The morning started, as did every morning afterwards with the gong. At what felt like six a clock in the morning or maybe six thirty soldiers up early would run across the court yard open out a single door and bring out on squeaky wheels a very large gong from some large cupboard or other. The wheels were an unwelcome warning, as the gong would continue to squeak until it reached the very centre of the courtyard. There a large muscled soldier bigger than the others would come forward bearing a large gong stick and thereupon strike the huge gong with all his might. The resounding earth shaking sound was similar to the effect of a fire alarm except more instant and piercing in volume. A similar effect could be achieved by removing all of the foundations of the building at the same time.
Nobody over the time that they stayed there dared to sleep on after the gong had struck. There was something dangerous about Shangtsung and his soldiers that nobody wanted to test. Respect was given to that man by all the warriors - except perhaps Jonny Cage who treated him much like everyone else (as if he'd known them all his life.
Subzero finished adjusting his mask in the single small mirror that the room had to offered and hurried down the stairs. As Subzero ran he almost bumped into Liu Kang on the way down.
"Are you ready for today Subzero?" asked Liu Kang clearly startled and only just getting out of the way in time.
"I would be perhaps if I knew what today involved. Where is Jonny Cage? I thought he followed you around everywhere"
"Ha!" laughed the monk, "He's trying to make himself look good I expect. Did you hear about last night"
"What about last night?" asked Subzero sharply hoping it had nothing to do with him.
"Jonny Cage was trying to impress Sonya. He said he'd fight first and win for her, and when it came for their turn to fight he'd 'go easy' on her"
Subzero sniggered, "And what did she say to that"
"She punched him in the face called him a 'sexist jerk' and walked off"
"I'd have killed the person who was so disrespectful to me," said Subzero firmly Liu Kang raised an eyebrow, "Harsh no?" he said walking down the stairs, "Who do you think will be fighting first? I'm looking forward to the sparing sessions"
"I don't know and I don't particularly care either. I just want this whole thing to be over quickly"
Liu Kang stopped and looked at Subzero with amusement, "Why did you enter this tournament then"
"Because if I hadn't I'd probably be dead by now," replied Subzero with a sigh, "It's a long story. Lets find out what this tournament involves"
As he exited through the doors he was just in time to see the gong be wheeled away through the door opposite through which it came and Shangtsung coming out of the main house followed closely by reptile. A short sword glinted just slightly out of its sheath by the sorcerer's waste. He was wearing the same dark blue robe as the day before except his white beard looked slightly longer - it seemed to have grown significantly overnight. He stood there and waited until all of the fighters had arrived. They lined up and Reptile watched them do so with one eye on his master who gazed continuously with hands behind his back seeing which came late.
"I think its time we all had some breakfast," smiled Shangtsung as if unsure how to use the word, "If you will follow me we can talk more casually inside"
This was the first time Subzero had seen the inside of the main building. It was similar to the square house except that this place was more expansive. It was clear that this was the main part of the palace with large windows and embroidered gothic images on the walls. What Subzero did notice about the paintings however was the concept. Although all were strictly conceptual and real in everyway (there was nothing modern about these paintings) the concepts and characters in them were foreign to that period of style that the skill and oil are associated. Upon imagining paintings, you imagine pictures of rich nobles in dresses and portraits of battle. These were there too but also scenes of unholy images. Blood and nakedness and creatures were present at every isle so sharp and prominent on the darker natures that the entire style seemed foreign to anything that Subzero had seen before. While some paintings were simple images or scriptures or symbols others bore men impaled on staves people with heads missing and fire consuming great cities with strange creatures flying overhead. One like this reminded Subzero of the picture he had seen so long ago in the water area of the temple of elements.
The central throne room was where they eventually came to dine. A long red carpet went from either end with a throne in the centre up against one wall. The table looked out of place as if it had been put there only for the occasion. A red cloth was placed over it all and chairs were neatly placed with cutlery for many more than five.
