+++ Mortal Kombat: Echoes of the Past by LadyRaiden aka Raydiva +++

Note: I am so sorry for the delay.  Unfortunately I just couldn’t seem to get this chapter written in a way that I wanted.  Forget that the whole story is not going the way I originally planned. *sigh*  So the next few chapters may take a little while since I’m going to see about getting this story back on track or perhaps think up a new track.

Chapter Twenty-Five:  Third Member of the Alliance

(Shao Kahn’s Throne Room)

Kahn looked down from his throne of iron and bone onto the kneeling woman.  The faint aura of the Neatherealm still about her gave proof of what she truly was.  The Emperor reached down to cup the woman’s chin and force her to look up at him.  Black spiked hair and red tinted eyes did not hide her similarities to Rayden’s woman.  However, as appealing as this one was he would not take the risk of accepting what was offered aside from the information.

“Tell your Master, “Kahn said in a cool voice, “That I will consider his words.  He will have my reply in two days.”  He then released her chin and waved his dismissal as he leaned back into the throne.

Arianna stood up and bowed respectfully before leaving.  Once out of the throne room, she shivered in disgust.  She was more than happy that Kahn decided not to accept the ‘services’ Kuravan ordered her to offer.  The woman then pulled out her crystal to open a portal…she had another appointment to keep…one her ‘master’ was unaware of.

(Mummy filled ruins)

Shang Tsung and Quan Chi walked pass the kneeling corpses away from the now larger soul-nado. The sound of a portal opening caused both of them to go into a defensive stance, their respective energies flaring around their hands.  In the large door way, the portal formed and out stepped Arianna.  Her steel tipped boots clicked loudly as she walked towards the two sorcerers while the portal closed with a hiss.

The two sorcerers backed down…slightly.  “Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Didn’t you miss me?” said Arrianna sarcastically, “After all it was you two who invited me here.”

Quan Chi said nothing as he pulled out a vial filled with what look to be purple lighting and handed it to Arianna.

“So it is agreed, “said Arianna as she took the small vial from Quan Chi.

It was Shang Tsung who answered, “Agreed…you keep the gods of Earthrealm distracted while we deal with the Champion and Emperor.”

Arianna smiled as she looked at the so precious vial and then said, “Just be careful and don’t cut yourselves with those swords.”

”Just do your….”Quan Chi started to say but the sound of a stone hitting a wall filled the air.

The three of them looked around and it was Shang Tsung who saw the flash of yellow as someone raced behind rubble. He sent out a blast of flame in the direction of the spy.  The rubble exploded knocking the person into the wall.  Shaking his head, Scorpion stood up and then dusted himself off.

”Hmmm…., “said Quan Chi with a smirk, “I wonder if these swords work on specters as well as they do on immortals.”

Shang smiled evilly as he drew his sword and said, “One way to find out.”

Arianna just turned and walked off. Looking over her shoulder as a portal opened, she said, “Enjoy yourselves and contact me when you want me to start my part.”

Neither sorcerer replied or even acknowledged what Arianna said as they continued to walk over to where Scorpion stood in a now defensive stance.  Suddenly, Quan Chi sent a green flaming skull shaped blast at the specter.  Scorpion tried to teleport out of the way only to find out that for some reason teleportation was not possible and instead got slammed into to wall by the blast.  He dodged a second blast by falling to the ground.  Scorpion then rolled into a knelling stance and retaliated with a blast of flame back at the pale face sorcerer.  Shang Tsung knocked Scorpions blast aside with his own fireball before it reached Quan Chi. Scorpion stood up and with a “Get over here!” sent his roped spear towards the demon sorcerer.  Shang dodged and with his sword sliced through the rope as it passed by.  The demon sorcerer then started running towards Scorpion with his sword ready.  Scorpion was about to counter Shang’s obvious attack but found himself knocked down to the ground by another of Quan Chi’s skulls.  Scorpion looked up just in time to see the sword falling towards him…and then suddenly stopped just inches from his head. 

The specter rolled out from under the sword and into a stance.  Looking around he noticed both sorcerers seemed frozen in place…even the soulnado in the distance had stopped moving.  As Scorpion looked around and saw a woman standing in the doorway, wearing black and gray armor similar to his own in design.  Scorpion went into a defensive stance and with flames flaring up in his eyes as he recognized the white haired woman from so long ago.

