"One, two, three..." "Thank you." "That should do it." "Thank you very much." "Bye." "Dad?" "Dad?" "Is that you?" "It is you." "Dad!" "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." "That didn't take long at all." "What're you talking about?" "Dad..." "Dad!" " Who the hell are you?" "Where's my father?" " So many questions." "I'm Vorpax." "Now, your daddy seems to have disappeared, but you do have other friends down here." "Shang Tsung." "Not exactly the paternal type, trust me." "What are you, his whore?" "Why?" "You looking for a job?" "Yeah, maybe to be the one who wipes that smile off your face." "You can die later if you like." "Right now I need you alive." "Played her part well, didn't she?" "What part?" "Cheese for your trap?" "Clever little thing." "Catches on quickly." "I've got news for you." "He's not that stupid." "No." "No, but he's that noble." "Kung Lao will come, or you will die." " Where am I?" " Welcome to the Cobalt mines of Shokkan." " You expect me to buy that?" " Believe what you will." "This is Outworld." "And you are my prisoner." "And what about my father?" "What sorcery did you use on him?" "How did you know what he looked like?" "It was him." " He also is a prisoner here." " I don't believe you." " My father's dead." " Is he?" "Did you see him die?" "So many years..." "Life's just full of little surprises, isn't it?" "You're lying." "If my father's alive... and if he's in this horrible place, why would he bring me here?" "Shang Tsung can be very... creative when it comes to getting people to do things." "Can't be." "Or maybe it can." "You see, a man once told me he was brought here after a slave raid." "He was so broken up at the thought of never seeing his beloved daughter again." ""Taja"." "Not a common name." "Slave raid..." "Where is he?" "Who knows?" "Maybe he just lured you here or... was that just an illusion?" "Time passes so awkwardly in this hell..." "I don't know if I saw him last year or ten minutes ago." "She stays alive." "The rest I leave to you." "Enjoy!" "There's work to do." " Morning." " Hey." "Is there any tea?" " As soon as you make some." " Good thing I got up, huh?" " What's that sound?" " I don't know." "I think it's coming from outside." "Oh, my God..." "Taja." " What have they done?" " It can't be real." "It isn't." "It's Shang Tsung." "Kung Lao, your life for hers." "His voice..." "North Alley." "The portal awaits tonight." "Portal to where?" "Outworld." "Outworld?" "Shang Tsung's got her!" "Take it easy, it's just a trick." "He's after me." "There's no way he could get to Taja." "But what if he did?" "He said he'd kill her!" " Taja, are you there?" " She's not up there." "I knocked on her door when I came down." " Damn it." " Hold it." "Just think, Siro." "Taja's always up early." "She could be anywhere doing her normal stuff." "Before we go charging off, let's find out if she's really missing." "But what if she is?" "Every minute we waste that son of a bitch Shang Tsung has with her." "Or she could be fine." "And Shang Tsung's just using her image." "So I walk into that alley and a portal sucks me away... and it was to save no one." "All right." "So what do we do?" "Find her." "Check out where she goes everyday." "Okay." "But where?" "What does she normally do?" "I don't know." "Check in her room and see if there's anything there that'll help." "I'll ask outside if anyone saw her leave." "Okay." "Where are you?" "I got something for you!" "Not good." " Anything?" " No." "No one saw her." "You?" "Not really." "Nothing written down or anything." "I can't believe we don't know what she does everyday." "Yeah." "I found this though." " What is it?" " I'm not sure but it's valuable to her." "I found it with her jewellery." "I've seen these for sale though in the bazaar." " Do you know the place?" " Yeah." " Let's go." " Sure." "There you are." "I inhale more than that every day." "Got some fight in ya, huh?" "Good." "Come here!" "Filthy maggot." "I don't get it." "Yeah, well, I'm not sure I do either." "Call it a moment of weakness." "They make me sick." "All they ever think about is..." "Anyway..." "Why are you doing this?" "Not buying my decent act?" "Well, then, let's just say that you'll serve me better in one piece." "Serve you?" "You work for Shang." "I do not work for him!" "In case you haven't noticed, I am his personal slave down here." "You can't even begin to imagine what life's like down in this pit." "But that's nothing compared to the hell Shang Tsung puts me through." "Well, can you fight him?" "Fight Shang Tsung?" "With what?" "This?" "You've got a lot to