+++ Mortal Kombat: Echoes of the Past by LadyRaiden aka Raydiva +++
New Note: I do apologize if I don’t reply to every suggestion/question sent to me by review or email. Sometimes I concentrate so much on the story that I forget to mention them, especially if it’s been sometime since my last chapter and/or review. Rest assured I do read every review and am more than grateful to all the suggestions given to me since I am only an amateur when it comes to writing. In the future I will try to include some mention of the reviewer’s suggestions.
Chapter 21: Red Menace
Althea dragged out an old chest from her closet and opened it while trying not to sneeze. Not long ago, the Temple of Light sent her old things that they for some reason kept for over five hundred years. Opening it revealed her old leather armor from her days as a Calornian battlemage.
When Johnny told her that there was to be a promotional demonstration for both the movie and school tomorrow, she nearly decked him. If it wasn’t for the fact that she would have been expected to be in the spotlight alone if he didn’t show up, she would have. The old leather armor was the only thing she could really fight in that with some polish looked good enough for such an event. Then again, with the advent of Sonya’s parents showing up it most likely slipped his mind. Althea smiled as she thought how Sonya’s father Ret. Major Herman Blade was still keeping his eye on the actor’s actions in regards to his daughter and that same daughter about ready to toss her own father out the door because of it. Dinner last night was more fun than watching old Taja and Siro go at it. Althea’s smile faded remembering she would never see her friends ever again.
Just as she got all of her armor unpacked there was a brief flash of light and then sitting at her small desk, Rayden said, “You okay?”
Althea turned and sat on the edge of the bed with a sad smile as she answered, “Just remembering. Where have you been?”
Rayden got up and walked over to sit next to her. Pulling her so she could lean onto him he said, “Around.”
Althea looked up at him and said, “Around where?”
Instead of answering, Rayden gave the woman in his arm a light kiss on the head and said, “I assume you’re no longer upset about Kuravan coming to Earthrealm.”
”No, I’m still upset but not with you, “she answered honestly, “It’s not like you’re the one who invited him.”
With his free hand, Rayden tilted her head upwards with a finger under her chin and then reached down to kiss her fully on the lips. Althea responded warmly but groaned in disappointment when she heard the knock at her door.
Rayden nearly growled as he backed away and said, “That’s it…”
Althea pulled away before he had a chance to teleport them both out and said, “No you don’t. As much as I hate to, I have that demonstration to prepare for but afterwards…” She kissed him lightly on the lips as she stood up and headed towards the door.
”I’ll keep that in mind, “said Rayden with a half-smile, “but I’ve noticed you haven’t gotten a bigger bed yet.”
Althea opened the door to see an obviously upset, Erica Blade. Red teary eyes and stress filled face, gave a story of a woman who was nearing her wits end.
”Mrs. Blade what’s wrong?” asked Althea with concern as she led the woman towards the desk’s chair.
”I’m almost ready to kill both Sonya and Herman, “said the woman angrily but then tears started to fall as she wailed, “They are such idiots!”
Althea turned to Rayden only to see that he was already gone.
(Scene Change)
”What I do with my life is no longer a concern of yours!” yelled Sonya right into her father’s face.
“If you want to completely ruin you military career then continue what you are doing….”
”Will you both SHUT-UP!” yelled Johnny Cage from upstairs. Standing behind him was a fuming Althea trying her best to calm a still upset Erica. The actor continued angrily as he walked down the stairs, “Don’t you see what you are doing is nothing but hurting the one woman who loves you both?”
Both Father and Daughter turned to yelled, “Stay out…”
”No I will not stay out of this, “said Johnny angrily as he walked down the stairs, “Trying not to sound conceded as I use to be, but from what I heard most of the fighting seems to be in regards to what is going on between me and Sonya.”
The actor then glared at Herman Blade and said firmly, “Look Major, I know I may not seem to be the best guy for your girl but the choice is up to her not you. If you don’t like it, stick it.” Johnny then turned his attention away from the fuming Major to concentrate on Sonya, “And you….If you don’t mind I can fight my own battles. If you father has issues with me, let him take them up with me.” Now glaring at both of them he continued, “Now I know there has to be other issues between the two of you that don’t involve me. Now since this place is still under my name, I asked that both you either resolve your problems with each other or keep quiet about it or leave.”
During Johnny’s speech, Althea raised her head as if she sensed something. “Crap, “she said under her breath and then looked around to consider what to do. “Mrs. Blade I need you to do something for me, “Althea said calmly but firmly, “I need you and your husband to follow Sonya to the safe room.”
”What?” Erica said.
“Just go to Sonya, “answered Althea who then yelled, “We got company!”
Everyone looked at Althea, Herman and Erica some what concerned with her sanity but Sonya and Johnny had a more serious look. “Take care of your parents, “said Johnny the discussion forgotten for the moment. Sonya was about to argue but then nodded. They were her family after all. “Mom, Dad follow me, “she said as she led her parents out of the room.
”What is going on?” demanded Herman Blade as he followed his daughter. Sonya didn’t respond until they reached the gym and then she said as she slid one martial arts posters to the side to reveal a digital keypad, “Let’s just say there is more to this place than a martial arts school.” She entered a few numbers and a previously hidden trap door slid open not far from them and a set of stair leading downward could be seen.
The door closed behind them as they entered a small underground room. Monitors turned on automatically as Sonya sat down at the console. Images of different areas of the property were shown in each and as Sonya was about ready to start clicking on the keyboard the alarms went off. Sonya fumed and slammed the off button for the alarms as she muttered, “Now you go off.”
