Author's Note: Thank you to all those that reviewed/faved! It's great motivation for me. And a special thanks to Xelly-chan, for being the first reviewer. I hope you all like this chapter; another pov from Sub-Zero. It's a little shorter this time. Please review! :)

Warnings: Rated M for language, and other adult content. This story will have eventual slash. So fair warning if you do not like that sort of thing.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and properties belong to their respective owners.

Scorpion…

The devil-spawned spectre stood before me, and his presence made me sick. I was so confused. What was he doing here? What did he want?

I defeated him in battle before, but I hadn't had the chance to kill him. Not that it would have mattered; he was already dead. He was also the murderer of my brother, who was himself an evil bastard now, but still, I hated Scorpion. I hated him.

The yellow-clad ninja was focused on the monster, and ran towards it with his sword raised. He leaped in the air and brought his blade down onto the beast's skull. It was a quick death, but Scorpion flipped back away from it and used his hellfire to set it ablaze. Just for good measure, I suppose.

A handful of Tarkatan soldiers were left, that much I could see, and they all appeared to be frightened of Scorpion. Sensing their numbers were no longer great, those remaining fled into the night.

My allies came forward, all gathering nearer to me. Raiden went to stand next to Scorpion, and they exchanged a few words I could not hear.

Tarkatan bodies littered the forest, but I wasn't surprised; our group consisted of the best fighters.

The beast's corpse was still burning in the background, giving the immediate area an orange-ish glow. I noticed that my allies fared much better than I had. Only Johnny seemed to be limping.

Liu Kang and Smoke helped me to my feet. Which wasn't easy, because I was in a great deal of pain. I did not want to appear weak, especially in front of Scorpion, but I couldn't help from clutching my arm close to my chest. Those bites hurt like a bitch.

"Scorpion? What the hell is he doing here?" Sonya asked, surprised. I wasn't the only one wary of him.

Jade stepped forward to face Raiden. "That demon should not be here!" she said accusingly, pointing her Bo staff at Scorpion.

"Scorpion means us no harm," Raiden replied. "Listen, calm yourself. I've asked him to—"

"Lord Raiden! How can you trust this devil? He takes orders from Quan Chi!" Kitana exclaimed. Liu Kang placed a hand on her shoulder, protectively.

Johnny Cage raised his hands in a slow-down gesture. "Whoa, ladies c'mon, this guy just helped us out. Not that we really needed it…but I kinda think any Big Bad wouldn't want to offer us help. And look at him. He's just standing there. Non-threatening. Well, mostly."

I had been glaring at Scorpion the whole while. It was hard to tell what his expression was, due to the mask he wore. And those blank, dead eyes gave nothing away. But he radiated danger.

"Raiden, send him away. We cannot trust him!" Kung Lao shouted. "He's a spy!"

The thunder god tried again, "Listen—"

"He killed Sub-Zero's brother," Smoke cut in quickly.

Damn it all. I did not want to talk about this. I shot Smoke a furious look.

"That's right, he did." Jax recalled. "We all saw it."

"Most of us, anyway. I think." Sonya added.

"Sort of," Johnny chimed in. "I mean, they disappeared for a while and then the yellow ninja over there came back alone…with a skull…"

"Johnny!" Sonya scolded.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment. I hadn't known the details of my brother's death. It wasn't too hard to guess what had happened. This whole conversation was making my blood boil.

"I do not need your pity," I hissed.

"Enough!" Raiden thundered. No puns here. His voice literally echoed into the blackness of the forest. Small sparks of electricity fired around his eyes, showing how serious he was. "Now, listen," he began again. "I've asked Scorpion to join us in our quest. He is a strong warrior and will be a great ally to us. I know some of you do not approve-" Ha! "-but the more power we have on our side the better."

"Lord Raiden," Kung Lao said cautiously. "You can't have me believe that you've asked Scorpion to do anything and he willingly agreed."

"We made a deal," the spectre clarified, in a deep rumble. His voice had a metallic edge to it, and it was nothing but sinister.

Kung Lao looked surprised that Scorpion had spoken. "Was I talking to you, dead-man?"

