Chapter Text
The Lin Kuei’s men and women were sent into absolute panic. Trained warriors ran down the halls with no sense of cohesion and order, all of them fearing something terrible had arrived. Some were equipping themselves with whatever weapons they could get their hands on, others insisted that their grandmaster called them IN for an emergency meeting, while others still said Sub-Zero said no such thing.
The cause for all this raucous, was the sudden appearance of an unwanted face showing up at their doorstep.
A legion of Lin Kuei’s sharpest and most skilled warriors grouped up by their compound’s main gate. The ones equipped with their brand new power armor positioned at the front while the archers had their bows at the ready in the back.
Sektor and Cyrax at the very forefront. Their masks closed and weapons at the ready, one wouldn’t be at fault for not realizing that the two of them were utterly quivering fear. All of them were. They heard the tales that came from their grandmaster and his mother before him regarding Fire God Liu Kang. None of them painted a positive picture
The Fire God peacefully walked up to the entrance of the long stone wall that wrapped around their entire base. Hands behind his back, expression calm and unbothered.
The one-sided standoff was broken off when the sea of warriors were parted as their Grandmaster shoved his way through, not a hint of fear or hesitation to be found in his headstrong step. He stepped out the gate despite some of his warriors pleading him to reconsider. He promptly told them to be silent.
Fire God Liu Kang and Grandmaster Sub-Zero were face-to-face. The first time in a month, and the first time ever since B-Han had broken off his clan’s connection with Liu Kang and his interests. His eyes were displeased to say the least.
“Why are you here, Liu Kang?” Sub-Zero said in his usual gravely bark.
“Is that any way to address the God of Earthrealm?” Liu Kang replied with a smirk.
“It’s an address befitting a false god who hinders Earthrealm at every turn.” Sub-Zero replied.
“I always had the feeling you didn’t like me.” Liu Kang said, staring off into the snowy mountain ranges beyond. “But to commit such a grievous betrayal and insult…”
“You brought it upon yourself.” Sub-Zero said demeaningly. “Blame your own foolishness.”
“Foolishness?” Liu Kang said in disbelief.
“You hold the entire realm back. The Lin Kuei no exception. I have done us a favor by freeing us from our shackles.”
“I question why you might think that, Bi-Han.” Liu Kang argued, maintaining his calm and sagely tone of voice. “The Lin Kuei served a noble cause.”
“It served YOUR cause.” Sub-Zero corrected. “We were nothing more than your personal servants and army. Born to serve a purpose that was easily preventable.”
Liu Kang raised an eyebrow. “It is not my place or anyone else’s to decide which realms deserve to exist and which ones do not.”
“You already knew what I meant?”
“I’ve heard enough talk like that from your mother to know.” Liu Kang replied, “Remember, it is my job to protect Earthrealm and maintain balance across the realms.”
“Concerning yourself with other realms' well-being is your most grievous error.” Sub-Zero said coldly.
“The people of Outworld and Seido have lives of their own, you know that, right?”
“Lives that should be secondary to Earthrealm’s safety, if it actually mattered to you, Fire God.”
Liu Kang breathed out a long, deep sigh. There were few people who truly got on his nerves, Bi-Han was one of them. Even as a child, the young warrior tested his patience and would run his mouth.
But Liu Kang liked that about him. One thing that irked him about his newfound godly status was that everyone around him treated Liu Kang with such deference. Always too afraid to speak out of line lest they enrage The God of Earthrealm. Liu Kang did not know how he could convince them to treat him with as much respect as they would treat a human leader, and it infuriated and saddened him.
So when this strapping young Cryomancer came along, bearing the skills of both his parents with the fiery attitude of his mother, without a care in the world about Liu Kang’s status and ran his mouth to a god at the age of 9, Liu was overjoyed. He now deeply regretted encouraging such behavior. If only he had known he was unwittingly fanning the flames of betrayal.
He gritted his teeth and bore it. “It is not my place nor anyone else’s to decide who gets to live and who dies.”
“Do your enemies think the same way?” Sub-Zero retorted. “Or would they wipe us all off the face of the planet if given the chance?”
“We must be better than them, Bi-Han.’
Sub-Zero scoffed. “How long do you intend to limit yourself with your desires for morality? Great men in history don’t care an ounce for whether or not their morals are lacking, they simply do and take as they please until they achieve greatness.”
“You think that’s what this will bring the Lin Kuei?” Greatness?”
“Detached from your and your will, we shall achieve heights once thought unthinkable.”
“Your name shall be shrouded in infamy.”
“To the fools that worship you. But those who know the truth will know my actions were just.”
