CHAPTER ONE
Johnny Cage, the movie star, stood on the set of his latest film. He was looking at a scroll. The scroll was small, twisted around a stick of black wood. It was decorated with a logo showing a dragon’s head in a circle.
“This is the most ancient tournament in the world,” said the man who had brought the scroll. “It’s held on an island in the South China Sea. All of the participants are sworn to secrecy. The best fighters in the world are invited. If you win the tournament, you’ll win their respect.”
“How do I get there?” Johnny asked.
“There will be a ship at Pier Forty in Hong Kong, tomorrow night. Be on it.”
Half the world away, in Hong Kong, the smoke was thick in the Techno Club.
“Are you sure she’ll follow me down here?” Kano asked. The crime boss stood in his office; watching as Sonya Blade, an American Special Forces officer, made her way across the dance floor toward him, a pistol in her hand.
“You killed her partner,” the sorcerer Shang Tsung replied. “She’ll follow you anywhere. Just make sure she gets on that ship.”
Kano turned and climbed down a ladder into a trapdoor set in the floor. Minutes later, when Sonya burst into the office, she followed him.
Liu Kang and his grandfather stood in front of the Temple of Rayden. Liu’s, Chan, had died there scarcely a day before.
“What happened?” Liu asked.
“After you left for America, he followed in your footsteps, preparing for the tournament,” Grandfather replied.
“The tournament,” Liu said. “Wasn’t it enough that you filled my head with that nonsense?”
“To save the world is not nonsense,” Grandfather said. “We all believe in it, including your brother. He trained very hard. But he could never be as good as you.”
“Grandfather,” Liu said, “I dreamed Chan’s death. And in my dream I saw his killer.”
“You saw the demon sorcerer Shang Tsung,” Grandfather replied.
Liu Kang and Grandfather went inside the Temple. Liu said to the chief priest, “I want to represent the Order of Light at the tournament.”
“For what reason?” the chief priest asked.
“The man who killed my brother will be there,” Liu replied.
“That cannot be the only reason for going,” the chief priest said, “or you will fail.”
“Oh yes, I forgot,” Liu said. “We’re fighting for the fate of the world.”
An old beggar entered the door of the temple. “Why do you want to fight?” he asked.
“Shang Tsung, the man who killed my brother, will be at that tournament,” Liu replied. “It’s my responsibility.”
“That is why you left the temple and ran away, isn’t it?” the beggar asked. “The great tournament was too much responsibility. Vengeance is so much simpler. You didn’t even believe in the tournament yesterday. So now you’re going to win?”
“Yes, I am,” Liu replied. “Who are you?”
“I am Rayden, the god of lightning. In the Great Tournament five centuries ago, your ancestor Kung Lao defeated Shang Tsung the sorcerer,” Rayden said. “You are Kung Lao’s last living descendant. But you reject all you’ve learned. You don’t believe in the teachings and you don’t believe in yourself.”
“If you are Rayden, why did you let Chan die?” Liu asked.
“The gods do not control men’s destiny,” Rayden said.
“I’ve had enough of this,” Liu said. “I’m going to find my brother’s killer at the tournament, with or without your consent!”
Liu stormed away from the temple.
“He isn’t ready, my lord,” Grandfather said.
“I know,” Rayden replied. “But there is no one else. You shouldn’t have tried to replace him with his brother. Whether any of you like it or not, Liu Kang is the chosen one.”
That night, a ghostly ship pulled into Hong Kong Harbor. Its sails were tattered and its planks were warped. Barnacles stuck to its sides. Seaweed was piled up on the deck.
Sonya saw Kano get aboard. She moved to follow
Johnny Cage, the movie star, stood on the set of his latest film. He was looking at a scroll. The scroll was small, twisted around a stick of black wood. It was decorated with a logo showing a dragon’s head in a circle.
“This is the most ancient tournament in the world,” said the man who had brought the scroll. “It’s held on an island in the South China Sea. All of the participants are sworn to secrecy. The best fighters in the world are invited. If you win the tournament, you’ll win their respect.”
“How do I get there?” Johnny asked.
“There will be a ship at Pier Forty in Hong Kong, tomorrow night. Be on it.”
Half the world away, in Hong Kong, the smoke was thick in the Techno Club.
“Are you sure she’ll follow me down here?” Kano asked. The crime boss stood in his office; watching as Sonya Blade, an American Special Forces officer, made her way across the dance floor toward him, a pistol in her hand.
“You killed her partner,” the sorcerer Shang Tsung replied. “She’ll follow you anywhere. Just make sure she gets on that ship.”
Kano turned and climbed down a ladder into a trapdoor set in the floor. Minutes later, when Sonya burst into the office, she followed him.
Liu Kang and his grandfather stood in front of the Temple of Rayden. Liu’s, Chan, had died there scarcely a day before.
“What happened?” Liu asked.
“After you left for America, he followed in your footsteps, preparing for the tournament,” Grandfather replied.
“The tournament,” Liu said. “Wasn’t it enough that you filled my head with that nonsense?”
“To save the world is not nonsense,” Grandfather said. “We all believe in it, including your brother. He trained very hard. But he could never be as good as you.”
“Grandfather,” Liu said, “I dreamed Chan’s death. And in my dream I saw his killer.”
“You saw the demon sorcerer Shang Tsung,” Grandfather replied.
Liu Kang and Grandfather went inside the Temple. Liu said to the chief priest, “I want to represent the Order of Light at the tournament.”
“For what reason?” the chief priest asked.
“The man who killed my brother will be there,” Liu replied.
“That cannot be the only reason for going,” the chief priest said, “or you will fail.”
“Oh yes, I forgot,” Liu said. “We’re fighting for the fate of the world.”
An old beggar entered the door of the temple. “Why do you want to fight?” he asked.
“Shang Tsung, the man who killed my brother, will be at that tournament,” Liu replied. “It’s my responsibility.”
“That is why you left the temple and ran away, isn’t it?” the beggar asked. “The great tournament was too much responsibility. Vengeance is so much simpler. You didn’t even believe in the tournament yesterday. So now you’re going to win?”
“Yes, I am,” Liu replied. “Who are you?”
“I am Rayden, the god of lightning. In the Great Tournament five centuries ago, your ancestor Kung Lao defeated Shang Tsung the sorcerer,” Rayden said. “You are Kung Lao’s last living descendant. But you reject all you’ve learned. You don’t believe in the teachings and you don’t believe in yourself.”
“If you are Rayden, why did you let Chan die?” Liu asked.
“The gods do not control men’s destiny,” Rayden said.
“I’ve had enough of this,” Liu said. “I’m going to find my brother’s killer at the tournament, with or without your consent!”
Liu stormed away from the temple.
“He isn’t ready, my lord,” Grandfather said.
“I know,” Rayden replied. “But there is no one else. You shouldn’t have tried to replace him with his brother. Whether any of you like it or not, Liu Kang is the chosen one.”
That night, a ghostly ship pulled into Hong Kong Harbor. Its sails were tattered and its planks were warped. Barnacles stuck to its sides. Seaweed was piled up on the deck.
Sonya saw Kano get aboard. She moved to follow
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