The journey through the woods seemed like it would take forever. The trees hung close across the path and never did the wild exotic canopy above seem to part more than enough to breath or give light to what was coming far up the mountainside of the island. Shangtsung did not take any more breaks after the last one and marched them and all his soldiers through the dry dirt and tree-rooted path onwards with no hint of slacking. He wasn't doing 'too bad for an old man' thought Subzero giving his first compliment to the sorcerer. Shangtsung was almost like a commander going to do battle with the enemy but Subzero knew better than to give him too much credit. He was sly and would sooner escape than die in any conflict.
The tree roots that spread across the path like trip wire were easy to catch you out if you didn't look where you were going. Several soldiers were limping presumably because they had twisted their ankles somewhere or tripped and gashed their knees on the sharp stones. The plants and wild flowers all seemed very wet and glistened with what seemed like due or fresh rain water, yet the path in front was as dusty as if the sun had been shinning through the leaves above always.
The route was long and irritating for Subzero whom was getting fed up of having to walk in line with everyone else all the time. Reptile wasn't near so he could probably escape if he needed to but as Shangtsung had implied: running off into the forest alone was not a good idea. There was bound to be all mannor of strange and forgotten things behind those thick trees. Perhaps somwhere there might even be treasure? But even if there was he would have no idea where or how to find it. The forest was not really an option especially after the poison spectacle.
Nobody touched the branches of those nectar trees. Perhaps Kano would have if Shangtsung had not organized that unfortunate (as he would have called it) accident leaving Diepos dead. In any case Kano's temptation would have been bad for Subzero if Shangtsung hadn't revealed the true nature of those trees. He needed Kano alive or risk further attacks from the Black dragon in the futere. He had been on their death list in the past. It was only recently that things between the Black dragon and the Lin Kuei had started to look up.
"Speaking of looking up," muttered Subzero in awe. It had been a long walk and they had come to the end of the path. The trees opened up suddenly across a huge stone-carved chasm going down into the earth. Below many razor sharp metallic spikes were sticking out of the ground ready to make an instant death of any person who fell. Leading across it up into the distance was a long stone bridge held up by pillars of spikes. It was seemingly the only way to go on. Across the chasm was the palace that Shangtsung had mentioned before. It was all made of white stone like some holy shrine and the sun came down on it with glittering reflections. The line hesitated by that bridge which told Subzero something else about this trip. Not all the soldiers were familiar with this place either.
"Don't just stand there follow me!" jested Shangtsung who was already halfway across, "You're not all going to be beaten by an old man are you"
"No shit!" laughed Kano, "You got guts Mr. Shang staying in a place like this. I'll follow you. To hell with the rest of you cowards"
"How am I supposed to protect someone," whispered Subzero quietly, "If I am already contemplating killing them"
The long stream of soldiers and fighters crossed the bridge towards the palace. The men with the crates trundled across sweating like pigs. They must have changed places by now in carrying those things. It was almost impossible to imagine that they had carried them the entire distance but somehow either through breaking backs or sheer will power they had brought them here.
A slight dizzy feeling came over Subzero as he crossed. There were no barriers to stop you falling and the spikes below on either side stretched out monotonously in either direction. It was best not too look down if you could help it, but then again if you didn't look down at all you might slip.
The group was anxious to get across and they wasted little time in doing so. Luckily nobody fell although Subzero would not have been surprised if someone had. He was hoping for Sonya. Across the bridge they walked across cobbled stones into a large open space with buildings either side. A large wall with stands was set up opposite with a large seat in the center where presumably spectators could watch whatever sport was being held in the open space.
"This is the main courtyard!" called Shangtsung turning to the onlookers, "For all you participating in Mortal Kombat this is where the majority of the fights will take place. Any others will be in the throne room or perhaps even the dungeon, those two places however are strictly out of bounds as one is the location of my quarters, and the other the location of the reigning champion Prince Goro. You are not to disturb him under any circumstances. Reptile will show you from here to your rooms and where and where not else you may go around the grounds. It is a beautiful location with much history. Simply come to me and I may give you a tour of the grounds if that is what you wish. None of you will be here for very long so if I were you I would make the most of your stay here"
Jonny Cage put his hand up. Shangtsung looked at him in that way through the crowd. He gave no acknowledgment that Jonny was alowed to speak, which meant that they held eye contact for a good long time. Finnaly he spoke anyway after everyone had started staring in his direction.
"Can I have somewhere with a sea view?" called Jonny Cage over the crowd, "Its just that I get claustrophobic sometimes"
Kano raised an eyebrow. Shangtsung's lip dropped a millimeter.
