Kung Lao: Curse Vengeance
Liu Kang walked through the portal first.
Then Jax didn't hestitate either and leapt through with courage.
" Your turn Sub-Zero," Raiden gestured.
I then waited for Johnny Cage but looked back in dread to see he was attempting
to start a conversation with an annoyed Raiden. Raiden nodded at Johnny's words and eventually sighed. Raiden then glanced at me while listening to Johnny's complaints and gestured me to go into the portal , as if Johnny and him might take a while. I had never travelled to a different realm before, only teleported by myself and Raiden to different locations. But never between realm's. The portal swirled violently as lightning roared in it's maw. After a bit of hesitation I raised my hand near the portal and felt my skin being dragged toward the center. Then I felt the skin on my face pull forward and I was suddenly sucked in and hurtling around, it was very short but seemed very long as I popped out with a headache. I glanced at the portal I had emerged from and looked at my surrounding's. Behind was nothing but red sky and mist. I was on a short stone pathway levitated in the air . Up ahead was a stone platform with two strange looking men guarding the portal. I walked past the stone walkway and past the strange figures. They were both cloaked and their face was not visible. They merely levitated in one spot guarding the portal. " Where is the tournament I asked." after staring at me he finally lifted up his boney finger and pointed the way to the side of the mountain. I walked down the mountain side for about 20 minutes untill Liu Kang jumped out of nowhere and demanded to know who I was. He didn't need an answer when he recognized me by my razor sharp hat. " Oh sorry about that Kung. What took you so long."
" Johnny Cage likes to talk a lot. " I answered abruptly.
" Where is Johnny anyway? and Jax for that matter." Liu asked.
" I do not know. Perhaps they emerged from a different portal elsewhere. " I suggested.
We trekked down the mountain side untill finally we got to the foot. We were in a strange wasteland. Moss and concrete
filled the ancient ground and worn statue's rested near an seemingly abandoned castle. We walked past a rather interesting statue of a large man who looked like royalty. Then without warning the statue collapsed as several tarkata leapt up from behind the statue. I easily took two it with my fast mantis attacks and Liu Kang sent them flying with a roundhouse kick. One stood up behind me but Liu Kang blew it away by shooting his dragon fire attack at it.
" How dare Shao Kahn send attackers before the tournament," I said with a clenched fist.
" He doesn't like to play fair that's for sure, " Liu Kang agreed.
" There's likely to be more. We better get moving," I suggested.
I quickly ran through the nearby canyon.Liu Kang appeared a little while after.
" Where were you?" I asked.
" I thought I saw a ... nevermind."
I then leapt back as a chilling substance barely missed me creating a slippery patch on the rugged ground.
" Halt.. oh it's just you." the blue-clad ninja said with relief.
" Sub-Zero, ah yes you went through the portal too, did you not?" Liu Kang asked.
" Yes, here is my companion Smoke. " Said Sub-Zero.
As if on que a grey ninja jumped down from the above rock.
" You better hurry along monks , the Wasteland's are very wide open and Kahn's guards roam frequently," Sub-Zero said.
" Say Sub-Zero you wouldn't know where the tournament is would you?" I asked.
"Kahn's arena is not far from here. I'll join you but I have some unfinished business. "
" Errr ok, thanks " Liu Kang replied.
We followed the canyon further untill we could safely say we weren't in the wasteland's. We saw some other
warrior's enter the large wooden doors of the colleseum. Kahns Arena most likely. Liu and I pushed open the large doors. The whole area was a circular coliseum. A stone walk way led up into a large square shaped arena for fighting.
" Took you enough time to get here. " Johnny Cage laughed. " Y'know if you talk to Raiden long enough you can get him to teleport exactly where you need to go. "
Then all of a sudden the colliseum doors were pushed open once again and Jax entered with his gun held up
searching for anything hostile. He didn't look like his trip was smooth sailing either.
" Don't ask, " he said as he holstered his gun.
I heard Deep laughter up ahead. A huge man, 8 feet? was relaxing in his large throne. He wore a mask crafted to look like
a skull with horns on them. On his back rested a large cape. He held his staff as he watched us talk.
" That's him..." Liu Kang said ferociously.
A Lightning bolt crashed in front of us, it had become routine now, and we wern't surprised to see Raiden.
His back was already facing us as he approached the emperor.
" What is this act of injustice Kahn!" Raiden's voice boomed. " You had no right to order a command to slaughter innocent
people to issue a challenge. "
" I was merely announcing the competetion. If the monks did not want to die they should not have been such cowards." The Emperor grinned.
" This is no laughing matter villain. I have established my group of Earth's warriors." Raiden motioned his hand to us. " You're schemes will end soon. "
The Emperor laughed again. " I have no intention of doing serious harm, this tournament is only for friendly competetion. " Shao Kahn laughed. " By issuing this challenge I have not defied the Elder God's so unless you want to eliminated I suggest you let this competetion begin. "
Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Jax and I walked up and stood behind Raiden.
" These are you warriors? " Shao Kahn asked and laughed at the same time.
The Emperor did a hand gesture and 4 warriors walked out calmly from the other colliseum doors.
One of the female assasins who was dressed in a blue ninja costume seemed to walk a little further behind. Liu Kangs eyes practically popped out of his head when he saw her. He then got a warriorsome look on his face.
