Mortal Kombat: The Movie (Digest Version) (4 page)

The drums beat louder. Goro appeared from the tunnel, his silk cape streaming out behind him. He raised all four arms to the sky and cried out a warrior’s challenge. The sound echoed over the island.

“You’re going to hurt yourself yelling like that,” Johnny said.

The Shokan prince paused for a moment, tilted his head, and looked at Johnny.

“Strange,” Goro said. “We’ve barely met, and already I don’t like you.”

“Impossible,” Johnny said. “Everybody likes me.”

“I’m going to enjoy dismembering you,” Goro said.

The monks who stood near the two fighters moved quickly away.

“Let’s dance,” Johnny said.

“Goro snapped out a punch. Johnny flipped his chain against Goro’s knuckles, then did several backflips to get away from the four-armed giant’s attack. He disappeared behind a statue in the garden.

“What’s he doing?” Liu asked.

“He said he was working on a strategy,” Sonya said.

“This is a strategy?” Liu asked, puzzled.

“Goro walked cautiously toward the statue where Johnny had vanished. All at once, the chain whipped out from behind a different statue, wrapping around one of Goro’s four wrists, breaking it.

“So the little puppy has a bite,” Goro said. The Shokan warrior dived toward Johnny, but Johnny leapt away, wrapping his chain around Goro’s ankle as he did so. Another yank, and the ankle broke as well. Goro reached down, fast as lightning, and grabbed the chain. He pulled it from Johnny’s grasp and flung it away. Goro rose to his feet and limped painfully after his now-disarmed opponent.

“Get away from him!” Liu called. “Remember what happened to Art!”

Johnny was boxed in by statues. Goro’s fist smashed into Johnny’s ribs, knocking him into a pedestal and driving the wind out of him. Johnny took another punch to the body, then a kick that sent him flying. He lay motionless on the ground.

“Johnny! Get up!” Liu yelled.

The loud howling of the lost souls trapped inside Shang began to rise.

“Johnny! Johnny, please!” Sonya cried.

“Where is my tribute?” Shang asked.

Goro knelt and scooped up Johnny’s body in his two lower arms. He turned and slowly limped toward Shang. He stood for a moment before the demon sorcerer, then went on one knee to offer Johnny to him. As Goro raised Johnny’s still form up toward Shang, Johnny came suddenly to life and, with a terrific cry, landed a karate punch between Goro’s eyes.

“Aiyaah!” Johnny yelled.

Goro dropped Johnny and staggered back in pain and amazement. Johnny grabbed the four-armed giant’s ponytail and looped it around the creature’s neck. Then he braced himself against Goro’s shoulders and, using his strength and leverage, pulled back hard. The prince began to strangle. He gasped, unable to breathe or speak.

“What’s the matter?” Johnny said. “Having a bad hair day?”

Goro threw himself backward, trying to crush Johnny, but Johnny let go. He smashed Goro with his foot, causing the giant to roll over the edge of the cliff. Goro hung there with his one good upper hand. Far below, the clouds that surrounded the island twisted and churned, hiding the view of the beach a mile below. A stiff wind tousled Johnny’s hair as he stood on the edge of the cliff, looking down.

“Finish him!” Shang said.

“No...” Goro said.

“So you can steal his soul?” Johnny asked. “I’ve won. That’s enough.”

“His soul now,” Shang exclaimed, ”or yours later!”

Johnny ignored the sorcerer. Instead he found the length of chain that he’d lost earlier. Bracing himself, he hung the end over the edge of the cliff, where Goro could take it with his lower hands.

“Go on. Grab hold,” Johnny said.

“So I can crawl back to my cave and die in disgrace?” Goro asked. “I am a Shokan warrior! We die in battle!”

“You fought well,” Johnny said.

Goro smiled up at Johnny. “As did you,” he said.

With that he pushed away from the cliff and fell – down, down, down. Still falling, he vanished into the clouds below.

Johnny turned away.

A black-robed monk recorded the victory on his scroll.

“Well done,” Rayden said.

“It’s over,” Johnny said. “The humans won and the Realm of Earth is safe. I defeated the champion!”

“It isn’t over quite that quickly,” Shang said. “Remember the promise you made? I reserved the right to challenge the winner – or another of my choosing – at a place appointed by me. That shall be the final battle of the tournament.”

