Shaolin Monks: History betrayed?
3D Kombat Klassics
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Shaolin Monks: History betrayed?
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posted01/11/2006 12:05 AM (UTC)byAbout Me
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02/22/2003 01:11 PM (UTC)
I mentioned in another thread that a while ago I had attempted to compile a linear list of notes that explained the key events between Mortal Kombat, and up to Deadly Alliance.
I thought with all the questions of whether or not Shaolin Monks was canon, and how it may or may not have betrayed the history already laid down in previous games, it might be nice to post these notes. Notes once thought lost, but found in backup form online!
Obviously this spans quite a few games, and trys to be as complete as possible. It pools information from Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Mortal Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat Gold, Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance & Mortal Kombat: Special Forces.
Keep in mind, it's quite a long read, because of that.
I believe I took as few liberties as possible tying all the events together, but if there's something you see that's not quite right, it might be useful to point it out. Cheers!
I originally compiled the info when I got all gung ho about writing a script for an on-going Mortal Kombat comic series that would directly adapt and elaborate on the MK canon, and progress annually as the new MK games did.
Naturally, it never even reached proposal stage, but y'know...
With the barrier's between the Earthrealm and Outworld
weakening with each victory, Shang Tsung prepares to
hammer the nail in the coffin with a final tournament.
His champion, Goro, had been undefeated for 500 years,
having defeated the tournament's greatest champion, Kung
Lao, and murdered him.
The tournament's imminence does not go unnoticed by
Rayden, guardian of the Earthrealm. He travels to the
Temple of the order of light, where the Shaolin monks
and their White Lotus brothers offer their chosen warrior
to defend Earth - Liu Kang.
Originating from Outworld, master Bo' Rai Cho is unable
to represent the Earthrealm himself. Instead, he ensured
the training of Liu Kang was long and arduous, so that
he would become a great warrior.
Liu Kang, one of the two last descendents of former Mortal
Kombat champion, Kung Lao. Liu farewells his master, and
his brother, Kung Lao, descendent of the first, and
accompanies Rayden to the tournament.
Fulfilling his obligations to the laws of the tournament,
Shang Tsung ensures other natives of the Earthrealm are
present at the tournament.
In a devious plot to sabotage the Earthrealm, Tsung hires
Sub-Zero anonymously to kill him to lure him to the
tournament. Knowing the evil within the ice ninja's heart,
Tsung knows that while he has the skills to become Mortal
Kombat champion, Sub-Zero lacks the heart to defeat Goro.
Unable to rest since his murder, the spectre ninja, Scorpion,
follows Sub-Zero into the tournament seeking revenge.
Believing him to be a valuable trump card, Shang Tsung
allows the souless warrior to leave the Neatherealm to
enter the tournament.
The Black Dragon leader known as Kano is an unexpected
bonus for Tsung. Having stumbled upon a means to enter
Outworld, Kano had learned of the riches and power Shang
Tsung posessed. With word of the tournament sweeping
through both realms, Kano seeks to become Mortal Kombat
champion and reap the benefits.
Kano's history as a criminal in Earthrealm saves Shang
Tsung the trouble of discovering another warrior.
Having come into possession of the Eye of Shitian and
slipped through the grasp of the Special Forces, Kano
becomes a priority for agents Jackson "Jax" Briggs and
Sonya Blade.
With Gemini in her ear, Sonya defies orders and boards
the Nethership in pursuit of Kano. The Nethership serves
as Shang Tsung's means of transporting himself and
warriors across the Lost Sea to the Celestial Portals.
This time the great ship would make it's journey to
Shang's private island, where the tournament would be
held.
The final warrior is the easiest to lure. Failing,
b-grade martial arts moviestar, Johnny Cage, is notified
by one of Shang Tsung's shadow priests. The vein star
sees it as an opportunity to return the credibility his
acting had cost him, which in turn, would again see his
star rise in Hollywood.
Boasting his faith in the tournament, Shang Tsung even
extends an invitation to Rayden himself, but the thunder
God politely declines.
Some of the warriors find their own way to Shang Tsung's
mysterious island, but those that travel on the Nethership
find things are not as they seem.
On the island the warriors are given time to ready
themselves for the grand tournament, most completely unware
of the true significance for which they fight.
Rayden does his best to mentally prepare Liu Kang, Earth's
chosen champion, but also gathers together the forces of
Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage. He does his best to unify the
efforts of these warriors, the most noble of those on the
island. He warns them of the menace of Goro, and the evil
trickery of the seemingly feeble Shang Tsung.
Recognising the volatile situation on his hands, Shang Tsung
arranges for the first bitter confrontation to feature Sub-Zero
against his sworn enemy, Scorpion.
Although bested in the past, Scorpion is able to defeat his
nemesis, and kills him. Beliveing his mission of redemption to
be at an end, Scorpion returns immediately to the Neatherealm
to await his final passing.
Consulting with Rayden, Liu Kang, believing himself to be
ready to fullfil his destiny, makes an immediate challenge
to Goro, the champion.
With the realms in the balance, Liu Kang battles valiantly
against the man-dragon, and uses his overconfidence against
him. With victory moments from Liu's clutches, Shang Tsung
halts the battle. With defeat before him, the evil sorceror
declares that he will take the place of his minion, and do
battle with Liu Kang in the finals.
While Liu pursues Shang to his inner sanctum, the four armed
Shokan warrior wages vicious war against the other warriors
of Earth realm. It is here that Sonya Blade is forced to put
her differences aside, and team with her sworn enemy, Kano,
and the vain Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat against Goro.
Liu Kang battles on under the watchful eye of Rayden, and
Shang Tsung's shadow priests. Tsung does his best to use his
soul manipulation and morphing techniques to trick the Earth
warrior, but Rayden had prepared him too well. With Tsung
on the backfoot, Liu Kang unleashes a devastating fly kick
that sends Shang Tsung flying across his sanctum. He is defeated.
With the aid of his secret bodyguard, Reptile, Shang Tsung
flees as his island begins to fall apart and quake.
Rather than pursue the sorceror, Liu Kang, new champion of
Mortal Kombat, flees to the Nethership with the help of Rayden.
Meanwhile, the battle between Goro and the forces of Earth was
swaying the way of Kano, Cage and Sonya; but as the island began
to crumble, the bridge on which they fought split apart.
The warriors were flung into the dark depths beneath Shang's
island.
Rayden searches desperately for the warriors of Earthrealm,
but finds only Johnny Cage and the stained stones where
Sub-Zero's had been slain. Mysteriously, the body is gone.
Feeling his responsibility is with those already safe, Rayden
returns Cage to the Nethership and brings the two warriors back
to their homes. Leaving the mystery of Shang Tsung's island
behind them, they ponder what might have been.
Johnny Cage returns to Hollywood, where he writes and sells
the script for an action movie called "Mortal Kombat." The
concept earns him the attention of top Hollywood action
directors, and he quickly finds himself with a vehicle to
launch his career to unthought of heights.
Liu Kang's return to life isn't as pleasant.
The good news of his immortality, victory and guaranteed
safety of the realms is soon overshadowed by the apparent
destruction of the Temple of the order of light.
Rayden discovers a wounded Kung Lao among the wreckage. Kung
Lao describes an army of terrible creatures with razor sharp
teeth, and deadly steel blades extruding from their wrists.
Rayden is able to deduce an attack of Tarkatan warriors
from Outworld.
In Outworld; having learned of the events of the tournament
telepathically through his secret spy, Ermac, Shao Kahn
chastises the sorceror Shang Tsung for his failure.
To avoid punishment, Shang Tsung offers a suggestion of
redemption. He reveals his contingency plan to have Reptile
give the order to Baraka, king of the Tarkatans, to destroy
the Temple of the order of light. It was his plan to provoke
the warriors of Earthrealm to accept a battle in Outworld.
Pleased with his forward thinking, Shao Kahn grants Shang
Tsung his youth, but leaves the curse that forces him to
need souls intact.
Shang Tsung gathers Shao Kahn's Shokan general, Kintaro,
and his other minions; Baraka, Reptile, Jade, Kitana and
Mileena. Kintaro, mourning the disapperance of Goro, is
only too happy to prepare them for the task ahead.
With Sonya Blade still unaccounted for, Special Agent
Jackson Briggs follows intelligence which leads him to Johnny
Cage. Cage does his best to explain that the plot of his film
is in actual fact, fact and not fiction. With his own bizarre
past in Outworld, Briggs is inclined to believe the actor, but
takes him into custody for further questioning.
Liu Kang and Kung Lao do their best to tend to the survivors
of the Tarkatan attack, and endeavor to begin rebuilding their
proud establishment. Shang Tsung sends Jade to deliver the
message of his challenge to the new champion.
With Rayden in their company, they accept the challenge.
With Cage still in custody, Jax has his first encounter with
the thundergod, Rayden. Looking to enlist Cage's services in
the battle ahead, Rayden is fortunate in recruiting the
assistance of Jax himself as well.
Rayden accesses a mystic portal, and transports his quartet
of warriors to Outworld. There, they are greeted by a grim
and dark world. In the shadows did lurk other, sinister
warriors attending the tournament. One such warrior is the
mysterious Noob Saibot. For an unknown reason, Noob chooses
not to leave the safety of the shadows, instead observing
the events from afar with envious eyes.
It is not long before the events of the "tournament" are set
underway. Reptile is confronted by the warrior Sub-Zero,
thought dead! From the Netherealm, the ninja specter, Scorpion
watches the battle, awaiting his own opportunity.
Unable to pass on, Scorpion assumes he had left Sub-Zero
prematurely, and left the warrior to survive.
Sub-Zero manages to overcome Reptile, and to the shock
and bewilderment of the watching specter, Sub-Zero allows
Reptile to live.
Confused, but determined, Scorpion wastes no time in
challenging Sub-Zero. The two warriors clash, and through the
course of the battle Scorpion soon realises the man before
him is not the same man he was bound to. Disillusioned and
disinterested, Scorpion defeats Sub-Zero, but grants him mercy,
returning to the Netherealm to ponder his fate. "Is it possible,"
Scorpion wonders, "that I am bound to Earth for another purpose?"
The assassin Kitana attacks Liu Kang, but is soon stopped by
the revelation that she is the daughter of the ruler of Edenia,
who was murdered by Shao Kahn hundreds of years ago.
Rayden informs the femme fatale that she is in fact the rightful
ruler of what is now part of Outworld.
Fearful of the implications Kitana's realisation would have;
Shao Kahn allows Mileena to go in search of her "sister" to
destroy her.
The battle is long, but in the end Kitana prevails over her
mutant clone, killing her. It is there Kitana declares her
defiance of the emperor, and joins Liu Kang and the warriors
of Earthrealm.
Shang Tsung confronts Rayden, and taunts the thunder god.
Still weak from his battle in Earthrealm, Shang Tsung's
intentions are not to fight, but to lure Rayden into the
depths of Shao Kahn's domain.
There, the Shokan general of Shao Kahn's armies, Kintaro,
emerges for the first time. In Shao Kahn's courtyard, before
thousands of Outworld's inhabitants, and a chained Sonya
and Kano, Rayden does Kombat with Kintaro. Although a truly
powerful warrior, Kintaro proves to be no match for the God.
Using his electrified powers, Rayden blasts Kintaro out of
the arena.
Liu, Jax and Kitana are soon approached by Sub-Zero. The
Lin Kuei warrior removes his mask to reveal his identity.
Below, a fresh scar from his battle with Scorpion weeps
over his eye. A mark of redemption.
The wounded ice ninja reveals himself to be the brother of
the ninja from the first tournament. Sub-Zero reveals that
Shang Tsung's island was built to teeter between the realms,
and when it crumbled it was scattered across Outworld.
Sub-Zero reveals that he had come in search of his brother.
Liu is able to tell the ninja that Rayden himself had searched
the island before it crumbled, and found no sign of Sub-Zero,
or anyone, but Cage.
It is now that Sub-Zero's Lin Kuei brother, Smoke, reveals
himself. Having been in Shao Kahn's courtyard, Smoke relays
information concerning Rayden's battle with Kintaro, and the
presence of Sonya and Kano.
