Chapter Ten: Premonition

Mavado smiled as he once again took the medallion in his hands. For years he had searched for the legendary heirloom and then sudden it appeared on display, literally down the road from his office. He leaned back in his office chair and he turned the medallion over to examine the engravings that could be the key to releasing its supposed power. A knock at the door interrupted his musings. He placed the medallion on his desk and said, "Enter."

An elderly man in an old fashion dark brown suit and messy black/gray hair entered the office. Rolling his hands in excitement, the old man said, "Is that it?"

"Yes, Professor, "answered Mavado as he slid the medallion in the professor's direction. The scholar went to pick it up but hesitated, "May I?"

Mavado nodded and with shaky hands the professor lifted the artifact from the desk. "Oh my, "he whispers as he examined the writings, "Yes, almost definitely genuine."

"How long will it take for you to confirm that this is in fact the Red Dragon medallion and to translate the writing?" asked the crime lord.

"No long, not long at all, "said the excitable old man, "Actually translating the language will no doubt prove whether or not this is the artifact you seek."

Mavado then reached over his desk to take back the medallion, "Photos of the medallion and writings will be made available to you by this evening."

The professor blinked slightly, just noticing he no longer held the artifact and that he was given the same as a dismissal. "Of ccccourse, "he stammered, "I'll be waiting." He bowed slightly and left the office, closing the door after him.

The scholar made his way past unseen guards, and into the parking lot. Once out of sight of the building, the elderly professor stood up straighter and grew younger. His clothes morphed from the dark brown suit and wrinkled tie to that of red and bronze trimmed robes of a sorcerer. Shang Tsung smiled as a portal opened before him.

(Scene Change)

The two blonde women circled around each other tying to find an opening in her opponent's defenses. Sonya struck with a quick punch and then a low kick. Althea blocked both and responded with a punch of her own which Sonya dodged.

"How long have they been at it?" asked Johnny after watching them for a few minutes. A still pale Liu Kang shrugged and said, "About ten…fifteen minutes."

A sudden barrage of punches and kicks from Sonya drew their attention as Althea struggled to keep up blocking and dodging. Johnny couldn't help but notice how Sonya's now sweaty green shirt and shorts were sticking to her in spite of the gym's air conditioning.

"Careful, "said Liu, "A certain someone may take you drooling at them the wrong way."

"Huh?" said Johnny not taking his eyes off of the women. He winced when Althea was able to get a good hit in to Sonya's mid section. Liu clapped his hands and yelled out, "That's enough, good match!"

Althea fell to the floor mat as Sonya bent over panting as she placed her hands on her knees. Both women were covered in sweat and exhausted from the workout. Liu picked up some towels and two water bottles from the floor as he headed in their direction.

"Thanks, "said Sonya as she took one of the bottles and a towel. Althea sat up on the floor to take the other bottle and towel as Johnny walked over. "Sonya, "the actor said, "Jax called and wants you to call him back when you get a chance. I left the number by the phone."

After taking a long swallow of water, Sonya nodded and left the gym. Filling a chill in the air Liu turned to Johnny and asked, "What did you do this time?"

(Scene Change)

Sonya hung up the phone with a concern look. Being called back to DC so soon didn't bode well for the project. She turned to leave the den/office and saw Tanya walk pass the open door. Sonya frowned…something about the Edenian made her nervous. She couldn't put her finger on why, but she really didn't trust Tanya. Then again it could just be that she didn't trust Johnny with the exotic woman.

Sonya continued thinking as she made her way to the stairs in the living room. After that discussion with that what's-her-face, Sonya had to admit she was at least attracted to Johnny. But did Johnny really share those feelings? Walking up the stairs, flashes of news articles with some actress or model draped on Johnny's arm kept flashing in front of her mind's eye. "Men!" said Sonya out loud as frustration set in.

"Hope you're only referring to the mortal kind, "said Fujin from the top of the stairs.

Tiredly Sonya asked, "What do you want?"

Fujin shrugged and stepped aside to let Sonya pass and as she started walking down the hall he asked, "How about a date?"

"What!" said Sonya turning to face the wind god.

Unnoticed by Sonya, Johnny was now at the foot of the stairs listening in to the conversation. He was looking for Sonya to try to find out why she was so angry with him, but what he just heard froze him in his tracks. Fujin…asking Sonya for a date?

"You know…dinner perhaps a movie or some dancing, "Fujin said with a mischievous smile.

"Thanks, but no thanks, "answered Sonya sounding a little uncomfortable, "I'm….kinda busy." She then headed to her room.

Fujin yelled after her, "A rain check then!"

Johnny climbed the stairs and glared at the wind god. Fujin just waved at the actor and said, "See ya!" A strong swirl of wind and Fujin was gone.

(Scene Change)

Althea sat on the floor of her room, eyes closed and breathing deeply. Clearing her mind, she attempted to meditate. It's been years since she attempted to follow this aspect of Kung Lao's training but she felt a deep need for the calming effects of meditative state. Just when she reached the proper mental state, images raced across her mind. Althea struggled free herself from the spell. She fell backwards onto the ground as she broke herself out of the trance. Sitting back up, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and mumbled. "What the hell was that?"

"You alright?" said Rayden, sitting on the edge of her bed.

Startled, Althea exclaimed, "Damn it, Rayden!"

Rayden frowned. She was one of the few mortals he couldn't sneak up on due to their bond and normallyshe was not this jumpy. With a determined voice he asked, "What's wrong?"

