Back at the island’s arena, Shang Tsung, his bodyguards and the monks have taken their places once again. Notably, Quan Chi now stands by the Grandmaster’s throne. The kombatants present at the last fight are back again, waiting for the next match. One masked guard catches the eye of Raiden. He gasps and receives another vision; this one reveals Kung Lao running at Baraka. Raiden realises the true identity of the guard at once and leaves his place.
SHANG TSUNG: Kombatants! The next match will now begin!
In a burst of hellfire, Scorpion teleports onto the arena floor. Johnny Cage gasps in awe, and even Liu Kang looks impressed.
SHANG TSUNG: Scorpion! Specter of the Netherrealm! Resurrected by the sorcerer Quan Chi! Who among you is worthy of this challenge?
SCORPION: Where is the Lin Kuei Sub-Zero? He killed my family and clan. I will have his head!
Raiden approaches the masked guard.
RAIDEN: I know it is you, Kung Lao. The Shaolin monks chose Liu Kang to represent your order in this tournament.
KUNG LAO: I am Liu Kang’s equal!
RAIDEN: That remains to be seen.
KUNG LAO: Watch and see.
He promptly walks onto the arena floor, discarding his disguise as he does so.
KUNG LAO: I accept the challenge!
LIU KANG: Kung Lao?
Shang Tsung looks quite disturbed at this new turn of events. Kung Lao faces Scorpion.
KUNG LAO: Nevermind the Lin Kuei. Now you face a Shaolin.
He accentuates his point by running two fingers across his razor-sharp hat and assuming a fighting stance.
SCORPION: You will regret your impulsiveness.
They fight. Although an expert fighter in the Shaolin arts, the powers of the Netherrealm prove too much to cope with for Kung Lao. Scorpion soon beats him into an unconscious form on the ground.
SCORPION: You are not yet a warrior.
LIU KANG: Kung Lao!
Liu Kang rushes to the aid of his Shaolin brother. Raiden walks over and begins to admonish Kung Lao.
RAIDEN: Listen when your elders speak! You could not win this fight.
He assists Liu Kang in helping Kung Lao to his feet. Scorpion watches the exchange without emotion, then turns to face Shang Tsung.
SCORPION: I have defeated the challenger, Shang Tsung. I demand Sub-Zero!
Raiden gets another vision at that moment; first of Scorpion holding Sub-Zero’s removed head along with his spinal cord, then the head morphs into the visage of the wraith Noob Saibot.
SHANG TSUNG: You will demand nothing! Nightwolf!
The native American walks over to Scorpion and addresses him.
NIGHTWOLF: Your aggression is misplaced.
SCORPION: What do you know of my pa
NIGHTWOLF: You are not the only one whose people have been victimised. But I have found new purpose in serving the Spirits. I do not cling to the past.
SCORPION: You no longer seek retribution? You dishonour your kind. I will honour the memory of my fallen.
They fight. Nightwolf’s powers prove more of a match for Scorpion that Kung Lao did, but even he cannot withstand the fury of the vengeful ninja. Scorpion once again emerges victorious and leaves Nightwolf unconscious on the ground.
SCORPION: The spirits have forsaken you, Shaman.
SHANG TSUNG: An impressive start!
Scorpion clenches a fist at Shang Tsung that bursts into flame.
SCORPION: You waste my time, sorcerer!
Quan Chi holds up his hand.
QUAN CHI: Restraint, Scorpion.
Although not pleased about it, Scorpion acknowledges the order and his hand returns to normal.
SHANG TSUNG: You will fight Sub-Zero soon enough.
He stands up and takes his leave, with Quan Chi following. As Scorpion lowers his head and ponders recent events, Raiden attracts his attention.
RAIDEN: Scorpion, I understand your desire for revenge. But Nightwolf is right. There are other ways in which you may find peace.
SCORPION: Sub-Zero deserves death.
RAIDEN: Defeat Sub-Zero if you must, but do not kill him. I fear his death will give rise to a more treacherous foe.
SCORPION: I will have my revenge!
RAIDEN: Spare Sub-Zero’s life and I will request that the Elder Gods return the Shirai Ryu to the realm of mortals.
Scorpion takes a few moments to contemplate this new turn of events. He eventually looks Raiden in the eyes and nods his consent. Raiden nods back and walks off with Liu Kang and Kung Lao, leaving the spectre alone.
Some time later, the door to Shang Tsung’s throne room is opened and Scorpion walks in. Several kombatants are milling around discussing things with one another. Two of those kombatants are Cyrax and Sektor of the Lin Kuei.
CYRAX: I understand there are benefits to the Grand Master’s plan, but his plan goes against Lin Kuei principles.
