Chapter Eighteen: Double Jeopardy
(Tree lined road)
"Tell me again, why I happen to be on this trip and not Siro?" asked Althea, sitting on the wagon bench as it rocked slowly down the uneven road, "I thought it was his job to join you on these caravan runs."
Taja growled slightly as she held the reins. "Because I asked you to and you're not as big an idiot as HE is," Taja replied.
Althea raised an eyebrow and said, "Okay…What did he do this time?"
The former thief turned merchant/warrior just stared ahead and redness came to her face that had nothing to do with the setting sun. Althea's other eyebrow joined its partner as she said, "Was it just a shining example of stupidity found in all males or was it a Siro Special?" Taja continued to ignore the blonde's barbs but her blush deepened. Althea, taking a perverse enjoyment in Taja's discomfort, continued to muse aloud, "It wasn't assuming you would clean up after him all because you're a woman, he learned that lesson already. Hmmmm…He never forgets to meet you or anyone when and where he says he will, so that can't be it." Althea tapped her finger on the wooden bench and continued, "Did he give too much attention to a woman customer? No, that wouldn't bother you this much. Wait! Perhaps it is not male stupidity at all, but just his bad luck at catching you with female stupidity?"
"Shut up,"said Taja through clenched teeth and she continued to look down the road.
(Trading Post)
Kung Lao pulled a pot of water off the stove for tea as Siro repaired one of his shirts. The monk poured the water over the tea leaves and Siro sighed, "Why do I feel like it was a mistake letting those two go alone?" Kung Lao shrugged, but when his face was turned so that Siro couldn't see his smiled and tried his best not to laugh.
(Back on the Road)
Arianna followed the slow moving wagon from a distance. Occasionally she could hear Althea's laughter when the wind moved in the right direction. As darkness fell, Arianna picked up her pace knowing that the darkness would help prevent discovery by the unwary pair. So obsessed with her prey, she failed to noticed that she too was being followed. A dark colored wolf loped parallel to her in the wooded areas next to the road. The wind picked up, causing leaves to rustle loudly and the dust from the dry road to spiral slightly as night came.
The she-wolf picked up its head and sniffed, as if sensing something was different about this breeze. With a growl, the wolf changed, growing larger and shifting into a more bipedal form. Slowing turning around, it sniffed again and looked around trying to find the source of its unease.
"My, you're a big one aren't you,"said Fujin leaning against a tree. The creature pounced but Fujin vanished in a puff of air. The monster roared in frustration, no longer caring if Arianna heard. "What language! Do you really hate humans that much?" said Fujin from behind the creature. It turned slowly and growled, showing finger-length canines. "This isn't going well, "said Fujin as the creature attacked again. Just before the massive clawed hands ripped through the Wind God, the monster found itself being picked up and held up by what seemed to be a small tornado. Fujin eyed the creature and said, "Now are you going to behave yourself and listen to what I have to say or would you rather go for a spin?"
The werewolf whimpered.
(Campsite)
Later that night, Althea slept peacefully as Taja fed the fire and kept watch. Taja thought of Althea's comments about her and Siro. Looking back, even Taja had to laugh and finally began to understand what Althea tried to do. Althea making a guessing game of why Taja was angry with Siro made Taja herself wonder. 'Why was I so angry with him?' thought Taja as she stood up to stretch. Taja's thoughts were rudely interrupted by a hit to the back of head. She fell with a loud thud.
Her war years' habits still ruling her actions, Althea woke up at the sound of thud and jumped to her feet, ready to fight. She looked around and saw Arianna standing next to the fire. Light blue flame encompassed Althea's fists as she glared at her 'twin.' "Do you really want to take the chance?" Arianna said with a grin, "If try to hit me, I'll hit her first." Arianna's own hand lit up in with blood red flame and pointed to the unconscious Taja at her feet.
"What do you want?" Althea demanded; still ready to attack at the first sign of an opening.
Arianna cruel smile widened and she replied, "Not much, only your acceptance of my challenge."
"What!" exclaimed Althea as her light blue flames died down a little.
"I want…no need to prove that I am the stronger, that I am no mere copy. I challenger YOU to a one on one fight, until one of us dies."
