Sub-Zero (1st Timeline)

Sub-Zero is one of the main characters of the original Mortal Kombat fighting games, serving as a member of the Lin Kuei and the rival of Scorpion. 
Sub-Zero was physically portrayed by Daniel Pesina in Mortal Kombat II, and John Turk in Mortal Kombat 3/Trilogy. He was voiced by co-creator John Tobias in Mortal Kombat 4/Gold, and by Rom Barkhordar in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks and Armageddon.
== Appearance ==
Sub-Zero dresses in the familiar blue-garbed ninja-like uniform. Originally, Sub-Zero was depicted with Asian facial features as revealed in the ending when unmasked, due to a Chinese-American heritage. Around Mortal Kombat 3, Sub-Zero was given a scar over his right eye to help differentiate himself from his older brother. Sub-Zero was the first ninja-like character in the series to go on without a mask and wore a less-concealing version of his outfit.
In MK4, he wore the traditional uniform his brother wore, but again wears an updated version of his MK3 outfit in Deadly Alliance featuring Chinese characters. In sporadic appearances beginning with MK4, Sub-Zero bears a flexible ice sheet on his forearms, a sign of his growing power of cryomancy. His alternate costume from Deadly Alliance and beyond is more of a stream-lined version of his original costume featuring the Dragon Medallion on the right side of his chest. In Deception, Sub-Zero dons an ancient armor once worn by his Cryomancer ancestors.
Interestingly, Sub-Zero is one of the few characters in the series to show signs of natural aging (faster than anyone due to the Dragon Medallion). Around Deadly Alliance, he is depicted with slight wrinkles and graying hair, which has begun to bald around the time of Deception. His scar also changes blue, and eventually fades from his face entirely.
== History ==
=== Backstory ===
Kuai Liang and his older brother were the sons of a Lin Kuei agent and an American woman, and would be taken by their father to be raised as Lin Kuei. They were descended from Cryomancers, and thus were able to use the abilities of control over ice. Among the Lin Kuei, Sub-Zero befriended fellow assassin Smoke. Shortly before the first tournament, Bi Han shared his adventure in Mythologies to his younger brother. 
=== Mortal Kombat II ===
After his brother was killed during the first tournament while attempting to assassinate Shang Tsung, his brother took on the Sub-Zero mantle, and along with Smoke took up his fallen brother's goal. He met Liu Kang and Kung Lao at the ruined Shaolin temple, and joined the monks in confronting the Outworld invaders at Johnny Cage's set. After Raiden agreed to have a tournament in Outworld, he agreed to compete on Earthrealm's side. Sub-Zero would aid the others against Shao Kahn's champions, and unlike his more ruthless brother, actually spared opponents. At one point, he attacked Shang Tsung, but was stopped by his bodyguard Reptile. Much to his surprise, he was saved by none other than Scorpion, whom had taken a vow of protecting him as penance for killing Bi-Han. 
=== Mortal Kombat 3/Trilogy ===
Sub-Zero and Smoke returned to the Lin Kuei, and were horrified to find that the Grandmaster had undergone a plan to turn the Lin Kuei into cyborgs. He managed to escape the Lin Kuei, being scarred in the process, but Smoke was captured and converted. While on the run, Shao Kahn launched an invasion of Earthrealm, with his soul being spared due to being one of Raiden's chosen warriors. Sub-Zero joined the fight against Shao's forces, including the Cyber Lin Kuei, and found himself confronting the Cyberised Smoke. He managed to remind Smoke of his humanity, and his old friend rejoined him. Together they fought off Sektor and Cyrax, and Sub-Zero managed to reprogram Cyrax to hunt down the Emperor. He may have also first encountered the shadowy warrior Noob Saibot at this time. In the end, the invasion was defeated, but Smoke and Cyrax were lost, and Sub-Zero vowed that he would defend Earthrealm if needed. 
=== Mortal Kombat 4 ===
At some point, Sub-Zero wished to make amends with the elemental Gods whom his brother had fought within the Temple of the Elements, but found the Temple was empty, and saw a falling star, and followed it. There, he reunited with his fellow Earthrealm Defenders, and found that Shinnok had begun his invasion of the Realms. Sub-Zero and the others vowed to put an end to his Army of Darkness. During the battle in Edenia, Sub-Zero battled Cyrax and Sektor, who attempted to complete their mission. Sub-Zero found that Scorpion had turned against him, having been convinced that it was him who killed his family. In a confrontation, Scorpion defeated him, but Sub-Zero pleaded his innocence, and Quan Chi was discovered to be the true culprit, and Scorpion dragged the demon to the Netherrealm. 
=== Rebuilding the Lin Kuei ===
In the years that followed, Sub-Zero elected to free the Lin Kuei from the Cyber Initiative, and found that Sektor had taken command of the clan. Sub-Zero battled his old enemy in a duel for leadership, which he won, and he subsequently gained the Dragon Medallion that enhanced his Cryomancy to new levels. With Sektor having fled, Sub-Zero began to rebuild the Lin Kuei, holding a tournament for new recruits. He tutored his new students in both fighting ability and making the clan a force for good. He would take on the victor as an apprentice in the form of Frost, a woman also had Cyromancy, with him hoping to tone down her arrogance. At some point, he also encountered the rogue demon Sareena, and gave her sanctuary among the Lin Kuei. 
=== Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance ===
Sub-Zero would discover from Raiden the rise of the Deadly Alliance of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. He agreed to aid his fellow warriors, in part to prove that the Li Kuei had changed their ways, and to gain his recruits respect. Sub-Zero would take Frost with him and together with his allies, headed to Outworld. During the adventure, Frost turned on him and stole the Dragon Medallion to take over the Lin Kuei. However, she would be unable to control it's power, and she was seemingly killed by being consumed by her Cryomancy. Pitying his treacherous student, feeling that he had failed her, Sub-Zero sought somewhere to bury her. In his ending, Sub-Zero was able to defeat the Deadly Alliance, and returned with Frost to his Temple. Raiden would later thank him for his assistance, knowing that Earthrealm's defence was in good hands. 
