Bi-Han glanced at himself in the mirror, seeing his reflection and the one who lay behind him, a shadow figure of some sort. Even after a few months, the shadow still haunts him, gaining control slowly but surely. It drills its way into his mind, and with no cure found yet to this curse that had been cast upon him by Quan Chi, his fate is uncertain. After Quan Chi's curse, Bi-Han had come to Raiden for guidance, but even Lord Raiden had no answers, no cure for him. Only empty words of assurance and "guidance." Bi-Han decided to forget about it; for now, the ship to the island awaited, and the tournament awaited.

As the current Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei, Earth realm protectors, Bi-Han is required to attend every 15 years to the pre-meeting to decide the terms of the tournament. Accompanied by his most trusted warriors on the trip, Tundra, a cryomancer who was also his brother; Smoke, a Typhokinemancer (controls smoke) who was his adopted brother; Cyrax, a technology specialist, and his best friend; and Sektor, a weapon expert, and his most strategic warrior.

"Are you ok, brother?" Asked a concerned Kuai Liang,

Bi-Han turned around to find his brother standing in the doorway of his cabin on the boat. His brother dawning the robes he had once dawned as Tundra before becoming Sub-Zero.

"Yes, Kuai Liang, I was just thinking, lost in my own thoughts, are you prepared for your first tournament?" Asked Bi-Han, quickly changing the subject,

"Very much, Grandmaster, it is an honor to be here among you and the rest of the Lin Kuei. I'm unsure if I'm ready to don the honor of Tundra, of representing the Earth realm in the tournament," responded Kuai Liang.

Bi-Han smirks as he walks over to Kuai Liang, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder. "You are more ready than I was, our father would be proud of you, Tundra"

The boat's horn sounds just then, signaling that they have arrived, the island awaiting them. Bi-Han and Kuai Liang emerge to the top of the ship, turning and seeing the vast island before them; Kuai Liang is in awe of the beauty of the island, in contrast to Bi-Han's concern. How had they arrived at Shang Tsung Island before Lord Raiden and the Shaolin monks? It should be impossible, after all the boats had departed together. Bi-Han turned and started walking towards the ship's upper deck, determined to find out what happened. At the top of the ship, Sektor stood, steering the ship to the shore. Sektor hears Bi-Han enter, turns around, puts his fist in his hand, and bows.

"Grandmaster Bi-Han, how may I be of service?" asked Sektor

"How is it that we have arrived before Lord Raiden and the monks?" Inquired Bi-Han

"There was a storm, Bi-Han, and we must have lost—"

"You shall call me Grandmaster only." Interrupts Bi-Han

Sektors stares for a moment and then responds, "My apologies, Grandmaster. As I stated before, there was a storm; Raiden's ship must have gotten lost or slowed down in the storm. I was able to steer us through the storm."

Bi-Han stands there for a moment, staring Sektor straight in the eye. How is this possible? How does the god of lightning, Raiden, become lost in the middle of the storm? Unless Sektor is trying to deceive Bi-Han, would he abandon his teachings? Bi-Han can feel his rage rising; he can feel the shadow calling to take control.

Sektor interrupts the silence between them: "If you would like to verify, Grandmaster, I believe Cyrax was awake during the whole ordeal."

Bi-Han stares at Sektor for a little longer and then leaves to talk to Cyrax, slamming the door behind him. Kuai Liang turns to see Bi-Han coming down the stairs. Seeing the anger on his brother's face, Kuai Liang asks

"What is wrong, brother?"

Bi-Han walks past him, then turns and responds, "We have arrived before Lord Raiden; this should be impossible. Watch Sektor; I must go find Cyrax."

"Yes, Grandmaster." Kuai Liang responds.

Bi-Han storms across the ship, his mind racing with thoughts of worry; this wouldn't be the first time Sektor tried to defy him. When Bi-Han took over the clan and became Grandmaster, Sektor objected, stating that he was too young to fill the role of Grandmaster and that someone stronger and wiser should become Grandmaster. Bi-Han sees through this and knows Sektor wishes to control the clan.

Bi-Han arrives at the lower deck, finding Cyrax and Smoke talking.

"Cyrax, may I have a word?" inquired Bi-Han urgently.

Cyrax and Smoke look over, confused. "Why yes, Grandmaster," responds Cyrax.

The two walk into a room together with Bi-Han slamming the door, turning around to face Cyrax, crossing his arms.

"Sektor has told me that a storm had interrupted ours and the Shaolin's journey to the island. Is this true, Cyrax, or is Sektor trying to deceive me again?" asked Bi-Han

"I can assure you, Grandmaster, that Sektor is telling the truth: the storm was volatile, and the water seemed to be almost fighting Lord Raiden and Fujin's ship. A loud chanting could almost be heard in the distance; a green hue took the sky," answered Cyrax truthfully.

Bi-Han raised an eyebrow; Sektor had left out key details. Could this be a coincidence? Perhaps he was focused on steering the ship safely, but how would one not notice that the very sky was turning green?

"Who else have you told?" Asked Bi-Han, puzzled.

"Just you, Grandmaster," responded Cyrax.