"Oh and just for the record are you sleeping in the dungeon or the throne room"
This was one of the few times when Subzero had seen the sorcerer's calm face noticeable slip.
"Ugh! I am in the throne room. Talk to Reptile if you wish for a better room! I am just the arbiter of this competition"
And with that the old man turned away about to lead them on but again Cage spoke.
"Hey Reptile! Get over here! ... Where is he anyway"
"I am back heress movie manss," called the green creature from at the back of the crowd, which had now gathered in the courtyard.
"Jonny now is not the time!" nudged Liu Kang.
"They better have good room service"
Shangtsung's body almost convulsed as he flicked a hand to follow him. It was incredible what an effect Jonny Cage could have on the sorcerer. Subzero almost found himself laughing. He hadn't laughed in a long time.
The courtyard was an expansive place that seemed to have the feel of combat about it. Subzero could almost feel the truth that many had died here before although who and when he had know idea of. This was where the fights were dealt with legally, the bridge were where fights were dealt with in the other way. Many of the guards left at this point going in either direction presumably to man the complex. Many went inside wooden doors in the white stone houses near by.
A great wall went round the palace that looked as if it might need the soldiers. What this place needed to keep out was a mystery; maybe whatever strange and unnatural things roamed in the forest at night, or maybe instead whatever needed to be kept in.
"Reptile," sneered Shangtsung, "Please take our guests to their rooms"
Turning away with a wave of his robe he walked through some double doors and down a staircase in the darkness. Subzero crooked his head out to get a better look but two of the soldiers came glaring and barring his path.
"What are you stairing at"
They didn't answer but he hadn't expected them to.
"Thisss way pleasse," hissed the green warrior, "The rest of you go about your duties"
All at once the soldiers walked away on either side. One glared suspiciously at Subzero before walking on and away to one of the many doors. Quiet spread across the courtyard as slowly it emptied as the remaining soldiers departed. Only the origional warriors were left spread apart: Sonya, Subzero Jonny Cage Kano and Liu Kang. Somewhat reluctantly they met in a crowd and followed Reptile who beckoned them through the main door.
"So Mr Subbers what do you think?" asked Jonny Cage walking up beside Subzero
"I think none of you idiots should ever have gotten involved with this tournament. We'll be lucky if any of us survive. As for you"
"I meant the chick in front," interrupted the movie star impatiently, "What do you think huh? You think me and her got a chance? She's quite something isn't she"
Subzero's eyebrows twitched, "Er... yes" he finished not quite sure how to continue the conversation. Irritably Subzero turned his head to look in another direction.
"Boy has she got a nice butt. She'd do great in a movie. I could just see her as the next James Bond Girl"
"What are you two talking about?" asked Liu Kang as they turned a corner and started to ascend a staircase. Everything was cold stone and red carpet in this place.
"Sonya! Girl of my dreams" returned Jonny Cange
"Do you ever stop thinking about women?" laughed the Shaolin monk
Subzero walked further up the stairs and left the two in talk. Kano and Sonya were walking side by side. The light was quite dark in these corridoors. Turning a corner they came into a torchlit area. The building was built strangely almost as if it was bigger on the inside than on the outside. Torches lit the walls and a window at the end brought in light that disagreed with Subzero's sense of direction. Surely the window shouldn't have been that far away? Subzero walked at a quicker pace to listen in on what they were talking about. It didn't take a genius to work out that these two had something - whatever it was with each other.
"Hey babe what's up"
"Nothing darling I just wanted your company," said Sonya softly gazing ahead all the time at Reptile.
"I missed you too lovely. So any of these people friends of yours"
"I only have one friend Kano and that's you. Having no enemies makes my life rather difficult these days, simplistic but difficult ... or was that the other way round"
"Hey Reptile!" laughed Kano, "A room for two would be nice. Sonya and me are gonna get nice and cosey"
Reptile turned in the dim light, "Shangtsung has decided where you each will be staying. It is not up to you to decide"
"I'm going to kill you Kano you know that don't you?" whispered Sonya into his ear.
"Awww you break my heart - and I thought we were friends. Hey Reptile a room for two"
"I already told you Shangtsung's orders are that you have separate rooms"
"Oh Reptile, can we please have a room for two"
"I'm sorry but"
"A room for two!" laughed Kano
"You bastard," hissed Sonya
"Isn't he funny?" grinned Kano, "He treats everything so seriously. Hey Reptile can I have a room for two? Can I have a room for two? Please? A room for two"
Reptile growled and walked on, "Stupid human," he hissed.