Smoke reveals that when the island of Shang Tsung had
crumbled, Sonya and Kano were trapped in the living forest
of Outworld, only to be captured by Shao Kahn's minions.
The news leads Liu Kang and the warriors of Earthrealm to
rush to Kahn's courtyard. There, Liu Kang challenges Shao
Kahn to final Kombat. The over confident ruler mocked Liu
Kang, claiming to be unimpressed by the new champion.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Liu Kang is able to thwart
Shao Kahn in a hard faught battle.
Defeated, but alive, Shao Kahn retreats to his throne room,
leaving the warriors of Earthrealm to deal with Baraka and
his Tarkatan hordes.
Rayden is able to grant them the time necessary to regroup
and leave Outworld. He transports Liu Kang and Kung Lao
back to their home at the Temple of the order of light, where
Liu accepts the destruction of his home as part of his fate
as Mortal Kombat champion. Kung Lao isn't quite as certain
that their battles are over. The two warriors begin a search
for their missing master, Bo' Rai Cho.
Sub-Zero and Smoke's fates aren't in any doubt. They
return to find their clan, the Lin Kuei, in a state of
disillusion. The Lin Kuei masters had decided to subject
their brightest warriors to cybernetic conversion,
eliminating their free will and any chance of rebellion
to make them superior fighters.
Resisting the plot, Smoke and Sub-Zero split up and flee
from their clan.
Sonya and Jax return to the Special Forces with the
intelligence they were able to gather from the past two
tournaments, and add it to Jax' data from his time in
Outworld chasing the Black Dragon.
Recognising the threat, the government sets into motion
plans to upgrade the Special Forces to deal with the
potential threats the other realms pose.
With most of their number murdered by the Black Dragon,
the Special Forces begin their recruiting. Jax, Sonya
and Gemini are joined by a recruit from riot control
police, Kurtis Stryker. Stryker had volunteered himself
after experiencing strange visions. The visions,
unbeknownst to him, were generated by Rayden, who believed
his grounded attitude, and solid heart would prove useful.
Stryker told the Special Forces that he believed he would
be useful at the crucial time.
Johnny Cage returns to the set of his film, "Mortal
Kombat." Combining the latest in digital effects and
motion capture technology, the film is a resounding
success. Johnny Cage takes his place as not only one of
the most talent martial artists, but also one of the
most talented stars in film.
In Outworld Shao Kahn's fury is not contained long.
Recovering his strength through the consumption of stray
souls, Shao Kahn prepares his revenge. Shang Tsung is
summoned by the Emporer, and sent back to Earthrealm on
the retrieved Nethership with his shadow priests.
With his powers returned, Shang Tsung and his priests
carry with them the body of Edenia's former queen,
Sindel.
By reviving Sindel in Earthrealm, Shang Tsung is able to
put Shao Kahn's plan into action and weaken the dimensional
fabric enough to allow an invasion of Earthrealm.
The two realms slowly began to merge as the forces of
Outworld invaded, destroying the souls of billions.
Rayden was able to only protect a select few souls.
Warriors that would be able to save the Earthrealm from
the threat it faced.
To counter Rayden's plans, Shao Kahn has his recently
promoted general, Motaro, lead an army of warriors to
destroy the mortals that were protected.
Members of the Black Dragon; Jarek, Kabal and No Face
came under attack. Leading the attack, Baraka took great
pleasure in mutilating Kabal before destroying him,
using the pain of the loss of his beloved Mileena as
motivation.
As Baraka and his squad moved on, Kabal was able to
stumble his way to the Black Dragon's recuperation room.
There, he attached respirators and life saving technology
to his body. They would keep him alive, and hide his
hideously scarred face, but he would never be able to
live without them.
At the Temple of the Order of light Liu Kang and Kung Lao
find themselves with a bruised and battered Sub-Zero.
Although injured, and with the Lin Kuei Cyber-Ninja after
him, Sub-Zero offers his services when he learns of the
threat of Outworld. He spares a thought for his brother
Smoke, and prays he too escaped their clan's insane plans.
Shao Kahn, pleased with Baraka's quick victory over the
Black Dragon, resurrects the grotesque mutant clone,
Mileena, the woman he loves.
The resurrected Mileena is more powerful than the last,
and is able to read the thoughts of the rogue Princess
Kitana. Learning that Kitana intended to unify her efforts
with the forces of Earthrealm, Kahn orders Jade and Reptile
to seek her out, and destroy her.
With Reptile in the field, Kahn summons the mysterious
Ermac to become Shang Tsung's bodyguard. A being made
entirely of the souls of the dead, Shao Kahn's powers
were able to enslave him. Shang Tsung is grateful for
the protection, and sees Ermac as a potential source of
energy should he be wounded in battle.
In Earth, Rayden found the wounded Kabal, and informed
him that it was he who had protected his soul from being
devoured in the initial attacks.
Kabal pledges his allegiance to Rayden, and agrees to
join the forces of Earthrealm.
He accompanies Rayden to California, where Johnny Cage
is more than happy to help in the battle. Unfortunately
the forces of Outworld had found them. Motaro attacked
the fighters. Rayden lept to their aid, but was transported
away from the scene by the Elder Gods.
While Johnny Cage and Kabal battled Motaro, the Elder Gods
chastised Rayden for his involvement in the Outworld
tournament. For attacking Kintaro, the Elder Gods were
prepared to bind him to the Heavens until Shao Kahn's attacks
were through. Out of love for the Earthrealm Rayden offers
to sacrifice his status as a God, and become mortal so that
he might defend the Earthrealm once more.
Impressed by his dedication and passion, the Elder Gods
strip Rayden of his immortality and return him to Earthrealm.
Motaro's strength was proving to be too much for the
warriors of Earthrealm. With Kabal mortally wounded,
Johnny Cage is unable to fight the Centaur off, and is
murdered!
A flaming Tomahawk strikes the beast as he looks to do away
with the Black Dragon warrior. With the gradual merging of
the realms, America had become twisted and contorted,
bringing Nightwolf to the scene. Rayden returns, and the
combined might of the two warriors drives Motaro into
retreat.
The Special Force; Jax, Sonya and Stryker, deploy as the
realms continue to merge. The land that awaits them is a
strange and dark reflection of their own. Between the buildings
rise bizarre and twisted spires. From the black of the
shadows a mysterious creature watches on - Noob Saibot!
Intelligence gathered by the Special Forces suggested that
when Sonya and Jax had emerged from the Outworld tournament,
Kano had stayed behind. Because of this, Kano is made a
priority target once more.
The merging of the realms begins to reach the Temple of the
order of light. The Edenian Princess Kitana emerges before
the warriors. She pleads her cases to Liu Kang, champion of
Mortal Kombat, and asks him to aid her in defeating Shao
Kahn once more.
The Shaolin brothers agree, and call off their search for
Bo' Rai Cho for the time, and help defeat Shao Kahn once
more.
Rayden looked to the heavens as the sky cracked and churned.
The dark clouds burst forth with rain as the merging of the
realms completed. Having meditated and pondered the situation
before them, Rayden decided their best hope lay in finding
Liu Kang. He prepared to lead Nightwolf and Kabal to the
Temple, when lightning struck the Earth.
Johnny Cage's body began to stir, and the star lept out of
his dead state trapped in the moment of his death. As his
barings came to him, Johnny Cage discovered Motaro to be
gone, and the realms merged. Rayden realised that the merging
of the realms had trapped Cage's soul. As long as the realms
remained merged, Cage would be alive.
Cage agreed to fight on for Earth, aware that his mortality
would be broken should they win their fight.
At the Temple; Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Kitana set
off in search of Shao Kahn. Liu Kang questions the whereabouts
of Rayden. He does not ponder long. In the distance, two
robotic warriors approach. It does not take Sub-Zero long to
recognise the handy work of the Lin Kuei.
The ice ninja bows his head for a moment for his brother,
Smoke, and tears his mask off, denouncing the Lin Kuei once
and for all.
As Sub-Zero runs into battle with the cyber-ninja, the
other warriors are surprised from behind by Reptile and
Jade! The surprise attack was enough to incapacitate Liu
Kang, leaving Kung Lao and Kitana to battle alone.
Reptile proved to be a difficult match for Kung Lao. The
Raptor warrior's erratic attack was able to effectively
confuse and maneuver through Kung Lao's offensive.
Meanwhile, Sub-Zero was struggling to go toe to toe with
the two Cyber-Ninja, Cyrax and Smoke. Cyrax' green pulse
net ensared the ice ninja, allowing Smoke and Cyrax
opportunity to pummel the ninja. At that moment the ground
began to shake, and flames burst from the ground. From
out of the flames, the ninja spectre, Scorpion lept from
the ground. He tossed his spear, and dragged Smoke away
from Sub-Zero, taking the fight to the cyber-ninja.
Sub-Zero was able to break free from Cyrax' net. With
Scorpion's assistance, Sub-Zero was able to over power
his former clan brother.
Kitana was not faring as well as her fellows. The Emperor's
assasin, Jade, was able to defeat Kitana. Standing over the
fallen princess she raised her Bojutsu staff above her head,
but was unable to do away with her childhood friend.
Instead, she turned on Reptile. Jade was able to give Kung
Lao an opportunity to breathe as she used her skills against
the Raptor, choosing to oppose Kahn rather than fight her
friend. Reptile flees into the nearby forest.
Kitana and Jade tend to Liu Kang and Kung Lao, while
Scorpion and Sub-Zero continue fighting the Cyber Ninja.
Sub-Zero is able to freeze Cyrax long enough to tamper with
his computing. When the frozen Cyrax thaws, he is
reprogrammed to assist in the fight against Shao Kahn.
The revelation couldn't come sooner, as more forces of
Outworld arrive.
Smoke is tossed across the Temple ruins as Scorpion is
struck by a bolt of lightning. The spectre rises furiously
to find the Edenian warrior, Rain, before him.
Scorpion's netherealm born powers are put to the test as
he is forced again to fight tooth and nail against a worthy
adversary.
Sub-Zero leaps to the spectre's aid, but Scorpion orders
him to capitalise on the opportunity. Sub-Zero retrieves
the unconscious Smoke, and joins the forces of Earthrealm
as they head into the distance toward Shao Kahn's tower.
With the warriors at a safe distance, Scorpion allows himself
to be defeated, and returns to the Netherealm. With Scorpion
defeated, Rain returns to Shao Kahn's tower in pursuit of
the Earth fighters.
Rayden, Nightwolf, Kabal and Johnny Cage are shocked by
the destruction strewn across the land. With the alien
landmarks and strange setting proving difficult to navigate,
Nightwolf suggests that Rayden use his staff to fly ahead
without them. Reluctantly, Rayden acknowledges that the
insight he can provide could prove useful. Nightwolf, Kabal
and Johnny Cage are left behind to ensure the saftey of the
few souls that remain untainted.
On the way to Shao Kahn's tower, Smoke recovers from the
shock of Rain's lightning blast. To the shock of all, Smoke's
programming was erased, leaving the Lin Kuei ninja in
control for the time being.
A portal begins to open before the warriors, but those that
come through are not a threat. The Special Forces, using
their portal technology was able to trace directly to Shao
Kahn's tower. The reunion is short lived as the severity of
their situation begins to weigh down.
Jax brings up the possible threat of ambush at the crucial
time of their attack on Shao Kahn. Acknowledging the danger,
the noble Smoke volunteers to guard their path.
To satisfy Sub-Zero's concerns, Smoke suggests Cyrax and
one of the other warriors stay behind too. Stryker reflects
on the visions he'd had, and elects to stay behind also.
Jade, searching for redemption, also decides to stay behind
with Stryker, who will maintain radio contact with the other
warriors.
As they approach the tower, the Earthrealm warriors are
ambushed. Queen Sindel steps out of the tower to the
surprise of the Earth warriors. While from atop the skyscrapers
around them, heavy artillery hails down.
Kitana confronts her deceased mother, delighted, but confused
by her appearance; while Sonya, Jax and Sub-Zero head into the
buildings.
