Note: This is a recap of both the Mortal Kombat II tie-in comic and each playable character ending.
Johnny Cage recounts what happened at the end of the Shaolin Tournament. While Liu Kang fought Shang Tsung, Cage, Sonya Blade, and Kano were menaced by Goro, who survived his own defeat at Kang’s hands. Raiden, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion were elsewhere, fighting Tsung’s personal army. The bridge they were fighting on collapsed, and although Goro, Blade and Kano fell into the abyss, Raiden managed to save Cage. The Thunder God explained that Liu Kang defeated Tsung, and without the sorcerer’s life force his island, a point between realms, was fading away. As for the ninja, after defeating Tsung’s army Scorpion and Sub-Zero dueled, which Scorpion won. With his vengeance complete, the spectre vanished, having no more attachments. Raiden sends Cage through a portal, depositing the movie star into the ocean with only a piece of driftwood to support himself on. He was ‘rescued’ by a boat headed by Major Jackson “Jax” Briggs, Blade’s superior, to whom he was telling the story to. Jax does not believe Blade would ally herself with Kano, but since he has no evidence otherwise, cannot hold Cage and takes him back to America, promising they would meet again if Jax ever got wind of something wrong.
In Outworld, Shang Tsung stands before the Emperor Shao Kahn for his failure to unbalance Earth’s furies and facilitate its conquest. The Shokan King Gorban insists that his son Goro’s defeat and disappearance to be the sorcerer’s fault, and demands Tsung be executed. Shao Kahn is more concerned with invading Earth, and gives Tsung one chance to save himself. Tsung points out that Outworld still has the right to challenge Earth’s warriors, and suggests they use that to lure their enemies into Outworld and defeat them there. Shao Kahn agrees to this plan, and restores Tsung to his youth. Gorbak offers his warrior Kintaro to represent the Shokan, and with Kahn’s other warriors, Kitana, Mileena, Baraka, and Reptile, Shang Tsung goes to Earth to deliver their “invitation”…
In China, Liu Kang returns to his temple only to find it in ruins. His fellow warrior Kung Lao appears, and explains that a majority of the survivors are hiding in the mountains. He points out that although Lie Kang won the tournament and staved off disaster, their battle with Outworld is not over yet. A high tech plane lands nearby, and a man calling himself Sub-Zero approaches the Shaolin, wanting their time. He explains that he is the original Sub-Zero’s brother, having taken on his moniker and mission for himself.
At the Special Forces headquarters, Jax and his staff get a mysterious distress call from Blade and Kano, who are trying to send a warning about Outworld’s attack on Earth. Blade tells Jax to look for Liu Kang and Johnny Cage for more information before the signal cuts out. Jax heads to Hollywood, where Cage is in the middle of a shoot when the set is attacked by the Outworld warriors. Jax leaps in to help, but finds himself almost overwhelmed by Kintaro’s strength.
At this time, the Shaolin and Sub-Zero appear, following Tsung’s trail. Sub-Zero attempts to kill Tsung, but Reptile interferes. Scorpion abruptly appears, having decided to protect the young Lin Kuei to atone for killing his brother. The fighting is stopped by the appearance of Raiden, who demands Tsung explain himself. The sorcerer issues Outworld’s challenge, and warns that if Earth does not accept they will forfeit. The Outworlders depart, leaving the Earth Realmers to ponder their situation.
As Raiden explains, losing Outworld's tournament would weaken Earth's furies, and make it vulnerable to invasion from Outworld. Jax doesn't understand most of what's happening, but when Cage reveals that fellow soldier Lt. Steven Beran killed in the skirmish, Jax agrees to take part. With that, the warriors of Earth Realm prepare for kombat...in Outworld!
Character Endings
Baraka
Known for his unpredictable actions and wild fits of anger, Baraka goes on a rampage. After defeating the Earth warriors, he attacks Shang Tsung, Kintaro, and finally Shao Kahn himself. After defeating Shao Kahn, Baraka’s race of mutants arise from the wastelands and rebel against what is left of Shao Kahn’s army. They eventually win and the Outworld comes under the rule of King Baraka.
