May 20, 1997 Victar (vctr113062 [at] aol [dot] com) https://www.vicfanfic.com I'd like to give thanks to Phil Stroffolino, who got me some Tekken 2 Japanese mook books to use as reference long before any strategy guides reached US shelves, and Bladerunner, whose assistance with Mandarin Chinese phrases and plot/characterization details in general has been invaluable. And finally, thank you, my readers. If it weren't for your interest, I doubt I'd have had the motivation or the discipline to finish the story in five years, let alone a year and a half. My best wishes to you all, Victar "Ashes of the Phoenix" takes place in the same continuity as my other five MK fanfics: The Spinning Blade The Dragon's Jaws The Most Necessary Evil The Blood On My Hands The Coming of Winter and two of John Evans' MK fanfics Inheritance Til Death Do Us Part You can get any or all this stuff by e-mailing me at vctr113062 [at] aol [dot] com (you're quite welcome to do so! :), or my web page at https://www.vicfanfic.com ++++What Has Gone Before++++ Six months after Shao Kahn brought an end to civilization as we know it, only a handful of survivors are free of his curse. The Chosen Ones lead the fight to resist the Kahn's tyranny. In this changing Earth, most humans are frozen in time as the Kahn collects their souls one by one. Natural life is dying out, the need for food or drink is gone, and most wounds heal within a few minutes to a few days, if they don't kill you first. DRAMATIS PERSONAE for Ch. 1-25 Brackets enclose rough approximations of the pronounciations of non-English names. Corrections are welcome, particularly for Chinese names. Video games that characters are from are listed in parentheses, after their ethnicity/nationality. + denotes video game & other famous characters who do not make a personal appearance in "Ashes." Sorry. ****The Forces of Light and Their Allies**** Catsclaw: sergeant of the 34th platoon, minor sorcerer, also facilitator of the alliance between the 34th platoon and Chief Thunder's warriors. Native American. (Mortal Kombat*) +Claudia Silva: spirit of the rain forests(?). Brazilian. (Knuckle Heads) Dark Mane: warrior-mage, prisoner of Kazuya. Native American. Galgo [gahl-goh]: former name of Kabal. +The Great Kung Lao [kuhng lahoh]: legendary ancestor of Kung Lao. Chinese. (Mortal Kombat*) +Princess Jade: the twin sister of Princess Kitana. Outworld. (Mortal Kombat) Kabal [kah-bahl]: Chosen One, former member of the Black Dragons. Hispanic-American. (Mortal Kombat) Kate, Congden: soldiers of the 34th platoon. American. Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs: Chosen One, U.S. Special Forces member enhanced with bionic arms, Lieutenant Sonya Blade's commanding officer. African-American. (Mortal Kombat) +Johnny Cage: Chosen One and martial-arts movie star, deceased. American. (Mortal Kombat) Jun Kazama [june kah-zah-mah]: natural ecologist and healer/sorceress. Japanese, also part Korean & part Ainu in heritage. (Tekken 2) +Princess Kitana: Shao Kahn's adopted daughter, rightful heir to the throne of Outworld. Outworld. (Mortal Kombat) Kung Lao [kuhng lahoh]: Chosen One, Shaolin monk, member of the White Lotus Society, warrior-mage. Iberian-Chinese. (Mortal Kombat) Kurtis Stryker: Chosen One, police officer. American. (Mortal Kombat) Lei Wulong [lay woo-long]: Detective of the Hong Kong police department, afflicted with a terrible curse. Hong Kong Chinese. (Tekken 2) Liu Kang [loo kayng]: Chosen One, Shaolin monk, grand champion of the White Lotus Society, warrior-mage, were-dragon, also Shang Tsung's most hated enemy. Chinese. (Mortal Kombat) Michelle Chang [chayng]: warrior-mage. Half Native American, half Chinese. (Tekken 2) Nightwolf: Chosen One, Sanctuary's head sorcerer, also a werewolf. Native American. (Mortal Kombat) Paco, Sal, Zeke, & Pete: soldiers of the 34th platoon. American. Raiden [rye-den]: god of thunder, protector of Earth and the souls of his Chosen Ones. Japanese god. (Mortal Kombat) Raven of the Bright River: wise-woman, overseer of the Nation's domestic affairs, Chief Thunder's wife. Native American. Rock: warrior, descendant of the legendary Rock of centuries past. Native American. (Soul Edge) Seung Mina [sung mee-nah]: nurse, initiate of the Order of Light, descendant