Match 1-3: Ernest McGrath vs. the Wrestlers' Association
Author's Notes: Here's another update. For the curious, you can no longer find me on AIM since the school year has ended and so I'm currently at home with a 56k modem and no Instant Messenger. Just as well, I say, you all were miserable conversationalists to begin with. Okay, joking aside, here's the next chapter.
Stewart Island, New Zealand
Five days have passed
"The match will not start for another hour and yet you are already here. Why?" Samantha McGrath casually tossed her hair back over her shoulder as she directed the question towards her husband. The two of them were alone on Stewart Island, a large mass of land located directly beneath New Zealand's South Island. The island was home to a riot of coniferous trees, all of which were currently in full greenery. It stood barely a few meters above sea level. Yesterday the battleground had already been marked out; it was set on the western beachside which had been carefully combed for hazardous objects underfoot. It was an hour before dusk; the beach shone in brilliant hues of orange and red, violet waves gently lapping against the shore. It was truly a scene to dwell upon and Samantha enjoyed it as she slowly walked around the beach, arms linked with those of her husband.
"Just learning the lay of the land, Samantha. Trying to stack up as many fair advantages as I can before the battle starts." McGrath sighted down the beach along his arm, using his chronometer as a focal point. The marked out battleground was nearly half a kilometer long but only fifty meters wide. Flocks of gulls swarmed everywhere, yet all of them stayed well clear of the battleground. More of Marin's power at work, McGrath supposed. "By the way ... have the BEATs located either Karin or Ibuki yet?"
Samantha shook her head, indicating a negative response. "No, and it troubles me. Still no trace of either after five days of searching, Ernest - this is not normal." McGrath nodded; they'd both searched Karin and Ibuki's rooms at various times, none of which had yielded any clue as to why the two girls would so suddenly disappear. Neither had Sakura or Lloyd discovered anything and now McGrath was sorely regretting his decision not to accompany the former. Last he'd heard, Karin's father was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and demanding to speak with either McGrath himself or the host of the tournament. McGrath had come out of that phone conversation feeling that absolutely nothing had been resolved. "Dear, are you well?"
"I'm worried about Karin and Ibuki," McGrath replied thoughtfully, "since either one or the other should definitely have surfaced by now." He glanced at Samantha; two days ago, he'd run all three of the Lords of Shadowlaw through polygraph tests and satisfied himself that they were not involved in the disappearances. An inquiry by Regina had returned the same result from Gill. Even the goddess had no clue as to where the errant girls were; McGrath noted that the Darkstalkers' Alliance had met pretty much the same end. He'd voiced his suspicions to Samantha as well as the leaders of the BEAT patrols; currently, the IDC was passing along his request for reinforcements up the chain of command. He'd made the request only an hour ago.
Still, suspicions were by no means certainties and McGrath had to admit that he was plagued by doubts. His conversation yesterday with Bison, Gill, and Regina had lasted late into the night but only increased his confusion. "I'm sure they'll show up somewhere. Those two girls can take care of themselves. After this match ends, win or lose I'll go search for them myself. Well, there's still an hour before the match begins. I think I understand the terrain fairly well now; would you care to meditate with me?"
"Of course, Ernest." Samantha nodded and detached herself from him; a moment later, both of them sat down upon the soft, ocean-soaked sand and composed themselves. Samantha closed her eyes and began to breathe rhythmically. Focus on breathing, Samantha. Do not think, simply act. Feel your mind begin to empty itself and lower your defenses; thus nature runs its course and will of herself freely channel her strength through you. Breathe in ... breathe out ... breathe in ... breathe out ... when you are calm ... at peace ... let yourself go ... As she gradually slipped away into tranquility, Samantha became acutely conscious of everything about her. The sounds of the ocean seemed to be magnified many times, her own heart beat steadily, and a tingling sensation that had nothing to do with awkward sitting positions ran over all her skin. Only that the last sensation was flowing underneath her skin rather than upon it, and it ran in waves from her heart and lungs to her extremities. It was, of course, a manifestation of her chi and she let it run freely through her body without trying to analyze it.
"... Hello? Earth to Samantha, are you awake?" Samantha's eyes snapped open and she found herself staring into McGrath's. "It's been a whole hour," McGrath continued. "The Wrestlers' Association just arrived, so ... would you?"
An entire hour? Did I truly meditate for such a long time? Samantha let McGrath pull her to her feet. In the distance, the sun had just begun to set, painting the world in beautiful orange and violet hues. A few stray clouds passed by overhead. McGrath met the members of the Wrestlers' Association and shook hands with each one of them. Introductions were made all around. As they chattered, Gill and Jedah also appeared out of thin air and motioned to Samantha. She nodded, kissed McGrath, and waved goodbye as she was teleported back to Osaka.
"Wrestlers' Association, name your tactical leader," Jedah ordered.
They glanced at each other before a quick round of rock-paper-scissors decided Haggar as the leader. Jedah nodded, then he and Gill withdrew to beyond the boundaries of the battlefield. Alex and Zangief followed, the latter wearing an enormous red cape that concealed most of his muscles. All along the sidelines the camera crews caught every bit of the scene. For a moment neither of the two leaders said a word, until McGrath broke the silence.
"It's an honor fighting you, old timer. I'll be throwing myself into this battle with all my heart, and I expect you to do no less."
"But of course, doctor. I'd be offended if you didn't."
A small smile played around McGrath's lips. "Excellent! May the best team win." He offered his right hand; Haggar shook it warmly. For a moment both of them pulled each other into a classic buddy-buddy position. McGrath's eyes were warm and tranquil, while Haggar looked as though he were attending a party instead of a battle. They were, after all, old friends. Then the bright light glimmered all around them and Marin called "Begin!"
Using his superior strength and leverage, Haggar pulled McGrath forward for a throw, but the doctor also reacted quickly. Just before he left the ground, McGrath applied extra force into his knees and jumped, clearing Haggar's shoulders and pulling his arm after him. McGrath's left hand chopped hard into Haggar's right wrist, clearing his own right hand. The doctor landed lightly behind the ex-mayor; he ducked as Haggar instinctively spun around for a Lariat strike and swept Haggar into the sand before the move could execute.
