SHANG: This request is far below your present station, your
highness. But defeating Kronika depends on us reaching that
chamber.
SHEEVA: Why?
SHANG: Because we must restore Sindel.
At the name, Sheeva’s eyes widen and her face drops in shock, but
for a moment.
SHEEVA: My Empress…
Nightwolf and Fujin walk into the throne room, carrying a coffin
between them. As Sheeva looks on, her expression changes to
bewilderment as they set the coffin on a table before the throne.
She stands up and walks down the steps from the throne to gaze
into the coffin. She looks into the glass covering and takes
in the sight of the revenant Sindel.
SHEEVA: You’ve captured her revenant.
SHANG: Together, Fujin and I can restore her to life.
SHEEVA: Why? To make a slave of her, as Quan Chi did?
FUJIN: So that she can aid us against Kronika. But you have my
vow she will return free of all influence.
Sheeva looks down, conflicted at these words. Shang Tsung slyly
notes her apprehension as he starts speaking.
SHANG: As I recall, you were blood-bound to Empress Sindel.
SHEEVA: I was her protector-for-life.
SHANG: How it must have pained you when she died.
His face and tone are lined with calculated empathy. Sheeva looks
downcast.
SHANG: That was not your fault. You could not save her… then.
Now you can.
He gestures to the still form in the coffin. Sheeva stares at
her for a moment, then brings her head up to face Tsung.
SHEEVA: Then I w–
She stops herself before uttering anything further. Her sorrow
turns to resolve.
SHEEVA: No. We must present this to Kitana Kahn.
FUJIN: Respectfully, your highness, if we approach Kitana–
NIGHTWOLF: She’ll cut Shang Tsung’s head off.
SHANG: Kitana never appreciated my contributions to the Empire.
NIGHTWOLF: Like replacing her with an evil clone?
SHANG: Yes.
He says the word with no remorse, only a smirk. Nightwolf looks
unamused. Fujin walks around the coffin to face Sheeva directly.
FUJIN: Time is short, Queen Sheeva. We must act now and beg
Kitana’s forgiveness later, after restoring her mother. Will you
help us?
Sheeva looks away from him, again peering down at the coffin
that contains Sindel’s revenant.
SHEEVA: By concealing you from Kitana, I betray my oath to her…
but my life belongs to Sindel.
Nightwolf and Shang glance at each other, both realising she
has finally come around. Sheeva turns to Tsung.
SHEEVA: You will be recognised by Kitana’s imperial guard.
SHANG: True. They won’t take to me kindly.
Before them all, he suddenly shapeshifts into a Shokan with
nothing more than a flourish of soul magic. Sheeva takes a
moment to appraise his face paint and appearance.
SHEEVA: That will do.
The scene cuts to a pool of bubbling green acid, the edge of
which is lined with bloodied skulls and other pieces of skeletons.
It is the Dead Pool, and the camera pans upwards to see Sheeva
walking across the sole walkway in the area, accompanied by Fujin,
Nightwolf and the disguised Shang Tsung, the latter two carrying
the coffin between them.
SHEEVA: We’ve made it this far.
She points ahead of her.
SHEEVA: There’s a stairway beyond those doors, and at the top…
SHANG: The Soul Chamber.
His eyes glow green with soul powered energy.
SHANG: I feel it.
As they walk across the chamber, another voice sounds out behind
them.
UNSEEN: So there he was, neck deep in shit, cowering in the
business end of an outhouse…
The raucous laughter of Tarkatans echoes across his speech.
Sheeva and Fujin stop and turn around at the noise.
UNSEEN: …he picked a bad place to hide, and an even worse place
to die.
The mercenary Erron Black walks into the Dead Pool, drawing one
of his pistols. Baraka follows him, scraping one of his arm blades
across the side of a nearby wall. Behind him are five other
Tarkatans. They approach the foursome.
BARAKA: Sheeva!
SHEEVA: (To Fujin) Follow my lead.
She and Baraka walk up to each other.
BARAKA: Earthrealmers, Sheeva, and a coffin. What secret did you
plan to bury here?