=== Mortal Kombat: Deception ===
In the canon version of events, Sub-Zero was unaware that Frost's betrayal meant that he was one of the few Earthrealm warriors not killed by the Deadly Alliance. In Outworld he discovered ancient ruins which were the remnants of a holy structure belonging to a lost race of Crymoncers, with Sub-Zero inferring that he and Frost were descendants of the extinct race. After burying her there, he donned his ancestor's armour, headed to rejoin the fight. However, he was beset by an army of Tarkatans, and he was nearly overwhelmed, but Sub-Zero was magically guided by his armour and was able to take out many of the beasts. A dying Tarkatan referred to the "Dragon King", altering him to a new threat to the Realms. Sub-Zero would find and help heal Kenshi Takahashi, and Kenshi told him of the threat of Onaga. Sub-Zero and Kenshi tavelled across Outworld at night, but were ambushed by Hotaru, an order obsessed warrior who had joined the Dragon King. While Sub-Zero was nearly blinded by Hotaru's flash of light, Kenshi managed to save him. Together, they joined with the remaining warriors and Shujinko, and aided them in defeating Onaga. 
However, Sub-Zero would face a far more personal threat in the form of Noob Saibot and his long lost friend Smoke, who was under the spectre's control. Confronting them in the Netherrealm, he discovered that Noob was the reborn version of his long dead brother, and was captured by Smoke. As revealed in Armageddon, he was saved by Sareena, but due to the Netherrealm's influence she reverted to her demonic form, and Sub-Zero mistakenly fought her. Returning to the Lin Kuei, he found that Frost had also returned, having killed many in a delusional fit. He faced her, and had to freeze her within the Temple, until a cure could be found. He also had to prepare for an inevitable confrontation with his corrupted brother. 
=== Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ===
Some time later, Sub-Zero found that the Temple had been infiltrated by a man, whom had awoken Frost. He confronted the trespasser, Taven, and after battling each other, Sub-Zero noticed that his tattoo resembled the ancient dragon image in the Temple. Taven revealed he had come to the temple as part of a quest, and found a suit of armour left by his mother long ago. However, the Lin Kuei would be invaded by Noob Saibot and Smoke, who began converting his students into Shadow Assassins, and Sub-Zero implored the half god to aid him against them. After Taven aided him against them, Sub-Zero elaborated on the history between himself and Noob, hoping that he could find a way of restoring his long lost brother. In return for his help, he told Taven that the Red Dragon clan were the ones who were hunting him, and gave him the location of their stronghold. Sub-Zero was able to restore Smoke's humanity, allowing the two old friends to be truly reunited, but Noob Sabot seems to have rejected the process. 
Sub-Zero, Smoke and Sareena joined the Forces of Light during the battle of Armageddon to prevent the Forces of Darkness gaining the power of Blaze. Sub-Zero found himself battling his old rival Scorpion, as well as Hotaru. While climbing on the pyramid, Sub-Zero, along with Stryker, Tanya, Kobra, Dairou and Kano, was blasted by Shang Tsung. In his ending, Sub-Zero became a god of Ice after defeating Blaze, but because he had inadvertently done so without the Elder Gods permission, he would be hunted by their champions. As revealed in Mortal Kombat 9's prologue, Sub-Zero was forced to finally kill the unfettered Scorpion, stabbing him with his Kori Blade, and would be killed by being stabbed by Baraka.
==Quotes ==
==Gallery ==
===Images===
Biosub 2.gif|Sub-Zero's MK2 bio
File:MK3-06 Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang).png
Bio2.gif|Sub-Zero's MK4 appearance
File:SubZeroDAUnmasked.png|Sub-Zero unmasked in his primary Deadly Alliance appearance. 
2724380282 e72e682464.jpg|Sub-Zero with the Kori Blade
End2.gif|Sub-Zero joining Raiden
Frost's Ending Deadly Alliance.png|Sub-Zero watching the Medallion's power overwhelming Frost
End1.gif|Sub-Zero looking for somewhere to bury Frost
Deception-sub-zero.jpg|Sub-Zero in his primary "Deception" appearance
End2.png|Sub-Zero placing the frozen Frost in the Lin Kuei tomb
File:MKMenu.jpg
Taven vs Sub-Zero.png|Sub-Zero confronting Taven
===Videos===
SUB-ZERO MOVE LIST - Mortal Kombat II (MK2)
SUB-ZERO MOVE LIST - Mortal Kombat Trilogy (MKT)
Mortal kombat 4 Sub Zero Ending|Sub-Zero's MK4 Ending
Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance Sub-Zero's Ending|Sub-Zero's MK:DA Ending
Mortal Kombat Deception Sub-Zero's Ending|Sub-Zero's MK:D Ending
==Trivia==
*This Sub-Zero was retroactively given a real name in his rebooted incarnation, which for simplicity's sake also applies to the original.
*Sub-Zero is the only character in Mortal Kombat's original timeline to show signs of natural aging.
*His primary costume in Deception resembled Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
*In Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks VS. Mode, when a player picks Sub-Zero's second costume, he resembles Noob Saibot, the undead corrupted form of his older brother and previous bearer of the Sub-Zero moniker Bi-Han.
*In the intro to Mortal Kombat Armageddon, Sub-Zero is seen clashing blades with Scorpion then being blasted off the pyramid along with several other character by Shang Tsung's fireball attack.
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