The Boy That Changed It All

CHAPTER 7: SMOKE

The scene fades from Sonya's wrist-comm into a barren wasteland. Two ninjas, one in grey, the other in blue, stand among many slain warriors.

SMOKE: We should stay together, Tundra. Assuming your brother's identity will certainly draw attention. Not all of it welcome.

SUB-ZERO: You are right, Smoke. But assuming Bi-Han's identity is the best way to honour him.

SMOKE: Let us proceed then, Sub-Zero.

SUB-ZERO: We should separate. Our fellow Lin Kuei will not be far behind once our absence is discovered.

SMOKE: If only they had been more forthcoming with the details of your brother's demise. We will find Shang Tsung. He will tell us all he knows.

SUB-ZERO: If he killed Bi-Han, he will die.

He turns face to his friend.

SUB-ZERO: Be stealthful as the night...

They both place a hand over their hearts.

SMOKE: ...and deadly as the dawn.

Sub-Zero walks off. As Smoke watches him leave, he turns around at the sound of a new voice.

KITANA: The emperor was wise to send me here. The Lin Kuei do walk uninvited in his realm.

SMOKE: Wise though your emperor might be, he was foolish to send his housemaid to interfere with Lin Kuei business.

KITANA: I am Kitana, Princess of Outworld! And I deal harshly with sharp-tongued intruders!

They fight. Unprepared for Smoke's control over his namesake, Kitana finds herself at a disadvantage and is overwhelmed by his attacks. The melee ends with her unconscious.

SMOKE: Where there is Smoke, there is fire.

He checks over Kitana, who is out cold.

SMOKE: Sleep well, princess.

Smoke walks off into the Living Forest, where he spots Kano and Shang Tsung testing out a pair of RPG launchers.

KANO: With a whole army totin' these, no one in Outworld or Earthrealm could stand up to you.

He shoots off an RPG into the distance while Tsung examines another launcher.

SHANG TSUNG: Well done. You may tell your fellow Black Dragon that I am very interested in your merchandise.

As Kano shoots off another RPG, Smoke walks into the clearing.

SMOKE: Shang Tsung!

Both Tsung and Kano look rather bothered at the intrusion.

KANO: I'll take care of him. No charge.

He puts down the rocket launcher and walks toward Smoke.

KANO: One dead Lin Kuei in a tick.

They fight. As brutal a fighter as Kano is, Smoke manages to take advantage of his lack of discipline to take the fight to him. He soon leaves the leader of the Black Dragon down for the count.

SMOKE: Stay down. I would have words with your associate.

Shang Tsung now walks into Smoke's path.

SMOKE: Tell me what you know of Sub-Zero's death.

Reptile suddenly appears next to Tsung and snarls, ready for combat. Tsung stops him from advancing and then morphs into Bi-Han.

SMOKE: What?

When Tsung speaks, his voice is of the elder Sub-Zero.

SHANG TSUNG: Despite his failure at my tournament, I'll wager he was more powerful than you, Lin Kuei.

SMOKE: Assuming his form will not give you his skill, shapeshifter.

SHANG TSUNG: Let us see if smoke can freeze.

They fight. Tasked with facing both Reptile and Sub-Zero at once, Smoke ends up in one of the most difficult fights of his life. Nonetheless, he uses all of his skill and tricks and manages to defeat both kombatants. The fight over, Shang Tsung morphs back into his regular form.

SMOKE: Now answer me! What do you know of Sub-Zero?

Smoke gets punched in the face by an invisible attacker.

SMOKE: What?

SEKTOR: Smoke!

As Smoke looks around, he gets hit in the stomach. He's struck twice more and staggers back. Smiling at the distraction, Shang Tsung conjures up his magic and teleports himself, Reptile and the cache of weapons away (Kano has also slipped away in the melee). Meanwhile, Sektor disables his camouflage and stands in front of Smoke - but not as a human. He is now completely encased in a metal exoskeleton - in other words, he's a cyborg.

SEKTOR: You have disobeyed the directive to remain at the Lin Kuei temple.

SMOKE: Sektor?!

SEKTOR: You will return with us to begin your transformation.

SMOKE: You actually did it... You're a cyborg!

SEKTOR: We are the Lin Kuei. More stealthful than the night... more deadly than the dawn!

They fight. The battle is intense and fierce, as Sektor has a clear advantage with his technology and upgrades, forcing Smoke to use every trick at his disposal to keep in the fight. Through sheer determination, Smoke manages to defeat the machine.

SMOKE: I will never submit!

As he turns to leave the area, several more cyborgs teleport into the fray and surround Smoke. They restrain him using some sort of pulse charge emitting from their arms. Just then, Raiden teleports into the area with Johnny Cage and Y/N.

RAIDEN: There is great energy nearby.

Y/N: Yes I feel the same.

JOHNNY CAGE: Um... Rai-dude... Y/-dude...

He points over to where Smoke and the cyborgs are. Raiden receives another vision; this time of Smoke turning into a cyborg.

RAIDEN: They must not take him.

Y/N nods his head as both Raiden and him charges up a lightning strike and fires it at the cyborgs. The lightning shocks all of the cyborgs at once, stopping them from restraining Smoke. Sektor gets back to his feet and, noting the disadvantage he's now at, activates his stealth camouflage and disappears. The remaining cyborgs, all shorted out by the electricity, collapse on the ground, leaving only Smoke standing. As he sees Johnny Cage, Y/N and Raiden approach him, Smoke crosses himself and kneels in front of Raiden.

SMOKE: Thank you, Lord Raiden and Y/N. I am called Smoke.

He stands up.

SMOKE: Why are you here in Outworld?

RAIDEN: To participate in a tournament to save Earthrealm. Join us, Smoke.

SMOKE: Forgive me, but if Sektor was searching for me, he is hunting Sub-Zero as well.

JOHNNY CAGE: Sub-Zero? Call me crazy with a K... but didn't we see him die?

SMOKE: The Grand Master intends to turn every Lin Kuei into a cyborg. My friend is in danger.

Y/N: The tournament I have a feeling your friend will be there. And if he is then he will be in danger.

SMOKE: Then let us go. Sub-Zero's soul depends on it.