Chapter Twenty Eight: Defiance

Note: Ok, I didn't like how this story was going so I decided to do some rewriting. You will see few changes in this chapter but the ones following will be very different then the ones that were posted previously. I do apologize for any confusion or trouble for my few current readers and for any new readers…don't worry you didn't miss anything.

(Ranch House)

A sad silence filled the living room, as Althea quietly placed a tray full of drinks on the dining room table. On the couch sat Johnny with his arm wrapped around Sonya's shoulders and her arms wrapped around his chest. Jax sat in the overstuffed chair with his head in his metallic hands. Sub-Zero leaned against his now customary wall, looking downward and arms crossed. Kung Lao sat on the ground, his back to the couch's armrest his eyes closed. As she passed out the drinks, Althea looked up with a thoughtful look as if sensing something. Her lips thinned as she handed the last glass and then left the room unnoticed by the mourning group.

In the gym Frost practiced her katas under the watchful, unblinking eyes of Cyrax. punch punch kick "Why are you here, cyborg?" Frost asked between moves. kick block punch

"Because I choose to, "replied Cyrax in his mechanical voice.

Frost suddenly stopped and turned. "You CHOOSE?" she demanded, "You are Lin Kuei, you have no…"

Cyrax lifted his hand in a motion asking for silence and replied, "The Lin Kuei of old is dead. The new Lin Kuei looks to be different, if Sub-Zero is a true example of the clan's future."

Frost hmphed and turned away only to hear Cyrax continue, "The mere fact he accepted you as a full student rather than a test subject is proof of that."

Frost clenched her fists and lowered her head, hearing the cyborg's words but not sure how to take them.

Outside behind the tool shed, the strange man nearly collapsed under the weight of sorrow, worry and confusion he sensed from the ranch house. What could have happened? He debated for a few moments on whether to continue 'observing,' walk up to the front door or leave. Choosing the last he turned to head back the way he came only to crash into what felt to be a wall where there wasn't one before.

"You know it's not nice to spy on people, "said a woman's voice causing him to turn around, "Mine telling me why you're here?"

The strange man bowed slightly in respect and said, "Forgive me, I meant no harm. I'm only seeking a certain person and thought I might be able to receive information on him here."

Althea's eyes flashed slightly as she looked over the stranger. His dark glasses and white cane indicated he was blind according to local custom. However his actions and what she sensed from the packaged tied to his backpack told her there was something different about this person. "Who are you and who do you seek?"

A half smiled appeared as the man answered, "I am known as Kenshi and the one I seek is called Shang Tsung."

(Outworld)

Reptile knelt at the foot of the empty and bloody throne of Shao Kahn. The room darkened as the candles slowly melted away. "Masssster," he whispered in a strange sort of mourning. Just as the last candle went out a woman's hand was placed on his shoulder. "He is never truly gone, "said the woman with a voice that was a strange mixture of sympathy and sarcasm.

Reptile hissed as he stood up to face the stranger and saw a woman in armor the same as his only darker, wearing a mask as he once did and having long white haired pulled back into a bun. Her crystal blue eyes narrowed slightly as she asked, "What will you do now?"

Like a lost child he covered his eyes and hissed, "No Massster, No home, No place for Reptile."

"Perhaps, Reptile needs a new master, "said the woman, "Or better yet become his own."

"How?" asked Reptile, "Where?"

The woman closed her eyes as if debating something with herself and then sighed. "If it's a new master that you desire, look among those who fly the darken skies. If you chose to become your own master, seek the key to your home."

Reptile stood up straighter and his tongue flickered as he thought over the woman's words. Finally he said, "There issss only Reptile who issss left so there issss no point to having a home…"

The woman closed her eyes sadly but nodded before vanishing.

(Arizona)

Nightwolf put the phone down and then slowly walked over to his table. His palms laid on the table gently and then turned to fists that he raised only to have them crash down loudly.

The noise brought Kiva walking in with a concerned look and she asked, "What's wrong?"

"He's dead…Liu Kang is.."Nightwolf closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He always thought that he, being the oldest by far, of all the chosen would be the first to fall not the champion.