"Please sit where you will," gestured Shangtsung taking a seat at the head of the table. The throne glimmered in the background as the warriors took their seats. Subzero decided to take a seat close to Shangtsung, but not too close. He sat himself carefully two seats down. Kano was not nearly as careful and sat the other side right next to the sorcerer. Liu Kang and Jonny Cage were opposite each other half way down the table and immediately started talking in hasty whispers about something or other. Jonny Cage had originally tried to sit next to Sonya but as soon as he had she had gotten up and moved to the end of the table. Opposite Kano Reptile sat clearly still angry at Kano and feeling uneasy that the man should be able to sit near Shangtsung. Perhaps he felt threatened by the man's growing power? The empty spaces were quickly filled up with soldiers and soon food came in on great trays brought by strange hooded men in dark red robes. They reminded Subzero of the priests of Noobsaibot.
Suddenly Shangtsung stood to his feet.
"Before we begin, I have something to say," silence went round the table as everyone listened, "A man in bright white clothes visited one of you last night - he wears a cone shaped straw hat and calls himself Lord Raiden. Which of you was it"
There was silence across the table. Subzero shuddered. Eyes glanced in all directions. Liu Kang looked briefly at Jonny Cage who was looking at Sonya. Sonya glared at Subzero who quickly looked at Reptile and then at Kano. Quickly Subzero spoke to Shangtsung, "What are you talking about"
"Now come on!" insisted Shangstung standing abruptly to his feet, "All I want to know is which one of you spoke to this man called Raiden. There's no problem or punishment I just need to know that's all! Now which of you was it"
Again a deathly silence was across the table. Subzero felt a lump in his neck. Shangtsung's eyes glared at everyone. A red robed priest entered the room with a tray of food but seeing the scent stopped and retreated carefully to the entrance where he waited for the atmosphere to die down.
"Alright alright I did," said Kano with a laugh "I don't need your pathetic humour now!" snarled Shangtsung "No seriously. Guy called Raiden yes? Cone hat white clothing, I saw him last night"
Shangtsung was quiet. He looked carefully at Kano and stared, "Who did he speak to?" he asked carefully "Me of course! Who'd you think he'd want to speak to? He said a load of bollocks about himself being some kind of god an all. If you ask me he was far to up himself for his own good. I told him to fuck off. He was clearly off his head. I hate talking to fucking fundamentalist-whatever he was - religious pricks"
"I see," said Shangtsung softly, "That was unexpected... if you see this 'Lord Raiden' again, please inform me immediately - that goes for all of you. He is not allowed to enter this island for he has been exiled for murder," as he said this a gasp went round the warriors, "he shouldn't be able to come here, but evidently he has somehow slipped through my defences. Now - since Raiden has wasted his wise words on you Kano you can be the first to do battle"
"Me?" choked Kano putting down a chicken leg with a clank of the plate.
"Yes you, your opponent is Jonny Cage. You will both have one hour after breakfast to prepare yourselves. The weapon is as usual fists and you fight to knock out - or surrender"
"Bloody eck!" exclaimed Kano, "That's a bit much ain't it"
"I agree," added Jonny Cage unexpectedly from across the table, "There should be a judges decision involved"
"There is," laughed Shangtsung, "I am the judge, the arbiter if you like of the entire tournament. A flawless victory is a flawless victory. You do not need a judge to tell whether one man has conquered another. A judge could stop a fight because one person is pretending to lose just when he is about to come back with the most devastating of planned assaults. In boxing in your world I believe you call it "rope-a-dope". I support such measures and in truth the only way for me to be sure of which of you has won is to see which one is unable to defend himself any longer"
"This isn't legal!" blurted out Sonya suddenly, "How do you have permission for this Shangtsung? This is clearly a breach of human rights under international law. There are certain moves in combat that can kill a person outright"
"Then the first to use those moves Miss Blade in my opinion should be made the winner," replied the sorcerer coldly, "Now can we please get on with breakfast? I had no idea you would all object so much. Your world has clearly changed since I last held this tournament. Come now let us eat. If you do not like the rules of this battle then have no fear they will change through each fight slightly until perhaps you will all find something you like about them. Now begin"
Subzero felt almost instantly that someone would blurt out again and interrupt but he knew how stupid that would be if they did. Nobody did for Shangtsung had left such a final fatal atmosphere in the air. To again return the table to conversation on the topic of the fight would be a direct insult to him. You could see the rage that had been building up inside of the old man stretching so fast. This was a very secretive grudging old man.
