The U.S. Army is fighting a losing battle against Tarkatans equipped with shotguns and rocket launchers, as well as twenty foot high Outworld monstrosities. Kurtis Stryker and his partner Kabal are currently standing on a rooftop, watching the Outworld invaders advance.
STRYKER: Fifteen… Sixteen… Seventeen… Eighteen. Kabal, call it in.
KABAL: Base. Eagle Two. We count eighteen. One-eight bogies. Southbound on Olympic.
BASE: Roger that.
KABAL: Eagle Two out.
STRYKER: This is not happening.
KABAL: Not what I was thinking when I swore to protect and serve.
STRYKER: What is that?
They look down the building to see Reptile climbing towards them.
KABAL: I’m thinking shoot first, ask questions later.
STRYKER: Fine with me.
They begin shooting at Reptile, but he dodges the shots with ease and continues climbing. As he nears the top he leaps over them and lands behind them.
STRYKER: Pistols!
They draw their pistols and fire again, but Reptile blocks the attacks by spewing forth some acid vapour, which acts as a shield. As the two officers reload, Reptile strikes with his tongue, disarming Kabal and knocking him over. He then tongues Stryker’s gun, disarming him.
STRYKER: Enough of this! It’s you and me, Freakshow!
They fight. Although unaccustomed to fighting Outworld warriors, Stryker’s rigourous training and arsenal of weapons manages to see him through the fight. Eventually he leaves Reptile on his back, defeated.
STRYKER: Spitting? Sticking out your tongue? Bet your mama’s real proud.
Stryker walks over to Kabal and helps him up.
STRYKER: C’mon. We’re going street level. We’ve been compromised.
KABAL: It ain’t safe down there.
STRYKER: Better there than here.
He walks off, leaving Kabal sighing and shaking his head. The scene then cuts to the two of them at the ground level of the building they’re in. Army troopers are falling back, being chased by one of the gigantic monsters seen earlier. Kabal notices someone on the bridge across from them.
KABAL: Stryker! Check her out!
Stryker looks and the camera follows. They both see a female in a rather revealing purple leotard and leggings.
KABAL: Whaddya think? Friend or foe.
STRYKER: Foe.
KABAL: Dressed like that?
STRYKER: Definitely foe. Cover me.
As army troopers round a corner to fight an unseen foe, Stryker walks out to the bridge. As Mileena approaches, he calls out to her.
STRYKER: Hey, what’re you doing out here?
She laughs and pulls off her mask, revealing her Tarkatan features.
MILEENA: Looking for a new playmate!
They fight. Restraining himself to using non-lethal force, Stryker manages to eventually subdue the feral “daughter” of Shao Kahn.
STRYKER: You’re coming with me.
A loud roar causes Stryker to turn his head to the bridge to the left of him. A large creature, shaped like a gigantic pterodactyl, flies overhead. While he’s distracted, Mileena manages to pick herself up and charge at him, when several lightning bolts shock her into unconsciousness. Raiden – who fired the bolts – floats down from the sky and lands next to Stryker.
STRYKER: Who… who are you?
Before Raiden can answer, he grabs his head in pain as he receives another vision. This time, we are not shown what it is.
STRYKER: You all right?
As Raiden recovers, a loud roar by the other bridge attracts their attention. They see Johnny Cage getting beaten up by a centaur – Motaro.
STRYKER: Johnny Cage fighting a giant monster? What is this, “Time Smashers”?!
Raiden flies over to the bridge and blasts Motaro with lightning before he can deliver a fatal blow. He finishes off Motaro by hitting him with his torpedo attack. The resultant force sends Motaro through the bridge and into the water below.
KABAL: That guy just shot lightning. From his hands. How’d he do that?
STRYKER: No idea.
A loud growling eminates to their right. Before them, they see Kintaro approaching.
STRYKER: Spread out. Give ‘im multiple targets.
Kabal moves to Stryker’s right, across the bridge. Before he can pull the trigger, Kintaro blasts him with his flame breath. Kabal is set ablaze, screaming in agony as his skin cooks. Stryker is prevented from rushing to his aid lest Kintaro does the same to him.
KINTARO: Humans. Less ugly when they burn.
They fight. Not holding back anything this time, Stryker lets Kintaro have the full brunt of his weapons. Even so, it takes everything he has and then some to knock the Shokan unconscious.
STRYKER: Never knew I had it in me…
A loud groaning catches Stryker’s attention.
STRYKER: Kabal!
He rushes over to his partner, who’s clothing and skin are practically charcoal and activates his radio.
STRYKER: Base! Eagle Two!
BASE: Go Eagle Two.
STRYKER: Need Medevac. Current position. Kabal is down. Third-degree burns.
BASE: Medevac unit routing to you. ETA ten minutes.
Over by the subway, Stryker fails to notice Ermac sneaking up on him. Ermac grabs Stryker with his telekenesis and lifts him into the air.
STRYKER: What the?!
BASE: Say again?
STRYKER: Eeeeugh!
BASE: Eagle Two, report! Eagle Two!
Stryker is then telekenetically hurled into the subway. He bounces hard off the escalator railing and lands facedown on the platform. As he struggles to his feet, Ermac floats down to face him.
ERMAC: The emperor will have your soul.
STRYKER: Yeah? Come and get it!
They fight. Ermac’s telekenesis and mastery over magic is something completely alien to Stryker, but he adapts quickly and fends off the assault with his own weaponary. After an intense battle, Stryker finally drops Ermac.
STRYKER: I think I’ll be keeping my soul.
Stryker’s attention is bought to the top of the escalator by another voice.
NIGHTWOLF: I have been searching for you, Kurtis Stryker.
Stryker draws his pistol and trains it on the newcomer.
STRYKER: Well you found me! Who are you?
NIGHTWOLF: I am Nightwolf. Lord Raiden is gathering Earth’s defenders. You are among them.
STRYKER: What the hell are you talking about?!
NIGHTWOLF: Raiden leads Earth’s defense against these Outworld invaders. He is our best hope for survival.
STRYKER: Yeah, well. “Earthrealm Defender” is about ten steps above my pay grade.
NIGHTWOLF: I see you doubt yourself, even after your victories. Come.
After some consideration, Stryker nods his consent, puts away his gun and follows. The scene cuts to the bridge, where only a smoking outline remains of Kabal’s body.
STRYKER: What?
Both he and Nightwolf have run up to the outline.
STRYKER: Where is he? Medevac hasn’t been here.
NIGHTWOLF: Perhaps he has gone to find help.
STRYKER: Naw, he was way too banged up. Someone took him.
The scene cuts to black. All that is heard is heavy, strained breathing, along with occasional sounds of a person being operated on. We are suddenly treated to a viewing of various gadgets strewn across a bloodied table. Among the gadgets are a scalpel, scisccors, tweezers, breathing apparatus and a mask. A hand takes each piece of the breathing apparatus off the table – a hand belonging to Kano. He attaches the pieces one by one to an unseen person. Finally, he puts the mask on – and the camera shot finally reveals who the person is.