Disclaimer: I do not own Mortal Kombat or any of its characters. All rights belong to Ed Boon, Nether Realm Studios, and Warner Bros.
Sub-Zero vs. Scorpion...
"GET OVER HERE!!!" The fight begins with Scorpion launching his kunai towards Sub-Zero, which lodges into his shoulder before Scorpion yanks the Lin Kuei ninja towards him then clotheslines him to the ground.
Sub-Zero groans while trying to get up, but Scorpion roughly grabs the stunned ninja and brings him back up to his feet then starts punching him repeatedly, each blow landing with a sickening sound that even made Kurai cringe.
Scorpion tries to strike Sub-Zero again, but the blue ninja blocks the strike with a glare on his face as his eyes turn from brown to an icy blue before retaliating with his own punch to Scorpion's face. The specter stumbles back and shakes his head before glaring at Sub-Zero as he launches a ball of fire towards him.
Sub-Zero counters with a ball of ice thrown at the fireball, which cancels out each other as Sub-Zero leaps into the air with a flying kick towards Scorpion. The specter tries to block the kick, but fails as he is kicked in the chest and sent flying back before landing on the ground with a loud thud.
Scorpion, with an infuriated expression, hops back up to his feet then teleports away, causing Sub-Zero to look confused for a moment before Scorpion reappears behind him, kicking him in the back, which send the Lin Kuei ninja face first to the ground. Getting up quickly, Sub-Zero turns around just as Scorpion reaches him and kicks the specter in the abdomen, causing the fallen Shirai-Ryu ninja to stumble back in pain before looking up at Sub-Zero with a fiery glare.
With a frustrated shout, Scorpion reaches for the line of his ninja mask and yanks it off roughly along with his own skin to reveal an inflamed skull, shocking Sub-Zero as well as the rest of the fighters in the Coliseum, including Kurai, as the crowd cheers from the display. Inhaling deeply, Scorpion spews out blazing hot flames out of his mouth like a flamethrower towards Sub-Zero.
Rolling out of the trajectory of the flames, Sub-Zero looks back up at Scorpion just as he stops spewing the flames and snaps his frightening gaze at the Lin Kuei ninja and inhales deeply again. Scorpion spews fire out of his mouth again, but Sub-Zero launches a dense, breezy mist from his hands that collides with Scorpion's raging flame.
The two attacks gave no advantage to one or the other, but the clashing attacks causes a loud hiss that drowns out the sounds of the crowd while thick, white smoke covers most of the Coliseum grounds, while also covering the two fighters. Running out of breath, Scorpion stops to take a breath while putting his mask back on to cover his flaming skull. After he does so, he examines his current surroundings that are now covered in smoke.
Scorpion looks for Sub-Zero to continue the fight and finally put the name of Sub-Zero to rest, when the Lin Kuei ninja flies out of nowhere in the smoke and kicks the specter in the chest that sends him flying out of the smoke and back into the sight of the other fighters, as well as the crowd, as the smoke begins to clear. The Lin Kuei ninja walks towards Scorpion and out of the smoke just as it fully clears while the Coliseum crowd boos him.
Scorpion groans before getting back up to his feet then launches his kunai at Sub-Zero again, but he catches the blade in his hands then yanks the specter over to him before clotheslining him hard back down to the ground. Glaring down at the specter, Sub-Zero brutally stomps on his chest multiple times, which makes Scorpion shout and yell painfully before Sub-Zero finally stops.
He grabs Scorpion and picks him up roughly before instantly freezing his entire body. Once he froze Scorpion completely, he picks the frozen Scorpion sculpture with great strength and tosses him into one of the stone pillars that sat near Shao Kahn's Coliseum throne. As Scorpion's frozen body impacted against one of the pillars, Scorpion was now free as the ice broke off from his body as he crumpled to the ground.
