Yourfight is over. Drink some more.
Yes. You're safe now. There will be no punishment.
Only reward.
A magnificent creature.
Such power.
You've selected well, daughters, as you did before. Is the other being attended to?
Yes, my Queen.
These Earth mortals warrior lines will compliment our own nicely.
- Prepare him. - Yes, Kreeya.
It's time. Leave us.
You are fit for a queen.
He died happy.
- Hmm. - Then again, they all do.
Ready?
Okay. Kreeya should be done with the other one.
In each of us there burns a soul of a warrior.
In every generation, a few are chosen to prove it.
Centuries ago in a time of darkness and fury that fate befell three strangers.
A monk - Kung Lao...
An exiled guard - Siro...
And a thief - Taja...
Who have to defend our Earth Realm from the forces of Outworld.
By fighting for their lives.
By fighting for their honour.
Your soul is mine!
And by fighting for their realm.
It's the burden you must carry.
In a tournament called... Mortal Kombat.
They always know when to disappear.
Can I show you something?
No, I'm... I'm here to sell, not buy.
Oh, I'm sorry. We've already got more than we can handle.
I guarantee you've never seen anything like it.
Okay. A quick look.
Siro, Kung Lao, get out here. Where did you get this?
What's wrong, Taja?
Who's this guy?
Forget him. Look at this.
Kreeya...
- Where'd this come from? - I found it.
Over near the south bank of Lake Jyal.
- When? - This morning.
What else did you find?
- Like a structure or a hut? - No, hey, I just found that one piece.
I swear, okay?
Can I go?
All right.
Uh, l... I want my piece back.
If, uh, I mean, l... I came to sell it.
- If you aren't buying... - Uh, yeah, yeah, we'll trade you for it.
Take whatever you want.
What're we gonna do?
You've got to be kidding. Oh, no, you don't
Here. Thanks for stopping by.
- Go. - But...
Is it possible? Kreeya back in Earth Realm?
- Planning another takeover. - Yeah...
she just snuck in and set up a hive.
- We gotta get out there and find it. - Or them.
We don't know how many she's got.
We gotta move fast. We only have a couple days before her children are born.
And grown into full warriors.
Let's just hope we're not too late already.
How many have we lost?
Most of the hives in Outworld have been destroyed.
Shao Kahn has turned whole legions into hive hunters.
We are losing too many warriors on the battle field.
Our numbers are depleted.
The hives in Earth Realm are crucial now.
I'll make sure they're well-protected.
Their safety is the first condition of my new alliance.
You're sure they can be trusted?
Remember, daughter...
always look for your next ally to be an enemy of your enemy.
Fortunately, Shao Kahn has made his share.
You sure you know what you're doing with that stuff?
Pretty simple, really.
I've just gotta get the proportions right between the sulphur, nitrates and charcoal.
Believe me...
one of these little babies here will blow Kreeya's nests sky high.
I've seen what black powder can do. Just be careful you don't blow us up first.
Don't worry, Kung Lao.
- I am steady as a rock. - New toys?!
Cute, Rayden. Sometimes I wonder whose side you're on.
Earth's. Which I don't want to see destroyed.
This is for Kreeya's destruction. She got back in here somehow.
I suspected it. She'll be trying to establish nests wherever she can now.
- Her losses were staggering. - Is she near defeat?
Not yet. Not in her mind.
Sounds like she better pray for some luck though.
With a woman like Kreeya, luck has nothing to do with it.
Seduction and deception are more like it.
And the worse things get for her, the more dangerous she becomes.
How?
What would you do if you were losing too many soldiers in a war?
What she's doing.
- Replenish my losses with new fighters. - What else?
What else could she do to buy time while she's creating more warriors?
Find an ally.
Everybody pays Siro. He wins today's quiz.
- Who's she teamed up with? - I don't know.
Well, it doesn't matter. We know what we have to do here.
Come on.
- Thanks for the update. - Mm-hmm.
Happy...
happy hive hunting!
- The guard is in place? - Yes, Vorpax. Inside.
What's inside this hive may well decide our future.
You must be willing to die to protect it.