Althea's eyebrow rose and she asked, "You're challenging me to Mortal Kombat? Why didn't you just kill me while I slept?"
"That would have proved NOTHING! Killing you in combat, with both of us at full strength and alert will prove I AM your better, "Arianna ranted, "So accept my challenge or your friend dies."
"I accept your challenge and my terms are one weapon of the fighter's choice and no armor," Althea said, "Now tell me where to meet and let Taja go."
"I thought you would see it my way, "Arianna replied," Meet me in three days, noon, at the old ruins east of Zhu Zin. Don't be late or your boyfriend will become the prey of THIS godslayer."
Althea's eyes flared as Arianna backed off and disappeared in the shadows.
(On the road)
The rest of the trip went uneventful and silent. Taja still fumed at being caught off guard and was in no mood for light hearted teasing. Althea wasn't either has she contemplated on what to do. She hadn't told Taja what had had gone on between herself and Arianna the night before or even that it was Arianna that knocked Taja out. Althea just let Taja assume that an unknown attacker ran off once seeing Althea fully awake, fists glowing and ready to fight. After all, Althea's flaming eyes and fists would scare off any common highwayman. She didn't like keeping the truth from her red-headed friend, but she already knew what Taja would say and do in regards to the challenge. Althea sighed and leaned back on the bench. She would need to keep the others from finding out as well, especially Rayden, they would just try to stop her from meeting Arianna's challenge. This was the best chance of getting rid of her 'shadow.'
Rayden….why did Arianna's threat to make Rayden a target, make her so angry and fearful at the same time? 'Boyfriend?' Althea thought with a snort, ignoring Taja's inquiring glance. 'Since when did Rayden fall into the boyfriend category? Sheesh! That sounds like I'm still a student at the Academy with a crush on someone.'
However, Althea had to admit to herself that Rayden was the closest thing to a 'boyfriend' she ever had. In school, she was too busy and during the war there wasn't room or time for anything but a fling or two. To be honest, there wasn't any guy she was interested in enough to consider working at a long-term relationship with. But Rayden? Althea sighed and asked, "How's the head?"
Taja grimaced, "Hurts, but better than it was earlier. It's my pride that's hurting the most. Can't believe I let that creep sneak up on ME."
"Well at least no one got seriously hurt, nothing was stolen and we will be home in a few hours, "Althea said with a half-smile, "Do you think we need to tell the guys?"
"No, "was Taja's answer and Althea was secretly relieved, "Nothing to tell them really. Some thief tried to rob us a failed. I can imagine what irony that Siro will see in that."
(Trading Post)
Before dawn of the third day, Althea prepared to meet Arianna. She left a note on the kitchen table explaining she would be gone for the day for personal reasons and was now in the armory getting her battle staff. Her mental shields were up so Rayden wouldn't feel her nervousness. Unfortunately, there was one other she overlooked. "You're not seriously considering fighting her?" asked Fujin when he appeared the armory doorway, effectively blocking Althea's way out.
"Yes, I am, "she said, "She challenged me and this is my best chance of getting rid of her. She is just too dangerous and insane to leave running around."
"To whom? You, Kung Lao…Rayden," said Fujin with a grin. Althea turned her back to the deity, her eyes flashed. Fujin did not see it or the faint glow around her hands that she held in front of her. "She dangerous to everyone, "Althea said, "I'm sorry, Fujin."
"For what?" asked Fujin. Althea quickly turned and blasted him with her godslayer chi. Fujin just stared for a moment as his powers left him and then fell to his knees.
"For that, "said Althea, with a sad but determined look on her face. "And for this." She then knocked him out with a sharp blow of her staff on the side of his head.
After tying the unconscious Fujin, Althea grabbed her fallen staff and left. Her only hope was that the others would not find him too soon.
(Stone Ruins)
Althea reached the ruins about mid-morning. Once there she explored the area with the upcoming battle in mind. Loose rocks, rubble, and overgrown weeds were going to be a problem, but there was one area that was completely flat and surrounded by broken down stands. An old arena perhaps?
