Common Ground
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia…
The past week and half turned out very pleasant for both Eddy and Christie. Other than traveling, the two took their spare time playing Capoeira with each other. Christie needed the exercise, while Eddy needed to stay focused on the upcoming fights. The seventh match Eddy took on was against an odd opponent. It would be his first time fighting Heihachi's pet bear, Kuma. Christie naturally was really nervous for Eddy as he was having difficulty finding opening to attack Kuma. However, because Kuma was fighting in such a hot environment, the bear's endurance was draining faster than he expected.
At that moment, Eddy noticed the bear's offensive combos were slowing him down. The Brazilian did a front back hand spring using his legs to wrap over the neck of Kuma, flipping the bear upside down. With the help of gravity, Eddy used his legs to shove Kuma's head down into the hard pavement of the ground. The bear was knocked out cold. The crowd went into a frenzy over that incredible move by Eddy. Christie jumped for joy as the match ended in Eddy's favor.
After the match, Eddy was being treated at the hospital for his scars he got fighting Kuma. Looking after Eddy while watching television, Christie got an unexpected phone call from Senhor Barros. Christie would speak with Barros first before handing the phone over to Eddy even though he was napping.
Christie: "Oi Christie here!"
Senhor Barros: "Christie como vai voce?"
Christie: "I'm fine Senhor Barros. Did you see the fight today? Eddy fought Kuma, the pet bear of Heihachi Mishima!"
Senhor Barros: "Que? He fought a bear?"
Christie: "Si! You should have seen it! Eddy managed to turn the bear upside down and hit his skull on the ground with a handstand! It's one of the more difficult grappling moves in Capoeira but to do it against a bear was truly amazing!"
Senhor Barros: "No I did not see the fight. I am very pleased to hear he won but is Eddy alright?"
Christie: "Si, Eddy is resting right now. We should check out of the hospital in the morning."
Senhor Barros: "I see. I was hoping to speak with him because of Katarina."
Christie: "Katarina? That woman who almost had Eddy killed and captured me? That Katarina?"
Senhor Barros: "Si I know how you are feeling Christie, but I just found out from Kat that she may have a lead about her father. She plans to break into the main headquarters of the G Corporation which is where she last heard of her father being held prisoner. It's a tall order even for her to deal with alone."
Christie: "Well…I do not like her, but I rather not hear about her dying because she wants revenge. The same thing can happen to me or Eddy."
Senhor Barros: "Right. Now you understand the predicament Katarina is in. We all know by now she is headstrong, but reckless. This is why I wanted you guys to help her. Can Eddy still speak?"
Christie (Sees Eddy moving.): "Well…"
Eddy (Opening his eyes): "Who is that Chrisite?" (Yawns.)
Christie: "It's Senhor Barros Eddy. He wanted to talk with you."
Eddy: "Hand me the phone then."
Christie does so and Eddy intently listens to Barros…
Eddy: "I will do it for you. Si."
It seems that Eddy agreed with Barros to aid Katarina by breaking in the Millennium Tower, the headquarters of G Corporation. He did owe Barros a lot for letting and him Christie get this far in the tournament financially speaking. Not to mention Eddy did not wish to hear about the grim news of Katarina losing her father, so he felt it necessary to help Kat. He seriously doubted Katarina would betray them after recalling her life story to all of them.
Christie: "What are we doing Eddy?"
Eddy: "We will help Katarina in breaking in the tower. My last match is in that place anyway."
Christie: "Que? Seriously?"
Eddy: "This actually works out for both us and Katarina. Maybe Kazuya might be there as well. All of us can get what we want in giving our loved ones some closure."
Christie: "If you agree to do it, then I cannot back out either."
Eddy: "That is good to know."
2 days later, Taiwan…
Together, Eddy and Christie traveled to Taiwan coming from Saudi Arabia once Eddy was cleared to leave the hospital. Barros contacted Eddy again, telling him exactly where to meet up with Katarina. With her, was the old Tekken fighter Lei Wulong who recently became Hong Kong's Chief of Police. They all met in Katarina's hotel and discussed their plan to infiltrate the Millennium Tower in Taipei. At the lobby area, Lei Wulong was surprised to see Eddy and Christie coming in.
Lei: "What? Look who appeared out of nowhere! How have you been Eddy?"
Eddy: "It's been a long time detective. Aren't you in Hong Kong?"
Lei: "I am…but because this case with G Corp has my undivided attention I notified my people that I would be in Taiwan cracking down on the disappearance of Katarina's dad."
Eddy: "I see. We should find a ride and discuss on how to sabotage Millennium Tower."
Lei: "Don't worry…I got us a rental car. Come, follow me."
30 minutes later, near a street by the Millennium Tower…
Lei parked the car close by the tower…from here he discussed his plan of sneaking inside the tower.
Lei: "Here is the deal guys. Eddy will act as a decoy once he gets inside the tower before he fights the girl named Chloe. I hear she has only lost two fights, so Eddy you gotta be careful with her. I mean she can cut a rug just like you can."
Eddy (Smirk): "Sounds like a challenge."
Lei: "While Eddy is fighting I will begin my infiltration inside the tower. I want the ladies to act as my decoys until I can get inside the ventilation system. Katarina, Gigas should be inside his chamber pod on the 20th floor. If he is not there, then head for Kazuya's floor office space."
