(A/N: Ok, I've left you hanging long enough. Here's the conclusion to Jago and Orchid's match. This chapter also includes how Dr. Chambers plans to control Eyedol. Enjoy.)

Disclaimer: No, no, no! I don't own Killer Instinct!

Chapter 20: Compassion and Control

Jago's hands trembled as he held the blades to Orchid's throat. This was a lot harder than he thought. He and Orchid had become really close, like brother and sister. He couldn't just kill her. But if he didn't then they both lost, Dr. Chambers had made that perfectly clear. Damn him!

But he couldn't do it. Combo, Riptor, and Fulgore had been easier to kill. Combo wasn't necessarily evil, but he was a brutal tyrant that would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Riptor was a savage beast who had it in his nature to kill, and he enjoyed it. Fulgore was a murdering psycho path whose whole existence revolved around killing. But Orchid was nothing like that. She was a good person who was fighting to make this world a better place, just like him. He couldn't bring himself to kill her.

"What are you waiting for?" Dr. Chambers demanded impatiently. "I said kill her!"

"Just do it." Said Orchid. "You won. You get to move on. I've accepted my defeat. Now just end it."

Jago's heart was racing. This was too much pressure. No one should have to do this. But if he didn't, he wouldn't be able to face his destiny. Damn Chambers and his damn tournament! Luring people here to kill each other and promising them whatever they want just for his sick enjoyment.

Suddenly it hit him. Perhaps there was a way out of this. It would be risky, but Jago was ready to take that risk.

He removed the blades from Orchid's neck and released her. Ignoring her confused look, he turned to the top box to stare at Dr. Chambers.

"What do you think you're doing?" Dr. Chambers cried. "I told you to kill her!"

"No." said Jago calmly.

"No? What do you mean no?"

Jago tossed the blades to the side and crossed his arms. "I refuse to kill her. She already admitted defeat, and you already declared me the winner. There's no need for me to kill her."

"What are you doing?" Orchid whispered.

"That's not the way this tournament works." Dr. Chambers explained. "It's a fight to the death. It was in your contract when you first signed up."

Jago nodded. "Yes, I'm aware of that. Now let me ask you something. Do you remember when I first signed up that you told me that the winner of this tournament is promised whatever they want?"

Dr. Chambers nodded impatiently. "Yes, yes. You said you didn't want anything. What's your point?"

"My point is that I do know what I want now. For winning the tournament, I want Orchid's life spared."

He heard Orchid gasp but he ignored her, keeping his gaze on Dr. Chambers.

"Sorry, sonny." Dr. Chambers sneered. "But this tournament is not over. You may have defeated the other contestants, but you have one final opponent to defeat before you're official declared the winner of the Killer Instinct tournament."

Jago shrugged. "So if I fail, she dies. If I win, we both leave here alive."

One of the men in the top box turned to Dr. Chambers. "What do you think, sir?"

Dr. Chambers tapped his chin, considering Jago's request. A sly smile broke out over his face. "Very well. Her life will be spared as long as you survive the next round." He turned to Orchid. "Be grateful, young lady. He could have had anything his heart desired, and he chose to spare you." He went back into announcer mode. "You heard it here folks! Jago, the merciful warrior, has decided to spare his opponent! But if he wishes to survive the final round, he will have to show no mercy! Will he be able to win? There's only one way to find out! We'll see you here next month for the final battle in the Killer Instinct tournament! Until then, keep your killer instinct!"

He switched off the loud speaker and turned to his minions. "Take them back to their rooms. Keep a close eye on them."

"Yes sir."

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"You want to tell me what the hell you were doing?" Orchid demanded.

Jago gave her an innocent look. "Whatever do you mean?"

Orchid slammed her fist against the wall. "You know damn well what? Back there after our battle. What was that?"

Jago smirked. "I would have thought that you would be happy to still be alive."

Orchid clenched and unclenched her fists. "I am very grateful, but do you realize that Chambers could have had us both killed. To be honest, I'm surprised we're still alive. You shouldn't have risked your life for mine. At least on of us would have been able to get out alive."

Jago shook his head. "I couldn't kill you. I may be a killer, but I'm not a murderer. This was the only way I could think of having us both spared; considering I survive the next match that is."

