Chapter 4: Forging New Bonds
Nairobi, Kenya, 2:00 PM
Warm winds blew across the African savannah making the grass and trees sway in a rhythmic fashion, some animals grazed about in the plains making for a picture that would fit well on a nature magazine. A Kenyan man traversed the lush fields heading back towards his home, he was dark skinned and rather slender yet well toned. The man was bald and wore a green colored dashiki along with white pants and brown colored moccasins, he wiped some of the sweat dripping down from his forehead that had started accumulating due to the heat of the sun. He was the Capoeira warrior that fought in Zephyr's tournament, Unoka Muir.
"Whew, what a day, I'm glad the people I am teaching are grateful for my lessons, I really need the money for my wife and my future child," mused Unoka to himself as he finally arrived at his home and entered the door and saw his pregnant wife Aisha waiting for him and very happy to see him.
"Welcome home Unoka," said Aisha as she embraced her husband as he entered the door.
"How are you Aisha, is everything all right?" asked Unoka obviously wanting to know if anything was out of the ordinary with his wife.
"I'm fine, and so is our baby, Elena did some tests on me today and says that everything is fine thus far," answered Aisha.
"Excellent, as long as our baby comes out healthy, I will be very happy," remarked Unoka.
"How were the lessons today?" inquired Aisha to Unoka.
"Good, many of the people I am teaching are picking up the basics of Capoeira very well, I'm happy to find a way to make some money off of what I know and to be able to spread it to others," responded Unoka to his wife. At that moment, a knock on the door was heard and Unoka promptly answered his door to see a postman with some mail for him. Unoka took the mail and upon viewing it, one particular letter caught his eye.
"Hey Aisha, do we know anyone from Nigeria?" questioned Unoka.
"No, not to my knowledge, why?" inquired Aisha.
"I got a letter from an Ezinma Blue that lives there, I wonder what it's about," commented Unoka as he opened the letter with curiosity and began to read it which said as follows.
To Mr. Unoka Muir, I know this may be out of the blue, but I am a clairvoyant from Nigeria who has received a message from the afterlife that there is internal strife in the Illuminati and the rebellious members are looking to cause havoc across the world. I'm asking you to come and meet with me so we can all take a stand against this oncoming rebellion. I have sent similar messages to your other companions across the world, I hope you heed my request, we cannot allow the world to fall into chaos. I will wait for you and any others that may come so please make haste. Sincerely, Ezinma Blue.
"She knows about the Illuminati, that is odd," commented Aisha.
"She can speak with the dead though, so Ryu must have communicated with her, I can tell that this is no joke, I will go and meet with this Ezinma," stated Unoka.
"Are you sure about this love?" asked Aisha.
"Yes, I want our child to grow up in a safe environment, so if I must fight again in order for that to happen, then so be it. Please inform Elena that I will be away for a while, but don't worry, I'll be home safely," answered Unoka who promptly embraced his wife again and then prepared to go off to meet Ezinma and prepare to fight once more against those that would potentially do harm to his loved ones.
Genoa, Italy, 4:37 PM
At a local pizzeria, it was rather quiet in there as the lunch rush had died down about an hour ago and the dinner rush had yet to hit. The owner and head pizza chef was hard at work prepping the kitchen for more pizza making that would occur during the day. Out of a back room came a blue haired woman dressed in a pink dress with a lavender scarf around her neck. She also wore blue stockings and pink heels. She was Isabella DiMarino-Leone, the wife of the pizzeria owner and the one possessed by the soul of Rose who fought in the tournament.
"Isabella, how is Sofia?" asked the pizza chef.
"She's sleeping well Giovanni," answered Isabella in reference to their daughter.
"She was tired, so it's good that she gets some rest, now how about you help me prepare for the dinner customers?" suggested Giovanni.
"That was my thoughts exactly," answered Isabella. But before Isabella could get something started, a loud shriek was heard outside and as Isabella ran towards the door to see what was going on, she saw a group of renegade Illuminati members attacking the townspeople.
"What are they doing, is something going on within the Illuminati again?" mused Isabella to herself.
"I believe that might be the case, but nevertheless we must get those people out of harm's way," spoke Rose through Isabella.
"Agreed," replied Isabella as she charged out of the door and fired a Soul Spark towards the rogue Illuminati soldiers knocking a few of them away.
