Mortal Kombat

Hell-Bent

Disclaimer: I don't own Mortal Kombat or any of its characters, concepts, etc. If I did. . . do you think that I'd be writing fan fiction based on it? There ya go. Tis my first, R&R!

Two Years Before the Third Tournament. . .

Chapter 1:

The Hunted

His fingers slowly felt the outline of the footprint as he kneeled before it. The cool layer of water that lay around it confirmed the warrior's query; Sub-Zero had definitely come this way and not too long ago. He quietly stood and considered his next move. His heavily muscled arms crossed against his yellow chest-plate as the sun, brightly shining through the trees, flickered small golden spots on his black mask. A small bird darted by which he saw out of the corner of his eye. He suddenly shot out his right arm towards it and grunted heavily. An emerald-tinted rope seemed to appear from nowhere and bombarded itself directly beneath the bird's wing. The tendon returned to him, the bird attached to a spiked barb on its end. He removed the bird and let the rope vanish to wherever it had come from with a sickening hiss. His pupiless eyes coldly stared at the bird as it lay breathing shallowly in his palm. His grasp around it tightened as his rage overcame him.

"Sub-Zero!" he yelled suddenly as bird and animals scurried for protection. The bird in his fist mournfully chirped as a blinding wave of energy passed over him. Teleporting further into the forest, the tiny bird's ashes fluttered where he once stood.

"What do you mean you can't find him?" Bent over on one metallic knee, the robotic sentry responded in a low monotone voice that echoed slightly in the large hall. "We have no information on his current location, master." Sektor looked up slowly towards Shang Tsung who sat before him atop a small throne; it was adorned with small dragons that wound their way around the chair, their heads lying beneath the sorceror's dangerous hands. "If Scorpion had not interfered at the last village, we would have him in our custody."

"Yes," Tsung answerd. "Scorpion is becoming a pain."

"Master, there is no need for you to worry. Smoke is in the Mountains of Outworld and Cyrax is headed to the region of the Kuatan. We will find Sub-Zero and bring him to you, Master. We will not fail you."

"And yourself?" Tsung put his fingers together and peered at the crimson machinery.

"I will head to the Citadel because it would seem to be hist most likely move."

"You would do well to find him quickly or we'll both have to answer to Shao Kahn. The Emperor has a plan which will finally make the Earth Realm ours, but the Lin Kuei assassin is a pivotal part of it." The Sorceror suddenly looked grim.

"Dismissed, Sektor." Sektor slowly rose and saluted the sorceror, placing his hand over his chest before rapidly walking away. He stepped through a giant archway to an aviary, the shutters on his eyes reset themselves to adjust for the sunlight. He then turned to the two warriors who stood beside the archway wearing odd fox-like masks. He quickly moved to the guard at his right and rammed his fist through his face, blood and gore splattering the wall behind him. Sektor removed his fist from the guard's brazen skull and let the body slump to the ground. He wiped the blood off on the other guard who remained unmoving. The robot stormed off down the stairs.

Sub-Zero grabbed the branch of the tree above his head and swung onto the utmost part of the tree before bounding through the leaves. There was a thin layer of frost on his mask as he continued exerting himself. Sub-Zero let his thoughts wander. the muscles in his legs tightening and unwinding as he bounded from tree to tree with cat-like precision. What's become of me? An honored Lin Kuei assassin reduced to fleeing for his life from former comrades. The warrior perched atop a thick branch and surveyed his surroundings. And why does the spectre plague me still? He promised to protect me, but it seems he's gone against his vow. Sub-Zero sensed nothing irregular and began moving through the trees again. Brother, what would you do if you were here? What would you think of the Lin Kuei now?