Scorpion groans as he tries to stand back up, but his legs begin to wobble before he drops to one knee. "Now! Finish him!" Shang Tsung yells at Sub-Zero as he walks up to him with a hate filled glare. Ignoring the sorcerer, Sub-Zero stands over a worn out, and freezing, Scorpion. He looks down at the specter as his hands and arms glow with a misty white glow.
"For my brother!" He shouts as he prepares to kill Scorpion for murdering his brother, but is suddenly stopped when multiple cybernetic looking ninjas appear out of nowhere and surround him. "What? No! You-! ARRGH!!!" He shouts when the cyber ninjas taser him and hold him in place.
Kurai and the other fighters stand in shock at what's happening as Scorpion teleports away from the Coliseum. Then two more cyber ninjas appear, one red, the other yellow, walk up to Shao Kahn's throne. "Who now interrupts the emperor's tournament?!" Shang Tsung asks irritatingly as the two cyber ninjas respectfully bow to Shao Kahn.
"Sub-Zero? No!" Kurai hears from behind him, causing him to turn his head in the direction of Raiden, Johnny Cage, and another ninja dressed in black and gray ninja gear. The gray ninja moves to run and help Sub-Zero, but is stopped by Raiden.
"Stop! You cannot save him! Stay here or they will take you as well." He says to the ninja as the gray ninja looks on with sadness. Kurai looks back at the event currently happening as the red cyber ninja explains why they're here.
"We humbly apologize for this interruption, Shao Kahn. But this rogue has caused us a great deal of distress since running from the Lin Kuei temple. We request that we may return him to our temple for judgment." It says to Shao Kahn as both cyber ninjas look up at him.
Shao Kahn ponders for a moment what his decision should be before leaning forward with a curious expression. "And what do I gain from granting such a bold request?" He asks both robotic ninjas curiously, causing them both to stand straighter than they were previously as the yellow cyber ninja bows once again to the emperor.
"You shall gain the service and loyalty of the Lin Kuei temple." The yellow cyber ninja says to him, which causes Shao Kahn to grin for a moment before nodding his head.
"Very well. He is yours." He says to the robotic Lin Kuei ninjas as they bow respectfully and prepare to take Sub-Zero into their custody as Kurai dangerously narrows his eyes.
Raiden sighs deeply with a somber expression. "The flow of time has been changed. I spared Smoke this fate, only to watch this new Sub-Zero fall." He says sadly as Sub-Zero continues to struggle against the robotic Lin Kuei ninjas.
Seeing that Raiden won't do anything to help Sub-Zero, Kurai makes a quick decision. "Fuck this. If Raiden won't let that ninja save this guy... then I will." He thinks to himself as he launches himself into the air, and comes down towards the cyber ninjas holding Sub-Zero and kicks them all away from the blue ninja, causing them to twitch and malfunction. Most likely knocked out from being knocked unconscious.
"Kurai, no!" Raiden shouts with worry as the gray ninja and Cage look at Kurai in shock at what he just done while Kitana and Jade look also look at with worry from interfering in a matter that wasn't his.
But Kurai wasn't listening to the thunder god as he helps Sub-Zero up to his feet. Looking at Kurai with uncertainty, he pulls away from him with distrust. "Who are you? Why did you help me?" He asks him cautiously as Kurai turns around to face the two robotic Lin Kuei ninjas as Shao Kahn just grins with amusement.
"At the moment? I'm an ally. And why did I help you? Well, because you needed help, you were outnumbered, and your fight was interrupted. Plus, last I checked, the Lin Kuei weren't robots. Care to explain?" He says to the blue ninja as Sub-Zero shakily stands back up.
He shakes his head to get rid of his dizziness while still looking at Kurai distrustfully, but decides to explain who the two Lin Kuei robots are. "They were once Lin Kuei ninjas. Flesh and blood, now metal parts and circuitry. The Grandmaster of the temple wants total and complete control over the enter clan without any of us questioning his decisions, or thinking for ourselves. He calls it the Cyber Lin Kuei Initiative." He tells Kurai, who narrows his eyes, disgusted at the thought of a Grandmaster taking away ones freewill and thoughts.