Haggar rolled back as McGrath jumped high into the air, descending with a double knee strike into the sand where the ex-mayor had been but a moment before. Hmph. It's been eight years and Ernest's edge hasn't dulled at all. I forgot just how dangerous he really is - well, I said I'd give this battle my all, and Mike Haggar keeps his promises. So thinking, Haggar charged forward for a hammer strike; it clipped McGrath on th shoulder without doing any real damage, and a moment later the doctor struck back with a powerful uppercut into Haggar's elbow. Haggar instantly felt the area go numb as his entire arm rang with the sheer shock of the attack. His eyes narrowed dangerously. You held back, Ernest. If that had been Dadallent or Bison, the bone would've shattered all the way up to the clavicle. You can beat me easily in a one-on-one, but ... may the best team win. Haggar signaled for an assist; as McGrath came by for another lightning attack, Zangief blurred by with a whirlwind of spinning fists and McGrath was forced to abort his attack. As you can see, doctor, no matter how skilled you may be, you're still one person against three. We can wear you down, and we will.
"Ooh, the Wrestlers' Association is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Ernest McGrath," Kyosuke raved. "So far neither side has a definite advantage; however, this match looks like it'll be over quick once Haggar and his friends move in. What do you think, Jin?"
"I dunno, Kyosuke. McGrath obviously knows that he has to keep his opponents - all of them - at arm's distance, and he's still controlling the fight although he's being driven back. At the same time, he has to deal with Haggar blocking his way and Zangief and Alex coming in all the time for assists. Oops, there he goes into Haggar's pile driver, good thing they're fighting on sand and not asphalt - no, wait, it's a tech hit!" Jin and Kyosuke both jumped to their feet. "McGrath has regained the offensive and is laying into Haggar. Wow, six hit combo with a zero cancelled Half-Moon Kick at the end! Wait, here comes Zangief with the assist again ... okay, that ends the combo. It's a standoff right now, folks."
Haggar wiped off a trickle of blood from his mouth. He's still holding back. I wonder why? Well, you managed to escape my pile driver - let's see you escape this! He signaled Zangief for an assist, then Alex for an extra strike from the opposite direction. McGrath blocked Zangief's Banishing Fist but failed to evade Alex's Flash Chop in time. The blow stunned him and spun him; a moment later, Haggar had seized McGrath from behind and lifted him clear into the air. "Final ... Atomic ... Buster!!!"
"Ow!" Alia winced, "the doctor is going to have the imprint of a seashell in his skull after that last attack. Amazingly enough he's still upright - must be the soft sand, but he's definitely looking quite beaten."
McGrath's eyes narrowed as he considered Haggar. It took a lot of energy to Soul Reverse away most of the damage from that attack. Alright, old friend, you've changed too. Well, then - with all my heart -! McGrath rushed forward, aiming straight for Haggar. When Zangief got in the way of the charge, McGrath gladly changed targets instead and laid the beatdown on the Russian wrestler before either of his teammates could save him. "Wow, 12-hit combo in just four seconds, finished with a Hell Press!" Alia reported. "The good doctor sure gave Zangief a piece of his mind! That's gotta hurt however strong a person may be."
As Zangief staggered back to the boundaries of the battlefield, Haggar rushed in again for another Hammer Charge, growling as he did so. I'd planned to switch out with Zangief after another attack, but he's in no condition to fight right now. Still, Alex is right behind him on the lineup ... "Zangief, you're in!" Haggar clipped empty air; when McGrath retaliated with a Half-Moon Kick, he also missed Haggar. Zangief jumped into the ring but immediately switched out, bringing Alex into the fight.
McGrath jumped, but backwards. When Alex did not counter with his anti-air attack as McGrath had hoped, the doctor instead jumped to the side in a semi-dive, sprang off the sand with a handspring, and planted both of his feet solidly in Alex's chest. Alex blocked the attack but staggered backwards regardless. "Ouch, guard crush!" Alia announced. "McGrath can't quite exploit the opening; still, he's got the momentum and he knows it. Haggar is offering all the support fire that he can, though. Oh, wait, there's an opening, and in Alex goes! Wow, five hit air combo ending with a ... an Air Stampede!" Alex slammed McGrath into the sand with both of his knees planted firmly on McGrath's chest. Before he could jump up, however, McGrath grabbed his shoulders and levered him over his head in a circle throw. McGrath rolled upright, coughing out blood.
Alex hopskipped forward, dodging a light punch from McGrath. Unfortunately, he miscalculated the doctor's commitment to the attack and paid for it a moment later when McGrath slammed a fist into his solar plexus. Alex doubled over, seeing stars for a moment - but only a moment. The next instant he was upright and charging again. McGrath, seeing him coming, prepared to sidestep and then realized his opponent's intent. Clever. Tom must've trained him pretty well - so, you'll feint and try for your Hyper Bomb. Alright, I've a trick up my sleeve, too. Here I am. Go for it.
Alex seized McGrath at point-blank range; a moment later, the doctor was being viciously back-dropped into the sand, twice. Nor was that all; Alex then grabbed McGrath and jumped high into the air, intending to come back down to the ground with a Hyper Bomb. That, at least, was the plan, but ... "A midair tech hit!" Jin screamed, not believing what his eyes told him. "McGrath's escaped from the Hyper Bomb! And, with a single vicious ax kick he's sending Alex back into the ground! Ouch, that's gonna break every bone in the wrestler's body!"
Alex landed heavily, managing to roll at the last second and avoiding the worst of the attack. McGrath followed with an elbow chop, clipping Alex's forehead. Alex, landing upright, signaled for an assist as he tried to maneuver McGrath between himself and his teammates. Unfortunately, his friends weren't exactly listening.
"Hey, Alex, you newb, this is how you do the Final Atomic Buster!" Alex and McGrath both turned to look; from the sidelines, Haggar seized an oversized piece of driftwood and pounded it into splinters with a series of air drops. Alex scratched his head, confused. Since when'd I say I was going for a Final Atomic Buster? They ought to know that my move is the Hyper Bomb. Haggar threw aside the now-useless piece of driftwood and flexed, showing off his muscles. "And the Cosmic version is even more powerful. Here, watch and learn ... eh, what's a suitable target ... dang it, no more wood ... ah, I'll use Zangief, then!"