Entranced under Shang Tsung's power, Sindel wastes no time
attacking her daughter. Unable to fight back, Kitana is
the victim of a brutal beating. Rayden arrives just in time
to stop Sindel from murdering her own daughter, however,
fighting with increased power and madness, Sindel is able
to overpower the mortal Rayden as well.
On the track to Shao Kahn's tower, the cyber-ninja and
Stryker are set upon by a simultaneous attack from Rain and
the third Lin Kuei cyber-ninja, Sektor!
Recognising the programming defects, Sektor's secondary
programming kicks in, and he attacks both Cyrax and Smoke!
The battle is long and hard, seeing Cyrax and Smoke get the
upperhand over Sektor, but Stryker is mortally wounded by
Rain. Jade is able to stop Rain long enough to enform him
of the treachery of Shao Kahn.
She reveals the truth behind the Princess Kitana's origins,
and that she herself had turned against the emperor.
Feeling a terrible guilt for betraying his Edenian heritage,
Rain halts his attack, and begs for forgiveness.
In the skyscrapers, Jax is surprised to find human military
weapons in the hands of Tarkatan mutants. Jax radios over
to Sonya, in an adjacent building to learn she too faces
the same situation.
Battling her way to the top, Sonya is shocked to come face
to face with her enemy, Kano! Kano reveals that he had
remained in Outworld, and been "employed" by the emperor
for his knowledge in Earth's weaponry.
Sonya's emotion gets the better of her, making her attacks
sloppy and misjudged. Hearing the comotion over his radio,
Jax desperately screams for Sonya, but gets no reply.
Savoring his victory, Kano snatched a lock of Sonya's hair
and taunted her. The moment gave Sonya clarity enough to
lock Kano in a scissor leg lock. She flung him with a mighty
heave, sending him flying off the top of the skyscraper to
the land below. Motaro was there to witness it, and collects
the body for Shao Kahn as a tribute.
Inside Shao Kahn's tower, Kung Lao and Liu Kang had charged
in to challenge the emperor. They enter a chamber in the
upper levels only to find the Shokan warrior, Sheeva standing
over the body of a female Raptor - Khameleon.
Sheeva turns to Shaolin brothers, as they prepare themselves
for battle. Sheeva reveals that she has betrayed Shao Kahn
in the name of missing kinsmen, Kintaro and Goro. Sheeva
informs the two that she had last seen Shao Kahn heading for
the throne room, and offers to attend to Motaro in the dungeons.
In the skyscrapers, Jax and Sub-Zero make light work of the
Tarkatan forces, and reunite at Sonya's building. There, an
exhausted and bruised Sonya makes light of the situation.
Jax' emotions get the better of him, as he exclaims his delight
in finding Sonya alive.
Below them, the battle between Rayden, Kitana and Sindel
rages on. Rayden realises that Sindel's resurrection is the
key to Kahn's plot, and instructs Kitana to fight back with
all her might. He tells her that subduing Sindel is the only
way they will have opportunity enough to free her mind.
In the dungeons of Shao Kahn's tower, Motaro presents the
emporer himself with the body of Kano. The emperor, rather
than consuming the black soul of Kano, revives him for his
usefulness. Still angered by Kano's defeat, he punishes the
Black Dragon warrior by imprisoning him.
Shao Kahn warns his general, Motaro, that if he was unable to
bring him the souls of the Earthrealm warriors, he would
consume Motaro's instead.
As Shao Kahn exited the dungeon, Sheeva entered.
Sheeva attacked Motaro furiously, using weapons from the
surrounding racks to tear the Centaur apart. With Motaro
dead, Sheeva offers to release Kano if he will help her
ambush Shao Kahn. Kano agrees, and the two pursue him.
In the corridors outside the dungeons, Sheeva asks Kano to
create a distraction to allow her to surprise the emporer.
Rather than betray the powerful emperor, Kano informs him
of Sheeva's treachery. Shao Kahn runs Sheeva through with
a sword, killing her. Shao Kahn hands Kano his sword, and
congratulates him on his promotion to general of his armies.
In the throne room, Liu Kang and Kung Lao are surprised to
find the dimly lit room empty, or so they think. From out
of the shadows emerges Ermac, the enslaved legion of souls.
Uncertain of the threat, Liu Kang falls victim to Ermac's
hado blast, stunned. Kung Lao tosses his razor tipped
hat, slicing into Ermac. Preparing to finish him, Kung
Lao is attacked from behind by Shao Kahn!
Outside the tower, Kitana battered her mother into bitter
defeat. Kitana removed her mask, revealing her face to
her mother. She spoke of the love she felt for her, even
though her mother had been taken from her so long ago.
The haze over the queens eyes was lifted, and Sindel was
once again herself.
With Sindel restored, Rayden looked to the tower and
realised that Shao Kahn would also have to be defeated
before the realms could be seperated.
In the tower, Shao Kahn drove his shoulder into Kung
Lao, slamming him against the wall. Kahn taunted him,
before tossing him across the room. Kung Lao tried to use
his razor hat against the emporer, but he deflected it with
his armor. Liu Kang came to, just in time to see his Shaolin
brother fall victim to Shao Kahn's hammer.
Believing Kung Lao to be dead, Liu Kang is driven mad
with rage. He fires off fire ball chi blasts at the emporer,
sending him on the back foot.
Determined not to fall before the Mortal Kombat champion a
second time, Shao Kahn fires off a powerful blast of energy,
but it is not enough. The enraged Earth warrior flies at
Kahn with a bicycle kick sending the emperor falling from
the window of his tower throne room.
Shao Kahn comes to land before Rayden and the other forces
of good. Rayden takes great pleasure in declaring Shao Kahn's
defeat. Using his staff, Rayden flies to the top level of
the tower and brings Liu Kang and Kung Lao to the ground
below.
The clouds in the sky began to clear, and Kung Lao opened
his eyes. The warrior was still alive. As the realms began
to part once more, the Earthrealm discovered Shao Kahn
had disappeared back into his tower.
In Earthrealm, the streets of California returned to normal.
With the realms split once more, Johnny Cage's death was
again in tact. His soul moved on to the heavens, where he
would rest in peace, and always be remembered as a star.
Kabal and Nightwolf shook hands, as Kabal promised to
leave the Black Dragon behind and protect all that is right
in the world. Nightwolf commended him, and told him that
if they ever met again, he would gladly fight beside him.
With that, Nightwolf walked off into the sunset.
Jax and Sonya found and retrieved the wounded Stryker.
They returned to Earth the same way they had left.
Upon arriving at the Special Forces headquarters they were
informed that they would receive a special commendation for
their work, and would be promoted to front up a new division
of the Special Forces - The Outworld Investigation Agency.
Stryker accepted his commendation, but chose to return to
the riot police, feeling it was all a bit much for him.
Kitana's success in bringing her mother's soul back was
not without reward. The triumph had allowed the realm of
Edenia to split from Outworld also. Queen Sindel returns
to her realm with Kitana, Rain and Jade all at her side.
Princess Kitana blows a kiss to Liu Kang through the realms,
in thanks for his victory.
Rayden returns to Earthrealm with Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
Rayden remained at the Temple of the order of light for a
time, savoring his time as a mortal. Eventually the Elder
Gods commended Rayden on his efforts, and reinstated him
as the defender of Earthrealm. Again he had his immortality,
but would also suffer the curse of not being allowed to
directly intervene. With his powers returned, Rayden forges
three medals out of iron and gave them to Liu Kang to
represent each of his victories in Mortal Kombat. He then
healed Kung Lao. Restored, Kung Lao contemplated finally
retiring to a life without violence.
Sub-Zero remained in Outworld for a time to search for the
missing Cyber-Ninja. Try as he did, he was unable to account
for any of them.
Upon returning to the Heavens, Rayden is shocked by what
he finds. Fujin, God of wind, is on hand to inform Rayden
of the vicious betrayal by the fallen Elder God, Shinnok,
and the sorceror, Quan Chi. With them served a small army
of warriors, that were barely driven back by the few Gods
that survived.
Fujin tells Rayden that the warriors had fled to Edenia,
but would soon attack the Earthrealm as well. With this,
Rayden returns to Earthrealm to gather his forces.
In Edenia, Shinnok recruits another member to his team.
During the splitting of the realms, Reptile had been
trapped in Edenia. A wanted felon in the realm, he agrees
to help Shinnok in his quest for power. It is Reptile's
hope that when Shinnok reaches ultimate power, he would
send Reptile back to a time when his Raptor race thrived.
Among their number, is also Noob Saibot. The mysterious
black ninja had been spying on Shao Kahn for his master,
and upon his defeat, informed him that the time to conquer
the realms was ripe.
Most of Shinnok's forces were recruited from Kahn.
Reiko, a general under Shinnok, once thought dead, had
been discovered by Noob, and brought back from Outworld.
Mileena also joins Shinnok's number, seeking revenge on
her "sister" Kitana for her murder. With her, comes her
lover, Baraka, king of the Tarkatans.
Their final recruit is their most unlikely, Scorpion,
from the Netherealm. Quan Chi informs the ninja spectre
that he remains bound to the Neatherealm because of the
murder of his family and clan. Quan Chi tells him that
the man responsible is the man he has protected, the
current Sub-Zero. With that, Scorpion relishes the
opportunity to strike him down.
Rayden returns to the Temple of the order of light, now
rebuilt and fully functional. There, he recruits Liu
Kang and Kung Lao once more, to do battle with the forces
of evil. A new mortal joins them, one of the last of
Kung Lao's White Lotus, Kai.
Returning from Outworld, Jax and Sonya continued to
pursue Jarek, the last known member of the Black Dragon.
It is then that Rayden arrives to recruit them. With the
threat being so severe, Jarek reluctantly joins the forces
of Earth to protect his homeworld.
Rayden next travels to visit Sub-Zero, who had retreated
to a mysterious frozen temple in the moutains of China.
Learning of the menace of Shinnok, Sub-Zero again dons
the outfit of the Lin Kuei to honor his deceased brother
who once before thwarted the efforts of Shinnok.
The warriors of Outworld are joined by Edenian Princess
Kitana's faithful servant, Tanya, while the Princess herself
remains in the throne. Rayden also retrieves the recently
passed Johnny Cage from the heavens. Believing his experience
to be a valuable asset, Rayden is allowed to bring him back
by the Elder Gods to face the fallen Elder God, whose breaking
of the rules warrants Rayden's request.
Fujin joins Rayden in the battle, and together they
locate and transport their warriors to face Shinnok and
Quan Chi. By order of the Elder Gods, the law of Mortal
Kombat is restored. Forcing Rayden and Fujin to the side
lines, leaving them only able to guide their warriors.
To Sub-Zero's dismay, the Cyber-Ninja, Cyrax and Sektor,
soon emerge at the tournament. Having been retrieved
from the deserts of Outworld, Cyrax was again programmed
to bring Sub-Zero in, or destroy him.
Shinnok secretly orders Mileena to return to Edenia, where
she attacks Kitana. Defeated once more, Millena desperately
begs for her life. The merciful Kitana contemplates allowing
her mutant clone to live, when she is struck by an uppercut.
The skilled Kitana lands on her throne, and strikes a button
which sends Mileena plummeting through a trap door to her
demise.
Learning of the true nature of Quan Chi's plans, Baraka
confronts the sorceror. Not content with ruling in a world
with no one in it, Baraka challenges Quan Chi.
Using the medallian of power, Quan Chi is able to fool
Baraka into attacking a dummy, and mortally wounds the
Tarkatan king. Believing him dead, Quan Chi leaves the
mutant to struggle return to Outworld.
Sub-Zero evades the attentions of the Cyber-Ninja, and
challenges Quan Chi in the dungeons of the tower. Quan Chi
does not have to accept, having Scorpion ambush Sub-Zero
on his behalf. Scorpion attacks Sub-Zero with all his
rage and Netherealm powers. Defeated, Sub-Zero is able to
inform Scorpion of the shocking truth. It was not he, but
rather, Quan Chi, who had murdered his family.
Quan Chi revels in his manipulation, and reveals that by
binding Scorpion to unrest, he was able to have the spectre
do away with his enemy, the first Sub-Zero.
