+++ Mortal Kombat: Echoes of the Past by LadyRaiden aka Raydiva +++
Chapter Eight: Unexpected Free Time
The SUV and Hummer both drove up the drive and parked next to the ranch house. Althea jumped out of the car before it was fully stopped and ran into the house.
”What’s going on?” asked Sonya.
Johnny shrugged and went to follow Althea. As soon as he walked in the door, the actor was nearly hit by a blast of ice. “Hey!” yelled Johnny.
Sub-Zero just continued glaring at Althea as if she was Shao Kahn himself. “What happened? Why did you attack me?” Althea demanded.
The Lin Kuei just remained silent as the room temperature noticeable dropped and frost built up once again on his hands. The silence was broken by the clicking of a gun.
”I suggest you back off and explain,“ said Sonya as she aimed her gun directly at Sub-Zero.
”Enough!” said Rayden as he walked in from the dining room, his clothes still torn and dirty from the fight, “It was not her who attacked us earlier.”
”Huh, if it helps…Althea was with me on the movie set all day today, “offered Johnny.
Sub-Zero blinked and then backed down from his aggressive stance. Seeing this Sonya released a breath and holstered her pistol.
”Now that’s resolved, how the hell did you end up mortal this time?” said Althea giving Rayden a sarcastic look.
(Scene Change)
Later in the converted attic, Sonya opened the windows to the night sky as Althea prepared to activate the shield stones. As Althea focused onto the keystone, Sonya could see the faint shimmer of a hexagonal shaped domed form over the ranch house. At first the shimmer was bluish in color, but eventually faded to a silvery gray.
”That’s strange, “Althea said with a confused look on her face.
”Something wrong?”
”Well, I should be feeling some sort of drain but I’m not, “said Althea.
”That’s good right…. wait then what’s powering that thing?”
Althea looked at the stone with eyes that glowed slightly. “Oh crap,” she finally said and then ran to the window to look at the actual shields.
”Girl, “said a white haired woman, “You have no idea how many rules you have just broken.”
(Scene Change)
Sub-Zero stood in the living room’s doorway to the drive as he watched the shields go up, trying to ignore the slight muscle twitches he still felt from the earlier hit. Rayden, wearing a borrowed white T-shirt and jeans, sat on the recliner frowning. For some reason he didn’t feel that the shield was such a good idea. But with Johnny taking Liu to the doctor for his arm, Tanya gone searching for Kitana, and not to mention his own…. condition, the added defenses were necessary precaution.
”Stop right there!” yelled Sonya from upstairs. A familiar white haired woman wearing black jeans and jacket with a gray shirt came downs the stairs. She plopped on to the sofa as if she owned the place and crossed her arms angrily. Her crystal blue eyes flashing over her dark scarf, she mumbled incoherently with a “Damn you Rayden” being the only thing understandable.
Sonya came down with Althea not far behind. Althea stayed at the foot of the stairs as the other woman walked up to the ‘stranger’ and pointed a gun straight at her face. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” demanded Sonya.
The white haired woman raised an eyebrow and said, “Go ahead and try to shoot. It’s not like it’s gonna work anyway.”
”Sonya “said Rayden with a calming voice as he stood and walked over to take her gun, “She’s not a danger.”
The white haired woman gave Rayden a funny look as if saying ‘That’s what you think.’
Sub-Zero remained at the doorway and watched what was happening with a detached air. He then closed the door and leaned against it trying not to winch as weight was placed on his electric burns. There was something familiar about this strange woman, but he couldn’t quite place it.
”Why are you here?” asked Rayden looking down at the white haired woman.
”Don’t ask me, “the white haired woman said and pointed to Althea, “Ask her, she’s the one who pulled me into this mess.”
Rayden looked at Althea for a moment and through his link with her he could sense concern, nervousness and guilt. “What happened?” he asked Althea.
