Disclaimer: Don't own Midway, New Line Cinema or anything else associated with Mortal Kombat. Thanks :) Rating: Uh, PG-13. WARNING: There are a couple of objectionable phrases in this story. If you aren't comfortable with two or three bad words, I wouldn't read this story. Also, there are some insinuations and innuendos. If you don't like story lines like that, I apologize. But thanks for giving it a try :) *It will end!!! I swear to the Good Lord :)* Mortal Kombat: A Different Interpretation: (9/10) by: Tara Depp Johnny Cage stalked through the rows of huts, looking for assistance. But what he found was a desolate encampment, with only a few assorted human fighters standing about. Johnny gazed around the small crowds and saw Liu Kang standing with Connor Ryan. Johnny made his way over to them, his demeanor announcing his arrival. Liu looked up, as if he'd sensed Cage's presence. "Johnny, what's wrong?" "Sonya's gone. Scorpion took her." Johnny gushed, feeling terribly ashamed. Connor's eyes were transfixed on Johnny's neck and face. "Johnny, my God! It looks like you got the shit beat out of you, no offense." Johnny excused the young man's impoliteness. "None taken." Kang cut in. "What do you mean, Scorpion took her?" "Well," Cage began, massaging the sides of his nose with his thumb and index finger. "I heard a knock on the door and went I went to answer it, there was no one there. Like an idiot, I turned around and Scorpion came into the hut, picked me up by my throat and threw me across the room. While I was rendered unconscious, he kidnapped Sonya and waltzed away." Liu chewed on this information. After a few seconds of thinking, he spoke up. "I know someone who can help us." "Who?" Johnny asked. "Princess Kitana." Liu answered. "I have been speaking to her in private when I have the chance. She would be more than willing to help." Cage nodded once. "Why don't you go try to talk to her while I contact Rayden... or send up a smoke signal or something." "Alright." Liu said and walked away. Connor Ryan finally spoke again. "Can I help in any way, John?" He thought about it. "I guess you could come with me to talk to Rayden, if you like." "Sounds fine." Ryan said and they walked away. Johnny Cage walked beside Connor Ryan as they started down a path that led into a dense forest. There was an uncomfortable silence between them. Johnny tried conversation. "So, you like my movies?" "Very much so." Ryan said. "Actually, when we get back home, I'd like to be a stunt man ar something." "Well, remind me to suggest you to one of my stunt coordinators." Johnny said as thunder rang in the distance. "Really?" Ryan sounded astonished. "Thanks a lot, Johnny." "You're welcome." Johnny replied. Once again, silence ensued. Johnny was preparing another conversation attempt when the air was suddenly knocked out of him. Startled, Cage fell forward but caught himself and pushed himself to his feet. He spun around to see Connor Ryan backpeddling, his eyes wide. Standing ten feet from Ryan was Scorpion. "Connor!" Johnny shouted. "Go back to camp and wait for Liu." At first, Connor was reluctant to leave but he took another glance at Scorpion and then ran back the way he and Cage had just traveled. Johnny took a defensive stance, his anger boiling. "Where the Hell did you take her, you bastard?" Cage demanded, hissing the words through clenched teeth. Saying nothing, Scorpion also took a fighting stanza and thrust the palm of his hand at Johnny. Instantly, the small spiked creature emerged from the ninja's hand. It flew right at Johnny. Cage tried to side step but the creature followed him and eventually sunk it's teeth into Johnny's upper arm. Cage winced at the pain and seconds later slumped to the ground in a heap, his eyes shut and breath shallow. Scorpion grinned under his mask and started toward Johnny. Shang Tsung was going to be pleased. * * * Sonya Blade sat by herself for an hour, thinking about the day's transpirings. She couldn't believe this was happening. It all didn't seem fair to her. For once in her life, it had seemed that her life had been coming together. She had extracted her vengeance against Kano and she thought she had found something she had lost: Love. But that was all gone now and she was going to become a slave now. Not to her quest to find Kano, but to an evil sorcerer who was determined to own her. She couldn't decide which was worse. The sound of a door opening shook her out of her thoughts. Sonya stood and walked to the bars of her cell to see Shang Tsung stroll through