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Fan Fiction
| Legends of the Lin Kuei |
| Chapter 19: The serpent and the ice meet again |
By: Shaun Penney |
It didn't take long for Subzero to contact Jade again. She was eager to gain the Lin Kuei warrior on the side of Princess Kitana and now Subzero wanted there to be some equality with the fight against evil. Subzero had returned to Jui Jsinn to search for her. He wasn't so eager to keep himself hidden this time. Jade found him in a manner of hours. The two met in the same ally way they met the first time.
"Have you reconsidered?" said Jade pulling off her hood revealing her dark skinned face. Her mouth and nose were still covered in her green mask. Subzero nodded as he took his cowl off.
"Yes. I've had some...unexpected problems on my search." he said.
"Did you find your brother?" she asked. Subzero lowered his head. His face could almost tell the story.
"I don't know why, but he has joined forces with Quan Chi and Reptile. They wanted me to join them but I respectfully declined" he said with a sneering tone trying to keep his anger for his brother's treachery at bay.
"So then you are alone. I am sorry Subzero" she said trying to be sympathetic. Subzero gave a cold stare at Jade.
"It doesn't matter. With my brother on their side, there is no telling of the damage that can be done, that is why I have sought you out. My quest to find my sister can wait for now. But only for now" he said. Jade bowed in respect.
"Very well then. If you will, follow me back to the Temple of Light in China. Princess Kitana will be awaiting us there with Lui Kang and the rest of the Earth Realm warriors. It is one safe haven we have left while the Centaurs invade most of the world." said Jade.
"How many are left to defend Earth Realm?" said Subzero.
"Not many. I cannot say for certain who is still around to help us. We are few again. Outworld has many" said Jade.
"Then let us depart." said Subzero. The two put their hoods back on and drew back into Jui Jsinn on their way to the Temple of the Order of Light.
They exited the city and began traveling through a highly dense forest. The trees grew high and the animals were still alive and thriving. Subzero noticed much of the life that dwelled in that forest. Any movement automatically caught his eyes. He had to keep aware. Jade kept in front as she took off her robe and tied it with a rope to her side. Her slender figure came out wearing a familiar skin tight green outfit fitted only for her it appeared. It was enough to make even Subzero glance. When he did he noticed something else glinting barely off a ray of sunlight out of her small sack. It looked much like the metallic medallion that Subzero had found in Kensu's room. Suddenly Subzero's mind jerked more ideas then he was prepared to face. He kept his movements the same though as the two continued down the sleek forest trail. Subzero looked up and around. He didn't see any movements of animals nearby. Something was wrong, Very wrong.
Jade and Subzero passed through a small open clearing between sections of the forest. This was where he knew he would have to make his stand. Towards the center he stopped as Jade took two more steps before stopping herself. She turned around and looked concerned.
"What is it Subzero?" she kidnly asked. Subzero's eyes grew narrower.
How much further are we going to go before you assassinate me Jade. That is what you do best right?" he said. Jade tried to keep a calm face.
"What are you talking about, we're going to the the temple of light we have to hurry before-"
"It wasn't Reptile who killed Kensu...it was you wasn't it?" said Subzero. Her eyes tried to decieve him, but she couldn't lie against someone who knows every style an assassin uses for subterfuge.
"You planted that same medallion shape at his quarters so I would go after Reptile. They sent you to test me, then this quest to find them...another test. My fight against Reptile's men, another test. Quan Chi wanted me on his side bad didn't he? And now that I have refused, your next mission is to kill me somewhere out here in the middle of nowhere." said Subzero. His frost eyes almost became dark blue as Jade opened her mouth to speak, but Subzero cut her off.
"Save it Jade. Your pitiful excuse won't bail you out of this. Now come and kill me or just stand there like a dead branch, either way this charade is over traitor" said Subzero getting into stance. Jade closed her mouth. If there was nothing more to be said, then there was no need to walk any further. Jade brought out her hand and materialized a strong staff. Just as she twirled it six men jumped out of the trees, three from each side. Each in dark ninja clothing. Subzero took a step back as the six men danced around Jade holding swords and katars in their hands.
