Writer: Steve Hattman Director: Doug Lefler
Kung Lao, Taja and Siro must keep an ancient magical crystal from
falling into the hands of Shang Tsung and the diabolical Lin Kuei's
assassin/sorcerer Sub Zero.

Episode opens at the Lin Kuei compound where a strange ceremonial
initiation is taking place. The Grand Masters of this cadre of assassins for hire
are training a fierce new warrior in their ancient arts. As is the case with most
things diabolical, Shang Tsung (series regular Bruce Locke) has a hand in this
evil.

Meanwhile, following his defeat of Scorpion, Kung Lao (series regular Paolo
Montalban), accompanied by Taja (series regular Kristanna Loken) and Siro
(series regular Daniel Bernhardt), heads back to the city of Zhu Zin,
specifically to the trading post of the now-deceased Baron Reyland. As the
Baron's daughter, Jen, lay dying in Kung Lao's arms, she gave him the key to
the entire compound, and the threesome have decided to use the post as a
training center for future fighters in Mortal Kombat.

When Kung Lao, Siro and Taja reach Zhu Zin, the men decide to get
provisions at the bazaar and Taja heads straight to the trading post. Upon her
arrival she discovers that the post has been ransacked and, even worse, the
marauder is still on the premises and proceeds to attack her. Kung Lao and
Siro arrive momentarily and stop the attack, only to discover that the "burglar"
is actually a Ninja from the Lin Kuei.

It turns out that before his death the Baron had purchased a magical crystal
that makes inter-Realm travel possible and hid it somewhere in the trading
post. Shang Tsung will stop at nothing (including the Lin Kuei) to get his
hands on this crystal to buy his freedom from Shao Kahn.

After the first attempt at retrieval failed, Shang Tsung has the Lin Kuei
dispatch three more Ninjas to the trading post--where they are eventually
defeated by Kung Loa, Taja and Siro. As the defeated Ninjas retreat from the
trading post, Siro secretly follows them back to the Lin Kuei training
compound and witnesses the unveiling of Sub Zero, a Ninja/sorcerer who, in
addition to being a fierce martial artist, is able to fire deadly blasts of ice and
cold from his palms.

Realizing there must be something extremely valuable hidden in the trading
post, the new tenants beginning searching every nook and cranny. Kung Lao
and Taja find the crystal just as Siro comes bounding in to tell them what he's
seen at the Lin Kuei compound. Unfortunately, Sub Zero comes bounding in
right behind him and a heated battle over the crystal begins. In the end, Kung
Lao, Taja and Siro are able to defend the crystal and send Sub Zero on his
way, but the battle is far from over.