"Bitch! You will pay for your insolence!" roared one of the Illuminati members as he charged at Isabella with a stun baton in his hand, he swung fiercely at the Italian woman who deftly dodged the attack and delivered a sweep to the man sending him crashing to the floor. Another swarm of Illuminati grunts made a dash at Isabella each attacking frantically as she leapt into the air and sent a few back with a hard kick and used a Soul Spiral to send a few more flying back covered in blue flames. One of the Illuminati members pulled out a gun and prepared to fire at Isabella but from out of nowhere, a hard kick jarred the gun loose from the grunt's hands and then another swift kick to his chin floored him.
"Hey are you ok?" asked a feminine voice to Isabella.
"Yes, I thank you for helping me out here," answered Isabella as she turned to face her helper. She was a lean woman who had red hair done up in a bun and dark green eyes, she was clothed in a red ballet leotard with a red tutu and red ballet shoes and leapt into the air and delivered a spin kick to another minion and followed up with a kick to the chin.
"Save the thanks for later, let's finish the job here first," suggested the other woman.
"I agree with you there," said Isabella as she saw one of the grunts leaping at her and therefore countered his assualt with a Soul Throw.
"Pirouette!" shouted the woman leaping forwards spinning like a top and knocking another group of soldiers away. Soon, the entire fleet of Illuminati members was defeated and after taking a minute to catch her breath, Isabella walked over to her new friend and shook her hand.
"Again I must thank you for your assistance, what is your name?" asked Isabella.
"I am Leonora Palini, I came here from Venice to search for people willing to join my school," answered Leonora.
"You're a ballerina aren't you? That was quite interesting how you fused ballet with martial arts, but it was effective in taking those soldiers down," commented Isabella.
"I thought I'd spice up ballet a little bit by doing that, it might draw more people in," remarked Leonora.
"Isabella, what's going on out here?" asked Giovanni coming out of the pizzeria.
"I know what is going on, Urien is trying to cause a rebellion in the Illuminati, we must reunite with our companions from the tournament and try to put a stop to this!" exclaimed Rose from within Isabella.
"Wait, you're Isabella, that girl that fought in Zephyr's tournament, it's an honor to fight alongside you!" gasped Leonora.
"I thank you, but if what Rose says is right, then I must embark on yet another journey for the world will need me and my friends once more, I'd hate to leave my daughter, but Giovanni I know you'll take good care of Sofia in my absence," replied Isabella.
"Indeed, she'll be just fine with her dear old dad around, just come back safe," said Giovanni.
"Let me accompany you then Isabella, that way you're more likely to come home to your family in one piece," said Leonora.
"Are you sure about this, it will be a dangerous expedition," warned Isabella.
"Yes I am sure of this, please Isabella, we gotta look out for each other like we did in fighting those rogue soldiers just now," responded Leonora.
"Ok, I welcome your company, at least the journey will not be a lonely one with you by my side, but before we go, let me say goodbye to my daughter," stated Isabella as her and Leonora walked inside to bid farewell to Sofia before heading out to go find Isabella's companions.
Tucson, Arizona, 3:21 PM
On the outskirts of the main city, the proud Thunderfoot tribe worked dilligently on their rebuilt tribal land. A postal truck drove past the land having just delivered mail to the members of the tribe. A young woman walked out of her abode to grab her mail, she was a lean woman with short brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was clad in a blue headband with two feathers in it as well as a blue denim vest, blue jeans, and brown boots. She was Skye Hawk, the daughter of Thunderfoot hero Thunder Hawk and future chief of the Thunderfoot tribe. After grabbing the stack of mail, she took a while to admire the rebuilt tribal land and smiled upon thinking about all the hard work and the generous donations from her friends that helped restore their land to its former glory. After taking her moment to soak in the scenery, she walked back into her home where her father was he sat on a chair drinking water to beat the Arizona heat. He was a tall musclebound man with light brown hair and was dressed all in denim as well, this was Skye's father, Thunder Hawk.
"What did we get in the mail today?" asked T. Hawk.
"The usual stuff for the most part," replied Skye as she skimmed through the papers before finding a letter addressed to her, she placed the rest of the mail on a nearby table and gazed at the letter.
"I see you found something of interest," stated T. Hawk.
"Yeah, I got a letter from someone in Nigeria, I don't know anyone that lives there though," responded Skye to her father.
"That is quite odd, anyways, you may as well see what it holds," suggested T. Hawk. Skye nodded in agreement and promptly opened the envelope encasing the letter reading over what it said.
