Under the impact of the shadow kick, Goro’s uninjured foot slipped from under him. The broken ankle alone was not strong enough to hold the giant’s weight. He swayed, lost his balance, and teetered on the edge of the cliff. For a moment he appeared to hang there, all motion suspended. Then he was gone.
Johnny rolled over and pushed himself up with his hands. He got his feet under him, then walked to the cliff’s edge. The wind blowing up the side of the cliff felt cool against the sweat of combat on his face as he looked out and down.
Incredibly, Goro still hung there, holding onto the edge of the cliff with his one good upper hand. Far below, the sheer face of the cliff vanished into the clouds which writhed around the island’s spike of stone.
Goro’s face was white and straining. The giant was unable to pull up his massive weight with just one arm. He tried to get a purchase on the cliff with one of his lower arms, but there was nothing on the smooth stone for him to grip.
The crowd had fallen silent. Sonya grabbed Liu’s hand and gripped it hard, so that her fingernails dug into his flesh.
Johnny was aware of another presence at his shoulder. Shang Tsung had walked up to stand beside him. The demon sorcerer looked from Johnny to Goro and back again. Then the sorcerer addressed Johnny directly.
“Finish him!” Shang said.
“No…” Goro said, but his voice was quiet and dignified, not pleading. Once again he was the proud Shokan prince, the general of the armies of Outworld. And he was speaking not to Shang Tsung, but to Johnny Cage.
“Finish him,” Shang repeated, his voice sharp and commanding. “Give me my tribute!”
“So you can steal his soul?” Johnny asked. “I’ve won. That’s enough.”
“It is not enough!” Shang exclaimed, his eyes burning. The chorus of trapped spirits howled around him. “His soul now – or yours later!”
Johnny turned away from Shang Tsung. He lay down on the ground at the cliff’s edge, his face only inches away from Goro’s. He stuck his right hand down the cliff, reaching for one of Goro’s lower hands.
“Go on,” Johnny said. “Grab hold. I’ll help you up.”
“So I can crawl back to my cave and die in disgrace?” Goro asked. “I think not. I am a Shokan warrior! We die in battle!”
The clouds below roiled in a tumult of wind.
Johnny nodded. “You fought well,” he said. “I understand.”
Without another word, Goro pushed himself away from the cliff, letting go with his upper hand. The Outworld giant fell down and away, his body spinning against the clouds beneath. Johnny watched him go until he vanished, still falling, face still stoically composed, down into the billowing mist. The chorus of enslaved souls faded and disappeared.
Johnny stood at last, his face wet with sweat, tears forming in his eyes. He turned away from the cliff’s edge. He ignored the furious Shang Tsung and walked, slowly and painfully, toward the surging crowd of earthly fighters.
Rayden was in the crowd, dressed, as always, in the garb of a humble coolie. Johnny walked up to the God of Lightning and bowed his head.
“Well done,” Rayden said.
Just at that moment Johnny heard a loud scream, not of pain or fear but of anger.
“No! Let me go!”
It was Sonya Blade.
Johnny and Rayden turned, and saw that Shang Tsung had the earthly woman in an immobilizing grip, with one hand on her throat and the other twisting her arm up behind her back.
“I hereby exercise my right of challenge!” Shang cried, his voice loud and carrying. “I challenge… this one!”
The dissonant chorus of enslaved souls once again began to howl.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You are a coward, sorcerer!” Rayden cried in a voice of thunder. “Stand and fight!”
The wind through the statuary garden blew higher. Dust and small leaves whirled through the air. The wind howled around the statues with a keening sound like the souls trapped by Shang Tsung’s Black Arts.
“The rules of the tournament are quite clear, Lord Rayden,” said Shang. He and Sonya were in the center of the whirlwind. “Mortal Kombat continues. I reserved the right to challenge the winner, or another of my choosing, at the place appointed by me, for the last battle of this final Mortal Kombat. I’m simply changing the place, and the fighter, as your champion agreed.”
