The boat rocked and swayed from side to side like a rocking horse as it crossed the waves. The dock seemed to pass further away with each wave into the distance with the lights of the city speckling the horizon through the mist. He could only now distantly make out the dark shape of the warehouse where he had been staying through the dim light. It seemed a distant black blotch now as there were so many other warehouses along the shoreline.
Jarek had told Subzero very little of Kano or the tournament. Subzero inevitably found himself wondering where he would meet up with Kano and what exactly Kano would have him do. Where had Kano been hiding and how had he managed to evade the Special Forces for so long? He counted the fighters on his hand, "Kano, Liu Kang, myself of course, Johnny Cage and... Sonya"
His eyes looked up slowly at the noise of feet on the boards, "There she is," he whispered. And there she was by the mast resting a gun in her palm, green camouflage clothing and her hand passing through the seams of her long blond hair like a Tiger creeping through the tall grass. She had a certain beauty about her combined with a certain hardness and coldness that made her an unapproachable wonder. He watched her silently from the edge of the boat amused and wondering how she had gotten involved in this spider web of Lin Kuei Black Dragon and the occult. She breathed out slowly white hot air seemingly exhausted and dragging her hands across her jeans she looked up and saw him. He looked back questioningly. The waves crashed against the side of the boat and the mast creaked.
"What do you want?" she said coldly after a while
"Sonya?" he asked but she didn't realize it was a question.
"How do you know my name"
"I'm Subzero. We'll be competing in the tournament"
Neither moved across the wet floorboards of the boat. Both were trying to out nose each other in a strange game.
"Subzero?" laughed Sonya, "What kind of a name is that? Are one of those pretend super-heroes"
"More like a paid servant. How about you? Found any Black dragon lately"
"What do you know about the Black dragon?" she demanded suddenly leaping to her feet and glaring at him. He smiled to himself under the mask. He'd won the game already and she'd lost. It had been so easy and now he had the edge on anything said hereafter.
"Very little." white-lied Subzero, "I know it has a leader named Kano, and that you are looking for him but little more than that"
"Take me to him!" demanded Sonya walking right up to him
"I do not know where he is"
"You tell me right now or"
"You are in no position to threaten me," replied Subzero turning away from her arrogantly. She moved again quickly so that she was in his way.
"Listen to me shit head, I've come a long way to find this man. He's a murderer and a scum, and he deserves nothing but to die. I don't care who you are or what crimes you've committed. I can overlook anything you've done as long as you tell me where he is. There's probably even a reward if you want it"
"There he goes!" exclaimed Subzero suddenly pointing with his index finger, "Over there"
Sonya turned round quick as a flash, "Where"
Silence, "Where the hell is he I don't see him"
She turned back to Subzero to shout at him. Only problem was that he was gone. She stood still silently before looking round her. She turned in circles looking up the mast by the sails across the huge boat. She couldn't see him anywhere. He could have gone anywhere he wanted to hide from her on this rotten boat. She had fallen for the stupidest trick in the book.
"Fuck," she hissed stamping her foot on the ground.
"I never knew this place even existed"
"Well now you know," replied Sektor with a cold grin turning to the darkly dressed Lin Kuei assassin, "Of course you must keep everything very quiet about this. There's no need to let anyone know ahead of schedule"
"What schedule Sektor"
Sektor laughed and sped up his steps along the corridor ignoring him. The walls were white with even light bulbs on the ceiling. Noises came from behind doors and rooms that had no windows. Each one was metallic with yellow and black striped warning signs on the side of death and radiation. Shade looked about him wildly as they passed each one. A technician in a lab coat came out of a door with a clipboard and started at the sight of Shade.
"Its okay, he's with me. He won't say anything will you shade?" demanded Sektor in a mock sweet voice.
"Of course not!" spluttered Shade, "but Sektor what is this place"
The technician shook his head vexed and walked on down the corridor. The metallic door closed behind him with a hiss.