"And these two?" He asks Sub-Zero, who looks over at the red and yellow robots with sadness.
"They were once my friends. Cyrax and Sektor. They fought with my borther, Bi-Han, at the previous Mortal Kombat tournament." He days to him, which causes Kurai to look back at him in shock.
"Cyrax and Sektor? I remember them. One of them was sent to kill Johnny Cage, but didn't carry out the assignment. Which one was it? Cyrax." He thinks to himself as he looks at the yellow robotic ninja while it looks back at him with its glowing green, cybernetic eyes.
The red cyber ninja, Sektor, then stpes forward with a finger pointed at Kurai. "You. Why do you interfere in Lin Kuei business? This does not concern you." It says to the prince as Kurai scoffs.
"It is my business when someones freewill is forcefully taken away from them." He says to the two cyber ninjas as both Sektor and Cyrax walk towards Kurai with hostile intent.
Cyrax points at Kurai as he and Sektor continue to walk towards him. "You will hand over Sub-Zero to our custody, or you shall be punished and the first individual outside the Lin Kuei to become part of the Cyber Lin Kuei Initiative." It says to the prince with a monotonously as Kurai narrows his eyes before entering his fighting stance as Kitana and Jade look on with concern at the thought of Kurai becoming a mindless machine.
"Like fuck I will, freak." Kurai says to them before looking back at Sub-Zero. "Listen to me, your friend from the Lin Kuei is here. The one in gray. He's with the thunder god, Raiden, near the entrance of the Coliseum. Leave Outworld and lay low for a while. I'll take care of these two and cover your escape." He says to him quietly as Sub-Zero subtly glances over at the Coliseum entrance to see his fellow Lin Kuei ninja in gray standing near a man with glowing blue eyes and a caucasian man with brown hair wearing sunglasses.
"Smoke? He's still here." He whispers quietly before shaking his head. "No. I cannot ask you to fight my battle. Let me help you." He pleads with Kurai, but the prince shakes his head as he looks back at the approaching Lin Kuei robots.
"No. You're too worn out from your fight with Scorpion. Even more so when these guys jumped you. Leave Outworld now and you can fight these guys another day. I'll be fine, trust me." He says to him as Sub-Zero looks back and forth at Kurai and his two former Lin Kuei friends before he begrudgingly nods.
"Very well. You have my eternal gratitude, my friend. You may just spared me from a grim fate." He says to Kurai as he begins to back away slowly.
Kurai smiles. "Don't worry about it. Just get out of Outworld safely and we can call it even." He tells him, causing Sub-Zero to nod gratefully before taking off towards the Coliseum entrance to leave the area and get away from his robotic pursuers.
Cyrax and Sektor move to intercept him, but Kurai suddenly teleports in front of them through white flames before kicking them both to the ground, halting their pursuit. "Forget it, you two. Your fight is with me right now." He says to them both as they stand back up to their feet.
"You have only prolonged the inevitable. You may have saved Sub-Zero for now, but he shall become one of the Cyber Lin Kuei before long. His temporary escape means nothing." Cyrax says to Kurai as Sub-Zero reaches Raiden, Smoke and Johnny Cage before Raiden teleports himself and Sub-Zero out of the Coliseum and, most likely, Outworld.
Kurai just stares at both cybernetic ninja with a calm expression. "Be that as it may, no one should have their freewill taken away from them. And if sparing Sub-Zero from your fate, Cyrax, ensures that his right to choice is preserved, then I'll deal with the consequences of my actions myself." He say to it as he enters his fighting stance again.
Kurai vs. Cyrax & Sektor...
Kurai teleports forward in a white flame at the cyber ninjas with a flying kick to Cyrax that sends it flying away from him and Sektor. As he lands on his feet, he quickly turns towards Sektor, who raises his arms and sends a stream of fire towards him. But Kurai rushes towards Sektor before sliding under the flames and kicks it in its abdomen before swiftly kicking it in the head.