of the legendary Seung Mina of centuries past. Korean. (Soul Edge) Lieutenant Sonya Blade: Chosen One, U.S. Special Forces member, commander of the 34th platoon, also Kano's most hated enemy. American. (Mortal Kombat) Sparky: second lieutenant of the 34th platoon. American. (Mortal Kombat*) Sub-Zero: Chosen One, scientist, renegade Lin Kuei, younger brother and successor to the Sub-Zero who participated in Shang Tsung's first Tournament. Chinese. (Mortal Kombat) T. Hawk: warrior and wrestler. Native American. (Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo) Officer Takeshi Fujioka [tah-kay-shee foo-jee-oh-kah]: Detective of the International Criminal Police Organization. Japanese. (Knuckle Heads) Chief Thunder: elected leader and protector of the Nation, also an accomplished sorcerer. Native American. (Killer Instinct I) Thunderbolt: warrior, Chief Thunder's son. Native American. Wang Jinrey [wahng jihn-ray]: prophet, old friend of Kazuya's grandfather. Chinese. (Tekken 2) Wolf Hawkfield: warrior and wrestler. Canadian Native American. (Virtua Fighter 2) +Master Wu [woo]: revered Shaolin abbot of the White Lotus Society, teacher of Liu Kang and Kung Lao, deceased. Chinese. (Mortal Kombat*) *Sparky, Catsclaw, the Great Kung Lao, and Master Wu are not playable/fightable characters in the Mortal Kombat games, but you can read about them in the MK1 komic book by John Tobias. ****The Forces of Darkness and Their Allies**** Commander Baek Doo San [behk doh sahn]: a.k.a. "Killing Hawk," employee of the Mishima syndicate. Korean. (Tekken 2) +Major General Baraka: mutant warlord of the Shao Kahn. Outworld. (Mortal Kombat) Captain Bruce Irvin: "Nightmare Impact," employee of the Mishima syndicate. Thai-African-American. (Tekken 2) Ganryu [gahn-roo]: employee of the Mishima syndicate, Kazuya's chief bodyguard, formerly a sumo wrestler. Japanese. (Tekken 2) Ishida, Kimura [ee-shee-dah, kee-moo-rah]: employees of the Mishima syndicate, Kazuya's bodyguards. Japanese. Jack-2: a production line of android killing machines, designed by Doctor Boskonovitch. (Tekken 2) +Kano [kay-noh]: supreme crimelord of the Black Dragons, Lieutenant Sonya Blade's most hated enemy. Wanted in 35 countries. (Mortal Kombat) Kazuya Mishima [kah-zoo-yah mee-shee-mah]: master sorcerer, son of Heihachi Mishima, current President and CEO of the Mishima syndicate, current King of the Iron Fist Tournament. Japanese. (Tekken 2) Kuma [koo-mah]: a big freakin' mad bear. Formerly Heihachi Mishima's pet, now property of the Mishima syndicate. wildlife. (Tekken 2) Lee Chaolan [lee chow-lahn]: a.k.a. "silver haired devil," adoptive son of Heihachi Mishima, current Vice-President of the Mishima syndicate. Chinese, raised in Japan. (Tekken 2) Mori [moh-ree]: employee of the Mishima syndicate, animal keeper. Japanese. +General Motaro [moh-tah-roh]: Centaurian warlord of the Shao Kahn. Outworld. (Mortal Kombat) Major General Ouro [ow-roh]: Centaurian warlord of the Shao Kahn. Outworld. Noob Saibot: Once a renegade Lin Kuei, now a slave of the Shao Kahn. Nationality unknown, but probably Chinese. (Mortal Kombat) Reptile: lone survivor of the Earth's reptilian race of saurians. From the Green Hell. (Mortal Kombat) Shang Tsung [shahng soong]: shape-changing demon sorcerer, close collaborator of the Shao Kahn. Was once Chinese, is no longer human. (Mortal Kombat) Shao Kahn [shahoh kahn]: Entropy personified, the source of the Evil that devours the Earth. Origin unknown. (Mortal Kombat) Shimada [shee-mah-dah]: employee of the Mishima syndicate, jailer, torturer. Japanese. Queen Sindel: the Shao Kahn's bride, and the key to his occupation of the Earth. (Outworld) ****Others**** Alex: an evolved descendant of Troodon (a type of dinosaur). wildlife. (Tekken 2) Alphonse, Lorenzo, Andrea: members of Stryker's riot patrol. The Angel: Pistias Sophia, enforcer of the Divine Sanctions, and a presence that living beings justly fear. Transcends all mortal dimensions. (Tekken 2) Chih, Hsieh, Jiao [chih, see-eh, jee-ahoh]: members of the Hong Kong police department. Hong Kong Chinese. +Chun Li [choon lee]: renowned detective of the I.C.P.O. Chinese. (Street Fighter 2) +Dionysus [die-oh-nigh-sus]: Greek god of wine. Heihachi Mishima [hay-hah-chee mee-shee-mah]: father of Kazuya