Note: I don't own Mortal Kombat, MK: Conquest, etc, etc…Some of what happens in this story makes more sense if you read Mortal Kombat: the Mythos of Rayden. In case you haven't there is another brief note at the end of this chapter to help explain a few things.
Chapter Twenty Five: Deadly Breed
Althea woke with a luxurious stretch. Bright sunlight filtered through the window as she got up, putting on a silk wrap. Not sensing Rayden, she frowned. 'Did he make it back last night?' she wondered as she made her way to the kitchen. As she passed the open library door, Althea saw Rayden asleep at his desk. Quietly and with a grin, Althea walked up next to him. With a quill she found on the desk, she gently tickled his bare ear. A hand went up to brush the annoyance away, but the thundergod continued to sleep. Laughing silently, Althea placed the quill back where she found it and looked around. She briefly considered the old slamming-a-book-on-the-desk gag, but she wasn't sure how someone who played with lighting would react. Then it came to her…carefully she leaned over and blew gently in his ear. Once again the hand came up. She then gently pushed his hair out of her way and ran a finger up his neck. Again the hand went up, but this time capturing her hand as she tried to back away.
"Morning," Althea said as Rayden sat up.
Rayden pulled the smiling woman onto his lap as he replied, "Morning yourself. Why didn't you tell me the link was getting through our shields?"
Wrapping an arm under his and around him she said, "Didn't think there was anything that could be done about it and since it didn't seem to bother you…"
"Next time, let me know…agreed, "interrupted Rayden as his free hand notice how little she was wearing underneath the wrap.
"Uh uh…"Althea agreed in a breathy voice as she felt Rayden's roaming hand. Dropping her mental shields, she nipped his neck and said against it, "Let's not talk about that now."
(Quan Chi's Domain)
Quan Chi smiled at Jola's obvious anger and frustration. Her failure in destroying Drevane was driving her insane, but as much as he enjoyed this game it was time for some serious work. "Enough!" he commanded, "You have spent enough time on this personal matter."
Jola's eyes flared for a moment before she bowed her head to her master and said, "What of the traitor?"
"Oh you'll get to deal with Lupena, but first I need for you to acquire a few items for me, "the sorcerer said as he handed Jola a scroll.
The woman opened and read the list for a few moments. "You are aware that some of these will take time?" she said.
"Yes, "said Quan Chi setting deeper in his chair, "but we do have time to spare…for now. Just don't fail me."
Jola bowed and then left the room.
"I don't like her, "said a hissing voice, "She and my brother have gotten too…friendly with each other."
Quan Chi smiled and said, "Once we have no further use of them, I'll send them back where I found them."
Standing just outside the closed door, Jola seethed as she overheard the conversation. 'Get rid of us, will he,' she thought as she left the sorcerer's lair, 'We'll see about that.' The black dragon spirit growled with agreement in her mind.
(Zhu Zin)
"Master Ryant!" Kung Lao said happily when he saw the priest at the trading post's door, "Please come in and make yourself at home."
Ryant sat down at the kitchen table as the monk poured him a drink. "Lupena said you wanted to be contacted directly, "the priest said bluntly.
Kung Lao's smile faded as he placed the mug in front of the priest. "You don't seem surprised, "Ryant commented.
"After what's been happening since the tournament, "Kung Lao returned as he sat down, "I'm not really surprised by anything anymore. Would you mind telling me why you're having someone spy on us?"
Ryant took a long swallow from the mug before answering, "Not spying per say, we're just keeping an eye out for your student's return. It is our belief that she is possibly one of the few people who can stand up to this Jola and possibly win."
"Who is 'we'? I doubt 'we' includes the other temple priests," said Kung Lao in a chilly voice.
"Let's just say I represent a small group who is interested in ensuring the safety of the local area. Jola is a danger to everyone and everything, you know this."
"We'll face her if it comes to it, "said Kung Lao, "Until then it is not our concern."
Knowing a dismissal when he heard it, Ryant stood up to leave. As he walked out the door he said, "By then it might be too late."
(Outworld)
Shao Kahn sat on his throne, brooding. Neither he nor Kuravan have been able to find a way around the watchful eyes of the Elder Gods. Damn them! Now would have been an excellent time to act. Rayden distracted by that woman and the inexperience of Fujin would have left Earthrealm as easy prey.
Jola walked confidently into the throne room following a shadow priest. She knew what she was planning was dangerous, but if she succeeded…Jola bowed before the Emperor of Outworld and the shadow priest whispered what she offered to his master. Kahn leaned forward to take a good look at the woman before him and then said, "Why should I agree to this plan?"
"If I fail, it will be Quan Chi that takes the blame. Succeed and all the true obstacles to you taking over Earthrealm will be gone, "Jola said with a smile, "There is no way for you to lose. All I ask is the power to complete my part of the bargain and freedom from Quan Chi."
"You are aware what you ask will entail?" said the Emperor with a cold smile.
"Of course, "said Jola, "It's what WE want."
The Emperor leaned back into his throne and chuckled. "So be it,"he said as he signaled his priest to do as was requested. The priest's eyes started to glow a sickly green as he raised his arms towards Jola and spoke in a long forgotten language. Gray mists engulfed the woman who fell to the floor screaming in pain, a scream that became a dragon's roar.
(Trading Post)
"I don't believe this, "said Taja sarcastically sitting down at the table, "A priest had us watched. What next?"
The sound of the front gate exploding caused the ground to shake. Kung Lao, Taja and Siro all ran outside to the yard. Where the gates once stood was a creature from a nightmare. Black scales covered a woman shaped form, blood red reptilian eyes was crowned with steely horns, large bat-like wings flexed on its back and a long sinuous tail swung in agitation.