“Well, here I am,” Johnny said. He swung his chain slowly from side to side. “Let’s go.”

“No,” Shang said. “I choose
her
!”

With that, he grabbed Sonya Blade. Instantly the two of them were surrounded by a whirlwind of flying dust. It spread, growing larger, hiding them from view.

“You’re a coward, sorcerer!” Rayden said in a voice of thunder. “Stand and fight!”

“The rules of the tournament are quite clear, Lord Rayden,” said Shang. “Mortal Kombat continues. I’m simply changing the place, as we agreed.”

Shang and Sonya vanished.

“Sonya!” Johnny shouted. “Where has he taken her?”

“To the emperor’s castle in the wastelands of Outworld, where I cannot follow,” Rayden said.

“But I can,” Liu said. “I’m going after them.”

“Not without me, you’re not,” Johnny said. He turned to Lord Rayden. “Rayden – can Sonya beat Shang Tsung?”

“No,” Rayden said, his voice grim. “I’m sorry. However, there is one last rule – although Shang Tsung neglected to mention it.”

“I know what the rule is,” Liu said. “It’s in the legends. She has to accept the challenge, or there can be no final combat.”

“You know Sonya,” Johnny said. “She’ll never back down. I’ve got to stop her! I can fight Shang Tsung!”

“Johnny Cage, you have played your part splendidly, but this battle, you cannot win,” Rayden said.

“Then who can?” Johnny asked.

In answer Rayden merely looked at Liu.

“Okay, I get it,” Johnny said. “How do we get to Outworld?”

“We’re already there,” Liu said.

“I have nothing further to teach you, Liu Kang,” Rayden said. “You possess the knowledge to defeat Shang Tsung. All that is lacking now is the will.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Johnny asked Rayden.

“In Outworld, if you look hard enough, you will have another guide,” Rayden replied. “Good luck.”

“The whirlwind from Shang’s disappearance spread. Thunderous storm clouds swept across the island. All light disappeared. A moment later the clouds broke apart to show Johnny that he and Liu were standing on a road in the remnants of an ancient city. A dark tower stood on a mountain spur, brooding over the city.

“So where are we, O Chosen One?” Johnny asked, looking around.

“Where we’ve always been: Outworld,” Liu said. “The island was an illusion created by Shang Tsung to make us believe we were still on Earth. We crossed into Outworld that night on the ship.”

“So this is Outworld? I can see why they would want a change of scenery,” Johnny said. The land was dreary and bleak, covered with ash and soot. They sky was dark and smoky.

“We should head for that tower,” Liu said, pointing. “Shang Tsung will have taken Sonya there.”

“Scary-looking place.”

“The legends say the emperor built it on the burial mound of his enemies.”

“Guy had a lot of enemies,” Johnny said. The two fighters started walking.

In the Black Tower, Sonya stood facing Shang in the center of a courtyard decorated with the Mortal Kombat symbol, surrounded by dozens of torches.

“Why have you brought me here?” Sonya demanded. “Why not Liu or Johnny? Are you afraid of them?”

“I fear no human,” Shang said. “I brought you here to be my queen. I can lay the Realm of Earth at your feet, Sonya, and fulfill your every fantasy. I can see into your soul. You’d like to let your defenses down and give yourself to a man who is your equal. I am that man. I will defeat you in the final battle, and then I will spare you. We will live happily ever after.”

“What if I refuse to fight?”

“You? Back down from a challenge?” Shang said, incredulously. “When have you ever done that? It’s simply not in your nature.”

“Human beings can change. Besides, Johnny Cage will come after me.”

“I hope he does,” Shang said. “You can watch me destroy him.”

“He beat Goro.”

“He can’t beat me. If you want to spare him, you will fight me. Then I will enter the Realm of Earth triumphantly with my benevolent master. And you, Sonya, will be at my side.”

On the road outside the castle, a hooded figure met Johnny and Liu.

“Kitana!” Liu said.

“Come with me,” Kitana said. “We must hurry.”

“What happened here?” Liu asked, gesturing around him to indicate the city.

“The same thing that will happen to your entire world, unless you prevent it. My father was the rightful ruler of Outworld. Then his best warriors lost ten Mortal Kombats, and the emperor entered the realm, killed my parents, and adopted me to lay claim to the throne. This place was beautiful once, before Shang Tsung engineered its destruction.”

