Chapter 19: Cyberization
In the Netherrealm, Shao Kahn, Mileena, Quan Chi and Geras have a private meeting. Shao Kahn has informed everyone of the Black Dragon's final defeat. Finally put to rest at the hands of the Special Forces.
"So. The Special Forces have succeeded in retrieving the Edenian Steel. Just as I saw in Kronika's visions. We are making progress in the plan." Geras said.
"With the Edenian Steel in their hands, King Jerrod will be able to construct a new crown to replace the other one. It should not take long until Shang Tsung transfers the souls to the new crown, given his master skills at souls." Shao Kahn said.
"We are still a few things short. The Cyber Lin Kuei's return and Alex and Cassandra Cage." Quan Chi said.
"One step at a time, Quan Chi. We are getting closer. We cannot afford to improvise anything in our plan. Not even one part of it." Geras said.
"Soon. Ultimate power will be ours. Liu Kang and his friends shall perish. They will join Raiden in the Netherrealm. It will be a day that will not be forgotten. Our vengeance will be upon us." Shao Kahn said. He smirks, feeling more and more confident in victory. He knows that Shang Tsung will get the job done.
Grandmaster Hanzo Hasashi meets with Grandmaster Sub-Zero, Frost, Cyrax and Smoke at the Lin Kuei Temple. Frost has found reports of Sektor and his home where he was born. He reconstructed it to his own liking. Not surprisingly, Sektor has reforged his loyalty to Shao Kahn and Geras. He also hopes to bring back Kronika.
"Grandmaster Hanzo. I am pleased that you have made it in time." Sub-Zero greets him.
"I am always eager to help, Kauai Liang." Hanzo nods. "And I assume you have intels on Sektor?"
"My apprentice Frost has returned with information." Sub-Zero said.
"Grandmaster Hanzo. Welcome." Frost bows her head to him. "Sektor is planning to meet with Geras. He plans to merge the Cyber Lin Kuie factory with Kronika's Keep. Sektor will have backup until Geras arrives."
"Who can we expect? Assuming that Shao Kahn sent his most loyal followers to him." Hanzo said.
"We should be expecting his daughter Mileena. Following her are Tanya, Kollector, Skarlet and Reptile." Smoke said.
"This will not be easy. The Cyber Lin Kuie will be on high alert this time. It is no surprise that Sektor revived his loyalty to Shao Kahn." Hanzo said.
"They will more than likely take the place of the Black Dragon. From what I was told, the Black Dragon has finally been brought down. Kano has been terminated." Sub-Zero said.
"If Geras merges the factory to the Keep, it will be even harder to reach the hourglass." Cyrax said.
"Just to keep everyone at bay in case Geras were to succeed in his goal in recovering the crown and Alexander. That is why we must stop Sektor and kill him." Sub-Zero said.
"The factory is not too far. They should be expecting us sooner or later. We could run into many traps along the way. And we can't afford to bring backup. Nor can we afford to fail." Frost said.
"Agreed, Frost. We head out immediately." Sub-Zero said. They bow their heads to each other and they dash to the factory. It is a few miles away from the temple. Hanzo is still not used to Frost's change of personality due to changes in the timeline. He only hopes that Sub-Zero knows what he is doing. They still remember the day Frost failed to assassinate Hanzo when Sub-Zero wanted to make peace with the Shirai Ryu.
The two clans reach the factory from opposite sides. They both decide to go separate ways to ambush the Cyber Lin Kuie. Hanzo leads his Shirai Ryu clan from the east side of the factory. Luckily, the two clans were trained in stealth to avoid detection of the cyborgs. They've learned from their past mistakes, since Cyrax and Sub-Zero became cyborgs themselves. They also know that they summon infinite cyborgs. All they can do is stall them until they kill Sektor and if necessary, destroy the factory.
Hanzo signals his archers and they fire bomb arrows to get the enemy's attention. More than several cyborgs teleport outside to deal with the problem. While they were trying to figure out what caused the problem, Sub-Zero and Frost freeze the cyborgs in place. Smoke and Hanzo teleport and destroy all the frozen cyborgs and teleport away before they get spotted. Twice more cyborgs appear to fight whoever is coming. They are met by both the Lin Kuie and Shirai Ryu. They fight the Cyber Lin Kuie head on. Many members of each clan were successful in killing many cyborgs. Unfortunately, several members also start to fall victim. While the cyborgs are occupied, Sub-Zero, Hanzo Hasashi and the rest sneak inside without being spotted.