"What the hell..."Siro said.
"Hell issss right, "the creature hissed in Jola's voice and then it spat fire directly to the trio. They all dodged, but the explosion as fireball hit the ground caused them to loose their balance and fall to the ground. "I told you, I would deal with your little group sssooner or later, "Jola said with a fanged smile. She grabbed Siro by the neck and easily picked him up, "I had planned to wait, but plansssss change."
Kung Lao tried to rush the monster, but she swung her free hand and swatted him aside as if he was a fly. A crossbow bolt flew and slammed into Jola's chest. With her clawed fist she pulled it out and threw it to the ground. "I believe this is yoursssss," the dragon-woman said and then threw Siro directly towards Taja as the former thief tried to reload her crossbow.
Fujin appeared out of thin air and caught Siro before he crashed into the red head. The god of wind seeing the new Jola said, "Ooooh crap…"
(Rayden's Den)
Rayden suddenly stood up from his desk, sensing something was seriously wrong. Althea looked up from her own scrolls and asked, "What's wrong?"
(Outpost)
Blasts of flame time and again were deflected by gusts of wind, but that was all Fujin was able to do. The mere presence of the dragon-woman prevented him from teleporting himself and the others out of there. Fujin tried to capture the creature in his whirlwind but all it did was feed the flames, creating a wall of fire that protected her but endangered everyone else. Taja bravely kept firing her crossbow whenever she got a clear shot, but the bolts seem little more than pinpricks to the monster. Kung Lao was out cold and Siro was dragging him out of danger or at least into the trading post. Jola slowly made her way to the wind god and Taja as the she kept blasting them with dragon fire. Once she got close enough, Jola swung her tail in a deadly arch and caught both of them just below the knees. As Jola prepared to send another deadly blast of fire to finish them off, a wolf like creature jumped her from behind. Grabbing the furred arm with her claws, Jola threw the werewolf over her should and into a wall. The distraction gave Fujin enough time to tackle the dragon woman. Both fell to the ground, but Jola once again spat fire from her mouth. Fujin rolled out of the way just in time, but he still felt the flames as they singed his hair. Jola jumped up and kicked Fujin in the gut as she said, "I wonder if roasted god tastes like chicken?"
Another blast a flame roared towards the winded deity and hit what appeared to be an invisible wall. A blast of lighting knocked Jola to her knees.
"You guys alright?" asked Althea as she helped Fujin to his feet.
"Rayden, she's has REAL dragonfire, "said Fujin in warning. Althea had no idea what Fujin meant by that but it was apparent that the thundergod did and he didn't seem to like that bit of news one bit.
"What does that mean?" asked Taja.
"It means, "said Jola with a laugh, "That bleach job there is no longer the only one that can kill gods."
The she-dragon the sent out a ring a fire from around her knocking down and singing all who surrounded her. Althea's eyes began to flash in anger. This bitch was a danger not only to her friends but to Rayden! As she tried to get up one of her hands fell on something. Looking down, Althea saw a pair of swords on the ground next to where she had fell. Where the hell did they come from? Althea then felt a burning pain across her arm as Jola was able to get a blast of fire to land on Rayden's upper arm.
"Good-bye, Thundergod, "said Jola as she prepared to finish off the deity, "It's been a …"Jola went silent and looked down to see the tip of a sword blade sticking out from her chest. As she was about to turn, its twin flew into and through her neck. The first sword slid out as the now headless body fell to the ground and burst into flame with the head falling on top of it. The swords fell from Althea's hands with a clang and she knelt down to hug the thundergod with tears in her eyes. Rayden returned the hug with a wince and said, "I think we got this backwards, aren't I suppose to be rescuing you?"
Siro and Taja carried a now human looking Lupena into the trading post as Fujin went to pick up one of the dropped swords. There was no way ordinary steel could take down a dragon. He examined the metal closely and then tested it on his own thumb. Blood appeared from the small cut. "Where did you get these?" Fujin asked with a strange tone in his voice.
Althea released the thundergod and said, "Nearly fell on top of them. Why?"
"You should take a look at this, "said Fujin as he handed one of the swords to Rayden.
(Temple of the Elder Gods)
That night a bandaged Rayden waited at the Temple of the Elder Gods for his request of an audience to be answered. As he knelt the Elder Gods of Light and Shadow appeared. "What brings you before Us this time, "Shadow snarled.
Without flinching, Rayden slid the ash coated black dragon medallion to the Elder God of Shadow's feet. "I do believe this is yours, "Rayden said no longer bothering to hide his anger, "This thing nearly killed Earthrealm's Champion of Mortal Kombat and two of Earth's deities, just thought I'd return it."
"You dare!" Shadow hissed but the Elder God of Light interrupted.
"Lord Rayden has a right to be angry, "Aether said in a stern voice, "For it was one of Our creations that caused this mess."
The Elder God of Shadows sighed angrily and then asked, "How was the creature defeated?"
"That really doesn't matter, "Aether said before Rayden got a chance to answer, "Now does it?"
The End…
Next Time on Mortal Kombat: Conquest….
"Look we have no choice, "said Althea, "I need to go back to Calorna….."
Another Note: In the prequel I created for this story, Mortal Kombat: the Mythos of Rayden, Shinnok had weapons that could be used kill immortals and mortals alike created to use in that war Raiden mentions in his opening speech in MK4. The Elder Gods in return created the Dragons, whose main purpose was to kill/destroy anyone that went against the Council of Elder Gods. Demon, god or mortal it didn't matter. After this war, the Dragons were imprisoned in their medallions and the weapons were believed to all be destroyed.