"Would you like to be outmatched by me again, monk?" Scorpion spat.

"How is your master Quan Chi? Has he let you out on your leash?"

"I have no leash, unfortunately for you!"

"Ughh…" Raiden pinched the bridge of his nose. A very human gesture, I thought. "I'll not tolerate any fighting. Now is not the time."

"What was the deal?" inquired Liu.

Raiden turned to address him. "I've promised Scorpion that if he helps us defeat our enemies, I will persuade the Elder Gods to give him life, and restore his clan."

"When did you make this promise?" I demanded. I had a very suspicious feeling.

"Several nights ago," Raiden admitted. "I wasn't certain if Scorpion would accept, but I met with him this morning and he finally agreed. Though he wished to remain hidden…"

"My hand was forced," Scorpion said, abruptly. He was referring to when he…saved me. "I have no desire to be around any of you."

It was obvious to me now that the Netherrealm essence I had felt earlier was from Scorpion. He must have been following us for a while before deciding to show himself. Or perhaps, following me. But why?

The dreary feeling of the Nether was still exuding itself from the spectre, but I was starting to get used to it. I wondered if I was the only one who could sense it, maybe because of my previous experience. None of the others had mentioned it.

Kitana crossed her arms over her chest. "And what of Quan Chi?" she asked.

"I no longer serve him," Scorpion stated simply.

We all looked a bit skeptical.

"Quan Chi still lives, but at present he is not a threat." Raiden clasped his hands behind his back, looking a little more relaxed. "The Elder Gods see potential in Scorpion, and provided me with some information to relay to him. Some…truths about the sorcerer and his many deceptions. After realizing he'd been lied to, Scorpion broke free from Quan Chi's control." He looked at the Shirai Ryu with approval. "His will is strong."

"I will kill Quan Chi with my own hands," Scorpion growled—promised. "Nothing will keep me from this."

"So why help me?" I swayed some as I limped forward, still clutching my arm. "You killed my brother, you tried to kill me, and now you save me? What is your aim, to impress the Elder Gods?" Jade came up to me then and grabbed onto my good arm, helping to keep me steady.

Scorpion blinked at me a couple times, before turning to look at Raiden. "You did not tell him?" he asked the thunder god, somewhat alarmed.

Uh-oh.

"Tell me what?" I asked. There was hesitation in my voice. You know that feeling you get when you're about to be told very bad news. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it. Raiden sighed, and looked at me with pity.

I wanted to punch him in the face. Despite my respect for the thunder god, I hated anyone feeling sorry for me. I was not a weak child!

"Leave us, all of you," Raiden commanded. "There's only a few more hours until daylight, so we'll discuss our next course of action then." He looked at me. "Sub-Zero, you stay."

I nodded slowly as I felt Jade tense next to me. "But my Lord! Sub-Zero is severely wounded. Allow us to dress them properly," she requested.

"Very well."

Jade and Smoke made a quick job of dressing my wounds. Though 'properly' is not a word I would have used to describe their work. They used cloth torn from their clothes as bandages, which were very dirty, and very little on Jade's part—not that I minded; I admired the view.

I was hoping at the very least my wounds would not become infected, but I was sure I'd have scars. Oh, well. A few more wouldn't make a difference.

The others decided to head back to the small clearing where our campsite had been, and wait for us there. I had watched them go, wistfully wishing that I was among them.

Finally, I moved to face Raiden. And Scorpion. It was more than unnerving to think that he had been following me, and that perhaps Raiden knew about it.

We stood there alone in the forest for a few long moments. I was waiting for one of them to speak.

"Do you agree that the Lin Kuei are corrupt?" Raiden asked me, suddenly.

Uh... "Well," I replied. "Yes, I believe they are." The thought had never entered my mind before, but turning human beings into machines was just insane.

If I really thought about I could pinpoint many times where the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei had done some questionable things. And even if I was one of the top assassins, it was not my place to question him. I had never really wanted to.

Thinking of the Lin Kuei and the palace gave me a small pang of grief. It was the only home I knew, and I'd miss it. Not that I had many friends there, but it wasn't unheard of for small groups to form lasting friendships. It was kind of hard and almost foolish to become attached to anyone, since during any mission one could die. But I did have those I cared about.

