From alt.games.mk Thu Jun 16 23:08:22 1994 Path: panix!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gumby!yale!yale.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!usenet From: Stephen Karstensen Newsgroups: alt.games.mk Subject: Trial by Fire Date: Thu, 16 Jun 94 21:35:36 -0500 Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Lines: 180 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: bos1c.delphi.com This is another bit of MKII fan fiction. Comments welcome. Trial by Fire: The Ascension of Sub Zero He gazed ahead at a spot on the wall...but not directly at it. More like through it and beyond, to a realm where mortal man could not tread, but thought could dwell. And sometimes, when he was at peace...or in danger, and it was deemed necessary...his thought could shape this realm, and draw upon it. He could feel its energy inside him, permeating him, warming him. But this was not enough. Warmth would not do, especially in his chosen specialization. Warmth was too close to happiness. Better to be in control. Aloof, cold, calculating. His was such that he could still draw upon his power in such a state, and his mind was cleared. Calculating and deliberate, his was one that was never shaken. Unbending, and focused on whatever task was at hand. Concentrating, he brought the temperature down in the room. It dropped ever so slowly, until he had to keep from shivering. But then it rose again, to a comfortable level. At the end of this week, he mused...he would no longer have to practice as h ard. His would be a name to reckon with, and like the dreaded avalanche, one to fear. And yet? The competition had been on the minds of the Lin Kuei's elders for some time now. All were sure of the outcome, for his foe had not yet the mastery. While he was one to extend, and draw upon his power, the one he was to face tore holes to the beyond, letting such energies pour through unchecked. He was reckless, and control was beyond him. All knew that the winner sat within this meditation room, and yet they feared that his enemy would break tradition and risk dishonorable combat. When finally in his chambers, sleep came easily. Dawn broke, and as he donned his uniform, he caught a quick glance at himself in the mirror. Pausing the merest of moments, he nodded in satisfcation before pulling the black hood over his head, and f ixing the blue facemask in place. The time was now, and he would show his opponent what the lack of control would bring. The others milled about: hopefuls like Tornado, and veterans such as Smoke. He lifted his head to survey the courtyard of their secret complex. His uniform was simple enough: a black bodysuit and padded tabi bootsocks. A wide, ice blue sash served as a belt, and two wide bands of blue stretched up over his shoulders from the belt, down the back. His face was covered from the bridge of the nose down in a blue mask, and his eyes were ice blue as well, radiating coolness, and totally devoid of emotion His shins were protected by blue guards, and his forearms bore leather guards, with silvered spikes set into them. The forearm guards held a thin plate that extended over the back of the hand for extra protection, and the hands themselves sported glove s. The crowd broke to the north, and roiled away as if from a source of great heat. Sub Zero himself allowed a trickle of sweat to run from the depths of his hair as his opponent approached. The uniform was the same, but where Sub Zero's was blue, his was the deep angry red of a roaring fire. "Today is the day, ice cube." Inferno's voice was deep and gravelled, bearing youthful cockiness but reverberating with strength and power. "Come noon, the Elders will name me Master, and you will need medical attention." Sub Zero calmly looked upon his opponent. "Perhaps," he began. "But perhaps not. I've warned you to follow my example, Inferno. Your chosen path will bring you nothing but trouble." "Fire and ice, the most opposing elements." Inferno snapped back. "Fire melts ice, if you haven't noticed." "And the ice which melts becomes water that extinguishes the flame. Go meditate on that, and come back later, Inferno." "I grow tired of you mocking me." Inferno's forehead creased, then gnarled as he narrowed his eyes to angry slits. He raised one fist, and several of the audience recoiled as Inferno's outstretched hand flared up with smoke, and the palm ignited. Th e fire rose high, but Inferno clenched his fist and snuffed it. "You have been badgering me on control, and temper for years. Today I shall shut your mouth once and for all." "You will never learn." Sub Zero turned his back on the red ninja, and disappeared in the masses. He would deal with Inferno after breakfast, if he did not wait until noon. The flame ninja did wait until noon, much to Sub Zero's surprise. Finally, they squared off across the dirt ring that was to serve as the combat zone. Smoke, the most senior of the Lin Kuei in attendance, nodded to each of them from a distance, smal l puffs of the smoke from which he derived his name emanating from his uniform. "Sub Zero and Inferno. The two of you have been chosen to face each other in a battle of submission. The superior of the two shall be named Master of