The whirlwind grew higher. Black clouds gathered over the island, plunging it into a dusky twilight. The whirlwind grew opaque, hiding Shang and his captive from view.
“Sonya!” Johnny shouted.
A high wind blew across the garden, driving stinging rain before it. The sky darkened. The whirlwind spun higher, then collapsed. Where Sonya and Shang Tsung had been standing, nothing remained.
Johnny turned to Rayden. “Where has he taken her?”
“To the emperor’s castle in the wastelands of Outworld,” Rayden said. “Where I cannot follow.”
“But I can,” Liu said. His jaw was clenched and his voice tight. “I’m going after them.”
“Not without me you’re not,” Johnny said. He turned back to Rayden. “Lord Rayden, can Sonya beat Shang Tsung?”
“No,” the God of Thunder replied. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry–” Johnny began.
Rayden raised his hand to cut him off. Lightning cracked in the sky above them as the storm broke. “But there is one last rule. A rule which Shang Tsung neglected to mention.”
“She has to accept the challenge, or there can be no final combat,” Liu said. “Or so the legends say.”
“But you know her!” Johnny exclaimed. The rain plastered his hair to his skull and ran down his face. His clothes were soaked. “She’ll never back down!”
Rayden shook his head sadly. “Then the Kombat is lost.”
“I’ve got to stop her! I can fight Shang Tsung!” Johnny said. “I beat Goro; I’m the champion now!”
“Johnny Cage, you have played your part splendidly. But this battle you cannot win,” Rayden said.
“Then who can?” Johnny asked.
He and Rayden stood for a moment looking at one another. Then, as one, they turned to look at Liu.
Liu shrugged.
“Okay, so you’re the one,” Johnny said to his companion. “Now: how do we get to Outworld?”
“Truly a frivolous question,” Rayden said.
Liu nodded in slow understanding. The other two stood and watched him as he looked about at the storm-wracked island. “We’re already there,” he said.
“I have nothing further to teach you, Liu Kang,” Rayden said. “You possess the knowledge to defeat Shang Tsung. All that is lacking now is the will.” He placed a fatherly hand on Liu’s shoulder. “You are indeed the Chosen One.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Johnny asked Rayden.
Rayden shook his head. “In Outworld, if you look hard enough, you will have another guide. Good luck.”
A terrific roll of thunder beat across the island. The storm winds rose, screaming around them. The clouds thickened and a thick mist enveloped Johnny and Liu.
A moment later, the mist dissipated. Johnny and Liu were standing in the remnants of a devastated ancient city. Broken walls of brick and stone, smeared with soot, stood on every hand. Bright shards of glass sparkled underfoot, mixed with the dirt and mud. They stood beside a roadway of black ash which led through the ruins to a distant, towering mountain fortress. The roadway was lined with twisted metal gargoyles.
“So, where are we, O Chosen One?” Johnny asked.
“Where we’ve always been,” Liu replied slowly, looking about him. “We’re in Outworld. The island was an illusion created by Shang Tsung to make us believe we were still on Earth. We crossed into Outworld that night on the ship.”
Johnny put his hands on his hips. He turned slowly around, surveying the landscape.
“So this is Outworld?” He looked at the crumbling walls. Something small and brown scurried away.
“I can see why they would want a change of scenery.”
He turned to examine one of the gargoyles. It was made of metal, about twice as tall as a man. On closer examination, Johnny saw that each gargoyle was a cage, and each cage held the remains of a humanoid creature. Some were fairly fresh. Others had rotted away to mere skeletons.
Johnny turned aside in disgust.
“We should head for that tower,” Liu said, pointing to the forbidding fortress built on the high crag. Scurrying dark shapes moved along the tops of the tower walls, and slit-like windows gleamed with firelight in the crenellated towers. “Shang Tsung will have taken Sonya there.”
“Scary-looking place,” Johnny said. Battlements rose above the black walls while drifting smoke swirled about them. The red of the setting sun under low clouds tinged the fang-like towers. Dark birds wheeled around the brooding fortress.