learn, Taja, dear." "Come on." "You're not safe out in the open." "Where're we going?" "I'm going to hide you until I decide how to handle this." "Handle what?" "You just may be my ticket out of here, so you can either trust me or I promise you..." "Shang Tsung will suck out your soul." "It's beautiful, isn't it?" " You recognise it?" " Of course, my father made it." " So it was bought here." " Yes, but not by you." "Do you mind telling me how you got it?" " It belongs to a friend of ours." " Name's Taja." "Do you know her?" "I do enough to be surprised that she let you have it." "It's her favourite." "She did give it to you, right?" " Sort of." " What is this all about?" "We're just looking for her." " What's this thing anyway?" " It's a bola for a game." "Game?" "The one that Taja plays all the time." "Are you sure you guys are her friends?" "Yes." "She lives with us at the Trading Post." "Oh, but you don't know where she is?" "Or that she plays bola maybe like two or three times a week?" "Um, we just never talked about it." " Where's the game?" " Three alleys down." "Thanks." "We'll ask over there." "You're going to go over there and ask questions?" "Good luck." "If you're looking for a game, we're not open." "What kind of game is it anyway?" "Doesn't matter." "Told you, we're not open." "Actually, we're looking for a player." " A lady named Taja." " Taja?" " She comes here a lot?" " Yeah, she's a regular." "What do you want with her?" "Just looking for her." "Well, she's not here." "Maybe you oughta look somewhere else." "In a minute." "Maybe somebody else has seen her." "Hey, what is it?" "Does she owe you money or something?" "No." "Maybe you're just hanging around checking out the game... asking me wrong questions." "Guy tried that once last month." "They found him in the river, dead." "Hey, I told you, we're just looking for Taja, all right?" "And what about Taja?" "Who are you?" "Same question I was gonna ask you." "We're friends of Taja's." "Do you know her?" " Yeah." " Do you know where she is?" "Nope." "Haven't seen her around the last couple of days." "Sounds like you know her pretty well, huh?" " Pretty well." " Funny, she never mentioned you." "And she's never mentioned you." "Just what kind of relationship do you have with Taja?" " And what the hell is it to you?" " Maybe a lot." "Look, my relationship with Taja is my business." "She doesn't ask me what I do with my life, and I don't ask her what she does." "Like with that silk merchant." " What silk merchant?" " Guy's name's Hesper." "He's got a place over at the Lion's Gate." "You go see the silk merchant." "I'm going to go talk to some of the food vendors." "Leaving here?" "That's a really good idea." "Come on, let's go back." "You are certain he will come?" "Soon now." "For a man like Kung Lao... even death is preferable to life without honour and loyalty." "And this Taja, hopelessly following her father... interesting these mortals." "What will you do with him?" "Present him to Shao Kahn in exchange for my freedom." "And the girl?" "An enemy to Outworld." "She will make a play thing for the Emperor." "Will you take me with you when you go?" " That depends." " On?" "My mood." "Siro!" "Siro!" "You're not gonna believe who this guy Hesper is." "Forget it." "She's in trouble." "What did you find out?" "The guy she buys vegetables from saw her late last night." "She was following a strange man into the same north alley... where Shang Tsung said the portal's going to be." "Shang Tsung..." "Or someone working for him." "I've gotta hurry." "There are only a few hours before sunset." " What do you mean?" " I've gotta go and get her back." " How?" " By following Shang Tsung's instructions." " It's the only way." " He'll kill you." "And if I ignore him, Taja's dead." "He took her because she's my friend." "I have to go." "Then so do I." "No." "Shang Tsung wants me." "There's no sense in all of us getting killed." "Besides, I may have a way to get out of this." "I told you to stay put." "Look, I feel for Shang Tsung's trick like an idiot... but I'm sure as hell not gonna be part of your plans, whatever they are." "I'll take my chances alone." "Chances?" "You have no chances." "Look around!" "This is prison." "For the lowest scum of all realms." "Including you." "Don't tell me you're here by accident." "How did you get thrown into hell?" "Deception... and... self-deception." "Yes, I am here, but I am not an animal." "I am a woman like you." "Don't put us together." "I would never sell out to a monster like Shang Tsung." "I'd rather die." "That's so easy to say standing there, so righteous, but