"How about now? A room for two? Ha! I had a friend once when I was a lad who had his mother die after being bitten by a snake. I walked up to him every day and asked, 'Hey hows your mother?' on and on. Sometimes he'd scream at me, sometimes he'd just go all quiet. Me and the mates got quite a kick out of it. He couldn't really do anything and so I just kept on. One day he jumped in front of a train. There were bits of him everywhere it was disgusting. Why don't you do that Reptile? Maybe you might be able to talk properly after a good run over. That's how I'd like to go you know but I'd do it proper and take the train with me. How about you Sonya? Didn't one of your friends get diced up in some knife fighting acident? Come on give us a story we've all got something to get off our chest"
Suddenly she leaped at him. The two sparred bashing each other against the walls in the close quarters. Reptile tried to intervene but a stray punch from Kano hit him in the face knocking him to the floor. An inhuman growl came from the mask as he fell.
"Hah! Not a bad miss eh bitch"
"I'll kill you!" she screamed attacking with both fists.
Subzero intervened and attacked her from behind. His aim was for the pressure spot on the neck but she moved ducking a blow from Kano and Subzero ended up hitting her in the back inbetween the vertebrae of the spine. She collapsed on the ground where Kano started to kick mercilessly before Reptile leaping forward crashed into Kano and held him in a bear hug.
"Don't you ever defiesss me againss man-childz," hissed Reptile punching Kano in the face.
"Get off him!" ordered Subzero
"What'ssss it to you blue-boyss?" growled Reptile, "What do you cares if I rip him to shredz"
Subzero held his hand forward and instantly a piercing blue glow appeared in his hand lighting up the corridoor in light.
"If you don't get off him, I will freeze every bone in your body and then smash your corpse into a thousand pieces"
"Whats is this power?" hissed Reptile retreating from the light.
"Take us to our rooms," insisted Subzero, "or shall I look for them myself"
"Yess humans," hissed Reptile wearily and turning like a dog he scuttled on, "follow me"
"Who are you?" choked Kano on the floor. Sonya moaned clutching her back.
"It is probably best we talk alone Kano. You and I have buisness through an asociate called Jarek"
"Jarek? He wants me dead? That bastard. Listen whatever he's paying you I can pay you double to go back and nail a message to his forehead"
"Not that kind of buisness," replied Subzero
The rooms in what became known over the next few days as the square house were all large warm rooms. They seemed to be heated by some kind of warmth from below the floor. The inside was mostly decorated with Gothic objects. Practice weapons were left on walls or on stands. The beds were single comfortable ones with green duvays. The apolstry of the room suggested money or at least success with use of royal reds and gold and silver oranements. Small oil lamps burned continually above giving the room a dim cosey glow. Windows overlooked the courtyard or the dense Forrest beyond. There was little to look at and little fresh air entered through them. The square house often became stuffy and dense inside and noticeably people often tried to get away for a breath of fresh air.
A central room acted as a kind of common room for the warriors although socialising was not something that was really working. As the sky was darkening and after Subzero had made his way round the square house working out where things were he met up with Kano in what had finnaly been agreed to be called "Kano's room". Chains were on the inside of the door and small sliding slits that people could peep out of almost like a prison door. It would be expected in a casual tournament that nobody would need to lock doors but evidently Shangtsung presumed this tournament wasn't going to be so casual.
Subzero knocked twice and Kano's two eyes, one glowing red appeared in the slit iluminating the woodern pattern of a dragon down the door frame in an eery orange and rose glow.
"What do you want?" he asked in a gruff voice.
"Its Subzero here. I've come to talk to you about our buisness"
"Buisness? What buisness I don't have any fucking buisness with you. The only buisness I have is with Shangtsung. He knows why I'm here and nobody fucking else"
"Jarek sent me to speak to you," insisted Subzero, "Its important we talk about it face to face and not in this corridoor. You are my client"
There was silence. The red eye dissapered for a moment and the wood was lost in darkness so that only the single white eye remained as he turned his head. Obviously unsure how to continue Kano shut the slit. There was a rattling of chains and the wooden door opened.
"Come in," he said in a gruff voice.
After relocking the door the two of them sat round a small table. The room was similer in shape to Subzero's except that there were a couple of stuffed animal heads on the wall of this one. These hadn't been in Subzero's room. A tiger's head was above the door and a moose above the bed. Subzero eyed them inquisitivly as he sat down unfamiliar with the change.