The breakfast was delicious. Eggs and lettuce assorted with vinegar all perfect. There were puddings of lemon and lime tasting tarts or meat so tasty tender and well cooked that it hardly needed washing down with water. Pastries just crisp enough not to shed skin in the hand but no so soft as not to bite and split in the teeth. There was however Subzero noticed no wine anywhere on the table. Over the time he had accepted the mission with Shangtsung he had missed alcohol badly. He made a mental note to get drunk on some very good wine as soon (if soon) as he got back. Fruit juice made freshly from real fruit squashed and liquidated so that you could taste the bits but none big enough to add too much to the texture and distract the mind from the taste. Perhaps there was no wine anywhere on the table because it would make things unfair in the fight - or maybe Shangtsung disapproved of drugs altogether? It was true to say certainly Subzero felt he could agree that fighting and drinking did not mix well together. He had once tried to work out while being completely drunk. The resulting formula was a memory that continued to make him laugh until this day. Watching himself in the mirror fling a punch turn in a circle and fall to the floor had always made him wonder what an opponent would think if he actually did it. Subzero had heard tales of a fighting style where one pretended to be drunk. The current leading Sensei was called Bo-Rai-Cho but Subzero had never met him. Apparently as well as being a great fighter the sensei was apparently a master grape crusher - or so he boasted to his pupils.
Conversation was flourishing but limited Subzero felt. The main problem was that the soldiers were the ones doing it and they all spoke in a foreign language that was unrecognisable to any nationality Subzero had ever heard before. The tones of the words were fierce almost Russian but the vowels were often soft and warm hot words reminding of Africa. Subzero listened briefly to Kano's compliments about the meal.
"You really know the way to go you do Mr.Shang sir. After a meal like this I could do anything"
"Could you smash Jonny Cage out right?" hissed Reptile maliciously from the other side of the table. Shangtsung laughed as he said it.
"Of course I can. I've read about that puff. All he's ever done in regards to the martial arts is talk to the special effects crew. There's nothing genuine about Jonny Cage"
Subzero gave up and stopped listening. There wasn't much worth reporting to Kano in this conversation seeing as Kano was the one doing the talking. He instead ate the breakfast which felt much more like lunch. Perhaps the freshness of it was supposed to be what connected it with breakfast? Although perfect in quality Shangtsung seemed completely out of touch with the modern Earth realm.
During the breakfast, which lasted a considerable amount of time, two red robed figures entered the room and whispering into the ears of both Jonny Cage and Kano escorted them away through separate doors. Each gazed once dangerously at the other. Liu Kang seemed thoughtful all the while yet did not speak. As the meals had been finished and many of the soldiers had already left Shangtsung stood to his feet beckoning to Reptile and gazing briefly at Subzero he said, "Shall we"
Subzero stood to his feet and nodded, as did Reptile. Turning the Sorcerer lead them away through a separate door and down a long dark passageway. Whether Sonya and Liu Kang followed or not Subzero couldn't be sure. This passageway was different like the waiting area in a coliseum. The bricks were illuminated by torches that rested on the walls. As they came near the light at the end they could hear a cheering from outside and the beat of a vast primeval drum.
When they emerged it was into bright sunlight and on the stands of the courtyard. They had been prepared and the soldiers took their places near the front. Shangtsung had his own large seat on high at the back of the stands. Subzero looked around for Reptile amongst the cheering soldiers but he had somehow slipped away. Where had he gone?
