LIU KANG AND KUNG LAO
SHAOLIN TEMPLE – CHINA 1995
He hears a woman scream sees a bright flash of light and Liu Kang sits up in his bed sweating. He looks down at the green tinted dragon mark in the palm of his hand. He gets up and washes the sweat from his body. Then he gets dressed and joins his Shaolin brothers in the main hall to eat. As usual he arrives the same time as his friend and blood brother Kung Lao.
"Late night again my friend?" Kung Lao asks.
"I had a dream,"
Kung Lao gives him his undivided attention, "About what?"
"I dreamed of a Japanese Ninja, his wife and family. They are happy together, then they are attacked by Lin Kuei Ninjas. Everyone is slaughtered, the warrior's wife and two of his three children are killed. Someone spirits away the baby son."
"Perhaps you dream of your own past." Kung Lao offers.
They resume eating and Liu Kang ponders his friend's words. Liu was bought to the Shaolin monks when he was but a child of five years. He has no memory of his parents before that. Growing up a Shaolin Master caught Liu Kang mimicking the movements of the Shaolin acolytes. The Master began teaching Liu in secret. When the other Masters found out they were upset, but quickly change their minds when they saw Liu Kang's skills.
One morning the mark of the Dragon was on his hand and he joined the ranks of those who would one day be taken to the temple of light to prepare for Mortal Kombat. After eating they are taken to the training yard to practice and train. Liu Kang likes to fight with nun-chucks, while Kung Loa prefers the blade edge hat used by his ancestor.
Sometimes when Liu Kang trains other trainees stop to watch his flawless technique. After three hours of weapons training they practice Kung Fu. Liu prefers the Crane and Choy Lay Fat styles of fighting. Kung Lao prefers praying mantis and Shaolin Fist technique. Other than Liu and Kung, there are three other fighters training who bare the Dragon mark. The mark of the Chosen ones.
One is Native American and his name is Night Wolf. Then there is Shujinko and Hairu, "Chosen Ones it is time to spar."
Shujinko spars against and beats Hairu. Shujinko loses to Kung Lao and Night Wolf loses to Liu Kang. Then Night Wolf faces off against Liu Kang and loses. After a rest Liu Kang faces off against Kung Lao. "Prepare to lose my friend." Kung Lao arrogantly says.
"We shall see."
Liu Kang takes a crane stance while Kung Lao takes the praying mantis style. Kicks and punches are thrown, blocked, countered, and ducked as they fight. Liu is faster and has a better technique, but he holds back and even allows Kung Lao to win. "Yeah! I am the descendent of the Great Kung Lao." Then he helps Liu Kang up.
"Well fought my friend." As Liu leaves the training arena, Night Wolf pulls him aside.
"Liu Kang a moment of your time."
He nods, "Yes."
Night Wolf does not answer right away and stares at him, "Why did you hold back in your fight with Kung Lao?"
"I…"
"Do not deny it…Your skills far supersede his."
He sighs, "I am a nobody and he the descendent of the Great Kung Lao.
Night Wolf places his hand on Liu's shoulder, "Do not place worth in lineage or bloodlines…Skill comes from within, not from who your ancestors were."
"Being humble is not a weakness."
"No, but humility has no place in Mortal Kombat…Remember the rule…Kill or be killed."
"One is allowed to show mercy in Mortal Kombat."
"Then know who to show mercy to and who not to. Nothing is served my friend by allowing Kung Lao to think he is on one level and when he is on another."