the dungeon door, a monk beside him. The monk bowed and left, closing the door behind him. Shang walked up to the place opposite Sonya and stopped. He appeared to be pleased with himself. "I apologize for these awful accommodations, dear. But once we get matters settled, you'll have everything you'd ever want. And more." Blade shook with an unknown emotion: Fear. She tried to brush it off. "If these accommodations keep me away from you, I'm perfectly comfortable." Tsung didn't listen to her words. He seemed preoccupied with something else. "Have you thought about my offer, Sonya?" "What is there to think about?" she responded. "I said no. Nothing will change my mind." "Nothing?" he crooked an eyebrow. Shang began to pace. "Are you confident about that?" Sonya squared her shoulders. "Absolutely." There was silence as the door to the holding chambers opened and two guards entered, dragging a man with them. They threw the man to the stone floor face down and then backed up, bowed to the sorcerer and took places in front of the door. The man, obviously ailing from many injuries, rolled over. His eyes locked with Blade's. "Sonya..." the man rasped and then went into a coughing fit. Sonya gasped and threw herself at the bars, her hands curling around the thick metal barriers. "Johnny! Oh God..." she glared at Shang, hatred in her eyes. "What did you do to him?!" Tsung smiled sickly. "Nothing that will harm him in the long run... if you promise to cooperate." "Sonya--" Johnny rasped. "Don't---Don't you dare give in-- let me die if you--have to." "Quiet!" Shang said and kicked Johnny in the ribs. Cage doubled up, another coughing fit emerging. This one lasted a long time. With every pained breath he took, Sonya felt more tears bundling up in her eyes. "Stop it!" she shrieked, nearing hysteria. "I'll do whatever you say. Just please don't hurt him anymore." "Now that's what I like to hear." the evil sorcerer smiled again and waved his hand. The door to Sonya's cell flew open and she rushed out, hurrying to Johnny's side. She cradled him to her and petted back his sweat damped hair. "Help him." she said, with venom in her voice. "Help him. You promised me." Shang Tsung looked down at her. "I guess I did." he rolled his eyes. "Step away from him." Sonya was reluctant but slowly did as she was told. She pressed herself against the cold wall and watched on as Shang waved his hands over Johnny's body. Johnny, who had been lying in an agonizing heap, lifted off the ground and became surrounded in a red haze. Inside the haze, Cage was completely still and didn't move or speak. He moved higher and higher until the red haze broke and the actor crashed to the ground, curling up in a heap. He pushed himself into a sitting position, shook his head and then stood and looked around. "Sonya?" he spoke slowly and then walked toward her. Blade smiled and moved toward him. They were almost touching when a guard reached out and stepped between the two, facing Johnny. Cage went on his guard and was preparing an attack when the guard ripped off its hideous mask, throwing it to the ground. Johnny smiled. The guard spoke. "Just in time, eh?" Cage patted the guard on the shoulder. "Sounds just like you, Liu." Liu Kang grinned and shook off the rest of his armor. He turned to the guard who had been traveling with him. By this time, the other guard had shook off most of his armor. "Nice timing Connor." smiled Johnny. "Uh, guys," Sonya chimed in. "can we save this sappy stuff for later?" Liu looked at her. "Oh yeah." Instantly, Johnny, Sonya and Connor joined Liu's side. They were facing on angry Shang Tsung. "How is this possible?" the sorcerer spat. "It's the human spirit, Demon." Liu told him. "Something you forgot to add into your little plot." Shang Tsung glared at everyone, and then his eyes settled on Sonya. He quickly diverted his look back to the group. "You can't do anything to me." Shang boasted. He crossed his arms, defiant. Liu stepped forward. "We'll see about that." Kang told him. Shang took a defensive pose against Liu. Kang, in turn, took his position. Then, suddenly, from all around Shang, ghost like figures stepped out. There were three of them: One for each of the remaining fighters. "Let it begin." Johnny muttered under his breath. And so it did. TO BE CONTINUED Krycek: "--I know who you are, and I know who you work for. You go back and tell them--" Covarrubias "--tell them what? What happened here--" Kryck: "--tell them it's all going to hell." THE X_FILES "Pacient X"/"The Red and the Black"