A Deal

Michelle's home, Apache County, Arizona, USA…

Julia (Deep Sighs): "Spirits why!"

Michelle (at kitchen): "Are you alright in there?"

Julia woke up from another nap. She and her mother decided to return back to Arizona after a strange and unexpected turn of events which occurred in Las Vegas the other night. Everything was going perfect until that Marduk just showed up out of nowhere as he and King got away from the group. Was he doing alright? Julia tried calling him, but no response yet. Did Armor King catch those guys? The unknown suspense was worrying Julia.

Knock on Julia's old bedroom…

Julia: "Yes?"

Michelle: "Hey Julia. What was that noise for? Are you still worried about them?"

Julia: "I'm trying hard not to think about it, but I can't help it. I haven't had this much anxiety since working under G Corp doing my Genocell research."

Michelle: "Like I told you in the jeep, everything will work itself out. The spirits have already predetermined our future, it is up to us to accept the path given to us."

Julia (Rising up from the mattress): "I felt that we could start sooner with King on our side, but now I will have to rethink my plans. We still need more capable fighters."

Michelle: "Yes I know, but no matter how we plan. You and I both know how dangerous the Zaibatsu and G Corp are. We witnessed that just the other night."

Julia: "Yeah…we did, didn't we?"

Michelle: "Just know that the spirits and I have your back Julia."

Julia: "Thank you mom."

Michelle (Smiles): "Anyway I'm almost done with dinner. Its grilled pork chops with mixed vegetables. Hope that's ok."

Julia: "Yeah no problem."

Sometime late at night, there is a phone call…

Michelle woke up out of her sleep in her bedroom. It was unusual for someone to call this house after 1 o'clock in the morning. She picks it up and hears the voice that she hoped to hear.

Michelle (Waking Up.): "Mmmmm…Hello?"

Armor King: "Michelle…are you home?"

Michelle (Rising up from her bedsheets): "Oh spirits! Armor King! Where are you?"

Armor King: "I'm…near your house…just…come out."

Michelle: "Armor King! I'm coming!"

The noise coming from Michelle even woke up Julia from the nearby bedroom. Michelle put on her slippers and rushed outside with haste. It was dark and windy out there but it did not matter to Michelle. Suddenly she could hear those familiar metal clicking footsteps. Within the moonlight she could view Armor King's armor getting slowly closer to her.

Michelle: "Beastie!"

Armor King stopped in his tracks. He was very tired from walking all day. The wrestler nearly collapsed until Michelle caught him and kept him on his feet as best as she could. Julia came out of the house after that with a flashlight wondering just what was going on.

Julia: "Mom? Mom!"

Michelle: "Julia over here!"

Julia: "Mom!"

Julia finally put the light on her mother and Armor King who looked to be in bad shape dragging his feet. Helping Michelle, Julia carried Armor King from the other side of his body as they went back in the house. The girls laid him down of the sofa. Michelle asked Julia to find the separate mattress in the closet so Armor King could be more comfortable and rest on it instead. Finally, Julia came back with the spare mattress. Michelle took off Armor King's mask and placed a wet towel over his head. He was clearly exhausted.

Michelle: "Armor King are you comfortable?"

Armor King: "Now I am…thanks."

Michelle: "How in the world did you get back here? You had us worried!"

Armor King: "I walked all the way from Interstate 40."

Julia: "Really? But where is King?"

Armor King: "I caught up with them…after I left our hotel. They were in one of those big gambling casinos…at the strip. I confronted them both. It would have gotten nasty between me and Craig if King did not step in to intervene. We made a deal…the three of us."

Michelle: "A deal? I don't like where this is going."

Armor King: "Yes. I plan to fight Marduk…in a public MMA style match…in 1 month."

Michelle: "You are fighting Marduk! Oh, Armor King, why did you do that!"

Armor King: "This fight is not about my brother…but for the pride of the jaguar tribe."

Julia: "Pride? Oh gosh."

Michelle (Serious): "What did you tell them?"

Armor King: "If I win…then Marduk must sever his ties with King for good…and come back to us. If I lose…then I must retire from fighting."