SHEEVA: It is the Kahn’s business, Baraka.
BARAKA: We’re equal partners, remember? The Kahn’s business is my
business.
He walks over to the disguised Shang Tsung, who does not turn to
face him. His face is nervous as Baraka stands behind him,
looking over his shoulder. After a few moments, the Tarkatan
addresses him.
BARAKA: You are not Shokan.
He breaths in deeply, sniffing the air around Shang.
BARAKA: I know that scent.
The sorcerer’s expression turns to worry.
BARAKA: Smells like… Shang Tsung!
Tsung’s eyes widen in shock, but he reacts too late. Baraka pulls
out his arm blade and stabs him in the back. With little effort,
Baraka raises him into the air, still impaled on the blade. The
pain proves too much and Shang Tsung reverts back to his human
form. Baraka pulls the blade out and Tsung falls to his knees, a
hand grasping at his open wound.
The others Tarkatans starts forward, drawing their arm blades.
Baraka steps back next to them and Erron Black.
ERRON: How’s that for strange bedfellows.
He draws his pistols and points them at Sheeva and Fujin.
ERRON: Whaddya say we skip the preliminaries and y’all come with
us quietly? We’ll have a nice friendly chat with Kitana Kahn.
Behind Sheeva, Fujin helps Shang Tsung to his feet.
SHEEVA: There’s no time for chat. We must get to the Soul Chamber,
urgently!
ERRON: Then go on and get to it. But we’re taking Shang Tsung…
and that coffin.
Baraka roars and points his arm blade at Tsung. The Tarkatans
charge, but Tsung suddenly launches a flaming skull at them.
The Tarkatans manage to dodge, but one is caught in the
blow-back and loses his footing, falling into the pool of acid.
Everyone stops to watch as the Tarkatan screams and flails in
agony, the caustic liquid quickly dissolving his flesh. Barely a
couple of seconds pass before the green pool starts mixing with
the red of his blood.
Baraka narrows his eyes in tranquil fury. Sheeva looks on with
a mixture of horror and pity. Shang Tsung smirks, looking ready
to burst out laughing. Soon all that is left of the unfortunate
Tarkatan is a bloodied skull. Baraka growls at the sight.
SHANG: My sincere apologies.
The sarcastic comment is too much for the Tarkatans. They all
draw their arm blades and charge. Before they can close in,
Fujin summons a tornado of wind and traps them. He slams his
hands down and they are blown back across the walkway, with
only Baraka keeping his footing.
Erron aims his pistol at Nightwolf and fires, but the Native
American pulls his tomahawk from his back and throws it. In
slow motion, we see the bullet fired from Erron’s pistol
come into contact with the blade of the tomahawk… and it
is cleaved in two from the impact. As normal time resumes,
Erron leans to the right just in time to avoid the tomahawk
colliding with his head.
Baraka and Sheeva approach one another.
BARAKA: Tarkatan blood is shed! You will atone, Sheeva.
SHEEVA: Were you not warned? Tarkatans are all mouth and no ears.
They fight. In spite of Baraka’s savage fighting ability and
his deadly blades, Sheeva proves herself his superior in strength,
size and skill. After a brief struggle, Baraka is beaten to the
ground.
SHEEVA: You speak when you should listen.
Suddenly, a bullet richochets off Sheeva’s shoulder armour,
failing to penetrate but forcing her back a step. She turns to
see Erron Black firing his pistols at Nightwolf, who rolls into
cover behind the coffin. As Black closes in, Sheeva charges into
his flank and sucker punches him, sending him sprawling. He
picks himself up as she approaches.
ERRON: Time to spill it. Who’s toes up in that coffin?
SHEEVA: Empress Sindel. We can restore her with the Soul Chamber!
ERRON: Hold up, Sheeva. You’re resurrecting Kitana’s evil mama?
Whatever your reasons… this ain’t a good look for you.
They fight. With his various armaments and dirty tricks, Erron
Black in unlike many foes Sheeva has fought. But Sheeva is far
from defenseless, and with her sheer strength and fighting
prowess, she overcomes these obstacles and Black is soon left
down and out.