"No, comrade, this is how Ultimate Atomic Buster is done!" Zangief seized Haggar instead; as McGrath and Alex watched, befuddled, Zangief turned Haggar upside down and leapt forward, driving the mayor into the sand with a powerful Bear Crusher. McGrath and Alex glanced at each other before shrugging simultaneously. Zangief then proceeded to back drop the hapless ex-mayor and then put Haggar into a flying aerial bomb. Zangief then tossed Haggar high into the air; the ex-mayor of Metro City hung suspended, but only for an instant. Before all the spectators, Zangief jumped after him, seized him, and brutally laid his rival into the ground with a mighty Spinning Pile Driver. "Ha ha ha, nobody can withstand Ultimate Atomic Buster!" Zangief proclaimed.
"What in the name of all that is holy has gotten into them?" Jin screamed into the microphone.
"You're wrong!" Zangief's gleeful expression instantly turned into surprise as Haggar grabbed him from behind. "Your version ... is nothing ... compared to the power of ... the Cosmic Atomic Buster!" So saying, Haggar seized Zangief and jumped, all of his muscles straining as he carried his victim high, high, high out of sight until they disappeared into the clouds floating high above. The sun had just about set. Only the imprint of a sand crater marked where Haggar and Zangief had been but a moment ago. From the sidelines, Jedah and Gill looked at each, then both simultaneously produced a red card - a pause in the action.
McGrath gazed upwards, now thoroughly puzzled. "Where'd they go?"
Stewart Island, New Zealand
One hour has passed
"... And that's how I met Samantha," McGrath concluded. He, Alex, Jedah, and Gill all sat by the boundaries of the battlefield, the sun having set long ago. Only the local fireflies and the lights of the camera crews provided any notable illumination. McGrath glanced at his chronometer again; an hour had passed and still those fools hadn't reappeared. He was beginning to wonder if Haggar had somehow reached escape velocity and cleared the gravitational field of the Earth entirely. "After a few years together, I married Samantha. But barely half a year passed before I was nearly killed in a mission. While incapacitated, I handed over command of the strike force to her and I think she's done a rather impressive job. After I recovered, I had to fight again, this time against Dadallent. It was my third battle against him and the most intense of the three. That one battle almost cost my life. And that's how I wasted time before showing up here." McGrath winked at Alex. "You? How's old Tom doing?"
"Well," Alex began, "this is kind of embarassing, but ... aw, what the heck, I'm sure you already know. I, uh, entered the third World Warrior tournament to get revenge on Gill here. You know what I'm talking about, right, Gill? Well, I did advance to the finals, more from luck than skill, and Gill basically threw the match to me. You see, prior to the tournament, Gill had beaten up Uncle Tom. What I refused to hear was that it was a fair fight and thus there was nothing to avenge - I would have none of that. I think ... I think that fight with Gill, more than anything else, exposed my own weaknesses to me. Thanks for the lesson, Gill."
"You are very welcome," Gill replied graciously.
"What are you thinking of?" Jedah prodded McGrath, who was staring intently at nothing in particular.
"The Chaos Prince," McGrath replied softly. "I've faced him three times over a span of four years, but still neither of us has gained a decisive advantage over the other. What I fear ... is ... next time, perhaps, I might not be able to stand up to him anymore. I have no illusions about what I'm capable of; I'm nearing the end of my peak fighting skill, while Dadallent has just come into his. In another five years, I doubt I'll be a match for him. That man is a true warrior, but a dangerous one. He absorbs physical attacks; only energy-based attacks can truly harm him - you know, don't you, Gill?"
The seraph nodded somberly. "Yes. He killed my brother Urien but a year ago. I, too, have faced him and discerned his strength. He is more - or perhaps less - than human. As you mentioned, doctor, this Chaos Prince appears to be semi-invulnerable to physical damage. Yet, perhaps you have noticed ... his spirit shines in the unseen world, brimming with power and passion ..."
"I know," McGrath replied. "But ... he's too dangerous to leave alive. After this tournament, we should put him away. I'll ask Regina for help; he certainly cannot be anywhere near a match for a goddess." At least I hope he isn't, or else we could be facing some serious trouble.
"Do not presume to trouble the Lady Regina with such an affair, mortal" Gill replied, just a hint of warning in his voice.
McGrath only sighed. "Gill, you really ought to drop the zealous-defender-of-the-goddess role. Regina is perfectly capable of speaking her own heart. You don't need to be defending her honor at every turn; I admire your devotion, but perhaps Regina would be happier if you minded your own business. Obviously I'm not the best person to be saying any of this. Why don't you go ask her, I'm sure she'll give you an honest answer."
"Why, you -!"
"Calm yourselves," Jedah interrupted, cutting in between McGrath and Gill. "Gentlemen, now is neither the time nor the place for a duel to the death." He winked at Alex, who merely knit his brows in confusion. Come to think of it, Gill was playing the role of an overly fanatical guardian of Regina's. This becomes stranger and stranger. Gill is the self-proclaimed savior of the world, and yet the moment Regina shows up he gets all servile and treats her like a queen. Obviously he respects her very much, but I wonder if it's for her person or her rank? Perhaps ... he even fears her?
Alex's head snapped up as movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. "Hey, look, they're back!" he called, indicating a portion of the sky. As McGrath, Jedah, and Gill all focused their attention upwards, indeed they saw a shape blazing with the fire of a falling star come hurtling through the atmosphere, forcing its way through layers of clouds. A moment later all four of them were racing towards the prospective crash site. The fiery projectile slammed into the earth, hard. There was an explosion of sand in all directions; when it cleared, Alex found himself staring into a dozen-meter deep crater that had been created by the impact.
Zangief lay at the bottom, clearly knocked out by the impact. As Alex stared, Haggar glanced skywards and gave a shaky thumbs up, his knees obviously about to fail him. "Heh heh heh ... Cosmic ... Atomic ... Buster ..." With that, the ex-mayor's eyes rolled up and he too collapsed next to Zangief, unconscious. Gill shook his head; Jedah merely shrugged and called for the medics.
