AUTHOR(s): Tara Jo and Jenni Jo
TITLE: Mortal Beginnings (Revised Version)
RATING: TV14 Language
DISCLAIMER: Jen and I do not own these characters. We would like to but, unfortunately, we don't. We do not own the Midway Gaming Industry nor the Mortal Kombat copyrights. We write these stories for entertainment only. I also did not write the beautiful song "Me, Too" by the Incomparable Mr. Toby Keith.
REMINDER! PLEASE READ THIS: This story takes place AFTER the SECOND MORTAL KOMBAT MOVIE. If you haven't seen the movie, well, you won't get it. So, I suggest you do some reading on this movie or go see it. Thank you!
COMMENTS, CRITIZISUM: genxlisa@interl.net or floating_sun@MailCity.com
PERSONAL STUFF: On a personal note, I would to dedicate this story to Johnny, our friend, mentor and hero. Jennifer would like to dedicate this story to Matt K. I would also like to dedicate this to Jerry, Elaine, Kosmo and George. I'll miss you guys come May 14, 1998. Sometimes we (Jennifer and I) think that sometimes we are alone in our cause for Johnny/Sonya Relationship stories. Just a while ago, I was thinking that maybe someone should start a Fan Fiction Archive for just Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage stories 'n stuff. Ok, it's a stupid idea but it just came to me out of the blue. If anyone else thinks it's a good dea, please e-mail me. I'd be glad to hear from ya!! :-D
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MORTAL BEGINNINGS
by: Tara Jo and Jenni Jo
Sonya Blade's Apartment
New York, New York
Date Unknown
5:55 p.m.
Thursday Afternoon.
Sonya Blade sat in her small one room apartment, with her thoughts not on the paperwork in front of her but on the memory of a fallen friend. No, we wasn't a friend; he was more than that.
Slowly, she tucked a fallen strand of hair behind one double pierced ear. Sonya looked back down at the paper she was working on, willing herself to concentrate. But she couldn't. His memory wouldn't leave her alone. Again, she looked down at the paper and started to write. Her pencil had only moved a couple of centimeters when a bright ray of sunshine temporarily blinded her. She cursed and moved to shut the window blinds tighter.
While Sonya was working with the blinds, she noticed a man, woman and child playing a game of frisbee in the park below her apartment building. She watched with rapt attention as the man gently threw the frisbee at the child, who ran all around, trying to grab the flying disk. The woman was laughing very visibly, clutching her sides as she watched the child at play.
Sonya knew she couldn't repress the feelings anymore. So, as she stood at the window, she let a few tears creep down the sides of her face. Without warning, the tears began to flow more frequently and before long she was burying her head in her hands, crying her soul out.
"Why?" Sonya muttered into her hands softly. "God dammit Cage, why'd you leave me?!"
Blade backed up and fell into the nearest chair. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wept, thinking about the only thing she could think about: Johnny Cage.
It had been five months since Johnny had died at the hands of Shao Kahn and not one minute had Sonya forgiven herself for his death. If she'd been on her guard and prepared, Kahn wouldn't have taken her hostage. Then, Johnny wouldn't have had tried to be a hero and rescue her. If he'd survived, they could be sitting somewhere in Tahiti, basking the sun's harmful rays and enjoying life. Sonya would have quit her job at the Special Forces just to be with him. She would have done anything for him..... even die. She would have gladly given her life for his.
Sonya wiped her eyes and sprang off the chair, heading for the refrigerator. She needed a drink. She reached the kitchen in two strides (the damn apartment was the size of a sardine can) and began to pour herself a brandy when there was a sudden knock at the door. Sonya abandoned the brandy and rubbed her eyes as she walked toward the door.
Once there, Sonya check the peephole, and was surprised to see nothing outside. Curious, Blade opened the door----and gasped.
"Hey baby, what's shakin'?" asked the most beautiful voice in all the world.
Sonya backed up as Johnny Cage stood from where he was crouched in front of her door, picking up the newspaper. He smiled at her as he entered the apartment, closing the door behind him and setting the paper down on a nearby end table.
"You're---you're---" she didn't finished her sentence. Instead, she rushed toward him and kissed him.
Johnny kissed her back. When they'd pulled away from each other, he grinned, "I should do this more often ."
Sonya pulled away from him and quickly slapped him across the face.
"OW!" Johnny said, holding his face. "What in the Hell was that for?"
"You're supposed to be dead, you son of a bitch!!!" Sonya yelled. "I saw him---" her voice faltered. "I saw him kill you!"
"I know." Johnny said quietly. "I know, love. By all rights, I should be dead but for some reason, I'm not. Can we talk about it?"
Sonya gazed into his eyes and led him to the couch. They sat down next to each other and Johnny began to speak.
