MK Story FAQ – The Complete Time Rift Continuation of Mortal Kombat Trilogy (UMK3/MKT Universe)
Restored & Expanded Geocities Edition – 2001 Style, Now Fully Finished
This FAQ covers every fighter who appeared during Shao Kahn’s final invasion of Earthrealm in the Mortal Kombat Trilogy timeline. The core events are exactly as they happened in UMK3 and MKT: Sindel’s unholy reincarnation tore open the dimensional gates, merged the realms, and let Kahn’s extermination squads pour through.
But the violent merger did something the Elder Gods never planned — it ripped open massive time rifts. These rifts pulled in warriors who were never supposed to be there: hidden Lin Kuei prototypes buried in the code, glitch fighters whispered about, rumored palette-swaps from magazine hoaxes, and even shadowy figures that only existed in blurry screenshots and playground legends. They weren’t from other universes — they were time-rifted anomalies from hidden timelines within the same MK3/UMK3/MKT reality. Some were Lin Kuei experiments that the chaos of the merger finally activated. Others were warriors trapped in the Netherrealm or Outworld’s lower regions who got yanked forward (or backward) in time when the realms collided.
Once the Earth warriors defeated Kahn and the realms separated, the time rifts began to close… but not before every last one of these fighters got their shot at glory (or infamy).
Here is the complete story of every single character — classic, time-rifted, and rumored — exactly as it went down during that chaotic invasion.
### Core Warriors of the Invasion
Baraka
How It Began
Baraka was sent to quell the uprising of a renegade race in Outworld’s lower regions. After his victorious battle, the nomadic Tarkatan warrior returned to fight on the side of villainy under the guidance of Shao Kahn.
How It Ended
When Baraka’s failure to apprehend several Earth warriors nearly results in Shao Kahn’s demise, the Nomad finds himself fearing for his own life. He falls out of favor with his emperor, and realizes that it’s only a matter of time before Kahn enacts revenge. Baraka remains loyal until the opposition from the Earth Realm has been defeated. With Kahn in a weakened state from his battle with Rayden, Baraka strikes. The despondent emperor is no match for Baraka’s attack. Then fearing reprisal from those loyal to Kahn, Baraka escapes back into the Nomadic Ruins from which he came.
Cyrax
How It Began
Cyrax is unit LK-4D4. The 2nd of three prototype cybernetic ninjas built by the Lin Kuei. Like his counterparts his last programmed command is to find and terminate the rogue ninja, Sub-Zero. Without a soul, Cyrax goes undetected by Shao Kahn and remains a possible threat against his occupation of Earth.
How It Ended
Cyrax is captured by Sub-Zero and reprogrammed with new orders: Destroy Shao Kahn. With Kahn unable to detect the assassin’s soulless presence, Cyrax delivers a successful sneak attack that helps turn the tide of the invasion.
Ermac
How It Began
The origin of the warrior known as Ermac remains shrouded in mystery. Rumor has it that he is the embodiment of the life forces of three slain warriors, brought back from the nether regions and fused by Shao Kahn’s foul magic.
How It Ended
When Kahn finally eliminates his opposition, he finds a new and surprising foe in Ermac. The construct of souls proves too much for the emperor. Ermac’s powers grow with each victory until he is strong enough to challenge the Elder Gods themselves.
Jade
How It Began
Jade is the loyal Edenian assassin and childhood friend of Princess Kitana. She was sent by Kahn to spy on Kitana and ensure her loyalty, but the realm merger’s time rifts revealed the truth of her own Edenian heritage.
How It Ended
Jade turns against Kahn, helps free Sindel’s true memories, and fights alongside the Earth warriors to restore Edenia once the realms separate.
Jax
How It Began
After failing to convince his superiors of the coming Outworld menace, Jax begins to covertly prepare for future battle with Kahn’s minions. He outfits both arms with indestructible bionic implants.
How It Ended
When the world reverts back to normal, Jax and Sonya start the Outer World Investigation Agency. Jax runs the exploratory division which learns to open portals through science rather than magic. He leads the first expedition into a mysterious new realm.
Johnny Cage
How It Began
Killed in a battle with an Outworld extermination squad, Johnny Cage’s life came to a tragic end. But the celluloid superstar managed to cheat death when his path to the afterlife is blocked by the merger of Earth and the Outworld. His soul takes possession of its body once again.
