Chapter 20: The Fated Hour Awaits
Two months have come and gone by quickly, and now it is time for the fighters to depart for the location of the tournament that will determine the fate of the world.
Toronto, Canada, early morning
Pietro Omakovski was up and at 'em already, he was absolutely psyched that the day of the tournament was finally arriving, he received notice that a chopper would come to pick him up, and that he could bring some friends if he wanted to.
"Yeah motherfucker! It is time to go knock some people's teeth out, but the chopper needs to hurry its ass up eh!" shouted Pietro.
"I see you still haven't fully mastered the art of patience yet. Calm down man, the fighters aren't going anywhere," grumbled Remy.
"I know that eh, but I've been ready since yesterday, I'm tired of sitting on my ass waiting to get to the location. Hey Pierre, you sure you don't want to come with me?" inquired Pietro.
"No way, someone needs to look after the house eh, besides, I need to practice for the upcoming hockey season," answered Pierre.
Suddenly, the loud whirling of helicopter blades became audible as a chopper landed right near Pietro and Pierre's abode. A man motioned for Pietro to enter the whirlybird.
"This is it, wish me luck eh Pierre, I'll be back in a few days," called Pietro.
"Yeah, you be careful out there eh," advised Pierre.
Pietro shook hands with Pierre and then immediately followed Remy onto the chopper, which headed off towards the location of the tournament.
Hong Kong, China, early morning.
Yun, Yang, and Yin Lee all stood outside near a vacant airport dock. Along with them was fellow participant Quock Xie, his mentor Fei Long, Yun and Yang's wives Hoimei and Shaomei, and their dear friend Kaoru Miadama.
"The time has come to protect our home once again guys," said Yun to his siblings.
"Hopefully we can find out what happened to Gill while we're there," chimed Yang.
"And do well in our fights too," added Yin.
"I'll finally show those tabloid bitches that this is no act, that I can fight!" bellowed Quock.
"Well I'm coming with you guys, someone needs to cheer you on from the sidelines," piped Fei Long.
"You be careful, we don't want you coming home in body bags," cried Hoimei.
"Yes, I couldn't stand the pressure of being a widow," cried Shaomei.
"Don't worry about us you guys, I'll take good care of this village while you're gone, count on it," assured Kaoru.
The four combatants, and Fei Long, bid farewell to their friends and loved ones as the chopper came down to pick them up. Shaomei burst into tears as the chopper took off; Hoimei comforted her younger sister while Kaoru continued to look up at the sky.
Mexico City, Mexico, mid morning.
Chela Castillo had just arrived back in Mexico with Dee Jay. She had enjoyed the peacefulness of Jamaica thoroughly and was heading back to get on the chopper coming to get her for the tournament. Upon exiting the limousine that picked her and Dee Jay up from the airport, they found a chopper sitting outside the front door waiting for her.
"My ride is already here, damn they don't play around," gasped Chela.
"Well at least there's no press around, although that is odd that they aren't though, you normally don't see a chopper parked outside someone's house and not have anyone mill around it," mused Dee Jay.
"Who cares let's just get going before the paparazzi do come around," announced Chela.
Grabbing her luggage from the limo's trunk, she speedily jumped into the chopper. And as soon as Dee Jay got in as well, they were of flying in the clear blue sky to engage in some arduous battles.
London, England, mid morning
Wilfred Black had just completed packing for his trip, Eagle was waiting downstairs in the living room for him and as Wilfred stampeded down with his bags, him and Eagle nodded to each other and prepared to enter the chopper, but not before saying goodbye to Wilfred's family.
"Emily, Ian, Rebecca, Norman, I don't want to worry yourselves to death about me. I'm more than capable of handling myself. Besides this is something that I have to do, to prove I'm still as great of a fighter as anyone younger than I am," remarked Wilfred to his family.
"We won't worry ourselves to death, but we are going to pray for your safety, and that you don't hurt yourself," retorted Emily.
"And I shall pray for you too," spoke Wilfred.
"C'mon chap, let us make haste for the tournament," suggested Eagle.
