The Final Insult

Murder and Death was as common in Outworld as the sunshine. But the idea of open rebellion of organized war was an entirely separate matter.

When all of Edenia rose up in defiance, Kotal K'etz did as he was instructed and tried to drive the rebels out before they had enough time to grow. The Father of the Khan controlled a sector that included three other realms along with Edenia. So he massed the warriors of from each of those place to help him put down this rebellion.

But even with superior numbers his men were merely cannon fodder. The average soldier was no match against Kitana's warriors. K'etz saw it all from the mountaintop as he looked down to see his hundreds of warriors dead at the hands of Kitana's few dozen.

The trio of Ermac, Reptile and Sub Zero had been given a very specific assignment. They had purged Kotal Khan's forces from here palace several days ago thus starting the rebellion. Since then no doubt the Emperor had heard and kept sending reinforcements to try and take. Not only did the trio have to push them back but also had to gain more ground for her expanding rebellion.

With another swing of his arm Sub Zero cracked his fist against the head of one of Kotal's soldiers, sending him to the ground. And that was the last of fifty. Beside him were Ermac and Reptile with Frost and the Lin Kuei behind them.

"Look!" Reptile pointed." Up there!" Ermac and Reptile followed his finger and they too could see the lone blue skinned warrior with tribal tattoos and a Macuahuitl in his right hand.

"The Emperor himself." Sub Zero said.

"The False Emperor." Ermac pointed to him. He slowly began to levitate off the ground while keeping his eyes on the target. Then in the blink of an eye he was gone, teleporting away from his friends to battle his foe. Ermac was always diligent in his duty.

Ermac reappeared behind K'etz and with one great punch sent him flying off the mountain and crashing into the ground below. But the warrior emerged from the rubble and already saw Ermac standing there waiting for him.

"Prepare yourself false Emperor." Ermac said with raised fists.

"I'm flattered but you are mistaken." Ermac looked confused." I am not the Emperor Kotal Khan. I am of his people and of his blood." K'etz raised his Macuahuitl and pointed it at Ermac." I am his father Kotal K'etz."

"If you side with the usurper, then you'll die like him." And Ermac jumped forward and swung his leg for K'etz head. But the Osh'Tekk was ready this time and raised his arm to block. Then it was his turn to attack and he swung his arm up and tried to punch Ermac. But the man of a thousand souls caught his fist right as both his feet touched down to the ground. Then Ermac swung round on his heels and kicked K'etz in the stomach, sending him flying back.

Sub Zero saw the battle and prepared to jump in but he was stopped by Reptile who laid his clawed hand on Sub Zero's shoulder.

"Battles are fought one on one." He told. And it seemed Sub Zero would have little time to object as another fifty of Kotal Khan's men charged towards them. The two prepared to engage them but were instead beaten to it.

The Empress Kitant as swift as the wind and in colors as blue as the sea appeared before them. In both her hands was a metal fan. And when she swung her arms forward her weapons followed. And they ripped and cut through the air slicing ground, stone and flesh alike. Like a hurricane lifting the soldiers into the air and ripping them apart.

And that amazed Sub Zero.

"Well?" Kitana questioned to them over her shoulder." Are you just going to stand there?"

"No majesty!" Reptile quickly said.

"Well go on." Jade added." Obey your Empress!"

"Yes my Lady!" Reptile responded. Without another word he jumped into action. Without another word he jumped head first into action, surrounding himself with Kotal's Khan's men. And with sharp claws and an even sharper tongue he began battle.

Sub Zero himself was surrounded. From both sides they jumped at him. There might have been a time when he was either too slow or just fast enough to counter them but now that was different. In moves like lightning Sub Zero jumped over and struck the attacker on his left in the face with his elbow. Sending him flying back.

The silver chain around the Grandmaster's neck clinked as it rested against his chest. The Dragon Medallion was always worn by the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei, increasing his power a hundred fold. It had been worn by Sub Zero's predecessors and was fought over after his death when the clan went into a rebellion of it's own. And wielding the power himself he could see why. But even the awesome power of the Dragon Medallion couldn't make up for his natural handicap.

