World's Bravest Part 2

Counted Losses

"So, how many losses have been estimated?"

"So far, around two thousand. Considering what could have been, I believe we were quite lucky."

Vega shot the soldier a glance. "Two thousand people lost their lives for no reason whatsoever and you consider it lucky?"

The soldier stepped back. "Well, not "lucky" sir. Just much less then it could have been."

Vega snapped at him. "I would advise you never to call death "lucky" again. I would hate for someone to quote you on that." He turned and walked away from the soldier. Matthew and George were sitting on boxes and were wrapped in blankets. They sipped their coffee while the others stayed near them. "Wolfman."

Wolfman stood and turned toward him. "What is it?"

Vega replied methodically. "Do you plan on taking action?"

Wolfman looked around. "At what? We have nothing to go off of." Vega replied in the same tone. "That's not necessarily true. If this person is anything like Matthew and George say he is, he won't stand by. I know he will attack again. And judging from what they said, he will attack the best."

Wolfman was confused. "And who do you suppose that is?"

Vega looked away. "I'd say that the Pan-American champion would be an ideal target."

They all looked at him. They all knew who he was talking about, and it was a name they hadn't heard in the longest time.

Cammy questioned. "Vega, are you thinking about?"

Vega shook his head, still looking away. "Yes, Ken Masters."

They were all a tad stunned. Wolfman questioned him. "Considering your past, do you think it would be wise to go harass a man across the ocean?"

Vega closed his eyes. "Better then letting a father die."

He sighed deeply as they looked at him. They knew what they had to do.

Destined Encounter

He walked along the street in his long trench coat. It was pouring down rain and his shoes splashed several puddles while he was walking. A boy beside willingly jumped in the puddles. He was about ten years old and looked much like his father who he was walking with. The man unlocked the a door and walked into a dark empty room. He took off his son's yellow rain jacket and put it on a hook. He shook the water out of his blonde hair and turned on the light. He looked up and immediately jumped back. There were six people standing there on the wall.

He looked around to see if anyone else was there. His son grabbed his arm and pressed up against him. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

One of the men stepped up off the wall. "Mr. Masters, I am Col. Wolfman of Delta Red. We feel that your life may be in danger. Do not be alarmed."

Ken looked at them. "What are you talking about? How the hell should I be fine with trespassers scarring the hell out of me and my son?"

Wolfman responded. "Sorry about the manner of which we entered." He looked at the boy and sighed. "Have you heard of the explosion in London?"

Ken chuckled. "Who hasn't? But what has that got to do with me?"

Wolfman responded quickly. "Two of the individuals you see here were in London at that time. They were the only survivors. They report that it was a single man who caused it. And we fear that he may come looking for you."

Matthew stepped up off the wall. Ken's son, Mel, shrank back when he saw him. "I was there when the man attacked. He single handedly blew up the entire section of the city. He said that since no one can beat him, he will make all fear him. We believe that he will search for more fighters. More specifically, the Pan-American champion. Mr. Masters, we request that you do not defend your title and that you lay low for a little while until we get this matter solved."

Ken stared at them for a little while then began to laugh. "Get out."

Matthew looked a little stunned. "Excuse me?"

Ken's expression turned deathly serious. "You break in to my dojo and scare the hell out of me and my son. Then you claim that a single man blew out an entire block of London and that he wants to fight me, and that you want me to leave everything I have worked to achieve because of a hunch you have? Let's set one thing straight. I do not need your advice. Nor do I need your help. I have never backed down on intimidation and I have no intention of starting to now. Now if you won't leave on your own accord I will make you leave."

Cammy stepped forward. "Ken, we are only suggesting this because we do not want to see any more innocent people die."

Ken looked long and hard at her. Then it hit him. "You guys are the group from that Shadaloo mission! You bailed out on me when I was left to fight Ryu. I won't tell you again. Get out!"

They left in a somber mood. Wolfman sighed. "He just won't listen."

Vega responded. "Then we will have to go to the tournament. If the man wants Ken then he is sure to be there."

Cammy nodded. "I'm surprised he didn't recognize you. He seemed to remember us."

Wolfman nodded. "I think that's reasonable considering what he went through."

Matthew was shaking. "So we are going to another tournament tomorrow?"

Wolfman chuckled. "Don't worry, it won't be like the last one. We will make sure of it."

The Tournament

"You see it is imperative that we monitor this tournament for safety. You cannot risk the safety of all these people."

The man they were talking to shook his head. "That is the stupidest story I have ever heard. There is no man powerful enough to explode London by himself. If you are going into the tournament, you are going to pay to enter, just like every other fan. You know how many people like you I have heard? Now get out of my office before I call security."

Wolfman was shaking his head when he left. "How bloody hard can it be to help someone?"

Luwanda laughed. "Well, it looks like we will have to do this the old fashioned way."

They walked in to the large auditorium and stood in the back. The tournament went rather slowly. There was no sign of the man and Ken was pretty much going through unscathed. When he got to the last match he won in less than two minutes. He was being awarded his medal when the lights flickered and soon burned out. Screams filled the arena and the spectators trivialized over the lack of vision. Only Matthew and George knew what was really happening.

They spoke together. "He's here!"

Vega and Wolfman looked around in the dark. They could see the nothing. The lights flickered on and they saw a man standing in the middle of the ring. His arms were down by his side and he was staring straight at Ken. He chuckled a little. His voice boomed in the auditorium without even a microphone. "Is this all it takes to be a champion? A predictable pretty boy?"

A scowl spread over Ken's face. "Let's see what this pretty boy can do."

They couldn't get down to him fast enough to help him.

Ken leapt at the man who never flinched. The man slid back a few feet after Ken dealt the blow. A smile grew on his face. He could hear Ken's family screaming as he slammed his foot into Ken's stomach. Ken fell to the ground, writhing in pain. The man slid forward and kicked Ken high into the air. He caught his falling body with one hand and held it high above his head.

He spoke with an arrogant tone to his voice. "Is this the best the world can provide?" His hand began to glow with a radiant energy. He began to scream. "Soon the entire world will fear the name of Sheng Long." He tossed Ken into the air then slammed his fist to the ground. A pillar a flame erupted around him, engulfing them both. When it disappeared Sheng Long was gone. Ken's lifeless body fell to the ground.

They could only watch in horror.