“I don’t see how building suits of armor for yourselves is more glorious than being protectors of the very realm we live in.”
Sub-Zero eyes widened in surprise for a split moment before the Cryomancer mediated his emotions to appear undaunted. “How do you know about that?”
“I have my ways, Sub-Zero.” Liu Kang replied, a smirk on his lips. “And even if I didn’t…” The Fire God took a few steps to the side, his eyes watching Sub-Zero’s small army cowering behind him. “I was in a standoff with them just minutes before you arrived.”
Bi-Han took a glance behind him briefly before looking back at Liu Kang. “I was inspired when I saw Shang Tsung’s dragon army. An army so heavily armored…”
Amongst the many warriors wearing armor in grey, black, or some other muted color, Liu Kang spotted one in red and one in yellow. A duo he was uncomfortably familiar with.
“Who are those two?” Liu Kang pointed out, fearing he already knew the answer.
“What’s it to you?” Bi-Han said impudently.
“Sektor and Cyrax.” Liu Kang replied, much to Sub-Zero’s shock yet again.
“How did you…? Yes, that’s them.”
Liu Kang clenched his fists in silent frustration. While it wasn’t quite the horror that was the cyber initiative, it was teetering dangerously close to that inhumane monstrosity. Just seeing two figures that resembled the mindless machines of the previous timeline sent shivers down the god’s spine.
“You still haven’t answered my question, Liu Kang.” Sub-Zero said. “Why are you here?”
“I was hoping…I was hoping to make amends.” Liu Kang said hopelessly, as if he had already been defeated. “Not just with you and I, but your relationship with Kuai Liang.”
Sub-Zero didn’t take kindly to that name, his tone of voice becoming even more aggravated. “Never again shall that traitor’s name pass my lips.”
“I implore you to reconsider.” Liu Kang pleaded.
“I would reconsider if he and Tomas showed any remorse for what they did to me that day.”
Liu Kang felt like rolling his eyes. He really thinks himself to be the victim in this?
“They were only upholding what your father and your grandfather before him would have wanted.”
“Upholding our servitude to you is hardly something to admire.” Sub-Zero said. “My father, my grandfather…every grandmaster our clan has had were fools for entrusting us to you.”
“Is that why you left your father to die?” Liu Kang asked, his arms crossed.
Sub-Zero didn’t offer a reply. Just mere silence, and a fearsome look that made Liu Kang doubt his villainous ways could be weathered anytime soon.
“If trying to convince me to rejoin you and your pointless cause was all you wanted, forget it.” Sub-Zero said. “And if my brothers desire to reconcile, tell them that will only happen if they see the light of the truth they were so blind to.”
With that, Bi-Han stomped off, his warriors parting to make a path for him to enter through. All of them still so alert and paranoid, fists raised and weapons drawn towards the Fire God. Their grandmaster took notice of this. Rather than order them to let go of their fear, Sub-Zero just shot one last venomous stare at Liu Kang before returning to his temple, a handful of his armored legion of warriors accompanying him, including Cyrax and Sektor.
Liu Kang shook his head in great disappointment. Even if Bi-Han wasn’t so cooperative, Liu Kang was hoping perhaps some of his fighters in the Lin Kuei would be convinced to turn heel. But judging by how terrified they were of the Fire God, all believing so firmly that he would attack them at any moment, Liu Kang let it go and teleported in a brief flash of fire. A few Lin Kuei archers kept watch at the gate the rest of the day, fearing the god’s return.
—
Scorpion, Smoke, and Takeda listened to Fire God’s retelling of the events with peeved expressions, Kuai Liang especially. They gathered around the main table in their planning room, or the ‘War Room’ as Smoke affectionately dubbed it. It was where the leading figures of the Shirai Ryu planned and organized, both their defenses and their community.
From the moment Liu Kang mentioned their brother’s name, the mood changed completely. The calm, warm feeling of these scenic woods replaced with the lingering resentment of betrayal. Liu Kang wished to get his story done with, but also without sparing no expense on the details. He owed Tomas and Kuai Liang that.
“Even now…” Kuai Liang grumbled. “...Bi-Han still doesn’t believe he has done anything wrong.”
“Can’t say I expected any different, in all honesty.” Smoke said, nowhere near as passionately irked as his brother.
“Do you think he’s planning something, Lord Liu Kang?” Takeda asked, hand on the hilt of her katana as if paranoid the Lin Kuei were already somehow on their doorstep.
“If he is, I assure you I will not let his transgressions slide.” Liu Kang calmed her. “And please, don’t call me lord. Liu Kang will suffice.”
