Chapter 3: The Temple

'It seems I overslept', was Kitana's thought as her eyes flustered open due to the morning sunlight, that she silently cursed. Remembering what has happened last night, Kitana came out looking for Kuai Liang, but he was not on the bed as she knew, after her breakdown that resulted from a nightmare to which the Cryomancer managed to sooth her mind as she remembered the events that once led to her demise. 'Maybe Kuai had woken up a lot earlier', she thought.

Putting on a pair of shorts and blue short-sleeved shirt, she proceded to go downstairs where she felt a presence stood in her way and it was Chang Chang, the Wu family's grandmother.

"Ah! Hello there, lass!", Chang Chang called out happily to which Kitana gave a small smile to the elderly woman. "Overslept I see?"

Scratching her head sheepishly, she replied. "Yes...I, I was. Have you seen Kuai Liang?"

Chang Chang gave Kitana a smirk as she stood confused why the Earthrealmer in front of her had such a reaction. "Ah, so this damsel looking for your predator?", she said as Kitana slightly blushed at that statement. 'How is it every time someone says that involving him always gave me a strange feeling?', she mentally cursed, wishing that she would find a solution to the said problem.

Snapping out her thoughts, "No, I...um, am only curious to where he went since he's not in our room anymore"

"Ah, Kuai is out doing errands for my son. Even though we told him we can handle it, Kuai insisted since he stated that it would be wise to repay my son's debt to him. Come, lass. Let's get you some breakfast", Chang Chang said, motioning her to go downstairs. She ate her breakfast which consisted of Rice Noodles, Steamed Buns, Soy Milk, and Deep-Fried Dough Sticks, a meal that she ate heartily unlike those at Outworld. After gathering the remaining dishes at the sink, Shumeng entered as she was carrying a bag of groceries.

"Ah, Kitana! Don't need to push yourself, I can take care of it!", Shumeng called out as Kitana was about to put liquid on the sponge.

"It's all right, Ms. Shumeng. At least I could help with the house considering that we spent the night here.", Kitana replied as Shumeng sighed at the answer that was given to her.

"That's what Kuai Liang said earlier but I can't really deny a helping hand even if we didn't need to. But fine, we'll do this together and I could have someone to talk to for a while", the Wu housewife said smiling as they sorted out the dishes.

"Um, Miss Shumeng, may I ask?", Kitana said as the housewife turned her attention to her. "How did you meet Kuai Liang? He appeared to be well-acquainted with you all"

Setting down the sponge at the moment and leaned on the wall, the housewife turned to narrate. "Well, we actually met him a long time ago, when he and his older brother, Bi-Han, saved my husband from a group of bandits hired by a rival business group. As gratitude, we allowed them to spend the night since it was late. Then, the group attacked our household once again and they held grandma Chang Chang and I hostage until Kuai Liang managed to outsmart their leader which he and his brother defeated the remaining bandits and they scared off the ones who hired them away. But after the attack, my water broke and since the hospital back then wasn't built yet, I have to give birth in the house and Kuai Liang managed to deliver little Mei into the world, and I was very happy along with my husband. For that, I named Kuai Liang her godfather and he visited frequently to see our daughter until he didn't come to visit for about two years until today", Shumeng finished as she let out a smile at the memories.

"I didn't know he was like that.", Kitana said as she was admiring Kuai Liang's deed in the past that could further add to his already positive qualities. "He sounded wonderful"

Shumeng smiled, "Oh, he really is. I suppose you're eager to make friends with him?"

Kitana gave out a small smile, as she dried the last of the dishes with a towel "I wish I could but I don't want it to get in his way"

"Nonsense, Kuai Liang is really willing to make friends with you. You just needed to take it at one step at a time", Shumeng stated as she held a hand on Kitana's shoulder. "It was how I managed to get along with my husband and I could tell you just might have a chance with him", Shumeng stated with a smirk as she noticed Kitana's slight blush. "He should be here in a short while with my husband so, would you like to help me in gardening?"

Kitana let out a smile to the woman's friendly request "I would like that".