SHEEVA: Know your place, Outlander.
Sheeva regroups with Shang Tsung. Behind them, Nightwolf and
Fujin pick up the coffin.
SHEEVA: Let’s move quickly.
As they proceed towards the Soul Chamber, a new figure runs into
the Dead Pool before them. It is Jade, who takes in the sight
before her with anger.
JADE: What in Argus’ name is happening out here?
No one responds. Nightwolf and Fujin place the coffin back on
the ground, and Jade looks directly at the sorcerer, recognising
him at once. Her eyes narrow in disgust.
JADE: Shang Tsung! I thought I saw you slither away from the
Koliseum.
Shang smirks back at her, inclining his head in a mocking
half-bow.
SHANG: You always were perceptive.
Sheeva holds up one of her hands.
SHEEVA: We have no wish to fight, Jade.
She motions to the coffin.
SHEEVA: This is Sindel’s revenant.
Nightwolf and Shang step to one side to allow her a better
view of the coffin. She approaches it, looking curious.
SHEEVA: We can restore her to life, so she can join the fight
against Kronika.
FUJIN: Please, Jade… we must enter.
JADE: You have yet to convince me.
She steps around the coffin, still looking down at Sindel’s form.
JADE: Even if you do, the Soul Chamber is occupied. Kotal uses it
to mend his broken spine. Disrupting him now could leave his
injuries permanent.
SHANG: I promise, we will not disturb him.
Tsung holds his hands out wide in faux reassurance. Sending Jade
is getting agitated by his actions, Sheeva slowly walks around
towards her.
JADE: Your promises are empty, sorcerer!
Shang steps to one side, allowing Sheeva to approach Jade.
SHEEVA: We will not harm Kotal. As my ally, you should trust me.
Jade says nothing, but assumes a fighting stance.
SHEEVA: So much for Edenian loyalty.
They fight. In the past, Jade’s speed and skill enabled her to
beat Sheeva in a straight fight. But the Queen of the Shokan
remembers the lessons she learned and applies them here, managing
to avoid Jade’s attacks and land hers effectively. After a
fierce melee, she manages to defeat the Edenian.
SHEEVA: You will recover.
She walks off. The scene cuts to the Soul Chamber. Sheeva, Shang
Tsung, Nightwolf and Fujin (still carrying the coffin between
them) walk into the mysterious dungeon. They pass statues of
snakes bearing glass orbs in their open maws that swirl with soul
energy, finally passing through a set of doors that leads to the
chamber itself – carved out of the gigantic skull of an unknown
Outworld monster with six horns protruding from its head.
Floating in the chamber, surrounded by swirling soul energy,
is the Osh-Tekk formerly known as Kotal Kahn, but now simply as
Kotal. He appears to be asleep as the foursome approach the
chamber. Nightwolf and Fujin set the coffin down and all four
of them take in the sight of Kotal.
NIGHTWOLF: Do we wait? Or do we wake him?
Shang Tsung does not reply, but gives a calculating look at
Kotal. It is Sheeva who speaks first.
SHEEVA: Kotal.
Kotal stirs at the sound of his name. He flexes his hands and
stretches, pushing himself free of the chamber. As the soul energy
dissipates, he staggers slightly as he sets down and tries to
keep his footing.
KOTAL: Sheeva? What is… where is Jade?
He looks around and takes in the sight of Shang Tsung.
KOTAL: And why is HE here?
He points at the sorcerer, evidently none too pleased to see him.
SHEEVA: Later, Kotal. For now we must–
KOTAL: (To Shang) I recall my captivity in your Flesh Pits all too
well.
He takes a step forward, but grimaces in pain. His walk is rather
unsteady, but he keeps approaching, until he finally falls to
one knee. Sheeva kneels down to help him, holding him upright
with all four of her arms.
SHEEVA: You need more time to heal.
Kotal suddenly stands upright and pushes Sheeva away.
KOTAL: I am strong enough to kill him.
He starts for Tsung, who gets into a fighting stance, but Sheeva
intercepts Kotal and blocks his path, holding him back.
