From a Woman's Point of View

Temporary Truce

It was becoming a restless cycle, journey-eat-journey-fight-journey-sleep; although it wasn't always in that exact order. Even though they had only been following the cycle for two days, Sub-zero was getting tired of it. Outworld was like a desert, it was scorching hot in the day and ice cold at night. After defeating the beasts that ambushed them for the third time, Sub-zero collapsed. Luckily, she was caught by Scorpion.

"Are you all right?" he asked her. Sub-zero was dizzy.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She tried to say, but it came out like mush.

Scorpion squinted. "As much as I hate delays, you obviously need to rest. We can continue the journey tomorrow, let's go find a cave."

"Really, I'm fine Scorpion." She lied. Scorpion scowled at her. "Fine…It's just the heat…" She groaned.

"I guess you aren't accustomed to the heat…Well, I guess being in the Netherrealm does pay off." He chuckled, surprising her. "Come on, let's go." Just when Sub-zero was about to stand up, the floor disappeared under her and she only realized what was happening moments later.

"I'm fine Scorpion! Put me down!" Her words fell on deaf ears as Scorpion walked on while carrying her in his arms. She stopped protesting and sighed. She closed her eyes.

It felt like only a few minutes later when she heard Scorpion singing. Her eyelids fluttered open. She tried to stand up but her head spun when she did and she groaned. The singing stopped.

"Are you feeling any better?" he asked.

"I think so." She lied. She felt worse.

He stood up and made his way towards her. He sat down and placed his hand on her head. His hand was cool compared to the heat she felt in her body. He sighed and shook his head.

"You should stop lying. You're hot." After a few seconds, he realized that that sounded all wrong. "I-I meant that literally." He muttered in embarrassment. Sub-zero blushed for a moment and was glad she was wearing a mask.

Sub-zero sat up and leaned on the wall. Scorpion looked at her anxiously.

"Thanks for worrying." She said to him. He looked away.

"I don't give a damn about what happens to you...but Raiden would kill me if you died or if I bring you there in less than perfect condition." He replied, still looking away. Sub-zero deflated.

"Oh." Was all she said and she closed her eyes. When was the last time I got sick? She asked herself. Perhaps it was her body's inability to keep up with her. After all, she still was not used to her body and its decreased stamina. Although she was more agile than she was before, her body was not as strong.

Sub-zero groaned. Her head hurt and, to her surprise she was shivering. She never shivered. And, for some strange reason, she felt even worse after she heard Scorpion's reply.

"You were asleep for quite some time." He finally said, breaking the silence. She merely nodded. Then, silence ensued once again. Then, Sub-zero felt her throat tighten, as if something were blocking it. Was she…going to cry? Sub-zero was surprised at her lack of control. She forced herself to stare at the crackling flames until the tears that sprang forth in her eyes evaporated. However, one of those pesky tears escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

She looked away, away, from Scorpion, away from the fire.

Why was she crying? She had no idea. She just…felt like doing so. After the first tear fell, several others followed.

"W-why are you crying?" Scorpion finally noticed. He sounded horrified at the thought. He probably never dealt with crying women often. "Stop it! You're crying is echoing in this cave."

"Shut the hell up." Sub-zero shot him an icy glare, which silenced his incessant rambling.

After a few moments she stopped.

"Am I allowed to speak now?" He asked sarcastically. "Are you all right now?" he asked in the same tone, but it was mixed with something else.

She nodded. She felt relieved after crying, like a big burden was taken off her shoulders. The last time she cried was when her brother had died. She sighed and shook her head. Why did Scorpion have such an effect on me? She dismissed the thought.

Sub-zero leaned her head on her knee.

"You know, you never really finished your story." She finally said.

"What story?" he asked, confused. Apparently, that wasn't what he was expecting.

"Your life story, Scorpion. What happened after you were given life?" she asked him trying to keep her patience in check.

"You mean after I became a ninja specter?" she nodded. He sighed. "Well, I won't delve into details. I finally found him during the Mortal Kombat Tournament and there, I had my revenge. Then, I returned to the pits of Netherrealm." He paused. "A year later, somebody hosted yet another Mortal Kombat Tournament. I heard that Sub-zero was going to fight. I was enraged that somehow my murderer managed to escape the fiery pits of Hell. But during the Tournament, I was able to watch a match between Sub-zero and somebody. And what I saw surprised me."

"What did you see?" she asked, her curiosity kindled.

"Sub-zero…spared the person's life. Then I realized that that couldn't be the same Sub-zero that I killed. So, I promised to myself that I wouldn't harm this younger Sub-zero because he was not my murderer. So after that, I returned to the Netherrealm." Then his expression turned fierce. "Quan Chi then asked me why I did not kill the younger one…I gave him my reason and he laughed coldly."

"'The younger Sub-zero was the person who murdered your whole clan.' He told me. He even created visions that show that Sub-zero killed my wife and child." Sub-zero heard him clench his teeth behind his mask. "He even went so far as to show me that Sub-zero raped my wife before killing her." He let out a sigh. "I was stupid enough to believe it. I hunted Sub-zero down and defeated him. After doing so, he proclaimed his innocence and Quan Chi revealed to me that he was the one who killed my clan. He tried to send me back to Netherrealm but I ran towards him and grabbed his shirt, therefore, sending both of us to Hell. There, I tormented him."

"You should go sleep now; you might get worse if you don't."

"Zeiva…" he said.

These were the last words Sub-zero heard before sleep had claimed her.