“The Black Tower,” Liu said. “According to the legends, the emperor built it on the burial mound of his enemies.”
Johnny let out a low whistle. “That guy sure had a whole lot of enemies.”
“Now he has two more,” Liu replied. “Time to go.”
They began to walk along the desolate avenue, heading up toward the emperor’s fortress.
Deep within the Black Tower, far below ground level, was a great circular arena. Its floor was made up of thousands of stones arranged in a mosaic to form the dragon-headed symbol of Mortal Kombat. Dozens of blazing torches circled the area, filling it with shadows and highlights as the flames twisted and flared. A pillar of onyx stood in the center of the room, high and smooth, its polished sides reflecting the torchlight in their depths.
Sonya stood against the pillar. She was dressed in the silk garments, and her legs and arms were bare. Her hands were chained together and lifted high over her head, attached to a hook above her on the pillar.
The Special Forces lieutenant faced a silent monk. The monk raised a goblet of water to her lips. She turned her head aside.
All at once a deep gong sounded, its harsh tones echoing across the circle. Through a hidden door, Shang Tsung approached. He wore cloth-of-gold robes stitched with green and black embroideries depicting dragons entwined in combat, and carried a fan.
As Shang approached, the monk bowed and backed away.
“It’s been great talking to you,” Sonya said, addressing the monk. “I’m sure you’re going to get that raise and the big promotion. And I hope things work out with your girlfriend.”
“I’m afraid your sarcasm is wasted on him,” Shang said when the monk had vanished from sight. “He is as incapable of hearing as he is of speech.”
Sonya looked at Shang with total scorn in her eyes. “Why have you brought me here?” she asked. “Why not Liu or Johnny? Are you afraid of them?”
“I fear no human,” Shang said. “I brought you here so that you might be my queen. I have never seen a human female warrior such as you. I must possess you.”
Sonya laughed in his face.
“You fail to appreciate your position,” Shang said. “You are my prisoner now.” He stroked his chin with his fingers, eyeing her speculatively. “You can be my slave queen, if that’s how you want it,” he added.
“In your dreams,” Sonya said, but deep inside she felt a shiver of fear.
“Nearly all of my dreams have already come true,” Shang said. He looked closely at her, his eyes large and dark before her, but with a flame burning at their bottoms. She felt as if he were gazing down into her soul, violating her at the deepest level. She returned his gaze, however, head high and defiant.
“This dream of yours will become a nightmare,” Sonya promised him, holding him with her own gaze.
“I can lay the Realm of Earth at your feet and fulfill your every fantasy, Sonya,” Shang Tsung said, his voice equal parts pleading and boasting. The torches flared around him. Far away in the castle a rattle of drums sounded.
“What do you know about my fantasies?”
“I can see into your woman’s soul,” Shang replied. “You’re tired of being alone, always on your guard. Just once you’d like to let your defenses down and give yourself totally and unconditionally to a man who is your equal. I am that man. At dawn you will fight me in the final battle of Mortal Kombat. You will lose, for you must. You are not my match as a fighter.”
Shang paused to look at her again. Then he continued speaking as he returned to pacing the stone floor.
“I will spare you, Sonya, in your defeat. And afterward we will live happily ever after.”
“That’s really sick and perverted,” she said. “What happens if I refuse to fight you?”
“You? Back down from a challenge? When have you ever done that? It’s simply not in your nature.”
“You don’t know the first thing about my nature. Human beings can change – but you wouldn’t understand that.”
Shang gave her a sharp glance. “There’s something else,” he said. “Something you hope to hide from me. Tell me.”
He stared at her as she tried to twist her head aside. “Ah,” he said at last. “I see it. You hope that Johnny Cage will come here after you.”
“Yes,” Sonya said. “I’m not the rightful champion of the Realm of Earth. And he is.”
“I hope he does come after you,” Shang said. “You can watch me destroy him.”
“Johnny Cage beat Goro.”
“But he can’t beat me,” Shang said. His voice was smooth and reasonable. “If you want to spare him, you will fight me yourself. Then I will enter the Realm of Earth in triumph, together with my benevolent master the emperor. And you, Sonya, will be at my side.”