He didn't notice the foe coming from his right. Not until he saw the shadow on the ground overlooking his own. Then in one swift move the Grandmaster turned and punched him across the face, sending him down as well.

K'etz raised his fist into the air and prepared to punch Ermac. But Ermac raised his own arm and blocked then with a punch of his own sent Kotal K'etz into the ground, creating a small crater.

But the father of the Khan was not done yet.

"You are strong creature." K'etz admitted with a grunt as he stood back onto one knee. Ermac stood in his place." Shao Khan was careful when he created you." He steadied himself to his full height." You may be more powerful than myself, but your no match for what I have." Ermac prepared himself raising his fist for another bout. He watched Ke'tz raised his Macuahuitl into the air and with one swing pointed it down at him. But nothing happened, he felt no pain on his body or even the slightest bit of discomfort. But then there was a roar that broke out across the land. And all across the battlefield everyone could hear it.

Ermac looked to his left and to his right trying to find the source of it. But he saw nothing in either direction because the creature did not come from the ground but the sky. Up in the sky were two silhouettes of two giant creatures will scaled skin and large wings. Kotal Khan had Dragons.

They swooped down with great big wings, shinning bodies and flickering eyes. And most important of all the fires in their bellies. With one great breath the two Dragons reigned fire down from above, scorching the earth beneath them.

Ermac himself jumped into action teleporting behind the master to grab it by it's tail. Then he planted his feet onto the ground and grounded the beast. With all his strength he was able to hold it in place despite its protest flapping. But then with one great swing of it's tail the dragon managed to loss Ermac, sending him flying into a nearby building.

"Ermac!" Reptile called. The Dragons continued to circle around the sky and breath their firery rampage.

As the fire came right towards them Sub Zero looked over to see Kitana just standing there. Reptile was a further distance away so it fell to the Grandmaster to do something. He jumped over and stood beside her. Then when the fire came down he raised his hands up and shot a blast of ice from his hands. Ice and fire were naturally enemies but whatever Sub Zero had tried to freeze before had frozen.

He created a layer of ice between the Empress, himself and the fire. She all the time standing there and watching him. The fire past over as briefly as it came but it melted Sub Zero's small shield into water, causing a miniature waterfall to fall down on the two it was supposed to protect.

But while the water did not bother the Grandmaster when he stood back up he saw the irritated face of the Empress staring at him, her hair dripping past her shoulders.

"Empress." Jade said as she and Reptile appeared beside her.

"Are you alright?" Reptile questioned. Jade said nothing more and quickly began to straighten out Kitana's damp hair.

"I'm fine!" Kitana said waving them both off. Her eyes now turned to the sky." Just get rid of those!" She pointed with her fans.

"Yes majesty." Reptile and Jade said without question and they went about their duty. Sub Zero however was much slower to react and continued to stand by the Empress' side. She tilted her head and looked back at him.

"I just gave you a command." She said." Get moving Lin Kuei." And Sub Zero did not argue with her, he turned and ran right into battle. And soon he was joined by another.

"I am with you Master." Frost said to him. Sub Zero just nodded his acknowledgement. He brought himself to a halt and she did the same as one of the Dragons flew overhead.

It flew over them sending fire down below onto the buildings and the people in it.

"Let it burn!" K'etz called." Let Edenia burn!" The smoke began to rise all around him.

"Frost!" Sub Zero said." Put out those fires." He pointed to the building." Save those people!"

"But Master the beast it-"

"The People first Frost!" He yelled as he turned and ran towards the fire. Then with a wave of his hand he began to put out the fire. And Frost not one to disobey soon joined her master's side. Then when the fire had died Sub Zero burst into the building to help the people trapped amongst the rubble. And using his improved strength from the Dragon Medallion easily lifted the entire roof of the building." Go on." He assured them." Get out." Though frightened and hurt the people did as they were told.

But in this moment of weakness the Fire Breathing Beast came upon them once more. Sub Zero turned to see the monster coming at them and Frost rushing out to meet it.

"No, Frost, NO!" he commanded. And putting both her hands forward Frost shot a beam of ice just like her master had. She shot the blast straight forward like a spear hoping to pierce it right between the eyes. But when the Dragon opened it's mouth the simple heat from it's mouth melted her pitiful attack, then came the real fire.