" Liu Kang you act as if you met her before," I laughed.
" Reptile ," Shao Kahn introduced the green clad ninja who appeared to be human depite his name.
" I will not fail you in the tournament, masssster," Reptile hissed.
" Baraka ," Shao Kahn sighed.
The very same monster with jaged teeth and blades extending from his arms who attacked the shaolin temples said ," I will win the tournament in the name of the Tarkata. "
You definetely won't win if I face you, you will be dead.
" Kitana ," Shao Kahn said with proudness.
The blue female ninja stepped forward, bowed, and stepped back without saying anything.
" Mileena ," The Emperor groaned.
A purple female ninja who looked exactly like Kitana right down to the mask they wore on their faces stepped forward ," I will paint my sai's with their blood. " Mileena laughed.
Shao Kahn then looked back to see a shokan monster behind him, like Goro
only much smaller , whithered, with a white beard on his face. He wore some kind of cape and a crown lay on his head.
" Now, Gorbak? " Shao Kahn asked.
The Shokan king nodded.
Shao Kahn raised his hand and announced, " Kintaro ,"
A massive creature stomped through the shadows of the coliseum doors. With all four of his arms he pushed
the doors open wider. He was twice as big as Goro. Unlike Goro he had tiger stripes across his arms and back and his face had a
feline quality to it.
Shao Kahn stood up ," These will be your destroyers in this tournament mortals ," Shao Kahn said ," The tournament matches will be posted later today, in the mean time go rest in your quarters, have a nice day, " Shao Kahn laughed histerically after he said that.
We were lead to a large chamber with bed's for all of us.
" Wheres the T.V? " Johnny Cage asked confused.
Jax practiced his punches and Liu Kang was meditating. I was just thinking about who I would face in the tournament.
At first I thought of slaughtering Baraka and making him pay but then I thought of someone else who was more to my preferance.
That night I my rest was cut short as a was wakened by someone walking around, and Johnny Cages snoring. I opened
my eyelids to find Liu Kang up and walking onto the balcony. As I got up he jumped over the side. I eyed him as he ran through the forest. I leapt down my self and followed him. I followed him through the woods untill eventually we got to a large pit on the canyon side. Below was a fatal drop with hard concrete at the bottom. Connecting the pit was large bridge that had spikes and laterns lining the edge of it. Then out of no where the blue female ninja jumped out of nowhere. Surprisingly she began to talk to Liu Kang. I jumped behind a rock at the end of the bridge to listen in.
" I do not want to serve Shao Kahn any longer. He has only brough pain and suffering to me. " Kitana said.
" When we defeat Shao Kahn we will help you get out of here. " Liu Kang promised.
Kitana and Liu Kang stared at each others eyes for a few moments
" I'll meet you again tomorrow. " Kitana said as she left.
Liu Kang then left as well but head towards the end of the bridge I was on.
He passed by the rock and I waited for a minute before announcing my presence.
" You don't trust her, do you Liu? " I asked.
" waa.. Kung Lao?" Liu Kang said startled, " You were listening the whole time? "
" Of course, we can't have our own kind double-crossing us, " I stated. " She's Shao Kahns assasin Liu. "
" She's not like the others ," Liu Kang assured me.
" and whys that? " I questioned.
Liu Kang paused.
" Liu Kang you know she is just trying to trick you. " I told him.
" Listen Kung I think I know what I'm doing. "
I sighed, " Ok Liu we will help your girlfriend but if we end up in a trap don't say I never told you so. "
" Kitana is not my girlfriend. " said an annoyed Liu Kang.
That morning, I got up early along with Jax and we entered the courtyard to do a little sparring.
" I am a little nervous about this whole thing , " Jax said as he missed a punch.
" Yeh it's my first time too, " Kung Lao said.
" Nah I've been to this place before just not against four-armed monsters or big-teethed mutant freaks, " Jax said as he ducked Kung Lao's punch.
A confused Kung Lao was tripped up. He fell over onto the grass. He then glanced up at Jax with the sun
blinding his eyes. But past Jax's shoulder I saw a figure in a far off window spectating our fight. The sun prevented me to see very little , only the blank white eyes and sinister smile. Shang Tsung! He devoured my ancestors soul, he corrupted the tournament , it was because of him innocent monks were slaughtered.
I leapt up and began throwing punches at Jax. Jax ducked one, but I quickly tripped him up.
he rolled and was on his feet again. He threw one punch and I side-stepped. I punched him once in the face. I then tripped him up again. I was about to stomp him untill I finally snapped out of it.
" Kung Lao! " Liu yelled.
I looked down at Jax, I helped him up. " It's okay Kung Lao, " Jax said ," We were are nervous it often causes us to lose control. "
" Hey they are posting the tournament matches! " Johnny shouted.
All of us ran over to the where two masked guardsmen were posting the tournament chart. Sub-Zero was first to
see his match and cursed under his breath.
Liu Kang and Jax didn't really care who their opponents were.
Johnny did a frightened gesture and walked away.
I then went up to see who I was facing. The tournament chart said:
Liu Kang vs. Kitana
Jax vs. Kintaro
Scorpion vs. Mileena
Sub-Zero vs Reptile
Johnny Cage vs Shang Tsung
Kung Lao vs Baraka
" Damn, " Kung Lao said. Not the guy I had in mind.