SEKTOR: We are Lin Kuei, Cyrax. We will obey the Grand Master’s commands.
CYRAX: It means giving up our free will… our souls. It will turn us into
Sektor stops him as Scorpion approaches them.
SEKTOR: Scorpion.
CYRAX: Your inferior clan is dead. Soon you will join them.
SCORPION: My clan may walk the Earth once more.
Cyrax pushes him back in response. Shang Tsung immediately spots this.
SHANG TSUNG: A challenge! Scorpion versus Cyrax and Sektor!
CYRAX: Your obsession with Sub-Zero ends here.
They fight. Both Cyrax and Sektor are formidable warriors with plenty of weapons and technology to fight with, but Scorpion’s unnatural strength and powers still give him the edge in kombat. Both members of the Lin Kuei are soon knocked unconscious.
SCORPION: I will have my revenge, but I will not kill Sub-Zero.
As Raiden nods his approval, a new voice attracts everyone’s attention.
SUB-ZERO: Will not? Or cannot?
Sub-Zero walks into the room.
SCORPION: You!
The two enemies walk up to one another.
SCORPION: The Shirai Ryu are dead. You will suffer as they did.
SUB-ZERO: To hell with your clan!
SCORPION: No, to Hell with YOU!
He grabs Sub-Zero and they both disappear in a flash of hellfire. They reappear in a place filled with fire, burning bodies and malicious architecture.
SUB-ZERO: The Netherrealm.
SCORPION: This is where I was reborn. This is where you will pay!
They fight. The battle is truly an epic one, with both kombatants equally matched in strength and fighting skill. In the end, Scorpion’s fury gets the better of Sub-Zero and he is beaten into submission.
SCORPION: I have avenged my family and clan.
Quan Chi teleports into the realm.
QUAN CHI: This is your retribution? Scorpion, kill him.
SCORPION: I… I will not. He has been beaten.
QUAN CHI: Have you forgotten?
Quan Chi magically creates a visage of the homeland of the Shirai Ryu.
SCORPION: What is this?
The entire village is in flames. Shirai Ryu clansmen are cut down by a hail of arrows.
SCORPION: No…
Another is decapitated by a Lin Kuei assassin. Yet more are run through by katanas from horseback riders and by arrows from archer marksmen. Among the horseriders is Sub-Zero.
QUAN CHI: Your clan. Your family.
Another vision is magically created by the sorcerer. It shows Scorpion’s wife and infant son huddled in a corner of their home. The door opens to reveal Sub-Zero, katana in hand. He unsheathes it, and unmoved by the wife’s tears, brings the blade down. All that is seen is a blood splattering the walls, along with the petals of a rose worn in his wife’s hair. The implications are all too obvious.
SCORPION: NO!
The vision fades. Sub-Zero, badly wounded as he is, is on his feet and holding a hand up in mercy.
SUB-ZERO: That is not me!
Scorpion rips his mask off his head. All that is present is a skull enwrapped in flames. The scene immediately cuts to black.
Back in the throne room of Shang Tsung, Scorpion reappears. Shang Tsung smiles in anticipation. Wordlessly, Scorpion holds up a scorched skull with the spinal cord attached.
JOHNNY CAGE: Ouch.
His head hung in either sorrow or despair, Scorpion lets the skull shatter on the ground. With a loud scream, he bursts into flame and disappears. As the kombatants leave, Raiden looks over the skull alongside Cyrax.
RAIDEN: Despite my efforts, my vision has come to pass. An unfortunate end. He once defended Earthrealm from the Netherrealm armies of Shinnok and Quan Chi.
CYRAX: Scorpion will pay for this!
RAIDEN: Sub-Zero’s fate is his own doing.
CYRAX: His own doing?!
RAIDEN: The Lin Kuei have a history of making ruinous choices.
Cyrax glares at Raiden and begins to storm off, but Raiden’s next words stop him short.
RAIDEN: Such as the Cyber Initiative.
Cyrax turns back around to face him.
CYRAX: I am among those speaking out against the Grand Master’s plan. Surgically transform the Lin Kuei into glorified robots? It kills our intuition, our instincts.
RAIDEN: Did you speak out against the Lin Kuei’s participation in this tournament?
CYRAX: We were invited by Shang Tsung.
RAIDEN: He pays you to kill Earthrealm warriors. Betraying your own realm? I expect better, even from an assassin.
CYRAX: My loyalty is to the Grand Master.
He tries to walk off again, but Raiden stops him once more.
RAIDEN: Victory for Shang Tsung means the end of Earthrealm. And the Lin Kuei.
Cyrax pauses for a moment, but still walks off. Baraka, who has watched the whole exchange, snarls ominously and also leaves.