”What the hell are those things, “asked Herman as the first of the red colored cyborgs appeared on the monitors.
(Scene Change)
After pulling a small earpiece from his pocket, Johnny looped it around and into his ear. The windows all over the building slammed shut with armor shield falling into place. “Damn its cybers, “said Johnny after listening to Sonya’s report.
Althea said a single word in Calornian and then in English said, “Just great…my chi attacks are useless against those things and without my swords….”
”Perhaps this will help, “came Rayden’s voice as he appeared holding a staff out to her.
Althea took the staff and smiled at the thundergod as she said, “How sweet…you remembered.”
”Huh…no offense, but what good is a piece of wood going to do against those guys? “asked Johnny cracking his now glowing green knuckles.
Althea just smiled evilly and said, “You’ll see.”
Rayden just sighed, knowing that there was no way he was going to be able to prevent her from fighting, aside from kidnapping her, and technically there wasn’t much else he could do to help….technically. Lighting flickered in his eyes as he watched Althea test the balance on the staff he gave her and saw when she ‘noticed’ that there was something…..special about it. She gave Rayden a questioning look and he nodded slightly to answer her unspoken question.
”You didn’t by any chance….”started Johnny.
Rayden gave Johnny an ugly look before vanishing.
”When are the weapons you ordered suppose to arrive?” said Althea.
”Oh shut up, “said Johnny, “Who needs….”
!THUMP! !CRASH!
The steel covered door blew in as the one of the cyborgs walked in.
A green ball of energy knocked the intruder back out the door as Johnny said, “Let’s take this outside!”
(Scene Change)
Sonya’s fingers flew over the keyboard as she pulled up the ranch house’s defenses. Once again she mentally cursed the others from keeping her from adding auto-rifles to the system but then everything went blank. “What the…”said Sonya as she tried to get the system back online. The centermost monitor flickered to reveal a sleek looking red cyborg’s face and Sektor’s voice came through the speakers, “Resistance if futile. Surrender and your conversion will be painless.”
”Conversion?” said Erica.
Sonya picked up her own earpiece and microphone, to warn the other fighters, “Guys, Sektor has hacked the system!”
(Scene Change)
Althea raised her shields just before a laser blast landed and then swung her staff close to the ground to knock over the cybers closest to her. “What does she mean by hacked the system?” yelled Althea.
”It means…, “said Johnny as he did a round house kick, sending one of the cyborgs flying, “…it’s a good thing we didn’t…, “a green chi blast sent towards another cyborg knocking it away, “….let her put in those guns. This is getting us nowhere, we knock them down they just get back up. The blast us and your shield blocks it.”
”True, “answered Althea holding a domed shield in place to give both her and Johnny some breathing space, “but I’ll get tired eventually. Where do these guys get their energy?”
”Some sort of battery or something that gives them electricity, I guess, “answered Johnny.
”Electricity?” asked Althea flinching when another blast hit her shield.
Johnny tried to answer, “You know the stuff that powers the lights, TV…..domesticated lighting.”
A strange smile crossed Althea’s face when she heard this.
(Scene Change)
Feverishly, Sonya worked on the system before Sektor found the few hidden surprises she had put in when the others weren’t looking. The monitors flickered as Sonya finally got control of the system. “Now to make sure he doesn’t get anything he shouldn’t, “she muttered as she continued clicking on the keyboard, not bothering to watch what was now appearing on the security cameras her full attention on the computer monitor right in front of her.
However, when she heard her mother’s surprised gasp and her father cussed slightly in confusion under her breath, she looked up to see Johnny and Althea going full out against five red clad cyborgs. Sonya didn’t know what cause her parents reactions until she saw Althea’s barely visible shield go up around the pair. “How are they….”Herman started to ask but then stopped realizing that now was not the time for questions.
On the monitor they saw Althea stick her staff into the ground firmly as Johnny got as close to the house as her shield would allow. A nod of her head, the shield went down and Johnny dove for the doorway just before a bright flash of light with the sound of thunder stuck. The sound shook the house and was heard even in the underground room. The light bulbs exploded, the monitors imploded as Sonya jumped out of the chair to knock her parents to the ground and cover them. In seconds, there was nothing but darkness in the room with the occasional spark.
(Scene Change)
”I didn’t mean for you to use all of it at once, “said Rayden tiredly as he watched Althea and Johnny try to force the trap door open.
Fujin was leaning against a wall trying not to laugh. Althea stood up to glare at the wind god, “Don’t laugh. As was I suppose to know it would melt all the wiring in the house? Besides aren’t you the one who is supposed to be helping us out now?”
Fujin smirked and replied, “Have you told Rayden about …..”
”Don’t say a word, “hissed Althea with flashing eyes.
Johnny sighed, “Look either help get Sonya and her family out of there or leave so we can work.”
Rayden frowned wondering what Althea hadn’t told him, but agreed with Johnny; they had to get the Blades out of there. He turned to remind Fujin that as Sworn Protector it was up to him to help the chosen only to find his brother had already vanished. Sensing that Fujin was no longer even in the building Rayden sighed and then vanished to appear in the dark room right next to Sonya.
Lifting his hand, he summoned a small orb of lighting to illuminate the small room. “Need a lift?” he said with a smile.
The End….
Next Time on MK: Echoes of the Past…
Jax sat at his desk reading over some paperwork and looked up when he heard a knock at his office door. With a sigh he closed the folder and said, “Enter.”
The door opened and in walked a yellow cyborg who said, “You wished to see me Major Briggs?”
next chapter [22]