The scene cuts to the Lin Kuei temple. Two members of the clan, outfitted in blue light armour complete with a sword on the back, rush up the gigantic staircase. Sitting on the throne of the Grandmaster is Kuai Liang – better known as Sub-Zero – now fully restored to life. His whitened eyes take in the two Lin Kuei, who put their hands together and bow their heads before him in respect.
LIN KUEI #1: The forward defenses stand down as you command, Grandmaster.
LIN KUEI #2: It is confirmed. Four intruders.
The Grandmaster smiles in response.
SUB-ZERO: It is time to entertain our guests.
The scene cuts to just outside of the Lin Kuei temple, panning down from the giant statue of the first Lin Kuei Grandmaster to the temple’s entrance. In the midst of the light snow falling down, Team S-F have all reached the rendezvous point and wait to the side of the entrance staircase.
CASSIE: All right, I’ve got point. (To Takeda) You and Jin, that side.
Both of them exchange a glance. Takeda’s face is unreadable, but Kung Jin clearly doesn’t agree with the command.
CASSIE: Move!
Both of them obey and slip over to the other side of the staircase.
CASSIE: (To Jackie) Ready?
Jacqui nods her consent, but just as Cassie turns to the entrance, the temple doors open up. She hastily backs up as Sub-Zero and four Lin Kuei students exit the temple, walking down to the grounds just before them. They stop before the statue of the First Grandmaster and kneel in meditation.
Jin motions with his head to move in. Cassie mouths “Not yet” to him in response. After a moment, Jin chooses to ignore the command and stomps out of his hiding place.
CASSIE: Dammit, Jin!
All three of them quickly follow as Jin points to Sub-Zero.
KUNG JIN: You. I need to s–
Cassie lightly hits him on the back, grabbing his attention. Sub-Zero speaks to them without ever lifting his head from his meditation.
SUB-ZERO: You are not welcome here. State your intentions.
Jin decides to let Cassie do the talking, and she steps forward.
CASSIE: Grandmaster. We need you to come with us. My name is Sergeant–
The Lin Kuei with Sub-Zero bark out a command in Chinese. Reinforcements flood in from seemingly nowhere, surrounding Team S-F and outnumbering them about 5 to 1. Sub-Zero stands up from his meditation.
SUB-ZERO: You demand my cooperation. Yet you are cut off. Surrounded. What will you do?
CASSIE: My father always spoke highly of you, Sub-Zero. He wants to talk.
SUB-ZERO: Talking. Always his first choice.
KUNG JIN: Okay, let’s try pummeling. (To Team S-F) Now!
CASSIE: Wait!
It’s far too late for waiting. Jin charges into a line of Lin Kuei as Sub-Zero rushes in and takes a swing at Cassie. As Takeda and Jacqui begin fighting as well, Cassie barely ducks out of the way in time and only just gets an arm up to block a left swing. Sub-Zero knees her in the side and blocks two kicks from her in response. He steps back from a wild right swing and headbutts Cassie, before throwing her to the ground. She comes up in a roll and pulls out her sidearm, but Sub-Zero freezes it with a quick ice ball, rendering it useless. Cassie goes into a fighting stance.
SUB-ZERO: Cassandra Cage. You lead this group, but they do not follow. What would your mother do?
CASSIE: Stop wasting time and take you down.
They fight. As youthful and determined a fighter as Cassie is, Sub-Zero is leagues ahead of her with his strength, experience and powers. After a fierce battle, he leaves her defeated on the ground.
SUB-ZERO: You are more like your mother than you think.
Takeda charges at Sub-Zero from behind and launches into a spinkick (with multiple spins). Sub-Zero blocks the attack and throws several punches that Takeda blocks, but he eventually lands one. Takeda fights back with several more kicks, all blocked. On the final kick, Sub-Zero covers himself with ice as Takeda lands on him with a spinning downwards kick, seemingly shattering him into ice shards.
After Takeda spends a moment looking around, Sub-Zero resurfaces behind him and dropkicks him in the back. The Lin Kuei Grandmaster kips up to his feet as Takeda struggles to his.
SUB-ZERO: Your powers should have revealed my intention, Takahashi Takeda. No doubt Kenshi taught you how to use them.
TAKEDA: My father taught me a lot, Grandmaster.
SUB-ZERO: Let us see.