"Well, resume!" Gill produced a green card, giving the fighters the all-clear.
"No hard feelings, Alex," McGrath said, almost gently, as he walked back onto the battleground.
"None at all, doctor. And give your wife my regards."
"Done." McGrath bowed to Alex, a deep bow to convey his respect for the other fighter. The ensuing match was swift and short; as McGrath stood over his fallen opponent, he looked down at Alex's battered frame. Hang in there, Alex. You have great spirit, and I'm sure that you'll become quite strong someday if you just don't give up your dreams. But for now ... well, rules are rules. I promise this won't hurt. McGrath sank his fist into the base of Alex's spine, knocking out the younger fighter in one clean blow. That won't damage anything permanently. Well, this match is over. It was fun, Alex.
"And the winner is Ernest McGrath!" Jedah announced grandly.
Osaka, Japan
Two hours have passed
"You know," Ryu commented as he, Sagat, Gouken, and Kirina clustered around a small television, watching a replay of the fight that had just occurred, "I've faced some goofballs in battle before - Dan comes to mind in particular, may he rest in peace - but this is flat-out ridiculous. And I thought my rivalry with Ken was bad." He indicated the television screen where Haggar was in the process of disappearing into the stratosphere with Zangief in tow.
"Nobody really took the fight seriously, except maybe Alex," Sagat observed.
"Bunch of clowns in this here tournament," Kirina sniffed. She stifled a yawn. "Well, I'm off to bed. Goodnight, I'll see everybody in the morning." So saying, she stood up and walked out of the room, bowing as she left. Kirina locked the door behind herself.
"Sleeping early today, huh, Kirina? By the way, how are the fighters coming along anyway?" Ryu asked.
Sagat ticked them off one by one on his fingers. "Mike Haggar and Zangief are still comatose. Alex has recovered - he wasn't even out for a whole minute - but judging from the way McGrath beat him around his body will be sore for a whole week. As for the doctor, he said that he was going to search for the missing girls." Sagat frowned. "It is rather suspicious, when you think about it."
At that moment he was interrupted when somebody banged loudly on the door. "Yo, Ryu!" Ken called, his voice quite distinct. "I forgot my keys, let me in will ya? It's an emergency!" Ryu grumbled, hauled himself upright, and opened the door. The moment the lock clicked, Ken threw the door wide open and bolted inside, nearly knocking Ryu over. "Quick, lock the door!" He suited his own words by slamming the door shut and throwing the lock. A moment later, Ryu heard a number of feet race by the hallway as multiple girls screamed that Ken had gone down this way. He glared at Ken; this scene was quickly becoming a repetitious part of his daily night life.
"Still a womanizer, eh?" Gouken observed.
"Wha - oh, hi, guys." Ken shrugged out of his leather jacket and casually tossed it over a nearby chair. He fell into rather than sat upon the bed and began counting on his fingers. "Look, I can explain. Guile and I were out drinking for the past couple of hours and we lost our way back. I swear that I wasn't drunk, but somehow we both lost our bearings. Ended up in a bar, everybody wanted my autograph. My reputation seems to have gotten ahead of me - anyway, what're you three up to?"
"We're reviewing the match that just occurred," Sagat said, indicating the TV.
"The match that just ... oh, right, it was the Wrestlers' Association versus McGrath. How'd it go? I heard some crazy stuff happened, but I didn't hear exactly what." Ken plopped himself down on his bed and rolled over to gaze at the television. "I heard McGrath won that match, which is a real pity since now my tournament bracket is totally out of whack." And also because I was hoping to make a move on his wife while he was unconscious, since I didn't get my chance in the mall. Samantha's a drop-dead stunner. Come to think of it, didn't we attend Harvard together at some point in the past? Why the heck didn't I chase after her then? Ken scratched his head; something had happened to cut short a promising romance, but he couldn't remember what it had been. He'd have to ask her about it sometime.
Sagat hit the remote and the battle replayed itself. Ken shrugged; it seemed like a normal match to him, all the way up to the point where Haggar and Zangief beat the tar out of each other. He whistled. "Yeah, I've seen some crazy stuff happen before, but this ... this is ... wow. The doctor sure got lucky that match, although ... seems like everybody was holding back up to the end. Haggar and Zangief only really let it loose when they were at each other. Looks like Alex went all-out in the end, but McGrath made that phase of the battle particularly short."
Ken would've said more, but at that moment someone else banged hard on the door, nearly knocking it down. "Hey! It's me, Blake Wallis!" the Phantom yelled. "Is Darrell or Kenneth in there?"
"No!" Ryu called back.
"You know where they are by any chance?"
"No!" Ryu shouted.
"You're a poor liar, Ryu," Blake called back, "but I'll take your answer at surface value for now. If you see either one of them, be sure to say that we're waiting on ground floor for them, okay? We'll be there for another half hour until everybody shows up. Thanks!" He dashed off before anyone else could say anything.
"What do you think that was about?" Ken asked.
Ryu shrugged. "Darned if I know. Probably gathering more search teams to help look for the girls, if I had to guess. I know that McGrath already pulled half of our BEAT bodyguards to join the search. Sakura's worried sick and McGrath is uneasy, too. We were actually scheduled to train together tomorrow, but ... he canceled it, and I can't say that I blame him."
"Anybody ask Regina?" Sagat queried.
"I haven't seen her for a week," Ryu replied. "I know that McGrath and Bison spoke with her last night. From what I heard during breakfast with Bison, Regina traced their spirits all the way to the jewelry shop where Sakura already looked. She was certain that something had happened to the girls there, only that she didn't know what. I went there myself this morning, but I didn't feel anything at all - no spirit traces, nothing. Most of the search teams have been using that jewelry store as a base from which to look around. The BEATs went over the store meticulously but I heard that they haven't found anything either."
"You think something happened?" Sagat asked, the question directed to nobody in particular.