Furious by the betrayal, Scorpion leaves Sub-Zero and
hurls himself at Quan Chi, taking him with him deep into
the Netherealm.
Kung Lao challenges Shinnok to Mortal Kombat, but the
fallen Elder God reveals a special surprise for him.
From deep within the tower steps the Shokan warrior,
Goro, who had killed Kung Lao's distant relative 500 years ago.
Shinnok reveals that the destruction of Shang Tsung's island
had flung Goro into the darkest corner of Outworld, where
he had found him.
Kung Lao brutally attacks Goro, fighting for the honor
of his fallen relative. Kung Lao shocks the giant with his
power, and slices his chest open with his razor hat.
Defeated, Goro tells Kung Lao that he regretted killing
the first Kung Lao 500 years ago. He explains that he
regretted his servitude to Shang Tsung, but was forced to
do it for the good of his Shokan people.
Kung Lao finds it in his heart to forgive the man-dragon,
and the two end their feud.
The revived Johnny Cage confronts Noob Saibot, and suffers
a beating at the hands of the black ninja. Noob Saibot's
time spent lurking in the shadows is proven not to have
been for a lack of fighting ability. He produces a clone,
and double teams Cage. As the battle rages on, Cage
manages to gain the upper hand, and escapes to another
chamber in the tower.
Jarek reveals his true nature, and turns on Sonya and Jax.
Fearing arrest, Jarek capitalises on the swaying fortunes
of the Eartrealm warriors and springs his attack. He manages
to trick Sonya Blade, and with her dangling on the edge of
a cliff threatens to end her life the way they believed she
had ended Kano's.
Jax comes to her rescue, and does combat with Jarek, giving
Sonya opportunity to climb to safety. With that, Jax takes
Jarek into custody to be proescuted to the fullest extent
of the law.
Learning from Rayden and Fujin that Shao Kahn still lived,
the devolving Reptile gives up the fight, seeking to
return to Outworld. The protectors of Earthrealm are more
than happy to turn the beast back on it's master.
In the depths of the tower, Tanya lures Liu Kang into a
trap sprung by Shinnok. Fortunately, Liu Kang is
prepared and engages the fallen Elder God in Mortal
Kombat.
Discovering he was not in possession of the true amulet
of power, Shinnok falls victim to Liu Kang's superior
fighting abilities. Rayden emerges and with the situation
well in his control, disregards the rules and destroys
Shinnok once and for all.
Kai does battle with Reiko, but with Shinnok's demise,
Reiko gives in, and returns to Outworld. There he dons
the helmet of Shao Kahn and sits in the throne of the
emperor.
As the Earthrealm warriors gather together, they come
across a damaged Cyrax. Uncertain how he came to be
damaged, Jax and Sonya offer to take him back to the Special
Forces where they could restore his personality and free-
will. Sub-Zero is grateful for their offer, and wishes his
cybernetic clan brother well.
Kitana emerges from a temporary portal, and thanks Liu
Kang. She informs him that by defeating Shinnok's evil he
saved not only Earthrealm, but Edenia also. She offers Liu
Kang a proposal of marriage, so that they may protect the
realms together, but he declines. Kang cites responsibilities
to Earthrealm as too great to leave for Edenia.
In his place, Kung Lao accompanies Goro, where Goro declared
he would like to negotiate a treaty between the Shokan and
the Edenians. Kitana is delighted.
Jarek is locked in the Special Forces brig.
Jax, Sonya and Stryker's replacement, Hsu Hao, load Cyrax
into a specially designed machine. It deletes Cyrax's
programming. They remove his helmet, to reveal what's left
of his human face. Cyrax' first independent thoughts since
his transformation were of thanks to the Special Forces.
To show his gratitude, Cyrax agrees to become one of their
number.
In Outworld, Reiko is shocked to find the emperor Shao Kahn
entering the throne room. Like Shinnok and Quan Chi, Reiko
had believed Shao Kahn to be dead. The emperor makes sure
Reiko knows he is very much alive with a beating, and then
has Reiko imprisoned in the dungeons in the depths of his
tower.
Sub-Zero cautiously returns to the Lin Kuei temple in search
of his good friend Smoke. He is shocked to find his former
clan slaughtered, with not one of their number remaining.
Among the carnage stands the cyber-ninja Sektor. Sektor,
with his programming corrupted, looks to challenge the
grand master and take over the Lin Kuei. Sub-Zero challenges
him, and manages to defeat the Cyber-Ninja.
Damaged, Sektor flees to Japan, swearing to create his own
clan that would destroy Sub-Zero.
Fron inside the Lin Kuei temple, Sub-Zero retrieved the
Dragon Medallian. As the last surviving member of the Lin
Kuei, it was his right alone to wear the medallian. The power
was immediate, covering his forearms with frost. His breath
became so cold it produced steam, and his hair collected
frost while his skin tone dulled.
Sub-Zero decided to dedicate himself to reforming the Lin
Kuei ninja, and would hold a tournament to find a student.
In the Netherrealm, Quan Chi's nightmare had only just
begun. Scorpion was periodically attacking the sorceror,
giving him only enough time to recuperate. As the Netherealm
increased Scorpion's power, Quan Chi's power began to diminish.
Two Oni demon, despising Scorpion, assisted the sorceror by
fighting the spectre ninja back. They informed Quan Chi of
a portal which would allow him to escape the Netherealm.
The Oni accompanied Quan Chi to the portal, but when they
got there, Scorpion attacked once again. The Oni battled
him as best they could, while Quan Chi fled through the
portal to Outworld. Scorpion was able to overcome the Oni,
and followed through the portal, only to emerge in an
entirely different location in Outworld. Furious, the Oni
demon also followed, emerging in a different location again.
The demon Sarneea, former minion of Quan Chi, came across
the portal soon afterward. She emerged in Outworld, and
discovered she could feed off the temporal energies of
Outworld and use it to sustain her more attractive, human
form. Ashamed of her demonic appearance, she saw this as
an improved lifestyle change.
Quan Chi, realising he had stumbled upon something great.
He had discovered the tomb of the ancient Dragon King, an
ancient ruler from long before Shao Kahn. Using the amulet
he had stolen from Shinnok, Quan Chi reads the ancient
scriptures, and learns of the invincible army. Realising his
talents didn't lend themselves to his nefarious plan, Quan
Chi goes in search of the sorceror whose power matched his
own. Shang Tsung.
After Shinnok's defeat, Noob Saibot had returned to
Outworld and for the time had sided with Shao Kahn's
armies. Led by Kano, the forces of Shao Kahn were suffering
hefty blows at the hands of the unitied Shokan and Edenian
army. In the field, Noob proved to be a vital part of Kahn's
forces by killing prince Goro himself.
At Shang Tsung's quarters, Reptile was sent to summon the
sorceror to Shao Kahn's presence. When the further devolving
Reptile left, Shang Tsung noticed a comotion outside his
home. Scorpion had caught up with Quan Chi, and did battle
with him. Quan Chi was able to knock Scorpion into the moat
of acid that surrounded the building, sending him back to
the Netherealm for the time being.
Quan Chi approached Shang Tsung with his plan to conquer
both Outworld and Earthrealm with the invincible army of the
Dragon King. Using Shang Tsung's power to manipulate souls,
they could fill and enslave the entire army. In return,
Quan Chi would create a "soulnado" which would draw souls
from the heavens, and grant Shang Tsung a limitless source
of energy. The two agreed to help one and other, but before
they set their plans into motion, decided to destroy the two
who posed the most immediate threat to their plans.
Having heard the conversation, Reptile was furious for his
master. Reptile was devolving further, a symptom believed to
be linked to the extended separation from his own race.
On the way back to Kahn's tower, he encountered a mysterious
woman named Nitara. She lured the feral Reptile to her, and
showed him the base of Kitana's army's operations.
Reptile took this information with him back to Shao Kahn
as quickly as he could, hoping to save his master.
Reptile would be too slow. Shang Tsung would bring Quan Chi
with him to Shao Kahn's tower, and after fooling Shao Kahn
into believing their allegiance, they attacked him. Their
combined might was too much for the already weakened Shao
Kahn.
Kano emerged from the shadows, and congratulated the deadly
alliance on their success. Seeing the shift in power, Kano
joined the two sorcerors to stay in power.
Reptile arrived shortly after, only to find his broken and
defeated master. The sight drove Reptile insane, coming to
the realisation that if he'd been a moment sooner, he could
have saved his master. Rather than blaming Nitara, Reptile
swore revenge on Shang Tsung, Quan Chi and Kitana.
Wandering through Outworld, Reptile happened upon the
vampiric Nitara. In a fit of rage he brutally attacked her.
She was able to calm the Raptor down, and assured him she
forgave him for the attack. Reptile, desperate for forgiveness,
agreed to attack the cyber-ninja, Cyrax, on her behalf.
Cyrax, on an intelligence scouting mission in Outworld was
unprepared for the attack. Reptile's sharp teeth piereced
his wrist panel, destroying his communications link. Cyrax'
buzz saw attack was enough to frighten the Raptor, giving
Nitara an opening to make herself known.
Nitara promised Cyrax passage back to Earthrealm if he could
find and destroy the powerful orb that bound her world to
Outworld. Cyrax agreed.
At the newly built Shaolin Temple of Light, Liu Kang trained
with Kung Lao. Kung Lao rose from his meditation, only to
reveal he was not Kung Lao, but rather Shang Tsung using his
powers of trickery.
Liu Kang, champion of Mortal Kombat, was able to overcome
Shang Tsung's cowardly attack, but Quan Chi's surprise attack
tipped the balance in their favor. Taking pleasure in defeating
his enemy, Shang Tsung slowly snapped Liu Kang's neck, before
devouring his plentiful soul.
Kung Lao soon discovered the body of his Shaolin brother,
and swore revenge. Rayden appeared from the heavens and
informed Kung Lao of the sorceror's treachery.
Kung Lao left the temple, and resumed their abandoned search
for master Bo' Rai Cho.
I thought with all the questions of whether or not Shaolin Monks was canon, and how it may or may not have betrayed the history already laid down in previous games, it might be nice to post these notes. Notes once thought lost, but found in backup form online!
Obviously this spans quite a few games, and trys to be as complete as possible. It pools information from Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Mortal Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat Gold, Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance & Mortal Kombat: Special Forces.
Keep in mind, it's quite a long read, because of that.
I believe I took as few liberties as possible tying all the events together, but if there's something you see that's not quite right, it might be useful to point it out. Cheers!
I originally compiled the info when I got all gung ho about writing a script for an on-going Mortal Kombat comic series that would directly adapt and elaborate on the MK canon, and progress annually as the new MK games did.
Naturally, it never even reached proposal stage, but y'know...
With the barrier's between the Earthrealm and Outworld
weakening with each victory, Shang Tsung prepares to
hammer the nail in the coffin with a final tournament.
His champion, Goro, had been undefeated for 500 years,
having defeated the tournament's greatest champion, Kung
Lao, and murdered him.
The tournament's imminence does not go unnoticed by
Rayden, guardian of the Earthrealm. He travels to the
Temple of the order of light, where the Shaolin monks
and their White Lotus brothers offer their chosen warrior
to defend Earth - Liu Kang.
Originating from Outworld, master Bo' Rai Cho is unable
to represent the Earthrealm himself. Instead, he ensured
the training of Liu Kang was long and arduous, so that
he would become a great warrior.
Liu Kang, one of the two last descendents of former Mortal
Kombat champion, Kung Lao. Liu farewells his master, and
his brother, Kung Lao, descendent of the first, and
accompanies Rayden to the tournament.
Fulfilling his obligations to the laws of the tournament,
Shang Tsung ensures other natives of the Earthrealm are
present at the tournament.
In a devious plot to sabotage the Earthrealm, Tsung hires
Sub-Zero anonymously to kill him to lure him to the
tournament. Knowing the evil within the ice ninja's heart,
Tsung knows that while he has the skills to become Mortal
Kombat champion, Sub-Zero lacks the heart to defeat Goro.
Unable to rest since his murder, the spectre ninja, Scorpion,
follows Sub-Zero into the tournament seeking revenge.
Believing him to be a valuable trump card, Shang Tsung
allows the souless warrior to leave the Neatherealm to
enter the tournament.