"Do you know these homes well?" Hanzo asked.
"Yes. It was where Sektor's father trained me and Kuai Liang. Why he would set up his factory in his homeland is beyond us. It is also foolish." Cyrax said.
"This definitely feels like a trap." Frost said.
"If that is the case, then I suggest we keep eyes out on everything." Sub-Zero said.
"Stealthy as the night." Smoke said.
"And deadly as the dawn." Cyrax said.
As the heroes carry on with their mission, they know about the risks they will have to take. All they can do is destroy Sektor before Geras arrives. Frost, Smoke and Cyrax have been told that he cannot be killed until the new crown is forged and used against him. Everyone splits up so they don't get spotted, otherwise, they would be quickly overwhelmed. They use their usual speed and stealth combined as well as their skills to take out many cyborgs. Sub-Zero and Frost with their ice powers. Hanzo with his fire moves, and Smoke and Cyrax with their respective smoke and bombings. After taking out each guards, they meet at the door which leads to the real part of the factory: the reconstruction of Sektor's home.
"Is everyone ready to proceed further?" Sub-Zero asked everyone and they nod to him. "Good." Sub-Zero uses his ice powers to freeze the doors. And then he uses an ice punch to break the door down like it was made of glass. Sektor became alerted to this as well as his own allies. Just as Smoke said, there are Mileena, Skarlet, Kollector, Reptile, and Tanya.
"Sub-Zero. Hanzo Hasashi. It was foretold by Geras himself that you would be here. I am rather pleased that you have made it thus far." Sektor said.
"Sektor. Once more you ally with Shao Kahn and the followers of Kronika. You should know well that her plan has failed once. You cannot hope that she will be brought back and respect your wishes." Hanzo said.
"Lies. Kronika will return. Geras will follow his end of the bargain that Quan Chi once failed to do with exterminating the Shirai Ryu in the Old Era." Sektor said.
"I know what has happened, Sektor. I remember, but I realized that Kronika is nothing but a fountain of lies and deceit. You refuse to accept it. I was wrong to ally with you." Frost said. She does in fact remember the Old Era. Frost also remembered allying with Sektor. She learned that he was the hypocrite for dishonoring the Lin Kuei, not Sub-Zero.
"You disappoint, Frost. You cannot reach me. If you want to kill me, you must get past them first." Sektor said as the others come up ready to fight. Sub-Zero takes on Mileena.
"Oh, you're so cold to me, Sub-Zero." Mileena said.
"That is because you are utterly devoid of honor, Mileena." Sub-Zero insults her.
"Who needs honor when you have power? The Next Era will come and your clan will be dishonored once more." Mileena said before they fight.
Mileena jumps and spins vertically with her sais, but Sub-Zero dashes back with his ice sling move, leaving an ice sculpture in place and she breaks that instead. Mileena swings her sais while Sub-Zero uses his ice daggers to fight back. He dodges a stab to the eye and kicks her forehead followed by an elbow strike and a kick to the right rib cage, sending her backwards. Mileena rolls backwards and teleports and spin kicks Sub-Zero in the back and right shoulder and kicks him in the back of the head, stumbling him. Mileena throws her weapons at his ankles, but Sub-Zero slides away and throws ice stars, which Mileena easily blocks. The Lin Kuei Master throws a punch that Mileena blocks, but couldn't block a kick to the left shoulder and a kick to the chest. Mileena once again rolls backwards and rolls forward, sending Sub-Zero off his feet. She grabs his shoulders and knees his spine, damaging it a little. She slashes his back, stabs his right shoulder pad and kicks the back of the head. Sub-Zero stands ready to fight back. Mileena rolls forward, but the grandmaster creates one ice clone after another and Mileena keeps destroying them by accident. Sub-Zero slides and shoulder bashes her, back kicks the back of her leg, cracking it, punches her upper spine and kicks her in the back of the neck. He turns her around, creates an ice wall. He creates an ice floor and slides back, pulling her with him and punches her across the face, kicks the same spot, elbows her neck and and shoulder bashes her, making her slide on the ice fast and she gets slammed into the ice wall, cracking her spine. Mileena falls in defeat.
