Chapter 4: Snow Daggers
Frost and the group continue their adventure to these mysterious four locations. The closest one in Inuit, Articka. Right now, it is beyond to them what they hold precisely. All they know is that Triborg is after them. They must be too valuable for him to pass up on. Frost, Smoke and Cyrax all wonder what it is. It is assumed that they hold some sort of ancient power. The remaining Lin Kuie remains in stealth while rushing along to get ahead of Triborg, fearing Earthrealm's fate.
"Without a doubt, the new Cyber Lin Kuie will catch up to us." Cyrax points out. While Frost leads the way since she has the map installed within her, Cyrax and Smoke take turns checking the rear, so no one is following them. Cyrax takes things more seriously due to his hatred.
"That is why we must stay ahead. Triborg may be searching the entire continent now for all we know." Smoke said.
"We do not even know what we are looking for. It could be dangerous for all we know." Cyrax said.
"And that is why we must find it first. We can only hope that this thing that Triborg is searching for, we can possibly use that against him and destroy him." Frost said.
"But must we use such things against him? Surely we don't need what we are searching for to turn against Triborg. We know he has the personality of Sektor and all of our moves." Cyrax said with a hint of doubt.
"True. But he is stronger than Sub-Zero. Sub-Zero himself was better than all of us. And not to mention your powers, Sub-Zero's included." Frost reminds him.
"That's why we have no choice but to get to these findings before he does." Smoke said.
Cyrax still has some doubts about the plan. He thinks that they should stand on their own and face Triborg without them. But at the same time, he knows that it's too risky, which can cost them their lives. He feels more angry with his friend gone and Frost as the leader since her condition. Smoke and Frost share the same feeling, with Smoke wishing it was him instead, and Frost, while being hotheaded, though not as much as she was in the Old Era, wants to go to lengths to avenge Liang, but given the teachings she relearned, her ego and brashness has since gone down.
An hour later, the remaining Lin Kuie have reached the first location according to the map. It looks like yet another cave. From what they could tell, much to their relief, that it is no Cyber Lin Kuie factory. Instead it feels like an old Lin Kuie home to them. But how?
"This is the place. We're right on top of it." Frost said, holding out the map projector in her palm. They continue to enter as they look around while remaining on guard for anything other than cyborgs.
"Something feels odd about this place. I have never been here before in my old days." Smoke said.
"Me neither. I did not get my chance to learn all history of the Lin Kuie before I left before my capture." Cyrax said.
"Then we must not waste anymore time. Triborg will be here at any time now." Frost said.
All of a sudden, the cave's entrance is suddenly blocked by a thick ice wall and a moment later, a snow barrier was placed in front of it. "Frost. Why did you do that?" Cyrax asked her.
"That wasn't me." Frost said. Before one of them could attack the snow barrier, six giants made of ice and snow come out of thin air and materialize. They begin to approach the three, leading Cyrax to throw microbombs at them. But they have little affect when one of them holds its arm out and blocks them. Smoke disappears to try to get through the barrier, but it immediately pushes him towards the snow giants, with two of them grabbing Smoke by the arms. Frost attempts to summon an ice dagger to stab them, but two more swiftly grab her wrists and hold her. Cyrax tries to run up to them to uppercut his blades into them, but one of them punches Cyrax on top of the head, knocking him down. Frost attempts to break free, but their grip was too strong. The last two giants grab a dazed Cyrax and drag him along while forcing Frost and Smoke to walk while their arms are held behind their backs.
The three captured Lin Kuie members are led deeper into the cave while held by the six snow giants. They walk through another entrance and as soon as the nine enter, the gate seals shut because of a mystical barrier. The room they are in appears to have symbols written in some form of language. It's written on the floors and walls. In the middle, is a blue well. Something about this place gives Frost a familiar feeling. "You have made a mistake coming here, Lin Kuie." A voice said.
"Who are you? Show yourself." Frost demanded. They look around to follow the echoing voice, but they couldn't find anyone. Cyrax begins to wake up and starts hearing the voice.
Ice-like crystals start flowing in the air in circles. They send a chilling wind past the three captives, but it doesn't even give them the chills. One by one, the crystals start hovering down to the ground and seem to be forming something. Forming someone. A humanoid-like creature made from the crystals has formed. The form matches that of a woman, with crystal-like hair sticking up, similar to Frost and appearances nearly matching hers back when she was human.
"What is this? Who are you?" Cyrax asked.
The crystal figure starts approaching them slowly and the three attempt to break three, but to no avail. As the figure walked closer to them, it looks at them without even blinking an eye. After a stern look, it looks up at the six snow giants holding them. "Release them."
The snow giants comply within a second and let go of the three Lin Kuie members. As soon as they did that, the three get into a stance. "It was your mistake of letting us go like that. Your henchmen were the first to attack us and trap us." Frost said.
"I must apologize. We do whatever is necessary to protect our homes from unwanted guests. I am Crystesla. The guardian of this ancient place. It may seem like an ordinary cave, but it is something more." Crystesla introduces herself.