"I'm impressed Subzero. But I can see why everyone wants you dead. Killer to killer Im sure youll understand the place in which I've been put in" said Jade stepping forward. Subzero clenched one fist and sparked a wave of cold energy around his other hand as he brought them both together then apart again.
"You who are without honor...will die" he said. Jade smirked as two of the six ninjas came after Subzero with their ninja toe swords flying around them. Subzero ran backwards towards a large tree, took two large steps up and back flipped over the two ninjas. Subzero landed on his feet and cracked his right foot upside the right ninja's black covered skull. The second Ninja came slicing down. Sub moved his lef out of the way and spun around the ninja. As the two came face to face, the ninja stabbed forward. Sub inched to the side, turned his body sideways and grabbed the ninja's arms. He yanked them apart forcing the grip of the sword to release. With the ninja's arms free of any weapon, Sub pushed his arms out wide and kicked
directly in the ninja's chest. The ninja fell back smacking the tree with his back. The first ninja got back up and waved madly his blade. Sub kicked the other ninja's sword up to his hands. With both hands he held with ease and glazed the blade blocking the fast hits the other ninja bolted down. Subzero parried high and swung his leg underneath attempting to cause the ninja to fall. But the ninja reacted well to the attack and front flipped over the swinging leg. Sub came around just as the ninja landed. Sub came with a dead fast swing at the ninja's body. The ninja turned inward and spun his opponents blade out of the way. The two fighters spun in quick circles flinging their legs out each narrowly ducking the other. The ninja jumped sideways into the air spinning both legs horizontally out towards Subzero's face. Sub backed up and let the Ninja come back to ground.
The ninja dived forward at Sub, who quickly twisted his body into the air bringing around both legs swinging hard. The first leg came slapping the ninja in the head, the second leg came down to the ground. With the ninja half bent over Sub drove the sowrd in the ninja's back. The ninja dropped like stone as two more came whizzing by.
Sub, without looking shot out an ice blast catching both fighters by their inner sides as they ran so close together. Their bodies froze instantaneously in mid track. Sub then turned his head and ran straight for the two frozen bodies as he kicked them both. Their new shells shattered and fell to the ground like nasty shards of glass.
The other two ninja's, with their katars both ran around Subzero and attacked him with all four curved blades. Subzero slipped to the left and right of one attacker and again to the right and left of the other. Both enemies came full circle and Sub darted one leg out to the ninja on his left. With the same leg he pushed into a straight back kick nailing the other ninja in the stomach. Both ninjas pushed out their breath and took the kick in, but their bodies still bent a little over. Sub spun his body around with his left leg out and crashed his foot over each of their heads sending them both to the ground. Both fighters dropped their weapons and lyed motionless. All that was left was Jade now.
Subzero turned towards Jade and held his stance again. Jade whirled her blade around herself and went straight after the Lin Kuei warrior.
Subzero jumped into two back handsprings and quickly grabbed the sword out of the dead ninja's back. Jade spun around and stuck her staff out her side. Sub ducked and rolled forward as the staff struck the tree. Jade brought the staff back and whirled it again around her body then tossing each end at Sub's limbs. The forearm and lower leg armor covering held of most of the force of Jade's fierce strikes, but the woman still packed quite a punch. Sub struck through and tried to hit the sword but amazingly the staff simply flashed white as the sword swung right through not even so much as touching the staff. Jade brought one end back around and struck Sub across the face. Sub jumped back but Jade was right on top of him slamming down a side of the staff into Sub's chest. The blow sent Sub on his back a few feet away from Jade. Jade
hopped into a front flip over Sub's body as the disorientated warrior held his body for a second then rolled to his feet. He had to get that weapon out of her hands. But he was without anything but his fists. Jade came swinging wildly. Subzero concentrated his essence of cold and quickly shifted his body from one side to the other. An ice clone of Subzero appeared in his last movement completely motionless. Jade's staff hit dead on and blew the ice clone into a cloud of cold ice dust. Subzero used that to his advantage and sweeped Jade off of her feet with a quick slide of his front leg. Jade smacked the ground hard though she still held ontu her staff with an iron grip. Sub flip twisted his body over Jade and let one leg come down across her face. Jade rolled out of the way as Sub struck the ground with his heel. Jade began striking again with more fury then before. Sub parried with his arm guards as much as he could but her hits were getting harder. A normal fighter's bones would have been broken by now. Sub stepped back and let Jade come to him. She did without thinking and struck at his side. Sub inched back and circled around a small tree as Jade bashed into it shaking it intensely. Sub came around Jade gave a smooth solid back hand chop to her collar bone followed by a sturdy gut punch into her ribs. The punch knocked the wind out of Jade. She stepped forward and dropped her staff into one hand. Without delay Sub jumpd up into the air and scissor kicked with his other leg kicking into Jade's wrist holding the staff. The Staff hurled itself into the air and hit the ground somewhere nearby.