believe me... when your time comes to survive you'll surprise yourself." "Just as I did." "I guess I'll find out soon enough." "Kung Lao?" "It's so late." "I'm hardly dressed." "Sorry to wake you but I need what I left here." "That's all?" "Yes, it's urgent." "The box...?" "Where you left it." "Come in... please." "How big is this place?" "Enormous." "As big as some realms." "You can't possibly be thinking of escape." "No." "Not yet." "Not until you solve the riddle of your father." "That's it, right?" "I mean, it was just a ploy to sucker me down here." "I mean... he was never really in these mines." "Oh, it was no lie." "He is here." "But he can't be." "Let me see if I remember correctly." "You had a nice life together." "A mother, a father and a sister, younger as I recall." "You're just guessing." "Then let me guess some more." "And you all travelled together like gypsies, never really settling in one place." "Yes..." "You were eleven, maybe twelve when you last saw them." "My God..." "I never heard the story of how you ended up alone." "It was my fault." "Dad told me to stay close to camp but... well, I was never very good at doing what I was told... and I went off playing some stupid game." "And when I came back... they were... they were gone." "They were... they were just gone." "And I never..." "I never understood why." "Did something terrible happen to them?" " Or... or..." " Or did they abandon you?" "Kind of hard to trust anybody after something like that." "Are my mother and sister here?" "I've never seen them." "Then you have to help me find my father." "I have to see him." "I have to know." "I've told you this place is huge." "He could be on any of a hundred levels." "Then I'll find him myself." "Now that you have it, why don't you stay awhile?" "It's been so long since your last visit." "I can't." "Lives are at stake." "You're going to get yourself killed." "From what you said, it might be better than staying alive." "I told you, I need you." "Then, help me find my father and I'll help you if I can." "Your father may already be dead." "First you tell me he led me here and now you say he's dead?" "He may be." "Shang Tsung may have killed him just minutes after you arrived, or... or he could've killed him months ago and just used his image." "Anything is possible here." "All right, then I still have a chance." "It's like you said, nothing's for sure." "Only this, I've seen hundreds die down here, nameless, all of them." "Happens every day." "Most don't even survive a year before their lungs give out... from this." "You're alive." "We should keep moving." "What's that?" "Move it!" "They're replacement prisoners." "Relieving lower level miners with fresher ones from above." "Your father could be among them." "Take it easy." "It's a long shot." " I have to find him." " You have to stay alive." "He wasn't with them." "I warned you." "Let's go." "I found her and was bringing her to you." "It is time." "Kung Lao's come?" "On his way." "This should be it." "This should be the place." "What are you waiting for, Shang Tsung?" "Where have you been?" "Easy, Kung Lao, it's just me." "What're you doing here?" "Waiting for you." "I thought you might need a little help." "Forget it." "Hey, Taja's my friend, too, all right?" "Let me do it my own way." "We'll do it your way... together." "Siro!" "Taja!" "You all right?" " I can't believe you really came." " The party is growing." "With an uninvited guest." " What happened?" " l..." "I can't explain it." "I saw my father here." "Your father?" "Now we have all three of them, and all so easily." "Too easy." "No doubt Kung Lao believes there's a way out of this." "The way you said a trade for Taja and now Siro." "A strange time and place for making demands, Kung Lao." "But you still lose, Shang Tsung." "You can't kill me." "Rest assured, Kung Lao... there are plenty of prisoners here not bound by the rules... of the Elder Gods who can." "No, no, no, no." "Not your turn yet, Kung Lao." "If you interfere in the fight, the girl dies." "Fine." "I came for a fight." "This won't take long." "Kill the big one." "You were fortunate." "You see?" "Things are different here." "The obvious can be very misleading." "Only a taste of things to come." "Taja, come see if Siro's hurt." "I'm fine." "Let's just check it out, okay?" "Stay close." "We're leaving... now." "Damn you!" " Taja, what're you doing?" " I won't leave without my father." "We can't leave without you." "That is how loyalty is repaid." "It might have worked." "What a shame your plan backfired." " What is it?" " A means of travel... anywhere." "My