"The future Shade," returned Sektor as if it were an obvious fact, "Where is our good friend Uyximizo? I want him to see this as much as you"
"Uyximizo," began Shade a little suspiciously, "Is on a mission from one of the Grand master's associates"
"Sounds important," chuckled Sektor, "What does it involve"
"One of our assassins disappeared a few years back. Uyximizo is working with a specialist team of Lin Kuei assassins to find out what happened to him and where he's gone. They want to make sure he is not leaking information"
"Certainly not!" exclaimed Sektor, "Leaving the Lin Kuei is forbidden! We stick together. Nobody backs out! What was his name this traitor"
"Tremor. Nobody knows what's happened to him. He could be dead of course but then someone would have likely told us. The log book says he wasn't on any missions at the time, so it was either an inside assassination"
"Or an outside assassination," pointed out Sektor
"Possible, or he was indeed a traitor as they suspect"
The corridor ended abruptly in a large metal door. Two guards stood on duty in traditional red Lin Kuei dress similar to Sektor's but not the same as the Arch-assassin garb, which was more decorated.
"Here's my card. I'm showing a friend round with me," said Sektor handing the key card over. The guard swiped it down a small key panel and then stepped aside as Sektor entered a seven-digit code. The machine beeped and the doors opened with a loud mechanical 'kachunk.
"Welcome back Sektor," said a feminine digitized voice from above.
"Let me show you what my team has been working on!" he grinned leading Shade into the room, "I'm sure you won't be disappointed"
Shade turned once nervously to look back down the corridor to check nobody was there before slowly and uncertainly he entered into the white electronic room and the door closed behind him.
Subzero peered out from the darkness. She was gone and now he realized he'd probably have to avoid her a few more times yet. He'd been stupid in pulling that trick on her. Now she'd count him as part of the enemy team and would try to halt him every time she saw him. He may have to kill her after all. It would have been much simpler if he had just dealt with her then and there telling her he knew nothing (or pushing her over the side.
"For now lets find out how deep the rabbit hole goes," he thought silently and crept down the steps into the cabin of the boat. The blue night light of the sky waves and stars crept down the steps illuminating freaky shadows that crept up and down the steps. Further down the steps lead into complete darkness and feeling his way around Subzero curved his hand around a brass doorknob.
The boat rocked from side to side as he came out into a dark cramped corridor. Lamps were lit and were fixed to the wooden walls by metal straps. The shadows crept up and down the walls from the light of the flames. They seemed to whisper to each other yet the words were never quite distinguished enough from the noise of the sea and creaking of wood to make any sense. Quickly Subzero crept down the corridor to the end and pressed his hand silently on the doorknob as he had been trained to do. He listened to the sounds from inside.
"Of course we will win! Master there is no doubt. I have absolute faith in Prince Goro. Through this excellent alliance we can perhaps further persuade the Shokans to allow your armies access of the Astral Planes. By letting me claim Earth Realm we may also be opening up many others as well"
There was silence as the voice trailed off as if someone else interrupted it. Subzero moved his ear closer to the door but he could hear nothing of the other person or even the original speaker. The voice sounded familiar. He tried to remember who but it couldn't quite come to mind. It was polite, quite old and noble in tone yet a little dangerous.
"I understand that"
He spoke as if there were another person in the room but Subzero could only make out one. The memory came to him suddenly from the chaos of his last night at the Lin Kuei. It was Shangtsung's voice the man behind this tournament.
"... I know master. I have always been your full supporter! Betrayal? Master I would never even think of betraying you! I would sooner lose this tournament than even think of a movement on your greatness. You are my soul purpose master! Without you I would be nothing! A penniless magician with no idea of the true black arts that you have entrusted upon me! Master I will win the realm for you. These fools are no different from the rest and will fall as easily... hush I hear someone"
There was silence in the room. Subzero backed off slowly, he had been discovered. This old man was trickier than he thought and the strangest thing was that Subzero couldn't work out how he had been heard. Worried about turning back and tripping in the darkness Subzero did the other logical option and knocked on the door. Best now to pretend he was purposely visiting the sorcerer.
"Enter" came the voice from within
The handle turned to reveal a richly furnished captain's quarters. Shangtsung sat at a desk with a feather quill and parchment in front of him. His white hair drooped down baggily across his now dark blue robe. His face lined with a pointed nose still had a charm and strength to it that Subzero could only imagine to be doubled once in the sorcerer's youth.
"Why Subzero! How pleasant to see you," said Shangtsung warmly yet there was something a little edgy in his voice as if he were secretly irritated at the assassin's presence. Similar feelings towards Quan chi another "sorcerer" in the past rose up in Subzero and he suddenly felt very wary about trusting this old man with anything.
