Subzero and Tundra departed from the meeting place immediately after Smoke had left. Subzero hadn't said a word to Tundra since then; as they weaved through the jungle, Subzero's silence was deafening. The pair approached the top of a hill overlooking the tourney grounds. Subzero signed for Tundra to stop, crouching to look at the grounds below. Tundra looked at his brother and saw he was overwhelmed; something had been eating away at him, even before tonight.
"Why did you send Smoke to watch those two? Is there something I need to know about?" Tundra demanded, concerned for both of his brothers. The air was silent for a moment. Subzero didn't react at all to Tundra's comment. He sat there momentarily before turning around and looking his brother in the eye.
"Tundra, what I did is for the well-being of the Lin Kuei; I should have told you more, but I wanted to be sure first before roping you into this," Subzero responded, patting his brother on the arm. He trusted Tundra but was unsure if this was the right time to tell him.
"Please, brother, I must know," Tundra begged. Subzero looked away and stared at the horizon. How much should he tell Tundra? Should he know about the shadow? Subzero thought to himself.
"Sektor is planning a rebellion or some sort of mutiny against me," Subzero answered after much thought. He turned around to see the shocked expression in Tundra's eyes. "You cannot let anyone know until the tournaments end; if Sektor finds out, I fear for what damage he could do."
Tundra sat there, shocked that one of his mentors, one of his friends, could think of betraying him and Subzero. He sat down for a moment, still processing the news. Subzero walked over and sat beside him, debating whether to tell him more.
"Are you sure?" Tundra asked.
"Yes, he asked Smoke earlier about joining him in a rebellion. That's how I figured it out," Subzero responded, looking at Tundra, who was staring off at the arena for the tournament.
"Could he be confused or just frustrated? Maybe it was all a misunderstanding." Tundra tried to reason; Subzero shook his head.
Subzero stood up and turned around to offer his brother his hand. "I am sure of it; we will all be fine and make it through as long as we don't lose sight of the Lin Kuei way of life." Tundra took it, and Subzero hoisted him up. Tundra looked at his brother and nodded in agreement.
The duo took off into the tourney grounds, investigating the site for tampering or Outworld tricks. It would not be the first time traps had been laid down to catch fighters off guard. They stuck to the shadows and rooftops, avoiding all contact with the guards. The journey was successful, concluding earlier than expected and reaching the rendezvous point at the bridge. Subzero patted his brother on the back.
"You have grown into a fierce warrior and a wonderful ninja. I am proud to call you my brother." Subzero praised Tundra, laughed, and smiled at the praise. "So wonderful that we beat the other group here; Smoke probably slowed them down." They both laughed, forgetting about Sektor's plans. Then they could hear the ruffling of leaves, and they both turned around quickly to face the threat. Cyrax emerged bruised and scared from his previous battle.
"Sektor… he attacked us; he had an ally with him," Cryax said, out of breath and collapsing. Subzero and Tundra rushed to help him, but Cyrax could barely stop himself from face-planting on the ground. They hoisted him up, and Tundra supported him with his arm.
"Where is Smoke?" Subzero asked, hoping he had also made it out alive. Cyrax looked up at him with a solemn face.
"They pinned him to a tree, the man in the yellow mask; he called himself Scorpion," Cyrax responded, barely able to get the words out. Subzero's eyes widened at the name. The man he had wronged all those years ago had come back for him, "I did not see if Smoke made it out alive."
"Let's get him across the bridge. We are not safe here. The Temple of Kotal isn't far from here," Subzero commanded, helping Tundra carry Cyrax. The bridge was old and barely held together by the rope and the rotted wood, but it would stand. The gash in the earth below was steep, with almost no way back up.
"Lord Raiden will have to know of this when he arrives, and you must tell him," Subzero told Tundra as they made their way across. Tundra looked at him in confusion.
"And why not you?" Tundra asked.
"Because if it is Scorpion, I will be lucky to make it through the night," Subzero responded. Tundra stopped the group and looked at his brother.