The Black Dragon leader known as Kano is an unexpected
bonus for Tsung. Having stumbled upon a means to enter
Outworld, Kano had learned of the riches and power Shang
Tsung posessed. With word of the tournament sweeping
through both realms, Kano seeks to become Mortal Kombat
champion and reap the benefits.
Kano's history as a criminal in Earthrealm saves Shang
Tsung the trouble of discovering another warrior.
Having come into possession of the Eye of Shitian and
slipped through the grasp of the Special Forces, Kano
becomes a priority for agents Jackson "Jax" Briggs and
Sonya Blade.
With Gemini in her ear, Sonya defies orders and boards
the Nethership in pursuit of Kano. The Nethership serves
as Shang Tsung's means of transporting himself and
warriors across the Lost Sea to the Celestial Portals.
This time the great ship would make it's journey to
Shang's private island, where the tournament would be
held.
The final warrior is the easiest to lure. Failing,
b-grade martial arts moviestar, Johnny Cage, is notified
by one of Shang Tsung's shadow priests. The vein star
sees it as an opportunity to return the credibility his
acting had cost him, which in turn, would again see his
star rise in Hollywood.
Boasting his faith in the tournament, Shang Tsung even
extends an invitation to Rayden himself, but the thunder
God politely declines.
Some of the warriors find their own way to Shang Tsung's
mysterious island, but those that travel on the Nethership
find things are not as they seem.
On the island the warriors are given time to ready
themselves for the grand tournament, most completely unware
of the true significance for which they fight.
Rayden does his best to mentally prepare Liu Kang, Earth's
chosen champion, but also gathers together the forces of
Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage. He does his best to unify the
efforts of these warriors, the most noble of those on the
island. He warns them of the menace of Goro, and the evil
trickery of the seemingly feeble Shang Tsung.
Recognising the volatile situation on his hands, Shang Tsung
arranges for the first bitter confrontation to feature Sub-Zero
against his sworn enemy, Scorpion.
Although bested in the past, Scorpion is able to defeat his
nemesis, and kills him. Beliveing his mission of redemption to
be at an end, Scorpion returns immediately to the Neatherealm
to await his final passing.
Consulting with Rayden, Liu Kang, believing himself to be
ready to fullfil his destiny, makes an immediate challenge
to Goro, the champion.
With the realms in the balance, Liu Kang battles valiantly
against the man-dragon, and uses his overconfidence against
him. With victory moments from Liu's clutches, Shang Tsung
halts the battle. With defeat before him, the evil sorceror
declares that he will take the place of his minion, and do
battle with Liu Kang in the finals.
While Liu pursues Shang to his inner sanctum, the four armed
Shokan warrior wages vicious war against the other warriors
of Earth realm. It is here that Sonya Blade is forced to put
her differences aside, and team with her sworn enemy, Kano,
and the vain Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat against Goro.
Liu Kang battles on under the watchful eye of Rayden, and
Shang Tsung's shadow priests. Tsung does his best to use his
soul manipulation and morphing techniques to trick the Earth
warrior, but Rayden had prepared him too well. With Tsung
on the backfoot, Liu Kang unleashes a devastating fly kick
that sends Shang Tsung flying across his sanctum. He is defeated.
With the aid of his secret bodyguard, Reptile, Shang Tsung
flees as his island begins to fall apart and quake.
Rather than pursue the sorceror, Liu Kang, new champion of
Mortal Kombat, flees to the Nethership with the help of Rayden.
Meanwhile, the battle between Goro and the forces of Earth was
swaying the way of Kano, Cage and Sonya; but as the island began
to crumble, the bridge on which they fought split apart.
The warriors were flung into the dark depths beneath Shang's
island.
Rayden searches desperately for the warriors of Earthrealm,
but finds only Johnny Cage and the stained stones where
Sub-Zero's had been slain. Mysteriously, the body is gone.
Feeling his responsibility is with those already safe, Rayden
returns Cage to the Nethership and brings the two warriors back
to their homes. Leaving the mystery of Shang Tsung's island
behind them, they ponder what might have been.
Johnny Cage returns to Hollywood, where he writes and sells
the script for an action movie called "Mortal Kombat." The
concept earns him the attention of top Hollywood action
directors, and he quickly finds himself with a vehicle to
launch his career to unthought of heights.
Liu Kang's return to life isn't as pleasant.
The good news of his immortality, victory and guaranteed
safety of the realms is soon overshadowed by the apparent
destruction of the Temple of the order of light.
Rayden discovers a wounded Kung Lao among the wreckage. Kung
Lao describes an army of terrible creatures with razor sharp
teeth, and deadly steel blades extruding from their wrists.
Rayden is able to deduce an attack of Tarkatan warriors
from Outworld.
In Outworld; having learned of the events of the tournament
telepathically through his secret spy, Ermac, Shao Kahn
chastises the sorceror Shang Tsung for his failure.
To avoid punishment, Shang Tsung offers a suggestion of
redemption. He reveals his contingency plan to have Reptile
give the order to Baraka, king of the Tarkatans, to destroy
the Temple of the order of light. It was his plan to provoke
the warriors of Earthrealm to accept a battle in Outworld.
Pleased with his forward thinking, Shao Kahn grants Shang
Tsung his youth, but leaves the curse that forces him to
need souls intact.
Shang Tsung gathers Shao Kahn's Shokan general, Kintaro,
and his other minions; Baraka, Reptile, Jade, Kitana and
Mileena. Kintaro, mourning the disapperance of Goro, is
only too happy to prepare them for the task ahead.
With Sonya Blade still unaccounted for, Special Agent
Jackson Briggs follows intelligence which leads him to Johnny
Cage. Cage does his best to explain that the plot of his film
is in actual fact, fact and not fiction. With his own bizarre
past in Outworld, Briggs is inclined to believe the actor, but
takes him into custody for further questioning.
Liu Kang and Kung Lao do their best to tend to the survivors
of the Tarkatan attack, and endeavor to begin rebuilding their
proud establishment. Shang Tsung sends Jade to deliver the
message of his challenge to the new champion.
With Rayden in their company, they accept the challenge.
With Cage still in custody, Jax has his first encounter with
the thundergod, Rayden. Looking to enlist Cage's services in
the battle ahead, Rayden is fortunate in recruiting the
assistance of Jax himself as well.
Rayden accesses a mystic portal, and transports his quartet
of warriors to Outworld. There, they are greeted by a grim
and dark world. In the shadows did lurk other, sinister
warriors attending the tournament. One such warrior is the
mysterious Noob Saibot. For an unknown reason, Noob chooses
not to leave the safety of the shadows, instead observing
the events from afar with envious eyes.
It is not long before the events of the "tournament" are set
underway. Reptile is confronted by the warrior Sub-Zero,
thought dead! From the Netherealm, the ninja specter, Scorpion
watches the battle, awaiting his own opportunity.
Unable to pass on, Scorpion assumes he had left Sub-Zero
prematurely, and left the warrior to survive.
Sub-Zero manages to overcome Reptile, and to the shock
and bewilderment of the watching specter, Sub-Zero allows
Reptile to live.
Confused, but determined, Scorpion wastes no time in
challenging Sub-Zero. The two warriors clash, and through the
course of the battle Scorpion soon realises the man before
him is not the same man he was bound to. Disillusioned and
disinterested, Scorpion defeats Sub-Zero, but grants him mercy,
returning to the Netherealm to ponder his fate. "Is it possible,"
Scorpion wonders, "that I am bound to Earth for another purpose?"
The assassin Kitana attacks Liu Kang, but is soon stopped by
the revelation that she is the daughter of the ruler of Edenia,
who was murdered by Shao Kahn hundreds of years ago.
Rayden informs the femme fatale that she is in fact the rightful
ruler of what is now part of Outworld.
Fearful of the implications Kitana's realisation would have;
Shao Kahn allows Mileena to go in search of her "sister" to
destroy her.
The battle is long, but in the end Kitana prevails over her
mutant clone, killing her. It is there Kitana declares her
defiance of the emperor, and joins Liu Kang and the warriors
of Earthrealm.
Shang Tsung confronts Rayden, and taunts the thunder god.
Still weak from his battle in Earthrealm, Shang Tsung's
intentions are not to fight, but to lure Rayden into the
depths of Shao Kahn's domain.
There, the Shokan general of Shao Kahn's armies, Kintaro,
emerges for the first time. In Shao Kahn's courtyard, before
thousands of Outworld's inhabitants, and a chained Sonya
and Kano, Rayden does Kombat with Kintaro. Although a truly
powerful warrior, Kintaro proves to be no match for the God.
Using his electrified powers, Rayden blasts Kintaro out of
the arena.
Liu, Jax and Kitana are soon approached by Sub-Zero. The
Lin Kuei warrior removes his mask to reveal his identity.
Below, a fresh scar from his battle with Scorpion weeps
over his eye. A mark of redemption.
The wounded ice ninja reveals himself to be the brother of
the ninja from the first tournament. Sub-Zero reveals that
Shang Tsung's island was built to teeter between the realms,
and when it crumbled it was scattered across Outworld.
Sub-Zero reveals that he had come in search of his brother.
Liu is able to tell the ninja that Rayden himself had searched
the island before it crumbled, and found no sign of Sub-Zero,
or anyone, but Cage.
It is now that Sub-Zero's Lin Kuei brother, Smoke, reveals
himself. Having been in Shao Kahn's courtyard, Smoke relays
information concerning Rayden's battle with Kintaro, and the
presence of Sonya and Kano.
Smoke reveals that when the island of Shang Tsung had
crumbled, Sonya and Kano were trapped in the living forest
of Outworld, only to be captured by Shao Kahn's minions.
The news leads Liu Kang and the warriors of Earthrealm to
rush to Kahn's courtyard. There, Liu Kang challenges Shao
Kahn to final Kombat. The over confident ruler mocked Liu
Kang, claiming to be unimpressed by the new champion.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Liu Kang is able to thwart
Shao Kahn in a hard faught battle.
Defeated, but alive, Shao Kahn retreats to his throne room,
leaving the warriors of Earthrealm to deal with Baraka and
his Tarkatan hordes.
Rayden is able to grant them the time necessary to regroup
and leave Outworld. He transports Liu Kang and Kung Lao
back to their home at the Temple of the order of light, where
Liu accepts the destruction of his home as part of his fate
as Mortal Kombat champion. Kung Lao isn't quite as certain
that their battles are over. The two warriors begin a search
for their missing master, Bo' Rai Cho.
Sub-Zero and Smoke's fates aren't in any doubt. They
return to find their clan, the Lin Kuei, in a state of
disillusion. The Lin Kuei masters had decided to subject
their brightest warriors to cybernetic conversion,
eliminating their free will and any chance of rebellion
to make them superior fighters.
Resisting the plot, Smoke and Sub-Zero split up and flee
from their clan.
Sonya and Jax return to the Special Forces with the
intelligence they were able to gather from the past two
tournaments, and add it to Jax' data from his time in
Outworld chasing the Black Dragon.
Recognising the threat, the government sets into motion
plans to upgrade the Special Forces to deal with the
potential threats the other realms pose.
With most of their number murdered by the Black Dragon,
the Special Forces begin their recruiting. Jax, Sonya
and Gemini are joined by a recruit from riot control
police, Kurtis Stryker. Stryker had volunteered himself
after experiencing strange visions. The visions,
unbeknownst to him, were generated by Rayden, who believed
his grounded attitude, and solid heart would prove useful.
Stryker told the Special Forces that he believed he would
be useful at the crucial time.
Johnny Cage returns to the set of his film, "Mortal
Kombat." Combining the latest in digital effects and
motion capture technology, the film is a resounding
success. Johnny Cage takes his place as not only one of
the most talent martial artists, but also one of the
most talented stars in film.
In Outworld Shao Kahn's fury is not contained long.
Recovering his strength through the consumption of stray
souls, Shao Kahn prepares his revenge. Shang Tsung is
summoned by the Emporer, and sent back to Earthrealm on
the retrieved Nethership with his shadow priests.
With his powers returned, Shang Tsung and his priests
carry with them the body of Edenia's former queen,
Sindel.