"It is pleasant to see you as well master Shangtsung," replied Subzero courteously with a cold bow similar to one he might give to the grandmaster or any other person who was above him in authority, "I was wondering what you could tell me about this tournament you are holding. As of yet I know very little"
"That my good friend is because there is little to tell. The tournament will be taking place on my island. Each day a different fight with different rules in a different location"
"You like to keep people on their toes"
"Something like that," replied Shangtsung with a wave of his hand, "You have reminded me that I should perhaps inform the others of their rooms on board. You are right it is not fair for me to be so discourteous to you all"
"Where will I be sleeping"
"Next door to this room where I my self shall stay the night. We wouldn't want Scorpion getting his hands on you before we arrived to the sanctity of my island now would we Subzero"
A chill went down Subzero's spine, "Does he know I'm on this boat"
"I doubt that very much. There are enchantments on this boat that will keep an undead spirit like Scorpion far away. He will be able to follow you no longer"
"And what if this boat sinks? It looks as leaky as a sieve"
Shangtsung laughed, "It is, but it won't sink. It has become a tradition to use this boat... my boat. It was given to me a long time ago when I was in a way I suppose a little younger than I am now. My ship will not sink it never has and never will"
"You are certain"
"As certain as I am of who will win the tournament"
"So you expect all of us to lose"
The sorcerer laughed again, "Subzero you are like a child trying to find out about the circus. All will be revealed to you in good time on my island. For now I myself am very tired and would like to get some rest"
"If this tournament is rigged then I want to know now so that I can forfeit at an appropriate time. I would rather not get bruised for no apparent reason"
"Do you doubt your own ability so much Subzero? Come now you are a great warrior"
"Maybe I am and maybe I'm not a great thinker to balance. But I don't like getting into things I don't understand. I don't want to end up fighting gods"
"That you won't. This is not devious business like that rogue Quan chi. I have full confidence in you Subzero and now I must find the other combatants and tell them where they are sleeping. I wouldn't want any unhealthy competition between certain members"
"Fine I'll take a look at my room then"
"First on your right from my door. The rooms are small but cozy. You shouldn't be disturbed in the night but if you are scream and I will soon know"
"Thank you very much master Shangtsung for your hospitality," bowed Subzero and turning he left the room closing the door quietly behind him.
"Your welcome," whispered Shangtsung his lips immediately falling from their mock smile. He sat for a few moments before slowly he stood up and walked over to a curtain by the side of the room. Drawing it aside he gazed into the swirling depths of a black mirror. A misty face appeared in the glass only just understandable to the naked eye. The vague impression of a nose, the strange indent of eyes and the shape of a spiked helmet in the darkness were all caught up in that glass gazing intently at the sorcerer.
"He knows too much. Raiden must have spoken with him. He was listening to our conversation"
"You are certain emperor? He may indeed have been simply uncertain as when to come in"
"He is not the same selfish Subzero I sensed in the Neatherealm. The thunder god has corrupted him. I doubt he will be easily turned to our way now"
"Pah! Raiden can do what he likes. The end result will still be the same. All dreams come to an end my lord"
"Even my dreams Shangtsung? Be careful with your words for I know your devious ways with them"
"My Lord your realm could never be taken by an outside force. You alone are the greatest ruler of all time. It is my honor to serve and obey you"
"May it remain so"
The figure disappeared into the swirling blackness and the mirror returned to a pure reflection of the sorcerer's own features. Bending down he pulled one eyelid down to gaze at the eyeball within.
"Not to mention of course an inside force," he chuckled darkly, "Now that might do something rather nasty but not for a long time yet Emperor Kahn. I'll let you ride the chariot a little longer until I can find an ally powerful enough to aid me in your destruction. It won't be easy but the outcome will be amusing; ... oh dear my skin is slipping again!" he pulled down the other wrinkled eyelid, "There's nothing better for the aging body than the consummation of the soul. I haven't fed in quite a while"
The corridor was as dark and shadowy as it had been before entering Shangtsung's room. The small lamps attached to the wooden planked walls flickered and burned as the ship rocked from side to side whistling in the wind. Subzero fell for a moment against the opposite wall before regaining his balance and closing his hand around the doorknob of his intended room.
