From alt.games.mk Mon Jul 11 23:20:35 1994 Path: panix!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken.llnl.gov!fnnews.fnal.gov!nntp-server.caltech.edu!mustang.mst6.lanl.gov!newshost.lanl.gov!usenet From: yol@lams.lams.losalamos.k12.nm.us (Jonathan) Newsgroups: alt.games.mk Subject: "The Scorpion Saga" (Part 3 of ?) Date: 11 Jul 1994 20:07:02 GMT Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory Lines: 214 Message-ID: <2vs8p6$809@newshost.lanl.gov> NNTP-Posting-Host: transitory15.lanl.gov X-Newsreader: WinVN version 0.80 Part III Preparation by Jonathan Harrell I awaken. I am lying in a field. There are rolling hills to my left and right, behind and in front of me. I am surrounded by hills. Small hills, but hills. Slowly I groggily rise to my feet. I am not completely sure who I am, or why I am here. I don't even know where I am. But, why does this place seem so familiar? I look down. I am dressed in a black body suit with a yellow coverall, kneeguards, and loin cloth. I can feel that I am also wearing a hood of some sort. Slowly, it all comes back to me. About being murdered by Sub-Zero, the other world, Sub- Zero killing me for money. And then trading my soul for eternal life as an undead creature, and never again knowing my family. I shudder. But I am feeling hot. I reach up to take my hood off but think better of it. I do not wish to go around in public with a skull on my shoulders. It's probably better if I leave it on. Suddenly, I recognize this place. It is about five miles away from my house. I used to jog to here and back. Only five miles from home! I can go see my wife and child! Wait. No I can't. I'm undead. Hmm. . . For a moment now, I wish I hadn't chosen to return to earth, that I should've chosen to remain in the other world like all other souls, and wait for my family to die and come, and we could all be together again. . . . I shrug the thought off. My choice had been wise, hadn't it? After all, now I'll be able to get my revenge on Sub-Zero, right? Yeah. . . , right. Standing atop the highest hill, I feel powerful. I don't know exactly why. Maybe it's because of the fact that I am undead, and cannot be killed (theoretically that is). I look to my left, and to my right. To my right I see a small tree with a branch sticking out a meter above the rest. It is about twenty meters away. I feel the sudden urge to try out my new powers. I reach behind my back and pull out a thick cord with a spear point attached to the end of it from a concealed pocket on my uniform I didn't know I had until now. Releasing the excess cord, I take aim, and hurl the spear toward my target--the tree branch. The spear and cord sails through the air as it strikes its target with stunning accuracy, knocking the branch clean off the short tree. I reel in the downed tree branch. When it reaches my feet, I pick it up and realize that the spear has pierced the at least inch-thick branch. The spear point had gone all the way through. I can't imagine what that would do to human flesh. Oh, but I can. Suddenly, without any forethought whatsoever, I teleport. I don't know how I do it, I just do. The feeling is great! I feel myself being propelled backward, but my body is still standing where it was. Then, suddenly, I am at the other end of the field, looking back at my body, still standing where it was. Then, it is gone, and I am now standing forty meters away from where I had been seconds before. Fantastic! Then I think, this would be a great way to attack my opponents without them knowing. So I teleport again. This time, though a different way: First, I do everything normally (well, as normal as you can get with the paranormal). But as I appear on the other side of the field, I quickly stick out a jumping punch that I learned from my master many years ago. Wonderful! A surprise attack at my disposal! I wonder if it will work the same with a kick? I try. It works! Two different kinds of surprise attacks ready for use. What if I combine my two newfound weapons? I try it. First I teleport as usual, throwing a punch at the end. But then, before my feet touch the ground, I launch my spear at the same tree, only a different branch. It hits. Once I hit the ground, I reel in the branch that has just been knocked off. Once it falls in front of my feet, I pick it up and shatter it with my right hand. A winning combination! I cannot wait to try this out on my opponents at this Shang Tsung's tournament. I cannot wait to try this out on Sub-Zero! I spend two hours training in the field, and trying out my new attacks. I would stay longer, but I am anxious to enter this Shang Tsung's tournament. I try out new, and more complicated combinations: For instance, I execute a jump kick, and then in midair, teleport, punching as I appear on the other side. Then, as soon as I hit the ground, I launch my spear. If I were doing this to a real foe, I would reel him in and follow up this combination with a powerful uppercut. I began to master combos like this, and soon feel almost prepared for the tournament. I still feel, however that a little more preparation would be sufficient. I perform the previously described combination once more, this time with stunning skill. As soon as this combo is completed, a deep, intimidating voice rings out, sending vibrations through the ground, and chills up my spine--"Excellent!" I stop in mid motion. I look all around me. There is no one. No one within my vision that could have said that. No one in the world that could have made the earth shake when it was spoken. I must be hearing things. Probably dying and coming back to life has gotten to me, I reason. "Outstanding!" the