Once she finished looking around, she began her warm up exercises. Althea mused that there was one good thing about that damn mark on her shoulder. Since she got it, it seemed that she had more chi energy and was able to recover more quickly from using it. She just hoped that her use of her ability on Fujin did no weaken her enough to affect the fight.
(Trading Post)
"Has Althea returned yet?" asked Kung Lao in an irritated voice.
"Nope, "Siro answered as he grabbed an apple for his lunch. "Didn't the note say she might be gone all day?"
Kung Lao sighed and said, "Yes, but that doesn't stop me from worrying. The last time Althea took off she ended up being kidnapped. We still don't know who did it or why. Besides this isn't like her."
"What isn't like who?" asked Rayden now sitting at the table with Siro's apple in his hand.
"Althea left early this morning without any warning, "answered Kung Lao, "She left a note but it didn't say much only that she would be gone for most of the day. Normally, she would tell us where she would be and what she would be doing."
"Hmmmm, "Rayden frowned, "And Fujin seems to be missing as well."
Just then a crashing sound was heard coming from the armory. Kung Lao and Siro ran to investigate. There they found a bound and gagged Fujin lying on the ground. The crash was the sound of one of the scrap metal barrels being kicked over. Rayden appeared and removed the gag from Fujin's mouth. The wind god began to cuss loudly in a dead language and all that Rayden was able to get out of him was that Althea blasted him and was going to get herself killed. That was enough, Rayden attempted to find Althea through their shared link. Then he also said a few choice words in the same dead language and vanished.
(Ruins)
Althea stood up as she heard Arianna's approach. The dark haired woman smiled cruelly and said, "My…aren't we in a hurry to die."
Althea shrugged and went into a defensive position as she responded, "Not really, just wanting to get a nasty job done and over with as soon as possible."
Arianna growled as she pulled out her kamas from their holders. She then twirled and swung them expertly for a few seconds. Althea studied the weapons as they moved. She had seen Lilith carry and use such weapons during the God War on Calorna. Arianna's weapons had speed, dual attacks and cutting edges in their favor…where as her own had reach, defense and hopefully more practice in regards to her chosen weapon, the staff.
It was Arianna who attacked first. Eyes flaring read, she swung her weapons at Althea's head. Rather than blocking with her staff, Althea dodged and then countered with a low swing of her own. Arianna flipped backwards, avoiding the fast moving staff but was hit hard on the shoulder when Althea followed through, not stopping the spin of her fist attack. Arianna hit the ground and dropped one of the kamas. She aimed her now empty hand and a blast of blood red lame was thrown towards Althea's chest. Althea tried to dodge, but the flames followed her through the air and hit her hard on the back. 'Crap!' though Althea, 'She's learned how to control those flames.
Arianna jumped up from the ground as Althea was attempting to dodge the first flare and sent another, larger one blast. Althea didn't even bother to dodge or use her staff; she just stood there as the second blast seemed to hit an invisible wall just inches from her face. "That's it, "said Althea angrily, "My turn." Althea then held her staff in one hand and with the other sent two of her own blasts of light blue flames towards her opponent. Instead of going straight, the flames curved in opposite directions for a two prong attack in which Arianna was unable to dodge or block. 'Damn!' Gotta keep these blasts to a minimum, 'thought Althea as she ran to attack again with her staff. Arianna reeled from the dual hits, but recovered in time to roll out of Althea's physical attack and jump back up to a fighting stance, grabbing her fallen weapon. Althea was barely able block the storming attack Arianna rained on her with her kamas. Then Arianna's weapons turned from black to a glowing blood red and with an incredibly strong focus hit with both kamas, she sheared through Altheas staff. As the pieces of hard wood slipped from Althea's hand, Arianna swung again this time to Althea's heart. The swing was deflected by Althea's barrier. "SHIT!" Arianna screamed as the force of the deflection caused her to fall back some and dropped one of her weapons again. Althea dropped the barrier and with a fist engulfed in bright blue flame landed a strong uppercut. Arianna flew backwards from the hit and landed hard on the ground.
Althea shook her head as she approached the fallen Arianna carefully, picking up the dropped kama on her way. The use of chi for both attack and defense was starting to seriously drain her reserves. That last attack nearly caused her to black out. Where was Arianna getting her strength from?