After a group hug, Wilfred left his home and boarded the mid sized jet black chopper that was going in the same direction as so many other choppers.
Nagoya, Japan, mid morning
Sano Tezuka and Isabella DiMarino both meditated outside, the Italian woman possessed by Rose was staying with Sano and his adoptive family while trying to catch up with Guy.
"The storm that threatens to engulf us all is now upon us," chanted Isabella.
"I can feel the winds trying to overtake me right now, they are quite powerful," added Sano.
"Those winds are just are coming from the propeller blades of that chopper guys, it's time for us to go now," rebutted Cody.
Indeed, Cody and Maki were worried about their adopted son and along with Guy, who still had more to talk to Sano and Isabella about was coming with them to the Street Fighter tournament to be spectators.
"Let us take this storm head on!" shouted Sano and Isabella in unison.
Kyoto, Japan, late morning.
Makoto stood outside her dojo, her bags at her feet as she just lingered in that spot waiting for her chopper. The old monk Retsu stood at her side waiting with her. It was quite silent at that spot until the silence was broken by someone yelling, "Mako-chan!"
"Ibuki, you're fighting too?" asked Makoto as a woman in ninja garb ran up to her.
"Yep, my master asked me to take part in this little tournament to try and obtain something from Zephyr," answered Ibuki.
"Oh, well I guess that's ok, besides, it'll be nice to see you fall on your ass there," joked Makoto.
"Hey, we should try and be good sports about this all right," wailed Ibuki.
"Your friend is right Makoto, we do need to be good sports about this," chimed Retsu.
Makoto nodded in approval as a chopper similar to all the others descended next to the dojo and allowed Ibuki, Makoto, and Retsu to enter.
Nairobi, Kenya, late morning.
"The chopper is here brother!" yelled Elena to her sleeping younger brother.
Unoka Muir immediately snapped out of bed, threw some clothes on and grabbed his luggage. But before running outside he decided to check up on his sister as well as his fiancée Aisha.
"I'm ready, I will avenge you my sister, Zephyr will pay for what he's done to you," said Unoka.
"Come home alive and that's good enough for me," responded Elena.
"Aisha, are you coming with me to cheer me on?" asked Unoka.
"Yes, just a second, I'm almost done packing my bags," answered Aisha.
"Elena, will you be fine on your own, you haven't fully recovered yet," said Unoka.
"I'll be okay, I'll have one of my friends stay with me to make sure, you just go and fight and make me proud my brother," answered Elena.
"Well technically I'm just your half brother," replied Unoka.
"It doesn't matter, we may have different moms, but we're still family, so I don't want anything bad to happen to you," said Elena.
Unoka hugged his sister and then along with his fiancée boarded the dark colored helicopter.
Calcutta, India, early afternoon
Datta and his father Dhalsim meditated out in front of their favorite temple. The young Yoga master had prepared himself hard for the upcoming tournament but still Datta did not want to waste his waiting time doing nothing.
"I feel uneasy, but I must shake these feelings, I can't go into battle with an uneasy mind otherwise I will fail," thought Datta to himself.
As father and son meditated together, their trains of thought were derailed as the strong gusts of the propeller blades washed over them. Both men put their thoughts into deep concentration and then both teleported into the chopper, the pilot's eyes bulged in disbelief as Datta and Dhalsim appeared in the whirlybird.
"What the, how the hell did you guys do that?" asked the astonished pilot.
"It's one of the many inner mysteries of Yoga, now I ask you not to bother us while we meditate," answered Datta.
"But before we resume son, take a look out the window and say goodbye to your mother," said Dhalsim.
Father and son looked out the window to see Sally waving goodbye to her family. Dhalsim and Datta both waved back until she disappeared from their sight.
Munich, Germany, early afternoon
Upon gazing at the helicopter, Hans Van Bratten grew angry, but kept it suppressed. He had been brought home to train by a contraption similar in image to this. Now he was heading back to the Illuminati base where his twin brother remained a slave to Zephyr.
