"Previously on Mortal Kombat:" "Conquest..." " Jen, it's over now." " I'll always be with you, Kung Lao." "My home is now your heart." "The city of Zhu Zin... is not just the centre of your world, but the crossroads of many realms." "You must find a place in the heart of the city to call your own." "I want his soul." "There is none stronger in Earth realm than Kung Lao." "Without fresh souls, my powers will fade." "The forces of Outworld will stop at nothing to defeat us." "Beware who you trust... for evil is everywhere..." "and it is relentless." "He has trained his whole life." "His fighting skills are unmatched among us... yet it is only now that he truly begins... for it is his destiny to carry to battle ancient powers." "The time has come to unleash them." "Kneel." "Fire and ice." "The pain of one mirrors the pain of the other." "He suffers, yet learns to endure." "It will be soon." "Shang Tsung..." "In each of us there burns a soul of a warrior." "In every generation, a few are chosen to prove it." "Centuries ago in a time of darkness and fury that fate befell three strangers." "A monk" " Kung Lao... an exiled guard" " Siro... and a thief" " Taja... who have to defend our Earth Realm from the forces of Outworld." "By fighting for their lives." "By fighting for their honour." "Your soul is mine!" "And by fighting for their realm." "It's the burden you must carry." "In a tournament called..." "Mortal Kombat." "Let's rest here for a few minutes." "We should make Zhu Zin by nightfall." "Yeah." "Having second thoughts?" "Some, I guess." "I mean, it sounded like a good idea at the Temple... but the closer I get to the Trading Post, the more I wonder what I'm doing." "Starting again." "That's whatyou said." "Hey, even I don't listen to what I say half the time." "I mean, travelling the road alone, I understand." "But living in one place in a city with people I don't even know, that... this just sounds too settled." "For me, returning to the Trading Post is fine." "I've lived there much of my life... and I can help train fighters with you, Kung Lao, but..." "But what?" "I can't get over the fact that I'd be training them for something I'm not sure even exists." "Yeah. "Mortal Kombat"." "See, that's the difference, Kung Lao." "You have your mission, you know whatyou're doing." "Do I?" "For years, I've been told about Mortal Kombat." "Now they need to find new fighters." "But it doesn't mean I know how, where to find them, howto make them believe." "The future's as much a question to me as it is to you." "Sounds like none of us knows if we're doing the right thing." "Maybe that's the only thing we have in common at this point." "Well, at least it's something." " Hey, Taja...?" " Oh, God, not again." "Well, is there anything left or not?" "Here." " That wipes us out, you know." " Like you wiped out the monks?" "I took some food to nourish us on the trip, okay?" "Yeah, right." "Do you believe this?" "She stole food from the monks." "Well, you're eating it, aren'tyou?" "It's all right." "The monks are generous." "They would've wanted us to have it anyway." "Asking the monks would have been nice." "Not cramming every scrap into your mouth would've been nice." "Is that the key Jen gave you?" "Kung Lao, maybe you and I should get some provisions in the bazaar." "Yes." " Will you open up?" " Sure." "We'll be back in a moment." "What a mess." "Thieves." "I've had a home for one day and already someone's broken in." " Hungry?" " Yeah, always." "Are you all right?" "Yeah." "I thought he was just a common thief, but..." "He's no thief and there's nothing common about him." "Recognise it?" " Yes." "I've seen it before." " Lin Kuei." " Lin who?" " Lin Kuei." "Murderers for hire." "People around here tell stories of children being stolen... and taught howto kill in some secret compound." "Okay, I understand he was trying to kill me, but... but what about the place?" "He was tearing it apart." "Looking for something." "Yeah." "Who sentyou?" "What were you after?" "Speak." "I think I know some ways to loosen his tongue." "Take her inside." "I'll see to this one." "Hold still." "This might hurt a bit." "I think you cracked a rib." "No, let's get this straight." "The guy in the blue outfit cracked the rib." "I dumped our friend out the west gate." "Let the vultures take care of him." "I checked through the whole place." "Looks like you interrupted him." "Nothing's disturbed upstairs." " Question is, can we expect more?" " Crossed my mind, too." "We need to get some rest." "Anyone hears anything in the night, call out." "Well, I guess I'll take my old room." "My old room was the dungeon." "Hey, staff's all gone, I'm sure it's still free." "Not for long." "I miss you, Jen." "What do you want?" "Nothing, really." "Just curious." "What're you doing?" " Writing instructions." " I see." "A book for those wanting to learn sorcery." "You're not amusing me." "Oh, but I could, Shang." "I could amuse you." "I think not." "Never say no to whatyou haven't tried." "What could be more enticing than me?" " A group of mortals." " Mortals." " Assassins." " Who are