Chapter 14

Smoke returned to the Ice Caves, he had been thinking his journey back about what Sareena had told him. 'My soul still exists… is it possible for me to go back… to be human?' Smokes chain of thought was interrupted by his master, Noob Saibot. Noob appeared before Smoke and said "I paid a visit to an old nemesis of mine… I have learned that our friend is heading this way… we must prepare ourselves, this may prove to be difficult…" Smoke nodded, Noob disappeared, probably surveying the outside in case Sub Zero made haste… Smoke then heard a rustling noise behind him, he turned round, expecting either Noob or Sareena, only to see nothing. Smoke did not believe he had just heard nothing, he is a robot, he cannot be deceived by such trivial things, so Smoke scanned the area, when he found a faint heat signal being given off within one of the tombs… someone was alive in there! Smoke's first thought was freeing this person, but it went against his programming, although he felt guilty, he decided not to do anything and just sit and wait… but after a few minutes, he could hear a faint voice calling for help, Smoke despite his programming not telling him to do so, decided to uncover this tomb. He easily moved the stone pillar, underneath, was a female ninja!

Frost awoke, her body still partially frozen, she could not believe she had been so foolish! 'Why… why did I do that?' She thought to herself, before she realised her predicament, she had been buried… alive! She couldn't scream, her voice had not fully returned, so she decided to move, only to find her limbs still partially frozen, plus the fact that this tomb didn't have much move. But, she couldt just stay still and die, she would run out of air soon, she started calling for help and trying to bang against the tomb lid, after a while, she heard a sound and the lid slowly slid off infront of her now stood a cybernetic ninja.

Smoke looked at this ninja, confused as to why she was here and why she was buried alive. The female looked at Smoke and said "Thank you… I thought I was going to die here!" Smoke nodded and turned to his side, once again sitting down, she noticed an engraving on his right shoulder. Frost sat down next to him "You are Lin Kuei!" Smoke looked at this ninja, something about her seemed familiar. Frost smiled "I am Frost, what is your name?" Smoke lowered his head, after a while he replied "My name is Smoke…" Frost looked at Smoke and said "You know Sub Zero then… right?" Smoke turned to her "He is my frie-"Smoke read through his programming before staying silent. Frost seemed confused "Your friend? Oh… you're the one Sub Zero talked about!" Smoke looked at her, slightly confused. Frost stood up "he said... his best friend became something not human against his will in order to save him… he saw you one more time, before you disappeared… he searched for you for quite sometime Smoke… at least that is what he told me" Smoke raised his head 'Sub Zero still cared?' He thought, Smoke looked at Frost and asked "How where you put in your predicament?" Frost blushed "Erm… I kinda took Sub Zero's dragon medallion… I couldn't control its power. I take it Sub Zero buried me here… he told me I was his best student… I now regret what I did…" Smoke looked up quickly "Hide…" he told Frost, Frost was confused, but did as her saviour asked. Noob Siabot entered "Sub Zero is near, my slave… I want to face my brother myself… but if I start losing, I want you to intervene… understood?" Smoke nodded. Frost gasped at what this dark spectre just said 'His brother? Isn't he… he going to… oh no!'Frost could do nothing at this moment, as this dark ninja had chose to stay in the cave… she would have to wait to save her master.

Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Kai Lotus had arrived at the Edenian camp, there where piles of burning bodies everywhere, Oni… Shinnokian soldiers, fellow Edenian's… but, considering what they saw, Kitana and her forces must have won! At the entrance, they saw their Earthrealm friends, Stryker, Jax, Cyrax, Kenshi, Johnny and Sonya. They greeted their friends and exchanged stories with eachother. Liu Kang decided he wanted to see Kitana, so he let Kung Lao and Kai finish their story, he wondered into what he thought was Kitana's tent, only to see a former adversary! Liu got into his fighting stance "Rain, what are you doing here of all places!" Rain shot up, it was because of Liu Kang that he got separated from Shao Kahn's forces in the past, which led him to being hunted for years by Sektor. "Liu Kang! What are you doing here? Never mind! I will get you back for the years of suffering I induced because of you!" Rain charged at Liu Kang and tackled him, knocking down the tent, the brief scuffle continued until Kitana appeared "What are you both doing?" Rain and Liu pointed to eachother "He started it!" They shouted simultaneously. Kitana shook her head 'both acting like little boys…' she thought to herself. She walked up to Liu and said "Rain helped us with our victory, had it not been for him, I am sure things would have happened very differently…" She then looked at Rain "Liu Kang if my friend, we have helped eachother for many years now…" ain nodded. She stood between them "I want you two to shake hands and make up! Now!" Rain and Liu stuck their hand out and shook, grudgingly. Everyone else laughed, two of their power fullest fighters just squabbled like school children!

Fujin and Raiden where still going at it, for days now, they traded blow for blow with eachother, all around the world… both of them knew, this had to end! Fujin flew into the air "Why did you kill Shujinko?" he shouted before unleashing a sonic boom at Raiden, who countered with a teleport at the right moment so he was not affected "He caused a problem which should never have happened, so I made sure he could never do the same again!" Raiden threw his staff at Fujin, who glided to the side, the staff the shot back to Raiden. Fujin then lowered his guard "It is obvious none of us will ever get the upper hand… we are both gods, both immortal within this realm… this will go on forever!" Raiden remained silent for a little while "For once in the first time in years, I agree Fujin!" Fujin smiled "Good, we agree on one term… however, we shall settle this the way gods have always settled their discussion… in the courts of the elder gods!" Raiden grumbled as both of them where engulfed in a bright light and disappeared.

Sub Zero walked into the Ice Caves, wondering how he would pay his final respects to his fallen comrades and what remains of his people. As he entered however, he felt something in the air… hatred, anger... death. He put up his guard, at that point in time, some shurikens flew at him from out of nowhere! Sub Zero froze them and smashed them as they came close. He then heard a laugh from the corner "Well done… Just as I had expected… then again, what can I expect… from my own sibling" Sub Zero's eyes widened as Noob Saibot walked out of the shadows. Sub Zero was in disbelief "B-brother! How… why?" Noob Saibot laughed "Why did I work for those I once fought against? Simple… I was biding my time, gaining their trust while gaining power… had just one of my former masters succeded, I could have easily over thrown them! But you… and your friends spoiled that… every plan I had, ruined because of you…" Sub Zero couldn't believe what he was hearing "But… I did everything for you! Everything I have done was in honour of your memory!" Noob laughed again "I am not that weakling… not anymore! I am more powerful then I could have ever dreamed in my former life! However… I know of your increased strength… brother… so I have brought a friend…" He held his arm to the right, suddenly, everything was growing misty and dark, when it subsided, Smoke stood before them. Sub Zero was in shock "S-Smoke! You're alive!" Noob Siabot walked to Smoke. "Yes… alive and well… under my orders!" Sub Zero looked on "No… Smoke… no!" Suddenly is got cold in the Ice Cave, suddenly a female ninja slid in-between the two groups. "Sifu!" Sub Zero couldn't believe what was happening, his brother had finally shown himself, his friend, who had been missing for years since Shao Kahn's invasion had re appeared, Now Frost was back from the dead? How is this happening? "How is this passable?" Smoke spoke for the first time "She was never dead… only frozen by her own powers…" Noob looked at Smoke, surprised that he spoke… Smoke rarely speaks! Frost looked at Sub Zero and said "One you removed the Dragon Medallion from my hands, my powers dissipated, so I slowly unfroze, only to find that I had been buried!" Sub Zero shook his head in disbelief, he was used to having his life private, now everything was coming out into the open! Noob turned to them "Enough chatter! I came here for a reason! And it wasn't a family reunion! Brother… I challenge you to Mortal Kombat!" Frost backed off, standing opposite Smoke, ready to intervene if he does.