“Thank you, Liu Kang.” Takeda said with a smile.
“So you’ll step in if he tries to attack us?” Smoke asked, taking a sip from his hot glass of tea.
“Yes, you can have my guarantee on that, Smoke.”
“Then why don’t you step in now?” Smoke said, far less affable that time.
“Watch your tone, Tomas.” Kuai Liang hushed his brother.
“No!” Smoke refused. “That maniac is off with the Lin Kuei building mech suits apparently and we’re supposed to just wait until they kill a few of us before The Protector of Earthrealm decides to step in? That doesn’t sound fair.”
“We don’t know how things will play out. It’s best to avoid conflict while we still can. Bi-Han may still see the light.” Kuai Liang argued.
Smoke scoffed and held back laughter. “Oh god, you still believe that?”
“Believe what?”
“Believe that Bi-Han might actually rejoin us?” Smoke sounded as if Kuai Liang suggested they eat dirt.
“The future can be unpredictable.”
“The future may be, but people usually are not.” Smoke said confidently. “If you think him going mad with power came out of nowhere, you weren’t paying attention.”
That ticked Kuai Liang enough for him to raise his voice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’s always been cold to us, but somehow you never saw that.”
“He only wanted us to be the finest warriors we could be.”
“He wanted us to be his minions, to be a part of his little private army.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Father certainly did.”
“What?” Kuai Liang said, with fury great enough that Liu Kang couldn’t just sit idly by.
“I said, I’m sure father knew-”
“That’s enough.” Takeda Shirai spoke up before Liu Kang had the chance to, though. Her hands were on the table and her glances shifted between the two brothers until they settled down. “We have enough on our plate as it is, We don’t need any infighting.”
“What do you think then?” Smoke asked.
“I think…” Takeda lost a lot of her confidence this time around. ‘I think it’s wise to not antagonize him for now…” She turned her attention to the god standing in the room with them. “...but I do think Earthrealm’s protector should be putting his foot down.”
“It is not my place, Takeda.” Liu Kang responded.
“Not your place?” Takeda said, sounding bewildered. “The clan that has been your dutiful ally for centuries turns traitor, and you do nothing about it?”
“That’s what i’ve been thinking.” Smoke chimed in. “You allow him to build full-blown Iron Man suits while we sit here in the middle of nowhere Japan.’
“If I interfere in a purely Earthrealm business that does not concern its safety from other realms, it sets a dangerous precedent.” Liu Kang explained. “My power is to be used wisely. It is unimaginably vast, and therefore must be used with restraint. And even on the occasions I do step in, I fight as a regular warrior and not as a god.”
“Is that why I’ve only ever seen you fight like you were a normal man?” Kuai Liang asked.
“Indeed, Grandmaster Scorpion.” Liu Kang answered with a smile.
“I admire your restraint, Lord Liu Kang…” Takeda said, Liu Kang sensing a caveat to this compliment. “...but I think it is unwise to exert restraint at this moment. If the Lin Kuei attacks, the only thing we will have backing us up is functionally but a normal man?”
“That, and Earthrealm’s mightiest warriors.’ Liu Kang said. “I can assure you that.”
No matter how soothing Liu Kang’s voice was, or how friendly and approachable he tried to be, it didn’t ease any of their fears. It was clear as day, with even Kuai Liang looking uncertain at best.
“If getting your new clan set up is your issue, then I believe I have a proper solution.” Liu Kang said, finally reigniting some sense of optimism in the room. “Or at the very least, another source of income.”
“What might that be?” Takeda asked.
“Do you recall Mister Cage?”
“Who? Takeda said, with Kuai Liang only slightly more knowledgeable.
“Of course, how could we forget!” Smoke said merrily. “Is he going to make a movie about us? That would help but I don’t think it would be very safe.”
Liu Kang chuckled softly. “No, Smoke, though that does sound like an interesting idea.”
“Then what does the actor have to do with this?” Kuai Liang asked, his grumpiness greatly contrasting Smoke’s excitement when speaking about the actor. Kuai always thought it weird for such a dedicated warrior to fixate on a movie star.
“A few days ago, Mr. Cage generously offered to help fund the Shirai Ryu and its training, out of his pocket.”
While still skeptical, all three of their faces lit up at the prospect, scrounging up funds was difficult and Kuai Liang and Takeda refused to let any of their members take any jobs that involved murder like assassinations. Noble, yes, but that meant they couldn’t capitalize on the one skill most of their members had. They considered jobs like serving as bodyguards, but getting high-paying jobs of that sort was next to impossible without proper citizenship. That wouldn’t be an issue if most of their official Chinese government records weren’t still in the Lin Kuei’s possession. So any source of income, even if it meant taking handouts from an American celebrity, was desperately needed.
