The Uprising

The news had come right from the Capital and it was not the news Kotal K'etz liked to hear. It had come to him during breakfast as he enjoyed the feelings of the day's first light.

"Can this be true?" He questioned.

"It is, my Lord." The Messenger replied." War has come."

"Who sides with this Princess?" He questioned.

"Several of her father's henchmen." K'etz could remember a few. He regretted his son not being able to turn all of Shao Khan's supporters." And the Lin Kuei."

"Lin Kuei?" K'etz asked. He knew very little of the assassin clan of Earthrealm other than that. But he knew they were not native to Outworld which made their presence here curious. If left unchecked this situation could spiral out of control and send Outworld back into even more chaos. That was something that could not happen and it has fallen to K'etz to deal with it.

But what's to be done? The Princess was no doubt wise enough to surround herself with loyal followers and fighter no less. Marching it at full force would only leave blood in it's wake. And K'etz wanted to handle this quietly.

"But how?" He mused to himself. This needed to be over as soon as possible. And he thought he knew just how to do it. "Cut off the head of the snake and the body dies." K'etz told. The Messenger looked at him confused. But before he had time to question it K'etz pointed a finger at him." Send for Dairou."

For the start of a Rebellion Sub Zero did not think it would begin here. Keeping with Outworld customs he thought it would begin with fire and blood but instead they were all just sitting around.

It had started with the people. They began to rise up and purge anything that was Kotal Khan from their home. Statues, symbols, money anything was cast aside. Now it was only a matter of time before they pushed back.

He always saw the Empress in the company of her bodyguard Jade. And Sub Zero didn't really care for her. If you got within a two foot radius of Kitana she yelled at you. And if you closed that two foot to one foot she would pull out her staff and hit you with it. Strangely enough she reminded him of an old friend.

And for the time being since his services were not needed by the Empress Sub Zero turned to someone who did, Frost. She showed great promise both in her skills as a cryomancer and as a warrior. But she lacked conviction and had an arrogance about her that led to a murderous rage. All she needed was some firm guidance and she may someday be as strong as himself. Otherwise she might become like someone else.

Reptile and Ermac meanwhile were taking their duties more seriously. Together they patrolled the halls of the palace as their Empress commanded.

But there was a strange sense about this night. The lighting, the shadows, even the air seemed strange this night. The normal sounds of nocturnal beasts were surprisingly quiet tonight and that is what made Reptile cautious.

He tilted his head into the air taking in a deep breath.

"What is it?" Ermac questioned." What do you smell?"

"Someone is here." Reptile grumbled. Ermac closed his eyes and began to use his own sense but not keen eyes or sight like Reptile, telepathy. With it Ermac could see everything around him. And with this sense he found the culprit.

"THERE!" He shouted turning to his right and stretching out his arm. His hand glowed green and he surrounded a huge piece of the ceiling with that power. And when he swung his arm down he forced that piece down to the ground.

And there a figure did appear. He had very little hair with most of it styled back behind his ears into a ponytail. He wore green cloth and the little armor he wore looked as if it did not fit him. Most noticeable were the red marks on his forehead. He was Dairou former Sedian guard and assassin.

"Identify yourself!" Ermac commanded. He held up his hand and managed to restrain him by his ankles and wrists. Ermac and Reptile advanced towards him. But despite their menacing appearance their captive made no move.

But then as they were right before him Dairou opened his hand and caused a yellow smoke to cover the area. The smoke startled the two forcing them to move back and when they did Ermac released his hold on the assassin.

Now free Dairou jumped into the air and back onto the rafters of the castle.

"There he goes!" Reptile pointed to Dairou's retreating figure. The assassin was slippery as a seal and disappeared amongst the rafters and beams of the castle.

Reptile and Ermac quickly gave chase. The Saurian jumped in the rafters right after him using his long claws to dig in and climb.

From outside Sub Zero could hear the ruckus. The sound of raised voices and frantic screams.

"Wait here." He commanded Frost. Without another word he left her and went back into the palace.

Dairou continued to jump, dip and duck between the rafters in the hopes of losing his followers. But Reptile was right behind him hissing and drooling acid as he jumped after Dairou. All the while Ermac chased after on foot.

The Assassin planted both feet on the rafter and the bounded off just as Reptile was on him. But the Zatarran had another trick. As Dairou flew through the air Reptile opened his mouth wide and spat out his tongue.

And it lashed out like a whip and caught Dairou by the ankle. Then Reptile swung his head around, his tongue and captive following. And he swung Dairou right into Ermac.

Ermac raised his hands and levitated Dairou in the air. Then turned and slammed him into the wall.

"Stay down!" He commanded as Dairou fell onto his knees. But Dairou did not do as commanded and instead drew a knife from his sleeve and slashed at Ermac's legs. But he easily jumped up and dodging his blade.

Dairou then took off running and by the time Ermac looked up he had already disappeared around the corner. And as Reptile continued his pursuit above Ermac levitated himself and followed on the ground.