The woman crossed her arms over her chest as she huffed and said, “Nice to know I made such a good impression.  Then again you always did have a long memory with some things if not others.”

Scorpion remained silent as he tightened his fists waiting to see what the strange woman would do.

She sighed and shook her head as if in disappointment, “I’m here to help not harm…You know getting caught by those two wasn’t the brightest thing to do.”

Scorpion’s eyes narrowed and he finally said, “You’ve already helped now…”

”Ah, no I haven’t, “she said tilting her head slightly, “The moment I leave you’ll find yourself in the exact same spot you were when I first got here. Catch!”  She tossed a pair of metal spiked gauntlets.  Scorpion caught them and as he examined them he noticed that the palms of each had two metal strips running across them with a gap between them.  He carefully put them on noticing that they fit as if made specifically for him.  Once they were on a strange feeling came over the specter as if he wore them before.

”What are these?” he asked.

An almost sad look entered the woman’s crystal blue eyes just before she answered, “Just another little left-over from a long forgotten war.  They were once worn by a man whose death restored a god’s sanity.  It’s a shame that his soul was cursed by another for his sacrifice.”

Next thing Scorpion knew he was once again on the ground with a blade coming right down at him.  With a strangely hissing clang he caught the blade between his palms.  The specter then rolled out of the way, twisting the sword from the sorcerers grasp and tripping Shang Tsung with a leg sweep.  As the sorcerer fell Scorpion went with the momentum into a kneeling stance and sent a blast of hellfire at Quan Chi who summoned a wall of skulls to block it.  As both sorcerers readied another attack, Scorpion removed his mask to reveal his true face and then with a roar created a wall of flame between him and his foes.   When the flames diminished, the specter was gone.

”You told me that teleportation wouldn’t be possible!” snarled Shang as he sheathed the sword.

Quan Chi just growled in frustration and then said, “We must make our move sooner than expected.”

(Shao Kahn’s Throne Room)

Shao Kahn growled as Reptile knelt before him.  The last know member of his kind, he now served the one who caused he unique standing.  The report the creature gave him wasn’t a good one; it seems that the apparent docility of the two sorcerers was just an act.  Nothing surprising but the fact that they were working together could be a problem especially since the duplicate godslayer seems to have made a bargain with them.  An evil smirk crossed the emperor’s face and he then said, “Take a message to Kuravan on Earthrealm. Let’s see what happens when he finds out what his loyal servant has been doing.”

Reptile stood and bowed before leaving.  Rieko stepped out from behind the throne and asked, “Do you wish for me to take care of the traitors?”

”No, “answered Kahn, “Let’s play along for now and see how far they get.  Make preparations for their…visit.”

(Johnny’s Condo)

Sonya placed her head on the kitchen table and sighed.  She was just too tired to be angry with her parents.  And liked Johnny said, they weren’t the only one’s keeping secrets.  But so help her next time she sees Fujin…

The door swung open and someone sat in the chair across from her.  “You going to be ok?” asked Johnny as he laid a hand on Sonya’s arm.  The woman just nodded without bothering to raise her head.

”So what that your father worked for a special ops team investigating the Mortal Kombat tournament and how the communist Chinese government could use it as a recruiting ground…I just wish I could have seen their faces when they found out what it really was about.  And it’s not like your mother tried to keep your family history a secret…she was most likely trying to forget about it herself, “Johnny stopped for a second when Sonya looked up just enough to glare at him and then he said, “I guess I should stop talking about it now.”

Sonya finally sat up and sighed, “No your right.  I of all people should know how the military works and understand the pain my mother went through when she found out her father died in a martial arts tournament.  Guess I should be happy she doesn’t know how Shang enslaved the souls of the defeated fighters.”  A pained look crossed her face as she finally understood that one of the souls freed by Liu when he defeated Shang was most likely her own grandfather and who knows how many of her other ancestors.  Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt Johnny taking hold of her upper arms to pull her up from the chair.

”Look its late, “he said as he led her out of the kitchen, “And we both have to get up early see your parents off and to meet with Jax’s little group at the ranch house.”

Once they reached the guest room he released her and bid her a good night.  As he turned Sonya grabbed his arm and said, “Thanks for everything.”  She then reached up to kiss Johnny lightly on the lips.  Johnny took full advantage and deepened the kiss as he pulled her closer.  Once the kissed ended their foreheads touched and he said, “Good night.”  Johnny then walked down to his own room as Sonya went into the guest room.  When both doors closed they both leaned back onto the door and closed their eyes briefly.


