No. The Linkuei leaders decided to automate their living soldiers into soulless machines. They brought the technology from "God knows where" to put to the test. Sektor was the first and later Cyrax. They completed it successfully. Smoke and Subzero were returning to Outworld after they failed to Kill Tsung. This is when they discovered the Grandmaster's plot. And the horrific truth was that they were next. Subzero escaped, but Smoke was captured and became the 3rd lethal robotic assassin. Subzero took off his mask signifying his departure from the clan. That was against the sacred codes of honor by the Lin Kuei so he was marked for death.