They fight. Even with his agility and lasher whips, the Shirai Ryu ninja proves to be little match for the Lin Kuei Grandmaster. It’s not long before Takeda is facedown on the ground, defeated.
SUB-ZERO: You are not your father. Not yet.
From behind, Jacqui attempts to punch Sub-Zero in the back of his head, but he anticipates her attack and sweeps her legs with his arm. Jacqui turns her fall into a cartwheel and lands on her feet.
JACQUI: Dammit.
SUB-ZERO: You announced your arrival, Jacqueline Briggs.
JACQUI: Specialist Briggs.
SUB-ZERO: Yes. Military decorum is important to your family.
Jacqui takes several swings at Sub-Zero, one of them managing to hit him in his side. She lands another in his stomach and a superman punch to his face, staggering him a few steps backwards.
JACQUI: If you know my father, you know me. Thought you and he were friends.
SUB-ZERO: Our histories share a dark chapter.
They fight. Despite her only augmentation being her powered gauntlets, Jacqui proves to be a tough fighter. However, Sub-Zero’s experience, strength and ice powers see him through the fight and he knocks Jacqui to the ground.
SUB-ZERO: Do not judge yourself harshly, Specialist Briggs.
Jacqui suddenly whirls to her feet and lands a spinkick across Sub-Zero’s face. She lands a right hand and then a roundhouse kick, taking the Grandmaster to one knee, stunned. A Lin Kuei ninja charges her with a sword, forcing her to block his attacks and disengage from the fight. Elsewhere on the temple grounds, Kung Jin throws a Lin Kuei to the ground, blocks a sword strike from another, grabs his arms and judo throws him down too.
Seeing Sub-Zero on one knee, Jin charges in with a straight kick, but Sub-Zero suddenly stands up and blocks it and a follow up kick. The Grandmaster ducks under one of Jin’s jump spinning kicks and charges in with several punches. Jin blocks most, but one in the chest and another in the face tag him. He staggers back from the onslaught and magically readies his bow-staff.
KUNG JIN: A feint. Bravo.
SUB-ZERO: Kung Jin. You should rally your companions rather than mock your superiors.
KUNG JIN: I’ll remember that – in case I ever meet one.
They fight. Jin’s arrogance prove to be his undoing, for in spite of his skill in battle, Sub-Zero’s endurance is far too strong and his powers are far greater. In short order, Jin is lying on his back in the snow.
SUB-ZERO: False bravado does not suit you.
By now, the Lin Kuei have successfully subdued Cassie, Jacqui and Takeda, and have them on their knees with their hands tied behind them. Kung Jin is soon bound and put with them in the same manner. Sub-Zero walks over to Team S-F.
TAKEDA: Any ideas?
CASSIE: Sub Zero, let’s talk.
SUB-ZERO: That opportunity has passed.
KUNG JIN: Got a new plan, Cage?
JACQUI: You could’a followed the old one, Jin.
CASSIE: (To Sub-Zero) You’re gonna catch hell if you kill us.
Sub-Zero considers this for a moment.
SUB-ZERO: …Yes. I suppose so.
He calls out to one of the Lin Kuei in Chinese. The assassin cuts the ropes that bind Team S-F, and the Lin Kuei walk back into the temple.
CASSIE: That worked?
A whistle catches Team S-F’s attention as they rise to their feet.
Standing on the staircase to the temple is Johnny Cage, who salutes them with a pointed finger.
JACQUI: This was all a… a–
SUB-ZERO: A training exercise.
CASSIE: Damn. I shoulda seen it.
SUB-ZERO: You and your friends show much promise, Cassandra Cage. But until you function as one, you will fall short.
Back on their plane and in their command centre, Team S-F begin dressing their outfits and pride. Cassie walks in, making sure to shoulder bump Jin as she passes. Johnny follows behind her.
JOHNNY: So other than that you enjoyed your visit.
CASSIE: The Lin Kuei shredded us.
KUNG JIN: You, maybe.
JACQUI: I see plenty of frozen bootprints on your ass, too.
JOHNNY: C’mon now, you’re all winners in my book.
This does nothing to encourage Team S-F, who continue to look downcast. Johnny’s phone begins to vibrate in his back pocket and he takes it out. He takes one look at the screen and becomes deadly serious.
JOHNNY: New orders. From General Blade.
He walks over to the computer and types something in. He reads the screen for more info.
JOHNNY: Priority One: Outworlders. Here in Earthrealm…
TAKEDA: An invasion?
