The Lin Kuei
Part 3
Inferna walked down one of the many hallways that were intricately weaved expertly in the headquarters, to confuse any intruders. She took two lefts, then a right, and found herself slipping into a deep thought. She had accepting competing in the Tournament only a week before and her participation in Mortal Kombat had been announced to the entire Clan the day before. Her train of thought distracted her from rapidly approaching footsteps coming towards her. Suddenly two pairs of hands had her jacked up against the wall, with the palm of one covering her masked mouth.
"Midnight, could you believe how foolish our wise, all knowing, Grandmasters be if they choose to have an inexperienced girl to represent our almighty Clan in Mortal Kombat?" one ninja dressed in the uniform black with a white mask, vest and arm and chin guards addressed the one at his side, who had a deep indigo for his adorning colors. Inferna squirmed under the iron grip of the men.
"I don't know, Avalanche, but I think we should teach this girl a lesson for venturing into places where she is not welcome," Midnight grinned under his mask. The one known as Avalanche smiled, and pulled down his mask. He took Inferna's face in his hands and pulled down her mask as well. He crashed his lips on hers and tried to force his tongue in her mouth. She kicked with her legs beneath his body, but to no avail. Midnight pushed his accomplice out of the way. He went to make contact with Inferna's lips as well, but she took advantage of the transition. She pushed herself up against the wall and kicked both her legs outward, hitting both of the men in the face. They were stunned but not hurt. "You will regret that, you bitch!" cried Avalanche. He got up and charged Inferna, but was blown back by a strong wind. All three looked to the end of the hallway to find a man in a black uniform underneath a royal blue vest calling upon his obvious element of wind. Midnight gave a signal to Avalanche who came up behind Inferna and grabbed her into his mouth. "If you tell anyone what happened here, you will be sorry.you can count on that," Avalanche snarled into her ear. As they ran, the gust died down and the figure at the end of the hallway came running up to her. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" he asked her. "I'm fine. Why did you save me?" she asked him defensively. "Inferna, it's me," he stated, expecting her to recognize him. "Who?" she inquired. "Me, Sky. Remember I brought you here," he explained. "I'm sorry, I don't remember anything before the end of my first week here," she stated, shaking her head. "Oh, they put you through your process," he said in a low tone. He straightened back up. "Look don't worry about them. Those two are just jealous that they weren't chosen to compete. If they bother you again, just let me know," he said. "Thank you, Sky, but I can take care of myself. If I couldn't, then I wouldn't be here now would I?" she said coldly. "Take care," she called over her shoulder and proceeded down the hallway, this time paying more attention to her surroundings.
Inferna led herself to the gym area. Her sparring partner would be there any minute now. She closed her eyes for a moment as she waited for her partner to show up. After a few seconds she opened her eyes when her name was called by a deep, cold voice. She walked over to the man's figure at the other end of the room. When she was about ten feet from him, she stopped and bowed, her left fist crossed over her chest. He mimicked her action and straightened up. "Sub-Zero, how good of you to grace me with your presence," she answered, her tongue flaming with despise. He advanced to her and immediately she struck her fighting stance, ready for attack. "No, no, Inferna. I wish only to speak with you," Sub-Zero explained. She looked at him with curiosity, but followed him to a sitting position at the edge of the sparring ring.
"We have been chosen to participate in Mortal Kombat," Sub-Zero started, hesitating. "Yes, we have been given a great honor," Inferna answered. "Since we are sharing a special bond by competing together, I was thinking maybe we could share a sort of friendship as well," he replied uncomfortably. "Sub-Zero, you know as well as I that such a bond cannot exist between two assassins in the Lin Kuei," Inferna argued. Metal stomping was heard in the background but neither Inferna nor Sub-Zero paid any attention. Soon the footsteps stopped and a red and silver metal head popped out from the doorway. Even louder footsteps were heard, and both parties in the ring turned their heads to see an angry Sektor stomping up to them. "The Grandmasters assign their so-called 'best assassins' to extra training for the upcoming Tournament and what do they do? Slack off!" Sektor's mechanical voice cried angrily. "We were speaking of Mortal Kombat," Sub-Zero replied coolly. "Of course you were. You must come to the throne room," Sektor pointed at Inferna. He turned and left, Inferna right behind. Sub-Zero silently grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. "I know you know where my brother is. Please, I beg of you, tell me where to go," there was desperation and sadness replacing the usual icy sternness in his voice. She looked at his pleading eyes in confusion. "What are you talking about?" Inferna asked. "Find yourself, Inferna, and then find my brother," he left his cryptic words in her head and let go of her arm. She raced to catch up with Sektor.