they, Shang?" "The Lin Kuei, an ancient sect." "Their training is in deepest secret as is their code." "They are silent, swift and always lethal." "Formidable... for mortals." "More than you know." "For some, a select few... the Lin Kuei Grand Masters will continue their education into darker areas." "Then death comes in..." "more interesting ways." "And who are you going to have killed?" "Maybe someone who asks too many questions." "They're going to steal something for me." "Turning great killers into thieves." "If anyone gets in their way, they will deal with them." "The object is of immeasurable value." "Oh... what is it?" "No." "This I will keep to myself." "It is something that has been lost for centuries." "Your story's too good, Shang." "Let me know a little more." "A friend heard of its existence." "That idiot Barron in Zhu Zin bought it from a trader and hid it." "The fool never knew what it was." "Zhu Zin?" "Not the Trading Post?" "Is there any chance your Kung Lao is involved?" "I pray for it." "That's your plan." "That's why you sent the Lin Kuei." "They'll kill him." "Yes." "Kung Lao will die and I will have my prize." "Mmm, such wisdom in such a powerful, handsome man." "Perhaps you can amuse me." "Although your seduction may not go as you planned." "I can't believe you're leaving." " That's usually what good-bye means" " Hey, we just got here." "You're right." "And in that short time, I've been attacked, nearly killed... and watched some crazy man commit suicide." "See, that's why you should stay." "Something is going on and we should help figure it out." "You figure it out." "Look, I have spent my whole life trying to survive." "I'm not about to jump into this death trap." "What did you think this was going to be, lounging on a sofa all day?" "I told you on the road I didn't know what this was." "And now I do... and now I'm gone." " Where?" " What difference does it make?" "So much for your new life, huh?" "I'm going as far away as I can, Siro." "I advise you to do the same." "What I'm going to do is stay here." "I gave my word and that means everything to me." "Well, good luck." "Once a thief, always a thief, huh?" "Damn it." "Damn it!" " Taja, Siro just..." " Siro was wrong." "Well, why are we standing around?" "Let's find out what this guy was looking for." "Fine, but maybe you guys could start without me." "There's someone I need to talk to." "Please tell me it's not the Thunder God." "So..." "I'm only here because you two would never have found it without me, okay?" "He has not returned." "If he has failed, he is no more." "Send three others." "You sent one man." "He was an experienced fighter." "Against Kung Lao, he was nothing." " The task shall be completed." " It better be." "You know what is at stake." "The Crystal." "The means to travel anywhere." "And the answer to my freedom." "Yes." "Present it to the Emperor and he will return you to power." "It will be the greatest of weapons in Shao Kahn's hands." "Or mine." "Then even he would have to deal with me." " It cannot be lost." " Three others have been sent." " And if they fail?" " There's one who waits." "Against whom no one can stand." "Send him now." "Patience, Shang Tsung." "He is but a newborn." "If he is needed, he will be ready." "You of all people know the price of failure." "Rayden." "Where are you?" "Come on, Rayden." "Rayden, you said you'd be there if I needed you." "Well, I do." "I need to talk." " Forget it." "Thanks for nothing." " So talk." " Where have you been?" " Living my life." "How aboutyou?" "This is serious." "I called for you and you didn't come." "What's it been, five minutes?" "What'd you expect, you call and get instant God?" "Well, something like that." "Me not coming is going to happen a lot." " But..." " Because I can't... and won't be here just for you, Kung Lao." "My responsibilities extend to all of Earth Realm and beyond." "Look, it was you... who led me and prodded me all through Mortal Kombat and afterwards." "Your whole life, your training, your victory... and everything since was meant to letyou take control of you." "Okay, okay." "But what about the things I don't understand?" "What?" "The Trading Post was broken into by the Lin Kuei." "Taja was attacked." "Is she dead?" "No." "The ninja is." "Well, then it worked out okay." "I've got to run." "Wait." "I need to understand this." "Like you said, evil comes in many forms." "Why was the Lin Kuei there?" "I have no idea." "They don't keep me up-to-date on their plans." "Should I search for them?" "Rayden, I'm not asking you to do my fighting for me." "Good, because you know I can't do that." "Besides, you're more than capable of fighting." "Whatyou're asking me to do is think for you." "Work it out, Kung Lao." "Yourself." "Enough." "All that effort, the heat of the room..." "You must need water!" "Leave... and think about how you must bear the pain." "Failure only makes him stronger." "So rare." "Centuries have passed since one such as this has been among us." "He must be made ready." "You know, this would be easier if we at least had a hint of what we're looking