Mishima, adoptive father of Lee Chaolan, former President and CEO of the Mishima syndicate, former King of the Iron Fist Tournament. Japanese. (Tekken 2) +Henry Rollins: famous popular culture rock star, of sorts... Hu, Qiao [hoo, zhee-ahoh]: members of the Hong Kong police department. Hong Kong Chinese. +Jackie Chan: famous Hong Kong action movie star. Go see "Drunken Master II," "New Fist of Fury," or "Supercop." Hong Kong Chinese. (He's got his own NES and arcade video games, plus a game in volume 2.6 of "Blender" CD-ROM magazine, believe it or not :) +Jinpachi Mishima [jeen-pah-chee mee-shee-mah]: father of Heihachi Mishima and grandfather of Kazuya Mishima, old friend of Wang Jinrey, deceased. Japanese. (Tekken 2**) Jose, Daniel, Maria: members of the Black Dragons organization, close friends of Galgo, deceased. Hispanic-American. +King Jerrod: former ruler of Outworld, deceased. (Outworld) Mick: pimp. Hong Kong Chinese. +Perry Mason: famous fictional lawyer. +Roger: boxing kangaroo. wildlife. (Tekken 2) Schultz: soldier under Sonya's command. American. "Skull-tattoo": friend of Mick. Hong Kong Chinese. General Steverns: Major Jackson Briggs' commander. American. Tieh [tee-eh]: call girl. Hong Kong Chinese. "Tiger-earring": friend of Mick. Hong Kong Chinese. **Doctor Boskonovitch [vahs-coh-noh-vich]: slave of the Mishima syndicate, designer of the Jack-2 android production line. (Tekken 2) Yue Cheong: [you-eh jee-ong] Detective of the Hong Kong police department, Lei Wulong's partner. Hong Kong Chinese. **Jinpachi Mishima and Doctor Boskonovitch are not a playable/fightable characters in Tekken 2, but they are from Namco's storyline about the game. ****Places, Organizations, etc.**** Black Dragons: international criminal organization. Kano is its supreme boss. Centaurians: a race of nearly invulnerable, half-humanoid half-horse monsters. Cosmic Furies: interstellar forces whose harmony protected the Earth from the Shao Kahn for millennia. Council of Elders: a branch of the Nation's government. Divine Sanctions: a cosmic celestial agreement stipulating, in essence, that no god shall interfere in another god's realm. Edenia: the former name of the Outworld. Forbidden Scrolls: ancient texts of the White Lotus Society, about the mystic secrets of shape-changing, lycanthropy, etc. Once known as the Scrolls of Flux. I.C.P.O: International Council of Police Officers. Iron Fist Tournament: a blood-sport fighting competition, hosted by the Mishima syndicate. Lin Kuei: a secret society of assassins, based in China. Mishima syndicate: corporate conglomerate with a robotic private militia. Kazuya Mishima is its current President and CEO. Mother Realm: an ancient name for the Earth. The Nation: Sanctuary's governing body, a self-sufficient nation-state composed of refugees & warriors from various Native American tribes. New Era: the glorious future that Kazuya envisions for the Earth. Outworld: a world that the Shao Kahn has conquered and razed. Project Loki: Doctor Boskonovitch's deceptive invention. Project Titan: Sub-Zero's highly experimental invention, attuned to Jax's biorhythms. Sanctuary: the sacred lands of Chief Thunder's tribe, and the Chosen Ones' last bastion. Shokan: the Outworld's greatest city; also, a race of four-armed human-dragon hybrids. 34th platoon: once Lieutenant Sonya Blade's unit of 38 men, it has since been expanded to encompass as many soldiers as she and Jax could rescue from the Apocalypse. White Lotus Society: a secret Shaolin society devoted to the forces of Light, all but exterminated by Shang Tsung and the Shao Kahn. Also called the Order of Light. White Lotus Temple: home to the White Lotus Society, transported by sorcery from the Honan Province to Sanctuary. Also called the Temple of Light. Lei is a master of Chinese martial arts, also a detective in the Hong Kong international police force. He is investigating the death of his partner, who the authorities claim died in a mysterious airplane accident. Lei learns that his partner was fighting with someone when the plane went down, and he believes that this man is now working for Kazuya. So Lei travels to the second Rave War tournament for some answers, and to bring Kazuya to justice! -Simon Hill, "Prima's Tekken 2 Unauthorized Game Secrets"