Chapter 2/? A Story for the Fans By: Benjamin Myers As I stood there with my agents, Stacy (the pretty one) and Vic, I couldn't believe how many fighters I saw and help but notice the antics these fighters did. Picking fights, making jokes about the other fighters, and some were even stealing stuff from shops on the pier. Although with all the fighters there, none of them are as well known as me, Johnny Cage. We continued to wait for the ship to pick us up while I had a nice conversation with my agents. " Johnny... you can't go!! We start the shoot for 'Dragonfist 3' in a week! It will set back the entire shoot," Vic never has confidence in me. I should fire him right now, but he gets me the good roles. " Look, I'm going to win this tournament, prove myself to the press and my fans, THEN shoot another blockbuster hit!!" If that didn't shut him up, I don't know what will. Vic was about to open his mouth when Stacy burst out, "C'mon Vic!! Give him some credit, would ya? I've lost count of how many tournaments he's won and how many movies were hits," I think she likes me... alot! " Now, did you see that, Vic? Thats the kind of agent I want you to be! When I come back, you better have blonde hair, sexy hips, and a big butt-kissin' attitude! Can you do that?" I swear he nearly wet his pants... sexy hips? He probably thinks I'm serious. " I've still never heard of this 'Shaolin Tournament'!" Vic mumbled as the huge, antique boat pulled up to the pier. "Oh my god... oh, please don't get on that! Look at it, it'll probably sink on it's way there." My god!! What a Lamer! "Whatever! I'll meet you back here when I call, all right?" and I put on my sunglasses while I grabed my duffle bag, buttened my blazer (I was the only one wearing a suit.), and walked over to the Dragon headed boat to get in line to board. The limo drove away as I got the feeling that it was the first day of school all over again. As I got on the ship I started to take notice of a group of grundy, un-shaven guys walkin' around like they owned the boat. They were laughing about some get away from a militia team and crackin' jokes about someone named Sonya. I went to the front of the ship to get away from 'the Three Stooges' and to relax for the tournament. I set down my bag and took notice of some other fighters, one that caught my attention was a fighter I've seen before. Derrick Masters, the lightweight Tae Kwon Do Champion of the United States. I was on the same team with him in the '90 World Tae Kwon Do Championships in the Martial Arts Olympics held in Seoul, Korea. I've learned more styles since then though. There are also two guys in Ninjitsu garments, one black and blue, the other in silver and black. They're both wearing black hoods and masks that cover there mouths and noses only showing there eyes. I get rather tired on this long boat ride and take a nap. I'm then woken 45 minutes later by an austrailian accent and some laughter. " Wake up sleepin' beauty!! Time to move, mate! We gotta have a buisness meeting and your in the way. MOVE!!" When I am totally awake, I see the metal plate on his face with the infra red eye. " Who are you and whats that leech on your face? Did you look at a pretty girl wrong?" I crack at him only because I was having a rather nice dream, mmmm... Sandra Hess. " I got this from a rocket to the face, pretty boy! My mates and I don't take kindly to those who make jokes about my face!" " Well, lets put another shromp on the barbie!!" I love my sarcasim. I would miss it if I lost my attitude. "Jarek!! Kabal!! Lets put another 'shromp on the barbie, boys!" at that same moment I started to think of that dude who says 'LLLLLLLEtt's get readddy to rummmmmbleeeeeeeeeeee!!' 'The Terminator' came charging at me with with some hovering flip that I ducked and immediatly took out his flunckies with a 'Shadow Kick'. I took this time to take off my blazer and pull up my sleeves. " Get up!! You two!" Jarek replied, "Shut up, Kano!!" "C'mon, Kano! Don't be like daddy! Finish what you start!" I screamed as I low kicked the back of his right knee and back elbowed his plate! He laughed as he got back up and pulled out a knife from his vest. He took a swing, slashing my shirt and tie then charged at me. Not realizing the the cargo drop in the floor, I fell to the cargo bay where others were eating, gambling, and socializing. I pulled a 'frogman' (a backflip kick on my hands and spring back up.) on Kano as he and his friends jumped down to join me. Knowing what was happening, the other fighters circled around us. Kabal and Jarek backed in with the circle leaving me and Kano. By this time my shirt and tie were gone and my pants were rags showing my black shorts and red sash underneath. I took off what was left of my pants and continued in my stance. " Wait a minute. Aren't you Johnny Cage, the 'Fake'?" That was the last straw! " When I'm done with you're gonna need a seeing eye dog and a monkey to help you go to the bathroom!!" That hit a nerve. He threw two jabs and a roundhouse, none of which connected. So I decided to finish it. I did a full front splits and hit him in the groin. Everyone cheered as I uppercutted him and everyone started to scream 'Finish Him'. Then the tag alongs were mad! They double teamed me and put me in alot of pain, I thought I was finished. Then some one out of the crowd jumped in and took Kabal off of me. I asked no questions and started to put Jarek in a combo. I kicked his knee, then his face. I grabed his arm and thrust kicked his side, still holding his arm, I put my foot on his face and started to twist. The move put him to sleep in an instant. " Thanks alot for helping, really. I owe you one. I'm John Carlton, you probably know me better as Johnny Cage," I gloated. The man was about 6'0" tall, black hair, and baggy black pants. "I'm Liu Kang. Let's get you bandaged. That guy cut you good!" I didn't know I was bleeding! Liu and I stuck together from then on in. I got some food and was able to rest that night away. When I woke up, we were closing in on the island and I didn't have a cut. That was strange. Kano and company were still knocked out. I think? I saw that ninja guy and his silver friend, the blue one seemed to be holding his neck. I over heard him telling his friend 'Smoke' about someone named Scorpion and how today was the day he killed him in battle. Three years ago, he fought with him and Scorpion hit him in the throut with a spear and every year it starts to hurt. Then, there was a big, bright red flash and a fire ball landed on the ship's deck. Then a body came up out of it! "Sub-Zero, I will get my revenge in the tournament. You will die!! I will char your body to the darkest black, that which matches your heart!" "Never Scorpion!" Sub-zero said in a raspy voice. Then the flash went away and so did Scorpion. After that little fiasco, I went to the back of the ship to get my mind together when I noticed a boat following us. It's a military boat and it's in trouble with some of the natives... To be continued...