Eddy: "Is Kazuya there right now?"
Lei: "I'm not 100% sure on that."
Eddy (Disappointed): "Damn."
Christie: "Focus on the fight first. Let us find him for you."
Lei: "Eddy if you win your fight just go upstairs and look for me, Christie, or Kat. And I got parachutes for each of you. Put it your pockets so that we might can get out the skyscraper if the going back downstairs doesn't help. We got this team. Is everyone ready?"
Everyone nods…
G Corporation's security was definitely caught off guard thanks to the Witty Lei Wulong. Christie and Katarina went up the tower ahead of Lei as he held off the security with firearms he stole from the very soldiers guarding the place. At some point, Christie and Katarina found the very room where Kat's father was held captive. He was not there, but Katarina told Christie to go back to Eddy. She felt that there was something else here beside them and it would be more fitting if Katarina dealt with it alone. Christie reluctantly agreed. She soon returned downstairs to see that Eddy had confronted and won against Lucky Chloe.
Eddy was almost shot down by security before Lei arrived in the nick of time to shoot them from the opposite side of the atrium. This gave Chloe the moment to run away undetected. Eddy was upset of course, but he decided to not chase Chloe down. Now in the clear, Eddy and Christie exited the tower and returning for the rental car. Lei gave Eddy the keys to drive it while he went back to help Katarina. Lei's intuition was correct as he rescued Katarina from getting killed by Gigas. The cop daringly jumped off the building with an injured Katarina and parachuted down the alley way where Eddy and Christie where at the right place at the right time arriving there with the car to get them. Kat's injuries were looking grave. Lei took the driver's seat again, and went to the nearest hospital that was not G Corp operated.
After being admitted in another medical facility in Hong Kong, Katarina was placed in ICU, but visitors were permitted to visit her. Katarina woke up the next day incredibly sore from the fight. Christie was in the room with her watching stream videos on Eddy's cell phone. Once again, Eddy was out getting some lunch for the two women. When Katarina woke up, Christie stopped what she was doing.
Christie: "Katarina? Hey! Welcome back! Are you feeling better?"
Kat (Grimacing): "Wh…where am I?"
Christie: "In a hospital, back in Hong Kong. I was nervous for you because of your condition against that Gigas thing."
Katarina: "I lost didn't I? I…didn't learn a thing about where my father went."
Christie: "Well…I got just got a call form Lei. He is on his way here to tell you about Martelo."
Katarina: "He is? Agh!" (Chest pain)
Christie: "If you are still hurting then I will stay quiet. I don't wanna make you uncomfortable."
Katarina: "No…I will get through this. I won't let G Corp get away with it!" (Hurting again)
Christie: "Kat? Kat!"
Katarina ended up passing out again from the intense pain of her fractured ribs. Christie was panicking but looked over at the life support monitor and saw that it never flat lined. Kat just went to sleep. Eddy eventually came back with lunch for all three of them. Christie explained to him that Kat woke up only to faint again from her pain.
Eddy: "Just let her rest. No need to bother her since she is recovering."
The door opens…
Lei: "Hey I'm back." (Closes the door viewing Katarina in bed.) "Still asleep I see."
Christie: "Katarina was awake earlier, but then she passed out right after talking with me."
Lei: "What did she say?"
Christie: "She asked where she was. I told her and then she mentioned Gigas and I then said you knew some information about her father and then she just collapsed again."
Lei: "Oh. Well…my connections with the Taiwan government officials told me about Gigas and where they sent Martelo right after G Corporation successfully transferred the man's brain into the android."
Eddy: "Que? G Corp used his brain and placed it inside that machine?"
Lei: "That's right. Know I'm sure that Gigas is her father and the actual man himself is dead."
Christie (Gasps): "Oh no!" (Places her head into Eddy's back.) "Katarina, I'm sorry."
Eddy: "Why are you sorry?"
Christie: "Because I thought she might have been using us all this time just to back stab us. But I know after seeing her suffering and to learn about Martelo's death. I was foolish to doubt her."
Eddy: "It's ok Christie." (Consoling.) "Now more than ever, we have to stop these conglomerates from ruining anymore lives."
Lei: "I'll stay here and watch her. After all I'm the one who is gonna have to tell Katarina about this. You two should go back to the hotel."
Eddy: "Are you sure?"
Lei: "Positive. And thanks you two, for all of your help. You did a fantastic job yesterday."
Eddy: "Much appreciated Chief Wulong." (Handshakes.) "Let us know if you need our help again."
Lei: "Will do Mr. Gordo."
Christie (Hugging Lei and kissed his cheek): "We will meet again one day, I'm sure."
Lei (Blushes.): "Yes I think we will."
Christie (Smiles): "Tchau."
After giving farewells, Christie and Eddy went back for the hotel. Senhor Barros got a hold of them again and instructed that they should remain in Hong Kong until Katarina is medically cleared to leave. Then another call came from the Tekken tournament resource worker saying that Eddy's fight would be the very being that gravely injured Katarina beforehand. The fight was in the USA. Though Christie was worried for Eddy's safety, she knew that someone had to stop Gigas from becoming an even bigger problem as the tournament progresses.