"It must stay that way, Cyrax. I believe this is the work of the sorcerer Quan Chi, and if I am correct, we and the Earth realm are both in danger. If Sektor asks, all you told me was that there was a storm and we were separated from Lord Raiden," orders Bi-Han.

"Yes, Grandmaster," says Cyrax as he bows with a fist in hand.

The ship's horns blared, and talking is heard above; the ship has safely made it to shore. Bi-Han rushed to the top deck to meet the representatives from Outworld. Bi-Han emerges from the lower deck to see Kuai Liang and Sektor helping to tie the ship to the deck.

Bi-Han quickly hops off the deck and approaches the representatives that Outworld had sent, preparing to explain their unfortunate situation while still showing strength. A man with spikes sticking out of his forearms approached, razor-sharp, with huge teeth, dressed in ceremonial robes. To many Earth realmers, they would see a monster; to Bi-Han, he sees an old friend.

"Senator Baraka, it's good to see you," says Bi-Han while bowing.

"It is good to see you as well, Grandmaster Bi-Han. I'm glad to see you made it safely, but where are Lord Raiden, Fujin, and the Shaolin monks?" Asked Baraka

"They have been delayed but shall still arrive. I assure you they mean no disrespect." Bi-Han answers strongly.

Baraka thinks for a moment, then waves his hand, signaling for the Outworld troops to help grab their luggage, and says a phrase in a language Bi-Han does not quite understand.

"Come, Grandmaster, I shall show you to the living quarters." Invites Baraka

Bi-Han and the rest of the Lin Kuei follow; Bi-Han and Cyrax are on high alert through the whole forest; every noise makes them turn their heads. Kui Liang and Smoke are in awe of the beauty of the forest, its wonder drawing them in as it drew in Bi-Han to his first tournament. Sektor, with a smirk on his face, looks as if he has not a care in the world. Bi-Han notices this, and it angers him even more.

"Welcome to Shang Tsung Keep. You will stay here along with the rest of the Earthrealmers once they arrive." Presented Baraka

A giant structure, a marvel of architecture, lay before the group.

"Thank you, senator," responded Bi-Han.

The group is escorted to their living quarters and is given an hour to rest before reconvening in Bi-Han's room to discuss plans while they wait for Lord Raiden. One by one, the Lin Kuei reconvenes in Bi-Han's room. Sektor and Smoke are the last, gaining a disapproving scowl from Bi-Han.

"Now that we are all here, we can finally start our plans. As usual, we shall scout out the island tonight. While we don't have Raiden's aid, we shall still be swift and concise. Smoke and Tundra shall come with me to scout the west side, and Cyrax and Sektor shall scout the east side, understood?" Explained Bi-Han

"Yes, Grandmaster," they all say in unison.

"We leave at sundown," Bi-Han states as the group leaves his room.

Bi-Han walks to his mirror, putting on the Sub-Zero outfit, the dark blue mask fitting snugly against his face; he tightens the gloves around his hands. He looks at himself in the mirror, but his focus is quickly taken away as he spots the shadow sitting in the corner, staring at him. He makes eye contact and stares back, but his gaze is broken when he hears a knock at the door.

"Grandmaster, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Smoke, please come in; it is of the utmost importance," responded Bi-Han.

Smoke walks in, takes off his mask, and bows.

"Tomas, Brother, I must know what you and Sektor were doing before our meeting; we may be in trouble," Bi-Han asks gently.

Tomas looks away for a moment, sits down, and thinks about it for a moment before responding, "He asked me if I believed your leadership was adequate, if—"

Tomas pauses for a moment.

"If I believe there should be a leadership change,"

Tomas looks at Bi-Han; despite half of his face being covered, anger is visible on his face, and his hatred for Sektor begins to rise. His eyes pierce Tomas, and Bi-Han clenches his fist.

"Brother, I'm sorry. What I told him—"

Bi-Han charges Tomas, grabbing him and pinning him against the wall; he looks Tomas straight in the eye. Hatred fills his soul.

"WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME!" Bi-Han shouted in Tomas's face.

"Brother, please—" Tomas says while struggling, "I was going to tell you after tonight to not compromise the operation."

Bi-Han's grip tightens, and he can hear the shadow calling, but he doesn't care; his anger has almost taken control.

"Or you were planning to betray me, Smoke, tonight I would imagine," Bi-Han says angrily.

"Bi-Han, I would never, my brother, my grandmaster. I told him he was crazy and that you would hear about it. Please, brother, I would never betray you." Tomas pleads, still struggling

Bi-Han's grip loosens a little, and his breathing becomes calmer, before fully letting go of Tomas. He stumbles back, bracing himself on his bed, looking down ashamed of himself, before slouching to the floor. His anger almost got the better of him again.

"Tomas, I am sorry. I should have just—

"It's okay, grandmaster; you're under a lot of stress and pressure," Tomas says as he extends a hand forward to help him up.

"Thank you, Tomas, now leave me; I have much to think about. I will see you at sundown," Bi-Han says, turning away and looking out his window. Tomas hesitated for a bit about to say something, then left the Grandmaster's room silently without another word said.