How It Ended
With his nearly deceased soul restored, Johnny Cage finds himself fighting alongside his friends once again. This time he seeks revenge against the extermination squads that took his life. Knowing that victory means his soul will depart again, Cage embarks on a one-way mission to destroy Kahn. His determination fuels the final onslaught. When the realms revert, Cage bids farewell as his soul leaves to a higher place.
Kabal
How It Began
As a chosen warrior, his identity is a mystery to all. It’s believed that he is the survivor of an attack by Shao Kahn’s extermination squads. As a result, he is viciously scarred and kept alive only by artificial respirators and a rage for ending Shao Kahn’s conquest.
How It Ended
After winning the tournament, Kabal’s mask is removed. He is revealed as a former member of the Black Dragon. With his newfound fame and power, he reforms the Black Dragon and uses his winnings to build a criminal empire that survives the closing of the time rifts.
Kano
How It Began
Kano is thought to have been killed in the first tournament. Instead he’s found alive in the Outworld where he once again escapes capture by Sonya. Before the actual Outworld invasion, Kano convinces Shao Kahn to spare his soul.
How It Ended
Kano’s true intention is to take over the souls which Kahn once possessed. But Kano is unable to control the spirits as they escape and attack him. Rumoured to have suffered a violent death, Kano was ignorant of the fact that he saved the world he tried to conquer.
Kitana
How It Began
Kitana is the princess of Edenia, raised by Shao Kahn after he conquered her realm. The time rifts caused by her mother Sindel’s reincarnation begin to awaken her true memories.
How It Ended
Kitana learns the full truth about her mother and joins the Earth warriors. She helps defeat Kahn and begins the long process of restoring Edenia once the realms separate.
Kung Lao
How It Began
Kung Lao’s plan to reform the White Lotus Society comes to a halt when Shao Kahn’s invasion takes the Earth by storm. As a chosen warrior Kung Lao must use his greatest fighting skills to bring down Shao Kahn’s reign of terror.
How It Ended
When Kahn invades Earth, Kung Lao must scrap his plans of reuniting the White Lotus Society. He instead must focus on the new tournament. He seeks Liu Kang and together they battle Kahn’s forces fearlessly. In victory, he helps restore the Shaolin temples and continues his legacy.
Liu Kang
How It Began
After the Outworld invasion Liu Kang finds himself the prime target of Kahn’s extermination squads. He is the Shaolin champion and has thwarted Kahn’s schemes in the past.
How It Ended
Liu Kang proves he is the reigning Mortal Kombat champion by easily defeating Kahn’s minions. The apparent death of his friend Kung Lao enrages him and enables him to find the strength to defeat Shao Kahn. Before the portal closes, Liu Kang is greeted by princess Kitana and thanked for saving the Earth and the Outworld.
Mileena
How It Began
Created by Shang Tsung as a clone of Kitana, Mileena was meant to replace the princess. The time rifts begin to fracture her unstable mind and reveal the truth of her origins.
How It Ended
Mileena’s loyalty to Kahn fractures completely. She fights for her own survival and ultimately flees into the closing time rifts when the realms separate.
Motaro
How It Began
In the realm of the Outworld, Motaro’s race of Centaurians has long since come into conflict with the Shokan. When Shao Kahn formed special extermination squads, Motaro was appointed to head this elite group of savage warriors.
How It Ended
Motaro leads the extermination squads to victory after victory. With Earth defeated, he returns to Outworld as a hero among his people, further tipping the balance against the Shokan.
Nightwolf
How It Began
He works as a historian and preserver of his people’s culture. When Kahn’s portal opens over North America, Nightwolf uses the magic of his tribe’s sacred land to protect Earthrealm.
How It Ended
Nightwolf helps other Earth warriors escape to his sacred land. Once there they regroup and form a plan of attack. He faces Shao Kahn and emerges victorious. When the Earth returns to its normal state, Nightwolf peacefully regains the lands his people lost over many years.
Noob Saibot
How It Began
Noob Saibot emerges from the darkest region of reality — a region known as the Nether-Realm. He belongs to a group called the Brothers Of The Shadow, and worships an evil and mysterious fallen Elder God.
How It Ended
At first a passive observer, Noob Saibot receives orders to side with Shao Kahn. When Kahn drops his guard, Saibot attacks. With both the Earth Realm and Outworld’s emperor defeated, the fallen Elder God Shinnok can take both realms.
Rain
How It Began
Born in Kitana’s former world of Edenia, Rain was smuggled away from the realm as a small child shortly after Shao Kahn took over. Thousands of years later he resurfaced, his allegiance belonging to Kahn.
