+++ Mortal Kombat: Echoes of the Past by LadyRaiden aka Raydiva +++
Chapter Eleven: New Tricks
“What the hell is that?” asked Althea seeing an installer working behind a big screen TV.
Johnny, who was happily flipping through a guide, answered, “A TV and since there is no cable this far out of town, a satellite dish is also being installed.”
Liu shook his head slightly and had to ask, “Why do we need this?”
”All work and no play, “said Johnny, “We all need something to do around here aside from training and working on the place.”
A mean look crossed Althea’s face as she mused out loud, “Wonder how long this stuff is gonna last with Rayden popping in and out?”
Liu sputtered as he tried to keep from laughing out loud at Johnny’s look of dismay. Althea continued musing, “You do remember what happened to that stereo?”
The actor gave Althea a dirty look and replied, “Rayden did that on purpose….I seriously doubt that the song, ‘God of Thunder,’ is one of his all time favorites.”
”Especially with Sonya singing along with it as she was, “added Liu Kang.
(Scene Change)
Sonya checked her watch for the fifth time as she waited to reach her destination…wherever that was. She was picked up at the airport by two men in dark suits and sunglasses, with written orders by her commanding officer to go with them. The black car she was escorted to had such dark tinted windows, she was unable to see outside. If it wasn’t for the fact that she was allowed to keep her gun and cell phone, she would have been nervous. Instead, she was just getting extremely impatient. After what seemed to be hours, the car finally stopped and a few seconds later the door opened to reveal an underground parking lot.
”Please follow me, Lt. Blade, “said one of the men. He then turned and headed towards an elevator door. Minutes later, Sonya handed over her gun and took a visitor badge from another dark suited man behind a desk. She was then escorted to an office, where she found Jax already waiting.
”Hey, Sonya, “greeted Jax after the door closed, leaving them alone, “They got you too, huh?”
Sonya sat down in the empty chair in front of the large desk without saying a word. She crossed her arms and waited in silence.
Jax chuckled and thought, ‘Same ol’ Sonya.’
The door then opened and a man in an army uniform entered. On his lapels, he bore the general’s stars but no name tag. Both Sonya and Jax, stood up at attention as the general walked around and sat down behind his desk. He then indicated the pair should sit down as he opened the file he had carried in with him. As he placed the folder on the desk, black and white pictures of Sub-Zero and Althea sparring slide out from between pages of a typed report.
The general then steepled his fingers over the folder and said, “I assume you are wondering why you have been summoned her and where ‘here’ is. The nature of your proposed project is not the stuff which can normally be brought before congress for funding. However, a certain amount of funding is set aside for so called ‘black projects’ and that is where we come in. I will be honest with you, when I first read your proposal I was skeptical however seeing the people you are already….working with, you have peaked our interest. Tell me of these two and the one that can shoot electricity.”
Mentally, both Jax and Sonya thought the same thing, ‘Ooooohhhh, crap.”
(Scene Change)
A faint outline of a winged figure could be seen flying across the moonless night. Soundlessly, she landed on the dark patio and then listened to the silence to ensure that no one had noticed her arrival.
In his room, Liu Kang started tossing and turning in his sleep. Unknowingly, he gripped his partially healed arm as if it suddenly pained him.
Outside, Lilith smiled as she sensed the monk’s restlessness. “Come, “she whispered as she lifted a clawed hand, “Come to me, Liu Kang.”
Liu Kang’s eyes flew open but were glazed and unseeing. He sat up and threw off the covers.
”Come to me, Liu Kang, “Lilith commanded once again.
Liu stood up, left his room and walked in a trance-like state down the hall to the patio doors.
Downstairs, Johnny Cage was crashed out on the living room couch in front of the TV. Earlier, someone was kind enough to turn off the big screen and place a blanket over the actor as he slept. That same blanket was kicked off as he started scratching madly and woke up. “Damn, “he whispered as he continued scratching. To him, it felt that his skin was itching from the inside and it just wouldn’t stop. He stood up, still scratching, and went upstairs thinking it might be a good idea to take a shower before heading off to a real bed. On the second floor, he saw Liu walking in a daze to the patio doors.
”You ok, Liu?” Johnny asked with some concern, which grew when the monk didn’t answer. The actor hurried to catch up with his friend and just reached him as Liu stepped out through patio doors. Johnny grabbed Liu’s shoulder and said, “Dude, are you awake?”