Jade reacted by thrusting her foot into Sub's chest. Her lack of air in her body didn't give enough to stop Sub in his tracks, but knocked him back a step. Suddenly an angered hiss came from Jade's mask covered mouth. Sub looked confused but held his stance.
"You fool Subzero. You are so easily played over and over again." she said as her skin began to show a pale green color as her eyes turned reptilian. Sub stepped back as he realized who the woman really was.
"Khameleon!!" yelled Subzero surprised. Khameleon hissed again and leaped for Subzero this time with even greater strength then before. Subzero tried to move out of the way but she was too fast. Her hands both came striking Sub in his shoulders knocking him back further and sliding ontu the ground. Khameleon ripped off her mask revealing the rest of her face. Her mouth and teeth showed more of her reptilian form. Her sinister smile reared it's ugly head around while Subzero almost looked in disgust. Khameleon came about right as Subzero rose to his feet. Khameleon dashed at Subzero and nailed him again in the chest. Sub hit the back of tree as he bounced forward and tried to face Khameleon. He blocked a snap kick up and struck her in the face. She retaliated with a knee strike. Sub brought both forearms down and swung both fists into Jade outward. Khameleon grabbed Sub's fists and shot her foot straight up into Sub's face. Sub gritted his teeth and pulled Khameleon towards him as he struck with his only free weapon left...his head. He slammed his forehead into her face sending her back. Both were now bleeding out there mouth. Khameleon though bled a dark green.
Khameleon raised her hands ready to come at Sub again when suddenly a dark booming voice echoed into the forest making the two fighters halt their actions.
"GET OVER HERE!" boomed the voice. The tree was almost inbetween Subzero and Khameleon as a living spike flew right into it as it was connected to a long dark rope. Sub and Khameleon quickly turned their heads into the view of a figure about thirty feet away with a right hand out and the left arm tucked under. Subzero could hardly believe who he saw. Khameleon looked shocked as well.
The living spike then retracted intot he figure's hand as he stood there in plain view wearing a similiar outfit befitting Subzero only his was dark yellow instead of dark blue.
"Scorpion" said Subzero. Khameleon and Sub looked at eachother. Khameleon then turned and ran away as her body vanished right before she flew into the deep forest. Khameleon was gone. Sub then fixated his sight back at Scorpion again, only...he was gone. Subzero had another surprised look on his face. He was there, not he was gone. He didn't know quite what to make of it.
Subzero thought at what his last few moments meant to him while wondering where Scorpion disappeared too. It wasn't Jade at all who had first found him in Jui Jsinn. It was Khameleon. From what knowledge Subzero had gained was that she was part of Reptiles's race only much more skillful in certain aspects. She was a perfect lure and would have caught Subzero perfectly had he had not recognized that medallion that he found. Subzero had been tricked, and tricked well. She led him to Reptile and Quan Chi and now was almost led into another trap.
If Khameleon falsely stated that Kitana was reuniting earth realm's forces back at the Temple of the Oder of Light, then that means something must have really happened there. He knew he had to get there now and fast. Subzero turned and was abour to begin running towards his destination when as he turned he found himself stopping right as he turned.
Scorpion was standing directly in front of him. Subzero's cold eyes met with the ivory white eyes of the long dead warrior. Both stood silent in the forest, both had deadly glares, both looking ready to kill the other...
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