"You look confused Subzero!" laughed Shangtsung from his seat, "You can sit anywhere you please, there is no reserved seats among this mob"
"Thank you," said Subzero with a bow not quite sure what title to give Shangtsung. Turning and walking along the rows he looked for Liu Kang. He found him at the very end and promptly sat down next to him.
"Good to see you," said Liu Kang straining to see over the moving heads "Good to see you too," replied Subzero coldly "I have to admit I'm slightly nervous. I don't really know how this is going to go"
"I presume you've battled before?" asked Subzero with a slight edge of sarcasm "Yes but never as freely as this. Either one of them could get killed. This is not wrestling or boxing or kickboxing or anything like that. Its just "
"Mortal Kombat," interrupted Subzero, "A fight between mortals"
"Indeed," whispered Liu Kang secretively, "Although you are distant Subzero from everyone, I feel that somehow I can trust you"
"Really? You'd be the first," he chuckled as a reply, "Speaking of trust you do know your kind were trying to kill me don't you"
"Not our kind. Shaolin is not two-dimensional Subzero. There are many different factions to us. To you believe in God Subzero"
Subzero was quiet for a moment looking over the faces of the crowd - there was still no sign of either combatant, "Its hard not to in my profession," he replied carefully "Last night I discovered all the legends were true. You know that man Shangtsung mentioned at breakfast"
"What about him?" replied Subzero "I saw him last night!" said Liu Kang hurriedly, "He spoke to me of this tournament and told me that everything depends on this"
"Oh really? That's nice"
"You don't believe me? No - of course you wouldn't"
"Of course I do you idiot. I believe you the same as Kano"
"But Kano is an arrogant fool," insisted Liu Kang, "It doesn't take much to work that out"
"Well if it makes you feel any better Liu Kang I saw Lord Raiden as well last night and presumably so did Jonny Cage and Sonya. That old man up there may think he knows everything but he doesn't. I can bet you anything that steel bites through his neck the same as any other"
"So you know then... about this tournament"
"I do. I know that he has to be stopped and that we must not lose or everything ends"
"If Jonny knows as well - and Sonya ... then we should all meet together and talk"
"What about Kano"
"We will leave him out of it"
"If that is what you think is best"
At that moment Shangtsung stood.
"Let the combat begin!" he cried out. Almost instantly Jonny Cage and Kano appeared out of separate doorways below and walked out into the centre of the courtyard. Shangtsung was aligned perfectly with the entrance to the palace so that through the gap in the buildings you could see the pit with spikes at the bottom stretching out into the Forrest. Kano was dressed in his white clothing with black shoes. A black belt was around his waist. Jonny Cage had on a pair of red shorts and was not wearing a top. He was well muscled but looked more like a man on holiday than a fighter. He looked much more charming compared to Kano with his gruff ape like look and metallic half of his face, glowing with the one red eye.
Jonny Cage shouted something up from below but his voice could not be heard. Subzero read the lips of Shangtsung who stood up and replied, "Begin" is what he spoke with a look of belittlement on his face. Jonny Cage turned round only just in time to see Kano charge him. The blow ricocheted of his blocking arm and hit him in the cheek. Kano as Subzero learned many times over later was never one to miss an opportunity and punched Jonny in the gut.
"Didn't you hear him shit head?" laughed Kano, "There's no rules"
Another blow brought the movie star to the ground before he could even mutter a reply. Flawed he brought a sweep round to try and knock Kano over but the obviously unexpectedly clever leader of the black dragon backed off just in time to avoid losing his footing. Cage leaped to his feet and blocked a blow successfully from the Black dragon leader. Kano had placed a lot of strength into in and finding the strength misplaced found himself being brought into a trip. The familiar feeling of an ankle trying to lock round his sent a wave of panic through his body and he tried an instinctive counter throw. The confusion brought both the fighters to the cobbled ground no doubt bashing themselves in the process. Kano hurrying to keep the advantage lifted one of Cages legs in an attempt to twist it over his head. The second leg leaped up and kicked him in the face. With a growl and a struggle both got to their feet and stood opposite each other.
