Mortal Kombat : Before The Tournament

Chapter 3 - Sub Zero

Sub Zero, Smoke, Sektor and Cyrax all stood together while waiting for the Grand Master's address on an urgent briefing in the Lin Kuei temple. The Lin Kuei were a clan of assassins with the stealthiest and deadliest ninjas in all of Earthrealm. The clan were run by four generals; Sub Zero, Smoke, Sektor and Cyrax, who ran the clan's daily mission planning and executions. However, the four generals ultimately answered to the Grand Master. The cold, snowy mountain air was all that could be heard because no one muttered a single word. The Grand Master rarely addresses the Lin Kuei as one unit, as he usually instructs his four generals to carry out his will.

The anticipation was over as the massive palace doors slowly swung open, when out trudged an ancient man clad in red robes decorated with the Lin Kuei clan symbol. The assassins were all gathered in an icy, open field just below the palace. Sub Zero grew tense to hear the Grand Master's address.

"Lin Kuei. For thousands of years we have been protecting Earthrealm time and time again from attempted invasion and also by offering up our four generals to fight in Mortal Kombat whenever the tournament arrives." The Grand Master began.

"The Lin Kuei are still however, unable to boast of producing a champion for Earthrealm. Sure, our clansmen are the finest assassins in all of Earthrealm...but to what avail? Time and time again we have failed in Mortal Kombat and believe me when I say that I think my four generals are quite strong...I do not believe they are strong enough." He said.

Sub Zero's face now wore the expression of shock. For his entire life he had been part of the Lin Kuei, it took him years to become a general and when he finally did, he was part of the two generals who mastered their inner elemental energy, making him one of the strongest. Now here is the Grand Master...in his senile dementia saying that they weren't strong enough...Sub Zero was infuriated.

"Therefore, I have taken a new initiative to ensure that for the coming Mortal Kombat tournament, which is the most important one that Earthrealm will ever fight in, that we WILL produce a champion...and that initiative...will be called the Cyber Initiative." The Grand Master said.

Sub Zero and Smoke were both lost in confusion.

"Grand Master...what exactly is this...'Cyber Initiative'?" Sub Zero asked.

"Ah, Sub Zero. I am glad that you asked this question." he said.

"The Cyber Initiative is a plan that I have schemed in order to physically, mentally and elementally improve your skills. Your body will be transformed into machines...but your human vitals will still remain except for your mind. This is to ensure that your human mental limits will not restrain your from unleashing your full power every single time you fight in kombat. The first people who will have the honour of becoming LK : 001 - 004 will be my four generals; Sub Zero, Smoke, Sektor and Cyrax." The Grand Master said smiling.

"And what if we do not want to be part of this...'Initiative'?" Sub Zero warily asked.

"Hmph. Failure to comply with these instructions will obviously result in the extradition of you from our clan...which means execution." The Grand Master said.

"I...will never become a slave trapped in metal...I will never accept this Cyber Initiative...and I will NEVER submit. Therefore to amend my prosecution for refusing the initiative I will like to use my right of trial by kombat." Sub Zero rebelled.

"As do I." Smoke said.

The Grand Master glanced at Sektor and Cyrax.

"And what about you two, Sektor and Cyrax? Do you...oppose me as well?" The Grand Master said annoyed.

"No Grand Master...I do not." Sektor said.

"Neither do I." said Cyrax.

"Excellent. Sub Zero, Smoke, your requests for trial by kombat will be granted. You will face Sektor and Cyrax." The Grand Master said.

The generals split apart from each other into teams of two; for and against the Initiative.

"...FIGHT!" The Grand Master shouted.

Sub Zero and Smoke wasted no time attacking their opponents. Sub Zero faced Sektor first with a sweep that sent him falling hard on his back. This was followed by a stomp on his face and a kick to his stomach. Sektor was being owned by Sub Zero's disappointment which mutated into blinding fury. Sub Zero then picked up Sektor in a choke hold and sent an icy cold blast directly into his face...freezing it solid.

"SUB ZERO, STOP THIS BRUTALITY!" The Grand Master shouted.

"No...I will not stand for this. You, and all of your followers will pay for this preposterous initiative." Sub Zero said.

Sub Zero punched Sektor in the head...then again, and again and again and again and again and again until with one final punch, he smashed Sektor's skull right in...but he wasn't dead remarkably. Sub Zero dropped the almost dead Sektor.

"Enough of this. I win...Brutality." Sub Zero said.

"You can take this pathetic excuse for an assassin and put him into your metal contraption...he needs it to live now. Come on Smoke...let's go." Sub Zero said.

"Where will we go Bi-Han?" Smoke asked.

"We will go to the one place where there are not corrupt idiots...the Wu Shi Academy." Sub Zero said.

With that, Sub Zero and Smoke walked out of the Lin Kuei Temple, never looking back even once. Sektor was dying and Cyrax was beaten...the Grand Master had lost the battle.

"You may have won this battle Bi Han...but you WILL NOT win the war! The Lin Kuei has allies in many places...remember that... We will find you, we will seize you, and you WILL DO MY BIDDING! So go ahead and think that you have won Bi Han...this battle has only just begun." The Grand Master said.