Jax Briggs
Jax finds Sonya held captive alongside her arch enemy Kano. Her only chance of escape is by Jax entering Shao Kahn’s contest. With fierce determination he catches the Outworld warriors off guard and wins the tournament, bringing Shao Kahn’s rule to a crashing halt. During the chaos that follows, Jax and Sonya escape through the dimensional gate from which they entered. Kano once again eludes capture but Jax and Sonya know they will cross paths with him in the future.
Johnny Cage
After disappearing from the set of his latest movie, Cage finally resurfaces. He used all of his knowledge and experiences as a fighter to end the Outworld menace. Now heralded as a true hero, Cage receives the respect he rightfully deserves. He also gets his inspiration for the sequel to his blockbuster movie Mortal Kombat. MK II is released and quickly becomes the greatest motion picture event of all time. Cage realizes that MK III is inevitable.
Liu Kang
With his Shaolin Temple in ruins Liu Kang journeys into the Outworld, enters Shao Kahn’s contest, and unleashes a fury that does not end until the defeat of Shao Kahn. Liu Kang then returns to the seclusion of his Shaolin Temple. He pays his respects to his lost brothers and finally realizes that the events which have taken place were all fulfillment of his destiny.
Kitana
Through her years of working as an assassin, Kitana has learned many secrets, especially about her own past. She finds that Mileena is not her twin but a grotesque clone created by Shang Tsung. She learns that her parents were former rulers of the Outworld overthrown by Shao Kahn. Determined to take back what is rightfully hers she must defeat Shao Kahn herself. She does so by entering the tournament. She retakes her parents’ castle and restores the Outworld into a realm of nobility.
Kung Lao
A former Shaolin monk alongside Liu Kang, Kung Lao also grieves the loss of their Shaolin brothers. He realizes that his ultimate fate lies within the dark realm of the Outworld. He defeats his Outworld opponents until he emerges the supreme champion. With his strength and spirit in complete alignment he finally avenges the death of his great ancestor.Although his greatest challenge lie ahead.
Mileena
Once thought to be Kitana’s twin sister Mileena is actually a grotesque clone created by Shang Tsung. with Shao Kahn suspicious of Kitana and her motives, Mileena seizes the opportunity to attack Kahn and his minions. Caught off guard they are no match for Mileena’s speed. She wins the tournament and together with her secret companion, Baraka, they rule the world as king and queen.
Raiden
Familiar with Shang Tsung’s lies and Shao Kahn’s brutality— Raiden accepts their challenge to compete in an Outworld tournament. He is well aware of their scheme to unbalance the furies and invade the Earth Realm. Raiden vows to use all his might to end their treachery. Winning the tournament, Raiden destroys Shao Kahn and his minions. He also destroys the dimensional gates which would have been their passageway to the Earth Realm.
Reptile
Reptile has always loyally served as Shang Tsung’s protector— While maintaining a very low profile in the first tournament, he discovered Tsung’s plot to force the remaining members of his near extinct race into slavery under Shao Kahn’s rule. Reptile then devises a plan of his own. He enters the Outworld tournament, defeats Shao Kahn and turns against Shang Tsung, ending his master’s scheme. Now his race can live on in their own peaceful existence.
Scorpion
Upon learning of Sub-Zero’s reappearance, Scorpion enters Shao Kahn’s tournament. He witnesses Sub-Zero spare the life of an opponent and realizes that this is not the same Sub-Zero who murdered him so long ago. He lets the ninja live and goes on to defeat the Outworlders in their unholy contest. With the defeat of Shao Kahn, Scorpion discovers a new purpose for his existence. He becomes the guardian of the new Sub-Zero to atone for murdering his older brother and in preparation of a third tournament.
Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung not only turns against and defeats Kintaro and Shao Kahn, he also takes over their rule of the Outworld. With Shao Kahn’s armies at his command, he finally unbalances the furies, and weakens the dimensional gates between the Outworld and the Earth Realm. Along with his elite group of sorcerers he uses this weakness to march a never ending horde of demons and doom its inhabitants to eternal darkness. Have a nice day.
Sub-Zero
When Sub-Zero failed to return from the Shaolin Tournament and rumor of Shang Tsung’s survival reached the Lin Kuei Clan, they immediately sent another assassin to complete the task. This new warrior is actually the younger brother of the original Sub-Zero. He enters the Outworld contest and accomplishes his task. He learns of Scorpion’s foul vendetta against his brother but will never know why his life was spared. Perhaps a third tournament is in his future?
