Oppressive white lights beat down on the center of a crowd which was a vacant circle that allowed a white rectangle with a flat middle and elevated sides creating two ramps to sit. On this platform stood two well-muscled men in nothing but martial arts shorts, one also wore a bandana. One was an American with short brown hair, and the second was a dark-skinned Chinese Man with a mop of hair. Between them stood a dark-skinned bald man in red robes. The two men approached each other as the fully clothed man counted down in Chinese. As he counted down the Chinese Man began to speak to his opponent.
"You broke my record. Now I break you. Like I break your friend," he said in clearly broken English. The other man finished counting and backed up. The American began the fight aggressively with two big kicks which knocked the Chinese Man down though he quickly recovered. The two then began trading kicks the American staying offensive but the Chinese Man was seemingly tanking every hit the other was dolling out. This lasted till the Chinese Man uppercutted his opponent sending him onto the mat but the American quickly recovered reassuming a fighting stance. The Chinese Man confidently and casually walked toward the American. The Chinese Man dodged a hit and grabbed the American by the arm kneed him and threw him down to the mat once again. The American went into a roll and quickly recovered performing a jump kick at the Chinese Man knocking him down. The Chinese Man rose once again and charged. The American jumped over the Chinese Man's charge before beginning an assault this time with his hands ending with a kick which knocked the Chinese Man down. Well on his knees the Chinese Man grabbed some of the sand on the ground around the mat and threw it on the American's eyes before going for a kick. The American was undeterred catching the Chinese Man's leg and punching it before throwing him to the ground again. As the Chinese Man rose the tears caused by the sand took effect and the American could no longer see. The Chinese Man capitalized on this kicking the American in the chest before beginning an assault of punches ending with the American on the ground. The Chinese Man began raising his hand to the cheering crowd occasionally kicking the defenceless American as the few people still in his corner watched on in horror. The American eventually got to his knees and closed his eyes catching the Chinese Man's next strike he began a comeback initially staying defensive before going on the offensive with kicks once more ending with three spin kicks before grabbing the head of his opponent and demanding he.
"Say it. Say it. Say it!"
"And that's a wrap!" Came another voice as the lights dimmed and Johnny Cage arose walking off leaving the costar to also get up. As he walked away Johnny pumped his fists up several times till he came to the director.
"Hey Newt man thank you so much for this opportunity," Johnny said running up to Newt.
"Yes. It was a pleasure," the director said uncomfortably as Johnny rambled on about ideas for movies and sequels the Director eventually left the conversation with a classic excuse of
"Hey, I have to oversee the edit so whyn't you go have a nice night with the missus? Great work". Johnny returned to his trailer where his assistant a small African American girl named Charlie Golden was going through some paperwork.
"Hey, Mr. Cage how was the final shoot?" she asked looking up.
"Good Charlie, really good. I think it's some of my best work," Johnny said.
"I wouldn't doubt it…Chris called," Charlie said.
"Oh, what'd she say?" Johnny said.
"She wants to meet to talk about something…she didn't sound too happy," Charlie said.
"Huh, alright finish up this work I'll see what's up with her," Johnny said leaving for his red convertible Ferrari. Hopping in and driving off through the radiant Los Angeles, the City of Angels. Speeding down several paths and taking daring turns Johnny came to one of the most extravagant houses in the city pulling into the garage he hopped out and walked up to the door letting himself in.
"Hey, Chris. I'm back!" he said as he entered. Chris was looking over the indoor pool as Johnny entered. Chris was Johnny's wife they had been childhood sweethearts and after he had travelled the world to learn martial arts they got married and moved to Hollywood with the promise of big money.
"So, that movie… 'Combat time?' is done?" Chris said.
"Yeah. Well after the marketing campaign," Johnny said.
"Good…good," Chris said.
"Hey, Chris. Baby Charlie said you wanted to talk. What about?" Johnny said.
"We need to talk about our finances John," Chris said.
"This agai- Look we already discussed this once Combat Time gets off the ground we're gonna be fine k? This is the chance we've been waiting for," Johnny said.
"No, it's what you've been waiting for. John, we've barely been keeping this house before all your insane spending with all this Asian stuff," Chris said.
"It's to appreciate the culture. If I'm gonna be in kung fu films I need to appreciate their culture," Johnny said.
"Call it whatever you want it's hurting our budget," Chris said.
"Chris…babe I don't understand what's wrong we both work and we've come this f-"
"I'm pregnant John!" Chris said interrupting Johnny's point.
"Yo-...You're…You're what?" Johnny said.
"Pregnant I found out yesterday. I'll be going on leave from work soon," Chris said.
"Oh my god," Johnny said.
"Exactly John. We can't keep spending like this with me out of work and another mouth to-,"
"This is great! We'll convert the…" Johnny began listing off plans for names, rooms, everything walking around the room and going into full director mode moving his hands to envision the various things he described all the while ignoring Chris's mounting calls.
"John,"
"John,"
"John!"
"John!"
"JOHN!" It was this fifth call that finally broke Johnny out of his trance.
"Yeah, what's up?" he said turning to face Chris again.
"I…I don't think I can have a child here," Chris said.
"Wait don't tell me yo-"
"No. God no. I just. I don't think relying on you making it big is the smart play right now," Chris said cutting Johnny off.
"So what are you gonna do?" Johnny said.
"I called my brother in New York he said he's gonna let me stay with him atleast till the baby's born," Chris said.
"Wha-. When are you leaving?" Johnny said.
"Tonight. My car's already packed unless you can agree to stop with all this maybe move to a more affordable house and stop buying this," Chris said.
"I…I can't I need thi.s Johnny Cage A-List actor needs this or else no one will take me seriously," Johnny said.
"Well, that's the thing. I didn't marry Johnny Cage. I'm not pregnant with Johnny Cage's child. I married John Carlton. I'm pregnant with his child and when he comes back, I'll happily come back," Chris said before walking out. Johnny stood there for a long moment before deciding what to do.
"I need a drink," he said to himself running his hand through his hair and walking to the kitchen pulling out a bottle of scotch and pouring a glass.
"Mr. A-List what the fucking hell was that. Get everything you want and throw it away," Johnny said as his phone began ringing. He pulled it out looking at it, it was his agent, Dick, Johnny answered it.
"Hey Dick this really isn't the time," Johnny said holding the phone to his ear.
"I don't care if baby JC came back in your room. I got your next big role," Dick said.
"What about Combat Time?" Johnny said.
"It's only a few days of a shoot Combat Time will still be being edited in that time," Dick said.
"Ok…Ok, what is it?"
"Mortal Kombat a tournament on an island," Dick said.
"Ok I can do that," Johnny said.
"Yeah, you see the vision. Look the cast is going to meet with the crew by ship tomorrow so be at the docks," Dick said.
"What? What about audition, and how will I know the boat?" Johnny said as all of a sudden a massive gust of wind passed through his window.
"They scouted you specifically for a role and look on your table just show this too a real old-looking boat with a dragon head and you'll be easy. Ah, gotta go look if you want in just go to the docks tomorrow morning got it?" Dick said.
"Yeah I got it," Johnny said. As Dick hung up Johnny turned around to see a golden coin with a dragon insignia on his kitchen table. Johnny walked over and picked it up it was right next to a picture of him and Chris on his wedding day. For a moment John debated looking at both objects but in the end, Johnny picked up the coin. He just had a major loss and if there's one thing he knew the one good way to make up for a loss was a win.