A hissing sound and a swiping claw was his answer, but not from Liu. Johnny was just able to push Liu out of the way as he dodged. Liu fell to the patio floor and remain there unmoving. Johnny dodged again as he sensed the yet unseen attacker strike again. He rolled out of the way and was finally able to get a good look at the creature. “A gargoyle?” he asked. For some reason, his mind flashed back to a cartoon he watched that afternoon.
Lilith growled as if insulted and jumped up in a spinning kick. Something came over Johnny and it was as if everything was moving slower than it actually was. He was able to easily dodge the attack and sent in his own counter attack knocking Lilith over the patio’s guard rails. She opened her wings and flew up into the night sky. For a moment, Johnny thought she was retreating but that soon changed as she turned and went into a dive straight towards him. Johnny’s fist started to glow a light green as he said, “Oh no you don’t!”
Instinctively, he threw a punch into the air as if giving someone an uppercut and a light green glowing ball flew towards Lilith striking her directly in the face. She was knocked up and over in the air. She was able to regain control flight before falling. Lilith glared at Johnny with red glowing eyes for a few seconds and then flew off into the night.
”How the hell did I do that?” asked a stunned Johnny as he looked down at his now normal looking hand.
”I have an idea, “said Althea in her pajamas kneeling down next to Liu Kang, “but first let’s take care of poor Liu here.”
A little later in the dining room, Althea placed two mugs of coffee in front of the two men and then sat down herself behind hers. Liu slowly lifted his mug and took a sip with a grimace. Johnny just ignored his coffee and continued to look at his hand.
Rubbing her forehead Althea asked, “Could one of you please tell me how that started? I just got there when Johnny was giving Lilith a going away present.”
”I’m no sure, “answered Liu, “All I remember was someone calling my name and I couldn’t…no didn’t want to resist.”
They both turned to Johnny who wasn’t listening. “Johnny!” said Liu punching him lightly in the arm.
”Huh?!” the actor said, “Oh, sorry about that. What were you saying?”
”What happened?” asked Althea trying not to lose her patience.
Johnny scratched his head thinking and then said, “I woke up itching like hell and decided to go upstairs for a shower. Once I got upstairs, I saw Liu waking like a zombie and figured he might be walking in his sleep or something. I followed him outside and found…whatever it was and fought it.”
”Liu,“ said Althea with a thoughtful look, “Let me see your arm.” After looking over the half healed gashes, she shook her head not seeing or sensing anything unusual about them. “Maybe Lilith learned a new trick or two, “she thought out loud releasing the arm. “How are you feeling now?”
”Still a little dazed, but aside from that ok,”answered Liu.
The mage then turned her attention to Johnny and gave him an amused look, “Looks like I’m going to have to teach someone chi control, Mr. Cage. How long have you been able to summon your chi like that?”
”I dunno, “Johnny shrugged, “That’s the first time I ever done anything like that….wait….there was that time at the tournament when I was fighting Scorpion. Somehow I was able to ‘push myself’ into a portal after him after I started a flying kick. I didn’t think nothing of it since that whole trip was weird.”
Althea tapped a finger on the table for a few seconds, thinking. She then sighed and closed her eyes as she said, “It’s seems as if you have it under instinctive control for right now, but you will have to be trained. Fortunately, one thing I do know is chi energy.”
(Scene Change)
Kuravan continued writing after Lilith concluded her report. As he signed the paper, he said, “So aside from the clown’s interference the experiment was a complete success.” Lilith remained silent as her master folded and then sealed the letter with melted wax. “See to it that our….friends receive this. If they have any questions in regards to the…test, feel free to answer them….honestly.” He handed the letter to the vampire, who took it with a bow and then left the room.
”So this Johnny Cage is able to use chi energy,” comment Arianna as she leaned against a bookshelf. The Calornian god turned to look at his godslayer. He couldn’t help but be amused by how she tried to differentiate herself from the original. Arianna’s hair was back to its true black color but now cut short and spiked. She wore a leather/chain mail vest and a black leather skirt. Her kamas were tied securely at her belt. Silver bands bearing Kuravan’s symbol graced her otherwise bare upper arms. Her steel tipped boots tapped slightly with impatience.
