KINTARO
Like Goro, Kintaro is a Shokan, a race native to Outworld. Before the Outworld tournament, Kintaro was Shao Kahn's bodyguard. He wasn't the most intelligent fighter in Outworld, but he made up for it with brute strength. When Shao Kahn held a tournament in Outworld as a diversion to his real plan to resurrect Sindel, he chose Kintaro to be one of the fighters who would battle the Earth warriors. Kintaro accepted because he had no choice, and because he wanted the chance to restore honor to his race after the humiliating defeat and apparent death of Goro. Kintaro proved to be tough to beat in the Outworld tournament, but in the end he was defeated by Kung Lao. After this, Kahn's respect for the Shokan was almost gone, so Kintaro was not allowed to be part of the invasion of Earth, and a Centaurian named Motaro was appointed general of Kahn's armies. Kintaro's resentment over his defeat eventually turned into resentment toward Motaro. After Shao Kahn is defeated, he looks to Goro to give Outworld another chance to win the Earth realm. To get Goro's support, Kahn knows he has to make it seem that he's once again supporting the Shokan. He offers Kintaro a place in his army once again, also promising that his position would be higher than Motaro's. Kintaro hesitantly joins Kahn once again, partly out of his love for Sheeva, another Shokan in Kahn's army, and partly because of his hatred for Motaro. Kintaro is hoping that during this new tournament he'll be able to confront Motaro, and kill him.
MILEENA
Mileena is a clone of Kitana created by Shao Kahn. Kahn created Mileena origionally as a replacement for Kitana. He planned to have a being who looked like Kitana but was loyal to him so that he could kill Kitana but keep up appearances she was alive, therefore keeping his claim to the Edenian throne. The clone was close to Kitana, but had a mutated face. Kahn decided instead to train Mileena as an assassin. Soon, though, he found that Mileena was at times able to read her sister Kitana's thoughts. He knew that if Kitana ever did turn against him, Mileena would be able to help him turn the situation to his advantage, so he let both Kitana and Mileena live. Over time, Mileena befriended the Outworld mutant Baraka. The two of them had plans to overthrow Kahn, but neither had the courage or the opportunity to do it. Instead, Mileena proved herself to Kahn by completing every assassination she was assigned to. Because of that, he made sure she was entered in the tournament he held in Outworld. There she fought against and killed many of the Earth warriors who entered. Finally, though, she found out about Kitana's dissention against Kahn and her plans to help the Earth warriors defeat him. Mileena went after Kitana. The two battled, the fight ending in Mileena's death. Surprisingly though, during Kahn's invasion, Mileena was seen on Earth. It was thought by many that Shao Kahn had resurrected her to use her against the Earth warriors, but that wasn't the case. Kitana's evil twin was brought back to life by the fallen elder god Shinnok. Shinnok was using the former assassin to aid Quan Chi and Noob Saibot in finding the whereabouts of his amulet. When Shinnok frees himself from the Netherrealm, he keeps Mileena to use her as a soldier in his war against the elder gods. She isn't helping Shinnok willingly, but has little choice since Noob Saibot has been assigned to watch her, and to kill her if she doesn't follow Shinnok's orders.
LIU KANG
Liu Kang is the Mortal Kombat champion. He gained his title by defeating Goro in the Shaolin tournament. His victory caused the Earth realm to be protected from Shao Kahn's invasion forces, or so he thought. When Liu Kang returned to his temples after the tournament, he found his fellow monks slaughtered by a group of warriors sent by Shao Kahn. To get revenge, Liu Kang found his old friend Kung Lao, and the two of them journeyed into Outworld. There they were drawn into a life or death battle against Shao Kahn. Liu Kang fought Kahn's warriors, then Kahn himself. The fight went well for him, but before he could finish Kahn off the Outworld armies attacked the Earth warriors, who barely escaped with their lives. Liu Kang then prepared himself for any future battles with Kahn. When Kahn invaded the Earth realm and sent out extermination squads, Liu was their main target. Shao Kahn had learned from Liu Kang's defeat of Goro and Shang Tsung, and his own battle with the Shaolin monk in Outworld that Liu Kang was more of a threat to his occupation of Earth than any other human alive. Liu Kang's determination led him to a final battle with Shao Kahn in which the Outworld emperor was beaten, and driven out of both the Earth realm and Edenia. He hasn't gotten lax in his training since Kahn's defeat. He knows that as champion he may be summoned to fight again. Late one night, Rayden communicates to Liu in a dream. He tells him that he is needed to defend the Earth again. This time it is a tournament against the fallen elder god Shinnok as well as the immortal emperor Shao Kahn. Liu Kang answers Rayden's summon, ready to face his enemies in Mortal Kombat.