With Kuai Liang

"Send this to the Sky Temple, Lord Raiden would want to hear of our progress", Kuai Liang said to a pigeon as he attached the note to its chest before he let it fly away to the northern direction. After finishing his errands with Wu Fong, which involved assisting him in his merchant business, Kuai Liang excused himself to bring a message to Raiden and that he had located the Red Dragon Temple to which he and Kitana are planning to raid and retrieve the dagger. After doing so, the two returned to the Household where they saw Shumeng, Kitana and little Mei gardening as Chang Chang arrived to give them a few glasses of ice tea.

Kuai Liang looked at Kitana, who was wearing an apron over her blue shirt and shorts with her hair tied in a ponytail and wears a straw hat and blue slippers. As he observed her, she was peaceful and at the same time, mesmerizing due to her own natural beauty as an Edenian. He had recalled what had happened that night and he was happy on how peaceful she was at her activity. But as he observed her, Kuai Liang suddenly felt a sense of attraction as his mind was currently focused on her. Wu Fong elbowed Kuai with a sly smile on him, knowing who he was focused to to which Kuai Liang brushed off.

"Kuai? I didn't see you there.", Kitana said, startled by his sudden appearance.

"He was daydreaming about you", Wu Fong playfully called out to which Kuai Liang elbowed the man for the comment.

"I need to talk to you for a moment", Kuai Liang stated as Kitana laid down her gardening tools and followed him in front of the house porch for privacy.

"What is it?", she asked with her arms crossed

"I manage to locate the Temple northwest from here and as far as I can tell, it is heavily guarded.", Kuai Liang said as Kitana shrugged her shoulders. "And it's best if we go the Temple immediatley, where security is at lowest there"

"I see, when will we leave?"

"Few hours. I also sent a message to Lord Raiden concerning our progress here. I think it would be suited for all of us if he doesn't have any doubts in our little tenure here", Kuai Liang exclaimed as he sat down in the porch's staircase in deep thought with Kitana following suit. "It's been months and we're going to do this only now"

"I know", Kitana replied as she looked at the sky with certain memories flash before her. "It felt like years for me ever since we were brought back."

"I guess you could say that considering you're over ten thousand years old", Kuai Liang stated with humor as Kitana gave out a chuckle. And then after a few minutes, she turned to Kuai with question in hand. "I know this is a little personal but can you tell me something about yourself?", she asked as Kuai Liang turned towards her with a questioning expression to which she raised her hands in defense. "No, I mean it's all right if you don't to, I just wanted to know more about you since...you know", she said as she could not find the right words to why she would want to know about his background and that she had invaded his private space.

But Kuai Liang simply looked at her as to see if she is willing to listen to what he has to say. And sighing exasparetely, he motioned Kitana to listen.

"When I was a child, me and my brother Bi-Han were sent to the Lin Kuei Temple by our father, as per family tradition. From what I have learned, our family had served the Lin Kuei for generations and the title of Sub-Zero, was held by my grandfather. I do not know if father ever carried that title, nor will I ever know if he did." Kuai Liang stated with much thought clouding his mind concerning the subject of his family.

"During our early years, I was often under the shadow of my brother, whom I always admired and strived to become like him one day within the Lin Kuei Temple. It was there when we met a Czech boy named Tomas Vrbada, or you probably know him by the name, Smoke. Despite the Lin Kuei discouraging any close bonds to another, our friendship was unbreakable to me.", the Cryomancer said smiling at the small but cherishing memories he had with those two, and Kitana could not help but smile at his form. To her, he looked quite cute whenever he smiled at her but she soon realizes what she thought before shaking her head of those thoughts.

"I always remembered Smoke being the quiet and cautious one. Though he does not speak as much, he was a good friend, with fine skill and a firm heart though he could be a little bit hostile even at the most little situations", Kuai Liang stated to which Kitana recounted some encounters with the gray Lin Kuei. She had been defeated by him when she was ordered to intercept the Lin Kuei but later got her revenge by beating not only him, and Johnny Cage as well. She could also recalled a conversation with Jade to which she ended up beating Smoke after he had mistook Mileena for Kitana. Disgusting, she thought, as the comparison makes them different in many ways already.