”Yes, “Kuravan answered her, “but that shouldn’t be too surprising. After all, most if not all so-called chosen warriors either have a gift or talent that makes them worthy of being chosen.”
Arianna nodded in understanding and then asked, “Then what ‘talents’ or ‘gifts’ do Rayden’s other chosen posses?”
(Scene Change)
”Tell me again about this….Rayman, “said the tired looking general.
Sonya blew a strand of hair out her face and said, “His name is Rayden. He is the God of Thunder and Lighting as well as the Sworn Protector of Earthrealm. We have no control of when or where he’ll show up next, but he is the one that has provided us with warnings and information in the past. Before you ask again, the woman is Althea. She is a mage originally from a realm called Calorna but now calls Earth her home. She is a magic user and martial artist that is staying at the ranch to see about becoming either a student or teacher. Way things are looking, most likely a teacher. Frosty there, is called Sub-Zero a former Lin Kuei assassin. But he fought along side us during the Outworld invasion and has proved trustworthy during the invasion and since. We are presently trying to convince him in becoming a teacher as well.”
The general then looked at Jax who said, “I never met this Althea, but as for Rayden and Sub-Zero I with Sonya on this one hundred percent.”
A knock on the door interrupted the eight hour….interview. A dark suited man opened the door and entered. He then walked over to the general and whispered something in his ear.
”Here? Now?” the general whispered loudly.
”Yes, General, “
The general sighed and then said, “You two stay here. I’m not done with you yet.”
Sonya and Jax stood up at attention as the general stood and left the room, following the dark suited man. Once the door was closed they sat back down and Jax groaned, “How much longer is this going to go on?”
(Scene Change)
The general marched down the hallway as a man in a white lab coat rushed to catch up with a stream of paper following him. “General, “the technician said trying to show him the paper, “From what our instruments are showing, they are telling the truth.”
”Or the truth as they see it, “the general growled, “Keep an eye on they while I’m away. Tell me if they do anything interesting while their alone.”
”Yes, Sir! “said the tech and he then rushed back to his observation room.
The general continued down the hall as he straightened his tie and combed his fingers through his graying hair. Reaching a conference room door, he knocked and then entered.
”Mr. Anubis, what do we owe the honor of…”
The chair at the head of the conference table turned to reveal the Elder God of Shadows in a black three piece business suit and silk black tie. “Cut the chit-chat, soldier, “Mr. Anubis said in a cold voice, “Why are you still questioning Sonya Blade and Jackson Briggs?”
The general started to sweat a little and tried to hide his surprise as he answered, “Trying to reach the truth in regards to…..”
”They have already told you the truth, “said Mr. Anubis as he leaned back into the car, his fingers touching one another, “You just refuse to hear or see it. As did your predecessor I believe when they warned of the impending Outworld invasion.”
”A god of thunder?”
Mr. Anubis laughed slighted and said, “I’m surprised they didn’t mention the god of wind, Fujin, that’s been popping up at their place recently. Guess you didn’t ask the right questions?”
The general was about to say something when Mr. Anubis stopped him with a cold stare and saying, “I highly recommend you let those two continue with their work. With or without funding on your part, they will continue. It is their….calling after all. Funding just makes it….easier.”
(Scene Change)
The Elder Gods of Light, Time and Water stood in a dark room discussing the ongoing situation.
”Is it wise for Brother Shadow to interfere as He has been doing?” asked the Elder Goddess of Water.
”No more or less than My handiwork of late, “answered Kronos, “Besides its interesting to see the same Elder God Who was so against interference at one time, doing it so well.”
”Speaking of Your handiwork, Kronos, “said the Elder God of Light, “You are aware what will most likely happen if and when that seal of Yours fails?”
Kronos smiled and said, “Actually, that’s what I’m hoping for.”
The End….
Next time on MK: Echoes of the Past….
The explosion shook the ground, as Sub-Zero fought to stay standing. Out of the flames, the red cyber walked unscathed.
Note: For those few of you that might not know, there is actually a song by KISS called ‘God of Thunder’ and if you ever heard it you might understand why a real thundergod may not like it. As for the Elder God of Shadows being so different from when he appeared in Mortal Kombat: Conquest….lets just say he’s mellowed out some in the past 5 to 6 centuries and for good reason which I may or may not touch upon at a later time.
next chapter [12]