Chapter Eight: Mirror Image Part 2
(Trading Post's Kitchen)
"Your powers should return, eventually, "asked Taja with concern, "Right?"
Rayden sighed and lifted his hand, a few small sparks appeared. "I should be back to normal sometime late tonight or early tomorrow morning at the latest."
Kung Lao picked up the half-eaten breakfast plates and said, "You can stay here until then."
"What I would like to know is who is she and where did she come from, "said Siro, "Any chance she's a relative?" He then looked at Althea. Althea shrugged and replied, "Hard to say, since my grandfather is Kuravan. But I don't think I don't think he sent her, it's just not his style."
"In that case, who did?" said Taja
"That's the…" Rayden then yawned. Kung Lao smiled when he saw how exhausted Rayden and Althea were. "All that can wait for now, "Kung Lao said, "I'll get the downstairs' room set up while you, "he pointed to Rayden, "get cleaned up and you, "he pointed to Althea, "go upstairs and get some sleep."
(Bedroom)
Althea tossed and turned in bed. The combination of worry and it being daytime just didn't mix for sleep. She sighed and stared at the ceiling, he mind wondering randomly. 'Why did the stranger want Rayden's tunic so bad?' Althea thought, 'Sorcery? It might have enough of Rayden's personal aura to be useful.' She sighed again and rolled over.
Then the question of how she was able to sense Rayden was in trouble came to mind. The connection created by the energy transfer should have faded already, but it seems as strong as it was the moment she woke from the coma. Even now she could sense Rayden's discomfort of being without his powers, a lumpy bed and his sensing her own inability to sleep. The memory of what nearly happened the other night played across her mind. What she sensed from him that time was unmistakable. He was attracted to her, but when she returned from investigating the noise he was gone. If it wasn't for Lilith…Lilith that means Kuravan is watching…Crap.
(Quan Chi's Domain)
In Quan Chi's lair, the dark haired version of Althea handed the blue tunic to the sorcerer. "Marvelous, "he purred, "You have done well for your first night, Arianna." He stroked the side of her face, noticing that her eyes only flickered red once in while, a sign she used a great deal of chi. "And I guess the thunder god didn't do so well in the meeting," Quan Chi sat on his throne, "Does he live?"
"Yes, Master, "replied Arianna, "The other godslayer showed up and per your orders I didn't stay to fight once retrieving the needed item."
Quan Chi shrugged and pulled Arianna onto his lap, "No matter, soon your 'brother' will be able to take care of him…Lupena!"
Lupena enter the room, "Yes, Master," she said.
Quan Chi tossed her the tunic and said, "I want you to prepare this for the final spell. I'll be busy…recharging my little godslayer." He then kissed Arianna on the neck and started stroking her. Lupena, with a sickly look on her face, turned and left the room.
(Trading Post)
That night, Rayden found Althea sitting at the kitchen table engrossed in some books and even taking notes. He glanced over her shoulder and saw that everything was in a language, HE didn't understand. So he assumed it was Calornian.
"Do you know how annoying it is when someone tries to read over your shoulder? "said Althea as she made a few final notes and then closed the book. Rayden shrugged and then sat down as Althea stretched by pull her arms back over her head. Rayden tried his best not to notice what the stretching did to…certain parts of her anatomy, and said, "What are you looking for?"
"Answers, "Althea replied and then counted off some questions, "Why would anyone want your tunic? How did our 'friend' blast you without collapsing like I did when I blasted Kuravan? Last but not least, why are we still sensing each other's emotions? These, "she indicated the books, "Are my old school notes and most are taken from the old Conclave Library before it was destroyed. I hoped that there might be something that could shed a little light on the subjects. As the old saying goes, 'Knowledge is power, so…REEESEEARCH!" She said the last in a poor imitation of an old man's voice and pointed upward with her finger.
"Any luck?" asked Rayden.