But guard it well, and once our warriors are safely out, Kreeya will reward you...
personally.
Easy with that.
Gee, I thought we could play catch with it.
Come on, this stuff makes me nervous enough as it is.
I just hope you packed it right.
You'll be the first to know.
Cover as much ground as you can. We'll do the same.
It can't be. Kiri and Ankha.
- Beautiful kill. - Thank you.
Stop!
You...
It's nice to be remembered.
Get away from me.
- No gratitude? - But I have some.
- You were wonderful in that fight. - No one's gonna hurt you while I'm here.
Let me help you.
Relax. If we wanted you dead, we'd have let the reptile finish you.
- Why didn't you? - This isn't the time or the place to explain.
There may be more reptiles nearby. We gotta get moving.
Is it very painful?
- Last time you tried to have me killed. - Well, there was profit in that.
It's simple, Siro. Now we're on the same side with you and your friends.
Wait.
- I have to destroy that thing. - Ankha will take care of the hive.
- Won't you? - Yeah. I'll get a fire going.
And I'll watch it burn.
No.
Here.
It's an explosive. It's faster. But be careful.
This is wonderful. Do you wanna watch?
No. You have the fun this time. I'll start with Siro. You catch up.
- I'll be waiting. - Okay.
- Do you know what to do? - I always know what to do.
Even with this.
Don't worry.
Ankha's very good at death.
She'll destroy the hive.
The question is... are there more?
- He got one. - Let's go.
Siro. He's heading back.
Kiri. The fortune-teller.
Siro!
- What has she done to you? - No, it's okay. Kiri saved my life.
- What? - And I helped.
Ankha, your hand. What happened? It was a big explosion.
Stronger than I thought.
I warned you. I don't want a scratch on you.
How did this happen?
- Tree limb. Reptile. The acid loosened it. - Reptile. That's who Kreeya's ally is.
The ones who killed Tomas.
Siro needs a doctor. We have to take him home.
With them?
- Yes. Come on, Taja. - Am I the only one not getting this here?
Kiri, Ankha, Noob Saibot? Ring any bells? Whooo.
They killed the Zaterran guard?
I don't know how it happened. I arrived after the fight ended.
Reptile won't be happy to learn one of his warriors is dead.
There are often sacrifices that must be made.
Where are the mortals now?
- They were diverted away. - Good.
There's very little time left.
Kung Lao and his friends must be kept away from the nests from now on.
- Or... - Or be eliminated.
If he gets plenty of rest, I'm sure he'll be fine.
That's great to hear. Thank you, Doctor.
The doctor said Siro will be okay. Nothing's broken.
- I'm so relieved. - Yeah, I'm sure you're ecstatic.
- How is he? - Asleep.
He could've been asleep forever if we hadn't showed up.
- Look, we're grateful... - But we're not stupid.
We know you work for Shao Kahn.
Hell, you even helped him try to kill us.
We have worked for the Emperor.
His rewards are generous.
So you're working for Shao Kahn, this time against Kreeya?
Let's just say for now, we're friends.
You should relax and enjoy it.
Like you, we simply want to insure that Kreeya doesn't get this realm.
I'd think the two of you, of all people, would find a world run by women...
- very appealing. - My tastes are varied.
There's much that appeals to me.
Kreeya approached us, but we turned her down.
But in the end, she'll try to absorb everything.
She wants Earth Realm for herself.
Shao Kahn doesn't?
Shao Kahn is held in check by the Elder Gods rule.
Kreeya, on the other hand, is more subtle...
getting herself invited in and establishing her armies here.
Her hives must be destroyed.
We all want the same thing.
Why not do it together?
What a wonderful idea.
You put us both at risk by coming here.
Am I not welcome in my ally's camp?
There are those here who are still not comfortable with our agreements.
Your own lieutenants?
They would never defy you.
No. I am the leader of Zaterra.
- Who seeks freedom from Shao Kahn's rule. - As you should.
You know Zaterra's liberation lies in us uniting our forces.
If you are victorious.
We can be. With the help of all your Realm.
As a great leader, I know you would insure that.
