Note:  I don’t own Mortal Kombat, MK: Conquest, Kung Lao, Siro, Taja, Rayden (wish I did but he keep escaping), Fujin, etc.  If you wish to borrow the characters that I do own just ask.
            This story was starting to become stubborn, but I think I am finally getting it back on track as to where I want it to go.  Just to let you know I am planning only six or seven more chapters for this series.  There might be another ‘season’ of MK:C if there is a demand for it, but most likely I will begin working on another fan fiction series I have been mentally kicking around.

Chapter Fifteen: Timely Interference
 
            Rayden and Fujin felt Kung Lao’s urgent call, but were unable to answer.  The Elder God of Time, Kronos, had summoned them and they were now waiting for him to return.  Rayden nearly left the moment he felt the attack on Althea.  It was the sense of ‘drainage’ from Althea that kept him from doing so.  He knew that the monks were able to help her until he was free to do so and that whoever had attacked her was most likely gone one way or another.

            After what seemed like hours, Kronos returned with a concerned look on his face.  “My apologizes for keeping you waiting.  Please sit down.” Two chairs suddenly appeared behind the brothers and the Elder God. As soon as everyone was seated, Kronos continued, “The reason why I summoned you is I am growing concerned with the recent happenings on Earthrealm., especially in regards to the godslayer.” He sighed, “Kuravan is demanding her return, while her ‘uncle’ and Sworn Protector of Calorna is requesting that she continues her training under Earthrealm’s Champion of Mortal Kombat.  Normally, We would state that this does not concern us, but her unusual….gift and recent accurances brings it to Our attention.  Tell me Rayden, Fujin about this godslayer.”

            Fujin and Rayden fidgeted a little and then Rayden spoke up, “What do You wish to know?”

            Kronos leaned back and said, “What kind of person is she? I assume there is little chance of her declaring war upon the gods considering your obvious attachment to her.  What I want to know is she and the realms better off where she is or do you consider it better that she return to her home realm?  Remember, I already have an idea but you two are closer to her and the situation, your opinion would be insightful.”

            Rayden sighed, “I believe she’s better off on Earth.  What I know of her and her past, I feel that it would be…..unwise for her to return to Calorn.  Her own preferences, emotional state and the mutual dislike between her and Kuravan all lead to this conclusion.”

            Fujin then added, “As for Earthrealm, she should be considered an assest in spite of Kuravan’s multiple attempts to cause trouble.  To be honest its not much more trouble than Earthrealm has already been experiencing in regards to Outworld and the Neatherrealm attempts to interfere.

            Her other abilites and skills, such as repairing the mystical defenses on the Temple of Light, are extremely useful since there are so few natives now alive with this knowledge, power and/or skill.”

            Kronos nodded and then interlaced his fingers in front of his face as if in deep thought.  After a few seconds of silence, he spoke, “I have made my decision.  If the godslayer chooses, she may declare Earthrealm as her home with all the rights and responsibilities as such this would entail.”  Rayden and Fujin both acquired a stunned look as Kronos continued, “However…there is the question of her immortal blood.  She will also retain ALL that entails, including the possibility that she may someday take a place among the gods but in this case among the Gods of Earthrealm rather than Calorna’s pantheon.  Due to this and the fact that she is still a godslayer, I ask you both to keep a close watch on her.”

            Kung Law was preparing to head out again to search for Althea, despite knowing it was almost a futile attempt.  He had already sent a message to Taja and Siro, hopefully it should reach them later today.  Just as he threw his satchel over his should, Rayden appeared.  “Where have you been!” demanded Kung Lao.  “In a meeting with one of my bosses, I came as soon as I could.  Where is Althea?  I am unable to sense her anywhere near here,”replied Rayden.  Kung Lao just glared and said, “I don’t know.  She just disappeared from the infirmary while I was fighting some of Scorpion’s followers.”  Kung Lao then continue to explain what happened the previous evening and show Rayden the dark scarf that he found in Scorpion’s hand.

            Rayden frowned and pushed his hair back while he attempted to seek Althea though the link he shared with her.  “She’s alive, but unconscious, “said Rayden as he closed his eyes, “Unfortunately, I’m unable to specify where she is.  She’s just too far away and her weakened state isn’t making it any easier.”
            Kung Lao wasn’t sure to be relieved or frustrated, “How can she be so far away?”  He looked away from the thunder god for a few seconds and the looked him directly in the eyes, “I assume you ARE going to help find her.”

            Rayden nodded and said, “Fortunately, I can.  Althea has just been given a special status and the Elder Gods have given me and Fujin more freedom in regards to her and the ones who are close to her.  Don’t ask…”  He finished seeing Kung Lao’s inquiring look and then the thunderer vanished.

