+++ Mortal Kombat: Conquest by LadyRaiden aka Raydiva +++

Note:  I do not own Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Conquest, etc.  If you wish to borrow any of the characters that I did create, feel free to contact me.  Okay, I know that my chapters have not been very good lately, but they are included some need information for upcoming chapters.  Hey, not every episode can be the best.  *sigh*


Chapter Fourteen:  Assassination Attempt

            Kung Lao sat in a meditative pose in a candle lit room.  Having to say his final farewells to his old friend was harder than expected.  First Gen and now….

            “You know, Kung Lao, keeping it all in isn’t good for you, “said Rayden, leaning against the wall.  Kung Lao just tried to ignore the deity, but gave up after a few seconds.  He stood up and sighed, “It’s just so hard sometimes.  There was no reason for him to die.”

            Rayden didn’t say anything, just looked at the troubled monk.  “It’s not just him,”Kung Lao continued, “Gen, her father, so many have died for no good reason…”

            “Any you wish to blame yourself again,” said Rayden.  Kung Lao glared at the thunder god. “We’ve all been there, “Rayden continued, “Siro, Taja, Althea….even..me.  There was NOTHING you could have done.”

            “Sorry, Rayden, “said Kung Lao angrily, “Its one thing to hear it, it’s another to believe it.”

****

            With the exception a few who kept watch, everyone at the temple slept.  Unseen by the guards, a figure jumped from the temple walls and silently made his way to the women’s guest quarters.  Once there he carefully made his way to the door to Althea’s room.  It listened at the door for a few seconds as if to determine if the occupant was asleep and/or alone.  Carefully he quietly opened the door.  He entered the room and silently closed the door as he pulled out a sword with a barely heard ‘sshhinn.’

            Althea’s eyes opened and she rolled out of the way just as the sword came down.  She swiped her leg around in the hopes of tripping the would be assassin, but he just jumped over her leg as it came around and took another swing at the woman.  Again she rolled out of the way and this time jumping up into a defensive pose.  Drained from attempting to repair the temple’s mystical defenses, Althea’s only hope was the training she had been receiving from Kung Lao.  The attacker threw out his hand as something ropelike came from his palm.  As the ‘rope’ flew straight to Althea, he yelled, “GET OVER HERE!”  She tried to dodge it, but it followed her and then grabbed hold of her nightshirt.  Rather than struggle against the ‘rope,’ she ran straight to the intruder and attempted to kick the sword from his hand.  He didn’t give her the chance.  He dropped the sword before she hit and grapped her leg in mid-air to throw her to the ground.  Holding her down by neck with one hand, the other hand reclaimed the ‘rope’ and then pulled out a long dagger from the assassin’s belt.  Looking in to the cataract like eyes, Althea saw her death.  Althea’s own eyes then flared light blue as she called upon what little chi she had left, blasting the assassin into and through the door and crashing into the wall across the hallway.  Althea collapse from the strain as the intruder dug himself out of the wreckage that was once the door.  From down the hall the sound of running footsteps could be heard and the light from the monk’s lanterns could be seen as they ran to the source of the loud noise.  The light from their lanterns revealed the distinct yellow and black armor as the intruder ran, injured and unwilling to fight….for now.

****

            Kung Lao ran to the infirmary as soon as he heard of the attack.  Seeing his student once again drained of her chi, his rage grew.  Why couldn’t they just leave us all in peace?!  He breathed deeply to help control his anger and then asked, “How is she?”  The healer replied, “Physically, unharmed from what we can tell…but she seems drained and unable to wake up.”

            Just then Ryant, the priest Althea was assisting, enter the room.  “This should help, “he said as he handed an herbal bag to the healer, “It’s not as good as replenishing her chi but it should help her build up her chi on her own.  It must be made into a strong tea and as much of it as possible must be drunk.  There is no such thing as an overdose in this case.”  The healer nodded and left with the precious package.
            Kung Lao asked, “Is there anything I can do?”  Ryant sighed and said, “She mentioned as we discussed her limits that she has been in this situation before and someone, who she didn’t name, was able to replenish her chi to a certain extent.  Find him!  My own resources are just not good enough and I don’t think that my chi would even be compatible in this case since hers is so similar to elemental energy.”
            Kung Lao nodded with determination and said, “I know who it is and I’ll try to get in contact with him.”

***
            Kung Lao paced in the temple yard.  The cool night air did nothing for his heated temper.  Time and again he called upon Rayden and even Fujin, but nothing.  He didn’t know what to make of it.  Kung Lao knew they might be limited as to what aid they could provide due to the damned rules, but Rayden had bent the rules before to help Althea for his own reasons

            Out of the corner of his eye three intruders as they attempted to sneak pass him through the shadows.  Kung Lao was almost happy with the excuse to release his anger as he attacked the interlopers.

****

            Back in the infirmary, the healer returned with some more of the tea in the hopes of getting more into his patient, only to find her gone.  He dropped the mug and yelled out for help as it crashed onto floor.

***

            As he was fighting, Kung Lao could barely hear the healer’s yell for help.  The three intruders sensing other defenders approaching beat a hasty retreat.  For a moment, Kung Lao was unsure as if to follow, but decided to find out what was wrong in the infirmary first.

            Just as he turned to return, Ryant came out in a run. “She’s gone!” he yelled.  Kung Lao, believing that the three intruders had something to do with the disappearance, then ran to catch up with them.

***

            The three assassins reached Scorpion’s camp and reported their failure.  Each on their knees, they awaited their punishment.  Which Scorpion was about to give when one of his guards came running, “Kung Lao approaches,” he reported and then returned back to his post.  Scorpion’s eyes closed halfway as he reconsidered his alternatives.

***

            Kung Lao tried his best to travel unseen and unheard in the forest, but stealth was one of Taja’s talents not his.  He had lost the ones he was following, but hoped that they continued in the same general direction they were running in earlier.

            Suddenly he heard “GET OVER HERE!” and felt something wrap around his throat.  He reached up to try to pull it off, but was pulled off of his feet and dragged towards Scorpion. Then for no apparent reason, the ‘rope’ went slack and fell to the ground.  Kung Lao rubbed his throat and tried to breath for a few seconds.  He then noticed that Scorpion had fallen to the ground, his armor burnt and even smoking in a few places.  The ninja kept repeating, “I don’t know where she is, I don’t know where she is..” , in a pain filled voice.  Kung Lao cautiously approached him and saw that in his hand he was clutching what appeared to be a dark scarf, with a few strands of white hair attached to it.  Kung Lao took the scarf as he heard Scorpion’s followers approaching.  He left Scorpion where he laid and headed back to the temple with only one thing on his mind, ‘If Scorpion didn’t take Althea, who did?’

The End

Next time on Mortal Kombat:Conquest…


[Elder God Kronos speaking] “…Tell me, Rayden, Fujin, about this godslayer.”


 Althea rolled over, revealing the newly made mark on her shoulder.