By reviving Sindel in Earthrealm, Shang Tsung is able to
put Shao Kahn's plan into action and weaken the dimensional
fabric enough to allow an invasion of Earthrealm.
The two realms slowly began to merge as the forces of
Outworld invaded, destroying the souls of billions.
Rayden was able to only protect a select few souls.
Warriors that would be able to save the Earthrealm from
the threat it faced.
To counter Rayden's plans, Shao Kahn has his recently
promoted general, Motaro, lead an army of warriors to
destroy the mortals that were protected.
Members of the Black Dragon; Jarek, Kabal and No Face
came under attack. Leading the attack, Baraka took great
pleasure in mutilating Kabal before destroying him,
using the pain of the loss of his beloved Mileena as
motivation.
As Baraka and his squad moved on, Kabal was able to
stumble his way to the Black Dragon's recuperation room.
There, he attached respirators and life saving technology
to his body. They would keep him alive, and hide his
hideously scarred face, but he would never be able to
live without them.
At the Temple of the Order of light Liu Kang and Kung Lao
find themselves with a bruised and battered Sub-Zero.
Although injured, and with the Lin Kuei Cyber-Ninja after
him, Sub-Zero offers his services when he learns of the
threat of Outworld. He spares a thought for his brother
Smoke, and prays he too escaped their clan's insane plans.
Shao Kahn, pleased with Baraka's quick victory over the
Black Dragon, resurrects the grotesque mutant clone,
Mileena, the woman he loves.
The resurrected Mileena is more powerful than the last,
and is able to read the thoughts of the rogue Princess
Kitana. Learning that Kitana intended to unify her efforts
with the forces of Earthrealm, Kahn orders Jade and Reptile
to seek her out, and destroy her.
With Reptile in the field, Kahn summons the mysterious
Ermac to become Shang Tsung's bodyguard. A being made
entirely of the souls of the dead, Shao Kahn's powers
were able to enslave him. Shang Tsung is grateful for
the protection, and sees Ermac as a potential source of
energy should he be wounded in battle.
In Earth, Rayden found the wounded Kabal, and informed
him that it was he who had protected his soul from being
devoured in the initial attacks.
Kabal pledges his allegiance to Rayden, and agrees to
join the forces of Earthrealm.
He accompanies Rayden to California, where Johnny Cage
is more than happy to help in the battle. Unfortunately
the forces of Outworld had found them. Motaro attacked
the fighters. Rayden lept to their aid, but was transported
away from the scene by the Elder Gods.
While Johnny Cage and Kabal battled Motaro, the Elder Gods
chastised Rayden for his involvement in the Outworld
tournament. For attacking Kintaro, the Elder Gods were
prepared to bind him to the Heavens until Shao Kahn's attacks
were through. Out of love for the Earthrealm Rayden offers
to sacrifice his status as a God, and become mortal so that
he might defend the Earthrealm once more.
Impressed by his dedication and passion, the Elder Gods
strip Rayden of his immortality and return him to Earthrealm.
Motaro's strength was proving to be too much for the
warriors of Earthrealm. With Kabal mortally wounded,
Johnny Cage is unable to fight the Centaur off, and is
murdered!
A flaming Tomahawk strikes the beast as he looks to do away
with the Black Dragon warrior. With the gradual merging of
the realms, America had become twisted and contorted,
bringing Nightwolf to the scene. Rayden returns, and the
combined might of the two warriors drives Motaro into
retreat.
The Special Force; Jax, Sonya and Stryker, deploy as the
realms continue to merge. The land that awaits them is a
strange and dark reflection of their own. Between the buildings
rise bizarre and twisted spires. From the black of the
shadows a mysterious creature watches on - Noob Saibot!
Intelligence gathered by the Special Forces suggested that
when Sonya and Jax had emerged from the Outworld tournament,
Kano had stayed behind. Because of this, Kano is made a
priority target once more.
The merging of the realms begins to reach the Temple of the
order of light. The Edenian Princess Kitana emerges before
the warriors. She pleads her cases to Liu Kang, champion of
Mortal Kombat, and asks him to aid her in defeating Shao
Kahn once more.
The Shaolin brothers agree, and call off their search for
Bo' Rai Cho for the time, and help defeat Shao Kahn once
more.
Rayden looked to the heavens as the sky cracked and churned.
The dark clouds burst forth with rain as the merging of the
realms completed. Having meditated and pondered the situation
before them, Rayden decided their best hope lay in finding
Liu Kang. He prepared to lead Nightwolf and Kabal to the
Temple, when lightning struck the Earth.
Johnny Cage's body began to stir, and the star lept out of
his dead state trapped in the moment of his death. As his
barings came to him, Johnny Cage discovered Motaro to be
gone, and the realms merged. Rayden realised that the merging
of the realms had trapped Cage's soul. As long as the realms
remained merged, Cage would be alive.
Cage agreed to fight on for Earth, aware that his mortality
would be broken should they win their fight.
At the Temple; Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Kitana set
off in search of Shao Kahn. Liu Kang questions the whereabouts
of Rayden. He does not ponder long. In the distance, two
robotic warriors approach. It does not take Sub-Zero long to
recognise the handy work of the Lin Kuei.
The ice ninja bows his head for a moment for his brother,
Smoke, and tears his mask off, denouncing the Lin Kuei once
and for all.
As Sub-Zero runs into battle with the cyber-ninja, the
other warriors are surprised from behind by Reptile and
Jade! The surprise attack was enough to incapacitate Liu
Kang, leaving Kung Lao and Kitana to battle alone.
Reptile proved to be a difficult match for Kung Lao. The
Raptor warrior's erratic attack was able to effectively
confuse and maneuver through Kung Lao's offensive.
Meanwhile, Sub-Zero was struggling to go toe to toe with
the two Cyber-Ninja, Cyrax and Smoke. Cyrax' green pulse
net ensared the ice ninja, allowing Smoke and Cyrax
opportunity to pummel the ninja. At that moment the ground
began to shake, and flames burst from the ground. From
out of the flames, the ninja spectre, Scorpion lept from
the ground. He tossed his spear, and dragged Smoke away
from Sub-Zero, taking the fight to the cyber-ninja.
Sub-Zero was able to break free from Cyrax' net. With
Scorpion's assistance, Sub-Zero was able to over power
his former clan brother.
Kitana was not faring as well as her fellows. The Emperor's
assasin, Jade, was able to defeat Kitana. Standing over the
fallen princess she raised her Bojutsu staff above her head,
but was unable to do away with her childhood friend.
Instead, she turned on Reptile. Jade was able to give Kung
Lao an opportunity to breathe as she used her skills against
the Raptor, choosing to oppose Kahn rather than fight her
friend. Reptile flees into the nearby forest.
Kitana and Jade tend to Liu Kang and Kung Lao, while
Scorpion and Sub-Zero continue fighting the Cyber Ninja.
Sub-Zero is able to freeze Cyrax long enough to tamper with
his computing. When the frozen Cyrax thaws, he is
reprogrammed to assist in the fight against Shao Kahn.
The revelation couldn't come sooner, as more forces of
Outworld arrive.
Smoke is tossed across the Temple ruins as Scorpion is
struck by a bolt of lightning. The spectre rises furiously
to find the Edenian warrior, Rain, before him.
Scorpion's netherealm born powers are put to the test as
he is forced again to fight tooth and nail against a worthy
adversary.
Sub-Zero leaps to the spectre's aid, but Scorpion orders
him to capitalise on the opportunity. Sub-Zero retrieves
the unconscious Smoke, and joins the forces of Earthrealm
as they head into the distance toward Shao Kahn's tower.
With the warriors at a safe distance, Scorpion allows himself
to be defeated, and returns to the Netherealm. With Scorpion
defeated, Rain returns to Shao Kahn's tower in pursuit of
the Earth fighters.
Rayden, Nightwolf, Kabal and Johnny Cage are shocked by
the destruction strewn across the land. With the alien
landmarks and strange setting proving difficult to navigate,
Nightwolf suggests that Rayden use his staff to fly ahead
without them. Reluctantly, Rayden acknowledges that the
insight he can provide could prove useful. Nightwolf, Kabal
and Johnny Cage are left behind to ensure the saftey of the
few souls that remain untainted.
On the way to Shao Kahn's tower, Smoke recovers from the
shock of Rain's lightning blast. To the shock of all, Smoke's
programming was erased, leaving the Lin Kuei ninja in
control for the time being.
A portal begins to open before the warriors, but those that
come through are not a threat. The Special Forces, using
their portal technology was able to trace directly to Shao
Kahn's tower. The reunion is short lived as the severity of
their situation begins to weigh down.
Jax brings up the possible threat of ambush at the crucial
time of their attack on Shao Kahn. Acknowledging the danger,
the noble Smoke volunteers to guard their path.
To satisfy Sub-Zero's concerns, Smoke suggests Cyrax and
one of the other warriors stay behind too. Stryker reflects
on the visions he'd had, and elects to stay behind also.
Jade, searching for redemption, also decides to stay behind
with Stryker, who will maintain radio contact with the other
warriors.
As they approach the tower, the Earthrealm warriors are
ambushed. Queen Sindel steps out of the tower to the
surprise of the Earth warriors. While from atop the skyscrapers
around them, heavy artillery hails down.
Kitana confronts her deceased mother, delighted, but confused
by her appearance; while Sonya, Jax and Sub-Zero head into the
buildings.
Entranced under Shang Tsung's power, Sindel wastes no time
attacking her daughter. Unable to fight back, Kitana is
the victim of a brutal beating. Rayden arrives just in time
to stop Sindel from murdering her own daughter, however,
fighting with increased power and madness, Sindel is able
to overpower the mortal Rayden as well.
On the track to Shao Kahn's tower, the cyber-ninja and
Stryker are set upon by a simultaneous attack from Rain and
the third Lin Kuei cyber-ninja, Sektor!
Recognising the programming defects, Sektor's secondary
programming kicks in, and he attacks both Cyrax and Smoke!
The battle is long and hard, seeing Cyrax and Smoke get the
upperhand over Sektor, but Stryker is mortally wounded by
Rain. Jade is able to stop Rain long enough to enform him
of the treachery of Shao Kahn.
She reveals the truth behind the Princess Kitana's origins,
and that she herself had turned against the emperor.
Feeling a terrible guilt for betraying his Edenian heritage,
Rain halts his attack, and begs for forgiveness.
In the skyscrapers, Jax is surprised to find human military
weapons in the hands of Tarkatan mutants. Jax radios over
to Sonya, in an adjacent building to learn she too faces
the same situation.
Battling her way to the top, Sonya is shocked to come face
to face with her enemy, Kano! Kano reveals that he had
remained in Outworld, and been "employed" by the emperor
for his knowledge in Earth's weaponry.
Sonya's emotion gets the better of her, making her attacks
sloppy and misjudged. Hearing the comotion over his radio,
Jax desperately screams for Sonya, but gets no reply.
Savoring his victory, Kano snatched a lock of Sonya's hair
and taunted her. The moment gave Sonya clarity enough to
lock Kano in a scissor leg lock. She flung him with a mighty
heave, sending him flying off the top of the skyscraper to
the land below. Motaro was there to witness it, and collects
the body for Shao Kahn as a tribute.
Inside Shao Kahn's tower, Kung Lao and Liu Kang had charged
in to challenge the emperor. They enter a chamber in the
upper levels only to find the Shokan warrior, Sheeva standing
over the body of a female Raptor - Khameleon.
Sheeva turns to Shaolin brothers, as they prepare themselves
for battle. Sheeva reveals that she has betrayed Shao Kahn
in the name of missing kinsmen, Kintaro and Goro. Sheeva
informs the two that she had last seen Shao Kahn heading for
the throne room, and offers to attend to Motaro in the dungeons.
In the skyscrapers, Jax and Sub-Zero make light work of the
Tarkatan forces, and reunite at Sonya's building. There, an
exhausted and bruised Sonya makes light of the situation.
Jax' emotions get the better of him, as he exclaims his delight
in finding Sonya alive.