Scooting over so she could use the side of her bed as a back support, she sighed. "No idea, "she answered, "I've just been having this strange feeling that something bad is going on. Tried to fight it by meditating, but then I sudden got these images….Anyways, where have you been?"

Rayden was about to answer when the sound of a truck's horn interrupted. Instead he stood up and looked out the window to see a cargo truck pull up the drive.

(Scene Change)

Liu signed thedelivery forms as Althea started to pull the one of the crates open with a crowbar. The truck drove off as she started to pull out straw and other packing materials out. "I don't believe this, "she said as she pulled out a small truck with strange markings on it.

"What is it?" asked Liu wondering as he also looking in as saw an envelope with Chinese writing on it stapled on the inside wall of the crate. He ripped the envelope off and opened it.

"This is one of my old trunks from when I was studying under Kung Lao, "she said placing it on the ground to continue digging in the crate.

Liu took a letter from the envelope and started to read. "Says here; the monks had your stuff in the temple library since you disappeared and they decided to return your stuff when they heard you were back. Seems, that one of the priests back then didn't really believe you actually died and stored your stuff away. There's also some of my stuff as well in there and some things they thought we might be able to use for the school."

Liu folded up the letter and put it in his pocked. He then reached over to try to pull some stuff out when Althea snapped, "Don't you dare! You'll reopen those gashes on your arm if you lift anything heavy with it. Go get Johnny and Sonya to help while I get started here."

Liu Kang was about to ignore her when someone grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from the crate. Liu turned when the hand release him and said, "I can…oh, hi Rayden."

Rayden just gave the champion a strange look that made Liu feel guilty for some reason. "I'll go find the others, "the monk said as he backed away from the thundergod and then went inside the ranch house.

(Scene Change)

Althea was placing the last of her scrolls on one of the shelves in the den/office when Johnny carried in another chest and dropped it on the desk with a thump. "Here's the last of your stuff, "he huffed, "What the hell is in that thing, it weighs a ton."

Althea looked at the truck trying to remember what was in it. "Not sure, "she admitted, "It's been years and we kinda packed those things in a hurry. I was just going through them when…Let's just open it already."

Johnny laughed and opened to chest to see……leather? He took it out of the chest and it unfolded itself. How the hell could leather remain in such good shape stuck in a small trunk for so long? "I don't believe it, "said Althea as she pulled out a larger piece and unfolded to be a pair of pants, "Crazy servants, they packed my old battlemage armor." Seeing Johnny studying the stuff, bending as if trying to figure out something, she smiled and continued, "On Calorna we….they have a way to treat leather once so that it doesn't stiffen up or rot with age, unless it gets completely soaked…..Wonder if it still fits?"

"You actually wore this heavy stuff?"

"Its better then getting a stray arrow stuck in your…..back, and it's not that heavy once you get it on, "said Althea folding the leather up again and returning it to the trunk with a sad sigh. At one time she was proud to wear the armor, but the memories of wearing them during the Calornian god war tarnished that pride.

"Why not take it upstairs and try it on?" suggested Johnny.

Althea shook her head, "No, it…"

"Come on, "said Johnny.

"No, "she said more firmly and closing the trunk.

"Bet Rayden would love to see you in leather, "Johnny grinned.

"Johnny, "said Althea coldly, "I suggest you go help Liu and Sonya with the rest of the delivery."

Johnny held up both hands as if in surrender and left the room. Althea blew at a strand of hair in her face as she went to pick up the trunk. 'Damn, 'she thought, 'This is heavier than I remember.' She dropped it back down on the desk and reopened it. She pulled out the leather to see if there might be anything else in the trunk that she could leave here.

Rayden appeared behind her and said nothing as he picked up a long flap of dark blue leather. "Don't even think of it thundergod,"Althea said as she reached the bottom of the trunk finding the steel portions of the armor. 'No wonder it was heavy, 'she thought as she pulled them out to examine the dents and scratches, 'I rarely wore the steel, unless heavy conflict was expected.'

The shine of the steel, reminded Rayden of the seal given to him by Kronos. "Thea, I spoke with Kronos…..He said he will see to your training when he has time and until then…"

"A seal of some sort, "Althea concluded, "I understand, but that may not be a good idea."

"Oh?"

"Doesn't matter," she shook her head as she said, "Not like we have much of a choice. I think that this time gift is starting to affect me even when I'm not trying to use my chi. Those images I saw while meditating….."

"What did you see?"

Althea looked away from Rayden, not sure if she should tell him. Sensing her unease, Rayden placed his hands on her shoulders and said, "If you don't want to you don't have to tell me, but it might help."

"There were five scenes….the first one had you wearing armor and holding a bloody hammer. You were….so angry that you…."

A never forgotten memory flashed across Rayden's mind. He tried to send comforting feelings through their link as he said, "That was a long time ago, part of my past that haunts me to this day but the past all the same."

Althea nodded and continued, "The second one was a man wearing black and red. He looked kinda like you, but he had black hair with gray streaks and wearing black and red. He was standing in front of an altar with three heads on it. The next one was Quan Chi, I believe, running from something and holding a medallion or disk of some sort. Then there was a giant male version of what Jola was walking past a bunch of kneeling corpses and last a hooded figure holding that same disk up as darkness exploded from it."

Rayden didn't hear a word of what she said after the description of the man next to the altar. One name crossed his mind: Shinnok.

The End….

Next Time on MK: Echoes of the Past:

Outside, Lilith smiled as she sensed the monk's restlessness. "Come, "she whispered as she lifted a clawed hand, "Come to me, Liu Kang."