Sub Zero quickly lifted the roof over his head and tossed it into the air. With his hand now free he pointed them out and shot his own ice, this time making a wall to protect his student. Frost stood there as the ice wall appeared before her and the fire stop before it, unable to melt it.

In her confusion and dilution she though it must have been herself able to create the ice without a thought. But when she saw her Master flying overhead she knew otherwise.

Sub Zero flew over her head and landed a punch directly between the eyes of the dragon. And that punch was like something of equal size smacking right into it. The head of the Dragon went into the ground as it's body shot out in the other direction.

Reptile was in a similar position, inside the Dragon's mouth and holding it open as it flew in the air. While the dragon might not have been able to crush Reptile between it's jaws it decided instead to char him. But the fire did no better than his teeth did. And the Reptile decided to answer with a similar attack.

He opened his mouth wide and spat acid down the Dragon's throat and into it's body. And this was effective as the dragon cried out in pain and came crashing down into the ground.

Sub Zero watched as Dragon's flesh began to melt from it's bones until it came crashing down to the ground. And then only Reptile walked away unharmed.

Over his shoulder Sub Zero watched the dragon he'd punched fly off into the sky.

But Reptile had been too busy with the dragon so he was completely unaware as to what was coming towards him from behind. Kotal K'etz had used this distraction well and was launching his surprise attack on Reptile. He was in the air and coming down with his Macuahuitl.

Saving the Empress was his duty but Reptile was his friend, he had to do something. K'etz continued to come down swinging his weapon but when it came crashing down it didn't cut through Reptile's skin but broke into splinters against Sub Zero's left arm.

Reptile turned around to view it with shock just like K'etz as he came down onto the ground. And as he did Sub Zero swung forward with his right arm and landed an open palm on his chest. Within a moment the Osh-tekk froze the same as Dairou.

Sub Zero pulled his hand back as K'etz stood there like a frozen statue.

"Thank you Grandmaster." Reptile said getting to one knee." I owe you a debt."

"Don't worry about it." Sub Zero quickly answered. The two titled their heads to see movement amongst nearby rubble. They watched as rocks lifted up and floated before the ground and Ermac walked out from amongst them.

"Have I missed the battle?" he questioned.

"You have." Reptile said standing to his feet." The Grandmaster slew the warrior Kotal K'etz." Ermac looked to the ground to see it to be true.

"Well done Grandmaster." Ermac complimented. " He was an enemy to our cause, you have done well by finishing him."

"He is not dead." Sub Zero told." Only frozen in place." That had been the case, Kotal K'etz still lived. But with a swing of her staff Jade smashed through the stone and killed K'etz for real. Sub Zero stood back with his eyes wide open. It had been a long time since he'd seen someone reduced to pieces by that move. It was not what he had used it for.

"Do not celebrate just yet." Kitana said as she appeared among them.

"Yes Empress." Ermac said with a nod.

"The war is not over yet." Kitana reminded them." It has only just begun."

Sub Zero couldn't image what this was all about. After the battle Sub Zero had sought to find peace during his meditation. Until he was interrupted by Jade.

"The Empress Demands your presence." She said. And that was all she said. Not why his presence was requested, what it could all be about, just that he had been summoned.

So he stood before the Empress in her temporary throne. Her bodyguard Jade to her left a bowl of fruit sitting to her right.

"Grand Master." She waved him forward. There was a pious air of authority in her voice as she called him. The Leader of the Lin Kuei said nothing and kept his arms to his side and when he deemed he was close enough to her he stopped. Stopped and waited for her to speak.

The Empress reached over and plucked a pear from the fruit bowl. Though she did not bite into it and stead began rolling it between her fingers.

"Tell me Lin Kuei." Kitana said." Why are you here?" The Grandmaster gave her a sideways glance.

"I've pledge the service of myself and my clan to your cause."

"Indeed you have." She replied right as he finished." But the reasoning behind that is still unclear to me. I did not seek you out nor intended too, instead you came to me."

"That's right." Sub Zero said.