To Ms. Skye Hawk, I know this may be out of the blue, but I am a clairvoyant from Nigeria who has received a message from the afterlife that there is internal strife in the Illuminati and the rebellious members are looking to cause havoc across the world. I'm asking you to come and meet with me so we can all take a stand against this oncoming rebellion. I have sent similar messages to your other companions across the world, I hope you heed my request, we cannot allow the world to fall into chaos. I will wait for you and any others that may come so please make haste. Sincerely, Ezinma Blue.
"This letter is telling me that there is a rebellion going on within the Illuminati, and that I need to go find my friends and stop the uprising that is taking place," chimed Skye after reading over the letter.
"I might have known that this peaceful period would not last, I could tell just by gazing upon the face of Gill's brother at the tournament that he would try to cause trouble if given the chance. Most likely what the letter says is true, so I know you will be heading out soon, I shall watch over the tribe while you are gone though, just be safe my daughter," said T. Hawk.
"I will father, I know that my friends will make sure I come home alive, and I know that I will do the same for them without question.
Skye embraced her father warmly and then went to go get herself ready for yet another adventure that was calling to her to go and protect the people that she loved so much.
London, England, 9:08 PM
Nightfall had occurred a few hours ago in the capital city of the United Kingdom. At the luxurious Black Estate, two men headed into the boundaries of the mansion dripping with sweat from a long day of working and working out. One man was older, around his late forties he had short gray hair done in a flat top style and was a little chubby in build. He was wearing a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, brown slacks, and black loafers, he was the patriarch of the Black family, Wilfred Black. The other man with him was younger, around eighteen years old and a lot skinnier in build. His normally slicked back brown hair glistened with sweat and he was clothed in a red and blue striped polo complete with black slacks and loafers similar to that of the older gentleman. He was the oldest son of Wilfred, Ian Black.
"Whew, I tell you son, that was quite an intense workout, you sure are energetic," gasped Wilfred.
"As are you Father, for your age you can still keep many younger blokes on their toes," replied Ian.
"Well I am destined to help out Gill in his prophecy, I cannot allow myself to get sloppy now," responded Wilfred patting his son on the back as he spoke.
"Ah Gill, are you sure you still trust the Illuminati even after those rumors that the Crimson Rose Killer that slayed Cammy is working for them?" inquired Ian.
"What a load of poppycock, I know that Gill wouldn't employ such a despicable fellow, I do believe that his brother though might be using his services though, for what reason I do not know," answered Wilfred.
"Like you said, he must want the Illuminati for himself, hence the reason for all these strange goings on in the world," replied Ian.
"Yes, Cammy's death and the disappearances in Russia, something is definitely going on within the Illuminati and I'm quite confident that Urien is behind all of it," remarked Wilfred.
"So you spoke with Marcos and Dudley recently, what's been up with them?" asked Ian.
"Well Dudley's coming back this way for Ms. White's funeral, then afterwards him and Marcos are off to Japan since Mr. Ortega has a match out there against one of their champions, then from there they have decided that they will go off and see what may be going on with the Illuminati, I think I will do the same," answered Wilfred as he sat down on the family sofa.
"Do you mind if I come with you Dad?" questioned Ian.
"Ian are you sure about this, I don't want you getting hurt should we run across Urien's goons on our journey," stated Wilfred.
"I don't want the same happening to you either, and I feel it will be less likely to happen should someone be accompanying you," piped up Ian.
"While that may be true, you are my son after all, I would like you to carry on the family name," said Wilfred.
"You don't have to worry about that Dad, I can handle what may get thrown at me, it will be a great learning experience for me, plus I get to protect you which is a double plus," commented Ian.
"Very well son, let us rest for tonight though. Tomorrow we head out on our journey. Hopefully we'll make some new friends along the way!" exclaimed Wilfred with enthusiasm.
"And hopefully I'll get to meet some of the people you fought alongside with," added Ian. And with that, the two decided to retire for the night to rest and prepare themselves for what could be a long journey but also for Wilfred and Ian, a good opportunity to do some father and son bonding.
Author's Note: A few months back, my old laptop died, now I got a new one and I'm ready to get back into my writing groove. Still more characters have yet to be introduced, but I'll make sure that I keep myself on track, even with work, school, girlfriend, and the rest of real life to deal with. Anyways, I'll be off now to go and work on the next chapter, but until then, please read and review.