The Grandmasters had wanted to see her to recover an ancient scroll from them. She opened it and squinted her eyes to read the symbols on it. She sighed in exasperation as she realized the whole thing was written in Chinese. She trekked to her bunk and sat down on the cot. Soon afterwards, Smoke entered the room to find Inferna with her face in her hands. He sat down next to her and put a brotherly arm around her. "What's the matter?" he asked in a gentle tone. "Smoke what happened to me?" Inferna asked, her voice obviously straining to not crack. "What do you mean?" he asked. "What happened to me before I came here? Why did Sub-Zero ask me where his brother was?" Inferna jerked her tear-rimmed eyes to Smoke's face. He let out a huge exhale. "It is not my place," he said after a long pause. Inferna grabbed Smoke by his silver vest. "TELL ME!" she demanded. Smoke hesitated, but gently brought her hands back to her sides. "If I tell you," he started, "you must swear yourself to secrecy." "I swear my life upon it," Inferna replied. "Sub-Zero is not the first Lin Kuei of his family," Smoke began. Inferna looked at him inquisitively, but did not interrupt. "He has an older brother of the same name. A brother who was once my best friend. This man and I had the same views when it came to the ways the Lin Kuei. We felt that the Clan was not fair to civilians, so we decided to leave for good. The Grandmasters used the Black Arts to raise a Shirai Ryu spectre from the pits of Hell. They promised him revenge upon the one that had killed him, Sub-Zero, if he found us and killed us. When this demon, Scorpion as he called himself, reached us, Sub-Zero fought him off, as he had used his elemental power of fire to put me in a state that simulated death. Sub-Zero mourned me, and has regretted my 'death' ever since, or so I have been told. He left our cave where we had shelter and the Lin Kuei eventually found me. As punishment, I was turned into a robot, much like Sektor. After a fire in the Headquarters, and my bravery of rescuing the Grandmasters who condemned me to immortality and eternal hell, I earned back my right to live in my human form. Sub-Zero reverted to wandering his home realm, Earth. That was the last I've heard of him," Smoke concluded. Inferna had clutched the red ball around her neck. For the first time, Smoke noticed it, and his eyes widened in horror. "That is the sign of Shirai Ryu!" Smoke said grabbing for the pendant. Inferna instinctively slapped his hand away. "You must do away with that!" he whispered loudly. "Where did you get that anyways?" he wanted to know.
"I don't know, but it's the only reminder I have of where I was before this place," she said. "I don't mean to be rude, Smoke, but that still does not tell me where I came from," Inferna protested. "Inferna, truthfully, I don't know where you came from. To find that out, you must speak to Sky. He's the one who brought you," he answered, staring at the necklace. She got up, but Smoke held her down by her shoulder. "I must warn you. Going about finding out where you come from could be a very dangerous task. If you are not careful, it could lead to your death," he said seriously. She put a reassuring hand over his and smiled. "I'll be okay," she said and left the room looking for Sub-Zero to see if he could translate the scroll.
Inferna walked down one of the many hallways that were intricately weaved expertly in the headquarters, to confuse any intruders. She took two lefts, then a right, and found herself slipping into a deep thought. She had accepting competing in the Tournament only a week before and her participation in Mortal Kombat had been announced to the entire Clan the day before. Her train of thought distracted her from rapidly approaching footsteps coming towards her. Suddenly two pairs of hands had her jacked up against the wall, with the palm of one covering her masked mouth.
"Midnight, could you believe how foolish our wise, all knowing, Grandmasters be if they choose to have an inexperienced girl to represent our almighty Clan in Mortal Kombat?" one ninja dressed in the uniform black with a white mask, vest and arm and chin guards addressed the one at his side, who had a deep indigo for his adorning colors. Inferna squirmed under the iron grip of the men.
"I don't know, Avalanche, but I think we should teach this girl a lesson for venturing into places where she is not welcome," Midnight grinned under his mask. The one known as Avalanche smiled, and pulled down his mask. He took Inferna's face in his hands and pulled down her mask as well. He crashed his lips on hers and tried to force his tongue in her mouth. She kicked with her legs beneath his body, but to no avail. Midnight pushed his accomplice out of the way. He went to make contact with Inferna's lips as well, but she took advantage of the transition. She pushed herself up against the wall and kicked both her legs outward, hitting both of the men in the face. They were stunned but not hurt. "You will regret that, you bitch!" cried Avalanche. He got up and charged Inferna, but was blown back by a strong wind. All three looked to the end of the hallway to find a man in a black uniform underneath a royal blue vest calling upon his obvious element of wind. Midnight gave a signal to Avalanche who came up behind Inferna and grabbed her into his mouth. "If you tell anyone what happened here, you will be sorry.you can count on that," Avalanche snarled into her ear. As they ran, the gust died down and the figure at the end of the hallway came running up to her. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" he asked her. "I'm fine. Why did you save me?" she asked him defensively. "Inferna, it's me," he stated, expecting her to recognize him. "Who?" she inquired. "Me, Sky. Remember I brought you here," he explained. "I'm sorry, I don't remember anything before the end of my first week here," she stated, shaking her head. "Oh, they put you through your process," he said in a low tone. He straightened back up. "Look don't worry about them. Those two are just jealous that they weren't chosen to compete. If they bother you again, just let me know," he said. "Thank you, Sky, but I can take care of myself. If I couldn't, then I wouldn't be here now would I?" she said coldly. "Take care," she called over her shoulder and proceeded down the hallway, this time paying more attention to her surroundings.