Just as I know you would never allow word of your betrayal...
to reach Shao Kahn.
Come.
Now tap it in...
but not too solid.
For God's sakes, you want to kill us?
- What if those sparks hit the table? - No more table.
- You're out of your mind. - Taja, you never have any fun, do you?
Fun would be ripping every hair out of your head.
- Hmm, maybe she could be fun, Ankha. - We'd better get going.
Yep. I'm ready.
You sure you're gonna be okay alone?
I'm fine.
Kung Lao...
- Look, I know they saved my life, but... - I don't trust them either, but...
we can use the help tracking the hives.
We've seen Shao Kahn's wrath...
other realms left as barren wastelands.
Zaterra wasn't destroyed because the Emperor realised we'd make strong allies.
But if we go against him now, he will obliterate us.
No, together we can defeat him and take Outworld.
Zaterra will be returned to its former glory.
What do you know about our former glory?
I see it all around me. Strong, fearless warriors.
- Some of us have weakened, I fear. - Be very careful of what you say.
Someone has to say it. You made this alliance without our full agreement.
Now, in council, a woman speaks for you?
You dare say that to your commander?
No longer. My allegiance is to Shao Kahn, not her.
Shao Kahn is not their ruler!
Finish him.
Do you hear a woman's voice now? Die!
Who else will defy me?
An efficient system of settling disputes.
And decisive.
It is the ancient way.
- I am blessed to have such an ally. - We risk everything by helping you.
He may not be the last. The Emperor will learn of my betrayal.
- The rewards will be worth the effort. - It had better be. Time is running out.
- This war must end... soon. - It will. My armies will be born within a day.
- Fresh and ready to fight. - Just win this war!
It's a beautiful day for a hunt, isn't it?
Yeah, if we run into a hive that's already hatched...
that would, uh, end our beautiful day.
There's too much land to cover. If there is another hive, we'd do better to split up.
Is that wise? You almost lost Siro when he went out alone.
Yeah, Kiri's right. We all need to stick together.
No. Teams are a good idea.
Then I'll go with you.
Let's stick to the teams we know.
Afraid to try a new pairing?
Kiri, Ankha, you go that way. We'll go here. Break off the hunt at nightfall.
- We'll regroup at the Trading Post. - Be careful now.
Uh, yeah. You two just try not to get too distracted by each other.
That may be difficult.
What do you think?
Well, he has to be there. We just can't see him.
Well, how do we fight an invisible warrior?
I don't want a fight. I want to capture.
We need to find out for sure that this is the last nest.
Okay, how do we capture an invisible warrior?
We make him become visible.
Where are you?
Show yourself immediately or I will inform Kreeya that you have abandoned your post.
It's about time.
Your report for the Queen now.
For Tomas and Siro.
Let's blow this thing up.
One more down.
Yeah. I guess we better hope that was the last hive...
because you just killed the only person who could tell us if there were more.
That was not a person.
- Whatever. We still needed him. - We don't need any of them.
You blew your chance to find out where more of them are.
- You wanted to interrogate him, right? - That was the plan.
Well, it was a damn stupid one. How do you question someone that spits acid?
You gag him so he doesn't spit, but then he can't talk.
You let him talk and he melts your face off. So now...
which way were planning to go with that?
- She has a point there. - He agrees.
About the questioning. As to wanting to kill them all, since there are millions...
I don't think you have the time.
Right. Tell her, Rayden, give her the speech.
And which one is that?
The one you've given me a dozen times.
The rage will eat you alive.
Revenge won't bring back the dead.
Oh, that speech. No need really, you pretty much covered it.
Now I agree with him.
It's good to know everything you can about what you're fighting.
But these reptiles...
they don't give away their secrets.
Then how do we find out what we need to know?
Learn from past encounters. Make educated guesses... like always.
Taja...
I won't make any speeches, but I will say this.
Hatred may prepare you for battle, but it makes a lousy weapon.
No speeches, huh?
Just a few of my clever words.
Remember them, please.
I can retain my human form around you.
- But my diet remains the same. - Of course.
- We're very different, you and l. - Are we?
I think inside we both very much want the same things.
My Queen...
