The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior

In ancient times,

there arose in the lands between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers,

a powerful kingdom called Akkad.

And for generations, her elite warriors, called the Black Scorpions,

held sway over all the neighboring tribes.

Bound by their code of honor to fight and die to the last man

rather than abandon their master,

they became prized as the personal bodyguards of princes and emperors.

Most renowned among the Black Scorpions was Ashur.

But as for his own son, Mathayus,

Ashur refused to allow the boy to compete

for the honor of joining the Black Scorpions.

I must follow my faith and I forbid you to go to the games tomorrow.

You think it's all honor and glory.

Well, it's not.

I've done some things that were not noble.

I promise you that, my son.

But like many boys his age,

Mathayus paid no heed to his father's warnings.

You 24 boys are here to show your skills

in the art of fighting.

Only 12 of you will be chosen to move ahead

and train for six long years to become the pinnacle of a warrior.

A Black Scorpion!

Ready!

Advance to combat!

Show some mettle if you want to be Scorpions.

Mercy is weakness!

Layla? Mathayus?

I thought your father...

I snuck out. You're crazy.

I'm crazy?

I can fight as well as any boy.

Oh, really?

Prove it! Hold!

Girls are forbidden from the games.

Leave her alone!

Little vermin!

Get him!

Get him back here! Where do you think you're going?

You dare dishonor the games by interfering?

Lay a hand on him and you won't live to regret it.

Arm yourself.

I'm not in the mood for killing today.

Father!

Arrest them both!

- And the girl. - Wait!

King Hammurabi!

They make a mockery of the ancient games and insult me,

the commander of your armies.

That may be, Sargon.

But Ashur has earned himself some forbearance.

I am in your debt, My Lord. As always.

And you may repay it

by sending your boy to the Scorpions for training.

If he makes half the mercenary his father was,

he'll serve the nation well.

You will pay for this.

I promise.

The king's general, Sargon, had always resented Ashur's fame.

And now, his hatred knew no bounds.

Father!

Father!

Though he had no proof, Mathayus knew in his heart

who had done this to his father.

He vowed to master the ways of the warrior.

You fight like a woman.

Six years had passed.

Mathayus had left Nippur a boy, and he returned a man.

And as he would shortly learn, much had changed while he was gone.

For these six years past, you have seen neither kinsman nor any friend,

but blade, shield and shaft.

You have trained hard.

Some have fallen by the wayside.

Those who yet stand before me

represent the pinnacle of generations of Akkadian fighting prowess,

the Order of the Black Scorpions.

Go forth proudly to wherever your king may send you.

Fight nobly!

Bring gold to our nation's coffers

and honor to your family names!

Oh, Mom!

Look at you. You're a man now!

I barely recognized you.

Mathayus! Mathayus!

Mathayus! Noah!

What do they feed you, rock stew?

I see you've grown, too.

He eats Enki's portions as well as his own.

Where is Enki? Why didn't he come?

He ran away from home last year.

He's left to find his fortune.

He'll be back.

Well, well, look at the proud new Black Scorpion.

I see you've come to pay your respects, Layla.

I can take you on and don't you forget it.

Does that sting?

Only if you dare touch it.

All turn and hail

Sargon, your king!

Present King Sargon!

I heard rumors.

You heard the truth.

Hammurabi's death was no accident. Sargon killed him.

Such talk is dangerous.

Careful with your words.

Our top graduate, Sire.

You look familiar. Do I know you?

I think not, Sire.

Ashur was his father.

Ah.

Your father was a skillful warrior and a patriot.

I trust you will honor his memory.

Send him to the palace later.

I may have a special assignment for him.

You call yourself a fighter?

Get up!

You better show me some skills.

Is that all you've got?

You're nothing.

Don't just stand there.

Come to me.

There's no place for timidity now that the scorpion rides on your shoulder.

You're wondering about their tattoos.

One for each man they've slain.

You'd like a few of your own, wouldn't you?

If they deserve to die, yes.

We all deserve to die.

The only question is in what manner and how soon.

As a member of my personal bodyguard,

it'll be your job to ensure that you die long before I do.

Your personal bodyguard?

It's a great honor, Mathayus.

Beyond the skill and strength I'm told you possess,

the first requirement is an absolute and unwavering loyalty to me,

your king.

Show him what I mean.

Hail Sargon!

Are you capable of such loyalty, Mathayus?

I...

Yes,

Sire.

Good. Then riches and glory will be yours.

But, Mathayus, betray me even once

and you will pray to the gods for a quick death.

We'll talk again in the morning.

Pick one for the night. Or two or three.

Don't wear yourself out.

Or three.

I hear you're quite the swordsman.

I'm not quite polished yet, Sire, but I'm a quick learner, I hope.

I like you, Mathayus.

Bring in the prisoner.

He was overheard slandering my name.

And the punishment is death.

Wait. But this is my... I know.

You do the deed yourself,

you prove your loyalty to me beyond a shadow of a doubt.

I'll permit you to make it quick.

Mathayus! I'm sorry.

Is this true?

Did you slander the king?

Mathayus! Please!

Answer me!

Are the charges true?

Yes.

Then you deserve what's coming to you.

You've not only betrayed your king, but your family as well.

And you've disgraced our father's name.

Whatever you do, don't flinch.

Run, Noah!

I said run!

No! Go.

We stand and fight together.

Mathayus, behind you!

You killed my father.

This is for him.

Your father was a traitor.

As are his sons.

Turnabout's fair play.

Let's go! Out the window.

Kill them!

Noah, come on!

Come back! Stop!

Go! Go!

Hold on!

Noah, what's wrong?

Just hold on. We're almost safe.

Noah.

What's wrong? What's wrong?

Noah!

Noah!

Hang on! Hang on!

Noah!

Noah!

Noah.

Now with his brother's blood on his hands,

vengeance had branded itself in Mathayus' heart.

Shall we kill him now or bring him back alive?

Neither. I have special plans for this one.