CHAPTER 10

Skarlet and Sub-Zero arrived near the coliseum. They found a hidden corner and sat while Sub Zero rested and gathered his energy.

"Alright, when you enter the coliseum, there will be a tournament in progress. You must approach Shao Kahn and demand to fight Scorpion. That is the only way you will get his attention…and what you want." Skarlet instructed.

Sub-Zero sat on a wooden box looking down, going over the scenario in his head. He nodded.

"This is it. You must be ready. Scorpion will be at his best and may not be so happy to see Sub-Zero a second time…Stay alive, okay?" Skarlet ordered.

"Remember our deal." she added.

"I will win." A confident Sub Zero responded as he stood up. He was ready.

Skarlet guided Sub-Zero to the entrance of the coliseum, stopped and turned towards him before going in.

"Kuai…there is another thing I must inform you about." Skarlet said softly.

She wanted to tell him that his dead brother had been resurrected into the deadly wraith Noob Saibot but decided against it. Skarlet realized that the information might disrupt Sub-Zero's concentration before the biggest fight of his life. She changed her mind.

"Never mind…it can wait. Good luck Sub-Zero." Skarlet said as she touched the side of his face before turning and entering the coliseum.

Sub-Zero watched her walk through a tunnel that led into the open arena.

He glanced up at the large coliseum as he prepared himself internally. He felt close to a hundred percent physically and took a deep breath before walking into the tunnel that led to his destiny.

"For you, our family and our clan, Bi Han." Sub-Zero said silently as he walked through the dark tunnel. The light at the end of the it that led into the arena was not going to be heaven.

Sub Zero walked right into the open arena. The audience was loud and deafening. There was a small gather of warriors at the center of the coliseum in front of Shao Kahn's throne. Skarlet was already watching a fight and stood beside Motaro. The tournament was underway.

Kitana, princess of Outworld was engaged in a battle against an unknown warrior. She was dominating the battle as Sub-Zero reached the group and watched.

Kitana struck down her opponent and prepared to deliver the killing blow, but she hesitated.

"I have failed. I deserve death." The fallen fighter conceded.

Kitana felt the same way after failing her mission. "I have failed my father, you must kill me." Kitana tried to say to the warrior without letting the others overhear.

"KILL HIM!" Shao Kahn demanded. Kitana still hesitated. Shao Kahn grew impatient and decided to complete the task himself. He shot a beam of green energy from his left hand at the hapless fighter and fried him in front of Kitana. She could only watch in horror.

"Aaaaarrrrghhhhhh" The warrior screamed as Shao Kahn finished him.

"Kitana! You will join me." He ordered. She walked up and stood beside Shao Kahn at his throne while Tarkatan slaves dragged the burnt corpse away.

This was Sub-Zero's chance. He stormed in the middle of the arena and faced Shao Kahn.

"Shao Kahn! I challenge Scorpion, the murderer of my brother! You will bring him before me!" He demanded.

Reptile had arrived at the arena and was prepared to tell Shang Tsung about Skarlet's rogue ways and defection, when Shang Tsung suddenly noticed him and responded to Sub Zero's demand.

"No one makes demands of the emperor! Reptile!" Shang Tsung ordered.

Reptile jumped at the chance to fight. He decided he would inform Shang Tsung about Skarlet after he had finished off the Lin Kuei intruder.

Reptile stepped out to meet Sub-Zero who prepared for battle.

Sub Zero wished to end the fight with the green monster swiftly, as he wanted to conserve his energy for Scorpion.

Reptile started off the battle quickly as he spat a ball of acid phlegm towards Sub-Zero. Not wanting to find out what the green acid was capable of, he ducked the attack and shot a beam of ice towards the monster. Reptile was quick and dodged the beam of ice as it blasted past and froze part of the arena floor. The crowd gasped in amazement at the display of power.

Reptile vanished into his invisible form and charged Sub-Zero-who looked clueless as he searched for his foe. Reptile attacked Tundra with a series of kicks and swipes. Sub-Zero expected the strikes to be more painful, but Reptile was not as strong as he anticipated.

Sub-Zero leapt back as Reptile gave away his position by launching a slow green force ball. Sub-Zero unleashed a blast of ice towards the source of the attack and was rewarded when Reptile was caught, being frozen in a block of ice.

Sub-Zero capitalized on the opportunity and struck Reptile hard, smashing him out of the ice with such force that it knocked the creature down and sent him writhing in pain. Reptile was unable to continue.

"I would kill you, but that is not my purpose here." Sub-Zero said coldly. His icy breath escaping through his mask.

Reptile rolled and away and retreated. He was thankful that the Lin Kuei intruder spared his life and in return, would not tell Shang Tsung about Sub Zero and Skarlet. Reptile never cared anyway. He was just following orders.

Sub-Zero returned his attention to Shao Kahn as everyone watched. The crowd still roaring.

"Your followers hold you in high esteem warlord. They fight and die for your amusement. My brother participated in this folly… I do so only to face his killer!"

"And you shall." Shao Kahn replied.

Skarlet was impressed with Sub-Zero's bravery. She did not think Shao Kahn would be so willing to grant Kuai Liang his request. Here we go. She thought to herself as her heart started to pound rapidly.

With a green flash from Quan Chi's fist, Scorpion was summoned. A burst of flames erupted form the coliseum floor as Scorpion stepped out in flash of fire. This was the moment Sub-Zero had been waiting for. All of the intense training and suffering had led to this.

Sub-Zero will never forget the moment he learned of Bi Han's death and how it felt. He was going to make sure Scorpion would feel the pain a thousand times worse than what he had inflicted on Bi Han.

Skarlet was right. Scorpion looked every bit as fearsome and powerful as she described. However Sub-Zero was not afraid. He was angry.