"I remember seeing that bastard holding you.... choking you. I knew I had to do something so I tried to get you free. I didn't care whether I lived or died. I just knew I had to get you away from him." Johnny began.
Sonya cut in. "You succeeded in that. You gave your life for mine. I can't believe you did something so----"
"Heroic?"
"Stupid." she said.
"I couldn't live with letting you die. And I remember seeing your face right before he supposedly killed me. I remember seeing a bright light. And as I walking toward the light, I felt this soft touch on my face."
Sonya swallowed hard. "That was me. I couldn't resist touching you for the last time."
There was a long silence before Johnny said, "You blamed what happened to me on yourself, didn't you?"
Sonya didn't say anything. She just sat there, her hands clenched and jaw set.
"Hey, remember, I was the guy who did something---" Johnny stopped, then continued. "--Stupid to save the woman he truly cared about."
Sonya smiled slightly. "Well, it's nice to know you cared."
"Of course I cared." Cage laughed.
Sonya laughed too, thinking it was great to hear the sound laughter in the small apartment. She couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed whole-heartedly. "You know, people are going to want to know you're alive."
"Maybe I don't want people to know I'm alive." Johnny said tiredly. "The best thing out of all of this is that the press thinks I'm long gone. If they think I'm six feet under, they'll leave me alone." She shrugged. "I guess you're right."
"I'm always right." Johnny smiled and leaned back in the sofa, putting his hands behind his head.
"Uh-huh." Sonya said lightly. For the first time, she look a look at what he was wearing. Johnny was still clothed in the black trousers and turquoise shirt he had been wearing when they'd first met. But, his expensive clothing was covered in dirt and muck. And his shoes were covered in black mud. "What did you do, Cage? Roll around in some mud pit?"
Johnny shook his head. "Well, after the bright light faded, I was lying in a large field somewhere. I didn't know where I was; all I knew was that I was covered in mud and that I was alone. So, I just got up and kept walking until I came upon this little village. Once there I was informed that I was on a little island off the coast of New York. One of those little islands that no one has ever heard of, ya know?"
Sonya nodded, entrapped in his story.
"After that, I caught a boat back to the mainland. I knew exactly where I needed to go the minute I landed." Johnny shrugged. "I merely looked you up, knowing that you lived close to Central Park, and ~voila~ here I am!"
"Yes, here you are." Sonya deadpanned. "And I'm glad you're here." she paused briefly. "Hey, I've got an extra pair of sweat pants and a tee shirt my dad accidently left here after my parents last visit. Why don't you take a shower and change into them while I wash those clothes you're wearing now for ya?"
"Sounds good to me." Johnny smiled. "Hey, do I get any food?"
Sonya started toward her bedroom. She stopped and threw a glance over her shoulder. "Sure. In the mood for Chinese?"
"Actually, I'd like a pizza." Johnny said.
"The phone's over there!" Sonya called from the depths of her bedroom.
Johnny looked at the bedroom doorway, to the phone and then back to the doorway. Smiling, he started for the phone.
20 MINUTES LATER
Johnny was still in the shower when there was an abrupt knock at the door. Sonya bounded off the couch, where she was trying to get as much work done as possible, to answer the rapping.
She threw the door open and saw a man holding a cardboard box marked PIZZA. He looked at Sonya and grinned.
"Hello there." the delivery man said, smiling. "How are you today?"
Sonya forced a smile. "Fine."
"This must be yours." the guy said, proffering the pizza. "I like Pepperoni too. Maybe we should get together sometime and discuss the great qualities of pepperoni pizza."
"Well--" Sonya started and watched the guy's eyes grow wide. She turned around to see Johnny standing with only a towel wrapped around his waist, fresh out of the shower.
"That would be ours." Johnny said, reaching for the pizza.
The man quickly handed it over. "That'll---That'll be eight fifty."
"I haven't got any money on me." Johnny sighed. He looked down at Sonya. "Honey?"
Blade rolled her eyes as she shelled over a ten dollar bill. "Here ya go."
The guy made briskly made change. "This is your ch-- change ma'am." he said. "Thanks."
Johnny smirked at the guy. "No, thank you, my friend."
"Uh-huh." the guy said and appeared to run away.
Sonya turned to look at him. "Pepperoni?"
Johnny was sniffing the pizza box. "Hmmmm..... pizza." he said dreamily.
While Cage was changing into her father's clothing, Sonya got paper plates and a pizza server down from the kitchen cabinet. She gave herself one small slice and dished three pieces out for Johnny.
"Hey, Sonya, did you know that I detest 'da Bulls?" Johnny Cage asked as he walked into the kitchen, wearing her father's sweat pants and Chicago Bulls T-Shirt.
Sonya giggled, something she hadn't done in years. She had to admit, the movie star looked very cute in the baggy clothing. "Isn't that ironic?"
