Chapter 1

Meat wandered around Outworld, looking for a portal that would take him to Earthrealm. He had heard of a clan based in Earthrealm called the Lin Kuei and figured that it would be as good a place as any to start. At the very least, he would be able to get some much needed martial arts training. For the purpose of easily getting into the Lin Kuei when he finally did arrive in Earthrealm, he had turned into Sub-Zero's apprentice, the young warrior known only as Frost, who had gone missing after the fighting.

Being Frost was a bit strange, he admitted to himself. Her body seemed to be perpetually cold and yet, he did not feel uncomfortable at all. It felt almost natural and relaxing and he could feel a great power surging through his new form. Perhaps he had gotten her abilities as well. As he wandered into the Living Forest, he decided a test was in order. Concentrating, he gathered the energy that this form possessed and immediately released it. Much to his surprise, the tree in front of him had been frozen solid.

``Incredible!'' he said to himself. ``It seems that when I turn into somebody, I turn into them completely!''

A figure which had been following Meat was just as astonished at his discovery as he was.

``No way...'' the figure stated. And suddenly, anger overcame them. ``That's... that's not right! THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT!!'' and with a yell, the figure jumped out of the shadows with a leaping kick, connecting with the back of Meat's head. ``YOU CAN'T DO THAT!'' it screamed.

Meat turned around to see the person who had attacked him, but had only managed to catch a quick glimpse of what appeared to be a young woman before she attacked him again.

He managed to duck her kick, countering with a leg sweep and taking her off her feet. She immediately sprung back up and attacked with a barrage of punches. Meat was thankful that Frost's form was lithe and nimble as he managed to avoid them with relative ease. Of course, he was helped by the fact his opponent had been attacking in a blind rage.

``Why are you attacking me?'' Meat asked

His opponent just growled before spitting out, ``You know why! Think you're better than me, huh!?'' before finally managing to connect with a roundhouse kick that sent Meat spiraling to the ground. ``HA! See? You can't beat me.''

Meat managed to avoid blow from his opponent as she leapt into the air, rolling out of the way leaving her fist to hit nothing but the ground. Springing up to his feet, he hopped over an attempted sweep and kicked his opponent in the chin, sending her sprawling to the ground. As the young woman rose to her feet, Meat decided that it was time to end this fight. Gathering up his energy, he unleashed a blast. His opponent, still dazed, had no opportunity to dodge and was summarily frozen.

Meat, for the first time, managed to get a good look at his opponent and was surprised to see who exactly he had been fighting. It was none other than the warrior whose form he had taken: Frost.

He waited around for awhile until she finally thawed out. She was obviously unhappy but at the moment, was a little too out of it to start up another fight.

``What the hell!? You're still around!?'' she demanded, shaking the cobwebs out.

``I'm... I'm sorry.'' Meat apologized, ``I had no idea you were still alive.''

Frost glared at Meat, visibly annoyed. ``Oh, is THAT all? I feel so much better knowing that I would've lived on in some cheap shot-ing clone.'' She said, rolling her eyes.

``You're the one that attacked me from behind.''

``Grrr, shut up you two-bit fake!'' Frost demanded. ``Ugh, jeez I feel like crap.'' She said, removing her mask and rubbing her jaw. ``Why'd you have to go and kick me like that?''

``I'm sorry, but I was trying to defend myself.'' Meat answered, ``Would you rather I have killed you?''

``Good point.'' Was all Frost could say. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke up again. ``So, clone, where'd you come from? Quan Chi create you? Or maybe sifu was feelin' lonely without my glowing personality.''

``Huh?'' Meat replied, ``Oh, no I'm not a clone. Just a shapeshifter.'' He said, shifting back into his regular form; a grotesque, skinless mass dripping blood with an eye hanging out of its socket.

``Okay, gross.'' Frost said, visibly creeped out.

``I know.'' Meat said, turning back into Frost. ``It's why I'm grateful for this ability. It's the only way I can fit in.''

``Yeah, seriously.'' Frost stated bluntly. ``How'd you get like that, anyway?''

Meat went into his story; of how he was an incomplete experiment of Shang Tsung's. Of how he escaped from the Flesh Pits, a horrid place filled with the agonizing screams and despair of other failed experiments, similar to himself. He had wanted purpose, to find a place in the world... in any world. And that's when he was bestowed this gift that he now possessed.

``So you want to go around, living as many lives as possible, in order to be `complete'?'' Frost asked rhetorically. ``Heh, that's pretty deep. But why impersonate me?''

``I had heard of the Lin Kuei, from your realm. I figured that it would be a good place to start, if only to get some valuable martial arts training. And seeing as you were missing...''

``You'd arrive at the base as me and be accepted easily, and nobody would be the wiser.'' Frost said, finishing his thought.

``Exactly!'' Meat exclaimed.

``Well, sorry to ruin your plans by being alive and all.'' Frost replied sarcastically. ``Although, if you're with me, you could easily get into the Lin Kuei. I'd vouch for you.''

``You mean it?'' Meat asked excitedly.

``Sure. We just gotta do something about your look.'' Frost stated. ``I mean, we can't really have two of me, right?''

``No, I suppose not.'' Meat said. With that, his form changed again, this time to that of typical, young (in relative terms) woman from Outworld. ``Is this better?''

``Yeah, definitely.'' Frost stated, ``Er, why a woman?''

Meat just shrugged.

``Whatever, not like it matters.'' Frost said, putting her mask back on. ``Okay, stick with me. There's a portal up by the cave I awakened in. We'll be in Earthrealm in no time!''

And with that, the two of them headed through the Living Forest towards the portal which would transport them out of this realm. And likewise, would start Meat's journey towards finally finding a true identity.

Author : Connie Provenzano

Creation date: 2006-9-1-13-37

Modification date: 2006-9-16-20-49