How It Ended
Rain fights valiantly for the emperor until he learns the truth about his Edenian heritage. Enraged, he joins Kitana and the Earth warriors, then disappears during an extermination squad attack to embark on a suicide mission to destroy Shao Kahn once and for all.
Raiden (Rayden)
How It Began
As Earth’s sworn protector, Rayden finds himself banished in the merger between Earth and Outworld. The Thunder God transforms himself into a mortal warrior in order to exist once again on Earth.
How It Ended
Rayden guides the Chosen Earth Warriors into battle against the Outworld Emperor’s armies, then finally faces Kahn himself. The powerful beings fight until the very core of the Earth is shaken, and Rayden emerges victorious.
Reptile
How It Began
Reptile is the last known survivor of his Saurian race. He serves Shao Kahn loyally in hopes that the emperor will help restore his people.
How It Ended
Reptile survives the invasion and continues his search for others of his kind as the time rifts close.
Scorpion
How It Began
The undead specter Scorpion seeks vengeance on Sub-Zero for the death of his clan and family. The time rifts allow him to manifest more strongly during the invasion.
How It Ended
Scorpion learns partial truths about the Lin Kuei and temporarily aids the Earth warriors before vanishing back into the Netherrealm when the rifts seal.
Sektor
How It Began
Sektor is actually the code name for Unit LK-9T9. He was the first of three prototype cybernetic ninjas built by the Lin Kuei.
How It Ended
Sektor completes his primary mission: the destruction of Sub-Zero. With his rival eliminated, he returns to the Lin Kuei as the ultimate warrior, ready to lead the clan into a new automated era.
Shang Tsung
How It Began
Shang Tsung is Shao Kahn’s lead sorcerer. He once fell out of favor with his emperor after failing to win the Earth realm through tournament battle. But the ever-scheming Shang Tsung is instrumental in Kahn’s conquest of Earth.
How It Ended
Shang Tsung uses his sorcery to drain souls and grows stronger, eventually plotting to overthrow Kahn, but the time rifts close before he can seize full power.
Sheeva
How It Began
She was hand-picked by Shao Kahn to serve as Sindel’s personal protector. However, she becomes suspicious of Shao Kahn’s loyalty towards her race of Shokan when he places Motaro as the leader of his extermination squads.
How It Ended
After learning that her race of Shokan are being punished on the Outworld, Sheeva turns on her master. She defeats Motaro and in a rage brings down Kahn. In freeing the Earth she also frees the Outworld. She then returns home and works to restore the pride and respect of her race.
Sindel
How It Began
Many decades ago, Shao Kahn rose to power in the Outworld, usurping the realm from Kitana’s parents and taking Queen Sindel for his bride but she died. Now centuries later, Sindel is reborn on Earth.
How It Ended
Sindel receives visions of her true past and turns against Shao Kahn. With her memories restored, she helps the Earth warriors defeat Kahn and reclaims her rightful rule over Edenia.
Smoke (Human / Cyborg)
How It Began
In his human form, Smoke was a lethal assassin working for the Lin Kuei. But when they decided to automate their ninjas, Smoke is caught in the middle. He became a cyborg assassin, whose human form would exist as a memory forever more.
How It Ended
Before his transformation into a cyborg assassin, Smoke was one of the Lin Kuei’s finest ninja. It was during this time that he came to know his greatest ally — Sub-Zero. When the Lin Kuei decide to automate their warriors, the two attempted to escape. While Sub-Zero successfully eluded capture, Smoke did not. In his mechanical body he is even more lethal. But his true form is that of a human, one he’ll know again only in dreams. With Sub-Zero’s help he breaks free during the time-rift chaos and aids the Earth warriors.
Sonya Blade
How It Began
Sonya Blade is a Special Forces lieutenant still hunting the criminal Kano. The realm merger pulls her deeper into the conflict.
How It Ended
Sonya teams with Jax and helps establish post-invasion defense forces as the time rifts close.
Stryker
How It Began
Stryker is a riot cop caught in the chaos of the invasion when the extermination squads hit the streets of Earth.
How It Ended
Stryker leads resistance in urban battles against extermination squads and survives to see the realms separate.
Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang)
How It Began
The younger brother who took the mantle of Sub-Zero after his elder brother’s death. He defects from the Lin Kuei and fights against the automation program.
How It Ended
Sub-Zero frees Smoke, fights for Earthrealm, and survives the closing of the time rifts to continue protecting the realm.