Inferna led herself to the gym area. Her sparring partner would be there any minute now. She closed her eyes for a moment as she waited for her partner to show up. After a few seconds she opened her eyes when her name was called by a deep, cold voice. She walked over to the man's figure at the other end of the room. When she was about ten feet from him, she stopped and bowed, her left fist crossed over her chest. He mimicked her action and straightened up. "Sub-Zero, how good of you to grace me with your presence," she answered, her tongue flaming with despise. He advanced to her and immediately she struck her fighting stance, ready for attack. "No, no, Inferna. I wish only to speak with you," Sub-Zero explained. She looked at him with curiosity, but followed him to a sitting position at the edge of the sparring ring.
"We have been chosen to participate in Mortal Kombat," Sub-Zero started, hesitating. "Yes, we have been given a great honor," Inferna answered. "Since we are sharing a special bond by competing together, I was thinking maybe we could share a sort of friendship as well," he replied uncomfortably. "Sub-Zero, you know as well as I that such a bond cannot exist between two assassins in the Lin Kuei," Inferna argued. Metal stomping was heard in the background but neither Inferna nor Sub-Zero paid any attention. Soon the footsteps stopped and a red and silver metal head popped out from the doorway. Even louder footsteps were heard, and both parties in the ring turned their heads to see an angry Sektor stomping up to them. "The Grandmasters assign their so-called 'best assassins' to extra training for the upcoming Tournament and what do they do? Slack off!" Sektor's mechanical voice cried angrily. "We were speaking of Mortal Kombat," Sub-Zero replied coolly. "Of course you were. You must come to the throne room," Sektor pointed at Inferna. He turned and left, Inferna right behind. Sub-Zero silently grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. "I know you know where my brother is. Please, I beg of you, tell me where to go," there was desperation and sadness replacing the usual icy sternness in his voice. She looked at his pleading eyes in confusion. "What are you talking about?" Inferna asked. "Find yourself, Inferna, and then find my brother," he left his cryptic words in her head and let go of her arm. She raced to catch up with Sektor.
The Grandmasters had wanted to see her to recover an ancient scroll from them. She opened it and squinted her eyes to read the symbols on it. She sighed in exasperation as she realized the whole thing was written in Chinese. She trekked to her bunk and sat down on the cot. Soon afterwards, Smoke entered the room to find Inferna with her face in her hands. He sat down next to her and put a brotherly arm around her. "What's the matter?" he asked in a gentle tone. "Smoke what happened to me?" Inferna asked, her voice obviously straining to not crack. "What do you mean?" he asked. "What happened to me before I came here? Why did Sub-Zero ask me where his brother was?" Inferna jerked her tear-rimmed eyes to Smoke's face. He let out a huge exhale. "It is not my place," he said after a long pause. Inferna grabbed Smoke by his silver vest. "TELL ME!" she demanded. Smoke hesitated, but gently brought her hands back to her sides. "If I tell you," he started, "you must swear yourself to secrecy." "I swear my life upon it," Inferna replied. "Sub-Zero is not the first Lin Kuei of his family," Smoke began. Inferna looked at him inquisitively, but did not interrupt. "He has an older brother of the same name. A brother who was once my best friend. This man and I had the same views when it came to the ways the Lin Kuei. We felt that the Clan was not fair to civilians, so we decided to leave for good. The Grandmasters used the Black Arts to raise a Shirai Ryu spectre from the pits of Hell. They promised him revenge upon the one that had killed him, Sub-Zero, if he found us and killed us. When this demon, Scorpion as he called himself, reached us, Sub-Zero fought him off, as he had used his elemental power of fire to put me in a state that simulated death. Sub-Zero mourned me, and has regretted my 'death' ever since, or so I have been told. He left our cave where we had shelter and the Lin Kuei eventually found me. As punishment, I was turned into a robot, much like Sektor. After a fire in the Headquarters, and my bravery of rescuing the Grandmasters who condemned me to immortality and eternal hell, I earned back my right to live in my human form. Sub-Zero reverted to wandering his home realm, Earth. That was the last I've heard of him," Smoke concluded. Inferna had clutched the red ball around her neck. For the first time, Smoke noticed it, and his eyes widened in horror. "That is the sign of Shirai Ryu!" Smoke said grabbing for the pendant. Inferna instinctively slapped his hand away. "You must do away with that!" he whispered loudly. "Where did you get that anyways?" he wanted to know.
"I don't know, but it's the only reminder I have of where I was before this place," she said. "I don't mean to be rude, Smoke, but that still does not tell me where I came from," Inferna protested. "Inferna, truthfully, I don't know where you came from. To find that out, you must speak to Sky. He's the one who brought you," he answered, staring at the necklace. She got up, but Smoke held her down by her shoulder. "I must warn you. Going about finding out where you come from could be a very dangerous task. If you are not careful, it could lead to your death," he said seriously. She put a reassuring hand over his and smiled. "I'll be okay," she said and left the room looking for Sub-Zero to see if he could translate the scroll.