Chapter One: May Kombat Begin

Shang Tsung, overseer of Mortal Kombat, most significant tournament of them all, destined to decide over the fate of earthy for all eternity, has layed the parchment aside and slowly leaned back into his conforting throne. The only surviving overseer of recent times, decrepit and physically broken breathed with the humming of insects. Almost unhearable even to those who were there to aid the old and wise, and probably the only martial arts master of such vast knowledge over combat that rallied even those of legend. This was only partially true: Shang Tsung did not only rally those legends, he often was a significant part of them.

The feeble hands resided on the thrones Lion shaped ornaments, while the eyes weakly followed the events from above. He resided in a small and shady pavillion to observe the last battles of the most significant tournament, held in his feeble grasp. There were only a few dozen of warriors remaining in the preliminary battles. Only few of them held significance to him. He slid his finger through the parchments surface, his long nail slicing through the draconic emblem while doing so.

-So, state your names and purpose ... warriors!

One of the two ``warriors'' stepped forward on the prepared ground carefully covered with white sand from the beaches of the Lost Island. Several markings were drawn into the shining sand, of course the largest one was that of the eternal symbol of the holy shaolin tournament. The dragon.

-Rokuro, fighter from the land known as the Home of the Rising Sun, Japan. Adept practicioner of several styles of Jujutsu, competing for the glory of Japans wisest men and for the honor of being champion of Mortal Kombat! -the young man was a towering, well built and grown adult, his face slightly bearded, his long hair looking greasy from the tropical climate of the island, and his uncovered body oiled and shiny. On his back he carried a large Odachi as a weapon.

-To become champion you must defeat the mighty champion of Mortal Kombat, Prince Goro from a land untold by your wisemen. Do you think you are up to the task? -Shang Tsung leaned forward while speaking. His dark eyes, although lifeless sparkled for a second, and then, faded back as he sat back. He dismissed the young one known as Rokuro and turned his attention towards the other.

-And you?

The ``other'' was a well dressed chinese man, coated in a black cloth outfit, completely darkened. Two bluish stripes came down his torso from his metallic shoulderpads and his sash also housed a long cloth, completely blue, bearing a lineage of insignia only selected few could decypher. From behind the metal plate that covered the warriors face came a raspy and coldly collected voice:

-Sub-Zero of the house of...Kuei, adept at the Five Animal Patterns styles. Competing for the glory of the house of Kuei. And Tsung. -he stepped back at Shang Tsung's pleasure after he showed proper gestures of ethiquette.

-Tell me ... Sub-Zero of the house of ... Kuei, are you satisfied with the conforts of our humble abode provided on the Lost Island? -Shang Tsung sounded quite intersted to the outsiders, but then again, he was collected and continued to sit sickly upon his throne, not showing any kind of movement. Funny enough, anecdotes told that he was so old, he forgot to breathe. But when someone looked upon him sitting on his throne, he looked indeed somehow ancient.

-Sub-Zero is honored to serve and partake in the events concerning the House of Tsung. I am in your debt for your kindness and hospitality, mylord.

-Good. -he moved his hands into his lap, and leaned completely back, while the warriors Rokuro and Sub-Zero from the house of Kuei turned to each other and took upon fighting stance- Now, FIGHT!

Shang Tsung closed his eyes. He was now aware of the outcome. It was he who personally appeared before the Grandmaster of the lin Kuei, legendary assassins of the East feared throughout the ancient China. They hid in safety inside the Spine of the World, the Himalayan mountain ranges peaks and executed flawless assassniations, espionage, protectorship for those who was willing to pay in much more than material gains. The Lin Kuei worked for the powerfull ones. Even the goverments acknowledged the untouchable nature of the Guild as they called them. Sub-Zero was his choice for eliminating any potential threat to his life inside tournament boundaries. Sub-Zero was the best of the Lin Kuei. -he quickly awoke from daydreaming.

Rokuro was slightly beat up, however he was strongly bleeding from a broken nose and had several bruises on his chests right side. Sub-Zeros clothing protected him from most of the bruises of hand to hand combat, though he was already staggering from a dislocated foot joint.