"Wouldn't be surprised," Ken muttered. "This tournament's worse than any other that we've ever been in. The first World Warrior tournament, it was a megalomaniac who wanted to be acknowledged as the mightiest fighter on Earth." Ken ducked gamely as Sagat aimed a kick at his forehead. "The second tournament, it was a mad dictator bent on eliminating his biggest opponents. The third, it was a self-styled god looking to establish Utopia. And now we're dealing with actual gods, who I might add are giving me the creeps. This is why I became an atheist, you see. I believe only in myself." Ken sighed and stared at the television. "I just hope that, wherever they are ... those girls are safe."
Author's Notes: Here's another update. For the curious, you can no longer find me on AIM since the school year has ended and so I'm currently at home with a 56k modem and no Instant Messenger. Just as well, I say, you all were miserable conversationalists to begin with. Okay, joking aside, here's the next chapter.
Stewart Island, New Zealand
Five days have passed
"The match will not start for another hour and yet you are already here. Why?" Samantha McGrath casually tossed her hair back over her shoulder as she directed the question towards her husband. The two of them were alone on Stewart Island, a large mass of land located directly beneath New Zealand's South Island. The island was home to a riot of coniferous trees, all of which were currently in full greenery. It stood barely a few meters above sea level. Yesterday the battleground had already been marked out; it was set on the western beachside which had been carefully combed for hazardous objects underfoot. It was an hour before dusk; the beach shone in brilliant hues of orange and red, violet waves gently lapping against the shore. It was truly a scene to dwell upon and Samantha enjoyed it as she slowly walked around the beach, arms linked with those of her husband.
"Just learning the lay of the land, Samantha. Trying to stack up as many fair advantages as I can before the battle starts." McGrath sighted down the beach along his arm, using his chronometer as a focal point. The marked out battleground was nearly half a kilometer long but only fifty meters wide. Flocks of gulls swarmed everywhere, yet all of them stayed well clear of the battleground. More of Marin's power at work, McGrath supposed. "By the way ... have the BEATs located either Karin or Ibuki yet?"
Samantha shook her head, indicating a negative response. "No, and it troubles me. Still no trace of either after five days of searching, Ernest - this is not normal." McGrath nodded; they'd both searched Karin and Ibuki's rooms at various times, none of which had yielded any clue as to why the two girls would so suddenly disappear. Neither had Sakura or Lloyd discovered anything and now McGrath was sorely regretting his decision not to accompany the former. Last he'd heard, Karin's father was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and demanding to speak with either McGrath himself or the host of the tournament. McGrath had come out of that phone conversation feeling that absolutely nothing had been resolved. "Dear, are you well?"
"I'm worried about Karin and Ibuki," McGrath replied thoughtfully, "since either one or the other should definitely have surfaced by now." He glanced at Samantha; two days ago, he'd run all three of the Lords of Shadowlaw through polygraph tests and satisfied himself that they were not involved in the disappearances. An inquiry by Regina had returned the same result from Gill. Even the goddess had no clue as to where the errant girls were; McGrath noted that the Darkstalkers' Alliance had met pretty much the same end. He'd voiced his suspicions to Samantha as well as the leaders of the BEAT patrols; currently, the IDC was passing along his request for reinforcements up the chain of command. He'd made the request only an hour ago.
Still, suspicions were by no means certainties and McGrath had to admit that he was plagued by doubts. His conversation yesterday with Bison, Gill, and Regina had lasted late into the night but only increased his confusion. "I'm sure they'll show up somewhere. Those two girls can take care of themselves. After this match ends, win or lose I'll go search for them myself. Well, there's still an hour before the match begins. I think I understand the terrain fairly well now; would you care to meditate with me?"
"Of course, Ernest." Samantha nodded and detached herself from him; a moment later, both of them sat down upon the soft, ocean-soaked sand and composed themselves. Samantha closed her eyes and began to breathe rhythmically. Focus on breathing, Samantha. Do not think, simply act. Feel your mind begin to empty itself and lower your defenses; thus nature runs its course and will of herself freely channel her strength through you. Breathe in ... breathe out ... breathe in ... breathe out ... when you are calm ... at peace ... let yourself go ... As she gradually slipped away into tranquility, Samantha became acutely conscious of everything about her. The sounds of the ocean seemed to be magnified many times, her own heart beat steadily, and a tingling sensation that had nothing to do with awkward sitting positions ran over all her skin. Only that the last sensation was flowing underneath her skin rather than upon it, and it ran in waves from her heart and lungs to her extremities. It was, of course, a manifestation of her chi and she let it run freely through her body without trying to analyze it.
"... Hello? Earth to Samantha, are you awake?" Samantha's eyes snapped open and she found herself staring into McGrath's. "It's been a whole hour," McGrath continued. "The Wrestlers' Association just arrived, so ... would you?"
An entire hour? Did I truly meditate for such a long time? Samantha let McGrath pull her to her feet. In the distance, the sun had just begun to set, painting the world in beautiful orange and violet hues. A few stray clouds passed by overhead. McGrath met the members of the Wrestlers' Association and shook hands with each one of them. Introductions were made all around. As they chattered, Gill and Jedah also appeared out of thin air and motioned to Samantha. She nodded, kissed McGrath, and waved goodbye as she was teleported back to Osaka.
"Wrestlers' Association, name your tactical leader," Jedah ordered.
They glanced at each other before a quick round of rock-paper-scissors decided Haggar as the leader. Jedah nodded, then he and Gill withdrew to beyond the boundaries of the battlefield. Alex and Zangief followed, the latter wearing an enormous red cape that concealed most of his muscles. All along the sidelines the camera crews caught every bit of the scene. For a moment neither of the two leaders said a word, until McGrath broke the silence.
"It's an honor fighting you, old timer. I'll be throwing myself into this battle with all my heart, and I expect you to do no less."
"But of course, doctor. I'd be offended if you didn't."
A small smile played around McGrath's lips. "Excellent! May the best team win." He offered his right hand; Haggar shook it warmly. For a moment both of them pulled each other into a classic buddy-buddy position. McGrath's eyes were warm and tranquil, while Haggar looked as though he were attending a party instead of a battle. They were, after all, old friends. Then the bright light glimmered all around them and Marin called "Begin!"