"So what can I do for you?" asked Kano suspciously. He crossed a leg and leaned back on the chair, "Do you smoke"
"No"
"Fucking good for you mate neither do I. That shit Jarek does all the time and it pisses me off. So why did Jarek send you to me? What is he trying to do"
"First of all I want to get something streight. Primarily I am here by order of my clan the Lin kuei"
"Not those tossers..." interjected Kano with a wave of the hand
"...to win this tournament for the Grand master. The Black dragon the group that you apparantly lead got involved with us on the deal for whatever reason and aided us with information on where the ship would be and a place to stay for the night. I met Jarek in one of the wearhouses on the So-ho docks. He gave me a secondary mission because he thought you might be in some kind of danger. My primary mission is to win, and secondarily to aid you in whatever it is you are trying to achieve"
"Ha that's a laugh," chuckled Kano. From underneath the table he took out a large knife. As it glinted Subzero shuddered and tensed visbly effected.
"Keep your fucking hair on, I'm not going to stab you," he said jabbing it into the table. Slowly he started to carve his name into the table, "Listen mate. Shangtsung and me have got a good deal going. I don't think there's much in all honesty you can do for me. If you want the full story he's paying me through the teeth, but obviously he can afford it if he owns this place. If you can believe it he's paying me to come here just to attract that little slut Sonya. You see I killed her partner sometime back and she's been after me ever since. When your well known in the criminal world all you have to do is spread a few rumours and everyone wants to kill you right"
"Indeed..." replied Subzero
"Well anyway I spread a few rumours that this is what I was doing and hey presto she's come and entered this tournament the silly bich"
"Are you not worried she may suceed in killing you?" asked Subzero with a quirk on his lip
"She's fucking halmless," replied Kano with a shrug, "So who the fuck are you then? What did you say your name was"
"Subzero. Arch assassin of the Lin kuei" said Subzero with a glow. For some reason that title felt really good today.
"Your still alive huh? Heh I've heard of you before sometime round last year. Weren't my boys trying to kill you for something or other"
"Yes," he replied grimly
"I see. Well evidently it's a good thing we're chums to a certain extent at the moment isn't it. I'll tell you what Subzero. I have no intention of winning this tournament. I've seen some strange stuff around here lately but then again I often see some strange stuff in my line of buisness. Lets be frank. I don't fully trust that old man. You Lin keui are good at sneaking around aren't you? Find out all you can about him for me - oh and anything else you hear from anyone of importance. That can be your first task since you're working for me at the moment"
"Agreed," said Subzero standing to his feet. Getting up lazily Kano walked to the door and Subzero followed as he undid the chain and opened it, "Come see me again tommorrow evening. Same time and same knock so I know its you without having to ask"
Subzero nodded but did not reply. It only just hit him as the door closed that he had just been talking to the supreme leader of the Black Dragon, one of the most powerful men in the underworld. With many thoughts on his mind he left walking away down the corridoor. He wasn't sure if he should have been impressed with the man or insulted.
"Best thing I can do is get some fresh air," he told himself reassuringly. Perhaps a better idea would have been to get some sleep but it hadn't occurred to him. Walking through the maze that the building was he decended the stairs to the first floor and exited through a door into the night.
It was cold out in the courtyard. The first thing his eyes were drawn to was the sentry guards standing on the distant walls. He didn't particuarly want to spend the evening standing in a court yard being watched. Following a rougth cobbled path round the main building he soon passed the courtyard behind and came to the large expansive gardens behind the back of the large building that dominated the courtyard and where Shangtsung had entered. In the dark he was amazed at the different kinds of foliage and skulptures that were scattered throuought the garden. A giant stone statue of the Budha was in the center of the garden and could be seen from wherever you stood. It took a good while to walk from one end to the other. The open expansive area of the garden made the tall walls of the palace seem like toy blocks in comparison. The space was almost enclosing in the darkness of the night. The houses and various buildings in the distance seemed small however big they really were. There was so much space it felt as if you yourself were as big as the things on the horizon, almost frighteningly so that you might try to avoid bumping your head on the depressing sky. Thoughts briefly came to him of that world of hell the Neatherealm.
It was as he inspecting the Budha in the center of the garden that stood almost nine times his own height that a blinding flash of light startled him.
"What are you doing Subzero?" said a familiar voice. It was sarcastic solemn and slowly superior in tone.
Turning he saw Raiden standing there behind him. The coneshaped cap glittered briefly with a ripple of electricity that ran down over his bright eyes that flashed in the darkness.
