A/N: lol. Yeah I guess tht does make raiden=storm and sonya=rogue! Lol.

CHAPTER VIII

Else where in the freezing mists of a mysterious lost sea, two Lin Kuei were sailing on a small boat . . . well small, but large enough to secretly hide another clan member – Frost.

It had been almost 17 hours since both Subzero and Smoke had started their journey, they haven't eaten anything since the last 18.

Smoke, or Mark Montalban, removed his spiked-mask to reveal the long- dark hair he has. (A/N: Think Mark Dacascos – Crow: Stairway to Heaven, Drive, Brotherhood of the wolf) His father, the original Smoke, left Mark to join the Lin Kuei. But the last words his father told Subzero while dying on his robot form, was to take care of his son, Mark, and train him in the art of the Lin Kuei. Being the true friend Subzero was, he trained the young Montalban the way of the ninja and bought him up to be the 3rd in-rank master to train the new generation of members, in the re-formed clan of the Lin Kuei.

"Have we enough food in stock to nourish us through the journey?" Subzero's cold, yet patient, voice spoke out from one side of the boat, the side where a big shade barely made a room and where bed-like mattresses were laid. Mark, on the other side, was digging through a small wooden box on where their food was kept. "You prefer fruits as nourishment?" He said, tossing an apple towards his mentor and foster-father.

Catching the red-fruit, a smiling Subzero confirmed "I prefer fruits as nourishment."

The young Lin Kuei smiled from the corner of his mouth and proceeded on choosing his meal of the day, which really wasn't fruit.

"I prefer meat as nourishment." He informed to the senior master and took two plates of fried chicken towards the shade. Sitting down, the two began eating their supper. One thing the Grand master noticed . . . in this cold weather and so much time already passed since they left the temple, the food was still warm. Not hot, but warm.

"How did you do this?" he asked at last.

"Do what?" Smoke asked, looking up at his mentor.

"How did you keep the food hot in a cold place like this?" The response came with a small black smoke emerging from Mark's fist . . . "Smoke," said he, "it keeps certain things heated . . . for a short period of time. Enough smoke can result the food to . . . taste as if burned." The small mist cleared away with the words. A nod confirmed Subzero's admiration, he was rather proud to see one of his students come out successful, unlike Frost.

As the two men were eating, a shadowy figure was visible just behind the shade . . . Smoke was the first who noticed this. He stood to his feet, taking steps back from the shade.

"What is it?" The Grand master demanded, a slow shake of Smoke's head was enough to give him the clue that they were not alone.

As the younger Lin Kuei spread his arms across the boat on each side, two dark clouds of smoke formed by mixing the vapor in the air sprayed through Mark's fingers as it started to surround the entire the boat.

The smoke waved its way around to the back of the vessel and there, it got even bigger and bigger . . . a cough was heard from the behind, causing both the men to stand on their fighting stances.

Frost, Subzero's student, splashed on the frozen water only to be yanked out by her sifu – Subzero. The Grand master placed his student on the boat, his eyes gleaming with anger.

"I thought I told you not to follow." He spoke, but not yelling on what both Frost was expecting.

"You told me that you wouldn't take me to the meeting. I decided—"

"As long as you are my student I make the decisions!" Subzero shouted, his voice echoed into the wide opens of the ocean. Frost was trying not to make any eye contact with her mentor now, her plan had been foiled and again . . . it was because of that Smoke! She was hoping to travel unnoticed by her superiors and hear in the so-called meeting. But that wasn't a matter anymore, she knew that Sifu Subzero wouldn't just drop her off in the middle of the ocean and without a boat and . . .

"Get out." Ordered Sifu Subzero.

"What?" Was all Frost could say, like 'get out' on to the ocean? He can't do that! She thought to herself.

"You heard me, get out of my boat." A second time he said that . . . proof that Sifu wasn't joking this time, not-that he does.

"What just like that? In the middle of the OCEAN?!"