Using his superior strength and leverage, Haggar pulled McGrath forward for a throw, but the doctor also reacted quickly. Just before he left the ground, McGrath applied extra force into his knees and jumped, clearing Haggar's shoulders and pulling his arm after him. McGrath's left hand chopped hard into Haggar's right wrist, clearing his own right hand. The doctor landed lightly behind the ex-mayor; he ducked as Haggar instinctively spun around for a Lariat strike and swept Haggar into the sand before the move could execute.
Haggar rolled back as McGrath jumped high into the air, descending with a double knee strike into the sand where the ex-mayor had been but a moment before. Hmph. It's been eight years and Ernest's edge hasn't dulled at all. I forgot just how dangerous he really is - well, I said I'd give this battle my all, and Mike Haggar keeps his promises. So thinking, Haggar charged forward for a hammer strike; it clipped McGrath on th shoulder without doing any real damage, and a moment later the doctor struck back with a powerful uppercut into Haggar's elbow. Haggar instantly felt the area go numb as his entire arm rang with the sheer shock of the attack. His eyes narrowed dangerously. You held back, Ernest. If that had been Dadallent or Bison, the bone would've shattered all the way up to the clavicle. You can beat me easily in a one-on-one, but ... may the best team win. Haggar signaled for an assist; as McGrath came by for another lightning attack, Zangief blurred by with a whirlwind of spinning fists and McGrath was forced to abort his attack. As you can see, doctor, no matter how skilled you may be, you're still one person against three. We can wear you down, and we will.
"Ooh, the Wrestlers' Association is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Ernest McGrath," Kyosuke raved. "So far neither side has a definite advantage; however, this match looks like it'll be over quick once Haggar and his friends move in. What do you think, Jin?"
"I dunno, Kyosuke. McGrath obviously knows that he has to keep his opponents - all of them - at arm's distance, and he's still controlling the fight although he's being driven back. At the same time, he has to deal with Haggar blocking his way and Zangief and Alex coming in all the time for assists. Oops, there he goes into Haggar's pile driver, good thing they're fighting on sand and not asphalt - no, wait, it's a tech hit!" Jin and Kyosuke both jumped to their feet. "McGrath has regained the offensive and is laying into Haggar. Wow, six hit combo with a zero cancelled Half-Moon Kick at the end! Wait, here comes Zangief with the assist again ... okay, that ends the combo. It's a standoff right now, folks."
Haggar wiped off a trickle of blood from his mouth. He's still holding back. I wonder why? Well, you managed to escape my pile driver - let's see you escape this! He signaled Zangief for an assist, then Alex for an extra strike from the opposite direction. McGrath blocked Zangief's Banishing Fist but failed to evade Alex's Flash Chop in time. The blow stunned him and spun him; a moment later, Haggar had seized McGrath from behind and lifted him clear into the air. "Final ... Atomic ... Buster!!!"
"Ow!" Alia winced, "the doctor is going to have the imprint of a seashell in his skull after that last attack. Amazingly enough he's still upright - must be the soft sand, but he's definitely looking quite beaten."
McGrath's eyes narrowed as he considered Haggar. It took a lot of energy to Soul Reverse away most of the damage from that attack. Alright, old friend, you've changed too. Well, then - with all my heart -! McGrath rushed forward, aiming straight for Haggar. When Zangief got in the way of the charge, McGrath gladly changed targets instead and laid the beatdown on the Russian wrestler before either of his teammates could save him. "Wow, 12-hit combo in just four seconds, finished with a Hell Press!" Alia reported. "The good doctor sure gave Zangief a piece of his mind! That's gotta hurt however strong a person may be."
As Zangief staggered back to the boundaries of the battlefield, Haggar rushed in again for another Hammer Charge, growling as he did so. I'd planned to switch out with Zangief after another attack, but he's in no condition to fight right now. Still, Alex is right behind him on the lineup ... "Zangief, you're in!" Haggar clipped empty air; when McGrath retaliated with a Half-Moon Kick, he also missed Haggar. Zangief jumped into the ring but immediately switched out, bringing Alex into the fight.
McGrath jumped, but backwards. When Alex did not counter with his anti-air attack as McGrath had hoped, the doctor instead jumped to the side in a semi-dive, sprang off the sand with a handspring, and planted both of his feet solidly in Alex's chest. Alex blocked the attack but staggered backwards regardless. "Ouch, guard crush!" Alia announced. "McGrath can't quite exploit the opening; still, he's got the momentum and he knows it. Haggar is offering all the support fire that he can, though. Oh, wait, there's an opening, and in Alex goes! Wow, five hit air combo ending with a ... an Air Stampede!" Alex slammed McGrath into the sand with both of his knees planted firmly on McGrath's chest. Before he could jump up, however, McGrath grabbed his shoulders and levered him over his head in a circle throw. McGrath rolled upright, coughing out blood.
Alex hopskipped forward, dodging a light punch from McGrath. Unfortunately, he miscalculated the doctor's commitment to the attack and paid for it a moment later when McGrath slammed a fist into his solar plexus. Alex doubled over, seeing stars for a moment - but only a moment. The next instant he was upright and charging again. McGrath, seeing him coming, prepared to sidestep and then realized his opponent's intent. Clever. Tom must've trained him pretty well - so, you'll feint and try for your Hyper Bomb. Alright, I've a trick up my sleeve, too. Here I am. Go for it.
Alex seized McGrath at point-blank range; a moment later, the doctor was being viciously back-dropped into the sand, twice. Nor was that all; Alex then grabbed McGrath and jumped high into the air, intending to come back down to the ground with a Hyper Bomb. That, at least, was the plan, but ... "A midair tech hit!" Jin screamed, not believing what his eyes told him. "McGrath's escaped from the Hyper Bomb! And, with a single vicious ax kick he's sending Alex back into the ground! Ouch, that's gonna break every bone in the wrestler's body!"
Alex landed heavily, managing to roll at the last second and avoiding the worst of the attack. McGrath followed with an elbow chop, clipping Alex's forehead. Alex, landing upright, signaled for an assist as he tried to maneuver McGrath between himself and his teammates. Unfortunately, his friends weren't exactly listening.