Althea got up and poured herself a drink before answering. Leaning back against a counter she replied, "Not really, oh there are possibilities but no hard answers." She took a sip, "In regards to your missing clothes, it most likely has to do something with sorcery. A lot can be done with something that has a person's personal aura imprinted upon it, but most if not all will become impossible once you recover your powers. However, be aware that this comes from information meant to teach a mage, not a sorcerer and they are notes. I may have left out a bit when I created them. As for our friend not collapsing, so could I before my abilities were damaged. She could be just as strong as I was before the war or she could have source of power we are just not aware of." Althea took a long swallow from her glass. "Even without the ability to acquire additional energy from the elements there are other ways. Most I wouldn't even think of using, but for someone less…nice, "she shrugged, "I even found one I didn't think of and wouldn't mind using, but for it to work I …need a partner. Then there's the transfusion you done to help me, and that's not even in my notes." She took another swallow.
"And the connection?" asked Rayden.
Althea looked up and said, "Like I said, these notes are incomplete. From what I have there are few possibilities, each less likely than the next. Both because you are a god and the fact they seem to require a mutual sharing of chi and/or elemental energy. The transfusion you gave me was one-way, and the connection should have been there only as long as there remained some of your elemental energy in my system. Unless I'm wrong, all of it has already been converted to personal chi."
(Quan Chi's Laboratory)
Wearing gray work ropes, Lupena sat watching the strangely colored fire as its smoke enveloped the hanging tunic. Fortunately the sounds of Quan Chi 'recharging' Arianna stopped long ago and the only sounds was the crackle of the fire. She closed her eyes to pretend that it was an ordinary fire she heard. Silence…Lupena open her eyes and saw that the fire had somehow been frozen and she heard a strange voice say, "Do you really want Quan Chi to have his own little god to play with?"
Lupena turned to attack the stranger but found herself surrounded by a ring of light blue flame. "Stay girl!" the strange white haired woman said with a smile. "Oh by the way, you're stuck in human form. Sorry, but I'm here to talk and my wolvish is a bit rusty." Lupena growled at the stranger who was also wearing a robe like she was but in black rather than dirty gray. The crystal blue eyes she saw above the dark scarf seem to look deep into Lupena's soul.
"What do you want?" said Lupena through clenched teeth. The woman sighed and walked around Lupena as if trying to judge her. "Look, I know you don't like Quan Chi and you are only here for the sake of your people…" Lupena started to sweat, wondering what else this stranger knew. "However, be aware that even a poor copy of the thunder god will cause more havoc to nature then anyone can imagine." The woman spoke aloud what was on Lupena's mind the entire time she was preparing the tunic. "What do you think I can…," Lupena began.
"Oh please, unless I'm mistaken you're shaman trained. Surely you know of a twig, herb or something you can throw on that fire to…un-stabilize Quan Chi's newest creation." The light-blue flames flared for a moment and Lupena found herself once again listening to the crackle of the smoky fire. Lupena looked around and found that she was once again alone.
(Trading Post's Kitchen…again)
Althea started clearing the table and asked, "Will you be staying for breakfast?"
"As much I would like to,"Rayden said as he lifted up a hand to test his powers, sizeable sparks appearing. "I don't think that Taja could stand my presence for much longer, "he continued with a wry smile, remembering all the sniping that went on between him and the red head.
There was a sudden rumbling sound outside. Lighting flashed with the clash of thunder, and the sound of evil laughter in Rayden's voice was heard. The trio came running down the stairs, each in a different state of dress. "What's going on?" demanded Siro, looking at Rayden.
"It wasn't me!" said Rayden as Althea and Taja ran to the armory to get their weapons. They then all went outside to see what was going on. There they saw the woman from the night before, hanging on someone that looked liked somewhat like Rayden. He had corpse-gray skin, eyes that were solid black and sparked purple lighting. The stranger wore black leathers with a dark blue over tunic. One shoulder hung the woman and over the other he laid a mace, sparkling with the same lighting as his eyes.
"Oh, shit,"whispered Taja as she tried to ready her crossbow. "Is that anything to say before a new god?" the stranger said while letting go of Arianna and then sending a blast of purple lighting towards her. Althea pushed Taja out of the way and the bolt created a crater where Taja was just standing.
"What do you want here?" demanded Rayden as he stepped in front of the women.
"Ah, last century's model, "the stranger replied, "I just felt it was time for a change, don't you? You know the whole out with the old, in with the new thing."
"Let me kill him, Ragen," whispered Arianna loudly.
"Now my dear, Arianna, "Ragen said, while placing a finger under Arianna's chin, "You know I must do it to prove my claim to his domains."