Stumbling backwards, Sektor runs a quick systems check before regaining its sight only to see Kurai rushing towards it with multiple strikes to its face before kicking it with a backflip, which sends it tumbling to the ground.
Kurai then turns around to see Cyrax in the distance in the Coliseum before it teleports in a green glow then suddenly appears in front of him, which shocks him for a moment before dodging and blocking the cyborgs attacks. He then jumps into the air over Cyrax before kicking it in the back of its leg, causing it to drop to one knee, before kicking the back of its head, knocking it face first to the ground.
Sektor, who had gotten back to its feet, launches a missile at Kurai, causing him to dodge the missile by jumping out of the way and landing a good distance away from the two cyborgs.
Cyrax gets up to its feet as both cyborgs stand near each other, staring at Kurai. "Sektor, we are wasting time with this human. We should leave now and continue our pursuit of Sub-Zero." It says to its companion, which shakes its head before pointing at Kurai.
"Negative, Cyrax. This fighter interfered in Lin Kuri business. In order to ensure that it does not happen again, we must eliminate him here and now." Sektor says, its former human arrogance showing through its now cybernetic self as it begins to walk towards Kurai before rushing him then disappears as it teleports behind him.
Kurai, knowing that Sektor would teleport behind him, turns around instinctively before stopping Sektor's attack by grabbing its arm then kicks it hard in the head before delivering a spinning back kick to its abdomen, which sends it backwards to the ground. Cyrax had tried to sneak up on Kurai, but the warrior prince had quickly turned around as he launched his kunai towards Cyrax into its shoulder before yanking it towards him.
As Cyrax flew through the air towards Kurai, the prince leaps into the air with a flying kick to Cyrax's head while pulling his kunai out of the cyborgs shoulder. Holding the cyborg in his arms, Kurai gives Cyrax multiple strikes to the abdomen and head before grabbing one of its arms, twisting it, then flips the yellow cyborg over his shoulder then breaks its arm before stomping on its head.
With Cyrax now unconscious Kurai turns his attention back over to Sektor, who begins standing up on its feet after quickly rebooting its systems. Looking up at Kurai, Sektor raises both its arms and directs them at Kurai before shooting out multiple missiles at the prince, who dodges them all while running towards Sektor.
Once he gets close enough, Kurai launches his kunai at the cyborg, which wraps around both its feet, before yanking the wire to trip Sektor and knock it back down to the ground. Kurai then leaps into the air while bringing his kunai back into his hand as he comes down towards Sektor quickly.
Landing on the ground, Kurai stabs his silver kunai dangerously close to Sektor's cybernetic head, but doesn't kill it. "I suggest you leave now, Sektor. And take Cyrax with you. Your cybernetic enhancements will give you no advantage over me. You can try to give yourself as many upgrades as you want, but it still won't help you. If you weren't pathetic before as a human, you most certainly are now as a cyborg." He says to the Lin Kuei cyborg before standing back up and backs away from the red cyborg ninja.
KURAI WINS!
Sektor robotically gets back up to its feet before walking over to Cyrax. It picks up the yellow cyborg and places it over its shoulder before looking over at Kurai, who remained cautious and vigilant in case the red cyborg decides to try anything. "The Lin Kuei will not forget nor forgive this transgression, human. You interfered in business that did not concern you. In doing so, you have made an enemy of the Lin Kuei." It warns him ominously, but Kurai only looks at the cyborg with a calm expression.
"I've only made an enemy of your Grandmaster, Sektor. By the way, give him a message from me. Either he shuts down the Cyber Initiative for the Lin Kuei and resigns as Grandmaster, or I'll be paying him a visit... very soon." He says threateningly to the cyborg, who says nothing else before teleporting away from the Coliseum with Cyrax in tow as well as the unconscious Lin Kuei cyborgs that were also teleported away.