thanks for your stupidity." "What about her?" "Bring her." "My mortal enemy and the crystal." "A great day." "Oh, my God..." "It's a death chamber." "These are the lucky ones." "They'll be free of this place soon." "Why are you still helping me?" " Game's up." " No." "Almost, but not yet." "Kung Lao's right." "Shang Tsung can't kill him... which means Shang Tsung still has some manoeuvring to do." "Until he succeeds, you and your friends may be my best chance." " For escape." " Or Shang Tsung's death." "Come on." "Well, now what?" "You should prepare to die." " You can still let my friends go." " Still noble, which makes you still weak." "The Emperor will relish seeing you dead." "But the souls of the others are mine." " Take it easy." " I can't." "We're in a prison within a prison." "Damn Taja." "What was she thinking?" "Something about what she said." "About her father." "She's an orphan, she told us that." "Something's changed." "Something Shang Tsung has done." "What?" "Can he raise the dead?" "How could her father be here?" "I don't know." "And I don't know what's going to get us out." "Wait." "What're you doing?" " I can't do this to Siro and Kung Lao." " Now this occurs to you?" "They risked their lives for me and I just..." "Paid them back with a death sentence." "What is it with you?" "One minute you're fueling my need for my father... and the next you're reminding me what a jerk I am." "Uh-huh." "Too much truth for you?" " I have to help them." " Then get back to them." " How?" " Follow the tunnel towards the screams." "I mean it." "Just past the torture chamber you'll see Shang Tsung's area." "Wait for him to leave and then..." "Then what?" "We'll see." "Do I thank you?" "Can I trust you or are you lying again?" "I'm helping you." " Where is she?" " I have not yet found her." "Then leave her." "I want you to go to the Emperor." "Me?" "I can't..." "Oh, I think you can." "Use your charm, bribe the guards." "Get to Shao Kahn and deliver a message." "What message?" "That Shang Tsung summons him." "Daring words." "The gift I have waiting is worth it." "Now go." "As you wish." "I will speak to the Emperor, but only when I am ready." "Taja!" "Siro, Kung Lao..." "I'm so sorry." "All right, all right." "You're sorry." "We forgive you." "Just get us out of this." "Will do." "Here." "Here." "Come on." "This should work." "I'll get it from the outside." " Now what are you up to?" " That depends." "What's going on?" "Just trying to determine what side she's on." "Are you crazy?" "She works for Shang Tsung." "I work for me!" "That's right." "She hates him." "She may help us." "How?" "Do you still have a way out of here?" "No." "Shang Tsung has the crystal." "Our only chance is to get out of here and fight." "I see." "I told you, I do what I have to, to survive." "Shang Tsung!" "Shang Tsung!" "Kung Lao, Siro, he's coming!" "Hurry, Siro." "Kill him." "Uh-uh." "Let him go, bastard." "Brave, but foolish." "Come on." "Run from me." "I know another way." "We can cut them off." "Which way now?" "What's that?" "Looks like an air shaft to the surface." "Forget the air shaft." "Use this." "How did you...?" "When I attacked Shang Tsung." "He's a sorcerer, I'm a pickpocket." " Now go this time." " What?" "Taja, get over here." " Come on." " Come on, Taja." "I..." "I can't leave without finding out the truth about my father." " Come on." "Let's go." " Come in." "We're going." "The Emperor..." "I have to stop him from coming." "It will mean death for you... summoning him here for nothing..." "and worse for me." "Then let me try." "As long as I can get to him before he leaves the palace." "I'll tell him that it was all my fault, that I..." "I misunderstood you." "Why would you do this for me?" "Because you do so much for me." "Hurry then." "Three baths and I still can't get that hell dust off of me." "Amazing." "So many realms out there we know nothing about." "What's more amazing is... that there's a whole life going on with you I know nothing about." "Bola champ, a boyfriend named Stefan." "You wanna talk about it?" "I don't know, Siro, I..." "I went through life thinking of them..." "Ionging for them, then convincing myself that they were dead... all dead." "Then to see my father again..." "to have him... then lose him..." "I don't even know what to believe." "Vorpax said you'll never know." "And never be free of the pain." "I just want it over, Siro." "I just want to forget." "I understand." "Oh, um, that came for you." "Some messenger dropped it off while you were taking a bath." "Hmm." "My God..." "What is it?" "It's my father's wedding ring."