Choices

The Tournament did not continue the next day, or the day after that. The Emperor Kotal Kahn had not been seen since his last defeat. Rumors said he was locked away in his tower or had fled Outworld altogether. But Kitana found that hard to believe. Of everything Kotal was he was no coward. She concluded that he was buying his time and preparing a new plan. However hopeless it may be. Even Mileena's antics were at a low.

So until Kotal reappeared they could do nothing but wait.

Ermac despite his wounds had healed thought he would not advance further in the tournament. Reptile also had his wounds to heal. And Kaui Lang although capable was still wounded as well and without the Dragon Medallion he was nowhere near as powerful as previously. Leaving only the dark duo of Noob Saibot and Scorpion.

But not for long.

Noob Saibot had been drawn off into the woods. The faces on the trees might have frightened some but Noob Saibot frightened them. And he walked silently and grimly as death itself.

And soon he realized he was not alone. The Former Sub Zero turned around to see his follower stepped into the light. A helmet was about his head, his the left side in his torso was covered but the right was not. His legs covered in armor. But the most distinguishing thing about him was his deformed face. Everything above his nose was human and flesh but below was nothing but bone.

"What do you want with me?" Noob outright demanded.

"Much." Was the creature's response.

"Then speak it." He turned and faced him fully." Have you come to fight me?" The response was not what he expected.

"No Great Warrior." He responded." I have not come to fight you. But I have come for you." He pointed a finger at him. But even that confused Noob Saibot. In the silence the follower moved closer towards him. The creature never blinked and when he walked seemed to drag his body, as if weight down by some invisible force." I am Havik." He introduce when the two men were no more than an arm's distance apart.

Usually Noob never let anyone get that close to him without being in pieces first. But there was something about this creature, this Havik that interested him.

"And what do you want with me?" Noob asked.

"There is a realm Great Warrior. A realm of no law and order, no beauty or love. A realm entirely of chaos." When Noob said nothing the creature continued." One such as you would do well there." He took a step forward." I would wish you to join me there, beg you if needed." He gaze upon Noob as if he was a great Dark God." Will you join me there?"

The idea tempted him. A realm all to his own and one seemingly made in his own imagine it seemed. And being worshiped as a God was the greatest thought of all.

That was the last time any had seen the Elder Sub Zero in Outworld. He had gone, disappeared in the night.

Kuai could not seem to blame him. He could never trust Bi Han. It had always been this way. He'd do what was required of him but his desire for duty was always beaten out by a greater force. His own desires. Kaui should have seen this coming.

Bi Han's departure would hardly change their plans given the slow pace of the Tournament. And it seemed that Kotal was not going to be seen or heard from again. It might very well be that by the end of the week Kitana would rule in Outworld.

And she knew who to thank for that. It was all thanks to the brave Reptile, the stalwart Ermac, even to Scorpion and Noob Saibot. But mostly she credited it to Kaui Lang, Sub Zero. He fought just as the others had but it was his mortality that was his greatest contribution. He left a great impression on here and as she would soon find out the feeling was mutual

As Kitana entered her chambers she noticed something out of the ordinary. Something she had not seen before. There was a piece of paper rolled up on her dresser. Kitana reached over and unrolled it to read the words on it.

It was romantic or as romantic as the Grand Master could make it sound. But Kitana understood. She could see his desperation, his want, his love in the writing. And he wanted to see her where she had saved his life. In the forest where they had fought Skarlet.

The sight of her was invigorating. Her big, beautiful eyes as blue as the sea and hair black as night, her skin soft as silk. He could feel the warmth of her body and the tender taste of her lips on him even now with all this distance between them.

Kaui had never felt this way about anyone. He didn't even know he could feel such things and that both frightened and excited him. He didn't know what he should, should he tell her? He didn't know such emotions existed and more importantly that he had them.

Right now there was only one person he felt he could talk to on the subject.

"Mr. Hasashi?" Kaui said as he walked closer. He saw Scorpion stand up straighter but he did not turn to face him. So he tried again, only louder." Mr. Hasashi?" As he took another step in one swift motion Scorpion turned and his blade was pointed right in front of kaui's good eye.

"What did you say?" He said. Kaui gulped down a breath, shrinking under the gaze of the fire spawn.

"Mr. Hasashi I have come to-"

"Don't call me that!" Scorpion roared the heat emitting from his body." The man who was Hanzo Hasashi is dead! I am Scorpion!" Kaui immediately went to his knees and bowed down.

"Forgive me." He pleaded. "I meant no offense." He bowed even lower. The tip of Scorpion's blade was resting by his head, just in front of his shoulder. He observed the boy on his knees before him.

"What do you want?" He asked turning away from him. Kaui straightened out as he jumped back to his feet.

"I've come for your advice."

"My advice?" Scorpion repeated. He took a step away from Kaui, looking for a stone to sharpen his sword. When he found one large enough he began running his blade across it.

"Yes." He nodded. Scorpion ran the rock across the blade." Concerning women."

"Women?" Scorpion repeated.

"Yes." Kaui nodded." I assume you were a good man to ask. I, I heard you were married once." Scorpion said nothing but turned his attention back to his sword.

"I was. "He answered finally." And I had a son as well." There was a bitterness in his voice. Kaui wondered if he had made a mistake by bringing this topic up. Scorpion was as brutal as Noob Saibot but as sentimental as a lamb." Why would such information be of interest you?"

"How-" Kaui began but stopped a moment to gulp down a breath." What does it feel like to be in love?" Kaui could describe himself. All his life had been violence like his brother's before him. Emotions such as love were never seen amongst the elite killers of the Lin Kuei. But the future Empress made him feel these emotions he never knew he had. He hope the man who was Hanzo Hasashi would tell him what he needed to hear.

Scorpion turned his head back to him once more.

"You ask something you don't understand." Was his answer." And do not expect me to spell it out to you. Leave me." He said waving his hand." And ask my no more questions." That was not what Kaui had expected. But even as a trained killer he remembered his cortices.

"I am sorry." He said." For everything my brother's done to you and your family."

"Your brother deserved to suffer more than any man but not for killing my family. That deed was done by another." He ran the sword across the rock and sharpened it once more.

"And have you dealt with him?" With another great swing Scorpion brought his sword across the rock, this time producing sparks.

"Yes." He said. But his voice didn't sound as 'peaceful' as one might expect a man on such a mission would feel. His voice sounded just as bitter and angry as ever. He couldn't be sure if it was because it was his natural disposition or something else.

"Well done." Kaui said not knowing what else to say." Thank you for your time." He brought both his hands up and clasped them together bowing his head to the man before departing.

That did not go as planned. Now it was down to only himself to deal with this issue.

She had expected to see him, she had hoped for it. Seeing the message seemed strange for him but there it seemed very endearing. She had hoped he would show up soon. And at the first sound of heavy boots crushing the underbrush she turned to see him.

But all at once her smiles died away when she saw not Sub Zero of the Lin Kuei but Kotal Khan the usurper of her Father's Throne, her arch enemy.