Sub Zero entered into the palace at this time. First he looked left and saw nothing but the stone hallway of the palace. And as he turned right he saw something.

In his right eye it was just a blur but in his left he saw a man dash out and around the corner. But before he had anytime to run after him, call for him or even comprehend what had happened somebody else appeared.

"Grandmaster!" Ermac yelled. And when Sub Zero looked right there was Ermac. And he came crashing right into him. Now Sub Zero was laid out on the floor with Ermac on top of him.

"Don't just sit there!" Reptile hissed from above pointing a sharp nail at them." He's getting away." He bounded off and Ermac prepared to do the same.

"Grandmaster!" Ermac said once on his feet." Help us give chase!"

"What?!" Sub Zero questioned rising to his own.

"There's danger afoot!" Ermac roared. And he levitated into the air and followed after Reptile and the Assassin. And following in their footsteps Sub Zero gave chase as well.

Now to Dairou's dismay he had three people chasing him, making his job a lot tougher. He jumped from one rafter to the next as Reptile continued to close in behind him.

Dairou jumped down into the middle of the corridor where he could best be seen. Coming at him from his right were Ermac and Sub Zero while Reptile from above. He waited a few moments as the trio closed in on him.

Then as Reptile lunged from the rafters and Ermac charged forward Dairou once again created a gust of yellow smoke. Sub Zero stepped back as the smoke filled the hall. And when it cleared he saw Reptile and Ermac standing where Dairou had just been, looking around for his whereabouts.

Sub Zero could tell from his own experience that whoever they were dealing with was no novice and no common assassin.

There was only once place he could possibly be now. Sub Zero quickly turned on his heel and began running down the hall. He turned the corner and found just the spot he was looking for, two big wooden doors. The Entrance to the Empresses' room. And of course he could not just push it open and go inside.

"HALT!" Jade commanded and raising a hand to his face." Where are you going Lin Kuei?"

"I must get in there." He replied.

"No one is allowed in the Empress' room without her permission!" Jade yelled.

"She's in danger!"

"There is no danger here. No harm shall come to here while I am on guard." But Sub Zero didn't have time to sit here and debate with here. He had hoped Reptile and Ermac were right behind him but for some reason they were nowhere to be found. So he swung his arm forward catching Jade off guard and knocking her down. Then with his other arm he pushed the door open. And with another step he entered Kitana's room.

Darkness filled the room which didn't help his poor vision, the only light coming in from behind him. But he could at least make out a few things in the darkness.

In front of him was Kitana's bed and he could see the raven hair of the Empress lay in it. So that meant that the shadow he saw hovering over the bed was not Kitana. With a grunt Sub Zero swung his arm forward and shot out a beam of ice.

His cry and the sudden cold caused Kitana to jump up from her bed screeching. And when she looked up the first thing she saw was Dairou standing above her frozen solid with a knife in his hand.

And with the dim light Sub Zero could make Kitana out as he never could before. Normally her face was covered with a veil and her hair up in braids. But she had on no veil and her hair was down.

Sub Zero prepared to advance upon the assassin but suddenly found his own legs taken out from under him. He fell right onto his stomach and was kept there by a heel in his back and a staff on his head.

"I warned you." Jade grunted at him.

"JADE!" Kitana yelled at the top of her lungs.

"Yes Empress." Jade said removing her heel from Sub Zero's back and running to her Master's side. At that moment both Reptile and Ermac appeared.

"Empress!" Ermac said as he appeared on Sub Zero's right.

"We are here to-" began Reptile.

"GET OUT!" Kitana yelled. The two did not argue and ducked their heads as they backed out of the room. But then they quickly came back to drag Sub Zero back after them.

After the Empress had composed herself they decided to deal with the assassin, who's head was the only unfrozen part of his body. Ermac and Reptile stood behind him while Kitana paced back and forward before him.

"Now Assassin." Kitana questioned." Who sent you?" But Dairou was silent." Jog his memory." Kitana ordered. Ermac stepped up from Dairou's right and punched him in the face. But despite the blood he spat onto the ground he was not fazed." Again." Kitana ordered. Dairou glanced to Ermac so he didn't see Reptile walk over and scratch him across the face.

Sub Zero just stood back the whole time. He'd frozen Dairou in place that was more than enough contribution on his part.

Jade walked forward now and hit Dairou across the face with her staff, knocking out some of his teeth.

"Alright, Alright." He finally let out. Kitana raised her hand, halting another assault.

"Who sent you?" she questioned.

"Kotal K'etz." He answered.

"Just as I thought." Kitana answered. But this was surprisingly good news. If they cared enough to send an assassin to deal with her it meant they took her seriously, that they did not underestimate her. Her Father always taught her not to underestimate her opponents. She glanced between her subordinates." Finish this."

And Sub Zero watched the man's head drop to the floor and his body go to pieces he couldn't help but hear a familiar laughter echo in his mind.

The news had reached Kotal K'etz sooner than expected and it was not the news he wanted to hear.

"Dairou is dead?" He repeated." Very well." He turned and headed for the door." Then I'll jut have to do this myself."