SHEEVA: Today, he is our ally. With his sorcery, Sindel can live
again.
Once again, Kotal shoves her away.
KOTAL: Necromancy is forbidden!
He points a finger in her face.
KOTAL: You have taken leave of your senses.
He looks over to Shang.
KOTAL: Reverse the spell you have cast on them, sorcerer!
He again closes in, but Sheeva grapples him once more and
holds him back. Kotal throws a punch, but Sheeva catches his
wrist with her two left hands and pushes him back. He grabs at
her with his free hand, which she grabs with her two free arms.
As they struggle against each other, Sheeva looks over to
Shang Tsung.
SHEEVA: Do your work! I can hold Kotal!
Without futher ado, Fujin summons his wind powers and uses them
to remove the coffin lid, and then to levitate Sindel’s body.
His wind powers direct the unconscious revenant directly into
the chamber, where the swirling soul energy begins to gather
around her. As Shang Tsung readies his soul magic and uses it to
expose Sindel’s heart, Fujin holds up the vial of Jinsei,
which begins to sparkle with blue energy.
SHANG: It has begun!
To the side, Kotal frees one of his arms and shoulder barges
Sheeva, forcing her back. He looks over to them, then back
to her.
KOTAL: You dare obstruct my justice? If you wish to keep all
four arms… stand aside!
They fight. Having fought and defeated even the mighty Goro,
Kotal would normally be a challenge too much for Sheeva to
overcome, but he is not at his full strength and she is
able to take advantage of it. In spite of this though, Kotal
still puts up an incredible fight, and it takes everything
Sheeva has to put him on the ground for a moment.
SHEEVA: I’ll submit to Kitana Kahn’s justice, not yours.
Kotal rises back to his feet and takes another swing at Sheeva,
but she ducks behind his blow, grapples him from behind and
holds him fast in a half-nelson sleeper hold. She interlocks
her lower arms, preventing him from prying her loose with his
free hand, and keeps her upper hands pressed down on his head.
Gradually, he starts to fall unconscious.
Behind them, Fujin and Shang Tsung continue to work their
magic. Kotal finally falls limp and Sheeva sets him down as
gently as she can… only to find Kitana Kahn walking into the
chamber, flanked by four Outworld soldiers.
KITANA: Queen Sheeva!
SHEEVA: Kitana Kahn. I–
She bows, but Kitana holds a hand up.
KITANA: Hold your tongue. Jade told me everything.
She looks toward Fujin and Shang Tsung, who are still channeling
the Jinsei and soul magic of the chamber.
KITANA: Nothing good can come from that sorcerer’s hands.
Nightwolf approaches Sheeva’s side as they talk.
SHEEVA: He will restore your mother, Kitana Kahn.
Kitana suddenly closes her eyes at the words. When she opens
them, she is clearly wracked with conflict.
KITANA: For a thousand years I’ve dreamed of seeing her alive
again. But her soul deserves better than to be corrupted by
Shang Tsung.
She starts to walk past them.
KITANA: This perversion ends now.
Nightwolf draws his weapons, ready to take on the Outworld
soldiers. Sheeva intercepts Kitana and shoves her back.
KITANA: How quickly your oath to me is broken, Sheeva.
SHEEVA: I have been bound to your mother for millennia. I must
honour her!
They fight. With her speed and fighting ability, Kitana presents
a formidable threat to Sheeva in a way completely different from
Kotal before her. But Sheeva, driven by her loyalty to Sindel,
is able to match the new Kahn of Outworld step for step. She
eventually manages to overpower Kitana and leave her beaten
on her knees.
SHEEVA: Forgive me, Kitana Kahn.
As Kitana looks on, Shang Tsung and Fujin approach the Soul
Chamber, maximising the strength of their magic and focusing it
on Sindel. As they do so, they see her heart beginning to beat
again. Sensing this, they look at one another and push themselves
to their absolute limit. The effect on Sindel is immediate; the
cracked, greyed skin of her revenant is restored into living flesh
once again, and the hole in her chest that revealed her heart is
sealed back once more. Suddenly, she gasps and opens her eyes…
which are no longer milky white, but Edenian once more.