Hidden Motives

The small rocks crumbled in his steel hands as his legs whirred with every step. He made it to the peak a short while later firmly planting his foot on the damp soil. Smoke slowly stood straight atop the pinnacle of his climb and strangely enough missed the fatique he felt when truly alive. All that he had been was gone now and all that he could have been was a distant dream, but it was all for the Clan. He placed one dirt-laden boot on a small jagged rock and began surveying the moutains near him. A minute droning hum resonated from deep within his chest as precise mechanisms kept his human remains alive. Something caught his eye on the prominent cliff to his left. It moved nervously like a hungry animal.

Smoke could see nothing but a flickering outline and he knew that this was only because of its erratic movement. If it were to stand still, it would vanish into its surroundings. The thermal sensors in his visor were activated and he gazed towards the cliff. The creature had moved a little towards the base and was now on a thin precipice that connected the two cliffs. He subconciously let his body tense, machinery whirring. The creature suddenly leapt the rest of the way and landed in a spider-like crouch before Smoke. The animal's invisibility fell around him and a warrior clad in green stood before him. Lin Kuei, Smoke thought. It is our clan's uniform. He noted the black leggings that lead into the heavy jade armor. The crevice-covered mask covered most of his face leaving only dangerous green eyes. Reptilian eyes. Smoke realized that he'd seen him somewhere before; yes, that was it! He had seen him in Shang Tsung's chambers; he was Reptile. Smoke let his body loosen as the warrior suddenly jumped into the air, and, spinning around, landed a kick squarely to Smoke's metal jaw. Smoke flew through the air before landing on a clump of rock and mud. He launched himself immediately off of the ground for an attack of his own but met Reptile's foot. Smoke's body flew over the cliff onto a smaller precipice below. The metal warrior flew to his feat and charged at Reptile and, while launching a flurry of punches at him, hurriedly wondered if Shang Tsung had sent the warrior after him.

The Temple of the Elders held a spectacular essence of radiance as Rayden stood outside of its beautiful Gates. The Gates had been erected by Knights of the Lotus long ago and stretched beyond the bamboo trees that reached from the ground towards the sun. Rayden enjoyed resting in the sun beneath the shaggy green leaves as the Elders met in their ethereal forms as great and numerous treasure glitterd in a cavern below theml gifts from infinite emperors and empresses that had paid them tribute. Rayden knew he would assume his role as an Elder soon enough, but they still considerd him reckless and ireesponsible with his dealings with worldy affairs as, comparatively, he was still a young deity and they feared him. There was an indescribable peace broken by the sudden appearence of a golden orb. Rayden was not surprised, he had felts its arrival soon before. His bemused eyes watched as dark leggings appeared from the dark matter before the warrior clad in yellow followed them. The orb vanished as the warrior stood before the temple.

"Ah, Scorpion. So it is you I felt." Rayden kept his steady gaze on the warrior.

"Silence, old fool. You need not trouble yourself with my affairs beyond the times when I need you. Now, tell me where my quarry is. Where is the Lin Kuei assassin?" Before Rayden could answer, Scorpion leapt at forward and grabbed the Thunder God's white cloak. He raised his bladed gauntlet to his throat.

"Go ahead, Scorpion. I wonder if you would truly spill blood on such Sacred Ground." Scorpion's eyes became angular slits of rage which glowed with a postmortem luminance.

"Do not tempt me, Thunder God or I will rip you to pieces." He tossed the deity towards a nearby tree. Rayden performed a back-flip and landed on his feet. "I know that you keep track of the warriors be they Shaolin Monks or Lin Kuei assassins. Now, you will tell me what I want to know or face my wrath." Rayden smirked and pointed a finger at Scorpion accusingly.

"No, Spectre. To gain my right as Elder God, I will no longer interfere with the personal vendettas of Earth's warriors. I will only intercede when the fate of the entire world is involved. This means that I will not aid your sad quest for vengeance." Scorpion reacted by suddenly yelling aloud, flames spewing from his eye sockets which licked the edges of his mouthguard.

"I will not be denied what I seek, Rayden." Scorpion looked darkly at him, the fire at a steady burn in his eyes. "Even if it means killing a God. . . "