"Hey, Alex, you newb, this is how you do the Final Atomic Buster!" Alex and McGrath both turned to look; from the sidelines, Haggar seized an oversized piece of driftwood and pounded it into splinters with a series of air drops. Alex scratched his head, confused. Since when'd I say I was going for a Final Atomic Buster? They ought to know that my move is the Hyper Bomb. Haggar threw aside the now-useless piece of driftwood and flexed, showing off his muscles. "And the Cosmic version is even more powerful. Here, watch and learn ... eh, what's a suitable target ... dang it, no more wood ... ah, I'll use Zangief, then!"
"No, comrade, this is how Ultimate Atomic Buster is done!" Zangief seized Haggar instead; as McGrath and Alex watched, befuddled, Zangief turned Haggar upside down and leapt forward, driving the mayor into the sand with a powerful Bear Crusher. McGrath and Alex glanced at each other before shrugging simultaneously. Zangief then proceeded to back drop the hapless ex-mayor and then put Haggar into a flying aerial bomb. Zangief then tossed Haggar high into the air; the ex-mayor of Metro City hung suspended, but only for an instant. Before all the spectators, Zangief jumped after him, seized him, and brutally laid his rival into the ground with a mighty Spinning Pile Driver. "Ha ha ha, nobody can withstand Ultimate Atomic Buster!" Zangief proclaimed.
"What in the name of all that is holy has gotten into them?" Jin screamed into the microphone.
"You're wrong!" Zangief's gleeful expression instantly turned into surprise as Haggar grabbed him from behind. "Your version ... is nothing ... compared to the power of ... the Cosmic Atomic Buster!" So saying, Haggar seized Zangief and jumped, all of his muscles straining as he carried his victim high, high, high out of sight until they disappeared into the clouds floating high above. The sun had just about set. Only the imprint of a sand crater marked where Haggar and Zangief had been but a moment ago. From the sidelines, Jedah and Gill looked at each, then both simultaneously produced a red card - a pause in the action.
McGrath gazed upwards, now thoroughly puzzled. "Where'd they go?"
Stewart Island, New Zealand
One hour has passed
"... And that's how I met Samantha," McGrath concluded. He, Alex, Jedah, and Gill all sat by the boundaries of the battlefield, the sun having set long ago. Only the local fireflies and the lights of the camera crews provided any notable illumination. McGrath glanced at his chronometer again; an hour had passed and still those fools hadn't reappeared. He was beginning to wonder if Haggar had somehow reached escape velocity and cleared the gravitational field of the Earth entirely. "After a few years together, I married Samantha. But barely half a year passed before I was nearly killed in a mission. While incapacitated, I handed over command of the strike force to her and I think she's done a rather impressive job. After I recovered, I had to fight again, this time against Dadallent. It was my third battle against him and the most intense of the three. That one battle almost cost my life. And that's how I wasted time before showing up here." McGrath winked at Alex. "You? How's old Tom doing?"
"Well," Alex began, "this is kind of embarassing, but ... aw, what the heck, I'm sure you already know. I, uh, entered the third World Warrior tournament to get revenge on Gill here. You know what I'm talking about, right, Gill? Well, I did advance to the finals, more from luck than skill, and Gill basically threw the match to me. You see, prior to the tournament, Gill had beaten up Uncle Tom. What I refused to hear was that it was a fair fight and thus there was nothing to avenge - I would have none of that. I think ... I think that fight with Gill, more than anything else, exposed my own weaknesses to me. Thanks for the lesson, Gill."
"You are very welcome," Gill replied graciously.
"What are you thinking of?" Jedah prodded McGrath, who was staring intently at nothing in particular.
"The Chaos Prince," McGrath replied softly. "I've faced him three times over a span of four years, but still neither of us has gained a decisive advantage over the other. What I fear ... is ... next time, perhaps, I might not be able to stand up to him anymore. I have no illusions about what I'm capable of; I'm nearing the end of my peak fighting skill, while Dadallent has just come into his. In another five years, I doubt I'll be a match for him. That man is a true warrior, but a dangerous one. He absorbs physical attacks; only energy-based attacks can truly harm him - you know, don't you, Gill?"
The seraph nodded somberly. "Yes. He killed my brother Urien but a year ago. I, too, have faced him and discerned his strength. He is more - or perhaps less - than human. As you mentioned, doctor, this Chaos Prince appears to be semi-invulnerable to physical damage. Yet, perhaps you have noticed ... his spirit shines in the unseen world, brimming with power and passion ..."
"I know," McGrath replied. "But ... he's too dangerous to leave alive. After this tournament, we should put him away. I'll ask Regina for help; he certainly cannot be anywhere near a match for a goddess." At least I hope he isn't, or else we could be facing some serious trouble.
"Do not presume to trouble the Lady Regina with such an affair, mortal" Gill replied, just a hint of warning in his voice.
McGrath only sighed. "Gill, you really ought to drop the zealous-defender-of-the-goddess role. Regina is perfectly capable of speaking her own heart. You don't need to be defending her honor at every turn; I admire your devotion, but perhaps Regina would be happier if you minded your own business. Obviously I'm not the best person to be saying any of this. Why don't you go ask her, I'm sure she'll give you an honest answer."
"Why, you -!"
"Calm yourselves," Jedah interrupted, cutting in between McGrath and Gill. "Gentlemen, now is neither the time nor the place for a duel to the death." He winked at Alex, who merely knit his brows in confusion. Come to think of it, Gill was playing the role of an overly fanatical guardian of Regina's. This becomes stranger and stranger. Gill is the self-proclaimed savior of the world, and yet the moment Regina shows up he gets all servile and treats her like a queen. Obviously he respects her very much, but I wonder if it's for her person or her rank? Perhaps ... he even fears her?
Alex's head snapped up as movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. "Hey, look, they're back!" he called, indicating a portion of the sky. As McGrath, Jedah, and Gill all focused their attention upwards, indeed they saw a shape blazing with the fire of a falling star come hurtling through the atmosphere, forcing its way through layers of clouds. A moment later all four of them were racing towards the prospective crash site. The fiery projectile slammed into the earth, hard. There was an explosion of sand in all directions; when it cleared, Alex found himself staring into a dozen-meter deep crater that had been created by the impact.
