kuei’s face. The blow felt so unexpected that Subzero fell on his back closing his eyes for a short moment. Sektor’s chest exposed itself again and revealed the same long steel pole only this time it has an iron like point at the end of it. Sub opened his eyes just quick enough to dodge the pole shooting straight down towards his sternum. Subzero rolled to his feet as the pole dug through the ground deep almost cracking the ice beneath. Subzero used that chance to strike below at Sektor’s knee. Sektor loosened the pole and moved back forcefully. Subzero spun around fast spin kicking Sektor in the face with the end of his heel. The robot dived back losing balance quickly. Subzero stood to face Sektor and gave him a solid chop down his neck and chest. Sektor, with only one arm, could not deflect either attack and became the victim of Subzero’s cold rage. Another crack upon the cyborg’s helmet and Sektor spun towards the ground behind him.
The on looking Lin Kuei stood silent yet their eyes foretold that their master would indeed win this fight. With anticipation they watched breaking into cold sweats but remaining still. Subzero stood and wiped the spilling blood that trickled slowly down his face from Sektor’s frozen arm smacking upside his skull. Sektor almost mechanically stood up as his chest revealed itself one last time. Subzero’s eyes grew wide as Sektor locked on six miniature missiles as pointed them all at the ice warrior. Subzero crossed his arms and held them in front of him as he began screaming in the air. One of Sektor’s eyes glowed a burning flash locking on its target. Subzero’s arms began leaking ice from his veins as his low growl enforced the beckon of ice from within him. His internal power shook the ground slightly making everyone standing around the arena to back up a few steps. Sektor had had enough of this fight, with a robotic thought, the missile let loose. Subzero pushed out his arms and both hands overlapping each other he let loose the cold fury from his soul poured out a blast of ice that struck Sektor before his missile got three feet away. The missile collided with the ice and froze back into Sektor just as it exploded. Clashing with the other five missiles Sektor felt his body freeze instantly, then fall into a powerful explosion that incinerated his body into a fine mist. The blow rocked the arena floor as ice and snow tumbled out from Sektor’s location scattering around creating a large icy dust cloud around Subzero and the other Lin Kuei warriors. Subzero shielded his face and went down to one knee to protect him self from the oncoming blast. The vibration from the ground slowly dribbled away yet the cold remained. Subzero stood up slowly and walked through the dust towards Sektor’s blown up remains. His body ached from the amount of energy he dispersed at his enemy, but he did not show it, especially to his students. The dust began to clear little by little as pieces of Sektor revealed them selves. Subzero sighed, finally the Lin Kuei were safe from the last threat of the old Lin Kuei. The dragon medallion belonged to Subzero now. The other Lin Kuei began stood silently awaiting the continuing orders from their now returned leader. Subzero looked down and noticed as the dust completely cleared the snow had burn marks. The scattered marks confused Subzero, but the marks appeared more and more familiar by the second. Burns in the snow, burned letters. Subzero’s eyes glowed a darkness of blue feeling the dragon medallion fill him with a surge of power. Below him the letters on the ground looked clear as daylight.
“CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY”
Subzero stepped back. That message. That haunting message had come back. It burned through the snow like ash among the dead remains of Sektor. What was going on here? How could this message just appear out of nowhere? Suddenly Subzero felt heat from beneath the snow, deep beneath the snow. Subzero took a single step back as the snow under the letter began to glow like a deep fire was buried urging to be let loose. The snow became like liquid fire and Subzero gasped. Scorpion’s living spike connected to a long rope spewed forth from the fire and shot straight at Subzero’s chest.
Subzero threw his upper body up in a heated fury. He looked around in a quick pant and saw he was in his room. He was in his master’s quarters of the new Lin Kuei sanctuary. He breathed a sigh of relief as he stopped gripping his chest. It was all a dream. He thought for a long moment though. The fight between him and Sektor did occur, three weeks ago. The manipulative robot did come to take control of the dragon medallion and the Lin Kuei. Subzero looked over to a stand holding his precious fighting gear laced with the round shiny gold medallion with the design of an ancient dragon around it. It layed there snug and at piece with its new owner, Subzero. He remembered beating the cyborg ex Lin Kuei turning him into a distant memory and into a million fragments. No longer would he have to worry about the old ways haunting him anymore, yet the dream held its most powerful memory. The message he saw in a room once long ago in blood written with a delicate yet gross touch. And Scorpion remained in his dreams as well. The message and Scorpion, were they connected? Who wrote that message and why? What role did Scorpion still play in the realm of the living? He pushed those questions away from him. He had spent a great deal of time searching out answers, none of which came to him willingly. Subzero looked out and noticed it was early morning. His students would be awaiting him soon, their training harsh and deep, full of rigorous workouts and even greater tests of strength, speed and agility, but most of all the passion for combat. Today was going to be a long day for his students.
As Subzero began to rise he felt his face and head. He didn’t need a mirror to know that a little gray was showing in his hair. He gave a small smile to himself. Only so long ago had he been the student, the young combat craving student of the Lin Kuei, now turned master. And he was not just any master, but the Grandmaster of the new reformed Lin Kuei. He felt proud even though he missed greatly his siblings who still evaded his awareness. He wanted them to know what he had accomplished. Surely if his brother was still alive he would join him again, as for his sister….
He did not know anything about his sister except that they had the same eyes and that she learned her powers of the element of cold just as Subzero did. He wished he could find her again.
A knock came from his wooden door.
“Enter,” he said calmly. The door creaked open as a young woman stepped barely into the doorway. It was one of Subzero’s best students, Frost. Now Frost was an enigma all together. Young and with the heart of a warrior, she came learning Subzero’s powers more quickly then any Lin Kuei ever did. It had been a long time since the Lin Kuei held a female among the ranks. He hoped none of his other students felt any jealousy toward, her. He was sure there wasn’t.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you Grandmaster, but we have an unexpected visitor” she said with a strong voice ready for the trials Subzero would no doubt put her through soon. Subzero glanced past her but did not see anybody in the hall with her. Since Subzero found this ancient temple, they never received visitors who were not Lin Kuei.
“A visitor? I didn’t know we had visitors strolling around this high in the artic just waiting to say hello. Who is this visitor,” he said walking over to his gear. He held the medallion up and noticed Frost looking at it just the same. She seemed enticed by it, but then she looked away and opened the door wider.
“It is Raiden Grandmaster.” She said. Subzero clenched tight the medallion. So then he had found him, the Thunder God from high above had returned…
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