Below them, the battle between Rayden, Kitana and Sindel
rages on. Rayden realises that Sindel's resurrection is the
key to Kahn's plot, and instructs Kitana to fight back with
all her might. He tells her that subduing Sindel is the only
way they will have opportunity enough to free her mind.
In the dungeons of Shao Kahn's tower, Motaro presents the
emporer himself with the body of Kano. The emperor, rather
than consuming the black soul of Kano, revives him for his
usefulness. Still angered by Kano's defeat, he punishes the
Black Dragon warrior by imprisoning him.
Shao Kahn warns his general, Motaro, that if he was unable to
bring him the souls of the Earthrealm warriors, he would
consume Motaro's instead.
As Shao Kahn exited the dungeon, Sheeva entered.
Sheeva attacked Motaro furiously, using weapons from the
surrounding racks to tear the Centaur apart. With Motaro
dead, Sheeva offers to release Kano if he will help her
ambush Shao Kahn. Kano agrees, and the two pursue him.
In the corridors outside the dungeons, Sheeva asks Kano to
create a distraction to allow her to surprise the emporer.
Rather than betray the powerful emperor, Kano informs him
of Sheeva's treachery. Shao Kahn runs Sheeva through with
a sword, killing her. Shao Kahn hands Kano his sword, and
congratulates him on his promotion to general of his armies.
In the throne room, Liu Kang and Kung Lao are surprised to
find the dimly lit room empty, or so they think. From out
of the shadows emerges Ermac, the enslaved legion of souls.
Uncertain of the threat, Liu Kang falls victim to Ermac's
hado blast, stunned. Kung Lao tosses his razor tipped
hat, slicing into Ermac. Preparing to finish him, Kung
Lao is attacked from behind by Shao Kahn!
Outside the tower, Kitana battered her mother into bitter
defeat. Kitana removed her mask, revealing her face to
her mother. She spoke of the love she felt for her, even
though her mother had been taken from her so long ago.
The haze over the queens eyes was lifted, and Sindel was
once again herself.
With Sindel restored, Rayden looked to the tower and
realised that Shao Kahn would also have to be defeated
before the realms could be seperated.
In the tower, Shao Kahn drove his shoulder into Kung
Lao, slamming him against the wall. Kahn taunted him,
before tossing him across the room. Kung Lao tried to use
his razor hat against the emporer, but he deflected it with
his armor. Liu Kang came to, just in time to see his Shaolin
brother fall victim to Shao Kahn's hammer.
Believing Kung Lao to be dead, Liu Kang is driven mad
with rage. He fires off fire ball chi blasts at the emporer,
sending him on the back foot.
Determined not to fall before the Mortal Kombat champion a
second time, Shao Kahn fires off a powerful blast of energy,
but it is not enough. The enraged Earth warrior flies at
Kahn with a bicycle kick sending the emperor falling from
the window of his tower throne room.
Shao Kahn comes to land before Rayden and the other forces
of good. Rayden takes great pleasure in declaring Shao Kahn's
defeat. Using his staff, Rayden flies to the top level of
the tower and brings Liu Kang and Kung Lao to the ground
below.
The clouds in the sky began to clear, and Kung Lao opened
his eyes. The warrior was still alive. As the realms began
to part once more, the Earthrealm discovered Shao Kahn
had disappeared back into his tower.
In Earthrealm, the streets of California returned to normal.
With the realms split once more, Johnny Cage's death was
again in tact. His soul moved on to the heavens, where he
would rest in peace, and always be remembered as a star.
Kabal and Nightwolf shook hands, as Kabal promised to
leave the Black Dragon behind and protect all that is right
in the world. Nightwolf commended him, and told him that
if they ever met again, he would gladly fight beside him.
With that, Nightwolf walked off into the sunset.
Jax and Sonya found and retrieved the wounded Stryker.
They returned to Earth the same way they had left.
Upon arriving at the Special Forces headquarters they were
informed that they would receive a special commendation for
their work, and would be promoted to front up a new division
of the Special Forces - The Outworld Investigation Agency.
Stryker accepted his commendation, but chose to return to
the riot police, feeling it was all a bit much for him.
Kitana's success in bringing her mother's soul back was
not without reward. The triumph had allowed the realm of
Edenia to split from Outworld also. Queen Sindel returns
to her realm with Kitana, Rain and Jade all at her side.
Princess Kitana blows a kiss to Liu Kang through the realms,
in thanks for his victory.
Rayden returns to Earthrealm with Liu Kang and Kung Lao.
Rayden remained at the Temple of the order of light for a
time, savoring his time as a mortal. Eventually the Elder
Gods commended Rayden on his efforts, and reinstated him
as the defender of Earthrealm. Again he had his immortality,
but would also suffer the curse of not being allowed to
directly intervene. With his powers returned, Rayden forges
three medals out of iron and gave them to Liu Kang to
represent each of his victories in Mortal Kombat. He then
healed Kung Lao. Restored, Kung Lao contemplated finally
retiring to a life without violence.
Sub-Zero remained in Outworld for a time to search for the
missing Cyber-Ninja. Try as he did, he was unable to account
for any of them.
Upon returning to the Heavens, Rayden is shocked by what
he finds. Fujin, God of wind, is on hand to inform Rayden
of the vicious betrayal by the fallen Elder God, Shinnok,
and the sorceror, Quan Chi. With them served a small army
of warriors, that were barely driven back by the few Gods
that survived.
Fujin tells Rayden that the warriors had fled to Edenia,
but would soon attack the Earthrealm as well. With this,
Rayden returns to Earthrealm to gather his forces.
In Edenia, Shinnok recruits another member to his team.
During the splitting of the realms, Reptile had been
trapped in Edenia. A wanted felon in the realm, he agrees
to help Shinnok in his quest for power. It is Reptile's
hope that when Shinnok reaches ultimate power, he would
send Reptile back to a time when his Raptor race thrived.
Among their number, is also Noob Saibot. The mysterious
black ninja had been spying on Shao Kahn for his master,
and upon his defeat, informed him that the time to conquer
the realms was ripe.
Most of Shinnok's forces were recruited from Kahn.
Reiko, a general under Shinnok, once thought dead, had
been discovered by Noob, and brought back from Outworld.
Mileena also joins Shinnok's number, seeking revenge on
her "sister" Kitana for her murder. With her, comes her
lover, Baraka, king of the Tarkatans.
Their final recruit is their most unlikely, Scorpion,
from the Netherealm. Quan Chi informs the ninja spectre
that he remains bound to the Neatherealm because of the
murder of his family and clan. Quan Chi tells him that
the man responsible is the man he has protected, the
current Sub-Zero. With that, Scorpion relishes the
opportunity to strike him down.
Rayden returns to the Temple of the order of light, now
rebuilt and fully functional. There, he recruits Liu
Kang and Kung Lao once more, to do battle with the forces
of evil. A new mortal joins them, one of the last of
Kung Lao's White Lotus, Kai.
Returning from Outworld, Jax and Sonya continued to
pursue Jarek, the last known member of the Black Dragon.
It is then that Rayden arrives to recruit them. With the
threat being so severe, Jarek reluctantly joins the forces
of Earth to protect his homeworld.
Rayden next travels to visit Sub-Zero, who had retreated
to a mysterious frozen temple in the moutains of China.
Learning of the menace of Shinnok, Sub-Zero again dons
the outfit of the Lin Kuei to honor his deceased brother
who once before thwarted the efforts of Shinnok.
The warriors of Outworld are joined by Edenian Princess
Kitana's faithful servant, Tanya, while the Princess herself
remains in the throne. Rayden also retrieves the recently
passed Johnny Cage from the heavens. Believing his experience
to be a valuable asset, Rayden is allowed to bring him back
by the Elder Gods to face the fallen Elder God, whose breaking
of the rules warrants Rayden's request.
Fujin joins Rayden in the battle, and together they
locate and transport their warriors to face Shinnok and
Quan Chi. By order of the Elder Gods, the law of Mortal
Kombat is restored. Forcing Rayden and Fujin to the side
lines, leaving them only able to guide their warriors.
To Sub-Zero's dismay, the Cyber-Ninja, Cyrax and Sektor,
soon emerge at the tournament. Having been retrieved
from the deserts of Outworld, Cyrax was again programmed
to bring Sub-Zero in, or destroy him.
Shinnok secretly orders Mileena to return to Edenia, where
she attacks Kitana. Defeated once more, Millena desperately
begs for her life. The merciful Kitana contemplates allowing
her mutant clone to live, when she is struck by an uppercut.
The skilled Kitana lands on her throne, and strikes a button
which sends Mileena plummeting through a trap door to her
demise.
Learning of the true nature of Quan Chi's plans, Baraka
confronts the sorceror. Not content with ruling in a world
with no one in it, Baraka challenges Quan Chi.
Using the medallian of power, Quan Chi is able to fool
Baraka into attacking a dummy, and mortally wounds the
Tarkatan king. Believing him dead, Quan Chi leaves the
mutant to struggle return to Outworld.
Sub-Zero evades the attentions of the Cyber-Ninja, and
challenges Quan Chi in the dungeons of the tower. Quan Chi
does not have to accept, having Scorpion ambush Sub-Zero
on his behalf. Scorpion attacks Sub-Zero with all his
rage and Netherealm powers. Defeated, Sub-Zero is able to
inform Scorpion of the shocking truth. It was not he, but
rather, Quan Chi, who had murdered his family.
Quan Chi revels in his manipulation, and reveals that by
binding Scorpion to unrest, he was able to have the spectre
do away with his enemy, the first Sub-Zero.
Furious by the betrayal, Scorpion leaves Sub-Zero and
hurls himself at Quan Chi, taking him with him deep into
the Netherealm.
Kung Lao challenges Shinnok to Mortal Kombat, but the
fallen Elder God reveals a special surprise for him.
From deep within the tower steps the Shokan warrior,
Goro, who had killed Kung Lao's distant relative 500 years ago.
Shinnok reveals that the destruction of Shang Tsung's island
had flung Goro into the darkest corner of Outworld, where
he had found him.
Kung Lao brutally attacks Goro, fighting for the honor
of his fallen relative. Kung Lao shocks the giant with his
power, and slices his chest open with his razor hat.
Defeated, Goro tells Kung Lao that he regretted killing
the first Kung Lao 500 years ago. He explains that he
regretted his servitude to Shang Tsung, but was forced to
do it for the good of his Shokan people.
Kung Lao finds it in his heart to forgive the man-dragon,
and the two end their feud.
The revived Johnny Cage confronts Noob Saibot, and suffers
a beating at the hands of the black ninja. Noob Saibot's
time spent lurking in the shadows is proven not to have
been for a lack of fighting ability. He produces a clone,
and double teams Cage. As the battle rages on, Cage
manages to gain the upper hand, and escapes to another
chamber in the tower.
Jarek reveals his true nature, and turns on Sonya and Jax.
Fearing arrest, Jarek capitalises on the swaying fortunes
of the Eartrealm warriors and springs his attack. He manages
to trick Sonya Blade, and with her dangling on the edge of
a cliff threatens to end her life the way they believed she
had ended Kano's.
Jax comes to her rescue, and does combat with Jarek, giving
Sonya opportunity to climb to safety. With that, Jax takes
Jarek into custody to be proescuted to the fullest extent
of the law.
Learning from Rayden and Fujin that Shao Kahn still lived,
the devolving Reptile gives up the fight, seeking to
return to Outworld. The protectors of Earthrealm are more
than happy to turn the beast back on it's master.
In the depths of the tower, Tanya lures Liu Kang into a
trap sprung by Shinnok. Fortunately, Liu Kang is
prepared and engages the fallen Elder God in Mortal
Kombat.
Discovering he was not in possession of the true amulet
of power, Shinnok falls victim to Liu Kang's superior
fighting abilities. Rayden emerges and with the situation
well in his control, disregards the rules and destroys
Shinnok once and for all.
Kai does battle with Reiko, but with Shinnok's demise,
Reiko gives in, and returns to Outworld. There he dons
the helmet of Shao Kahn and sits in the throne of the
emperor.
