—Shao to Liu Kang |
Biography
- Mortal Kombat 1: "Born into a proud military family, Shao was expected to become a soldier. But he was a sickly child who, though brilliant and eager, had an infirm body. Shao's disability infuriated his father. He dismissed his son's physicians and designed an extreme program to build his son's strength and endurance. Years of toil molded Shao into a physical colossus and forged within him an iron will. And as his father promised, Shao became the perfect soldier. His brilliant tactic and relentless effort won Outworld many victories and him much fame. Though General Shao is sworn to serve the Empress, his loyalty is to Outworld. If Sindel's rule ever endangers Outworld, he will be the first to try and end it."
Storyline
In restarting the timeline, Liu Kang wanted to ensure the realms would not fall into the same conflicts as he had previously experienced. In doing so, after seizing control of The Hourglass, Liu Kang forged the destinies of many past villains, such as Shao Kahn, redesigning him to be a conquering but loyal servant of the Outworld empire. Born a weak child, he is physically improved by his unnamed father, becoming the perfect soldier and leading Outworld to many victories within the realm, eventually becoming Outworld's top General under Empress Sindel.
Mortal Kombat 1
Part 1: Mortal Kombat 1
Shao is one of Sindel's many champions that participates in the current tournament. Like in previous timelines, Shao seems to have his own conflicts towards both Liu Kang and Earthrealm, mocking Raiden before the tournament and drunkenly disrespecting the Earthrealm champions after losing the tournament. He secretly builds an alliance with Shang Tsung, who had been in contact with a mysterious woman that helped transform him into the sorcerer he was in previous timelines. He also begins interacting with Quan Chi, who was also interacting with the same mysterious woman. Quan Chi begins prophesizing that Liu Kang wishes to conquer Outworld, bring Shao into conflict with Sindel over protecting Outworld from Earthrealm.
After the Earthrealm champions come to Outworld to capture Shang Tsung for questioning, a misunderstanding ensues, allowing Shao's plans to come to fruition with war with Earthrealm. The sorcerers and General also plan to usurp the throne, making Shao emperor like in previous timelines. After Liu Kang reveals his role as Keeper of Time to Sindel and her daughters, Shao arrives and reveals his plans. He then traps Geras, Tanya, Kitana and Mileena inside Shinnok's Amulet, an artifact he should not possess in this timeline in an attempt to usurp the throne, further proving to Liu Kang that something out of his control is tampering with the timeline. After the confrontation, Shao and his allies are defeated then imprisoned.
Later on, other timeline counterparts of Shao appear, with a variant named Dark Shao that is killed by Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. During the second Battle of Armageddon between Liu Kang and the alternate timeline version of Shang Tsung, various timeline counterparts of Shao participate in both sides. As the battle wages to the top of the Pyramid, a good version of the Deadly Alliance briefly fight the Titan Deadly Alliance before being quickly killed. At the top, the Titans fight Liu Kang and an ally, only to be bested by Liu Kang's ally in kombat. Liu Kang uses his Temporal Power to erase both Titans to hopefully never to be seen again, but in doing so, causes the timeline seemingly begins to collapse. Running out of time, Liu Kang sends his ally back to their respective timeline before doing so with himself.
After the battle, Shang Tsung and Quan Chi are imprisoned alongside Shao and Reiko, with them all eventually escaping prison and going their separate paths.
Part 2: Khaos Reigns
Although Shao does not appear, he is mentioned during early events, revealing he and his forces have regrouped to overthrow Mileena's reign as Empress. As events transpire, including the timeline being invaded by a Titan variant of Havik, Liu Kang devises a plan to thwart the chaotic Titan. Mileena states she will assist with her Outworld forces, but the Fire God declines, believing it will leave Outworld vulnerable to Shao's reestablished rebellion.
In Titan Havik's timeline, where the Cleric of Chaos had merged other timelines into his own, Kuai Liang, Sektor, and Cyrax infiltrate his timeline to stop his plans. There, they encounter variants of kombatants from other timelines, as well as Khaos variants from Titan Havik's timeline. At the Khaoseum, the group encounter a Chaos variant of Shao, who fights and is defeated by a variant of Rain.
Endings
- Mortal Kombat 1 (Canonical): "The battle had been lost, but the war isn't over. I won't stop fighting until I take Outworld's throne. That they thought Lei Chin prison would hold me is laughable. Once free, I began planning my next campaign. I would need an unstoppable army to overthrow Mileena. Unfortunately, most of my former soldiers lacked the courage to rally to my standard. Rebuilding my army would require finding new recruits. And that task…is proving easier than expected. Outworld's "Golden Age" has left more than a few behind. Without hope, without power, they eagerly heed my call to tear down Mileena's government."