He was just standing under the trees, his hands clenched in fists
at his sides. Clouds were starting to pile up in the sky overhead.
"I realize it takes some getting used to, but a thunder storm might be a little excessive."'
He jumped at the sound of her voice, whirling to face her. His eyes were like plasma, streaks of lightning playing in the sockets. She could feel his -- fear? She held out a hand to him.
"Look, I know it was sudden. And I know telling you it's all right doesn't make it so. I don't know who you are, who you were or why you were stuck with that nutcase. But right here and now, there is nothing for you to fear. Neither I nor my friends will harm you, or try to harm you. And the nutcase probably doesn't even know you're gone."
The latter was an erroneous conclusion. Shao Kahn had felt the energy flow distortion produced by the opening of a portal. He had stormed through his realm seeking the source. He had bellowed in fury when he discovered his favorite whipping boy was gone. He was setting a number of hunters in motion to look for the missing possession even as they spoke.
"He knows." The words were soft, serious, full of sorrow and pain. "I -- I'm Rayden." He made no move to take her hand, but the lightning died out of his eyes leaving them dark, somber, haunted.
"Lunch too hot?"
"What? No. No. I --"
"Long tasteless diet?"
His eyes started to slide away from her direct look, but he forced himself to continue to meet that gaze. So much honesty, so much -- so like. He started to shake. He flinched as her arms went around him. She pulled his head down to her shoulder and stroked his hair. "It's OK. Let some of it go. You have to. Believe me, I know."
She also understood that this was not the time that would free him. It was only a beginning. She held him until the worst of the shaking was over. He was still stiff in her arms, his hands clenched and unclenched. A part of him wanted desperately to hold onto her, to respond to what she offered. The rest of him was jeering at his weakness, at his need. She loosened her hold and stepped back a little.
"Want to stay here for a while?" He knew she meant under the trees. He nodded. "OK. Still hungry?" Another nod. She smiled, a faintly lopsided smile. "I'll bring it out."
Inside, Kim was bubbling with questions. Who was he, where did he come from, what did he do, why was he --- Tam exchanged knowing looks with Cheri.
"Though I am curious. He is something very powerful. Not the usual sort of rescuee you bring home."
"Yeah, well, I told you about ---" She caught their looks. "I hadn't mentioned where I've been?"
"No."
"Oh." She gave them a short, pithy and to the point description of OutWorld and it's nutcase emperor.
"Euw. And I think I speak for all of us here when I say that."
Cheri looked at the other one. "Does she really live backwards or is it all an act?"
"Cheri! Tam! That's not fair!"
They both looked at her quizzically. "What has fair got to do with anything?" they asked almost in unison.
Kim broke up laughing. "Nothing. I know. I know. I knew the job was dangerous when I took it! Hey, I did not ask to get cloned, y'know."
Cheri and Tam exchanged bewildered looks. Cheri asked, "You didn't? I thought you --"
Tam shook her head, white curls bobbing. "Oh, no. You're not pinning this one on me. I did not --"
"Did, too."
"Did not --" She closed her mouth with a snap and scowled at the two grinning faces before smiling back at them. "I think the tacos are getting cold," she pointed out blandly.
Kim took the plate and tankard. "I'll take it out. I'll be cool. Honest. The two of you scare him," she fired a parting shot over her shoulder. She was almost out the door when she turned back to face them with an odd look on her face. "Wait a minute. Did you say 'OutWorld'?"
Cheri looked blank for a moment and nodded uncertainly. "Yes. What about it?"
"OutWorld," she repeated. "OutWorld! As in Shao Kahn and Liu Kang and Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage -- That Lord Rayden?"
Green eyes met hazel brown. Cheri was trying very hard to follow this burst from Kim and wasn't succeeding. She looked puzzled. "I'm lost here."
Kim made an exasperated noise. "Only you could rescue a character from a video game!" she explained, setting the plate and tankard down again. "Cheri -- how do you do this? It's nuts. He's crazy. Or you are. Or we are," she ended with a smile starting.
Cheri looked at her oddly for a long moment. "You know the name?"
"Well, duh!" She picked up the plate and tankard again. "The poor guy needs this."
Want to find out what happens next? Go to the story!
Main MK/MKC Fanfic Index Index of MKC Fanfic by dragon
Back to Main Library Index
Back to Main Fanfiction Index
I can't fix it if I don't know it's broken, so if you see anything wrong, please let me know. Thank you and enjoy your stay!
Adventures of Sinbad ~~~ Andromeda ~~~ Angel ~~~ Babylon5 ~~~ BeastMaster: The Series ~~~ Beauty & the Beast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer ~~~ Charmed ~~~
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven ~~~ Crusade ~~~
due South ~~~
Farscape
Gundam Wing ~~~ Highlander: The Series ~~~
Miscellaneous Fiction ~~~ Mortal Kombat ~~~ Mortal Kombat: Conquest
Poltergeist the Legacy ~~~
Raven ~~~
(TSAo) Jules Verne ~~~
The Sentinel ~~~ Stargate SG1 ~~~ Star Trek: Voyager