This is my second mortal kombat story, it is an idea that has been nagging at me for some time. I'm still not sure if this will be a stand alone story or if I'll tie it into another one I'm writing. All you need to know is that it will revolve around Noob Saibot, because he is awesome and doesn't get enough attention. I like his oddly tragic character. And fair warning, this story will be set in a heavily altered mortal kombat universe, meaning the events that transpired here did not, and for all we know could not, have happened in the canon. Also, for the sake of giving Noob some more characterization, I will be making references (very loose) to Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero. I have never played that game, but I know how bad it was apparently. I went on the wiki to see the storyline and I think the story at least should be taken into account. Read, review, and leave suggestions.

Past

"Wait, that wasn't me!" Bi Han stated before he was engulfed in flames.

Scorpion tore off his mask of a face to reveal the livid, hateful looking skull beneath. Scorpion opened his mouth wide and spewed flames at him. Bi Han felt the hellish flames burn him as he heard deep, satisfied laughter from behind him, and the rage filled roar and jet of fire from his front. He instinctively threw up his hands in front of his face, but the inferno wrapped around him like a blanket. He was burning, but it was different. It wasn't like putting your hand on a burner to have the skin blister and sting, it wasn't like letting the flame on a match get too close to your fingers. This hellish fire, in this evil place, it did something to him on the inside. It was like an illness came over him, a sickening sensation, like his soul was blackening and rotting as his flesh charred, blistered, fell off, and turned to ash in the hot air. He felt sad, like all hope and happiness was being taken away from him. But one emotion came through, through the bad corrupted feeling, through the heat of the fire, was anger.

Why was this happening to him? The sorcerer had shown Scorpion something that did not happen, and Scorpion was burning him alive for it! Bi Han was angry for this deceit, angry that he was going to die here in this hell hole, angry that Cyrax and Sektor were not here to help him, angry that he was failing his mission for the Lin Kuei, angry that he would not return home again. And, perhaps the most, angry that he did not have the power to stop this. The headmaster had told him that his power and skill was unrivaled and yet here he was being incinerated. The sadness, the despair, the anger, it all melted his soul as his body fell to the ground in a heap of bones, cleaned of his clothes and skin.

Present

Noob awoke from his nightmare. The term awoke was used loosely, as he didn't need sleep anymore. Rather, he entered a kind of Zen, meditative state. He breathed heavily beneath his mask, and he scolded himself for it.

"I am not that weak anymore." He said quietly to himself so as not to disturb Quan Chi, who was sitting ten feet from him from his conversation with Reiko.

You claim to not be that weak, yet the event still plagues your thoughts.

"Shut up, it will not get the better of me."

It better not.

Noob sighed inwardly, and he knew the being within him would notice it, but he didn't care.

Past

Darkness. All Bi Han saw was darkness. It wasn't just a lack off light, it was a suffocating darkness that drew him in. He didn't feel the burn, he didn't feel anything, not even numbness. The quiet, his own steady breaths almost startled him with just how intense the sound was in this incredibly quiet place. He lifted his hand in front of his face; he made a fist and wiggled his fingers. He didn't feel any of it, if he wasn't looking at his hand at that moment it would be like it wasn't there. He turned every which way, each move seeming so out of place here, like nothing should be moving in here.

"Hello." He said, merely to test if he still had a voice.

His words were comparable to a thunder clap against the quiet. It didn't echo, but it sounded like he was talking into his own ear.

"Hello!" He said again.

Hello.

Bi Han whipped around quickly, instinctively preparing for a fight. Nothing but the unending darkness was there. He scanned the area, listening for the slightest sound, the barest glimpse of movement.

Calm down!

"Show yourself!" Bi Han shouted.

You should really calm yourself; you've got a nasty wake up call coming.

"Who are you? Where am I…" Bi Han's skin suddenly burned.

He yelled and fell to his knees, his ability to feel coming back to him. Everything burned. His skin, his eyes, even his insides felt like they were on fire. A light, dim but seeming like the sun in this incredibly dark place appeared from above, shining down on him.

"What the hell is happening?" Bi Han yelled as he clawed at his arms.

I told you this was coming. Here, let me help you.

Bi Han felt like his head and mind was filled a little more with something. It oddly felt normal, like it completed him. Then he realized the burning sensation, and the ability to feel anything, died down again. Bi Han remained on his knees, exasperated.

Now I'll answer your question. Where you are, well that is hard to explain. I would call it the place your mind and soul came to wait when you died.

"What? If I died, then how can I be alive?"

Well you're not, not really.

"What does that mean?"