Kiva sat down with a shocked look and then asked, "What happen's now?"

"We go and pay our respects, "said Nightwolf as he picked up the phone again, "I'll make the reservations while you pack."

(Temple of the Elder Gods)

"So nothing will be done, "fumed Rayden, "in spite of this obvious breach of Your rules?"

Both Rayden and Fujin stood before the council along with a handful of the current Earthrealm deities as well as a few from other realms. Most of these mumbled in agreement with the thunder god.

"Take care of what you speak Lord Rayden, "said the Elder Goddess of Water in all seriousness, "The council has yet to decide…"

"Pardon me, "said Vatas the Sworn Protector of Calorna, "but what is there to decide? Shang Tsung of Outworld and Quan Chi of the Neatherrealm have killed both the Earthrealm's Champion of Mortal Kombat and Outworld's Emperor. The first a obvious breach of the rules of Mortal Kombat and the second proof that they are more than willing to destroy immortals in their conquest of the realms."

Kronos nearly smiled in pride at his youngest son's words, but hid it behind a serious face required for such a moment. The pride faded when he heard Shadow say, "A danger only because your former champion gave her weapons to a specter of the Neatherrealm."

Rayden's eyes began to flash and Fujin grabbed his shoulder to prevent his brother from doing something stupid. "She did so to save a god, "said Fujin, "And ended up saving the last two of Earthrealm's gods and its Champion by doing so."

"ENOUGH!" the Elder God of Light roared, silencing the room.

The Elder God of Flame then said, "Until a decision has been reached, nothing changes."

"What?" Rayden said under his breath.

"The sorcerers will be watched, "added the Elder God of Stone, "Until they have proven themselves a true danger…"

Rayden shook his head slightly at the apparent lack of common sense.

"Now all of you return to your respective realms and duties, "ordered the Elder God of Air.

"No, "said Rayden softly but then louder, "No, I will not."

"Lord Rayden, you are…"started Water.

"Sick of what the council has become, "interrupted Rayden angrily, "Time and again your rules are broken and yet you do nothing. Instead you prevent those of us who do follow your dictates from doing what is needed. I have had enough." The God of Thunder then turned his back on the council and walked through the crowd.

"Stay where you are, Thunder God, "ordered Shadow.

Rayden then turned and said, "Like hell I will." With a crash of thunder he was gone.

Fujin nearly left to follow but a hand on his shoulder made him turn to see Vatas of Calorna. "Wait, "the foreign god said, "I'll talk to Kronos as soon as he's available, it seems that bond is causing Rayden to take on some of Athea's more…endearing qualities. For now let him be and help me smooth things out here."

(Ranch House)

For the past few hours, the handful of chosen heard Kenshi's story and then started telling their own. Althea watched and listened in concern as the group compared what could only be called horror stories they have experienced at the hands of Shang Tsung. Sonya lost all those under her command in spite as fulfilling Shang Tsung's demands to fight in the tournament and her imprisonment in Outworld. Kenshi being tricked in leading the same sorcerer to the entombed souls of his ancestors thus allowing him to enslave them, Kung Lao witnessing the death of Liu Kang…the list went on. It seemed the only one's not really touched by the evil that is Shang Tsung was the cyborg, Frost and herself.

Althea knew that the sorcerer was evil, just the fact that he used souls of fallen warriors to empower himself was proof of that. However, she could figure out how someone, who was so easily defeated that one time she met him face to face all those years ago, had grown so powerful. He had to have enslaved a endless number of souls over the centuries…but most if not all should have been freed when he was defeated by Liu Kang during the last Mortal Kombat Tournament. Why was he still so strong? That was the weakness of such sorcerers, without souls they were weaker than a human child.

"He must be stopped, "Althea suddenly said startling everyone in the room.

"What? Of course he has…"started Jax but Althea turned a flaming glare at him and said, "No…not that way. Shang Tsung is not what he seems. I don't think even Shao Kahn knows how dangerous he is. Combine that with my swords and his alliance with Quan Chi…" She opened her hand to reveal the small crystal that Kronos gave her. Closing her eyes she then added, "I have to go…"

"You're not going alone, "said Kung Lao as he got up off the floor.