JOHNNY CAGE
Johnny Cage is a martial arts movie superstar. Before he ever heard of Mortal Kombat, Cage was making blockbuster action movies and gaining worldwide fame. His flashy fighting style and unique charm were making him one of the most loved action stars in Hollywood. However, the more famous Johnny Cage got, the more he came under fire from the tabloids. Rumors started to circulate that Johnny Cage was a fake. People were speculating that Cage's stylish moves were just all the result of stunt doubles, elaborate camera tricks, and computer generated images. Soon the rumors were being printed as fact, and soon the story was in every newspaper in America. Cage was furious, he'd had years of martial arts training and the papers were saying he didn't even know how to throw a punch. About this time, Cage recieved an invitation to a tournament called Mortal Kombat. Cage didn't pay much attention to the details of the tournament, he was out to fix the bruises to his reputation and his ego, so he decided to compete to prove that he's the real thing. When he got there, he found himself in a tournament that was to decide the fate of the world, at which a huge creature named Goro was the champion. Cage didn't win the tournament, but took high standing in it. After coming back, he starred in the hugely successful Mortal Kombat movie. Cage's popularity soared. To keep his superstar status strong, he followed Liu Kang into Outworld to Shao Kahn's tournament. Cage helped battle the Outworld warriors and returned home with the inspiration for a sequel to his hit movie. During filming of the movie, though, Shao Kahn began his invasion of the Earth realm. Johnny Cage was one of the chosen warriors whose souls were protected from Kahn's magic, but his life was taken by one of the extermination squads. Cage's death was mourned by his friends as well as his fans. But as the new tournament with Shinnok begins, Rayden is able to resurrect Cage due to a loophole in the rules of Mortal Kombat. He is once again able to fight alongside the Earth warriors for the fate of the realm, and for his own ego.
KAI
Kai Lotus is a decendant of the family that origionally founded the White Lotus society. Kai is a former member of this society, as are Liu Kang and Kung Lao. He met Liu Kang in America several years before Liu fought in the Mortal Kombat tournament against Goro and Shang Tsung. During Shao Kahn's invasion, Kai wasn't one of the warriors chosen to be protected from Shao Kahn's magic. After Kahn was defeated, Kai's soul was restored, as were the souls of Kahn's other victims. He then resumed his training. The fact that he wasn't a chosen warrior ate away at him. He regretted not having the opportunity to help defend the Earth. Kai began focusing himself on the training that he had been neglecting, so that if another such opportunity came up he would get the chance to help. One day, Kai recieves a message from Liu Kang. Liu wants Kai's help to fight the elder god Shinnok in Mortal Kombat. Kai gladly accepts the honor, and leaves to join Liu Kang.
KABAL
Long ago, Kabal joined the Black Dragon. There he lived the life of a thief and murderer. He joined the organization out of circumstance, and stayed in because it suited him. When Shao Kahn began his invasion of the Earth realm, Kabal's soul was protected by the elder gods because of his fighting skill. His life of crime was ignored. Kabal was caught in the middle of a battle with an extermination squad almost immediately after Outworld's portals opened to Earth. He was outnumbered, badly beaten, and left for dead. A stranger hid him from the extermination squads and was barely able to save his life. Kabal's face was badly scarred, leaving him looking hideous and almost not even recognizable as human. He was alive, but only because of a respirator that he was now forced to wear 24 hours a day. Kabal didn't know who the stranger was who helped him, but he did know that Shao Kahn was the one behind the invasion. Wanting revenge for what had happened to him, Kabal tried to seek out Shao Kahn. He was fighting with nothing but blind anger, and would have died fighting the Outworld forces had he not been helped by the other chosen Earth warriors. After Kahn is defeated and driven back into Outworld, Kabal ponders his mistakes during the battle and during his life as a whole. He eventually decides that his path will be to battle crime rather than to be a part of it. He devotes himself to penetrating crimes inner circles and bringing the criminals to justice. Kabal's past life as a member of the Black Dragon gives him an edge, and he's successful as a crime fighter. He feels like he might have found his calling, but lately he's felt very empty. When Kabal hears about the new Mortal Kombat tournament against a fallen elder god, Kabal decides to enter. He believes it to be his destiny that he find and destroy Shinnok.
JAX
Long ago, Kabal joined the Black Dragon. There he lived the life of a thief and murderer. He joined the organization out of circumstance, and stayed in because it suited him. When Shao Kahn began his invasion of the Earth realm, Kabal's soul was protected by the elder gods because of his fighting skill. His life of crime was ignored. Kabal was caught in the middle of a battle with an extermination squad almost immediately after Outworld's portals opened to Earth. He was outnumbered, badly beaten, and left for dead. A stranger hid him from the extermination squads and was barely able to save his life. Kabal's face was badly scarred, leaving him looking hideous and almost not even recognizable as human. He was alive, but only because of a respirator that he was now forced to wear 24 hours a day. Kabal didn't know who the stranger was who helped him, but he did know that Shao Kahn was the one behind the invasion. Wanting revenge for what had happened to him, Kabal tried to seek out Shao Kahn. He was fighting with nothing but blind anger, and would have died fighting the Outworld forces had he not been helped by the other chosen Earth warriors. After Kahn is defeated and driven back into Outworld, Kabal ponders his mistakes during the battle and during his life as a whole. He eventually decides that his path will be to battle crime rather than to be a part of it. He devotes himself to penetrating crimes inner circles and bringing the criminals to justice. Kabal's past life as a member of the Black Dragon gives him an edge, and he's successful as a crime fighter. He feels like he might have found his calling, but lately he's felt very empty. When Kabal hears about the new Mortal Kombat tournament against a fallen elder god, Kabal decides to enter. He believes it to be his destiny that he find and destroy Shinnok.