It means you're not, entirely dead. You are not entirely alive right now either.

Bi Han didn't really know how to reply to that, but he tried anyway.

"Why?"

You were killed in the Netherealm, your soul was corrupted and remained there. However, something unexpected happened, and now you are here.

"What happened?" Bi Han asked, standing up.

Me.

"Who are you?"

Bi Han noticed something at his feet. The light from above cast a shadow. The shadow moved. Then something started to rise from it, like it was entering from a hole in the ground. It was as black as the place Bi Han was in, but when he looked into it's eyes the darkness looked so, welcoming.

I am you.

"You are not me."

Aren't I? I am you entirely. I have always been here, been you, to some extent. The only difference now is that I have a voice to talk to you as an independent being, another pair of eyes and ears, another heart and mind, another pair of hands.

The black being extended his hand to Bi Han. Bi Han merely looked at it, not wanting to touch it.

"You are not me. You are some kind of demon, an evil creature."

The black being laughed, and it was a terrible noise. His voice and laugh sounded like it was muffled and distant, like it was the quieter half of a normal voice, but still came to his ears clearly. Bi Han stared at him in amazement and horror, the being looked exactly like him. He was clad in the same clothing he wore before Scorpion killed him, the same mask. The difference was the black skin, the blacker clothes, and the cold, dead white eyes. Bi Han blinked and the creature was gone instantly. Bi Han, still in the light, looked down at his shadow and found it normal again, moving with him. Then he heard it, the same laugh echoing in his head, though slighter now.

Like I said, I am you. I think the problem is that you don't know who you are anymore, or perhaps you never did? You were Bi Han, a member of the Lin Kuei, a ruthless and bloodthirsty assassin. I am your desire for power, your love of fighting and killing, your greed, your anger. I am you, and you are me. You are Noob, I am Saibot. We are one and the same. Now get ready, it's time to get back your body.

Bi Han felt the burning return, even more intense this time. He felt hands all over his body despite no one else being here. As Noob Saibot screamed in agony, the light shining on him became so intense that it blinded him. When his vision returned, he wasn't in that dark place anymore. He carried it with him.

Noob awoke screaming on a bloody stone table. Several hooded figures were holding him down. He was inside what looked like some sort of temple like structure, with flaming braziers and spiked pillars dominating the view. A tall, white skinned man with markings all over his body stood with crossed arms, grinning in accomplishment.

"You!" Noob screamed.

"Greetings Noob, I have resurrected you from death."

Noob glanced around at the hooded people who restrained him.

"You can release him." Quan Chi waved his hand at the hooded priests.

They released their hold on Noob and he sat up quickly, restraining himself for the moment. He noticed that he had some new clothes. His tunic and pants were different, as were his boots and gauntlets, and he now had a hood instead of a skin tight head covering. His mask was also different. What shocked him most was found on the reverse of his gauntlets, where his forearm showed. The skin was an oily black.

"What have you done to me?"

"I have revived you to live again and aid me; I have made you stronger than you were before. I'll need you to be."

"Why would I help you? I remember you appearing in the Netherrealm and showing Scorpion that false vision. I died because of you."

"And now I have brought you back, better than before as you will see for yourself. Now you are free from the Lin Kuei, now you are a part of something far greater with immeasurable gain. All I ask is that you aid me with all your extensive skills."

"To what end sorcerer?" Noob asked suspiciously.

"To the domination of Outworld and beyond. I'm sure you find that appealing, do you not?"

You do find it appealing. I know you do.

Noob smiled evilly beneath his mask. He found it more than appealing.

Present

"And you are sure that they will make it there safely?" Quan Chi asked.

"They have traveled undetected throughout Outworld for the last week. Rain is not aware of the supply convoy." Reiko assured him.

"Your armies cannot afford to lose those supplies. I will have someone go and guard them."

"I do not need a babysitter Quan Chi!" Reiko insisted.

"Do be too proud to accept assistance. It is not only Rain you must beware of; Kitana's forces are out there to. I will have an agent sent to guard those convoys. You can leave."

Reiko got up and left before he said something that would get him killed. Quan Chi bore a self satisfied smile.

"Noob, I have a task for you."

Noob gave him his silent attention.

"A supply convoy is nearing the end of its journey, but I want you to make sure that everything goes well."

"You don't place much confidence in Reiko." Noob stated.

"He is too sure of himself. Being one of Shao Kahn's top generals makes him think that he is fit to be emperor already. He has no such skill."

"Then why place him in charge of the armies in Outworld?"