The three walked toward the Black Tower. Beneath its gates they met a group of robed and hooded monks walking in. Johnny, Liu, and Kitana joined the end of the procession.

“How can I possibly stop this from happening to my world?” Liu asked.

“You must win, Liu Kang,” Kitana said. “In the Black Tower you will face three challenges. You must face your enemy, you must face yourself, and you must face your worst fear.”

Meanwhile, in the courtyard – “I won’t fight you, Shang Tsung!” Sonya snapped. “I’m not playing into your game, whatever it is.”

“There is no one else from Earth here to accept the challenge. If you don’t fight, the Realm of Earth will forfeit the tournament, and its portals will open to our great emperor.”

“You’re bluffing. My friends are coming!”

“Hoping against hope is such an endearing human trait,” Shang said. “I’m touched. Really. This is your last chance. Fight me in Mortal Kombat.”

“No!”

Shang looked at the monks. “Take her away. The emperor will be overjoyed.”

Three monks stepped forward, cowls hiding their faces.

“My friends will come,” Sonya said.

One of the monks who had stepped forward threw off his hood, revealing Johnny Cage.

“Her friends are here already,” Johnny said.

“Right on cue,” Shang said. “So much like an actor. Are you challenging me now?”

“No,” Liu said, also throwing off his hood. “I am.”

“Seize them!” Shang cried.

“Stay where you are,” said the third monk, removing her hood to reveal Princess Kitana. “Would you dare interfere with the tournament?” she asked. “Mortal Kombat cannot be won by treachery! That is the law!”

Johnny, Sonya, and Kitana turned to Liu, watching him expectantly.

“I am the Chosen One, descendant of Kung Lao!” Liu said. “I challenge you to Mortal Kombat! Do you accept or yield?”

For a long moment the four stood facing the sorcerer as he looked from face to face.

At last Shang said, “I accept.”

The monks backed away. Johnny, Kitana, and Sonya went with them. The edge of the arena lowered to reveal a pit filled with spikes surrounding the fighting area. A weird howling arose from the center of the arena.

“What is that sound?” Johnny shouted.

“The source of all Shang Tsung’s power,” Kitana said. “The souls of a thousand dead warriors crying out.”

Liu approached Shang. The sorcerer backed away.

“You can’t run from me,” Liu said.

“You fool,” Shang said. “I have within me an army of slave souls to fight you. I don’t need to run.” Suddenly six ghostly warriors appeared and surrounded Liu.

Liu did not hesitate. With an awesome display of fighting skill, he defeated them, one after another. They evaporated as they touched the ground. At last Liu stood alone in the ring facing Shang Tsung.

“Send your slave warriors, sorcerer!” Liu shouted. “Send them all! Your conjurer’s tricks have no power over me.”

“Liu Kang,” Shang said. “I can see into your soul. You will die.”

“You can look into my soul,” Liu said, “but you don’t own it. I’m not afraid of my destiny.”

“You have faced yourself,” Kitana said. “Now face your worst fear.”

Suddenly Shang changed. His features became those of Chan, Liu’s brother.

“No,” Liu shouted. “It’s not really you.”

“Rayden sent me,” Chan said. “To help you.”

“You’re not Chan,” Liu whispered.

“Remember when our parents left?” Chan said. “You promised to always take care of me. Now it is my turn to take care of you. I forgive you for letting me die.”

“No,” Liu said. “It wasn’t me who killed you. Shang Tsung killed my brother!”

Liu concentrated on the form before him. Suddenly he could see through Chan, and see Shang Tsung behind him.

“Face your enemy,” Kitana said.

The ghostly chorus of howling voices increased in volume.

“You hear them, sorcerer,” Liu said. “You hear your slaves. You’re losing your power over them. They have risen against you! You can’t command them now! Free them!”

“No! They are mine, forever,” Shang said.

“All those souls and you still don’t have one of your own. I pity you, sorcerer.”

“Pity is for the weak!”

“Your slave demons have failed you. Your dark magic is worthless. You’ve lost, sorcerer!”

“No!” Shang shouted.

Liu ran and leapt. His foot flashed out, taking Shang in the chest. The demon sorcerer fell into the pit filled with spikes. The humans had won, and a monk wrote down the victory on his scroll.

“Flawless victory,” Liu said. “The Realm of Earth is safe.”

Liu Kang
must face his destiny...