As the Earthrealm warriors gather together, they come
across a damaged Cyrax. Uncertain how he came to be
damaged, Jax and Sonya offer to take him back to the Special
Forces where they could restore his personality and free-
will. Sub-Zero is grateful for their offer, and wishes his
cybernetic clan brother well.
Kitana emerges from a temporary portal, and thanks Liu
Kang. She informs him that by defeating Shinnok's evil he
saved not only Earthrealm, but Edenia also. She offers Liu
Kang a proposal of marriage, so that they may protect the
realms together, but he declines. Kang cites responsibilities
to Earthrealm as too great to leave for Edenia.
In his place, Kung Lao accompanies Goro, where Goro declared
he would like to negotiate a treaty between the Shokan and
the Edenians. Kitana is delighted.
Jarek is locked in the Special Forces brig.
Jax, Sonya and Stryker's replacement, Hsu Hao, load Cyrax
into a specially designed machine. It deletes Cyrax's
programming. They remove his helmet, to reveal what's left
of his human face. Cyrax' first independent thoughts since
his transformation were of thanks to the Special Forces.
To show his gratitude, Cyrax agrees to become one of their
number.
In Outworld, Reiko is shocked to find the emperor Shao Kahn
entering the throne room. Like Shinnok and Quan Chi, Reiko
had believed Shao Kahn to be dead. The emperor makes sure
Reiko knows he is very much alive with a beating, and then
has Reiko imprisoned in the dungeons in the depths of his
tower.
Sub-Zero cautiously returns to the Lin Kuei temple in search
of his good friend Smoke. He is shocked to find his former
clan slaughtered, with not one of their number remaining.
Among the carnage stands the cyber-ninja Sektor. Sektor,
with his programming corrupted, looks to challenge the
grand master and take over the Lin Kuei. Sub-Zero challenges
him, and manages to defeat the Cyber-Ninja.
Damaged, Sektor flees to Japan, swearing to create his own
clan that would destroy Sub-Zero.
Fron inside the Lin Kuei temple, Sub-Zero retrieved the
Dragon Medallian. As the last surviving member of the Lin
Kuei, it was his right alone to wear the medallian. The power
was immediate, covering his forearms with frost. His breath
became so cold it produced steam, and his hair collected
frost while his skin tone dulled.
Sub-Zero decided to dedicate himself to reforming the Lin
Kuei ninja, and would hold a tournament to find a student.
In the Netherrealm, Quan Chi's nightmare had only just
begun. Scorpion was periodically attacking the sorceror,
giving him only enough time to recuperate. As the Netherealm
increased Scorpion's power, Quan Chi's power began to diminish.
Two Oni demon, despising Scorpion, assisted the sorceror by
fighting the spectre ninja back. They informed Quan Chi of
a portal which would allow him to escape the Netherealm.
The Oni accompanied Quan Chi to the portal, but when they
got there, Scorpion attacked once again. The Oni battled
him as best they could, while Quan Chi fled through the
portal to Outworld. Scorpion was able to overcome the Oni,
and followed through the portal, only to emerge in an
entirely different location in Outworld. Furious, the Oni
demon also followed, emerging in a different location again.
The demon Sarneea, former minion of Quan Chi, came across
the portal soon afterward. She emerged in Outworld, and
discovered she could feed off the temporal energies of
Outworld and use it to sustain her more attractive, human
form. Ashamed of her demonic appearance, she saw this as
an improved lifestyle change.
Quan Chi, realising he had stumbled upon something great.
He had discovered the tomb of the ancient Dragon King, an
ancient ruler from long before Shao Kahn. Using the amulet
he had stolen from Shinnok, Quan Chi reads the ancient
scriptures, and learns of the invincible army. Realising his
talents didn't lend themselves to his nefarious plan, Quan
Chi goes in search of the sorceror whose power matched his
own. Shang Tsung.
After Shinnok's defeat, Noob Saibot had returned to
Outworld and for the time had sided with Shao Kahn's
armies. Led by Kano, the forces of Shao Kahn were suffering
hefty blows at the hands of the unitied Shokan and Edenian
army. In the field, Noob proved to be a vital part of Kahn's
forces by killing prince Goro himself.
At Shang Tsung's quarters, Reptile was sent to summon the
sorceror to Shao Kahn's presence. When the further devolving
Reptile left, Shang Tsung noticed a comotion outside his
home. Scorpion had caught up with Quan Chi, and did battle
with him. Quan Chi was able to knock Scorpion into the moat
of acid that surrounded the building, sending him back to
the Netherealm for the time being.
Quan Chi approached Shang Tsung with his plan to conquer
both Outworld and Earthrealm with the invincible army of the
Dragon King. Using Shang Tsung's power to manipulate souls,
they could fill and enslave the entire army. In return,
Quan Chi would create a "soulnado" which would draw souls
from the heavens, and grant Shang Tsung a limitless source
of energy. The two agreed to help one and other, but before
they set their plans into motion, decided to destroy the two
who posed the most immediate threat to their plans.
Having heard the conversation, Reptile was furious for his
master. Reptile was devolving further, a symptom believed to
be linked to the extended separation from his own race.
On the way back to Kahn's tower, he encountered a mysterious
woman named Nitara. She lured the feral Reptile to her, and
showed him the base of Kitana's army's operations.
Reptile took this information with him back to Shao Kahn
as quickly as he could, hoping to save his master.
Reptile would be too slow. Shang Tsung would bring Quan Chi
with him to Shao Kahn's tower, and after fooling Shao Kahn
into believing their allegiance, they attacked him. Their
combined might was too much for the already weakened Shao
Kahn.
Kano emerged from the shadows, and congratulated the deadly
alliance on their success. Seeing the shift in power, Kano
joined the two sorcerors to stay in power.
Reptile arrived shortly after, only to find his broken and
defeated master. The sight drove Reptile insane, coming to
the realisation that if he'd been a moment sooner, he could
have saved his master. Rather than blaming Nitara, Reptile
swore revenge on Shang Tsung, Quan Chi and Kitana.
Wandering through Outworld, Reptile happened upon the
vampiric Nitara. In a fit of rage he brutally attacked her.
She was able to calm the Raptor down, and assured him she
forgave him for the attack. Reptile, desperate for forgiveness,
agreed to attack the cyber-ninja, Cyrax, on her behalf.
Cyrax, on an intelligence scouting mission in Outworld was
unprepared for the attack. Reptile's sharp teeth piereced
his wrist panel, destroying his communications link. Cyrax'
buzz saw attack was enough to frighten the Raptor, giving
Nitara an opening to make herself known.
Nitara promised Cyrax passage back to Earthrealm if he could
find and destroy the powerful orb that bound her world to
Outworld. Cyrax agreed.
At the newly built Shaolin Temple of Light, Liu Kang trained
with Kung Lao. Kung Lao rose from his meditation, only to
reveal he was not Kung Lao, but rather Shang Tsung using his
powers of trickery.
Liu Kang, champion of Mortal Kombat, was able to overcome
Shang Tsung's cowardly attack, but Quan Chi's surprise attack
tipped the balance in their favor. Taking pleasure in defeating
his enemy, Shang Tsung slowly snapped Liu Kang's neck, before
devouring his plentiful soul.
Kung Lao soon discovered the body of his Shaolin brother,
and swore revenge. Rayden appeared from the heavens and
informed Kung Lao of the sorceror's treachery.
Kung Lao left the temple, and resumed their abandoned search
for master Bo' Rai Cho.
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Cheers!
I might go back and fix a few things up with the new information, and then maybe tack-on information for Deadly Alliance.
- As dumb as it may sound, Johnny Cage's death was retconned. Turns out he didn't die after all.
It's been said before, by Vogel, I think, that noone ever really dies in the MK series, but I wouldn't say that's specifically accurate. In Johnny Cage's case, I think we have enough confirmation that he died (Mortal Kombat 4), but was ultimately resurrected. At least, that's my interpretation.
- Well I don't know about say Liu Kang and Shao Kahn not fighting at the end of MK2
- Noob Saibot was sent by Shinnok and Quan Chi to spy on the events going on between Earth and Outworld.
- The original Sub-Zero joined Mortal Kombat on a mission to assassinate Shang Tsung. After he was killed by Scorpion...
Those bits are all already in there, if anyone's interested in looking again.
- I don't think Baraka attacked Quan Chi in MK4 because he and the other Tarkatans were serving the Deadly Alliance in MK:DA.
This was done around the time of Deadly Alliance coming out, so we didn't really know what had happened to Baraka, as far as I know.
There's a pretty neat mention of Baraka and the Tarkatans (now referred to as, Tarkata) essentially being servants to whomever they perceive to be the controlling power.
So, serving the Deadly Alliance is explained through that, I think, even if he did turn on Quan Chi toward the end of MK4/MK Gold.
As I mentioned in the first post, these were notes for a linear telling of the Mortal Kombat story, much like Shaolin Monks, but on a larger scale and based more closely on the facts I dug up.
Some things were shifted or altered slightly just because of what I was interested in at the time, and to give greater emphasis on some things and find logic to inserting the elements into the story (like Stryker joining Special Forces).
Some things just weren't elaborated on in the notes, too.
I might go back and try to make things a little more accurate, though.
Thanks heaps guys!
I think, taking corrections into account, it's pretty easy to see how Shaolin Monks could've operated within the established storyline.
I think it's... unusual for Jim Krueger to suggest there isn't a clear enough map to work from. That's the kind of thing I'd really expect a comic guy to handle better than most other writers.
I might go back and fix a few things up with the new information, and then maybe tack-on information for Deadly Alliance.
- As dumb as it may sound, Johnny Cage's death was retconned. Turns out he didn't die after all.
It's been said before, by Vogel, I think, that noone ever really dies in the MK series, but I wouldn't say that's specifically accurate. In Johnny Cage's case, I think we have enough confirmation that he died (Mortal Kombat 4), but was ultimately resurrected. At least, that's my interpretation.
- Well I don't know about say Liu Kang and Shao Kahn not fighting at the end of MK2
- Noob Saibot was sent by Shinnok and Quan Chi to spy on the events going on between Earth and Outworld.
- The original Sub-Zero joined Mortal Kombat on a mission to assassinate Shang Tsung. After he was killed by Scorpion...
Those bits are all already in there, if anyone's interested in looking again.
- I don't think Baraka attacked Quan Chi in MK4 because he and the other Tarkatans were serving the Deadly Alliance in MK:DA.
This was done around the time of Deadly Alliance coming out, so we didn't really know what had happened to Baraka, as far as I know.
There's a pretty neat mention of Baraka and the Tarkatans (now referred to as, Tarkata) essentially being servants to whomever they perceive to be the controlling power.
So, serving the Deadly Alliance is explained through that, I think, even if he did turn on Quan Chi toward the end of MK4/MK Gold.
As I mentioned in the first post, these were notes for a linear telling of the Mortal Kombat story, much like Shaolin Monks, but on a larger scale and based more closely on the facts I dug up.
Some things were shifted or altered slightly just because of what I was interested in at the time, and to give greater emphasis on some things and find logic to inserting the elements into the story (like Stryker joining Special Forces).
Some things just weren't elaborated on in the notes, too.
I might go back and try to make things a little more accurate, though.
Thanks heaps guys!
I think, taking corrections into account, it's pretty easy to see how Shaolin Monks could've operated within the established storyline.
I think it's... unusual for Jim Krueger to suggest there isn't a clear enough map to work from. That's the kind of thing I'd really expect a comic guy to handle better than most other writers.
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SubMan799 Wrote:
I though that Quan Chi killed Shinnok, but now that I look at it I realise that Quan Chi couldn't have killed Shinnok. I looked at the bio for an arena. The Liu Kang temple to be exact, and it states that he won 4 mortal kombats!
I though that Quan Chi killed Shinnok, but now that I look at it I realise that Quan Chi couldn't have killed Shinnok. I looked at the bio for an arena. The Liu Kang temple to be exact, and it states that he won 4 mortal kombats!
Yeah, I think deductive logic suggests Liu Kang won MK4, even from the endings provided. Liu's is the only one I remember that deals with the end of the tournament, and doesn't result in mass chaos or destruction.
That, and up until Deadly Alliance he was pretty much a sure bet every time.
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