General Reiko

I have experienced much in my time. I have seen the multiple rises to power of the Netherealm overlord, Lord Shinnok, followed by his inevitable downfalls, at the hands of Raiden, and Liu Kang. I have seen Emperor Shao Kahn's return to power. Some day, Shao Kahn will experience the full extent of my wrath, and Outworld will obey their new ruler, Emperor Reiko. But for now, I am a mere general, serving under the Outworld Emperor, Shao Kahn.

My story began in Outworld, where I was born into a horrible family. I was born into Onaga's rule, of which was a most hellish time for Outworld indeed. I hated Onaga. His military kept a close watch on every activity that went on throughout the realm of Outworld. We as citizens could not speak freely for fear of cruelty from Outworld's military, not to mention Onaga's countless, mindless supporters. I knew I had to find somewhere safe throughout the realms.

I soon ran away from the hell that was my family. I found a section of woods in the highlands of Outworld that were uncharted, and undiscovered. I wandered the woods aimlessly for weeks, constantly searching for food. I was struggling to survive, but keeping myself intact by my constant drive for power and a better life. I eventually discovered a strange object. It was large, and clearly had a circular field of magic in the centre. I know now it was a portal, but at the time I did not know what to expect.

By this time I was almost completely starved. I had been in the wilderness for weeks, perhaps even months. I knew that the Emperor's military would be searching for me, and it was only a matter of time before they found me. It only took me a split second to make my decision. I jumped through the portal, in a last attempt to find somewhere where I truly belonged.

I emerged in a dark, hellish place. It had red skies, and strange demonic creatures walked the surface. I had no idea where I was. I know now I was in a place known as the Netherealm, but back then I had no idea what to expect. I wandered around the accursed realm, not knowing who or what I would find. I saw demons eating other demons, and creatures fighting amongst themselves for odd reasons.

I soon entered a village. It had been a long time since I had seen so many people in a single place. I searched the village, hoping to find somewhere that I could reside. I was eventually approached by a strange man in black, who escorted me to a hut-like house. Entering the house, I was surrounded by many other men in black. They looked like they were from Outworld, somewhat like me. But they did not have the same facial markings that every Outworlder, including myself had.

I was eventually asked to bow. I had no idea what was happening. Soon a bald, demonic sorcerer appeared before the group of the black clansmen. He introduced himself. I still remember his words clearly. «Who dares enter the presence of the Netherealm arch sorcerer, Quan Chi, in the house of the Brotherhood of the Shadow?» he said with a strong, deep voice. I was immensely frightened, knowing that I had no kombat skills, and was surrounded by strange guards. I had no idea what to do. I was trapped.

I introduced myself to the so called «Quan Chi». «I am Reiko of Outworld. I came to this realm in search of a home; in flee of the Outworld Emperor, Onaga». The sorcerer stared at me with a strange expression on his face. The demonic creatures spoke amongst themselves for several minutes, while the sorcerer was escorted into another room of the hut. I was still surrounded by guards, who clearly had no intentions of letting me leave.

I was still puzzled as to where I was, and what I was doing there. I did not know what was going to happen to me that day. The sorcerer came back into the room, with several guards escorting him. He looked at me once more for several seconds, this time with a calmer look on his face than before.

«The Brotherhood of the Shadow is made up of the most skilled warriors in all of the Netherealm,» Quan Chi explained, «and my elite guards seem to have immense faith in you for a reason I am yet to determine, Outworlder.»

«Thank you very much, sorcerer,» I said back to Quan Chi, in the deepest and most masculine voice I could portray while in such deep fear.

«I have spoken with my senior Brotherhood members, and I offer you to join our clan. Choose wisely, for the only alternate option is death at my hands,» the sorcerer explained.

What choice did I have? I was but a young Outworlder in a deep hellish region in the Netherealm, faced with the choice of a Brotherhood or death. I had only a few seconds to come up with my answer. «Quan Chi, I will join your clan. But you must teach me the ways of kombat,» I said to him with a firm voice.

I heard several gasps around me as I finished stating my answer. I looked around and saw several «Brotherhood» members muttering amongst themselves. I looked directly into Quan Chi's eyes. He seemed to have an expression of anger on his face. I suddenly felt deeply anxious. I instantly regretted saying what I had said.