for." "Or if this place wasn't so huge." "It's got to be something unique, something that's out of place or that doesn't fit." "We have to think." "Good idea." "And..." "I do my best thinking on a full stomach." "I need something to eat." "What else is new?" "Siro, Taja..." " My buddies from the Lin Kuei?" " Yes." "I don't know who they are but they are really getting on my nerves." "It's time we end this." " Where're you going?" " Hunting." "Come forth!" "As the inner transformation is completed... so too must the face shown to the world change." "Ageless, yet new." "Untried, yet deadly." "His approach will be as silent as new-falling snow." "His attack as fierce as a wind-driven blizzard." "His devastation as brutal as winter's relentless kill." "He is complete." "Throughout time, the Lin Kuei... have struck terror in the hearts of others." "Our soul is in our power, our secrecy, our skill and our discipline." "Before you stand two who have failed." "For this there can be but one consequence and it must come from within, within us." "Earth, wind, fire, water." "To control one element of the four that make up life is power." "A twist of nature, an aberration, one who brings forth true killing force." "Before you stands one whose ancestors have passed on such power to us." "Remember this well." "Behold..." "Sub Zero." "Go." "I'm worried about Siro." "He's been gone a long time." "Yeah, but he's tough." "He can take care of himself." "I hope." "Are you sure you want to keep at this?" "Maybe there's nothing here at all." "No, I'm betting there is." "And whoever sent the Lin Kuei is betting the same way." " I thoughtyou searched in here." " Time to go over things again." "At this point, a very experienced thief..." "me, for example... would move on to less obvious possibilities such as hidden chambers." "Come on." "This isn't some mad prince's castle." "No, it's a trading post run by a greedy old rich guy." "Odds are better there's a hidden area." "Besides, this is a professional thing now." "Nobody hides something from me." "Aha." "It's hollow." "Come here and help me." "Okay." "There should be a hinge here somewhere and a lever." "A lever?" "Yeah, like a lock mechanism." "Could be a false stone or a torch holder." "All right." "You push, I'll pull." "We'll force it and you'll see, it's going to spin around." "Okay, I push, you pull." " Had enough?" " Damn, I thought that was it." "Gee, you don't suppose that's it?" "Is it a precious stone?" "I don't think so." "It looks like it's just common quartz." "Okay, not so common quartz." "Kung Lao, Taja!" "There you are." "We found it." "Whatever it is." " Forget about that." " Are you kidding me?" "This thing's powerful." "You want power?" "I found the Lin Kuei." "Are they coming back?" "How many are they sending?" "Who cares?" "As long as they don't send... him." "Watch out!" "Get the Crystal!" " Come on, we've got to help him." " Stay away from the ice!" "It burns!" "Throwing the ice hurts him." "It weakens him." " Spread out then." " Right." "Make him do it." "I know I saw it, but men can't throw ice." "Well, those weren't rose petals he was tossing around." " I mean, look at my arm." " There has to be an explanation." " Like?" " I don't know." "A... a freak storm." " In the dead of summer?" " Maybe not that." "But I'm telling you, what happened out there wasn't real." "It was very real." "And it took the three of us to beat him." "Yeah, and just barely." "Did you?" "Did you defeat him?" "Or is he waiting for you even now?" "Welcome to your new life together." "You knowthis man, Rayden?" "Him, no." "But there's been others before him." "Special men." "Capable of being trained in the darkest arts of Lin Kuei." "You must be very careful now knowing he's here." "Yes." "They sent their most skilled fighter after the Crystal." "Crystal?" "Small?" "Dark red?" "Yes." "Give it to me." "Which one of you has it?" "I'll take it now." "Tell us what it is." "It's a means of travel." "It brought beings here from another realm timeless years ago." "They were men of peace and learning travelling only for knowledge." "One of them died here and it was thought that the Crystal was lost forever." " It can take you anywhere." " Wow, like all the other realms." "Yes, all the realms." "You twist it, you say the words and you go there." "I will have it now." "Understand me, Kung Lao?" "In Shang's hands or worse, Shao Kahn's, it could be a means of disaster." " But in our hands an invaluable tool." " I'm not here to discuss it." " Fine, I've decided to keep it." " You can't!" "I can and I will." "We fought for it." "It was you who told me to think for myself... and nowthat I do, you want me to just obey your orders?" " Well, which is it, Rayden?" " You're trying my patience." "Look, I've trusted you my whole life." "It's time to return the favour." "Guard it well." "We will." "I have a headache." "Rise." "There is no dishonour." "The appearance of Rayden was unexpected." "It is ended." "The God will destroy it." "Send me back, Master, I wish to try again." "Be patient." "That day will come." "ENGLISH"