“Isn’t his career struggling at the moment?” Smoke questioned. “Last I checked he was having money troubles.”
“He didn’t make this offer without that in mind, Tomas.” Liu Kang said, waving his right index finger around as he explained. “Recently, with renewed motivation, Mr. Cage has been reviving his movie career, and is set to star in a number of roles in Hollywood in the coming weeks. They’re small, but could provide a hefty sum for your clan’s needs.”
The three Shirai Ryu looked amongst themselves, even without saying anything, their eyes made it clear their sense of hope and energy was revived, after having it be drained from just discussing matters regarding Bi-Han.
“Please give Mr. Cage our thanks, Liu Kang.” Takeda said with a pleased grin. “We could not be more grateful.”
“He’ll be happy to hear it.” Liu Kang said happily.
While the day ended with a happy note, Liu Kang could not help but admit to himself that it had been disappointing. He hoped the day would be spent laying the foundations for repairing the fracture made in the Lin Kuei family. Instead, it only confirmed Liu Kang’s worst fears. That Sub-Zero was blinded by the darkness within his heart to even consider reconciliation. While Kuai Liang and Smoke, quite understandably, had no desire to be the first ones to push for a repairing of relations. Liu hoped to build a world where Bi-Han and Kuai Liang’s relationship never falters. That they fight as one and in harmony till they die a peaceful death after living a life of honor. Now, their rift as brothers is greater than ever.
“Before you go, Liu Kang.” Takeda placed a hand on the god’s shoulder. “We would like for you to meet someone.”
“Oh?” Liu Kang said curiously. “And who might that be?”
“I’ll bring him in, just wait one moment.” She happily sped out of the room. She called out a name, but by then she was too far away for Liu Kang to make it out.
Liu Kang turned back around to face the two brothers, the both of them standing ready in anticipation.
“You two seem excited.” Liu Kang commented.
“We already have a good idea of who she wants you to meet.” Kuai said with great pride. “He’s one of our new recruits and is showing great promise.”
“I found him a couple weeks ago. Was wandering the woods lost and needed a place to stay…” Smoke said, a hint of sorrow in his voice. “Reminded me of myself when I first stumbled upon the Lin Kuei.” He said the name of his former clan with such pain.
“Well, I’ll be happy to meet him.” Liu Kang said. At least there was more good news to be had.
The door reopened, and Takeda returned, another hand in hers.
While Liu Kang was expecting youth, this new recruit’s young age caught him off guard. Only a small child, and yet his face had scratches and scars, his palms thick and rough, with a Kunai along his hip that he seemed acquainted with. He looked up at Liu Kang with a fierce expression. He calmed himself a little at Takeda’s request, but not by much.
Liu Kang squatted down to meet the boy at eye level, his hands resting on his knees.
“Hello, I’m Liu Kang.” He waited for him to reply but was met with silence. “They see great things for you here; that you have great promise.”
He looked down at the kunai the boy wielded, a weapon Liu Kang was greatly familiar with despite never using one himself. “That weapon of yours, do you know how to use it?”
He nodded slightly.
“I’m guessing you’ve been teaching him, Kuai Liang?”
“I have.” Kuai Liang said, his tone so contented that you would forget how distraught he was moments earlier. “He’s made great progress in such a short amount of time.”
“Impressive.” Liu Kang commented. “May I see it?”
Still without saying a word, the boy took the weapon and put it in Liu Kang’s bandaged hands, and the Fire God inspected it, marveling at the excellent metalwork.
“This is a fine weapon, treat it with care and with the respect it deserves.” The Fire God said, handing it back. “You know, apart from Kuai Liang, I knew another man who wielded a kunai as you did. He was not perfect, far from it. He made mistakes, sided with the wrong people, but at the end of his life, he proved himself a man of great honor and fortitude. I hope you can live up to that.”
The boy nodded frantically yet again, standing by and practically clinging to Takeda’s leg. All that training, and he was still just as shy as any child would be when meeting someone new.
“What’s his name?” Liu Kang asked Takeda, not wanting to force the young boy to speak out himself.
“Hanzo.”
The warm and cheery atmosphere within the room completely faded as Liu Kang’s grin drooped until his face was in devastated horror. Takeda grew fearful as well when she saw the god’s face change so rapidly before her eyes, thinking that they had done something to upset him without realizing it.
“Hanzo…Hasashi?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
The god said nothing for a while, just staying there, crouching and staring at the young boy with terror in his eyes.