"Are you aware of how the Lin Kuei acquire new assassins for their ranks?" questioned the thunder god.

What did that have to do with anything? I was confused, a recently occurring theme with me.

I could feel the piercing heat of Scorpion's gaze on me, and tried to ignore it. I did not understand why he had to be here. My heart was starting to beat faster. I was about to be told something horrible and I knew it.

"Yes," I finally answered. "Sometimes assassins from around the world will join if they can pass a combat test. And sometimes the Lin Kuei will find orphaned children and raise them as their own." Raiden should know this. I was an orphan myself, along with my brother.

Raiden shook his head sadly. "No, Sub-Zero. The Lin Kuei have been keeping many things from you. It is true that other assassins may join at any time… but the children, the children are stolen."

I didn't understand right away.

"What?" I breathed.

"When they need new blood, the Lin Kuei will steal children from their parents. What better way to raise the perfect, loyal killing machine?" remarked Raiden, his voice full of contempt. "You and your brother are no exception."

"No."

"Sub-Zero, when you and your sibling were young, the Lin Kuei came to your home and took you from your parents. Your father fought to keep you, to keep his sons, but they murdered him. They murdered your family to leave no witnesses."

"Stop…" I pleaded. This was much worse than I had been expecting. My heart sank, and I was overwhelmed with what this new knowledge meant.

"They have done this for centuries," Raiden commented. "I thought you knew, but the Elder Gods informed me of your naivety. I am truly sorry."

Liar, I thought. He didn't have to tell me anything. He wanted me to hate the Lin Kuei so I would fight fiercely against them, no doubt. But I would have done that anyway.

"Bi-Han did kill Scorpion in battle," Raiden continued. "But Quan Chi tricked Scorpion and manipulated him to believe that the Lin Kuei and your brother had slaughtered the Shirai Ryu. It was Quan Chi himself that exterminated them, and it was him that influenced Scorpion to exact revenge…"

"I have vowed myself to protect you," the spectre said quietly. I could not force myself to look at him now, but I knew he was speaking to me. "I want to atone for—"

I turned away from the both of them. I could feel my face contorting in anger. All my life I had done what the Grandmaster had wanted of me, what the Lin Kuei expected of me, because I was grateful to have a home. Grateful!

Over the years, killing for money was a simple thing to do. And I could cut off most of my emotions to do so. The money didn't hurt either. But a small part of my soul wondered why I had been born into this life.

I had just accepted it. And followed my brother's lead.

Now things were different. So many thoughts and emotions were bursting in my head. I was not an orphan. I was wanted. I had parents that wanted me, and fought to their deaths to keep me.

I was loved.

There was a whole different life that had been taken away from me. Maybe a more peaceful one.

The Grandmaster would pay. They all would. I would spare no one. After all, this is what they expected of me, to be a murderer.

"I'll repay them in kind," I whispered hoarsely.

Turning back around, I faced Scorpion and Raiden once more to make myself clear. "You can be sure the Grandmaster will die. Now, leave me alone."

The thunder god hesitated a moment, before giving me a deep nod and heading in the direction of camp. I think he could tell I wanted to be alone with my painful thoughts. I wanted to suffer as my family had. As all those people I assassinated had.

Scorpion hadn't moved.

"Go!" I shouted. He just stared at me with those white, glowing eyes. They shined brightly in the night, and I hated it.

Hell, I could hate everything right now. Let the blackness take me for all I cared.

I may not like him, but I could understand the spectre a little better now. He'd lost his clan. He wasn't there to protect his family. I was starting to feel sorry… No. Just no. This man killed my brother. The only family I had left.

"Leave me alone," I said again. It was harder this time to keep the emotion out of my voice.

The undead Shirai Ryu still said nothing, but in a sudden flash of flame and hellfire he vanished.

Standing alone in the quiet of the forest, I watched as the fire burning on the beast's body was almost completely dying out. I had forgotten about the creature. Or what was left of it.

I just stood there for a long while, mostly numb.

And somewhere in the forest where I could not see, I knew Scorpion was nearby.