Fujin and Shang step back, satisfied with their work. Sheeva
helps a stunned Kitana back to her feet. Sindel steps free of the
chamber, wobbling a bit on her feet. She falls forward after a
few steps, but Shang Tsung catches her.
KITANA: (To Sheeva) What have you done?
Sheeva doesn’t answer. Sindel looks around her, clearly unsure
of her surroundings.
SHANG: Welcome back, Your Highness.
Sindel looks toward him and angrily shoves him away from her,
still looking rather disorientated.
SHANG: It pleases me to see you, too.
SINDEL: Am I alive? Is this real?
She looks down at her restored hands.
FUJIN: It is, Lady Sindel. A miracle we could not have
achieved… without your most loyal subject.
He looks at Sheeva.
SINDEL: Sheeva?
The Shokan Queen approaches her.
SHEEVA: Empress, though today I have aided you, too often have I
failed to protect you. I am not worthy.
She bows in submission. Sindel smiles warmly in response.
SINDEL: Aw, nonsense. Today, you give me the greatest gift – a
second chance! Your duty is fulfilled. I am in your debt now.
She bows her head to Sheeva.
SHEEVA: Thank you, Empress.
Sindel looks around.
SINDEL: Where is my daughter?
She spots Kitana, who removes her veil as she takes in the sight
of her mother. Sindel breaks out another warm smile and opens
her arms in an embrace.
SINDEL: Kitana…
Kitana approaches her, hopeful but also wary. She steps toward
Sindel, but suddenly pulls back. Sindel looks concerned at her
wariness.
SINDEL: It is me, Kitana. Your mother.
KITANA: I… I want to feel joy, but all I feel is… I was only
a child when you… you…
She looks ready to burst into tears as the emotional pain of the
past hits her.
KITANA: How could you kill yourself?! Why did you abandon me?
SINDEL: I did neither, Kitana. After being forced to wed Shao
Kahn, I ran afoul of Quan Chi. He accused me of “distracting”
Shao Kahn. Then the miscreant murdered me, and staged my death as
a suicide.
SHEEVA: …As I had always suspected.
KITANA: But… all this time? Everything I’ve been told about you,
it’s all… lies? What can I trust?
SINDEL: Trust… that I loved your father, Jerrod.
She approaches her daughter and places her hand on the back of
her head, stroking her hair.
SINDEL: Trust that I love you.
She pulls Kitana into a gentle hug, smiling. Kitana finally
reciprocates.
KITANA: Oh, mother!
As they break apart, Fujin calls out, addressing them both.
FUJIN: This reunion is a blessing, but we have little time to
celebrate. We must leave for Shang Tsung’s island to finish our
quest.
KITANA: I would go with you, fight by your side, but…
SINDEL: Outworld needs its Kahn, I know.
She strokes her daughter’s face and places her hand on her
shoulder.
SINDEL: Rest assured, Kitana. I will come home.
The scene cuts to Kronika’s Keep. The Titan of Time is
manipulating the Hourglass, along with her daughter Cetrion.
KRONIKA: Sindel has been restored. Shang Tsung would only
undertake such an arduous task if her aid promised a decisive
advantage.
CETRION: She is but one mortal–
KRONIKA: –And one of the few who can harm you.
CETRION: I fear no harm.
KRONIKA: They are at Shang Tsung’s island.
CETRION: Your crown. Shang Tsung knows.
KRONIKA: Then our time for preparation is over. Go to the island
now.
Cetrion bows in agreement.
KRONIKA: We cannot win their hearts, so do not try. Do not permit
your better nature to compromise you.
There is no empathy in her statement. Cetrion only nods in
response.
CETRION: I understand, mother.
She flies backward for a few moments, before magically
transforming from her regular green attire into her fiery,
more devilish form, with a large explosion accompanying this
transformation.
The scene cuts to Shang Tsung’s island. Shang Tsung, Sindel,
Fujin and Nightwolf all walk through the passage leading to
the main courtyard.