Yes, daughter?
A hive on Earth Realm has been destroyed.
How?
The Earth mortals. Another guard was killed.
Then it ends now. No more invasions and no more diversions.
They have to die!
No debris...
Blew it up, huh, Ankha?
Well...
it's going up this time.
Look at you.
Like a sip?
Don't waste that on her, she's no fun.
Told you.
- We had a meeting. - And we're here. Let's meet.
Get it over with.
Ankha, more respect, please. Vorpax is a princess. Aren't you?
I want your report.
We've been doing our job keeping Kung Lao and his friends busy.
Have you? Where are they now?
They insisted on splitting up.
I see. And now here's my report. A hive has been destroyed.
Hmm. Pity.
Hmm. Another pity.
An entire nest was lost!
You still have one hive because of us, "Princess".
We spared Siro so that he could convince the others that I destroyed it.
And it worked.
But you failed to keep them off track, so now you have new orders.
You're to kill them.
There, see? I knew we could be friends.
- We can do it anyway we want? - You think it's so easy?
- Just find a way and do it. - We will, "Princess".
Okay, I'm sorry.
It's done. But for what it's worth, I understand why you did it.
It's like Rayden said... hatred. I can't stand the thought of those things.
I know. I have my own list.
How do you do it? How do you think clearly through rage?
There's no way you can make it disappear, I know that.
- So what do you do? - Struggle with it... all the time.
I try to put the hate aside, postpone the rage.
I push it away for the moment knowing that afterwards I can bring it back...
like a reward after battle.
Does it work?
Sometimes. Sometimes not.
How long you've been back?
A while.
We got lucky.
We did. We found another hive right away.
And?
We didn't hear an explosion.
It was at the bottom of the ravine. Its destruction was quite spectacular.
- How did you two do? - Success.
That makes three.
A good day. I'm gonna go check on Siro.
- He's not here. - What?
- We looked everywhere. - You suppose he went back to the doctors?
Maybe. I'll find him. Uh, no, no, no. I'll go.
Watch them.
I hope Siro's all right.
Yeah, me too.
Come, sit. Relax.
- You must be dead tired. - No, I'm fine.
Just sitting there so straight, all tensed up.
I know what he needs.
Ah, yes, a nice deep massage.
Mm-hmm. And after that, a bath.
- And then to bed? - Mmm, yeah.
Stop it!
We will.
For good.
You should've taken the massage. You would have died easier.
Kung Lao!
I got the hive Ankha lied about destroying.
- And you also saved my life. Thank you. - I'm glad I could make it in time.
Hmm, made yourself comfortable, I see.
Don't mock me, Vorpax. Not now. I'm so tired.
Yes. Defeat seems to do that to you.
- I'm grieving. You know that. - For your lost "friend".
- Who died fighting for you. - At your hand.
Yes.
It's done. Poor Ankha.
I miss her so.
Who could take her place?
I'm sure there's not another like her.
But I need a companion.
We're allies now, Vorpax.
We could be close allies.
Sit with me. I'm sure you could bring me comfort.
No, thank you.
We may be allies, but we're not alike.
In any way.
You just need to get to know me better.
That will have to wait for later. Much later.
- Where are you going, Princess? - To await my Queen.
- And where is she? - Fighting our war. In her own way.
The time has come then.
It has. Our children will be magnificent.
I've turned traitor for you.
No. A rebel. A hero to his people.
- Come. We'll make our army. - We'll make many armies.
Yes. I know what happens to your other mates.
- It won't happen to me. - No. Not to you.
We will make many armies together.
Thanks. I'm just not hungry.
Yeah, well, it's been a hell of a couple days.
We defeated two armies and we don't even know if we got them all.
- You think there are more? - It's Kreeya's best weapon.
Wars are usually won or lost by attrition...
enough on one side are killed to guarantee defeat.
But this war...
Kreeya can just create a new army almost overnight.
Then we have to stay alert.
The enemy gains ground, we take it back.
Yeah, but which enemy?
She's right. Kreeya, Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung?
How about Kiri? Another cold-blooded reptile.
Someday...
I'll kill them all.