"Honor and power are not the same. Your father should know that." Sub-Zero said.
Hanzo Hasashi engages Skarlet. He remembers all too well of what Skarlet has done since the Reiko incident and at the start of the New Era.
"Do not think that I have forgotten you allied with the Red Dragon against my chujin and his wife." Hanzo said.
"I only did what benefits me most to bring back Geras. Jacquline's blood was delicious." Skarlet claimed as she licks her lips, ready to try Shirai Ryu blood.
"You will not taste anymore blood in the Shirai Ryu. You attack one member. Therefore, you attack my whole clan." Hanzo said.
"I will open your veins if I must." Skarlet said before they fight.
Hanzo and Skarlet clash with their sword and blood knives. Hanzo kicks her back and she tries to bring out a scythe made of blood and swings at Hanzo, but he teleports and knees her in the spine, punches the back of her head and teleports again and throws her down to the ground. Skarlet traps his ankles in blood and slashes across his chest, elbows his eye and back flip kicks him in the head. Hanzo's chest is bleeding, but not too bad. He was not gonna go down that easily. Skarlet throws a blood sphere, but he throws a chain spear at her right shoulder, cracking it, pulling her to him and elbows her neck, punches her left leg, and swing kicks her across the head. Skarlet tries to do the same trick again, but Hanzo sees this and teleports and does a series of three fiery punches to the spine and back of the head, damaging them both. Skarlet slides down in defeat.
"Your lust for hunger will cost you someday, Skarlet." Hanzo mocks her.
Now Cyrax faces Kollector. They seem to be evenly matched with their own tools for fighting. Despite Kollector's numerous weapons, Cyrax seems to be gaining the upper hand.
"You hold valuable tools for a member of the Lin Kuie. They would serve Shao Kahn well in his favor. Even when this Next Era comes." Kollector said.
"The Lin Kuie will not submit loyalty to Shao Kahn and expect nothing from him. Shao Kahn promised nothing, as does Geras." Cyrax said.
"You have served him as a cyborg. You will submit once again." Kollector growls as they resume fighting.
Cyrax throws a few sawblades from his armbands which Kollector deflects with his two short swords. Cyrax uses this as a chance to come up and do elbow strikes to the left rib cage and chest, followed by a punch to the chest again. Kollector swings his golden mace, but Cyrax jumps, uppercuts him. Cyrax jumps up, knees his chest, cracking it and throws him down, head first. His skull cracks greatly. Kollector throws his flaming chain whip, which Cyrax counters by throwing a couple micro bombs, destroying it. Cyrax rolls forward, kicks and breaks his right leg and backflip kicks him in the air. He then knees him in the spine, cracking it severely followed by a strong kick, breaking it. Kollector is dazed. Cyrax brings out a spinning sawblade from his armband and swings at his neck, both shoulders and upper body. Cyrax finishes him by kicking him, making his head, six arms and most of his upper body to fly off in pieces. Kollector's lower body falls backwards, dead.
"Like I said. My clan will not submit to poisonous conquerors like Shao Kahn. For the Lin Kuie." Cyrax said.
That's three enemies down for the count. All that's left are Reptile and Tanya. Smoke fights Reptile. Reptile spits acid, but Smoke teleports and does two elbow strikes to the upper spine, grabs Reptile by the beck with his legs and throws him down, chest first. Smoke rolls back. Reptile grabs his wrist with his tongue, but Smoke pulls him in and chops his right shoulder, knees his chin, causing Reptile to bite his own tongue by accident. Smoke then chops his head and uppercuts him. Reptile is sent flying, and Smoke jumps up and grabs him, and they teleport back to the ground and Smoke punches his forehead, elbow strikes his chest, kicks his left leg, cracking it. Smoke uppercuts him once more and this time throws Reptile down, head first. Reptile lies there out cold.
All that is left is Tanya. She is engaged in a fight against Frost. "So you're the second best Lin Kuei student? You look like nothing more than a disappointment to Sub-Zero." Tanya said.