"Who is Scorpion? If he is so formidable, why not take him together?" Tundra protested, angry that his brother was to leave them and that he was planning to lose. Subzero sighed.
"Let us keep walking; once we are beyond the bridge, I will tell you," Subzero responded; the three made it to the end of the bridge and set Cyrax down.
"A long time ago, I worked for the sorcerer Quan Chi; he had an artifact the Lin Kuei desired, and I went behind father's back to get it. He demanded I slaughter another clan, the Shirai Ryu." Tundra's eyes widen with shock. "I came to his village in the night, and I killed all of them one by one. Scorpion, Hanzo tried to stop me, nearly defeating me. In the end, I brought his body to Quan Chi," Subzero informed with regret in his voice, unable to look his brother in the eye while doing so. Tundra sat there speechless with anger and confusion.
"Why did you do this, Bi-Han? How is Scorpion back?" Tundra asked with anger and confusion in his voice. Subzero's head shot up angrily when he heard his real name, but Tundra didn't care.
"I did it to please Father, to have approval; I don't expect you to understand what that is like," Subzero said. "As for Hanzo, Quan Chi used his sorcery to bring him back somehow, to make him his slave. I soon learned of Quan Chi's real plan and went to Lord Raiden for guidance." Tundra stared Subzero directly in the eyes, disgusted with what he had heard and what Subzero had insinuated.
"I know what it is like because you are just like him. Every time I made a mistake, every time Tomas won, you would bombard me with insults!" Tundra yelled, and Subzero backed up a bit. Even when I had succeeded, my speed and precision were insufficient, yet I did not resort to aiding dark sorcerers or pursuing fools' artifacts." Tundra approached Subzero, getting closer while yelling in his face. They sat there in silence for a bit, staring at each other.
"I am sorry, brother. You are a better warrior than me. Let my mistakes guide us not to make them again," Subzero said, trying to put his hand on his brother's shoulder, but Tundra moved away in disgust.
"You still haven't told me everything," Tundra responded, seeing through Subzero. Subzero sighed, telling Tundra that the shadow that haunted his dreams was something he didn't want to do.
"You are right, brother." Subzero looked him in the eyes. "What I tell you now may put everything into perspective; the sorcerer did—"
"Bi-Han!" a voice shouted across the bridge, interrupting him. Subzero shot around to see Sektor and Scorpion on the other side. Sektor smirked as his eyes met Subzero.
"Grab Cyrax and get out of here, Tundra!" Ordered Subzero,
"We can take them together; we can stop them here!" Tundra protested; Bi-Han shook his head.
"Our fight with them is elsewhere; despite all you have heard, please trust me, brother, I am right behind you." Subzero reasoned; Tundra hesitated but nodded, grabbed Cyrax, and headed into the woods.
"Traitor!" Subzero yelled at Sektor.
"The only traitor is you to the Lin Kuei way of life! Long have you led us down the path of being Raiden's lapdog; now, the Lin Kuei shall become the rulers of the Earth Realm!" Sektor shouted back, gesturing with his arms as if he were rousing a crowd. Scorpion, still looking Subzero dead in the eye with rage, pulled out his katana. Subzero stared at Sektor for a moment.
"What have you done with Smoke?" Subzero asked. Sektor laughed.
"The same thing Quan Chi did to you," Sektor responded. The whole time, Subzero's eyes widened with hate. He could feel himself getting closer to the bridge, wanting to stab Sektor. He held his hand out and fashioned an ice sword, stopping at the bridge's entrance. He sat there for a moment, remembering the promise he had made to his brother.
"Hanzo, I am truly sorry for what I have done to you; all I ask is that you spare my brothers and learn from my mistake." Scorpion squinted his eyes at Subzero. "Sektor, you have betrayed the Lin Kuei, and they shall have your head for it, but you shall be even more broken before daybreak." Subzero held his sword high and struck the rope of the bridge, cutting it and collapsing it. Sektor's face filled with shock as Subzero slinked into the forest.