"Crap! It's a challenge," whispered Althea as she stood up.
"What?"whisper Kung Lao. Althea answered, "When a deity wishes to take over another's domains he can place a formal challenge. It can be done only between deities of similar positions in their respective realms. So only a god of thunder can challenge another god of thunder."
"Great, IM-Mortal Kombat," said Taja.
Rayden summoned his hammer, but Althea quickly stepped between the two immortals with hands flaming light-blue. "YOU DARE INTERFERE!" roared Ragen.
"Althea, you can't…,"began Rayden.
"Look, I'm not trying to stop the challenge, but you guys just can't battle it out here. We just got the place repaired and there are other people outside this time, "said Althea and then she looked directly at Ragen, "Unless I'm mistaken, there's a few rules in regards to endangering too many mortals in these things. One more thing, she stays out of it or I will join in." she indicated Arianna.
Arianna growled with flashing eyes and raised her hand; Ragen grabbed her arm to prevent the attack. "Agreed!" he responded, "Follow me." Both Ragen and Arianna vanished.
"Rayden, you can be seriously thinking…"began Siro.
"You're not going alone. You need us to ensure that Arianna doesn't butt in." said Althea looking directly into the thunder god's eyes. Rayden nodded.
(Undisclosed Location)
Within moments they all appeared on a grassy plain and a blast of blood red flame greeted them. Fortunately, Althea was expecting such an attack and had a shield similar to the one she used the first time she met Kung Lao ready, only this time shielding everyone. Althea's eyes flared light-blue for a moment and then she went to her knees. The strain of shielding such a wide area was almost too much. 'Damn, 'she thought, 'where is the bitch getting her strength?' Althea took a quick look at her duplicate and saw that she wasn't much better off than herself. 'Yes, there is a limit!'
"Don't mind us, "said Taja as Siro helped Althea up, "We're just here to make sure it's a fair fight." Then Rayden's mortal friends surrounded Arianna ready to pounce if she moved. Althea, being the exception, just leaned on her staff and glared at Ragen. Ragen just growled in frustration and then proceeded to attack the reigning thunder god. Rayden gave a half-smile at how easy it was to dodge the widely swung mace and then responded with a well aim hit of his own weapon. Ragen was thrown back but not down. It was then that something was noticeably wrong with Ragen. Total rage and insanity seemed to overcome him as he wildly attacked Rayden with both weapon and element. Rayden defended, but was able to send in a few well placed attacks of his own that hit home. The ground shook as Rayden fought his mirror image, and it was soon obvious who the winner was going to be. Arianna's eyes flashed red as everyone attention was on the battle. The moment Ragen did hit the ground, she struck. Using the last of her red chi, she launched a blast of blood red flame towards Rayden, knocking him down as she herself fell unconscious. Ragen quickly got up to take advantage, but Althea then stuck with her own chi attack. Taja quickly followed by letting her bolt from her crossbow fly. The bolt stuck Ragen's neck, just seconds after the wave of light-blue flame. He was dead before he even hit the ground. Althea fell, but while doing so she and all the others were thrown by the outburst of energy caused by Ragen's death.
Once the dust started to settle, Rayden and the trio started to stand up dusting themselves off. Seeing Althea was not getting up, Rayden quickly went to check on her. For a moment, he feared she had used up all her chi again but she just seem exhausted not drained as before. He sighed in relief. "Will she be okay?" asked Kung Lao.
"She'll be fine with a couple days bed rest, I think, "replied Rayden, "Unfortunately, getting her to her bed may be a little difficult right now."
"Damn it! Does that mean we're stranded out in the middle of nowhere until tomorrow? "asked Taja.
Just then Fujin appeared, "What the hell's going on!" Kung Lao attempted to fill in the wind god on what just happened when Siro spoke up, "Huh, guys…Where's Arianna?"
The End…
Next time on Mortal Kombat: Conquest
"Damn it, Siro, "yelled Taja, "Why are you so upset about Fujin showing up?" Siro replied just as loudly, "I just don't like how he's always….." Siro shrugged.
Taja opened the door to see Althea standing there with a bucket of cold looking water in her hands as if ready to throw it. "Either you cool down, or I'll cool you down, "said Althea in her most dangerous voice.