-Round two! FIGHT!

However, Sub-Zero served another purpose: Shang Tsung was well aware that the Lin Kuei wouldn't have sent him on this mission without reflection and proper examination of his motives. Well, his motives were crystal clear to anyone knowing the meaning of the name of Shang Tsung. But the Lin Kuei assassins had ulterior motives. Sub-Zero, serving now as Shang Tsungs personally invited warrior in Mortal Kombat proved to be a valuable tool for discarding anyone aiming to rid tsung of his valuables, tomes, knowledge or most foolhardily, of his un-life. Though this would only be so untill Sub-Zero cleaned any potential defese from Shang Tsung inside the tournament laws too, and would attempt an assassination on him personally.

-Ah, you already finished him. -Tsung smiled and leaned back, while a servitor loudly announced the victor while raising his arms towards Sub-Zeros direction. The drums -what Shang Tsung didn't even bother to aknowledge in the first place- stopped playing and several guards proceeded to drag a frozen and sewerely broken statue of Rokuro off from the arena. The trick was that Rokuro was nowhere to be seen, only his bloods spots spilled upon the sand noted his departure from the living into the salty waters of the Lost Sea, where his carcass would thaw soon.

-Damn, now that surpassed my wildest dreams Liu....-Shang Tsung immediately opened his eyes with a strick visage. He did not knew from where did the sound hail from, but the name struck him as familiar. He reached down for the parchment andopened it with unusual pace:

Johnny Cage from the western kingdoms vs. Remar Mann from the western kingdoms: Cage proceeds

Kano from Nippon vs. John Essem from the western kingdoms: Kano proceeds through fatality!

And the list continued, untill the grey eyes found the line what weighted on him so heavily in that moment: ``Liu Kang of Henan Province vs. Sai-Yum Pai of Beijing: Liu Kang proceeds''

Shang Tsung leaned back for the fourth time and began thinking -this showing unusually upon his face. He focused on the blood and water stained dragon emblem smoking from the melting ice of the previous battle. Shang Tsung then weakly wavered with his right hand and a shaved monk servant immediately attended to his call.

-Remove the current opponent for Liu Kang and replace it with someone not-so disposable and more or less competent! Also reassign priorities for the following competitors: make some ease for Kano, and increase the difficulty for the following ones: Cage, and Sonya Blade. Theese seem to be in league with Liu Kang if I recall correctly. Now go! ... What?

-Mylord, shouldn't we increase the chances of Sub-Zero to perish? I sugest we take as much ease off from you as possible if the former shaolin represents an increased threat.

-Ahh, you may be right. -Tsung rethought the whole issue, and an evil smirk appeared on his decaying face as he made the final conclusion: Yes, we should make things harder for our velcomed Sub-Zero, afterall he had no true difficulty dealing with theese pityfull mortals. And I may know a person eager to face him, and is of equal strenght of will and determination. -he stared into one of the ceremonial flares et to burn on the arenas edge.

-As you wish mylord. -and so, the servant left.

Liu Kang, most determined of my foes, what shall you say we give you a true taste of the Mortal Kombat awaiting you? How many tests you are willing to take before you realise it is futile to take on me? -Shang Tsung knew of the whereabouts of the young chinese, formerly White Lotus agent. Liu Kang served martial tasks for the ancient society on the coasts of the western kingdoms of America, and grew to be a potential warrior, a force to be accounted with. But now, Shang Tsung feared that this warrior has grown to be balanced enough now to face his servitors, or even...himself! His reborn belief in shaolin was the truen threat to him. A mild wind blew through his pale white hair and beard.

Next fight upon the Holy Courtyards ground! Craig Alban against Johnny Cage!

-Oh great, Liu look! The guy looks like a well-grown ape on A'nolds steroids!

Shang Tsung dismissed his worries about the young shaolin, and focused more on the fights, least he passes an important discovery of potential in someone. Someone who may serve him well in the near future. If not all of them wouldn't already serve him, may he be alive, or may he be: Dead.

Author : Pc0xx

Creation date: 2005-9-11-2-12

Modification date: 2005-9-11-2-12