With a nervous expression Althea answered, “Hmmm…. somehow I sorta created…. we’re kinda stuck in a giant time bubble.”
”We’re trapped in a what?” asked Sonya.
Rayden sat back down on the recliner, rubbing the space between his eyebrows. He was definitely starting to get a headache. As Rayden did this, Sub-Zero opened the door again and walked out. A few minutes later he returned to say, “Everything outside of the shields seems to be frozen; trees frozen in mid-sway, a car on the road, even a cat running across the drive.”
”I could try removing the shields. That should…”Althea started.
”No! “Interrupted the white haired woman with a forceful voice, “Just ‘popping the bubble’ with cause a temporal whirlpool and cause total havoc with the current time stream.”
”If you’re such an expert, why don’t you fix the problem?” said Sonya
”That is enough, Sonya, “said Rayden tiredly.
”Actually, “said the mysterious woman, “I am already working on it. However, it will take time…. from our point of view anyway.”
(Scene Change)
Rayden was lying on Althea’s bed trying not to fall asleep. Losing the battle, his eyes closed as he lightly dozed. That was how Althea found him as she entered her room. With a half-smile she noticed how he somehow took over the entire bed and then when to the closest to pull out a spare pillow and some blankets. She unfolded one the blankets and covered the thundergod. As she gently moved a strand of his long gray hair from his face, his hand reached up to grab her hand to pull her onto the bed. “Thought you were asleep, “Althea said with a light laugh.
Rayden smiled, saying nothing. The fact that he was alone with Althea in her room with some unexpected ‘free time’ gave him a pleasant thought to consider. He sat up on the bed to look down at the woman now lying next to him. At the intense look in the thundergod’s eyes she thought as she reached up for him, ‘About damn time.’
A loud knocking at the door broke the moment. Rayden fell back on the bed with a groan, mentally cursing fate as Althea got up off the bed with a growl. She opened the door and said, “What?!”
Slightly taken back by Althea’s tone, Sonya said with hesitation, “Have you seen Rayden? I’ve looked all over for him and…”
Althea moved to the side and with an exaggerated arm movement signaled for Sonya to enter to the room. The Special Forces agent walked in and seeing Rayden said, “Where the hell have you been?”
”Where else would I be, “said Rayden, “It’s not like any of us can leave.”
Then it dawned on Sonya what she might have interrupted. “Excuse me for being concerned, “she said with mild sarcasm, “I leave you two lovebirds alone.”
She then left the room and closed door firmly behind her. Ignoring Althea’s muffled laughter that made its way through the door, Sonya walked down the hall to the stairs. In the living room, Sonya found that the mysterious woman was sitting in the recliner reading some book with Sub-Zero watching her from the sofa as if trying to figure her out. A quiet thump from the ceiling made Sonya sigh as she headed to the dining room.
Sub-Zero continued to intently watch the woman in the recliner as she read. She turned a page and said, “Do you know how uncomfortable it is trying to read while someone is staring at you?”
”Who are you?” asked Sub-Zero.
The woman sighed and said, “Call me Lady Tomorrow if you need a name. It’s good enough for gods; it should be good enough for you. Anything more will just make my job almost impossible.”
”Are you related to Althea in some way? “Sub-Zero continued to force the issue.
The woman frowned from behind her scarf and asked, “What makes you ask that?”
”Your voice is similar to hers and you two share similar physical characteristics, “he started, “You also seem to have a similar ability with time as she does.”
The woman stared at Sub-Zero for a few seconds without blinking and her eyes flickered with a light-blue flame. A strange foggy feeling entered the Lin Kuei’s mind. As the mental fog lifted, Sub-Zero shook his head slightly.
“Do you know how uncomfortable it is trying to read while someone is staring at you?” said the woman as she turned a page.
Sub-Zero frowned, there was something he was going to ask her but he couldn’t remember what. Maybe he wasn’t as recovered from that blast as he thought. With that in mind, he stood up without a word and headed upstairs to get some rest in his room. The white haired woman watched him go and once Sub-Zero was out of sight, she sighed as if in relief.
