"You still haven't answered my questions old man." Kuai Liang asked the man named Song as they rested by a campfire on the outskirts of the snowy forest. The old man was standing over the fire, while Kuai had been laid down in a small makeshift bunker made of tree branches, and rocks. His wounds had been bandaged tightly, and he was now in stable condition following his first ever encounter with the specter named Scorpion.
"What questions are those?" The old man asked as he turned to look over at Kuai who had propped himself up slightly.
"What are you doing out here?" Kuai repeated for what felt like the tenth time. The old man took a second, but only that, before he answered.
"The same as you. Running from those who wish me dead." Kuai was confused. He couldn't see why anybody would want this old man dead. Unless...
"Bandits?" Kuai asked finally, and Song laughed at this question.
"No, not bandits. Something worse. I'm running from Shao Kahn of Outworld." Song replied as smoke from the fire began reaching his face. Shao Kahn was a name Kuai had only heard of in legends that the Lin Kuei taught him. He was a warlord of Outworld in these legends. A wild, savage beast who looked to take over the entire world, and rule it as a merciless tyrant.
"I didn't think you'd answer with lies." Kuai told him boldly. Song raised his eyebrows at this statement. He turned his entire body slowly to face him.
"You think Shao Kahn is not real?" He spoke almost in disbelief. Kuai squinted his eyes at this.
"You think he is?" Kuai asked wondering if the old man had lost his sense of reality in his old age.
"No dear boy. I know he is. You will see that soon enough." Song replied after turning back to the fire. Kuai still didn't understand.
"What are you trying to say?" Kuai wondered aloud.
"Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm draws near. I have felt it building for weeks now, and I have seen what happens when he invades. Devastation. That is what awaits both you, and I." Song spoke grimly.
"I intend to find the thunder God Raiden, and offer him my aid in this crisis, as should you." Song finished as flames danced in the reflection of his eyes. Kuai then knew that the old stranger might have been on to something. Very few believed of Lord Raiden's existence. If what Song was saying was true, and the legendary Shao Kahn was about to invade Earthrealm Kuai knew he would be of little help to the defending cause. In this forest alone he had found nothing but defeat, and narrow escapes from the clutches of death. If Song hadn't have saved him he would have been burning on the forest ground at this moment.
"Why did you save me? How did you stumble upon us?" Kuai asked carefully.
"You have no idea who I even am. I could have been working for anyone. Even Shao Kahn." He finished with a darting look up at Song. Song gave a small chuckle that appeared darker than intended.
"I have been following you for quite a few days now. I witnessed your battle with the cyborg, and saw you escape his grasp. I had seen you use the abilities of Cyromancy. I knew then who you were. You had to have been a blood relative of Sub-Zero. After the cyborg exploded I waited a while before moving to the scene of the fight. I found you lying alone on the ground unconscious. Your ally had vanished before I could reach you. I brought you to a hidden cave, and lit a fire to keep you alive. I followed you through these woods to see if you had the will to keep going after such a defeat. I saw you brutally destroy Scorpion's skull with that ice covered branch. I saw your will to survive. Ruthless just like Sub-Zero. When Scorpion deceived you by pretending to be slain I could not let such a potential warrior die in such a fashion. Now here we are." Song explained it all, and Kuai was left puzzled. So many questions were left unanswered in his mind. His first thought was about what happened to Thomas.
"You said my ally had already vanished. How?" Kuai asked hurriedly. He rose to a sitting position.
"That I do not know, I had watched the fight from a distance, and lost sight of the aftermath on my way to it. He was gone, and only blood remained where he had laid." Song said turning back to Kuai.
"So it was you who blew up Cyrax?" Kuai squinted his eyebrows at this question not thinking it possible. Song shook his head.
"No." He said finally. "I assume that you saw what I saw. A black orb flew directly into his back, and then out. He exploded immediately after that." Kuai nodded at Song's words as he too had recalled witnessing that event.
"You said you knew that I was a relative of Sub-Zero. It's true I'm his younger brother, but how do you know of him? Were you friends?" Kuai asked with great interest.
"Not even. Our paths had crossed a few times, and those encounters were brief. I met him the first time on his quest to stop Shinnok, and Quan Chi from invading Earthrealm. He was Raiden's ally in those times. Some say he was even Raiden's first choice of hand-picked warriors to represent Earthrealm at the last Mortal Kombat tournament. I saw your brother's abilities during our short time together, and learned of how he had defeated Shinnok, and Quan Chi. He was indeed a man people feared to cross. That is why I believe you should accompany me in finding Lord Raiden. You have proven to be a somewhat capable warrior, and with Raiden's mentoring I could even see you surpassing your brother's legacy. Help me in helping him save Earthrealm from Shao Kahn's invasion." Song expressed sincerity in his speech. Kuai gave it some thought. He didn't know where he stood on that idea. He felt himself believing Song's words as he had known details of Bi-Han's invitation to Shang Tsung's Island from Lord Raiden. Plus, It would be a lot better to have an ally watching his back on his way to Raiden, for who he was intending to find anyway. Kuai decided he would seek out Lord Raiden and look to confirm Song's speakings of invasions.
"You're making sense to me now. We will find Raiden together, and offer him our aid." Kuai told him in response. Song smiled at this, and put out the fire with a bucket of water.
"Let us go then. We are running out of time." Song spoke as he walked over to Kuai, and offered him a hand. Kuai took it, and stood to his feet. His wounds nagged at him as he did this.
"Your wounds should heal within the next day or two." Song observed.
"Let's hope Scorpion or anyone else doesn't find us in the meantime." Kuai coughed.