Following excruciating turmoil in his life, Kung Lao, joined by Taja and Siro, accepts his destiny to protect the Earth Realm from the forces of Outworld, while training a new generation of warriors for Mortal Kombat.
As Siro (series regular Daniel Bernhardt) is being led away from both Baron Reyland’s house and daughter, both of which he’s guarded for years, he warns Jen that something is not right with her new guard Takeda. Little does he know that Takeda has been possessed by Scorpion who has been sent by Shang Tsung (series regular Bruce Locke) to eliminate Kung Lao (series regular Paolo Montalban) and all that he holds dear.
Shang Tsung isn’t the only one who wants rid of Kung Lao. When Kung Lao was caught trying to sneak Jen away from the Baron’s house, he was caught and, true to his word, the Baron sentenced him to death. As the preparations for Kung Lao’s execution are being made, Taja (series regular Kristanna Loken), the captured bandit who was made a servant in the Baron’s household, is visited by Rayden (series regular Jeffrey Meek), disguised as a beggar, who convinces her that her best hope for escape lies in helping Kung Lao also escape. Later, still disguised as a beggar, Rayden happens upon the banished Siro and lets him know that Jen, may indeed, be in danger.
Taja, with the help of Jen, is able to overpower the executioners and free Kung Lao from the gallows. Taja and Kung Lao flee the Baron’s compound, leaving Jen to face her father’s wrath.
Fearing the worst, Kung Lao and Taja sneak back into the Baron’s compound to free Jen. Unbeknownst to them, Siro is there for the same reason. When the three run into each other, it becomes clear to Kung Lao that Rayden is behind their coming together and that it must have significance beyond mere coincidence. Unfortunately for the three, they don’t realize that they are walking into an ambush at the compound which, before it’s over, will cost the Baron his life.
Takeda, on behalf of Shang Tsung, traps Kung Lao and is about to capture his soul for Shang Tsung’s dark purpose, when he is outnumbered by the Baron’s guards. In a desperate attempt to maintain a bargaining position, Takeda kidnaps Jen and disappears into the night.
Exasperated in their search for Jen, Kung Lao, Taja and Siro are aided by Rayden, who instructs Kung Lao to follow the visions that have been plaguing him. These visions lead him back to the Temple of the Order of the Light–where he was trained to be a warrior and where Takeda is now holding Jen hostage. Rayden warns Kung Lao–until he fully commits to being a warrior, he is most vulnerable at the Temple and will not be able to defeat Takeda.
When he arrives at the Temple to rescue Jen, Kung Lao discovers that Takeda has fully transformed into Scorpion, a deadly Ninja with magical powers. In the ensuing battle, in which Kung Lao defeats Scorpion, Jen is killed, but before she dies she tells Kung Lao she will always be with him in his heart.
In light of the turmoil he’s seen in recent days, Kung Lao is filled with a new purpose and accepts his destiny to raise an army of warriors to defend the Earth Realm against the evil forces of Emperor Shao Kahn and Outworld. Looking for a higher purpose in their lives, Taja and Siro join Kung Lao in this quest.