(Scene Change)
”You need a bigger bed, “said Rayden as he stroked Althea’s bare back.
”I’ll keep that in mind, “Althea replied as she listened to the thundergod’s heartbeat. Rubbing his chin on her head, Rayden breathed in her scent. He knew they should get off the floor, but he was just so relaxed he didn’t want to move. Althea then reached up and over to grab the blanket hanging off the side of the bed. Pulling it over them she yawned. “Uh Rayden, “she said after a few minutes.
”Hmmm.”
”As much as I hate to say this but I do need someone to teach me to control this time gift, “said Althea, “I thought it would be the same as when I had my old gifts, but its not.”
”You are not going to Calorna, “said Rayden in a voice that wanted no argument.
”I know, I know, “said Althea, “Even if I could go…it’s been over 500 years since I’ve been there. For all I know, the Conclave no longer exists. But I do need someone to teach me.”
Rayden thought about what she said and had no choice but to agree. Even ‘Lady Tomorrow’ has been pushing him to find Althea a teacher. There was no one in his domains that had the necessary skills. Perhaps I am limiting myself by thinking only of mortals…Lady Tomorrow or perhaps a time god would be able to teach her. No, not Lady Tomorrow, but it won’t hurt to ask…. perhaps a time god? Doubt it, the only time god that would have the nerve to teach a godslayer would be….’Oh no, ‘thought Rayden with a mental groan.
(Scene Change)
What seems like hours later, Sonya was sitting at the dining room table drinking some iced tea. It was strange, any light still turn on remained on even if you tried to turn it off and any light that was turned off could not be turned on. There wasn’t any water from the faucets but the refrigerator’s icemaker worked fine. It was also so quiet it was nerve racking. The door opened and the white haired woman entered. “Mine if I join you?” she asked from behind her scarf.
”Not like I can stop you, “answered Sonya with a slightly angry tone.
The strange woman sat down across from Sonya and chuckled. “Hey, don’t get mad at me. Its kinda your fault you and Johnny aren’t doing the same thing Althea and Rayden are right now.”
Sonya glared at the white hair woman and through clenched teeth said, “You have no idea what you are talking about.”
”Don’t I, “said the woman, “Let’s see…you and Johnny meet at the tournament. Just when things start to get hot and heavy between the two of you, he gets killed during the Outworld invasion saving your life. He’s back among the living and has been for over a year, but you two haven’t has much gone on a date since. I know part of the problem is your respective careers, but you two could have least at lunch together since you moved here. I know Johnny’s asked but you always made excuses.”
”Who do you think you are?” Sonya hissed and stood up.
”Someone trying to make things right, “the woman said seriously. “Are you afraid of getting hurt again? Two great loves in your life both died violent deaths in front of you…. must have hurt.”
”You don’t know what you’re…”
”Yes I do, “said the woman this time with cold anger in her voice, “I know what it’s like to see a loved one suffer greatly, even die, and not being able to do a damn thing about it. Unlike you I don’t let it scare me to the point that I refuse to open my heart. Give Johnny a chance.”
Sonya looked away as the crystal blue eyes bore down on her with an intense look. “Why should I give that self-centered, egotistical….”
”Don’t forget cute, “added the white haired woman, “You also know that self-centered and egotistical doesn’t really describe Johnny anymore. Otherwise, why would he help out with this school or not as concerned with his public image as he use to?”
Sonya then turned to glare at the white haired woman for a few moments and finally said, “Ok I’ll give Johnny a chance. Just get me out of this time thing of yours.”
The strange woman shrugged and then vanished. “What the….”said Sonya but then noticed the ticking sounds of the wall clock.
The End…
The cloaked figure stood and bowed deeply [to Shinnok] before leaving. Flashes of yellow could be seen from under the cloak as the figure walked off.
next chapter [9]