### Time-Rifted & Rumored Secret Characters (The Hidden Fighters Pulled Through the Rifts)
These are the warriors the old
rat.org boards and magazine hoaxes swore were real. The time rifts caused by the realm merger finally brought them into the fight — hidden Lin Kuei prototypes, glitch ninjas, and legendary figures that only existed in blurry screenshots until the portals tore open.
Aqua (Aquilluxborg Hydroxybot)
How It Began
A blue water ninja and the water version of the cyber ninjas, hidden deep in the Trilogy code. The time rifts activated his prototype body from Outworld’s flooded lower regions.
How It Ended
Aqua flooded entire stages and drowned Kahn’s forces. Once the realms separated he vanished back into the closing rifts, leaving behind a secret water realm stage as his legacy.
Chameleon & Khameleon
How It Began
Chameleon was the ultimate color-changing ninja who could copy any fighter’s moves. Khameleon was his invisible female counterpart, rumored to be Kitana and Mileena’s hidden sister. The time rifts pulled them out of the hidden code.
How It Ended
Chameleon absorbed powers from every kombatant and became unstoppable. Khameleon fought from the shadows and helped the Earth warriors without ever being seen. Both faded back into the code as the rifts sealed.
Cloak
How It Began
The shadowy black ninja and new member of the Brothers of the Shadow who could cloak himself completely. The time rifts brought him forward alongside Noob Saibot.
How It Ended
Cloak drained life just by standing near opponents. His cloak-wrapped fatality made enemies disappear forever before he too vanished into the Netherrealm when the rifts closed.
Cybershrapnel (Shrapnel)
How It Began
The fourth cyber ninja built by the Lin Kuei right before the invasion — a failed, unstable prototype after Sektor, Cyrax, and Smoke. His body constantly fired metal shards and explosives. The realm merger’s time rifts finally activated his dormant code.
How It Ended
Cybershrapnel’s spinning blades and shrapnel launchers tore through Kahn’s armies. His self-destruct bomb and internal explosion fatality turned opponents into bloody metal confetti. After helping destroy the Lin Kuei temple he went rogue and disappeared into the closing rifts.
Emerald
How It Began
The green female ninja, counterpart to the male palette-swaps and rumored to be Kitana/Mileena’s hidden Edenian sister or a new Lin Kuei prototype. The time rifts brought her into the open.
How It Ended
Emerald fought with poison and acid attacks. Her ending revealed she was the true guardian of Edenia as the rifts sealed.
Erinmac
How It Began
A red-tinted Ermac glitch that was actually Ermac’s evil twin brother, pulled from a fractured timeline by the time rifts.
How It Ended
Erinmac ripped souls out in a giant red vortex. He challenged the Elder Gods themselves before fading back into the code.
Flare
How It Began
Torch’s fiery brother and an upgraded fire ninja prototype hidden in the Lin Kuei labs. The time rifts ignited his dormant form.
How It Ended
Flare’s exploding opponents and full-body flame attacks helped burn away Kahn’s forces before he vanished with the closing rifts.
Ghost
How It Began
The completely transparent ninja, a dead Lin Kuei warrior brought back during the realm merger’s time rifts.
How It Ended
Ghost phased through attacks and possessed opponents. He faded back into the Netherrealm once the invasion ended.
Goldenrod
How It Began
The golden-yellow ninja who combined all the ninja colors and powers — the ultimate palette-swap boss hidden in the deepest code layers.
How It Ended
Goldenrod used every special move in the game and ascended to become an Elder God after defeating Kahn as the rifts closed.
Happyin
How It Began
A super-cheerful palette-swap of Liu Kang who was always smiling — a hidden “joke” character activated by the time rifts.
How It Ended
Happyin’s silly rainbow fireballs and cartwheel kicks ended with a hug fatality that made opponents explode from happiness. He vanished laughing as the rifts sealed.
Hornbuckle
How It Began
The green ninja visible in the Pit II background. Jade would sometimes say “Hornbuckle Who?” The time rifts finally let him jump down from the background.
How It Ended
Hornbuckle could fire every projectile at once. Legend says he had the true hidden ending where he actually beat Shao Kahn for good before returning to the background code.
Inferno
How It Began
An upgraded fiery version of Scorpion or Torch that lived in the Netherrealm. The time rifts pulled him into the invasion.
How It Ended
Inferno turned stages into lava and dragged opponents into pits of eternal fire before disappearing back into the Netherrealm.
John the MK Janitor
How It Began
The real Midway employee digitized as a secret playable character. The time rifts brought him out of the background of the arcade stages.
How It Ended
Armed with a stretching mop, he “cleaned” opponents out of existence. He returned to sweeping the arcade floors once the rifts closed.