"Looks like a storm's brewing," he said softly gazing up at the shadowy ceiling. Whispers sounded out across the walls echoing from above and below the boat, "This place give me the creeps"
He opened the door and walked into the small-unlit room. He closed the door behind him and was left for a moment in complete darkness. He groped about him and found something soft in the darkness, bed sheets. A second later a small white crystal above on the ceiling suddenly lit up in a low dim light. The room was very small with a pitch-black porthole out looking dim and deep dark navy blue waves. A small draft whistled from under the gap in the door and from a loose gap in the porthole. The wood was slightly damp here and there. The room was only just warm enough to be sufficiently acceptable. Everything else about it seemed creepy and uninviting.
Slowly he sat down on the old slightly stale sheets and rested his head on the pillow gazing at the creaking roof and the crystal that lit the room.
"More magic," he mumbled to himself, "I've made a mistake with this mission. That's for sure"
He rolled a small snowball in his hand and juggled it from hand to hand. A face peered in through the window and then disappeared into darkness. Subzero looked up quickly but there was only darkness through the porthole. The boat creaked.
Johnny Cage sat on a crate near the edge of the boat. So far he'd looked over most of the boat but hadn't been able to find anyone through the mist and fog who'd been able to tell him anything. He wasn't even sure if he was on the right boat or not. As it was he sat lounged back legs crossed trying as hard as he could to keep his relaxed posture.
His thoughts lingered on the boxer he had beaten so easily. That crowd had just rolled right over him after that victory. It had been hard to refuse their offers for free drinks but that was just the way he was, always keeping his head, never giving into temptation and never ever being un-cool. Well most of the time anyway.
The mist parted as someone came through it towards him. It wasn't the same hurrying motion that all the crew soldiers showed. It evidently had to be a guest on the boat like himself, the first one he would be able to encounter. Quickly he delved into his pocket and took out his sunglasses putting them quickly over his eyes. He had to make a good impression after all.
"Hello?" said a voice right next to him. It was too dark to see a thing. Flipping his hand up he took the shades off and looked up with rehearsed motion into the face of the person who hailed him.
"My name's Liu Kang"
An oriental with black trousers a dark silk shirt with embroidered buttons and finely cut dark hair. Johnny shrugged inside; he had to make a start somewhere.
"The name's Cage... Johnny Cage," boy that sounded good yet altogether too familiar. He nudged himself to get some original lines.
"Its nice to meet you!" smiled Liu Kang in broken English. He looked uncertain but with the strange confidence of a foreign tourist. He almost expected him to withdraw a camera any second and start taking photos, "Do you know is this the boat to the Mortal Kombat Tournament"
"I was hoping you could tell me that," replied the movie star again nudging himself fiercely, "In any case its too late now we're on it and I doubt anyone's going to turn this wreck around even if we asked" that sounded good. He'd really gotten the wording facial expression and tone right with that one; he praised himself mentally for being so cool.
"I never expected anything like," sighed Liu Kang walking casually to the edge. He rested his hands on the side of the boat, "I thought it might be a hoax at first. That the legends were not all true, maybe they had been distorted over time"
Cage raised an eyebrow. This wasn't the kind of movie he was used to acting out. This was more that kind of mystical fantasy stuff like Conan the Barbarian "Its quiet... too quiet" he improvised.
"I agree," replied Liu Kang solemnly looking out across the waves, "Mr. Cage. You're a movie star right"
So he did know after all! At last "Not just a movie star, I'm a fighter as well"
"Have you heard anything about this tournament"
"Well I received an invitation. My image consultant said it was a bad idea but he's always wrong about everything. I was fed up with my recent director and decided it might be time to do something else"
"But what do you know about the tournament"
"It's on some island, and we take a leaky boat to get there," chuckled Johnny Cage, "What else do I need to know"
Liu Kang turned to face him, "You should know Mr. Cage that this is no ordinary tournament"
"So I gather," he replied slickly. With a slight swagger he got up off of his seat and came to the edge to stand beside the foreigner, "What say you and me stay together for awhile on this expedition eh? You don't seem to know that much what you're doing and neither do I. Together we might be able to work to a common goal or something"
"I'd be happy to do that Mr. Cage"
The movie star stared out across the water dreamily, "So where are you from"
"The Shaolin Temple. You probably won't have heard of it"
"Hey wait a sec, I know that place! They're the ones the people in the award ceremonies always tell me are so stingy about renting the grounds out"
"Indeed that's the place," returned Liu Kang with a tightening of his lip.
