Fire and Ice (MK9 - MK11)

Chapter 6: Jax Briggs

At the Wu Shi Academy, Jax is smoking a cigar while contemplating recent events with Raiden.

RAIDEN: I do not understand why my amulet is furthur damaged. "He must win". If not Liu Kang, then who?

JAX: Ya got me. Not sure anybody coulda done what he did. Made Shang Tsung look like a chump.

While they're talking, a much younger looking Shang Tsung walks up to them seemingly unnoticed.

RAIDEN: (Not looking at Tsung) Here to congratulate us on our victory, sorcerer?

Jax turns round and throws away his cigar.

JAX: What? Shang Tsung?!

RAIDEN: You have been revitalised, I see. I didn't realise your master was in the habit of rewarding failure.

SHANG TSUNG: The emperor has an offer, Raiden. A new tournament.

RAIDEN: Heh. I see no reason to participate in any plan of yours.

SHANG TSUNG: The emperor proposes a single tournament, to replace the current system of ten. It will be held in Outworld. If Earthrealm does not win, Outworld will absorb it. But if Earthrealm wins, Shao Kahn will abandon his claim to it forever.

RAIDEN: Give your emperor my regards.

Tsung smiles and generates a large portal across the courtyard. Out of it emerge hundreds of Tarkatan warriors. Furiously, Raiden begins fighting with Tsung while Jax jumps into the rampaging army. He clotheslines one Tarkatan down, headbutts another, punches and knees yet another, throws him down and finishes him with a head stomp. A fourth Tarkatan sucker punches him, a fifth hits him and the fourth then kicks him in the face, sending him sprawling. As he lies on the ground, the Tarkatan brings his boot down hard on his face, knocking him unconscious.

Jax starts hearing Raiden's voice as he comes to, and spots Johnny Cage kneeling over him. The Academy has been devastated by the Tarkatans, but Liu Kang and Kung Lao as well as Cage are uninjured.

RAIDEN: He gained a momentary advantage during our kombat and escaped. I now realise what we must do.

JAX: Uggh... Anybody get the number o' that? Wait. Where's Sonya?

RAIDEN: Shang Tsung has taken her.

JAX: We've gotta find her!

KUNG LAO: We must follow them!

RAIDEN: Shang Tsung has made it clear that Earthrealm will be under constant threat unless I agree to a new tournament.

Raiden then receives another vision; one of Liu Kang punching a hole through Shao Kahn's chest.

JAX: Another vision?

RAIDEN: Yes. I saw Liu Kang win the proposed tournament. I believe we must attend. But my earlier vision, of your victory over Shang Tsung, was not the solution I sought. Therefore this premonition must show an event I need to change. Perhaps "He must win" refers to another.

Liu Kang looks a bit downcast at this.

RAIDEN: Hear me, Elder Gods! I accept the terms proposed by Shao Kahn!

A light from the heavens briefly absorbs Raiden, which is presumably their acknowledgement of this.

RAIDEN: We go to Outworld.

In Outworld, Goro brings what appears to be an amulet with a ying-yang symbol in the center to Shao Kahn. Kahn studies it, then returns it to the Shokan. Raiden enters the scene with Jax and Johnny Cage flanking him.

JAX: I assume that's the Big Man himself.

JOHNNY CAGE: The wrestler guy with the cow skull on his head? And why aren't the Kung Fu Twins here helping us?