"My brother on the other hand, was strict and was more of the person who follows the code but always made the sharpest decisions and is one of the Lin Kuei's most talented students. As his brother, he taught me what he can as a Cryomancer and cared for like a brother and that is what I admired about him. My respect and admiration to him even grew when I heard about his feats of him defeating four gods by himself, including Lord Fujin and stopped Quan Chi and Shinnok's plans that could potentially harm Earthrealm. For that, we all had great respect for him."

Kitana was awed by what she had heard, Quan Chi never mentioned anything about his encounters with his brother and if this man can actually defeat gods, then why did he lose to the mere Spectre, Scorpion?

"Until...", Kuai Liang stopped mid-sentence and placed a hand on his face before giving a heavy sigh. "Until we heard of what had happened to him back at the Tournament"

Kitana placed a hand on Kuai Liang's shoulder as he clenched his fists of what had happened that time. The sight of Scorpion carrying Bi-Han's spine with his sku attached to it, already horrified her that time and she can already feel the anger that was gathering within, and she stroked his shoulder to calm him down.

"Then, you probably knew the rest. I nearly killed Scorpion, Sektor turning me into a machine, killed and turned into a Revenant, then the restoration. But there was something else, concerning about my heritage", Kuai Liang said as Kitana gave a questioning look at him.

"It was only until I learned the truth from Raiden some time ago. Bi-Han and I had been kidnapped by our father from our mother to turn us into cold-hearted assassins, to serve the Lin Kuei to do their bidding.", the Cryomancer explained in a tone that carried hatred, resentment and sadness as he balled his first. "For years we thought we were born to serve but it turned out, he practically robbed us of our childhood, he took away our freedom to choose and potentially, the love of our mother. What kind of a father does that to his children?"

Kuai Liang's rant soon stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Kitana and was soothing him from his anger with a look that she completely understood him and the conflict within him.

"You don't have to continue, Kuai", Kitana said as his expression reverted back to its calm demeanor. "I'm sorry, I didn't know any of this."

Kuai Liang looked at her with a solemn look, "It's all right, Kitana, I'm not really much of a storyteller concerning my life but I was glad that someone would be willing to listen nonetheless and other than that, I could say that I was also glad that I had someone to accompany me ay times", he replied as he gave out a small smile.

Kitana looked at the Cryomancer in front of her with deep admiration and respect to what he said. They had so much in common on both of their lives and when she discovered the past that he hid behind that calm demeanor of his and how far was he willing to trust her of his secret regarding his life. It was not like Kitana could trust him now, but she was willing to give it a shot after knowing what he went through.

Kitana broke the silence when she spoke, "I grew up with Jade in becoming an assassin for Shao Kahn. During our first millenias, we spent our childhood training to be his personal bodyguards, and I had always tried to gain my father's approval by doing what I needed to do, but I could never reach his expectations. For some reason, my mother's side always surpassed his and he often saw that as a weakness and even I tried to hide that part of my heart to prove myself to him. And that is until I discovered the truth."

Kuai Liang remained silent as he listened to her intently of the past he knew so little about.

"Shang Tsung used my blood and that of a Tarkatan to create a 'sister' of mine that is called Mileena, and I thought that by bringing him down would gain me the approval that I so wanted from my father but...", Kitana stopped mid sentence with her anger rising up before continuing. "My 'father' planned this all along and that he was the one who commissioned Mileena's creation to replace me, seeing that I was a weakling of an heir and tried to kill me. It was then that I learned the truth what happened to my parents. Shao Kahn killed my true father, King Jerrod of Edenian, and that my mother gave up her own life to protect me and Earthrealm as one and that he clouded my mind with lies that even know, still haunted my that I believed."

"Pì huà…" Kuai Liang cursed in disbelief after listening to everything the former Princess just said. He lifted his head from her shoulder and eyed her, her hazel eyes meeting his saphire-like irises. "I apologize for what you've endured, Kitana. I cannot imagine how you must have felt when you discovered the truth about your parents."

Kitana soon calmed down as she felt Kuai Liang's shoulder stroking her back. She was not used to being comforted, it was Jade who always performed that role but it was different when Kuai Liang was the one who held her, a warmth inside her chest always ignites whenever the Cryomancer was with her. Ironically for a man who controls ice, he brings out the fire that warmth her once, cold and lonely soul and that was more than enough for her at the current situation she was in.