"I've always wanted to do a few shots over there. Some of those high up stone places would be fantastic for the final scene of a movie. Hey ever though about being the bad guy? Camera action, we could duke it out up there and you could almost win, beating me about the face or something all in black and then just when the audience things I'm done for I could say "Good guys never lose the last fight" or something like that and with my Johnny Kick knock you off the edge! Yeaaaaaaaaargh bam"
The monk's eyes went skywards, "Maybe if you give me a parachute"
"Hey no prob! The stunt double can get hurt we can just get famous. Tell me sometime if you're interested. Hey what's that down there"
"Where"
Liu Kang peered over the edge following Johnny's finger, "I thought I saw something sticking out the side of the boat. Looked like a knife or harpoon or something"
"I see it," returned the monk gazing down. Just below the waves a rusty piece of metal was wedged into the wooden planks. A line or rope or something was attached to it but it was hardly noticeable as it sunk beneath the waves and presumably went under the boat.
"What do you think its there fore"
"I don't know," shrugged Liu Kang, "Probably something to do with the anchor. Boats and ropes have lots of things to do with each other that I don't understand"
"Hey you two"
The two of them turned around. A woman in camouflaged green trousers was there in front of them with blond hair.
"Have you seen a ninja looking man in a blue suit of some kind"
"You won't believe how strange that sounds," replied Johnny Cage with a grin, he nudged the monk next to him, "Say," he said gazing at the woman, "has anyone ever told you that you've got beautiful eyes"
"My name is Liu Kang," interrupted the monk quickly stepping in front of the movie star, "This is the famous movie star Johnny Cage. We're competing in the tournament together"
"I'm Sonya," she sighed gripping her knuckles with tension, "Look I don't care about this tournament. I just want to know have you seen this ninja in blue? He may know something important"
"I think I might have seen him," replied Johnny Cage, "It was before the boat left. He was a spectator in the crowd to my magnificent victory over Nimbus Terrafaux. A boxer of some kind"
Sonya became quiet for a moment and breathed out slowly, "Is there anything you remember about him that particularly stuck out"
"Well apart from his description not really. He didn't seem very caught up in the fight, a bit of a loner if you ask me. He had a black Leather Jacket on"
"Did it have a symbol of some kind on it"
"I believe he did on the back"
"Black Dragon," hissed Sonya softly, "I knew it"
"Do you want us to help you find him?" asked Liu
"No," spat Sonya, "Stay where you are. This tournament is gonna soon be closed"
Reaching to a pouch in her clothing she took out a small black walkie-talkie. Standing on one foot she faced away from the two fighters and watched the waves on the other side "This is S-F member 0012 reporting requesting assistance"
"Affirmative 0012 what's your status?" replied a voice through the receiver
"Status is dangerous HQ. I'm alone on a hostile boat. I have strong suspicion of high Black Dragon activity in the area"
IShe's calling for help. I can hear her. Stop her!
Reptile, this is crucial! Get out there and find Sonya Blaze. Break whatever it is she's using to communicate with!/I
"Suspicion isn't good enough Lieutenant. We need reason enough for a warrant"
Sonya looked about her quickly gazing up at the wormy wood and rotten ripped sails above that billowed in the wind. The boat rocked making her feel suddenly sick.
"The boat's completely unseaworthy. It looks like something out of a horror movie. We can get them for negligence of property and disregard of safety if nothing else. I could swear by the book that they don't have a license for this thing"
"That should do Lieutenant, we'll send what we can. Until then keep a low profile"
Shouts suddenly reached up from the boat, "What's going on?" asked Johnny
"Too late," said Sonya hurriedly into the communicator as she gazed up to see ship soldiers surrounding her, "Situation is critical sir"
The communicator was snatched away suddenly. A green ninja stood in front of them masked just like the others in traditional ninja garb. He spoke softly with a hissing spittley voice like a snake, "I'm afraid Shangtsung does not allow these devices on board"
Quickly he crushed it with his boot and picking up the broken black plastic mass tossed it overboard. This strange fighter was dressed completely in green. And most confusingly of all he looked almost exactly the same as Subzero except with a difference. The way he walked was somehow reptilian; he crouched low a bit like a gorilla or some kind of animal ready to pounce. He moved fast, much faster than Sonya had expected.
"Would you like to see your rooms now great fighters?"