Rain finished reprogramming Sektor, thanks in turn to Jax and Cyrax whose knowledge about the Lin Kuei cybernetics was greatly appreciated. Rain stood back as Sektor awoke. The cyber ninja stood up, looking at his hands, he then looked at Rain and stopped, his sensors scanning him, wondering what his orders where. He bowed down "Lord Rain, how may I be of service?" Rain smiled "Sektor, you have been chosen lo lead the Edenian protection forces, along with myself and Jade, your orders are to protect Edenia from any threats it may face" Sektor remained silent for a while before replying "Understood" Rain nodded and walked out the tent and bumped into Cyrax "Your friend has been successfully reprogrammed, Cyrax" Cyrax nodded "Good… hopefully the two of us will meet again someday" Cyrax bowed to Rain before walking off. Rain sighed with relief, he no longer had to worry about being persecuted anymore.

The two brothers went at it, trading blow for blow, each seemingly knowing what eachother where going to do. They both jumped back, sub Zero went to freeze his brother, however Noob created a double and ran to the side, the double shattered when it made contact with the ice, Noob then ran at his brother and attempted a flying kick, only to shatter and Ice Clone, Sub Zero then did a sliding shoulder tackle, Noob quickly recovered from this and dissolved into the shadows. Sub Zero was confused, where had his brother gone, suddenly he heard a voice call 'Behind You!' He slid out of the way as Noob swung with his scythe, Sub Zero then created his Kori Blade, Noob smiled "Ah, you can create weapons with your powers, well done… but impressing me won't save you!" Their weapons clashed, but Noob Siabot got a lucky strike, shattering his brothers blade and slicing him down the chest. Frost ran to make the save, but Noob easily knocked her out. Noob stood above his brother and laughed. Smoke stood there, his mind telling him to stop this, his programming telling him to stay, when he looked to his right, Sareena stood there "What is it to be Smoke… Your servitude, or your life?" Smoke looked down and closed his eyes "Which do you chose?" Noob looked down at Sub Zero "Goodbye brother…" He brought down his scythe "No!" Suddenly, Noob was tackled to the floor, when he looked up, he saw Smoke standing above him! "Smoke! How dare you!" Smoke created a billow of smoke, clouding the place, Noob could not see what was happening, when it dissipated, they had all disappeared. Noob looked around the Ice Caves, suddenly he was attacked from behind by Frost, she got a few hits in and fled, as he ran after her, he ran into a Sub Zero who froze his brother and kicked him… Noob Saibot was defeated, but as Sub Zero was about to lay the finishing blow "Wait!" Sareena finally showed herself to Sub Zero. "S… Sareena?" Sareena nodded "Yes Sub Zero… do not kill your brother…" She approached the grounded Noob. "Noob Saibot… no… Sub Zero the Elder…" Noob looked at Sareena "You have been clouded by your hatred and your evil for too long… it is time to let go… it is time to rest…" She put her hand on his chest and slowly, Noob stopped breathing heavily, he was being calm. Suddenly a spirit shot out of the spectres body "My brother… you have saved me from eternal damnation, and for that I thank you…" The spirit version of Sub Zero's older brother bowed, it then turned to Smoke "Smoke… my brothers friend… forgive me for controlling you… I am glad to see you are still who you are… a great warrior and a true friend…" He then turned to Frost "I do not know you… yet you have our powers… train hard young Kori…" Frost nodded. "Sareena… I…" Sareena put her hand up "Say nothing more… I love you too… I know you could never say your feelings, but I had always known…" The spirit bowed "Thank you all… good bye…" The spirit dissipated. A tear ran down Sub Zero's face… for a few seconds, he saw his brother, the way he remembered him… as a final testament to his memory, he buried the remains of Noob Saibot, once Sub Zero in the tombs of his ancestors, Frost, Smoke, Sareena and Sub Zero then tracked their way towards the portal… and home.

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This chapter, as you have read, was basically the encounter between the two brothers and Smoke's eventual break from his programming back to his soul... and Frost is back! Buried alive by mistake... how stupid! lol!

Anyways, the final chapter shall be soon, maybe the next one or one after, but the end is nigh!