"What do you mean to protect this place? From who and why?" Cyrax asked.
"From all outsides of Articka, regardless of how good or evil they are. That unfortunately includes the Lin Kuie and Cyber Lin Kuie." Crystesla stated.
Cyrax was about to get out his wrist blades, until Frost puts an arm up to block Cyrax, telling him to stand down. "What do you mean? How do you know of the Lin Kuie and Cyber Lin Kuie? I have studies creatures like you. You're a crystalnoid." Frost said.
"Yes. Crystalnoids have existed for many generations, starting when the founder of the Lin Kuie was born." Crystesla said.
"The founder. That was before Sektor's father was born." Cyrax pointed out.
"Indeed. The founder of the Lin Kuie was the first ancestor of the mantle of Sub-Zero. I know all about your clan. Your former rivalry with the Shirai Ryu and current war with the Cyber Lin Kuie." Crystesla explained.
"That's why we came here. Triborg, who's real name is Sektor, is after something here. We don't even know what he is looking for." Frost said.
"And you wish to use what you seek here against Sektor?" Crystesla asked.
"Yes. To kill him and avenge Kuai Liang." Smoke said.
"That is something I cannot do. I will not have my race involved in another war. Begone. Be fortunate that I let you live." Crystesla demanded.
"Another war? Wait. What do you mean by that?" Frost asked, catching up to the crystalnoid.
Crystesla turns back around and looks at Frost. She sees something in the young cryomancer's eyes. Something different from previous encounters. Looks like desperation, anger, sadness in Frost's eyes. "Hmm. I see no harm in telling you the real history. Come. Let us sit and I shall explain." Crystesla tells them.
Frost looks back at Smoke and Cyrax and nods to them. They nod back and follow Crystesla. Crystesla holds her arms out in the air and the ceiling opens and an old book comes down to her. She looks into it, looking at more than several pages. Crystesla sees all she needs to explain and the book flows back up. She looks at the three Lin Kuie members, ready to explain.
"There has been a war in East and West Antarticka many years ago. Between the crystalnoids, the Lin Kuie and Cyber Lin Kuie." Crystesla said. This ends up catching everyone off guard. They initially believed that the Cyber Initiative was founded before the tournament, not this early.
"The Cyber Initiative existed before? We thought Sektor's father was the one who founded it. Before the Mortal Kombat tournament hosted by Shang Tsung." Cyrax said.
"That is where you are wrong. The first Sub-Zero founded the Lin Kuie. However, unknown to even Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, he had a brother named Hail. They shared blood, but stopped calling each other brothers. The first Sub-Zero and his brother founded the Lin Kuie, and trained all members to fight and keep peace. They remained neutral, refusing to side with anyone good or evil. When they trained to fight, they were taught mercy. The brother, however, disagreed. He believed that the Lin Kuie should not show mercy and kill all enemies. This strained his relationship with the first Sub-Zero. As a result, he left the clan, and took nearly half the ninjas with him upon agreeing with the brother, sharing his goals." Crystesla said.
And that must be where the brother founded the Cyber Lin Kuie. And they started the fighting. It is called the Kold War" Frost guessed.
"Precisely. The brother believed that emotions and insubordination should be eliminated. He discovered the technology means to do so. The brother was the first subject to the initiative and succeeded. He became his own grandmaster and considered the Lin Kuie inferior to his cyber clan. They waged war. More than several lives were lost. Though the brother was a superior fighter, he was bested in kombat due to the first Sub-Zero's cryomancer abilities." Crystesla explained.
"So the brother lost. Did the first Sub-Zero kill him?" Smoke asked.
"No. He was granted mercy, believing that the brother should live out in shame over his actions. That however, proved to be a mistake. Before they separated, they studied together, many things. One thing they discovered, was us. We crystalnoids are also cryomancers. We are the reasons why humans are also cryomancers. The first Sub-Zero's mother and father met mine. They rescued mine from being killed when outsiders planned to attack us. We sworn an oath to protect each other. They helped us, so we helped them in return. We performed an ancient ritual on the parents and granted them cryomancer abilities. However, when their son was born and years later became aware of his abilities. He himself founded the name Sub-Zero." Crystesla explained.
"And the name was passed down to his grandchildren Bi-Han and Kuai Liang." Cyrax said.
"But what does your race have to do with the Kold War? What happened that caused the oath to break apart and become neutral towards the clans?" Frost asked.
"How the ritual works is there are four mystic weapons. They are called Snow Daggers. How it is performed is the person is stabbed in the, shoulders, heart and forehead, but not too lethal, otherwise that person would die. The first Sub-Zero went through the ritual and let him pick the name of the mantle and he chose Sub-Zero." Crystesla said.
"And the brother remembered his studies and planned to find these snow daggers to take his revenge." Frost said.