The sun set in a blaze of red over the ruined city of Outworld. A foul breeze stirred the ash on the road.
Johnny and Liu continued to trudge along toward the Black Tower. All at once, Liu held up his hand, halting them.
“What is it?” Johnny whispered. The wind sighed among the broken walls. Dark humanoid figures darted among the shadows.
“Wait,” Liu said. He stood silent, motionless, eyes closed. A moment passed, then another. “There’s something else.”
He paused a moment more. Then his hand darted out.
“Gotcha!” Liu said. He grasped the neck of a struggling creature nearly his own size. A moment before, the creature had been perfectly camouflaged against the nearby wall.
“This is the thing that spit acid in my face, down in the tunnels,” Liu said. He jerked the creature’s head aside just as a cloud of stinging vapor shot forth from its mouth.
But the creature wasn’t finished. It twisted and spun, trying to pull away from Liu. The two of them thrashed in the dust. Johnny couldn’t get near to give his friend a hand as they rolled over and over. The creature Liu had caught changed shape again and again, and shifted in color from the black of the stones to the green of jungle leaves, until finally it turned the dead white of moonlight. Its eyes were large and staring red.
The creature’s tail whipped out, taking Liu’s legs and pulling them from beneath him. Liu fell down heavily and lost his grip. In the same instant Johnny leapt into the white thing, grabbing the shape-shifter from behind, pulling it up and holding it away from his companion.
Liu scrambled to his feet. He braced, then shot out a powerful side kick. It took the creature in the belly, knocking it away from Johnny. The white creature spun away, bumping one of the metal gargoyles which lined the road. In the blink of an eye, metal tendrils shot out of the gargoyle, entwining and encasing the creature.
The creature howled once, a hideous sound full of agony. Then it was silent. The gargoyle enveloped the creature inside itself until the two seemed to be one. Liu and Johnny turned away, overcome with the sudden horror they had witnessed.
A woman’s voice spoke behind them.
“You’re finally learning, Liu Kang,” she said.
“Kitana!” Liu exclaimed.
“Come with me,” Kitana said. “We must hurry.” She turned away, her si
lken gown rippling. “We don’t have any time to lose.”
The three walked quickly along the road, heading toward the fortress.
“What happened here?” Liu asked, gesturing around him to take in the whole dreary scene.
“The same thing that will happen to your world, unless you prevent it,” Kitana replied. Her voice was bitter. “My father was the rightful ruler of Outworld. Then his best warriors lost ten Mortal Kombats, and the emperor killed my parents and made me his ward to lay claim to the throne.”
She looked sadly at the blasted landscape. “This place was beautiful once, before Shang Tsung engineered its destruction.”
“How can I stop this from happening in my world?” Liu asked.
“The power to save your world lies within you,” Kitana said. “If I did not believe in you, Liu Kang, I would not have helped you. In the Black Tower you will face three challenges. Prepare yourself. You must face your enemy, you must face yourself, and you must face your worst fear.”
They walked along rapidly for some time, until they reached the foot of the Black Tower. The gates were closed and barred. The walls of the castle rose high and sheer before them, the sides smooth as glass.
“What do you think?” Johnny asked, hands on his hips.
“I think we’re in trouble,” Liu replied.
A group of monks encircled them, eyes gleaming under their hoods. Unlike the peaceful monks on the islands, these carried gleaming metal knives in their hands.
“Back to back,” Johnny said. “And let’s see who’s the best.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Outside the castle, dawn was near. Within, down in the lower dungeon area, the shadows were deep where the light of the torches didn’t reach. A drum, deep and steady, sounded out a slow cadence. Sonya’s arms ached from being tied to the stone pillar. It felt like forever since she’d been free.
The doors in front of her opened, and Shang Tsung paced in. He was resplendent in a robe of still silk, and his head was covered by a tight black cap. He appeared well pleased with himself, and already he looked at Sonya with the pride of possession in his eyes.
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