well i dont think shao is dead , they actually beated the f--- outta him but maybe he's acting as a spy while his master recovers form the beating, probably ermac's back because he's been freed (remember t he soulnado, i think ermac was trapped there as he's amde of warrior souls) probably hes back for revenge to aid the earthrealm

I thnk that Noob and Ermac are working for Shao Kahn. In MK DA they never showed the Death of Kahn so that leads me to think that he is still in. This time, I think Shao Kahn fights to take back Outworld. While the Dragon King fights to take control of Earthrealm and Outoworld, resulting in a multiplane Mortal Kombat.

I am really hoping Shao Kahn is selectable, with all his signature Taunts.

I think that the way MK D ends is when Shao Kahn confronts the Dragon King and defeats him. Shao Kahn would look at a near dead king and say "Bow To me" and then as the Dragon King would bow, out comes Shao Kahns signature Hammer and WHAM!!!! Dragon King is no more. And Shao Kahn is back! Leading up to

Mortal Kombat VII : The NEW BLOOD

based on past stories, I will speculate here:

Noob Saibot:

Responsible for the death of Goro, Noob returns to the shadows. Secretly working for Shao Kahn, Noob learns of his master's defeat at the hands of his former master Quan Chi, and the traitorous Shang Tsung. Acting as his spy and assassin, Noob continues to work for Kahn, clearing the way for his inevitable return.

As a former Brother of the Shadow, Noob must keep himself hidden from the weakened Quan Chi, and strike only when the time is right. With the resurrection of the Dragon King, Noob has a difficult task ahead of him, but he will assure that his master returns to power by any means.

Ermac:
Freed by Kenshi, the souls that encompassed the enigma known as Ermac were free to return to the heavens. However, these wayward souls found their passage to the afterlife blocked by Shang Tsung's soul column. Without warning, these souls suddenly found themselves ripped through time and realms, and once again, in the mortal form known as Ermac.

Called back by their weakened but recovering master, the souls were bound once more into a body created by Shao Kahn. As his minion, Ermac has been ordered by Kahn to eliminate the Earth warriors. Though under Kahn's control, Ermac's will is free from his domination, and Ermac now finds himself alone, stranded in Outworld, seeking to warn the Earth warriors of Kahn's survival, as well as to combat the Dragon King alongside his ally and student, Kenshi.

waite shoa khan is not the dragon king? noob is a former shadow of the brotherhood? he's not in it no more

Kahn was NEVER the Dragon King, no. And as for Noob not being in the Brothers of the Shadow, I don't really know for sure. Keep in mind this is just speculation and something I made up, which i'm going to copy into the official story speculation thread which M4C gratiously agreed to sticky to the top of the forum for me.

question about ermac:

if he is a combination of souls, how did that come about and where is his original soul?

if smoke was is in this, I hope his story is something like cyrax, smoke trys to look for help to find his human body. maybe sub zero,rydan, or even the special forces can help him.

Noob Saibot is from the brother of the shadows, but it isnt known if he still is.

Ermac is made up of thousands of souls that shao kahn had from dead warriors, and then he put them into one character making ermac.