"Because he already is shaped to that position. He's a soldier, and a rather decent one at that. Now go through this portal and join the convoy."

Quan Chi opened a portal, the green outlines reflecting off the walls. Noob stepped through it and appeared in the living forest among several wagons filled with food and weapons. His sudden appearance startled a few of the guards and wagon drivers, but they all seemed to know that he was sent by Quan Chi. Sitting atop a crate in one of the wagons, Noob sat silently for two hours, smirking beneath his mask.

I wonder if they realize they've been noticed.

"I doubt it; they are still trying too hard to be stealthy."

Do you think the other guards have noticed?

"One of them is asleep in the third wagon, the other five look like they are about to die from exhaustion."

Well, one of them is just about to die.

One of the guards walking next to the second of four wagons suddenly dropped dead on the ground, his throat slashed open by the knife of a ninja clad in blue clothing. Four more ninja's wearing the same came out of the trees. Two more of the guards were killed instantly with bare hands; the last guard stood his ground with his spear.

Don't you think we've waited long enough?

"I want to see if the Reiko's men are even remotely useful."

The lone guard was surrounded. He jabbed with his spear at one ninja. He merely caught the shaft out of the air and pulled the spear from his hands. Immediately afterwards two of the other ninjas cut him open from behind with their knives. He was dead before he hit the ground.

"Useless." Noob said.

"Hey, what's going on?" Said the last guard, who had been sleeping.

Noob produced a shuriken and tossed it into the man's throat. He choked on his blood and died.

Pathetic.

The only people left were the five ninjas, five very scared wagon drivers, and Noob. It wasn't a fair fight. Noob teleported and grabbed hold of one of the ninja's, carrying him through his black hole five times before slamming, and crushing, his skull on the ground. Another of the ninjas threw a shuriken his way. Noob dodged it, caught it out of the air, and threw it back at its owner, along with three of his own. Two of the bladed stars hit the ninja in the chest, one in the jugular, and the last right in his eye. The three remaining blue ninjas circled around him. Noob stood in the center in a loose battle stance.

"Is this what the Lin Kuei finds acceptable now? I'm not impressed." Noob taunted.

"You will regret your insults wraith." One of the ninja's said.

"I really doubt that. So tell me, who sent you? Answer me, and your death won't be too painful."

The ninja who had threatened Noobed leaped into the air, brandishing a sword from his back. Saibot shot forth from Noob's body and kicked the man out of the air, and then melted back into his body. The other two engaged him in hand-to-hand combat. Noob fought both of them simultaneously, parrying a strike from one and then punching the other in the face. He brought his leg up to kick one in the face, and then jumped off one leg and crane kicked the other. Recovering from the kick, one of the ninjas tried to grapple him to the ground. Noob stood completely straight and had Saibot appear behind the ninja, dragging him down into the ground and out of sight. The second ninja came to exchange blows with him. Noob parried every one and then delivered a palm strike straight to his face, breaking his nose under the mask. Taking advantage of his oppenets injured stumble, Noob used a judo hip throw to flip the man over him and onto the ground. Noob brought up his foot and stomped down on his back, shattering his spine. Not a moment afterwards, the ninja taken by Saibot appeared out of a black hole and fell to the ground, beaten to death.

All that remained now was Noob and the Lin Kuei ninja with the sword.

"You fight well wraith, but to fail the Lin Kuei is to forfeit my life."

You know that better than anybody.

Noob was a little irritated by Saibot's dark joke.

What? Don't tell me it's too soon.

"Prepare yourself wraith, it ends here!"

The ninja came at Noob swinging. He slashed downwards, upwards, sideways, all he cut was air. Noob swayed this way and that, dodging every attempted cut. He then grabbed the ninja's sword arm by the wrist, pulled it forward and forced his elbow too far upwards, braking it. The ninja screamed in pain, and then Saibot materialized behind him and twisted his head all the way around. His lifeless body slumped to the ground between the two beings.

That was a good enough work out, but it would have been useful to know who sent them.

"Well, we can't ask them now. You, wagon driver! You should be safe for the rest of the way, so continue on."

The wagon driver nodded his head fearfully and led the rest of the convoy to their destination. Noob remained behind to search the bodies of the ninja's for any clues as to who employed them. The clue came spinning towards his head. With lightning quick reflexes, Noob caught the item out of the air. It was a large bladed boomerang.

Well that is convenient.

The two sets of cold eyes picked out the silhouette of the womanly figure hiding in the living trees, and both mouths smiled thinly with anticipation.

I hope I didn't make Noob seem to overpowered here. The setting will be explained in future chapters. Read, review, suggest.