||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||Part |: Deadly Confrontation||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Darkness enveloped the Wu Shi Academy as night time approached. Liu Kang and Kung Lao were sparing to sharpen up their skills. Kung Lao let out a grunt as he jabbed at Liu Kang’s ribs with his fist. But Liu Kang countered and came back with a swift blow to Kung Lao’s stomach. They bowed as their sparing came to an end when a blood-curdling scream was sown through the heavens. Liu Kang and Kung Lao heard the distressed shriek and rushed toward it. As they drew near to the source of the cry, it was already too late. A monk lay dead on the floor, laying with a huge cut wound down his the poor monk’s back. “Who could have done such a horrible thing,” Kung Lao muttered in disbelief. They turned around only to discover a pair of blades gleaming in the luminous light of the full moon. “Who are you? Show yourself!” Liu Kang shouted. The figure grinned a dark grin, a sinister grin as it revealed a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. “Well, reveal yourself,” Kung Lao said eagerly but fearfully. The person responded with a wicked chuckle, then lashed at Liu Kang and Kung Lao with it’s blades. They dodged them with ease, but the figure stepped out of the shadows and exposed himself. It was Baraka, leader of the Tarkata.

“Baraka!” Liu Kang yelled, “Why are you here?” Baraka only cackled wickedly at them. “Me and my Tarkatan horde are here to take over the Wu Shi Academy, but most of all...we’re here to kill all of you!” Liu Kang and Kung Lao formed there battle positions, prepared to confront Baraka in Mortal Kombat. Baraka jumped into the air, snarling with fury. He fell to the ground, blades pointed to Kung Lao. Kung Lao dodged with a back flip. Baraka’s blades stabbed the ground. Baraka struggled to get his blades free from the ground. But he couldn’t. .Liu Kang rushed towards Baraka, delivering a devastating roundhouse kick to Baraka’s jaw. He soared through the air, face twisted in pain as he collapsed into the ground. Baraka rose to his feet, convulsing with agony. He scraped his blades together, firing a shard that flew through the air at high-speed. Blood sprayed onto the floor as Kung Lao let out an agonizing scream. Kung Lao was critically wounded as the shard struck him in the stomach. He slumped to his knees as blood flowed in a frenzied pool. Thump thump. Kung Lao’s heart heavily pounded against his chest. Thump thump. He collapsed onto the floor, breathing arduously. Now it was just Liu Kang and Baraka, a deadly confrontation.

“I’ll kill you bastard!” Liu Kang yelled furiously. Baraka just stood cackling wildly, barely fazed by Liu Kang’s threat. Liu Kang rushed Baraka, fists balled. He delivered a flurry of blows so fast, so vigorous, Baraka couldn’t stop them. Liu Kang finished him off with a savage uppercut. Baraka flew through the air and plummeted into the ground. Baraka just laid on the floor, bruised and battered. “Da-damn you Liu Kang, damn...you,” Baraka whispered as he succumbed to death. “Liu Kang, come here.” Liu Kang rushed to aid his ailing brother. “Liu Kang, you must stop the Tarkatan assault before this whole place turns to rubble,” Kung Lao said. Liu Kang nodded in agreement, and ran off to vanquish the rest of the Tarkata.

Liu Kang let out his shrilly battle cry as he kicked a Tarkatan soldier in the face. The savage Tarkata fell on the floor, a dazed expression left on it’s face. A horde of Tarkata leaped off the temple ceilings and rained down upon Liu Kang. They encircled Kang, grinning with twisted delight. Dead silence surrounded the temple walls as the Tarkata closed in on Kang. Shiink! Their blades shot out through their arms, hungry for revenge over the death of their leader. The Tarkatans lashed at Kang with their blades, but he only stood there. Liu Kang placed his hands together, and a fiery glow coated his body. Seconds later, flames shot out of his hands. The fiery blaze climbed it’s way on the Tarkatan. They were easily overcome by Liu Kang’s raging flames. Down they fell, carcasses still ablaze. Liu Kang grew weary, as the blast took too much chi. But, he collapsed to his knees. He looked up and saw smoke in the air. “The temple,” Kang gasped as he rose to his feet. Kung Lao sluggishly walked towards Kang. “What’s wrong,” Kung Lao said. He looked up and noticed debris flying. “I must...go and protect the temple,” Kang said wearily. But in his voice, you could tell that Kang had enough. “No Kang, I’ll handle it,” Kung Lao said softly. A smile formed in the corners of Kang’s mouth as Kung Lao rushed hastily and faded into the shadows of the night.

Kung Lao arrived to the scene only to be ambushed by a group of Tarkata. “I’m getting tired of these Tarkatan soldiers,” Kung Lao said angrily. The Tarkatan horde had surrounded Lao, flailing their bladed arms into the air. As Kung Lao prepared for kombat, a giant green fist loomed through the shadows and struck all the Tarkata. They were all defeated with one blow. “Who are you?” Kung Lao asked inquisitively. “I’m known as Hal Jordan, but you can call me...Green Lantern.” “I came to your universe through an dimensional gateway, and when I arrived, I ran into these...strange creatures.” Liu Kang arrived and saw the strange man and jumped through the air, legs shooting forward. Green Lantern summoned a colossal green fist and ensnared Kang. “Just listen, I’m not here to fight you!” Green Lantern exclaimed. “Just relax Liu Kang,” Kung Lao said. “He’s not evil.” Liu Kang struggled to get free but his efforts were futile and he slowly relaxed. Green Lantern released his grip and Liu Kang dropped to the floor. “Now, here’s my story,” Green Lantern said and began to explain about himself. “So, that’s all you need to know about me,” Green Lantern said, his biography drawing to an end. “So, your with an organization called The Justice League?” Kung Lao inquired. Green Lantern nodded in verification. They heard a rustling noise in the bushes. Shkk, shkk. They grew vigilant as they cautiously watched the bushes. Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!! Kung Lao shouted in pain as his body violently shook. He plummeted to the ground and laid there, unconscious. “What the-” Liu Kang yelled but was cut off as he was shocked by an electrical force as was Green Lantern. The culprit was none other than Sektor, Tekunin grandmaster.

“Damnit!” “We have failed.” a mysterious person exclaimed. “Don’t worry, Sektor will take care of them...And without them, earthrealm and the DC dimension will be one step closer to be under our reign!” his accomplice assured as their wicked laughter echoed through the heavens.