Elements, and promoted to the ranks of our most skilled and honorable assassins. Do you accept the fact that, should you fail, you must continue your training until we deem you worthy enough to repeat your test?" Sub Zero stood in an easy stance, his hands unclasped and relaxed. "Aye, Smoke." "And do you, Inferno?" "Yeah!" Inferno snapped, his hands clenched into fists, his form hunched and tense. Heat distortion made the scenery behind his body waver and jitter. "Fight!" Smoke lifted his hand, and let it fall. The second his hand dropped, Inferno leaped. Sub Zero ducked to one side as a foot missed his head by a yard. He quickly and calmly reviewed the agreed regulations: the Power could be used, but only to defen d or hinder, not to harm. Easy enough. Ice was easy to control. Fire could spread dangerously, if given the slightest freedom. Sub Zero parried a punch by batting it away with a forearm. He began to sweat from Inferno's radiating warmth, but dared not let it show. Control. Remove the threat. Sub Zero adjusted his body temperature, allowing it to drop enough that he was comfortable again. Swish. Inferno's heel whirled past, missing his head as he ducked backward. Sub Zero crouched, distributing his weight on his bent back leg, allowing the front leg to extend. He slid forward as though on a greased surface to knock Inferno's feet ou t from under him. Inferno hit the ground butt-first, springing to his feet again in a rage. From Inferno's throat erupted a growl as he leaped. Sub Zero caught him full-on, dropping to his back and planting both feet into Inferno's stomach. Inferno lost his breath as Sub Zero flipped him into his back. The two combatants stood: one calm and collected, one shaking with rage. Inferno howled, a derisive roar fueled by hate. His body flared, them exploded in a storm of fire. Sub Zero dropped to one knee and extended both hands. They frosted over for a moment, then from them flowed cold protective ice, forming a wall against the flame. From the corner of his eye, Sub Zero saw Smoke and Tornado begin to move toward the edge of the ring. He caught their eye and shook his head. He would stop Inferno without their help, thank you. The red ninja's own rage and hatred would be his down fall. Sub Zero thickened the ice wall as the fire began to die down. But it did not go out completely. Inferno's body was sheathed in flame, his features blurred by the orange tongues of heat. Suddenly, Sub Zero burst into flame himself. A cry of surprise escaped his lips as he began to burn. Control...quell the fire. He stood, head bowed, hands in front of him, concentrating on controlling the heat. His body trembled with the effort, but eventually the burning pain died away. Sub Zero lifted his head just in time to see the burning warrior before him launch a fiery punch. Sub Zero sidestepped, then extended a hand toward the ground. Inferno slipped, as a frosty coating flew from the blue ninja's palm to create an ice puddle in the dirt. He pinwheeled, looking for traction, as Sub Zero's fist connected with his face. The fire coating Inferno would have seared any other fist, but that which decked him was covered with thick ice, adding weight and force to the punch, while absorbing the heat and flame. He roundhoused a second punch, the block of ice his hand had become striking home as a sledgehammer. Inferno staggered, and then fell. His fiery aura snuffed the second he struck dirt. As he regained his feet, Sub Zero kicked him in the forehead. Inferno's head snapped back with the force of the blow, but managed to stand. Spreading his fingers, he called a wall of fire up between him and Sub Zero, causing the Ice ninja to recoil. Control. Sub Zero paused to concentrate. When he was ready, he launched himself at the wall, bursting through it unharmed, his body curled into a somersaulting ball which struck his foe square in the chest. Inferno hit the ground again, a loud groan erupting from his lips. Inferno threw Sub Zero off of him and sprang to his feet. Sub Zero shook his head imperceptibly. Did this maniac not know when he was defeated? Sub Zero leaped, driving both feet into Inferno's skull as he crouched to attempt a second self-immolation. Three more kicks and a knee thrust found their way into Inferno's solar plexus before Sub Zero released him. Inferno barely held his footing. Sub Zero slammed his face with a kick, dislodging his facemask. Blood ran from the corner of Inferno's mouth in a thick stream, and his entire left cheek was a nasty purple bruise. Smoke's voice sounded from behind. "Since your opponent has broken tradition and engaged you in mortal combat, you may make him pay for his crime, Sub Zero. Finish him." Sub Zero's eyes narrowed and met Inferno's. They glared back in defiant hatred. "No. It is a worse fate to live, and know you have not only dishonored yourself, but also to have felt victory slip away." Sub Zero crouched, bringing one fist back. After a moment, he let it fly. The sound of Inferno's jaw cracking was clearly heard as he flew a good ten feet backward to land on his back. Inferno lay still, beaten into unconsciousness. Sub Zero nodded to Smoke, who returned his gesture. "Welcome to the ranks of Master, Sub Zero."