JACQUI: Couldn’t be.
She notices Johnny is silent. So does Jin.
KUNG JIN: You’re not afraid are you, Mister Cage?
JOHNNY: Outworlders, I can handle…
The scene cuts to Team S-F’s plane touching down at a refugee camp policed by the Special Forces. The blind swordsman Kenshi – aged and graying as well – walks over to the plane. The scene cuts to a few minutes later, after Johnny and Team S-F have disembarked from the plane.
JOHNNY: So when did they show up?
KENSHI: The portal opened by the docks a few hours ago. Nearly five thousand in all. Refugees from the Outworld civil war.
JOHNNY: Must be bad if they risked coming to Earthrealm.
KENSHI: (To Kung Jin) After you.
As Jin, Cassie, Jacqui and Johnny all walk into one of the command tents, Kenshi stops Takeda and puts a hand on his shoulder.
KENSHI: (Telepathically) Do not dwell on your encounter with the Lin Kuei, son.
Takeda sighs out loud.
TAKEDA: (Telepathically) Kinda hard not to.
They both walk into the command tent. Amidst all of the Special Forces soldiers at various monitors, Raiden stands over a beautiful young woman, who despite looking vaguely Asian is no doubt from Outworld. She is seating and nursing a hot drink as Kenshi and Takeda walk over. General Sonya Blade – looking startingly young for almost fifty – turns when she sees them approaching.
SONYA: Thanks, Kenshi. Could you and Mister Cage join us?
She perches on the side of a nearby table near the woman. Cassie begins to walk over as well, and Sonya addresses her while barely looking in her direction.
SONYA: Sergeant Cage, you and your team as you were.
She turns away. Cassie is clearly annoyed by this, and shares a glance with her father. At his silent request, she does as she’s told.
RAIDEN: This is Li Mei. She seeks asylum for her people in Earthrealm.
LI MEI: Our village, Sun Do, was the epicentre of a fierce battle. We barely escaped with our lives.
JOHNNY: Such is war.
A moment of silence passes.
JOHNNY: I mean, no offense, but… you Outworlders kinda live for that, right?
LI MEI: This was different. The rebels, Mileena, had a weapon unlike anything… Entire battalions, erased. It was not honourable. Not kombat.
RAIDEN: Tell me more about the weapon.
LI MEI: A talisman. Gold, with a centre jewel. Mileena wields it’s crimson energy without precision.
CASSIE: Well, that’s good then–
SONYA: Not now, Sergeant Cage.
Cassie looks downcast as Li Mei continues.
LI MEI: It is enough that she possesses it. It turns the tide in her favor. The emperor grows desperate. And those caught in the middle… pay the price.
RAIDEN: If this talisman is what I suspect it to be, we may all pay a price.
KUNG JIN: We talking about Shinnok’s Amulet?
SONYA: (To Raiden) Can’t be. The base, the vault, your wardings? S-F, Shaolin, no way anyone can get past all that.
RAIDEN: I must be certain.
He leaves the tent. Johnny breaks the silence.
JOHNNY: Well, this is cozy.
Sonya says nothing, but glares at him with an annoyed expression. Li Mei notices the tension between them and tries to cool it off.
LI MEI: (To Johnny) You remind me of an Earthrealmer who crossed over with us. He also found humour in everything.
JOHNNY: Handsome guy, right?
The joke is seemingly lost on Li Mei.
LI MEI: He was an Earthrealmer. One of his eyes… glowed red.
At this, Johnny and Sonya realise exactly who she means.
KUNG JIN: (To Jacqui) Who does she mean?
Jacqui shrugs in response.
SONYA: Kenshi, continue with Li Mei. I’m going to the refugee camp. Gotta get to him before he finds a way out.
She starts walking outside. Johnny falls in with her.
JOHNNY: I’ll come with.
Sonya stops at once and addresses Johnny directly.
SONYA: Go get an update on camp security from Colonel Flagg.
JOHNNY: Why?
SONYA: Because then you won’t be here.
Cassie looks more outraged than her father does and starts forward. Johnny motions for her to stand down and then leaves the tent without another word. Sonya watches him as he leaves, and doesn’t look away until Cassie addresses her.
CASSIE: Are we with you?
SONYA: No. I need to confirm with Kotal Kahn that Li Mei’s story is true. You and your team are going to Outworld.
She turns around and leaves the tent without another word.