Kitana and Jade let out silent shuddering breaths that they didn't realize they were holding until the fight between Kurai and the cyborgs was over. They then subtly look at each other before looking back at Kurai with relief, but also worry.
Kurai sighs deeply before he hears Shao Kahn burst out laughing boisterously. "I'll give this to you, Kurai. You certainly are most entertaining." He says to him as Kurai walks back over to stand with the remaining fighters as Sub-Zero's friend, Smoke, and Johnny Cage walk up beside him.
"I honestly don't know what else you can to prove that you are a total badass, Kurai. You could've defeated Liu Kang at the previous tournament, but didn't. You've defeated Baraka twice, and still haven't killed him. Now, you took on two terminator ripoffs, and survived. I honestly hope you don't turn evil, man. If you do, I already know for a fact that we're screwed." Cage says to the prince with an amused chuckle as Kurai just smiles and laughs lightly before looking over at Smoke, who bows his head to him.
"I am afraid that I do not know how to repay you for saving my friend... Kurai, was it? I would have helped you, but I was concerned for Sub-Zero." He says to Kurai humbly as Kurai waves him off with a smile.
"Don't worry about it, Smoke. As long as he made it out of Outworld safely, then that's all that matters to me." He says to the gray Lin Kuei ninja, who bows to him again before they all look at Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung to wait and see who fights next to continue the tournament as the emperor then looks over at Kitana with a seething glare.
"Kitana!" He calls to her, making her walk up beside him on the throne. "How is it that Earth Realm ninjas brazenly appear before me, when my daughter, Princess of Outworld, was sent to intercept them?" He angrily asks her, causing her to freeze for a moment with a sad expression.
"Father, I-"
"Begone!" He says dismissively, which causes her to look down sadly then begins walking away to exit the Coliseum, but not before taking one more glance at Kurai. He nods slightly, causing her to nod as well before leaving the arena.
Just as Shao Kahn leans over to whisper to Shang Tsung to continue the tournament, a new female ninja wearing black and red, that Kurai has not seen before, quickly enters the Coliseum, runs past Kitana and up to Shao Kahn, which causes Kitana to look back in confusion. "Skarlet! What is so important that you-" He begins to ask her, but stops when she begins whispering in his ear.
He then gains an infuriated expression on his face before looking over at her. "Are you certain?" He asks the red head ninja sternly, causing her to nod. The emperor sighs exasperatedly before standing up from his throne to address the fighters. "Warriors of Earth Realm and Outworld. Due to... unforeseen circumstances, we shall take a brief recess from the tournament then resume in one hour. Go rest and we shall continue to entertain the crowd and see which realm shall come out on top." He says to them, which causes many of them to begin dispersing and leave the Coliseum.
"PRINCE KURAI!!!" A voice suddenly rings throughout the Coliseum, causing the fighters, Kurai included, to stop and try to pinpoint where the voice is coming from. "Kurai! A prince?! Hah! What nonsense!" The voice says again much more clearly, and it was one Kurai knew well. One he didn't expect to hear in Outworld of all places.
On the other side of the Coliseum was another entrance that leads into the arena the fighters were current in, and the individual walking through that entrance, with a still unconscious Drake draped over his shoulder, was Percival Silva. Kurai glared heatedly at the former Temple Master as he walks towards Shao Kahn's throne and the other fighters.
"Silva! What the hell are you doing here? Surely it's not to save Drake out of the goodness of your heart?" Kurai says to Silva accusingly as the middle aged man walks up beside one of the stone pillars and nonchalantly drops Drake to the ground roughly with a psychotic grin.
"Me? Save this orphan? Not likely." He begins saying then points at Kurai. "I'm here to show everyone just how pathetic you truly are." He says to the prince, who narrows his eyes.
"Silva! What is the meaning behind this treachery?! The plan was to use that mortal to lure Kurai here as leverage and bring him to our side!Why have suddenly gone against it now?!" Shao Kahn pitches in, yelling at Silva for ruining the plan.