«Very well, Reiko, I will personally teach you the ways of kombat. If you are to stay in the Brotherhood, you must first pledge an oath of allegiance to our master, Lord Shinnok,» Quan Chi replied. I had no idea who this «Shinnok» was. Was he some kind of ruler, or the leader of this so called «Brotherhood»? I did not know what I was doing. I had many doubts, but any option other than death seemed wise to choose.

«Of course, sorcerer, I pledge my allegiance to this `Shinnok', and vow to destroy all who oppose him, assuming I have the skills necessary to do so,» I replied. I waited nervously for Quan Chi's response. His eyes seemed fierce, like he was about to scream at me, but I could tell he was impressed. It seemed to be a rare occasion that anyone would stand up to this sorcerer for one reason or another.

For the next few decades, Quan Chi taught me the ways of kombat. He taught me something I had never heard of, the art of «stealth». The Brotherhood took me in as one of their own, and Quan Chi soon guided me through the ranks. I learned to teleport, after centuries of training. I also learned other skills, like the throwing of shurikens and hand-to-hand kombat. For the first time in my life, I felt I truly belonged.

The time came when I was Quan Chi's second in command. I was one of the most skilled kombatants in all of the Brotherhood. I had spent several centuries in the clan, and the time came when Quan Chi insisted on introducing me to the one I had been serving for so many years.

Quan Chi and I travelled long distances from the Brotherhood of the Shadow stronghold, to Shinnok's Royal Spire, located high above the sea level of lava. There I was attacked by many demonic creatures, all of whom Quan Chi called off. Obviously, the Lord Shinnok did not know of my coming. I continued walking to the Spire with Quan Chi, which by now was a mere few hundred feet in distance away.

When we entered the Spire, everything was quiet. There were no demons, no guards of this so called «overlord». We travelled through a magical elevator to the throne room of which Shinnok was sure to be located. When we reached the throne room, Quan Chi quickly told me to bow. I did so and looked at the being upon the throne.

Shinnok had a very clown-like appearance. He had a red crown and a very pale face. He had a very odd appearance for someone of such a high rank. He eventually spoke to me after a long session of awkwardness. «So you are the Outworlder known as `Reiko', are you not?» he asked in a very deep voice. I was astonished that he already knew of my heritage and my name. «Yes, I am the one known as `Reiko',» I replied, in the deepest voice I could portray.

It was that day that something happened that would turn my life into a superior one. Shinnok went on to explain his heritage as a former Elder God. He also explained to me of his furious fights with the Thunder God known as «Raiden». He eventually moved on from this discussion to something more recent. He explained that he was at war with the gods of other realms. He told me of his goal to get removed from the hell-hole that was the Netherealm.

I remember what he said next with startling clarity. «Outworlder, I want you to lead my armies, as my general,» he said, with the most serious tone I had ever heard. I was amazed. I could not imagine how a mere Brotherhood of the Shadow member would qualify for a rank of such high status.

I immediately accepted the offer, and with that, became the general of the Netherealm armed forces. I had never dreamed of being in such a high rank when I first came to this place, but obviously, I was in luck after all.

During Shinnok's war with the gods and Elder Gods alike, I found myself in the middle of the crossfire, struggling to fend off powerful deities, while still coordinating the armies of the Netherealm. One of the most powerful of the deities I came into kombat with was Taijen, one of the Edenian gods. We did battle for a long time, neither of us gaining the upper hand. Until I used one of the skills I had learned in the Brotherhood of the Shadow. I teleported behind Taijen, and decapitated him with my broadsword. Taijen was the first god I had killed, and with that victory, I felt my confidence in kombat return.

My armies, myself and Shinnok himself fought well during that war, killing many gods and even several Elder Gods. Unfortunately, our power was not a match for that of the Elder Gods, and many lesser gods. Our forces were severely destroyed in that war. A great deal of them dying, and even Lord Shinnok himself being cast back to the Netherealm in disgrace by the Earthrealm Thunder God, Raiden.