"Thank you, Kuai.", she replied to him. "It means a lot to me". Unconciously, she placed her head at his shoulder. And taking it as a gesture of comfort, Kuai Liang accepted it and leaned his arm over her shoulder.

"Despite your former devotion to Shao Kahn and the crimes you committed for him, the moment you discovered the truth about yourself and your defection, it shows that you are no assassin with no conscience, it just shows your humanity that made you who you are. No matter what you experience, your spirit cannot be broken nor will your firm heart. And I like you just the way you are, Kitana.", Kuai Liang spoke as Kitana widened her eyes in both shock and flatter, but nonetheless remained silent and rested on his shoulder even thought it was already awkward in her point of view. Kuai Liang simply smiled at her and looked at the sky above them. Unknown to the two, they were watched by the Wu family, where Shumeng gestured them to keep quiet and leave them alone for the time being.

Red Dragon Temple

The two are currently observing the Temple to which, security was higher than expected. Red Dragon guards are stationed in several points on the Temple with automatic and close-combat weapons. Kuai Liang and Kitana prepared as they put on both their respective masks before staging their raid to retrieve the dagger.

"Okay, this could go on two ways, Kitana. One is the smart and silent approach. The other is the dumb and loud.", Kuai Liang stated to which Kitana pondered for a moment but it wasn't long for her to make the obvious choice.

"I prefer the smart approach.", she replied before shrugging. "But I can tell the dumb approach is plan B, I assume whenever things go south"

Kuai Liang could not help but chuckle at her statement, "It seemed it is." before the two moved out.

Infiltrating the Temple, the approached its vincincity two spotted a few guards at the entrance. "We do this swiftly. On three. One. Two. Three".

In a flash, one guard was frozen instantly by an ice beam and the other was knocked out before he could react when a strong gust resulted him colliding against the wall. The two entered the Temple silently as they continued to observe the inner infastructure and they began searching the building for any leada concerning the dagger. After fifteen minutes of searching, it yielded no results.

"Five men entering, get down!", Kuai Liang silently called out as he and Kitana heard footsteps that are converging to their position. "Let them pass".

"Dì èr dānyuán, wǒmen shīqùle yǔ zhàohéguǎng tí de suǒyǒu liánxì, yǒuxiē shì kěnéng shì cuò de. Kàn kàn, jiéshù. (Unit Two, we lost all contact to Zhao and Guang-Ti at the entrance, something could be wrong. Check it out, over), a Red Dragon radio called out as the group's captain cautiously continued to walk among his group towards the respective location.

"Luō jié, wǒmen zhèng zǒuxiàng tōng wǎng rùkǒu de zǒuláng, dàimìng (Roger that, we're heading towards the hallway heading to the entrance, standby)", replied the Captain as he motioned his group to follow him.

"What did he say?", Kitana asked as Kuai Liang gritted his teeth.

"They probably took notice of the work we did at the entrance. And there is still no sign of the dagger.", Kuai Liang stated. "We have to go to plan B, it's our only chance of knowing where it is"

Kitana nodded at the current situation and the two took positions in between doors on the left and right, waiting for the patrol to come back. It wasn't long when they heard vague footsteps that were becoming louder. Kuai Liang channelled ice on his palms while Kitana unfolded her tessens.

"Zhè shì dì èr dānyuán, sìmiào shòudàole sǔnhài. Jiāng měi gè dānyuán shèzhì wèi jǐngbào (This is unit two, the Temple is compromised. Set every unit on alert)", the Red Dragon captain said on his radio as they again approached the hallways.

Kuai Liang and Kitana tensed as the footsteps became louder, and the two knew it would be difficult for both of them to succeed on this mission of theirs. As the Red Dragon unit entered the hallway in the dark, the two raised their weapons.

"Go loud!", Kuai Liang called out as the two assaulted the surprised Red Dragon troops.

AN;

Aaand Cut! Sorry for the late update! I was both busy playing MK Mobile and working on my first fanfic. Anyways, I decided to blend both Sub-Zero brothers their stories in both at the moment non-canon timelines since it would make a better backstory in my point of view. Expect a new update this month. Spectre, signing off!