"You cheat!" insisted Cage, "Cheats never win you know that"
"Oh really? It worked the first half of my life!" laughed Kano and attacked again furiously. Jonny Cage blocked the moves carefully backing off from a sneaking trip that seemed to come almost from nowhere. Kano tried a risky high punch to the face but Jonny Cage easily stepped aside and elbowed Kano in the chest, flexing the elbow he gave Kano a knuckle punch to the face. Kano staggered back and Jonny Cage leaped forward.
"Eat this!" he shouted and punched Kano in the head. There was a clang and Kano fell to the ground. A second later he was up but Jonny Cage wasn't. Clutching his hand that was red raw he blew on it fiercely clearly in pain at having hit the metal side of Kano's face. Luckily he hadn't broken his fingers but was now forced to rely on his left hand to do most of the work. He'd no longer be able to do his right hook upper cut like at the end of that movie he'd done last spring. Kano laughed aloud and so did the crowd.
"Who said having an ugly mug's a bad thing eh?" he cried out and taking Jonny Cage by the shoulders head butted him in the face. There was another clang and Jonny Cage fell to the ground with a rawkus of laughter from the soldiers. Jonny Cage rubbed his head dazed and groaned on the floor as Kano danced round him waving his hands and gnashing his teeth to the crowd.
"Come on get up you swine. I haven't finished with you yet," Spat Kano kicking Cage in the ribs. The movie star groaned and reaching a hand tried desperately to get up. The crowd quietened a little as he staggered to his feet clutching his head. As he stood to his full height a virtual silence made its way round the rows. Jonny Cage looked dazed and seemed hardly able to stand on his two feet. Shangtsung stood quickly to his feet, "Finish him!" he shouted.
"With pleasure" replied Kano with a grin and tightening his fist he charged forward. The blow was aimed for the head and a clear knock out. It never struck home. Cage ducked and splitting his legs either way like a ballet dancer and just on the right height punched firmly Kano in that place where he and half the world never really want to be punched. Kano's eyes gawked and he baked off sinking his knees with an expression of incomprehensible pain on his face. Cage still had his hand extended when he fell crashing to the ground eyes closed tense and shut in dismal pain. Shangtsung's mouth dropped briefly and then closed.
Cage stood to his feet and walking to his fallen victim grabbed him by the remaining hair on his head (for half his head was metallic) and lifted him and putting and arm round his neck held the leader of the Blackdragon in an arm lock that tightened as these fighters could easily do would kill a man.
"Does this mean that I win Shangtsung?" called Jonny Cage. His eyebrow was starting to swell and his cheek was going blue as he spoke, "If not I'm afraid Kano as well as having no brains will have no children either"
"As I said at breakfast," boomed Shangtsung over the silence, "There is only a winner when one of you surrenders or is knocked out"
"Oh really?" chuckled Jonny Cage, "Do you surrender Kano"
Jonny Cage cracked his knuckled, and Kano nodded fiercely.
"Then it is agreed," confirmed Shangtsung, "That all here bare witness to the first fight of the tournament that Jonny Cage has skilfully, masterfully and without doubt won. You may retire to your rooms until lunch"
At once a cheer went out through the crowd, "Cage! Cage! Cage!" and Subzero couldn't help but smile at the way he'd won.
"Come one lets go!" insisted Liu Kang next to him "Go where?" said Subzero with a raised eyebrow "To congratulate him of course"
Pushing their way through the crowd Liu Kang came to Shangtsung who was just leaving his seat.
"Shangtsung!" called the monk. The sorcerer turned amused as always.
"Yes Liu Kang?" he called over the din of the war cry.