"Hans, I shall come with you, we will both bring Gunter back with us," boomed Hugo.
"I appreciate it Herr Hugo. Let us fight for our freedom and the world's as well!" bellowed Hans.
The two muscular Germans silently stepped into the flying machine and took a seat, not saying anything to the pilot as he took off into the sky.
Moscow, Russia, mid afternoon
Oblique sat on the snowy ground, not paying attention to anything around him, Necro and Effie sat with him but did not interrupt. They knew what their friend was thinking about and decided it would be best not to say anything. But from out of nowhere, a tall masked man in a trench coat walked up to them, it was none other than the mysterious man known only as Q.
"Are y-y-you participating in this...tournament as well?" asked Oblique.
"Yes!" boomed Q bluntly.
Necro said nothing, Effie hid behind her boyfriend due to the fact that Q frightened her.
When the chopper finally arrived to pick up Oblique and Q, Vladimir, the pastor that took care of Oblique came out to bid him farewell.
"May God be with you Gyorgy, even if you never regain your humanity, you're still a good man to do this for us," preached Vladimir.
Q was already in the chopper, Oblique, Necro and Effie all followed suit and as the doors closed, the three mutants engaged in musing amongst each other.
Tokyo, Japan, mid afternoon.
Godo Kanzuki waited at an airport hangar along with his science teacher Mitsukake Kagatoshi. Godo's mother Karin, and her friend Sakura were tagging along as well to root for the two brave men. Right now Godo was engaged in telling his girlfriend Yumi not to worry about him.
"Yumi I'll be okay, besides school will be starting soon, I'm sure you don't want to see me get hurt," said Godo.
"But I may never get to see you again, I have to make sure you're all right, don't make me worry," cried Yumi.
"Son, why don't you just bring her along, it won't hurt us none," suggested Karin.
"All right, you can come with us babe," groaned Godo.
Yumi cheered, but as she hugged her beau, two other people joined them at the waiting place. Biker queen Tomoko Nakamura and her mentor Edmond Honda.
"Hey Tomoko, glad to see you're also participating, Mr. Kanzuki told me all about it," chimed Mitsukake.
"No problem Mr. Kagatoshi, my only gripe is that these stupid choppers won't be able to hold by motorcycle in them," piped Tomoko.
"Hey don't fret Tomoko, you're bike isn't going anywhere, when we get back, it'll be here waiting for you," said E. Honda.
"That's true Edmond-san, besides we need to focus on what's important right," stated Tomoko.
"Yeah!" yelled Godo and Mitsukake in unison.
Two choppers landed. Karin, Godo, Yumi, and E. Honda got into one, while Mitsukake, Sakura, and Tomoko occupied the other, both took off at the exact same time.
Sydney, Australia, late afternoon.
Brock Irvine stood with his mentor Sagat as yet another Illuminati chopper descended to the earth. Brock's mother Delia stood with them as she prepared to see her son off.
"Brock, I'm proud of what you do, in both surfing and martial arts, don't get yourself killed out there son," warned Delia.
"Mom, I'll be ok, I thank for coming to see me off, but you'll see me come back too, and I'll bring Paul home as well," spoke Brock who hugged his mom and promptly entered the helicopter.
"Mr. Sagat, you've done a great job teaching my son, look out for him please," pleaded Delia.
"You're indeed a caring mother, something I wish I had. But like your son said, he's capable of taking care of himself, but you have my word Mrs. Irvine, I'll make sure Brock comes home alive," stated Sagat who followed his pupil into the aircraft.
Tucson, Arizona, late afternoon
Skye Hawk was praying for a restoration of her tribe's land. She knelt and was deeply engrossed into her prayer. Her father Thunder Hawk and her boyfriend Julius Rivers prayed along with her.
"Sacred blood flowing through me, please grant me the strength necessary to help this land flourish once again and the strength to fight for my people," prayed Skye.
The gusts of wind that all the Illuminati choppers kicked up started once again delivering the message to Skye that her departure time was now.
