If not Liu Kang, then who?

JAX: Ya got me. Not sure anybody coulda done what he did. Made Shang Tsung

look like a chump.

While they're talking, a much younger looking Shang Tsung walks up to them

seemingly unnoticed.

RAIDEN: (Not looking at Tsung) Here to congratulate us on our victory,

sorcerer?

Jax turns round and throws away his cigar.

JAX: What? Shang Tsung?!

RAIDEN: You have been revitalised, I see. I didn't realise your master was in

the habit of rewarding failure.

SHANG TSUNG: The emperor has an offer, Raiden. A new tournament.

RAIDEN: Heh. I see no reason to participate in any plan of yours.

SHANG TSUNG: The emperor proposes a single tournament, to replace the current

system of ten. It will be held in Outworld. If Earthrealm does not win,

Outworld will absorb it. But if Earthrealm wins, Shao Kahn will abandon his

claim to it forever.

RAIDEN: Give your emperor my regards.

Tsung smiles and generates a large portal across the courtyard. Out of it

emerge hundreds of Tarkatan warriors. Furiously, Raiden begins fighting with

Tsung while Jax jumps into the rampaging army. He clotheslines one Tarkatan

down, headbutts another, punches and knees yet another, throws him down and

finishes him with a head stomp. A fourth Tarkatan sucker punches him, a fifth

hits him and the fourth then kicks him in the face, sending him sprawling.

As he lies on the ground, the Tarkatan brings his boot down hard on his face,

knocking him unconscious.

Jax starts hearing Raiden's voice as he comes to, and spots Johnny Cage

kneeling over him. The Academy has been devastated by the Tarkatans, but Liu

Kang and Kung Lao as well as Cage are uninjured.

RAIDEN: He gained a momentary advantage during our kombat and escaped. I now

realise what we must do.

JAX: Uggh... Anybody get the number o' that--? Wait. Where's Sonya?

RAIDEN: Shang Tsung has taken her.

JAX: We've gotta find her!

KUNG LAO: We must follow them!

RAIDEN: Shang Tsung has made it clear that Earthrealm will be under constant

threat unless I agree to a new tournament.

Raiden then receives another vision; one of Liu Kang punching a hole through

Shao Kahn's chest.

JAX: Another vision?

RAIDEN: Yes. I saw Liu Kang win the proposed tournament. I believe we must

attend. But my earlier vision, of your victory over Shang Tsung, was not the

solution I sought. Therefore this premonition must show an event I need to

change. Perhaps "He must win" refers to another.

Liu Kang looks a bit downcast at this.

RAIDEN: Hear me, Elder Gods! I accept the terms proposed by Shao Kahn!

A light from the heavens briefly absorbs Raiden, which is presumably their

acknowledgement of this.

RAIDEN: We go to Outworld.

In Outworld, Goro brings what appears to be an amulet with a ying-yang symbol

in the center to Shao Kahn. Kahn studies it, then returns it to the Shokan.

Raiden enters the scene with Jax and Johnny Cage flanking him.

JAX: I assume that's the Big Man himself.

JOHNNY CAGE: The wrestler guy with the cow skull on his head? And why aren't

the Kung Fu Twins here helping us?

RAIDEN: I sent Liu Kang and Kung Lao to free their Shaolin masters. I

expected Sonya Blade to be here with Shang Tsung.

JAX: She'd better not have a scratch on her.

Jax stalks toward the throne.

RAIDEN: Wait! This is a tournament!

SHANG TSUNG: Ah! the Earthrealm delegation has arrived. And we have a

volunteer for First Kombat!

JAX: What?

SHAO KAHN: The tournament will begin!

The Tarkatan crowd in attendance roars in approval.

SHANG TSUNG: Jackson Briggs! You will face... Baraka!

The Tarkatans cheer louder as Baraka unsheathes his blades.

JAX: Damn, you ugly.

BARAKA: My blades will find your heart!

They fight. The match is a brutal, bloody affair, but Jax's strength and

power sees him eventually triumph against the Outworld nomad.

JAX: You shouldn't be runnin' with those.

While Baraka tries to pick himself up, Jax approaches Shang Tsung.

JAX: Where's Sonya?

SHANG TSUNG: Tell me, Major Briggs; Do you and she do anything other than

rescue one another?

Jax growls as the Tarkatans behind him laugh.

SHANG TSUNG: Your next opponent will be--

Reptile appears behind Tsung and starts whispering in his ear.

SHANG TSUNG: What is it?

Reptile continues whispering.

SHANG TSUNG: Excellent. It seems I have a pressing matter to attend to. With

the emperor's permission, we will reconvene later.

Shao Kahn approves with a wave of his hand. As he rises from his throne, Jade

and Kitana look knowingly at one another and walk off.

JAX: What was that all about? I think we should follow 'im.

Raiden receives another vision; this one of Sonya in shackles.

JAX: You ok?

RAIDEN: Sonya Blade... she is to be executed. My powers are compromised here