"And you're a punching bag to Mileena and Shao Kahn." Frost replied.
"We'll see what will reign supreme. Fire or ice." Tanya said.
"You underestimate the Lin Kuei. Your overconfidence in Shao Kahn's abilities will not get you anywhere, Tanya." Frost said.
"You know nothing about him or Geras. We will prevail. You joined him in the Old Era once. You shall do so again." Tanya draws her sharp tonfas before they fight.
Frost takes out an ice sword as they clash weapons with each other. Tanya relies heavily on her powerful kicks. Frost's reflexes are serving her well. Frost ducks a tonfa swing and elbows her neck and chops her left shoulder and knees her chin and kicks her backwards. Tanya recovers and uppercuts Frost and teleports and kick her down with a fiery kick. Frost fires two ice balls at her, which Tanya deflects with her tonfas and they swing at each other. Frost spins her sword and knocks one tonfa out of her hand and back kicks her across the face, punches her chest, cracking it. She then palm strikes Tanya in the head and backflip kicks her. Tanya teleports again and double kicks Frost in the back twice and knees her upper spine. She stabs her right shoulder with the tonfa and kicks her in the right rib cage. Her shoulder is drawing a little blood, but Frost will not give up. Frost sees Tanya teleporting and swinging her tonfas. Each time Frost blocks, she gets hurt somewhere. Frost starts to see a pattern. Frost flows her hands together and throws ice balls in the air, creating mist. Frost looks around and sees Tanya moving rapidly. She sees something hot coming towards her. Tanya does a flaming kick, which Frost avoids and grabs Tanya's shoulders and stabs her left arm with her ice sword and punches the back of the head and knees her spine, damaging it. Tanya is throw down and defeated.
"I will not repeat any past mistakes. No matter what words you try to fill my head with." Frost glares at her before running over to Sub-Zero. "Grandmaster. Are you alright?"
"I am fine, Frost. I see that you have taken my lessons well." Sub-Zero compliments her.
"Anything to please you and the clan we sworn to protect." Frost said.
"Your Lin Kuei will not be safe for long, Frost. Geras will be here soon. Our armies combined with Shao Kahn's and Geras' will not suffer at your hands." Sektor said. His robotic eyes light up and the cyborgs come in from different directions. The five heroes stand ready to fight. "It is your choice, Sub-Zero. Surrender yourself and your friends and I promise you that you would be spared in the Next Era as Cyber Sub-Zero."
"Never. I have been through that horrible experience once. Not ever again." Sub-Zero said.
"Go destroy Sektor. We will hold them off." Hanzo said.
"Right." Sub-Zero said.
"I am going with you. He must pay for disrupting our clan." Frost said. Sub-Zero felt reluctant. He fears about losing his best student once again to the Cyber Lin Kuei, only this time unwillingly. But he nods out of respect.
"I admire your newfound respect for the Lin Kuei again, Frost. But you will have your original place with us again as before." Sektor said.
"That was a mistake. I finally see that Sub-Zero is right. I will not repeat it again." Frost said.
"Then you will not remember anything. You will be the first to be cyberized. Then you will know true discipline." Sektor said as he fights 2 on 1.
Sektor fires his flamethrower which Frost blocks with her ice beams. Sub-Zero slides in and shoulder bashes him, punches the left metal cage, and double kicks his face. Sektor recovers and fires missiles at the two Lin Kuei members and they dodge. Sektor grabs Sub-Zero with his electro net and starts electrocuting him. But Frost slams an ice scythe into the red cyborg's left shoulder. Sektor releases Sub-Zero and focuses on Frost. Sektor's chest opens and micro bombs come out and Frost jumps backwards and lands. Frost summons two ice blades and she charges at him. Sektor dodges her swings and slams a fist up her chest and kicks her in the back of the head and hits her spine, partially cracking it. Frost tries to move, but Sektor steps on her right wrist, causing her pain. Sub-Zero throws an ice axe at his head, narrowly missing him. The two masters of their clans clash. Sub-Zero catches a fist and kicks his metal chin, a kick across the forehead and an ice punch to the chest, bending it. Frost recovers and elbow strikes his metal face and kicks it, stumbling the cyborg. Frost jumps over him, slashes the back of his right shoulder, damaging it more and knees his back and chops his left shoulder and double kicks his head, sending him to Sub-Zero. He summons an ice wall beneath Sektor's feet and it strikes his back, sending him into the air and the grandmaster jumps up and front flip kicks him down in defeat.