Arianna groggily stood up as Althea approached. Suddenly Rayden appeared not far from the dark haired woman. Arianna changed tactics and a large red blast hit Rayden full on. "Rayden!" Althea yelled as the thunder god fell to his knees. Arianna pulled his head back with his hair and held her remaining kama's blade at this throat. "Stay right there, "Arianna said spitting blood from her damaged face.
Althea stopped where she was and responded, "Is this how you want to beat me? What will this prove?"
"I DID!" screamed Arianna insanely. Rayden took a chance while she was distracted and knocked Arianna's weapon away from his throat. He nearly succeeded in rolling away from her grasp, but she kicked him in the gut forcing the wind out of him and causing him to collapse to the ground. With their shields now wide open, Althea also felt the kick and fell to her knees with a painful gasp. Arianna snorted when she saw Althea on her knees and said, "So Kuravan was right about that soulbond between you two. Let's see what happens when half of a soulbond dies!" Arianna lifted her kama high above Rayden's unprotected back.
It was as if time slowed down. Althea saw the blade slowly making its way to the fallen deity. Hopelessness and rage mixed with desperation within her soul. A soul that roared, "NO!"
Althea threw out both her hands, her hair turned snow white and her eyes crystal blue. Then large wave of light blue flame raced out from her and engulfed Arianna. Arianna was knocked away from Rayden and burst into flame, dead and ash before she even hit the ground. Her now darkened remains scattered upon impact when it fell.
As Althea stood up, her injuries healed and she ran to Rayden's side. "What just happened?" he asked looking up into Althea's face. Relief filled her and she fell down next to Rayden, unconscious.
(Trading Post)
"Thanks for letting me stay here, "said Fujin as he nervously sipped some fruit juice.
"No problem, "Said Kung Lao, "We'll just put you in the room that Rayden used the last time."
"Maybe we should start charging rent, "joked Siro. Kung Lao glared at his friend as Taja sat down and said, "I hope Rayden…" Silence filled the room.
Rayden, what?" asked Fujin as he turned to look at the now completely still Taja. "Does she do that often? Ummm, guys?" Fujin noticed that Siro and Kung Lao were also frozen in place.
A frustrated sounding voice said, "I don't believe this. Two of you and you are both rendered mortal within hours of each other. I'm surprised Earthrealm is still around." The mysterious white haired woman entered the room, wearing clothes similar to Fujin's, only in shades of black and gray. She glared at Fujin and said, "Does immortality make you stupid or something?"
"Hey! Don't blame me. It was…" then her words hit home, "Rayden too! What happened?" He stood up so quickly, his chair fell down behind him.
"Oh calm down. He's okay, for now. However he could use some help getting himself and Althea home. Hmmmm…,"the woman said as she studied Fujin for a few seconds. She sighed and continued, "How would you like to be aged by one day and thus regaining your powers now?"
"You can do that?" Fujin asked with both surprise and hope in his voice.
The woman rolled her eyes but only said, "Yes. I don't like doing it but since you are normally immortal there shouldn't be any long term effects." She raised her hand to cut off Fujn's question, "Find a real time god and ask him for an explanation, please."
Fujin nodded and said, "Okay…Let's do it. To be honest I have had enough of mortal life." She shrugged and raised both her hands. The room filled with a bright blue light.
(Ruins)
A little later, the wind picked up at the ruins. Fujin appeared in the middle of the 'arena'. He found the battle's survivors. Althea was out cold and Rayden sleeping next to her with his arms around her. Fujin quietly snorted at the sight and then noticed Althea's new coloring. With a raised eyebrow he looked around a little more. He found the weapons and Arianna's remains. He whistled to himself and said, "Someone was seriously pissed."
Rayden woke at the sound of his brother's voice. "Fujin? How?" he asked as he tried to sit up. Fujin shook his head and said, "Let's just say an old friend of yours decided to show up. Let's just get you two home." The god of wind then stood next to the pair and a whirlwind surrounded them briefly. When it cleared, they were gone.
The End…
Next time on Mortal Kombat: Conquest…..
The emperor took a good long look at the leader of the Red Dragon. After a few minutes of absolute silence, Shao Kahn's evil laughter roared through the halls of his palace.