"Hey, that's a song." Johnny declared, reaching for the pizza box.
"Wait a minute." Sonya said. "I've got you a plate already."
Johnny looked over the box and her shoulder to see the three pieces of pizza arranged on the paper plate. "Are you trying to put me on a diet or something? A man needs more than three measly pieces of pizza."
Sonya shook her head as Johnny carted the pizza box into the front room. He sat down in front of the TV and looked around for a remote. Sonya grabbed two Cokes and joined him.
"I don't have a remote." she told him as she handed him the Coke.
Johnny took the Coke from her. "What are you living in? The Dark Ages?"
"No, I'm living in the Government Paycheck Age." she snapped and turned off the TV manually.
"Please tell me you have cable." Johnny murmured, stuffing two pieces of pizza into his mouth at once.
"I barely get three stations. Now, please keep that food over the box. I don't want to see one piece of pepperoni, pizza sauce or crust on my carpet." Sonya warned as she flipped through the channels. After five minutes of flipping, she ended up on the only station that came in decently: CMT *C*ountry *M*usic *T*elevision.
"Ooh, CMT." Johnny said out around his pizza. "Ya just gotta love it."
"Uh, yeah." Sonya agreed, taking a slow bite of her pizza. She tried to make feeble conversation."So, what's up with your life?"
Sonya Blade's Apartment
New York, New York
Date Unknown
7:59 p.m.
Thursday Evening
"..... then I moved to L.A. and the rest is history." Johnny Cage said as he drank the rest of his Coke.
Sonya smiled and watched Johnny's handsome face. They'd finished with their pizza a half hour ago and somehow, by some miracle, a conversation had ensued. They'd been talking for the last thirty minutes about their lives and jobs. Sonya thought Johnny would talk about only his stardom and what he thought about himself. But to her surprise, Cage talked about everything but his stardom. He talked about how he lived in poverty and how he'd tried to take care of his mother. It was turning out to be the perfect night, just like she thought it would be.
"Sonya? Hey, kid, hello?!!" Johnny said and Sonya snapped out of her train of thinking.
"Huh?" she said and grinned. "Sorry, I was gone there for a few minutes."
"Really? I didn't notice." Johnny returned the smile and turned an eye to the glowing TV screen. "Whoa, look, it's Toby Keith. He's got some good songs."
"Yeah." Sonya echoed. "I really haven't had time to listen to much music lately."
Johnny sat there for while before he asked, "How long has it been since you've danced?"
"Excuse me?"
"You know, dancing?" Johnny said, quirking an eyebrow. "Two people standing cheek to cheek, slowly moving to a moderate tempo."
"I know what dancing is, Johnny." she snapped. "It's just been a while since anyone... especially a male, has inquired about that typical subject."
Johnny shrugged. "Come on." he stood and held out his hand.
"What?"
"Let's dance." he said and Sonya hesitantly placed her hand in his.
Johnny felt her hand in his, and he quickly pulled her to him. After adjusting, Sonya found that she (and Johnny) wasn't a bad dancer.
"You know, we could use some music." Blade commented. Johnny waltzed them over to the TV and he reached to turn up the volume.
An interview with Mr. Toby Keith was just finishing up.
"...........early in the relationship, he won't say I love you, too in front of the buddies." Toby was telling the interviewer. "He'll say, 'Yeah Baby, me too,' so we kinda started messing with that and came up with this song."
*If I sent you roses for no reason at all, If out of the blue I stop and give you a call. Once in a while it's breakfast in bed, and then pull the covers back up over our heads. If I call in sick, just to stay home with you, I want you to know I do what I do.*
"I like this song." Sonya said softly, resting her head on Johnny's shoulder.
"Me too." Johnny said and their eyes met. They both laughed and Sonya closed her eyes.
*...I'm just a man, that's the way I was made. I'm not too good at saying what you need me to say. It's always right there on the tip of my tongue It might go unsaid but it won't go undone. So when those three little words come so easy to you, I hope you know what I mean when I say........ Me Too....*
"Uh, Sonya, remember when you thought I was dead?" Johnny asked hesitantly.
Sonya met his eyes. "Are you kidding me?"
He shook his head. "No, it's just that, well, there was something I had been meaning to tell you and I didn't have the chance to tell you."
Sonya just looked at him with questioning eyes.
"Me Too."
THE END...... OK, YOU CAN UNCOVER YOUR EYES NOW.
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I'm sorry but I'm a hopeless Romantic. Please get back to me on this!! I hope to be hearing from ya.
I'm in http://wbs.net as Ally McBeal 14 or Sonya Cage
And I"m on mIRC as Girly_Girl 069 or Sonya Cage (yeah, I like that name)
Thanks for reading
genxlisa@interl.net