Orchid let out a sigh and collapsed on the sofa. "But why did you spare me. You risked your own life for mine. Countless people have died standing up to Chambers. All he had to do was snap his fingers and his men would have open fired on us."

"It was worth the risk."

The two were quite for a moment. Jago was watching Orchid carefully, studying her emotions. She looked angry, relieved, and touched all at once. It wasn't that Orchid was upset that Jago spared her, quite the contrary. She was eternally thankful. She was just confused at the moment. Out of all the things Jago could have had, he chose to have her spared.

"Why did you chose to let me live?" she asked.

Jago raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

Orchid decided to elaborate. "If you win the next match you could have had anything. Why did you choose my life for a reward?"

Jago shrugged. "I entered this tournament with one thing in mind. And that was destroying the evil within these walls. I had no desire for any rewards."

"Why?"

"Did you want anything if you won?"

Orchid was silent. She just answered her own question. She had entered the tournament to find the information required to shut Ultratech down. That was it. She didn't want anything for winning. Jago didn't either.

"Orchid, I entered this tournament to defeat the evil. That's all I wanted to do. By winning the tournament, I'll have gotten that. There was nothing else Ultratech could give me."

"But you could have had anything you wanted."

"I got what I wanted. I got to save an innocent life."

Neither of them had any more to say.

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Dr. Chambers made his way down the hall, coming to a stop at one of the many doors along the wall. He entered in a code and the door opened, allowing him entry. Within the room was a large machine of some sorts with men in white lab coats running everywhere, assembling more parts.

One of the men spotted Dr. Chambers and wet over to him. "Ah, sir, how are you?"

Dr. Chambers eyed the machine. "Curious about the progress. Time is drawing near."

The man checked his clipboard. "We're nearly complete. Just another week or two and it should be ready."

Dr. Chambers smiled evilly. "Good. This machine is the key to controlling my prize."

The man shifted uncomfortably. He was hired to build this machine, yet he had little idea of how it worked. "Sir, if I may ask, how will this control that… thing?"

Dr. Chambers chuckled. The sound sent chills down the man's back. "It's all a matter of mind control. You see, my friend, this baby is designed to eliminate brain cells and disrupt brain functions. Soon we'll be able to program him to obey my commands. We will eliminate his brain cells until all he knows is how to obey me."

The man looked shocked. "Sir, will that work?"

Dr. Chambers turned back to him. "Of course it will work!" he snapped. "It's the same method we used with Fulgore. Just working in the opposite direction. Fulgore was given only the knowledge of how to obey me. It was all the knowledge he knew and all he was given. This machine will merely eliminate the beast's knowledge until all he knows is how to obey me."

"But won't he be able to resist the machine's power?"

Dr. Chambers laughed again. "That is precisely why we shall first enter him in the tournament. The fighting will weaken him enough so he won't be able to resist the machine's power. And once he regains his strength back, he will be under my control."

Dr. Chambers turned his back on the man and left the room. If there was any thought in the man's mind before, there was none now. Dr. Chambers was mad.

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In the weeks that followed, Orchid trained Jago in her ways of combat. If Jago was going to get through the final round, he would need all the help he could get. He was a very fast learning, and was getting stronger everyday. But would it be enough to defeat the evil that had nearly destroyed the world?

It seemed like time had just flown by. As the day of the final battle finally arrived, Jago could only think back to his long years of training. All his life he had prepared for this day, and finally it was here.

"You'll be fine." Orchid assured him. "I know you can do this."

Jago was nervous. More nervous than he had ever been. He was about to face his destiny. If he failed, the whole world would be destroyed. Why couldn't Ultratech have just left that monster in Limbo?

The door opened and Jago's escort came in. "It's time." The escort said.

Jago rose. "I know it is."

"Good luck." Said Orchid. "I'll be routing for you."

Jago smiled. "Thanks. I'll see you after the match."

He left the room with the escort. He was about to face his destiny.

(A/N: Sorry, but I had to end it there. What do you think of Dr. Chambers' plan to control Eyedol. Brilliant, or insane. Will it even work? You'll just have to wait and see what happens. The next chapter will finally be the one you've been waiting for. I'll try not to keep you waiting too long. Until next time, keep your killer instinct.)