"Your point of view of discipline is folly, Sektor. True discipline comes from the heart and soul of a Lin Kuei." Frost said. She looks at her grandmaster and nods to him. Frost decided to let him do the honor.
Sub-Zero raises an ice axe in the air. Everyone, who have been fighting the cyborgs see them shut down. They look and see that the Lin Kuei Grandmaster is about to execute him. Before he could swing his weapon down, sand flows around them, nearly losing their footing. Sektor, despite being damaged, uses as an opportunity to teleport and escape. The five heroes see Geras come through the portal.
"Sub-Zero. Hanzo Hasashi. Grandmasters of the Lin Kuie and the Shirai Ryu. Succeeding Sektor and his father and Hanzo's own ancestors." Geras said.
"Geras. No one knew that you would make it to the New Era. You continue this pointless quest to bring back Kronika and look where that has gotten you." Sub-Zero said.
"You have no idea what I have planned for you all. My strength has increased after more deaths. Even after my experience in the Sea of Blood. You should have listened to Sektor when you had your chance." Geras said.
"You are no Kronika, Geras. You have been beaten before, it will happen again. Even mortals such as Kung Lao and Sonya Blade have defeated you." Hanzo said.
"That is something that is no longer possible. In case you have not been told, I triumphed over Nightwolf and even Fujin. I was on par with Raiden in the Old Era. Not anymore." Geras smirked.
"You do not get to speak about our friend Raiden." Frost said, angrily.
"Friend? You were his enemy once, Frost. Soon you will be ours again." Geras tells her.
"Never." Frost said.
"Attack!" Sub-Zero ordered.
The five heroes all charge at Geras. Geras dodges an axe swing and backhands Sub-Zero and punches his left rib cage, sending him away. Frost was the next to attack. She double kicks him in the chest and head, but it barely left a bruise on him. Geras grabs Frost by the throat, punches her face and headbutts her away. Hanzo swings his sword, which Geras fights back with his giant fist. Hanzo takes a short sword and stabs his right shin and does a fiery swing kick across the face, stumbling him. Smoke appears in front of him and elbow strikes his chest twice and attempts to chop his neck, but Geras grabs it and knees Smoke in the spine and slams both fists down on his stomach before tossing him away.
Cyrax throws arm blades at the first, but they do nothing to scratch it. Cyrax dodges a hard punch and double kicks his right rib cage and face. Geras responds by kicking Cyrax's chest and backhands his head. Hanzo swings his sword, but Geras grabs it with his giant hand. He grabs Cyrax and throws him into Hanzo. Smoke comes back from above him and front flip kicks the top of Geras' head and bounces off. Geras traps his feet in sand and stomps on his head and forces him through and he falls behind Geras and he kicks his chest, cracking it greatly and uppercuts Smoke. He uses sand to grab Smoke by the legs and bring him back down. Geras then punches his chest again, backhands his face and slams his giant face on top of Smoke's head, knocking him out cold. Hanzo and Cyrax swing their swords and armblades. Geras was stronger, but they were faster. They manage to cut his chest open, but not much. Hanzo swings at his arm with the giant hand and cuts it off. Despite this, Geras falls through a sand portal and appears behind Cyrax. He grabs Cyrax and kicks him away from Hanzo, brings him back with sand powers and back hands the back of his head and double kicks his spine, defeating Cyrax. Hanzo teleports behind Geras to stab him. He stabs his right shoulder and does three fiery punches to the back. Geras's arm regenerates just in time and grabs Hanzo with both hands and starts choking him. Hanzo tries to reach for him, but it was no use. Hanzo's vision starts going blurry. Frost jumps on Geras' shoulders, knocking him away from Hanzo.
"I admire your new lack of arrogance, Frost. You are different than how you were back in the Old Era." Geras said.