Silva just scoffs before looking at the emperor with an arrogant grin. "Plans change, Shao Kahn. Besides, if you bring that piece of filth to your side, you'll have no need for me and I just know you won't honor your promise to me of taking over the Dark Wu Shi Temple. So, I'm just going to do all of that myself AND I'm going to train a new generation of fighters that show more promise." He says with a laugh, causing Shao Kahn to shake with rage at the mans disrespect and arrogance.
"You're not strong enough, Silva." Kurai then says to him calmly, causing the former Temple Master to glance back over at Kurai with an emotionless expression. "You never were." He continued.
Silva inhales deeply before sighing. "Pray tell, Kurai. What makes you think that I'm not strong enough? Hmm? Please enlighten me." He says to Kurai calmly, but is secretly angered at Kurai's statement.
"You always looked down on others and believed that you were a god send among the other fighters. But, as I recall, you weren't all that great when you first started training at the temple. And when Grandmaster Han asked me to teach you a few things, you lashed out saying that you didn't want an untalented piece of garbage to teach you. So, you sought to train yourself, and while you did become strong in body, Silva, you never became strong, or strong enough, in mind." Kurai explains as Silva, and everyone else in the Coliseum, including the crowd, just listens.
"That's where I've always had you beat. Because while you did train on your own and get strong in your body, you never trained the one thing that truly matters. The mind. Which is why you were stupid and pathetic enough to accept any offer Shao Kahn or Shang Tsung would give to you. Regardless of the person you are now, Silva... you are still a sad, pathetic, weak little boy that thinks he is so far above everyone else... when he doesn't even come close to the person that had his entire life and memory taken away from him in an instant. Me. I'm still standing here where I am now because I have fought, clawed, and scratched just to survive. And that... is something you would never be able to do, because you're mind is just not strong enough. And it never will be." Kurai continues as Silva's body shakes and trembles with rage.
He clenches his fists tightly as he grits his teeth. "Kurai... I challenge you... to Mortal Kombat. Accept... or yield." He says to him with a seething tone as the other fighters, and the Coliseum crowd, waits for the Prince of Edenia's answer.
"I accept."
"Kurai! You may fight this... traitor on one condition." Shao Kahn pitches in again, seeing an opportunity before him. Kurai glances over at the emperor with a disinterested expression.
"What?" He asks.
"Fight this foolish mortal if you must, but, if should you lose this fight, you must join the ranks of Outworld and fight by my side." He offers, making Kurai narrow his eyes cautiously while Jade and Kitana look at him with concerned expressions.
"Hmm. And if I win, Drake is to be taken safely out of Outworld, but I will remain to continue and finish the tournament." Kurai gives his counter offer to Shao Kahn, making him think for a moment before grinning humorously.
"Done."
The Coliseum crowd erupts with loud cheers as Kurai and Silva walk towards the front of Shao Kahn's throne before standing a few feet away from each other while Skarlet runs over to Drake and check to see if he is still alive.
Feeling a pulse, she sighs with relief and undoes some of the chians to offer Drake's limbs some relief before she looks up at Silva with a glare. "Dishonorable bastard." She whispers with seething tone.
Kurai and Silva glare at each other as Silva cracks his knuckles. "I'm going to show you just how wrong you are about me, Kurai. I may not have been through the same things you've experienced, but that doesn't make you stronger." He says to the prince with a rage filled tone.
Kurai scoffs. "Wrong, Silva. That's exactly what makes me stronger than you. My experiences and my friends. Which is something you would know nothing about. The Dark Wu Shi Academy is much better off without you. It's actually been a breath of fresh air since you've been gone." He counters, which only makes Silva much angrier.
"The Dark Wu Shi Temple NEEDS me, Kurai! Where the fuck would it be without me?! Tell me that, filth!" He shouts at Kurai, who glares dangerously at him.
"I think it's time we find out." He says as his eyes begin to shift into a fiery white glow.