"My daughter, you must embark on your journey, I shall accompany for spiritual support, now let's be off," ordered T. Hawk.
Julius said nothing; he didn't have to because Skye knew how he felt. She just kissed him goodbye and entered the aircraft ready to take on what awaited her.
Atlanta, Georgia, early evening
Frederick Lowe had spent his two months wisely, training day in and day out with his friend Blanka. He stood silently with his friends and family as another member of the Illuminati's aircraft fleet lowered down to pick up the Tae Kwon Do expert.
"Frederick, you gotta make it back man, we still have more parties to attend back in college," cried out his best friend Larry.
"And you still have yet to teach me your skills, besides, I love you Frederick," added his girlfriend Natalie.
"Hey, I'll make it back, so prepare for some hot action when I get back baby!" bellowed Frederick.
"Good to see the hentai in you is still intact," laughed Natalie.
"And I'll make sure everything else comes back intact too," boasted Frederick as him, Blanka, and Dan hopped into the helicopter.
Washington, DC, early evening.
Amy and her father Guile had just joined Vicki Small and Scott Wagner as all three warriors went over their briefing for the tournament along with fellow companions Reginald Biggs and Cammy White.
"Remember guys, we're all there to try and obtain some information about this Zephyr person," informed Wagner.
"Yeah I know, and if his motives are malicious we must stop them at all costs," added Vicki.
"Understood," was all Amy said.
Guile, Reginald, and Cammy remained silent while the combatants talked about their mission details. And as the chopper arrived, the five wasted no time with small talk before heading off to the tournament.
New York City, New York, early evening.
Two buff men stood tall and proud upon entering the Illuminati helicopter, those two were Street Fighter champ Alex, and champion wrestler Xavier Jackson. Their loved ones were with them to cheer them on.
"Xavier, show them what a champ can do!" screamed his wife Essence.
"Kick some butt daddy!" added his son Juwan.
"Alex, you do the same thing Xavier was told to do all right," ordered Tom.
"Will do you guys," replied Alex.
"We'll show them what us champs are made of!" boasted Xavier.
"Well then let's not waste time getting your job back, time to go!" ordered R. Mika to her client.
The chopper sped off as Alex and Xavier's loved ones still waved to them until the chopper flew out of sight.
San Francisco, California, mid evening.
Four fighters, two teachers, and many family members all watched the whirlybird come down near them. Marcos Ortega, Mel Masters, Kiyomi, and Sean Matsuda were all preparing to leave for the tournament. Dudley, Ken Masters, his wife Eliza, Marcos' girlfriend Crystal, and Kiyomi's adoptive mother Chun-Li would accompany the four warriors to the tournament. Marcos' family all came to give the Mexican boxer their support.
"Marcos, show them what happens when you mess with our family," ordered his father Humberto.
"And bring mama home okay," added his sister Juanita.
"Give them hell boy," spoke his grandfather Eduardo.
"I will do just that, I have my friends to thank for my added strength to fight hard in this tournament," spoke Marcos with authority.
"We'll do just fine Mr. Ortega, we'll make sure your wife comes back," said Kiyomi to Humberto.
"And stop him from destroying all of humankind," added Mel.
"So let's quit the small talk and head out already, the tournament isn't going to wait for us!" bellowed Sean.
Everyone that was going entered the good-sized chopper, which took off without any hesitance whatsoever.
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, late evening.
Ryu had traveled to Brazil with his master Oro to train some more, but now it was time for him to test out his new skills, the two already were sitting in a chopper flying over Rio as they spoke to one another.
"The fight is all that matters," mumbled Ryu.
"Only this time we must also fight for our future," rebuked Oro.
Illuminati Base, time unknown.
"MWAHAHAHAHA, the day of extermination is dawning. One by one they will all fall, and I will crush the last little insect personally," cackled Zephyr as some of the helicopters came into his view.
Author's Note: Well next chapter, everyone meets up and we'll see who hits it off and who doesn't. However the first fight won't start until chapter 23. Gives me time to orchestrate the fights. But anyways, please read and review.