(Rayden’s Private Domain)

With a small yawn Rayden turned over in bed and reached over only to find himself alone in bed.  When this sunk in he woke up fully and sensed that Althea was slightly amused with something.  Since the last flare up in their link, they agreed to keep both sides completely open in the hopes of stabilizing it.  Rayden got up and got dressed before heading out to find her. There in his den/library he found her behind a stack of large books reading a single paperback.  Not able to read the title from where he was standing, Rayden asked, “Find anything interesting?”

”Not sure…I was doing some research on how to create my own portals or at least be able to teleport myself and I found this hidden behind some of the books.  I started reading it and found out I just couldn’t put it down, “she put the book face down on the desk and got up to hug the thunder god, “It really didn’t make any sense but…what do I know.  I’m still trying to get over what Deep Thought said about the ‘ultimate answer’.”

Rayden sighed, realizing just what book she was reading and cursed the day he bought that damn thing.  Although, the fact it kept her away from her research he guessed it wasn’t so bad.  The longer it took her to find her own means of transportation the easier it was going to be on him trying to keep her out of trouble.

Althea glared up at the thundergod when that thought crossed his mind as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.  Rayden looked down with an almost completely innocent look with the exception of a raised eyebrow.  “You know with our link completely open as it is…even if we can’t read each other’s thoughts it’s the next best thing, “she warned, “Can you guess what I’m thinking now.”

Rayden’s innocent look changed to a mischievous one.  “Perhaps, but I really have to get to work, “he said and then grabbed the back of her head.  Then he kissed her hard enough to make her grab his over-shirt with a moan and just as suddenly the thundergod vanished.  Althea shook her head, took a deep breath and then went back to her research, ignoring the paperback the best she could.

A knock at the door surprised her, knowing that only a few beings had access to this realm.  Assuming it was only Fujin being polite for a change; she got up and headed to the front door.  Opening it she was surprised to see who it really was….

”You should invite me in you know, “said Kronos.

Althea stepped aside and said, “Make yourself at home.  Would you like anything to drink?”

Kronos walked in and looked around in curiously.  “I see you haven’t had a chance to make your own little changes to the place.”

”Look I’m sorry that I snapped at you the last time and I am working on getting…”Althea started to say.

Kronos interrupted, “Things have changed.”

”Look I know Scorpion lost the swords to Quan Chi and even I admit that is a big deal, “Althea said, “Even now I was working on a means…”

”To provide yourself the means to travel between realms, “said Kuravan as he tossed her a crystal, “I assume you know how to use this.”

Althea caught the crystal and with a curious look said, “Ok…now I’m worried.  What’s the catch?”

Kronos smiled as he said, “It gets worse.  I’m also here to give you your first… as you would say, time-gift lesson.  As for the catch…let’s talk about that some other time.”

Althea sat down on the couch and said, “Please tell me that means I’ll be getting that seal removed.”

Kronos frowned and replied, “Not right away.  It is bothering you?”

”Sometimes, “Althea answered, “It feels like something is tied down so tight that it’s cutting off circulation but to what…” She shrugs.

”Anything else?” Kronos prompted.

”I think it might be interfering with the soulbond link, “said Althea looking away as if embarrassed, “At first we thought it was a combination of being separated for so long and our constant use of shielding in order to function normally.  But…I think that the seal may also be adding to it.  The fluctuations weren’t nearly as bad before getting it but once it was put into place it’s gotten noticeably worse.”

”Hmmm, “mumbled Kronos as he took a long look at the sitting woman and then sighed, “It’s hard to tell but you might be correct…that just means we need to get that gift of yours under control sooner than originally planned, not only for your sake but to ensure that Earthrealm’s God of Thunder is able to continue with his duties.”

The Elder God of Time then sat down next to the woman and took both of her hands.  She looked at him with a raised eyebrow and said, “Let me guess you’re gonna teach me the fast way.”  Althea sighed when Kronos nodded and then she added, “Ok… but you’re going have to explain to Rayden why I have such a big headache.”


The End…

Next Time on Mortal Kombat: Echoes of the Past

”Sub-Zero?” asked Johnny not believing how much the ‘young’ fighter had aged in the few weeks he was gone.


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