"Do not interrupt the Empress." Jade said from Kitana's side.

"Calm yourself Jade." Kitana said with a wave of her hand putting Jade back in her place. Then she turned and gave Sub Zero her full attention." Now answer me Lin Kuei." It was his time to speak and whether he liked it or not he had to say something, so why not the truth?

"My brother served your father." He said. Kitana raised a curious eyebrow at him. " He had been assigned to do so the former Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. He swore a vow to protect and serve your family and I'm ashamed to say he failed."

"That is putting it mildly." Kitana said. Sub Zero held his tongue though his shifting brow might have given off his anger.

"He swore a vow to you and he failed." He continued." My purpose here is to fulfill the vow he made. Thus restoring both the honor of my brother and my clan."

"How noble of you." Kitana said with her nails strumming along the edges of her chair. She could vaguely remember the Elder Sub Zero from all those years ago. Truth be told she had little contact with him but she remembered his cold personality and his talent for violence." Yes, Yes I remember your brother. Though admittedly I have few fond memories of him."

"So do I." Sub Zero said. He waited a moment and watched Kitana's face turn at him in confusion." If that's all Empress." Without another word he turned and walked away.

Theft was as old as existence itself. Even in ancient times it was done. And even in Ancient times it was crime and now in his new age Kotal Khan would have none of it.

The Emperor stood on the stage sharing it with only one other person, the criminal himself. He was bound by his hands and feet, forced onto his knees with his head over a block. At the end of the three steps was D'vorah along with Twenty of the Emperor's personal guards. Erron Black was the closest to the crowd and the first line of defense. He kept his hands open and ready. In the Khan's right hand was a Macuahuitl in his right hand.

"People!" He called as he raised his weapon in the air. And when the Emperor spoke the crowd listened." This is the beginning of a new age!" As the Emperor spoke Black continued to watch the crowd. Every shift of movement he noticed and hint of fear he saw. Kotal knew how to get their attention with fear and it was working beautifully. But something else became clearer to him amongst the crowd. The people quickly began to shift and move aside. The reason why was the walking mountain Tremor.

But the calm demeanor that normally showed in the brute's eyes was not there instead there seemed to be worry. He stopped when he came before the cowboy then leaned down an whispered the harsh truth into his ear. Black then turned around to see the Emperor just about to finish his speech.

"For the crime of theft!" He roared." I sentence you" He gripped his weapon with both hands." To DEATH!" And with one great swing he took the criminals head off. Blood spat out covering the stage, the ground and the Emperor's feet. The Head bounced like a ball and rolled off into the crowd.

Kotal then bent over to cover his hand in the red liquid and smeared it on his face.

"Be warned!" He called to the crowd holding his blood covered Macuahuitl into the sky." All you who violate my laws will be punished! So says Kotal Khan!"

"Steering speech Emperor." D'Vorah said as he descended the steps tossing his Macuahuitl aside to the first guard who would take it." The People will be wise to heed you." The blood had already begin to vanish and seep into his skin.

"Emperor." Erron Black spoke up. Everyone turned now to face the cowboy with Tremor at his back.

"Speak." Kotal commanded with a wave. But naturally it was hard for one to find their tongue in this situation. It was one of those situations where it was better to see than to say.

Kotal was brought back to his palace and there he was for himself the corpse of Kotal K'etz. Though the body was not full, in pieces. But preserved and placed together as best they could.

"Father." He said as he slumped down to his knees and laid a hand on his chest. Kotal K'etz had ruled the Osh-Tekk for hundreds of years. And now when they'd reached the highest point, seen his own son as ruler of all of Outworld he was murdered in the line of duty.

"Who did this?" D'Vorah looked to Tremor expecting him to answer but the ninja instead looked to Erron Black. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"The survivors say it was the Princess' minions." He answered." The Cyromancer."

The blood on K'etz body was still wet and the Khan picked his palm up to view it. There it was a blood covered palm. And blood it one thing that gave the Osh-Tekk their power.

"I grow weary of this." He said rising back to his feet, the blood dripping from his hand." If the false Queen wants a war, then I shale giver her one…in Mortal Kombat!"