"You again? Are you making a habit of following me everywhere these days Thunder God"
"Charming," replied the God with a laugh, "Make no mistake Cold one following your murderous ways have no pleasure for me - it is as always the circumstance that draws me. So why are you hear? Are you working for the Black Dragon the Lin kuei or yourself perhaps"
"All three as you might have guessed" sneered Subzero turning away to sulk in the shadows
"Ah Subzero, poor Subzero. What did you learn from our first meeting? Here we are you and I. You are once again caught up in things way over your head"
"What would you have me do Raiden?" snapped Subzero, "Should I have run away from the Lin kuei? Become a traitor and wait until they hunted me down? Should I have not accepted Jarek's easy request and made a further enemy of the entire Black dragon? What choice have I had over anything these passed few days? Some destiny I have to choose for myself pah"
"Indeed," replied the god grimly, "What choice have you had? The little choice you did have seemed suicidal at the time. Perhaps the path you've taken so far is the best, for without you and all those present now in this place inbetween the realms there could be no final combat"
"What do you mean by that"
"Did you listen to nothing I said on the boat"
"Since I'm standing next to Budha why don't you enlighten me oh false god"
"Very funny," chuckled the god gazing briefly up at the statue, turning he walked away to face the main complex of the palace at the other end of the garden, "For your information if this tournament is not won then the portal between Outworld and Earthrealm will open and the armies of Kahn will enter and ensnare our world into the Outworld. Through Earth vast other realms will be open to the Kahn to take at his pleasure"
"Hang-on you said win? What are you talking about of course someone's going to win and its going to be one of us right? How can it not be one of us if we're fighting each other"
"The house always wins Subzero. You're fighting on their battleground. Goro Prince of the Shokan is no mortal beast. There is dragon blood in him along with Shokan. Four arms he has trained night and day to become the best of his race in the art of combat. He can crush a skull with one hand. His very name strikes fear into all who know him in Outworld and Kuatan. If Goro is crowned champion of this tournament then Shangtsung can open the portal for his emperor to enter. The Elder gods have spoken"
"And what can I do about that?" asked Subzero
"I know little," replied Raiden, "But I know that one of you fighters from across the globe has been prophesised in Hell and Heaven as the Chosen one the champion of earth"
"You think that's me?" laughed Subzero, "I came here to save my own skin Thunder God - at least I thought so at any rate, the way things are going at the moment I have doubts to my own survival. Lord Raiden can you explain something to me"
"Maybe. Depends what it is," replied the god turning to face him.
"Why did Scorpion come back? Why was he trying to kill me? Can I defeat him"
"I will tell you everything I know for even I know very little of what has become of Scorpion. There has not been a ghost on earth for over five centuries. It is not allowed and somebody has broken the rules. Hanzo Hasashi as he was known in his lifetime had a troubled life. The Ninja clan was possessive of him and his family but he was always loyal to them. Scorpion as was his code name in life and now in death was never a truly evil person. But he was never truly good either. His spirit in woe passed through the limbo of the spectral realm until I believe it finnaly ended its path through the back door of the Neatherealm. Shinnok King of Hell was still in rage over his lost chance and did not notice one spirit enter. He would inevitably have been drawn as all loose spirits are into the sea of immortality and drowned in woe and pain for eternity having not been found by the bothers of the shadow. Instead something rare happened. His shouts of anguish and revenge caused ripples in the water for what he inevitably learned was the death of his clan. An old god arose from the deapths who holds no allegence to anyone. The serpent or Kracken of the world Leviathen listened to the drowning mans words and was infused with pleasure. He granted Scorpion great power so that he was no longer a lost spirit but something else. He gained a shell, a vessel, a hell spawned body that protected him from that sea and escaped and swam to the shores of the dead city where the demons chanted your name. Then the brothers of the shadow knew him and wanted to possess him. Noobsaibot wanted him badly for his army and sent out his best warriors to capture Scorpion. The winged demons flew overhead but they did not find him. He lurked through the dismal alleyways of the Oni a lost but powerful soul. Ditdoe aided him with a message and he was able to escape that place - how you may ask? I do not know. With the one word "Subzero" on his mind he now haunts the living with only the one thought - annhialating you"
Subzero sighed, "You don't make it sound good" gravely he rested his head in his hands, "Do you think my trick will work"
Raiden pondered the words and turned to face the Budha, "Maybe... although a ghost do not believe he knows all. He was fooled in life, he could be fooled in death"
"Raiden How could I kill Shangtsung"
"At last you realize your true mission Subzero"