Heart of Ice

Heart of Ice

Chapter one: Vengeance

The day was bright and radiant in the Wu Shi Academy, as it was for most of the day's there. The sun shone warmly on the cobblestone temple grounds and statues of honoured Shaolin warriors and monks seemed to glow under the sun. The temple grounds were as peaceful as ever. The birds were singing sweet songs as they flew from tree to tree. The stream in the middle of the grounds flowed without disturbance and the flowers that surrounded it were in full bloom. A lone man was sitting on a stone bench by the stream. This man's mood was not at all equal to the peacefulness of the temple grounds.

This man's name was Kuai Liang, but he was mostly known as Sub Zero.

Sub Zero sat on the bench lost in his thought's as he contemplated his fate.

'The Lin Kuei will find me. I know it. But when?'

Thoughts like this were not uncommon to him these day's as he knew he was going to be slain by the clan he once called family. He felt betrayed and empty as he gave his life and full devotion and loyalty to the clan and they repay him by attempting to capture him and turn him into a mindless slave. He also thought that he also somewhat deserved the fate he had been given, as he had dishonoured his clan by shameful desertion, even though his reason was justified, he still felt as there was no grey area. Desertion was desertion, and there was no way in getting around the oath he had broken. That very oath he broke had now cost him his life. While it might not come right now or in the next few days, he knew it was coming and there was nothing he could do about it. While he was a deadly assassin, he could not fight all the Lin Kuei in they're new cyborg forms, not to mention Sektor and Cyrax. Those names also brought sadness to him. He once called those men friend and now they were leading the hunt to find him and kill him.

Or worse.

These thought's were not the main reason for his sorrow. The unjust murder of his brother and his failure to avenge him weighed heavily on his mind. He cursed Scorpion in his thought's. He murdered his brother in cold blood. The worst part about it to him was that he still did not understand why. Why had his brother been slain? He asked this question daily to himself, he had even consulted Raiden on it and even the god of thunder had no idea why his brother died. He was sick of it. He wanted his answers. He had to avenge his brother. Then he could finally be at peace and die knowing his task had been successful.

"Does something trouble you, Sub Zero?"

This knocked Sub Zero out of this train of thought and he turned on the bench to see who it was. Raiden and Liu Kang stood there looking concerned.

"I am fine." He lied.

"You do not look it. Something is clearly on your mind." Liu Kang said sternly.

Sub Zero thought for a second before responding. He saw no reason in not telling them about his final mission, he spoke up.

"I am thinking of Bi-Han, his death still troubles me," He started to explain "I still do not know why he was slain and I must avenge him before the Lin Kuei find me."

"You do not think the Shaolin are capable of protecting you from them?" Liu Kang asked, somewhat offended.

"Not at all. But no one escapes the Lin Kuei. They will find me, and when they do I will be powerless to stop them." He said in a defeated tone.

"I understand your need for revenge Kuai Liang, but revenge can lead to very dark paths." Raiden interjected.

Sub Zero winced at the use of his name. He hated it when people called him that. He did take Raiden's thought's into consideration though, as he had learned that the thunder god was very wise and his words were always worth taking into account. But he was still determined that this mission for revenge would be his last chance to redeem himself for his failure to do so before.

"You must understand Lord Raiden, the Lin Kuei will track me down and when they do, I am doomed. I must defeat Scorpion and avenge my brother before that day happens." He explained with some determination.

Raiden looked at him with scrutinizing eye's for a while until he finally let up his gaze and gave Sub Zero a look of understanding.

"While I still do not condone the path you take, I understand your situation with the Lin Kuei and I can take you to the Netherrealm to find Scorpion." Raiden said to him.

Sub Zero was taken aback by the offer. He had not expected Raiden to come around and agree with him so easily. He stood up to face them both.

"Thank you Lord Raiden. I will accept your offer. I am ready to leave now if that is okay." He said.

"Of course, I will take you now." Raiden replied.

Liu Kang stepped in with his hands together in a bow.

"Good luck, Sub Zero. I hope you find peace." He said with a smile.

Sub Zero bowed back and looked at him with a smile that was hidden under his icy blue mask.

"Thank you Liu Kang, give Kung Lao my regards." He said solemnly.

He nodded to Raiden, signalling that he was ready to begin his final mission. Raiden nodded back and placed his left hand on his shoulder, he then used this right hand to summon lightning from the very sky to his hand. In an instant, Sub Zero's sight of the peaceful grounds of the Wu Shi Academy was replaced by the inferno that was the Netherrealm. He looked around at the hell that surrounded him. Lakes of molten rock surrounded him and the pathway he was on. The bodies of the dead were all impaled on spikes of rock, some of them still moving. When he looked before him he saw that the path lead up to an island in the lake of lava. He could see that the lakes went on for miles, and the whole place had a roof of dark red rock, like the entire place was one huge cave with no exit.

"You will find Scorpion there." Raiden said, gesturing towards the island.

"Thank you Lord Raiden, How will I get back to Earth Realm?" He questioned.

"I will come back to this place in a day's time. If you do not return I will investigate what happened." Raiden told him with a reassuring look.

"Thank you for your help Raiden, I will see you this time tomorrow." Sub Zero replied with a bow.

Raiden bowed back and looked at him.

"Good luck my friend." And with that Raiden vanished with a bolt of lightning.

Sub Zero took a deep breath before he began his journey to island.

"It is time to finish this."