"Yes!"

"How am I supposed to go back?!"

"You found your way here, you will find your way back!"

"But there isn't any boat or any vessel or ANY LAND!"

"I taught you how to use your icing abilities didn't I? So USE them!"

"Master Zhong." Smoke spoke out his time, his words grabbing both of their attention. (A/N: I'm not sure what Subbie's real name is . . . but in another fanfic . . . the author said that it was Zhongling. So I put it in here also!)

"Taking her with us isn't going to be a problem." 'that's a relief' thought Frost, at least someone was on her side.

"No." Answered Subzero, he was freaking sure that's what he meant when he said 'no'.

"Sir please . . . all she wanted was to go to the meeting. All she wanted was to obey what Lord Raiden ordered her to do."

"Lord Raiden didn't say to bring her."

"Yes, but he did say that all of the fighters from the previous tournaments are meant to be there . . . and Frost then has the right to go with us." That was all Smoke had to say . . . he felt responsible if Subzero would just leave a student on the middle of the nowhere. And it was his fault that Frost got caught in the first place.

The rage that gurgled through Subzero's body reflected on his face. After Frost's stealing attempt of the medallion, which was, in fact still with Subzero. He just wouldn't listen to what Frost had to say. And of course, no student of his ever was to betray the Grandmaster . . . it was forbidden then, it was forbidden now. But, the weakness that Subzero has . . . the ability to forgive, that still stood on his way. After a deep sigh he agreed to let the female ninja stay and attend the meeting with them.

"But do not ever disturb me during our journey there . . . I will still pretend that you aren't here." The Grandmaster angrily confirmed one last time, after sitting down under the shade to read the scroll and finish his forgotten meal.

"Thanks," Frost whispered to the Master Smoke.

"Anytime." Mark answered as he sat down and began to row the boat so that they would reach their destination a little faster.

~@~

"So, if this Shao Kahn guy . . . wins 10 tournaments in a row, then he wins Earth?" Nein Lee frequently asked questions about Mortal Kombat to the Major of the Special Forces O.I.A (Outer world investigation agency) Jackson Briggs. The five mortals had long last found a resting spot in this old ship. Kung Lao was still on the search of more men, not one was found yet. Johnny Cage was bragging at Sonya Blade about how he became successful and wealthy after making Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance the movie and etc. Agent Blind Kenshi, whom was found by Kung Lao, is also on the search of a man . . . well actually a mutant, a member of the Red Dragon – Baraka.

"Well . . .yeah but the fact that we already nailed that freak . . . so now, I'm not sure how the rest of the tournaments are gonna be held." And Jax, as you might have already guessed, has been teaching Johnny's bodyguard Nein the previous conquests in the real Mortal Kombat.

"See, last time, Shang Tsung and Quan Chi? They are two jackasses who wanna just ruin everything and rule both earth and Outworld together . . . they held the tournament saying that if they win, Earth was theirs to keep! They even killed Liu Kang, the original war-hero!" Jax explained very clearly to the younger boy.

"Wow . . .and to think, I thought those things only happened in the video games!" Said Nein, he really was rather shocked to figure out the essence of Mortal Kombat and it was really hard to believe. Part of him didn't still believe it.

"Hey don't forget movies! Remember movies? MY movies?" Johnny pointed out from a distance. Jax had whispered to Nein a while back that 'Doesn't that guy ever get tired?' he meant Johnny Cage.

"Oh God Johnny! SHUT UP!" Sonya screamed at him. She was getting annoyed on everything now except that they were gonna fight in Mortal Kombat and she got to kick major ass in a while.

"You mean Raiden! Don't you? For the love of Raiden!" The teenager blurted out, using his new knowledge to talk with these new peoples.

"Kid! Raiden ISN'T GOD!" Blade yelled at him this time, "Jesus, even your Bodyguard is beginning to get inane like you!" she now meant Cage.

"What's INANE?"

TBC