I still remained as Shinnok's general, and a member of Quan Chi's Brotherhood. For years I worked to find demons to rebuild the Netherealm armed forces. I eventually achieved this goal. The Netherealm forces had become the most powerful in all of the realms. It was then that Lord Shinnok decided to once again strike the heavens. I tried to convince him how incredibly foolish this idea was, but he failed to listen to my reasoning.

We once again invaded the heavens, and Earthrealm. There we were confronted by mortals, the idea of which seemed laughable. These mortals proved to be more difficult than they seemed. They defeated our invasion forces, and eventually, Lord Shinnok was defeated by a Shaolin Monk known as Liu Kang. Lord Raiden, the Thunder God once again banished Lord Shinnok back to the Netherealm.

It was at this time that I knew I had to escape from that vile place, before I was killed in another one of Lord Shinnok's wars. I searched the accursed Netherealm for years before I found the portal of which I had entered the realm through. I leaped through it, not taking a second to think about all that I had left behind in the Netherealm.

I emerged not in the woods that I had come from originally, but in some sort of armed forces barracks. I was surrounded by warriors in uniforms, firing crossbows and training with swords and hammers. I was approached by several high ranking guards, and given the choice of joining Outworld's armies or death. I immediately joined the armed forces without hesitation

I quickly excelled through the ranks of Outworld's military, due to my superior kombat skills of which I had learned in the Brotherhood of the Shadow. Many of my fellow soldiers were impressed, and I soon became one of the most respected members of the Outworld military.

I was soon approached by a clearly jealous man. He introduced himself as general of Outworld's armed forces. He told me to stop my «charade», and explained to me some «consequences» of what would happen if I did not leave the army. I refused to leave, and used some obscene words to describe him. He then challenged me to Mortal Kombat, and I quickly accepted his offer, to prove my superiority in the art of kombat.

After a long and gruelling session of kombat, I eventually emerged victorious. I looked down at my feet as I stepped on the head of the deceased Outworld general. I looked around to find that many of the soldiers who were watching had their jaws wide open in amazement at the events that had taken place.

I was soon approached by several royal Outworld guards. I was suddenly very anxious. I did not know how much strife I would get into for destroying the general of Outworld's armies. I looked at one of the guards, and said in my sternest voice «Where are you taking me?» The guard looked at me, with a facial expression I had not yet witnessed. «You are going to see the Emperor. He wishes to speak with you at once,» the guard replied.

I was now stressing beyond belief. Surely Onaga would recognise me as the traitor of the realm, and grant me instant death. But as I bowed in the throne room, I looked up at the throne, and a being I had not yet come across was staring at me. He was not Onaga. He was somewhat a normal Outworlder, but with large muscles and a cape, and spiked wristbands.

«I am the Emperor of this realm. I am the one of which you serve in my armed forces,» he spoke, in a very deep voice. I did not know what to think. I had no idea what had happened to Onaga, the Dragon King, and still to this day I do not know what happened to him. Time was running out. I had to reply.

«I am Reiko, a servant to you. I uphold your rule, oh great Emperor,» I replied. I did not know what he expected me to say, but somehow I managed to impress the «Emperor», judging by the expression on his face.. He soon replied after many moments had passed. «You have defeated my general. For this I should have you killed. But I need a man like you, with your kombat skills, Reiko,» he said. I did not know what to think. I had no idea what was going on. Was he asking me to join him? To lead his armies? I was immensely confused.

«How do you mean, Emperor?» I said to him. He looked at me with a very smug expression on his face. He seemed to be enjoying our discussion for some odd reason. «Reiko, I want you to be my general. To replace the man you killed as leader of my armies. For you see, I have only in recent times taken back my Outworld throne, and I need someone of your skill and intellect to lead my armed forces against threats,» he said.

I immediately accepted his offer, and became general of Outworld's armies. My first task as general is to eliminate a threat to Shao Kahn's newly formed «Dark Alliance». The name of the threat was an Edenian prince known as «Taven». It will be my duty to do the new Emperor's bidding, and eliminate any threats that will surface.

I will find and kill Taven, by any means necessary...

To be continued.

a169; MK-4-LIFE, 2008.