KUNG LAO
Late night the students sit around a fire to listen to the master tell tales of the Mortal Kombat. "In the time before recorded time…The Realms warred on each other. Then the Elder god Argus came up with Mortal Kombat and presented it to his fellow Elder gods…No realm could invade another Realm until that realm won mortal kombat…In the first tournament between the Chaos Realm and the Realm of Order there was only one tournament…
The Order Realm won. Then Shao Khan Dragon god and protector of Out World wanted to rule and not protect. So he took human form and overthrew Out World's King, Onaga the Ruler of Out World. Many years Later Shao Khan turned his eyes on the Realm of Edenia and conquered it. Then the Emperor Shao Khan turned his eyes on Earth Realm…
After the Edenian tournament a realm had to win ten absolute victories in Mortal Kombat to invade a realm. Shang Tsung champion of Out World won six straight victories in Mortal Kombat and lost the seventh tournament to the Great Kung Lao. One generation later Out World challenged Earth Realm again. Only this time the Great Kung Lao faced Goro…Prince of the Shokan. He lost and Goro became the Grand Champion of Motral Kombat and Out World. Since then Shang Tsung and his warriors have won nine tournaments…Soon the tenth Tournament will begin…You who bare the mark will be taken to the Temple of Light to prepare for Mortal Kombat…"
Kung Lao stands up, "And as my ancestor before me! I will win Mortal Kombat and save Earth Realm!"
Master Wang Yong stands up, "Confidence is good Kung Lao. But true skill comes from within and you will need your Jinsei-force to aid you. And even then it may not be enough."
As they leave to retire for the night Liu Kang pulls Kung Lao on the side. "What is it Liu?"
"I would like a spar before we retire…There are some new moves I want to try."
He smiles, "Very well then."
They head to the arena and fight. For the first few minutes of their sparring session Liu Kang blocks and counters sixty percent of Kung Lao's attacks. Then he dodges some, but does nothing to get a win or make Kung Lao yield. Soon he becomes angry and increases his attacks. He even tries to throw sand in Liu Kang's eyes.
He raises his hand, "Enough! I yield."
"No the match is not over!"
"It is my friend, if you must use dirty tricks to win."
Kung Lao stares at Liu for a long while. As he does his anger subsides and calms down. Then it hits him, "I am sorry my friend."
"No apology is needed."
"Your skill is superior to mine."
"It is."
"Then why did you hold back? Why did you let me win?"
"Because you are my friend and you believe that being Kung Lao's descendent makes you special…It does not."
Kung Lao smiles, "The student becomes the teacher."
He shakes his head, "Not really…Night Wolf pointed out my flawed thinking. I believed because of my unknown lineage that I am not worthy to be in Mortal Kombat."
"You are my friend…You are more than worthy…Come let us get some sleep and tomorrow you can help me improve my skills."
RAIDEN
As the recruits are eating the clouds gather in the sky, it starts to rain, thunder shakes the ground and lightning flashes across the skies. Then a bolt of lightning hits and Raiden god of thunder and lightning Protector of the Realm of Earth appears.
"Lord Raiden welcome." Master Yong says bowing.
"It is time gather the chosen ones in the training yard." His voice echoes as if in a cave. He waits outside while the Chosen Ones gather. It rains but he does not get wet.
"Chosen ones…Give heed to Lord Raiden."
"I am Raiden god of thunder and lightning and Protector of the Realm of Earth…The five of you were born with a Dragon Mark…Show me your mark." Liu Kang's is in the palm of his hand, Kung Lao's is on his lower leg, Night Wolf's on his right chest, Hirui's is on his left arm, Shujinko's is on his back. "Come with me." Raiden raises his hand and engulfs them all in a bolt of lightning.
TEMPLE OF LIGHT
The Temple of Light is in China hidden on Mount Emei. The Temple has fourteen towers, five representing the five Elder gods and nine for the nine Protector gods of the realms. The Temple of Light is Raiden's temple so his tower is the tallest. There is the garden of Wind to honor his brother Fujin. There are the east and west wings of the temple, the throne room, the dining hall, the infinity pool, the hall of Champions and the archives. There is also the Door of Realms which lead to either one of the nine realms or the Nexus.
When Raiden appears with the Chosen Ones a few acolytes are waiting. "There are other chosen ones I must find scattered throughout the world…My servants will take you to your rooms…Remain in your rooms until I return…"
TEMPLE OF THE LIN KUEI NINJA CLAN
Raiden appears before the hidden gate in the mountains near Mount Everest. The door opens and a Ninja takes him to the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. "Lord Raiden! Welcome."
"I have come for the Chosen Ones."
"Bihan! Vrbada! Lee come forth!
Raiden takes the three ninjas to the Temple of Light. He only has two more champions to recruit.