"Where can we see Jonny Cage"
Shangtsung looked confused for a moment before he finally understood the meaning over the noise, "Talk to Reptile. He'll be in the passageway over there!" he pointed to the dark doorway where they had come through. Liu Kang pulled on Subzero's hand and took him through the rows.
"Hey! I can take myself places!" shouted Subzero over the racket but Liu Kang didn't seem to hear. Turning into the doorway they found Reptile lurking in the shadows.
"Whooose won?" he hissed with little interest "Jonny Cage. Can you take him to us"
"Yesss if you really wants me to" replied Reptile with what seemed like a yawn. Something crackled under the mask. Turning down the dark passageway they came out passed the torches into the throne room, which had now been cleared away from breakfast. There wasn't a single stain on the carpet and no evidence at all to suggest that people had eaten in there.
Turning down another passageway that was far more bright and in keep with the style of the palace's royal read and gothic paintings they came quite soon to a small stony castle-like room with a large table in the middle. Jonny Cage was seated on a chair by the end and had a red cloak on that presumably belonged to one of the priests. There was water sponges and all sorts of medical inventory on the table. A pair of large scissors and some very sharp objects presumably in case the fight had been a lot worse.
"Hey guys!" groaned Cage, "You come to get my autograph as well"
"That was great!" exclaimed Liu Kang, "You really are more than a movie star"
"That's what I keep trying to tell you people. What about you Mr.Subzero Sensei person. What did you think of the fight"
Subzero looked thoughtful for a moment, "I thought you did pretty well. Except for the fact that you broke eye contact with him. Someone who takes martial arts seriously should never break eye contact with an opponent"
"Its true," added Liu Kang, "It was a big mistake - even though Kano was clearly unhonourable in attacking you then"
"Heh you remind me of that Bruce Lee movie I saw ages back. He said something like that to a student"
There was a creak and the door opened. Sonya was at the door and she closed it behind her. She was still wearing her camouflaged clothing with a military cap on her head. She took it off and placed it on the large table.
"Hey Sonya what's up?" asked Jonny Cage rubbing his jaw "I don't know you," she said coldly. Walking across the room she looked at Subzero severely, "Why did you hit me"
"Because otherwise you would have killed Kano," replied Subzero frankly, "I cannot allow that"
"How can you protect such an evil person"
Subzero was silent. He couldn't think of a good reply instead he chose to remain quiet. Liu Kang watched him clearly waiting for an answer. He felt a fool for not being able to come up with one. Sonya shook her head and walking up to the table she took a sponge and dipped it in the water. Coming forward she began to dab the sponge against Jonny's bruised forehead.
"I thought you said you didn't know me?" he said weakly "I don't. Hey hold still!" she said smoothing the blood away, "I'm just glad to see someone make that bastard suffer the way you did"
"You be careful," said Cage softly, "He's chums with Shangtsung. God knows what he'll do if you kill Kano"
"Just you worry about yourself," she replied.
"Did either of you two see that man Shangtsung was talking about this morning?" asked Liu Kang carefully, "You know the one in the pointed hat"
"I did," said Sonya "You did? But I did as well!" said Jonny Cage with a surprised look "Before you all laugh and point out at what an incredible coincidence this is," said Subzero dryly, "Lets not and just accept that all of us did"
"Agreed," added Liu Kang, "He's afraid we'll work together - that's why he kept us all separated for so long. Now we're all in one house every night and we can stick together. You all know what this tournament is about"
"The end of the world right?" sniggered Jonny "Exactly," replied Liu Kang, "If we don't help each other it's the end. We need to talk and think about what we're going to do"
"Alright," said Sonya stepping back, "I'm in"
"I'll come as well of course" added Jonny Cage "What about you Subzero?" asked Liu Kang pensively, "Will you come"
"... I don't know" he replied carefully, "Things have become so complicated recently I can hardly remember what my true objective is now. I guess I'll come - for the time being... but don't expect me to stick around. We'll talk and see what happens from there"