"Indeed. He realized that if he were to use all of these daggers on himself, he would also be granted the powers of Sub-Zero. However, the two brothers have met us before and they made a promise to not use the power for evil. The brother broke that oath and tended to steal the snow daggers for himself. The first Sub-Zero became aware of his intentions and tended to take the snow daggers to ensure absolute victory against his brother. That was when my race was dragged into this Kold War." Crystesla said.
"We can tell your race has survived. But what happened to the clans during the war?" Frost asked.
"The Cyber Lin Kuie was destroyed, but at the cost of three quarters of the Lin Kuie. The original Sub-Zero survived. The brother, named Hail was killed. He realized his mistake of breaking the oath as well and granting his brother mercy proved to be the last straw. We have hidden away the snow daggers so that no one can abuse their powers ever again." Crystesla explained.
"And the first Sub-Zero vanished?" Cyrax asked.
"Yes. He took whoever was left and went into exile. While there, he met Sektor's father, who at the time was a toddler and an orphan. He was taken in by the first Sub-Zero and trained into the Lin Kuei in Articka." Crystesla tells them.
"And then many years later, the first Sub-Zero had his own children, a son. His son became the father of Bi-Han and Kuai Liang." Smoke said.
"And that must've been where Sektor's father was chosen to succeed the first Sub-Zero after he passed away. He became grandmaster of the Lin Kuei prior to the Mortal Kombat tournament in Earthrealm." Cyrax said.
"And you two as well as Bi-Han and Kuai Liang were part of the clan at the time. Sektor's father suggested reviving the Cyber Lin Kuie to delete insubordination." Frost said.
"After the tournament, another was held in Outworld. During that time, Sektor killed his own father and became grandmaster and pushed the Cyber Lin Kuie." Cyrax said.
"The grandmaster heard about the Kold War and idolized Hail. And of course, Bi-Han died at the hands of Scorpion and Liang became the new Sub-Zero. You and your friends Smoke and Kuai Liang were nearly victimized into the cyber clan. Sektor's plan would have worked if it weren't for your friends Liu Kang saving Sub-Zero, Fujin saving Smoke and Nightwolf saving Cyrax. But at the cost of Sektor escaping. I know of all of this because my warriors have been watching both clans for so long." Crystesla said.
What she does not know is the reason how they were saved was because of Alex Cage and Fire God Liu Kang changing history with the hourglass and making the improvements before the New Era was born. Frost, Cyrax and Smoke have known that. Kuai Liang also knew before he died.
"And now history is starting to repeat itself. I just realized. Sektor wants to find these four snow daggers so he could use them to obtain the powers of Sub-Zero and conquer Earthrealm." Frost pointed out.
"So that is his plan. To follow in the brother's footsteps. Conquer Earthrealm." Cyrax said.
"What do we do now?" Smoke asked.
The three were unsure what to do. Whether they are better off standing on their own, or use a matter of persuasion. Frost thinks about the backstory they were just told. About what the war costed them. How the Kold War turned out. Frost looks on in reluctance. "We understand if you do not want to help us, Crystesla. If Liang were here, he would've agreed. We didn't ask to be part of a Kold War. I know what they have both done was wrong. We did not want to be part of it, but given that Sektor has threatened Earthrealm many times, we had no choice but to defend it."
"Frost." Smoke said.
"No. We do not want to repeat the same mistakes the first Sub-Zero and his brother made before. The best thing we can do now is stand on our own." Frost said. She attempts to leave with the two following behind her, but the six snow giants guard the exit and blocking them.
"I have never seen this before." Crystesla said.
"Crystesla?" Frost asked, turning around.
"This. Someone with honesty and compassion. Something that no one has had before. Frost. I see your eyes. I can tell you speak from personal experience." Crystesla stated.
"Because of my previous actions against Liang. I realized my mistakes and saw he was right. And I was afraid of being accepted back into the clan after my actions and became this." Frost said.
"Because you're afraid. You still wish to show redemption. Defend the home. I no longer sense any greed within you. Only those who are honest with each other and themselves can become worthy of the mantle of Sub-Zero." Crystesla said.
"But how? I may be a cryomancer, but I'm no Sub-Zero. I didn't think I would ever be." Frost said.
"But given that you are willingly wanting to sacrifice yourself for the greater good, including wanting to avoid getting the crystalnoids involved, that means there is a chance. In order to prove your chance, you must face tests." Crystesla tells her.
"Tests? How? Where?" Frost looks at the crystal woman.
"I will explain to you as we go, Frost. Come. "Crystesla walks and the three follow her. Crystesla places a hand on the wall in the center of a symbol. The symbol resembles Crystesla herself. It lights up and it gives way. The wall starts sliding upwards, revealing a new passageway. Crystesla gestures for them to follow her inside.
Note: Meet a new species and a new OC character named Crytesla. There's not much to say about this chapter. But next chapter will have a rather interesting backstory. As for MK1, I plan on playing it soon. Really hoping to make either Johnny Cage or Smoke my main. Until next time!