Michelle: "Honestly…I think you three should have just reconciled everything and not fight. You are not the type that will settle down Armor King. As much as I want you too."

Armor King: "And then what, watch King become more and more like his predecessor? Turn into an alcoholic, a criminal, or worse…abandon his role as the Jaguar chief of our tribe! Ugh!" (Legs & back start cramping.)

Julia: "That's enough Armor King! Just rest."

Michelle (Shakes her head): "This is crazy! I don't even know how he received these bruises?"

Armor King: "G Corp…ambush. Nearly killed me."

The women were shocked…

Julia: "They followed you didn't they?"

Armor King (Grimacing): "I hid from them…until I could move…freely again."

Michelle: "Just stop talking Armor King! You are safe now you hear me? Relax."

Julia: "I guess we can't stay here for long mom. G Corp will find us."

Michelle (Sigh): "I know."

Julia: "I'll get my stuff ready. We should book a hotel someplace. Can't go South to I-40. That's how they found Armor King."

Michelle: "Let's drive north. To Utah. Then we can decide on what to do from there."

Julia: "I can only hope that our people are not harmed in any way by G Corp forces. I know how aggressive they can get with search warrants."

Michelle: "We can't do much with an injured fighter, no firearms, and it's just two of us healthy. All we can do is just shake them off until we can breathe again."

Julia: "Right. No time to waste."

A day later, Holiday Inn Express Hotel, Price, Utah, USA…

Julia, Michelle, and Armor King (though still banged up) left Apache County, Arizona to avoid the pursuit of G Corp's troops. They settled in a low key hotel where Armor King had his own bed to rest his sore body while the women shared a bed. From here they discussed their next course of action.

Julia: "Finally, we can rest."

Michelle: "I just hope my house isn't vandalized by now."

Julia: "I hope not either mom. I wanted to get to the Salt Lake area already, but my stomach would not let me."

Michelle (Giggling): "Hey don't let that get you down. I think this spot is good. Less known, and less G Corp influence around here. Now we should plan our next course of action."

Julia (Looks at Armor King sleeping.): "He's out already." (To Michelle) "Okay a plan. I think I will ask Lee Chaolan to send some of his security guys to escort us back to Phoenix. Then I want to contact all of the guys I asked to accompany me and ask them where we can all meet up."

Michelle: "Well that was quick. I guess I'm okay with that. I mean are we gonna drive back or wait for a chopper?"

Julia: "A chopper will be faster. They can even take our vehicle too. Violet Systems has a partnership with the US military so they can do it no problem."

Michelle: "Having friends in high places goes a long way."

Julia: "Uh huh." (Changing the subject.) "But this match against Craig Marduk. Was this inevitable? I thought Marduk was still in jail, but he got out again somehow."

Michelle: "It's crazy that he would show up at the Kinder Gym like he did. I'm amazed that he did not fight Armor King when they met face to face again in the casinos. Neither of them should be battling each other to be honest. Marduk doesn't have anything to lose. At least I don't believe it. Unless he has a family. Doesn't seem like it though."

Julia: "No. But I'm disappointed in King. I understand that he wants to maintain good relations with Craig but he can still help us out. If he wanted to that is."

Michelle: "You just have to move on from King. He has in own personal battles to face alone. Burying the hatchet with this guy and Marduk is one of those battles."

Julia: "Hmmm…well Armor King, I'm counting on you to bring King back to his senses."

Michelle (Shakes her head): "He can't hear us. I wonder what's there to eat around here."

Julia: "I dunno…I'll just have a sandwich or something."

Michelle: "Ok. I can take the jeep and drive to the nearest pub shop. Watch beastie for me okay?"

Julia: "Alright. Just don't get captured or something please."

Michelle: "No force will stop a determined mother like me!" (Winks, closing the door.)

Julia had to smile after her cheerful mother left out with a positive attitude. She was not sure how quickly Lee Chaolan would respond to her request for protection while coming back to Arizona, but all Julia could do with Michelle and Armor King is simply lay low and be patient. The spirits need to be thanked as well for bringing Armor King back alive.