"Well I am relieved. I've seen the error of my ways." Frost said.
"You don't see, do you? I have already defeated your allies. You have no chance against me." Geras said.
"That doesn't mean we cannot try to delay you. You will fail. Just as Kronika and Cetrion have." Sub-Zero said. They fight Geras 2 on 1.
Sub-Zero and Frost circle around the immortal man. Sub-Zero nods to his student and she nods back. Frost was the first to charge at Geras. She swings her ice swords at him and he blocks with another giant fist. While he is distracted, Sub-Zero, uppercuts his left rib cage, kicks his upper spine and back kicks his head. This allows Frost to chop strike his head, knee his chin and back kicks his throat. Frost was about to swing at his stomach, but Geras steps backwards, kicking Sub-Zero back in the process and back hands Frost in the face and kicks her backwards. Sub-Zero comes in swinging his ice axe. He misses the first swing, but managed to slam it into Gera's left waist. He jumps and kicks Geras' chin and face. Sub-Zero attempts to freeze him in place, but Geras creates a sand replica of himself and disappears, tricking Sub-Zero into bashing the replica instead. Geras appears behind him and punches his left leg, punches his lower spine, turns him around and punches the left side of his face and back hand uppercuts him in the air. Geras jumps up and slams Sub-Zero in the ground. Frost throws a ice star near his head to distract him from her grandmaster. Frost jumps and stabs both of his shoulders and kicks him across the chest, stumbling him. She attempted to hand stand kick him in the face, but Geras grabs her ankles, throws her down on the ground, picks her back up and throws her into a wall, defeating her as well.
"Frost. Sub-Zero. You two are bravest Lin Kuei. But your efforts to stop me from carrying out Kronika's contingency plan will be folly. You do not understand that Kronika does to benefit those who deserve improvements in their lives." Geras said.
Sub-Zero recovers, but is too tired to fight. "And you do not understand the meaning of life. The Lin Kuie has not been perfect, even after I became grandmaster. But I learned from my mistakes. It is not too late, Geras."
"I must obey Kronika's will and rights. So must Cetrion back at my keep. Soon, you shall too." Geras said.
Sub-Zero was confused by Cetrion, but before he could ask, he was suddenly surrounded by several cyborgs. The cyborgs proceed to stun him and were about to carry him away to be automated. Frost was able to wake up just in time. Same with everyone else.
"Grandmaster!" Frost yelled. She fires several ice balls at the cyborgs into place and Hanzo and the others destroy them to free Sub-Zero from being abducted. Geras was about to trap everyone in sand so they could be captured, Frost jumps in and stabs his chest with two ice daggers. Geras grabs her by the face and throws her into more cyborgs, who proceed to stun and capture her. "Go! Save yourselves!"
"Frost! I cannot leave you! Not again!" Sub-Zero tries to reach for her, but Smoke and Cyrax hold him back.
"You must! You're our grandmaster! You must survive, or we all die! Warn the others! Hurry! Do it for me!" Frost tells them.
The group of cyborgs teleport away with Frost to be cyberized. Sub-Zero tries to break free from their grip and go after her. "FROST! NO!"
"Kuai Liang. Kuai Liang! We must go!" Hanzo said.
"I cannot leave her. She can't become one of them again." Sub-Zero said. "I must save her."
"We will get our chance. She is right. You must survive. Please." Smoke tells his old friend. As much as Sub-Zero wants to save his apprentice, he sees themselves surrounded by more and more cyborgs. And knowing that they cannot defeat Geras, he reluctantly conceded. Hanzo puts a hand on Liang's shoulder and he teleports the four away. Geras smirks at the next part of his victory. He holds his arms up in the air as more sand starts flowing around him. The entire factory starts feeling affected by the transportation. After several moments, Geras puts his arms down and looks and sees that more of his plan have worked. The Cyber Lin Kuie factory is now part of Kronika's Keep.
Note: Of course, I made Geras a bigger threat than he was previously. Buffed him to make him stronger than the likes of Fujin and Nightwolf as well as those he fought here. Even Liu Kang and Alex would have trouble fighting Geras should they fight him. More powerful than the likes of Sindel from MK9. And as for Frost, we will see more of her.