"If you have a way to Outworld, "said Sonya, "we'll all go."

"No, "said Althea shaking her head as she closed her fist, "the Chosen warriors must stay. Shang Tsung and Quan Chi have obviously broken the rules of Mortal Kombat. If the Elder Gods haven't done anything by now they never will. Thus Earth will be wide open for attack, not only by Outworld but any realm that may pose a threat."

Just then Cyrax walked in with Frost right behind him and said, "What of those who were not among the chosen?"

Kenshi nodded in agreement and said, "The cyborg is correct, those of us who were not chosen are not truly needed for Earth's defenses…"

"And we are to trust you, someone we barely met, "interrupted Sonya, "Or you Cryax, that less than a year and a half ago tried to kill us."

Finally Johnny spoke up, "Look no one is going to Outworld until we hear from either Fujin or Rayden."

Althea took a deep breath but said nothing, as she headed to the stairs. She already knew basically what the Elder God's response was…she could feel it through Rayden's frustration and anger. Just as she reached her bedroom door, she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Let me come with you, "said Kenshi, "You are in a way like me, I can sense it."

Althea chuckled sadly and said, "Not so sure about that, but you are right. If I do go I can't go alone…"

(Outside, later that night)

The sounds of cicadas covered up any sounds he may have as he walked toward the remains of what looked to be have been a grove of trees. Cyrax wasn't sure why the woman asked him to come, but he had a good idea what she was going to do. Althea sat waiting on a fallen tree and not surprising Kenshi stood next to her. Each was wearing what one could call their, battle gear. Althea was wearing her dark gray leather armor with what appeared to be steel plates covering her chest and part of her legs. Her hair pulled back and held in place by a steel band with a thin stripe of gray leather between it and her skin. Kenshi was wearing dark brown leather outfit with a red and white sash embroidered with a dragon motif. His eyes now covered not by sunglasses but by a strip of red cloth and his sheathed sword tied to his back. They both turned towards the yellow cyborg when he said, "You requested that I meet you here."

Althea stood up and said, "You've been to Outworld?"

Cyrax nodded and said, "That is correct. When I was among the Lin Kuei, I often went with the masters to meet with either the Emperor Shao Kahn or Shang Tsung."

Kenshi sighed as if in defeat and then turned to Althea, "You win."

"I know you have a responsibility here, "said Althea, "but I have to ask, will you guide us? I…we have to go to Outworld to stop this evil. The others have to protect Earth, but neither I nor Kenshi are Chosen warriors."

"I had assumed that you were newly Chosen, "said Cyrax.

"No, "said Althea, "Oh Fujin tried, but I was one of the korast on my birthrealm and Vatas neglected to remove that status. Since it's similar to being chosen that title has to be removed before being chosen by another Protector but since it has nothing to do with protecting a realm from another realm it was not automatically voided by changing homerealms."

"Korast?" asked Kenshi.

"There's not really a single word that translates, "answered Althea, "It's like being a Chosen but it does not involve other realms. Only being 'chosen' to do a job by a god against another god."

"What can a mortal do against a god?"asked Kenshi.

"We're wasting time, "said Althea changing the subject, "Will you guide us, Cyrax? It's your choice."

"I will help you, "answered Cyrax, "Your reasons have a ring of truth and I also agree Shang Tsung must be stopped."

Althea stood up and took Cyrax's hand, "If you're ready, let me know and think of a safe place for us to start looking."

Althea held up the crystal given to her by Kronos and a portal then opened before them. Just then a flash of light blue light blinded them and next they knew Kuravan stood, with arms crossed, in front of them effectively blocking their way.

The End…

Next Time on MK: Echoes of the Past….

There stood Fujin, looking somewhat different then he normally did. Instead of the leather vest and baggy green pants he wore a dark three piece suit with a silver trimmed green wind kanji pinned to his tie. His long gray hair was now tied down low and hung down his back.