Kochal
How It Began
A three-headed god-like being whose name was “Koin Challenge” backwards. A giant boss hidden in later revisions and pulled forward by the time rifts.
How It Ended
Each head had different powers (fire, ice, lightning). The heads argued with each other, allowing the Earth warriors to defeat him before the rifts sealed.
Lady Aqua / Lady Hornbuckle
How It Began
The female water version of Aqua and the green female version of Hornbuckle — hidden Edenian sisters pulled through the time rifts.
How It Ended
Lady Aqua flooded stages with tidal waves while Lady Hornbuckle added vine/plant attacks. They faded back into the code with the other rumored ninjas.
Monolith
How It Began
A giant stone golem warrior created by Shao Kahn from the rocks of Outworld. The time rifts activated him as a hidden boss.
How It Ended
Monolith created earthquakes and turned into an unbreakable statue. He was defeated but his stone remains were left behind when the rifts closed.
Nimbus Terrafaux
How It Began
The super-powerful African-American kickboxer hidden because he was “too strong.” The EGM hoax became real when the time rifts pulled him into the invasion.
How It Ended
Nimbus controlled weather and clouds and fought for Earthrealm with lightning punches. He vanished back into the code after Kahn’s defeat.
Ninja Mime
How It Began
The completely silent white-faced ninja trapped between realms. The time rifts gave him physical form.
How It Ended
He fought using invisible walls, ropes, and boxes. His fatality trapped opponents in an invisible box forever. He faded away once the rifts closed.
Notron
How It Began
A robotic anti-Lin Kuei ninja, the “good” version of the cyber ninjas hidden in the PS1 disc. The time rifts activated him.
How It Ended
Notron absorbed cyber attacks and disassembled opponents piece by piece. He helped destroy the Lin Kuei automation program before vanishing.
Orez-Bus
How It Began
A mysterious shadow warrior whose name was “Sub-Zero” backwards — the true form of Classic Sub-Zero pulled from a fractured timeline.
How It Ended
Orez-Bus froze opponents from the inside and used ice clones. His warning to Earthrealm was delivered before the rifts sealed.
Pedro
How It Began
A greasy, mustached Stryker palette-swap rumored for the PlayStation version. The time rifts made the April Fools rumor real.
How It Ended
Pedro’s fart fireball and head-soccer fatality became legend. He disappeared back into the code with a final “Pedro Wins!”
Red Robin
How It Began
The red ninja from early rumors and John Tobias’s MKII comic. The time rifts brought the pre-automation human Sektor variant forward.
How It Ended
Red Robin’s flame powers helped burn Kahn’s forces before he returned to the hidden palette-swap layers.
Reptilia
How It Began
The female version of Reptile — a Saurian princess or last surviving female of his race. The time rifts pulled her into the invasion.
How It Ended
Reptilia used acid spit and invisibility to help restore the Saurian race before vanishing with the closing rifts.
Scarlet
How It Began
The red female ninja assassin who worked directly for Shao Kahn. The blurry screenshots became real when the time rifts activated her.
How It Ended
Scarlet drained every drop of blood from her opponents. She was defeated as the final secret boss when the rifts began to close.
Stan Looth / Belokk
How It Began
A big brutish Outworld enforcer and new boss under Motaro. The time rifts brought this early rumor to life.
How It Ended
Stan Looth’s giant club smashed the stage. He was defeated after the Earth warriors beat every boss character.
Torch
How It Began
The burning guy spotted in backgrounds alongside Hornbuckle. Shao Kahn tried to burn him alive but the flames gave him powers. The time rifts activated him.
How It Ended
Torch’s internal burning fatality turned opponents to ashes. He vanished into the flames as the rifts sealed.
Viper
How It Began
A purple/green snake-themed ninja and Reptile’s rival. The time rifts pulled him from the background slithering stages.
How It Ended
Viper turned invisible and crushed opponents like a snake. He survived to continue his rivalry once the invasion ended.
Wraith’s Army
How It Began
An entire army of ghostly Lin Kuei wraiths led by Noob Saibot. The time rifts let the army manifest as selectable clones.
How It Ended
The army swarmed the screen and possessed opponents. They faded back into the Netherrealm shadows when the rifts finally closed.
Zebron
How It Began
The weird alien-looking warrior from an Ed Boon April Fools post. The time rifts made the fake screenshot real.
How It Ended
Zebron’s stretchy limbs and laser eyes helped in the final battles before he disappeared back into the dimensional hoax from which he came.