            Later that day, Fujin appeared at the trading post after the messenger left.  “Althea’s alive, but we don’t know where she is, “he said,”yet.”

            “This is seriously starting to get old, “said Siro, “How is it that one of us is always being captured or is missing?”
            “Does it matter?  What matters is finding her, “said Taja.  “Well, Rayden is using his own methods to look and I’ll be looking as well as soon as I leave.  What we do know it wasn’t Scorpion’s bunch or any of Shao Kahn’s people.”
            “Vorpax?” asked Taja. Fujin shook his head head, “No, the same goes for Quan Chi and Shang Tsung.”
            “What about this Kuravan?” asked Siro, “He seemed interested in getting his hands on her.”
            “Not sure, “sighed Fujin, “But if it was him, wouldn’t he have taken her back to his own domain by now?  Rayden is still sensing her somewhere on Earthrealm, he just can’t seem to pinpoint where.”

            “Is this charade really necessary?” asked Kronos.  A white-haired woman wearing black and gray clothes similar to the cut of the Elder God’s shrugged, “Don’t know, all that I do know is what I remember.  Althea has or will develop and extremely strong bond with Rayden, which will enable the both of them to face a great evil in the distant future.  This evil will not show up for centuries but it will so powerful as to endanger the Council of the Elder Gods.
            If this bond does not develop now they may not have enough time to grow use to it in such a manner that it comes truly second nature to them.  Unfortunately, both Althea and Rayden are….stubborn; they need a strong enough push in the right direction.  For a moment, I thought that Rayden rescuing Althea from Sub-zero was a big enough push.  It seems so for Rayden, but Althea…,”the woman chuckled exasperatedly, “Her past experience with males, both mortal and immortal, has blinded her to the possibility that there could be a long term relationship with the thunder god.  Stars, I can’t believe I was so…” She shook her head.

            “Very well, I’ll go along….for now, but only because you have proven yourself to be who you claim to be.  I do admit Rayden does have the potential as does the girl.  However what you ask of Me….”
            “Is necessary.  She is slowly growing stronger, but not fast enough to survive another attack from her grandfather.  If she ends up dieing or enslaved to that….”the woman took a deep breathe, causing her scarf to cave in some, “Trust me, we can’t have Kuravan or anyone else getting their hands on her….Yet.  If there was anyway for me to….”

            Kronos nodded, “Very well.  To be honest it should have been done sometime ago, but not by Me.  It seems I need to have a long talk to My children in regards to family responsibility.”

            In a solid white room, Althea laid on a small bed.  Just a shade darker than the bed sheets, she looked as if she was no longer among the living.  Kronos entered the room and looked upon the woman.  He sighed as he rolled her over to her side, and pushed aside the cover to expose the bare shoulder blade area of her back.  He then pressed his palm on to the exposed area as a bright glowed engulfed his hand.  After a few seconds Kronos removed his hands as the glow expired.

            Rayden suddenly sensed exactly where Althea was.  How she got there, he had no idea, but within seconds he appeared just outside of his ‘home’ not far from the hotspring which he brought Althea to before.  He entered the house and then headed to the main room.  There on a roman style couch, he found her.  She was wrapped in white linen and sleeping deeply.  Rayden walked up to her and quietly ‘looked’ her over.  Somehow her chi was back to safe levels and there was something else….

            Althea rolled over, revealing the newly made mark on her shoulder as the linen came loose.  Rayden didn’t know what to think, someone had marked Althea as of his or hers bloodline and thus laying claim to her.  But for some reason this person left her in Rayden’s care.  Rayden covered the nude Althea back up with the linen and gently moved a strand of her golden hair from her face.  He sighed, “What am I going to do with you?”

            Kuravan sat at his desk, fuming.  The one he hired to killed Althea had failed and now she was under Father’s protections.  The warning he felt was unmistakable and unnerving.  Why the Elder God would seek to claim her, Kuravan couldn’t even begin to guess but that was the way it was with the Elder Gods.  If that wasn’t enough, his most useful and faithful servant was still recovering from receiving that damn message from that infernal sorcerer.  How DARE he make demands?  But perhaps he could use Quan Chi’s foolishness to his advantage.

            Arianna entered the room, “You summoned me, Lord Kuravan?”  The deity smiled as he looked upon his newest servant.  Arianna was everything he wanted with Althea and more.  With her, he no longer needed the rogue and there was no room for two godslayers.

The End

Next time on Mortal Kombat: Conquest….

“Where the hell are my clothes!” [Althea talking]