Till Death Do Us Part

                    a Mortal Kombat story by John D. Evans

      Reptile sat in his room and stared at the wall.
      He was thinking, as always, about Shang Tsung.
      Reptile's race had once ruled the world, but long ago things had
changed. They had gradually retreated to a complex of caves on a secluded
island, and lived without incident for uncounted years.
      Then, a few counted years ago, Shang Tsung had found them while
expanding the tournament complex. He had cast spells to communicate with them,
and asked them their name.
      This surprised them. They had no name they knew of. The nearest human
equivalent was "Themselves". Shang Tsung, however, did not mind too much. He
had been content to leave them alone in the caves with their four-armed
tenant.
      Or so they had thought, and probably still thought...
      They had also chosen Reptile to join Shang Tsung and learn of the
Outside and the Others, partly because of his physical prowess and strength
and his mastery of Their evolutionary quirks, but mostly because he was the
most intelligent of Them.
      So Reptile had offered to work for Shang Tsung, who had delightedly
accepted him as a bodyguard. Shang Tsung wove spells that forced him into a
human shape patterned after two of the competitors in the tournament. However,
because the spells restricted his natural abilities, Reptile was not able to
prevent Liu Kang from defeating Shang Tsung.
      So Shang Tsung had fled with Reptile to the Outworld, and stuck Reptile
in this dreary room. His room at the island had been a small cave all his own,
but the darkness here had none of the vibrancy or humidity of a real cave.
      Reptiles in general were not known for emotion, and Reptile himself was
no exception. Physical distaste was easy, though. Frustration came close
behind that. And after that, he had heard, came anger...
      Shang Tsung was a creature of emotion. He was angry at Liu Kang, proud
of his accomplishments and his abilities, and definitely ambitious. Reptile
found these emotions confusing and hard to fathom. But he was learning...
      Frustration, for example. He had been frustrated at the handicapping
spells which forced him to create blasts of cold and spears and had stopped
him from protecting Shang Tsung. He had pointed this out to Shang Tsung, even
going so far as to suggest that this was the reason Liu Kang had been able to
do what he had done.
      Usually it was not a good idea to imply that Shang Tsung had bungled,
but Shang Tsung had considered Reptile's concerns and weakened the spells. It
seemed like Shang Tsung trusted him, was even fond of him, in the way that
only one could be fond of an inferior, a...pet.
      Cunning, however, had nothing to do with emotion.
      "Reptile, come here!"
      Reptile heard the telepathic call without surprise, and walked to Shang
Tsung's laboratory. He was pleased to note that his posture was nearer to its
original hunch.
      As he entered, Shang Tsung looked up and smiled. "Ah, Reptile. How are
you doing today?"
      "I am well, Master. I feel closer to my old self."
      Shang Tsung raised his eyebrows. Reptile found his uneasiness at this
younger incarnation returning at this gesture. His kind didn't have eyebrows.
      "So the spells are allowing your natural abilities to assert themselves.
Hmmm...Do you think this will allow you to fight more effectively?"
      "Yes, Master, I believe it will."
      Shang Tsung's grin took on its familiar evil aspect. "Perhaps you would
care to test yourself with Baraka, here."
      The alien stepped out of the shadows and grinned horribly.
      Reptile was unperturbed. "Of course, Master." He faced Baraka and
adopted a swaying hunch stance, favored by his kind through millennia.
      Baraka charged at him, blades extending with a *ching*.
      Reptile's instincts recalled fights with charging lions, boars and older
beasts. He pulled his mask down and his disguise wavered to show his true
face. His glands and throat muscles contracted as he spat venom at the alien.
      Baraka roared as his skin burned, and he stumbled. Reptile easily
sidestepped him and kicked him in the back, throwing him to the floor.
      Moving faster but more carefully now, Baraka sprang up and looked
around. Reptile focused his power and warped space around him with an
explosion.
      Baraka and Shang Tsung alike gaped at the space where he had been.
Across the room Reptile's wavering face appeared again and another acid
projectile flew. Baraka saw it too late to block, and his flesh hissed once
more. He spun around and sliced at the air, but without success. A sudden
impact drove him backward. Fear shone in his eyes as he stopped, shaking.
      Reptile appeared behind him. Baraka straightened and turned.
      POW! He flew into the air and crashed into a table.
      When Baraka stood up, Reptile knew he wouldn't stop at hurting him. He
focused his power and forced it out his hands as Baraka charged a final time.
      The ball of energy hit Baraka and expanded to its full warp size,
carrying the alien helpless through the air. Reptile recalled his memory of
Ninjitsu techniques Shang Tsung had taught him, and concentrated.
      As Baraka flew towards him, Reptile punched him hard and jump-kicked him
while he was still in the air. As the alien landed Reptile slid across the
floor and knocked him backward into another table.
      Reptile walked over to Baraka and pulled him to his feet. He raised his
arm.
      Seeing this, Shang Tsung quickly grabbed his arm. "That's enough,
Reptile!"
      Reptile lowered his arm and backed away. Baraka leaned on a table and
wheezed, a strange gravelly noise.
      Shang Tsung beamed. "That was extremely impressive, Reptile. You were
right to want to use your natural abilities."
      Reptile inclined his head. "Thank you, Master."
      "You may go now, Baraka."
      Baraka scowled, but knew better than to challenge Shang Tsung. The look
he shot at Reptile was pure hatred.
      Reptile calmly stared back.
      When Baraka left, Shang Tsung appeared to be thinking about something.
      "Master?"
      "Hm? Oh, I was just thinking, Reptile...What would you think of being
entered in the Outworld Tournament?"
      Reptile did something he rarely did, in fact would not have been able to
do without the human form disguise spells.
      He blinked.
      "The tournament, Master?"
      "Yes, Reptile." He was eager now. "You saw how that...mutant looked at
you. He doesn't trust you, or me. I don't have anyone here who represents my
interests...except you."
      Reptile considered. Perhaps this was the chance he had been waiting for.
He nodded. "I see, Master. I will enter the Tournament, Master."
      Shang Tsung nodded. "Good, good, Reptile. I knew when I found your race

that it was the start of something this good. If you win the tournament,
you'll give control to me, and I will rule both these worlds with you as my
faithful bodyguard."
      Reptiles had little use for concepts of good or evil, but Reptile was
different after everything he had gone through. He recognized the implications
of this statement.
      "I believe the human expression is, till death do us part, Master."
      Shang Tsung looked shocked, then laughed. "Why, Reptile, I do believe
you're developing a sense of humor." Still chuckling, he turned back to the
plans on his workbench.
      Reptile recalled other plans on another table, plans for spells to
control and mold his kind.
      Plans for an army...
      Reptile smiled, but without a trace of humor.