same deep voice shakes the earth once more. "Who said that?" I am frightened now. I have no idea what could have done that, and I do not wish to try and imagine what it could be at the moment. I receive no answer. For a moment I just stand there, dumbfounded. Dark clouds form over the field in a matter of seconds. What was, two seconds ago a beautiful day, is now a dark and gloomy one. It is as if a storm is about to happen. But for clouds to completely cover the sky in two seconds? There is something supernatural about this place, but I don't know what it is. "You have been summoned," the voice startles me again, "to compete in Shang Tsung's tournament of Mortal Kombat. He has grown impatient for you to come. I will take you to his island." "Who are you?" "Let me take you there. If you refuse, you shall be destroyed." All right, I think, no need to get pushy. "Okay," I say. "I'll go. What do I--" My sentence is cut short by a strong wind that sweeps over the field. Suddenly, the dark clouds disappear, as unexpectedly as they came, and I am lifted off the ground. I am lifted with such force., my hood nearly blows off. I am being whisked away at an incredible speed by an unknown force. Below me, I see the very blurred images of cars traveling on dirt roads. Then, seconds later, I see the ocean. I do not know what ocean it is; all I see is the light blue color. Then, I see land. My pace slows. I see only the sandy beach of this island at first, but then the lush vegetation comes into focus. Below me, the land is covered by clusters of green trees. I am set down in the middle of a grove of trees. It is humid here. Very humid. I resist the temptation to remove my hood. I touch the green leaves of the nearest tree. They are wet; there are droplets of water all over the leaves. The ground feels moist. It has just rained. It smells nice, but it is unbearably humid. I cannot stand the humidity. And this heavy ninja suit does not make the heat any easier to cope with. I am suddenly drawn toward a thick section of trees off to my far right. Like in the other world, I feel that this is the correct path to take. It's not really a 'path', just a direction in which to go. I have reached the thick trees. They are too thick to pass through. This does not discourage my sureness of direction, however. I pull out my spear and cord, and slice through the thick leaves and branches. What I see on the other side astounds me: It is a huge stone wall, ten meters high. I gaze up at the massive structure in awe, wondering what it is for. Then I see the carvings. There are strange carvings of dragons with long, snake-like tails and bodies carved into the stone wall. The dragons are huge, indeed, each is about three times my size, and intimidating to see. I look to my left. There is another thick section of leaves and branches, which I slice through with my spear. Upon clearing the branches, I find myself standing before a narrow mud trail, starting, apparently, from the beach on my right side, and leading to two large, bright red, metal doors. The doors are at least twice my height, and wider than a giant panda. They have the same dragons that the wall has, only these are carved out of solid gold. There is a large golden ring on each door, obviously for pulling it open. I pull. I find the doors amazingly heavy, and it takes most of my immortal strength just to pull them open. Once I do, I find myself standing at the entrance of some kind of open area with lit torches protruding from the wall. In the distance, there is a statue of a meditating monk, and a Japanese-style building. I look around. I am alone in this place, yet I feel a presence. I hear the metal doors close behind me, and, suddenly get a claustrophobic feeling, even though I am in an open area. I hear a voice--"I see you have decided to come," it says. "Who are you?" it is not the same voice that I heard in the field. It is not as deep and menacing. This new voice sounds very old, and Oriental. "Have you not already figured it out?" An old Chinese man appears before me. He is dressed in blue and brown robes with a long, white beard reaching his waist. "I am Shang Tsung," he says. Somehow I am not surprised. "You are the evil one?" I ask. "The sorcerer?" He chuckles slightly. "Call me what you like, Scorpion. But now, let's get down to business," he clears his throat. "You have been invited by me to participate in my great tournament of Mortal Kombat. Should you accept, you will be made to compete against seven of the greatest warriors the world has ever known." "I was told six warriors," I say. "Possibly," he says. "But I have added a twist to the tournament. In addition to doing battle with the other six warriors, you will have to battle yourself." A puzzled look forms over my face. "I see you do not completely understand. Nevermind. You will. Now, if I may continue. . . If you are able to defeat all of the other warriors, including yourself, you shall participate in three matches consisting of two consecutive warriors to test your endurance. Should you survive them, you will do battle with my prize pupil, and current grand champion of the tournament, Goro. If by any luck you should defeat Goro, you will do battle with me. But do not expect the last match; Goro has not been defeated in 500 years," he pauses, allowing his words to sink in. "Should you refuse to participate," he continues, "you shall be destroyed. Have you any questions?" I shake my head, no. "Good. Let the tournament begin!" With that, he is gone, and I am once again alone. Next. . . . . . . . The First Tournament--part IV in "The Scorpion Saga." Jonathan