Zangief lay at the bottom, clearly knocked out by the impact. As Alex stared, Haggar glanced skywards and gave a shaky thumbs up, his knees obviously about to fail him. "Heh heh heh ... Cosmic ... Atomic ... Buster ..." With that, the ex-mayor's eyes rolled up and he too collapsed next to Zangief, unconscious. Gill shook his head; Jedah merely shrugged and called for the medics.
"Well, resume!" Gill produced a green card, giving the fighters the all-clear.
"No hard feelings, Alex," McGrath said, almost gently, as he walked back onto the battleground.
"None at all, doctor. And give your wife my regards."
"Done." McGrath bowed to Alex, a deep bow to convey his respect for the other fighter. The ensuing match was swift and short; as McGrath stood over his fallen opponent, he looked down at Alex's battered frame. Hang in there, Alex. You have great spirit, and I'm sure that you'll become quite strong someday if you just don't give up your dreams. But for now ... well, rules are rules. I promise this won't hurt. McGrath sank his fist into the base of Alex's spine, knocking out the younger fighter in one clean blow. That won't damage anything permanently. Well, this match is over. It was fun, Alex.
"And the winner is Ernest McGrath!" Jedah announced grandly.
Osaka, Japan
Two hours have passed
"You know," Ryu commented as he, Sagat, Gouken, and Kirina clustered around a small television, watching a replay of the fight that had just occurred, "I've faced some goofballs in battle before - Dan comes to mind in particular, may he rest in peace - but this is flat-out ridiculous. And I thought my rivalry with Ken was bad." He indicated the television screen where Haggar was in the process of disappearing into the stratosphere with Zangief in tow.
"Nobody really took the fight seriously, except maybe Alex," Sagat observed.
"Bunch of clowns in this here tournament," Kirina sniffed. She stifled a yawn. "Well, I'm off to bed. Goodnight, I'll see everybody in the morning." So saying, she stood up and walked out of the room, bowing as she left. Kirina locked the door behind herself.
"Sleeping early today, huh, Kirina? By the way, how are the fighters coming along anyway?" Ryu asked.
Sagat ticked them off one by one on his fingers. "Mike Haggar and Zangief are still comatose. Alex has recovered - he wasn't even out for a whole minute - but judging from the way McGrath beat him around his body will be sore for a whole week. As for the doctor, he said that he was going to search for the missing girls." Sagat frowned. "It is rather suspicious, when you think about it."
At that moment he was interrupted when somebody banged loudly on the door. "Yo, Ryu!" Ken called, his voice quite distinct. "I forgot my keys, let me in will ya? It's an emergency!" Ryu grumbled, hauled himself upright, and opened the door. The moment the lock clicked, Ken threw the door wide open and bolted inside, nearly knocking Ryu over. "Quick, lock the door!" He suited his own words by slamming the door shut and throwing the lock. A moment later, Ryu heard a number of feet race by the hallway as multiple girls screamed that Ken had gone down this way. He glared at Ken; this scene was quickly becoming a repetitious part of his daily night life.
"Still a womanizer, eh?" Gouken observed.
"Wha - oh, hi, guys." Ken shrugged out of his leather jacket and casually tossed it over a nearby chair. He fell into rather than sat upon the bed and began counting on his fingers. "Look, I can explain. Guile and I were out drinking for the past couple of hours and we lost our way back. I swear that I wasn't drunk, but somehow we both lost our bearings. Ended up in a bar, everybody wanted my autograph. My reputation seems to have gotten ahead of me - anyway, what're you three up to?"
"We're reviewing the match that just occurred," Sagat said, indicating the TV.
"The match that just ... oh, right, it was the Wrestlers' Association versus McGrath. How'd it go? I heard some crazy stuff happened, but I didn't hear exactly what." Ken plopped himself down on his bed and rolled over to gaze at the television. "I heard McGrath won that match, which is a real pity since now my tournament bracket is totally out of whack." And also because I was hoping to make a move on his wife while he was unconscious, since I didn't get my chance in the mall. Samantha's a drop-dead stunner. Come to think of it, didn't we attend Harvard together at some point in the past? Why the heck didn't I chase after her then? Ken scratched his head; something had happened to cut short a promising romance, but he couldn't remember what it had been. He'd have to ask her about it sometime.
Sagat hit the remote and the battle replayed itself. Ken shrugged; it seemed like a normal match to him, all the way up to the point where Haggar and Zangief beat the tar out of each other. He whistled. "Yeah, I've seen some crazy stuff happen before, but this ... this is ... wow. The doctor sure got lucky that match, although ... seems like everybody was holding back up to the end. Haggar and Zangief only really let it loose when they were at each other. Looks like Alex went all-out in the end, but McGrath made that phase of the battle particularly short."
Ken would've said more, but at that moment someone else banged hard on the door, nearly knocking it down. "Hey! It's me, Blake Wallis!" the Phantom yelled. "Is Darrell or Kenneth in there?"
"No!" Ryu called back.
"You know where they are by any chance?"
"No!" Ryu shouted.
"You're a poor liar, Ryu," Blake called back, "but I'll take your answer at surface value for now. If you see either one of them, be sure to say that we're waiting on ground floor for them, okay? We'll be there for another half hour until everybody shows up. Thanks!" He dashed off before anyone else could say anything.
"What do you think that was about?" Ken asked.
Ryu shrugged. "Darned if I know. Probably gathering more search teams to help look for the girls, if I had to guess. I know that McGrath already pulled half of our BEAT bodyguards to join the search. Sakura's worried sick and McGrath is uneasy, too. We were actually scheduled to train together tomorrow, but ... he canceled it, and I can't say that I blame him."
"Anybody ask Regina?" Sagat queried.
"I haven't seen her for a week," Ryu replied. "I know that McGrath and Bison spoke with her last night. From what I heard during breakfast with Bison, Regina traced their spirits all the way to the jewelry shop where Sakura already looked. She was certain that something had happened to the girls there, only that she didn't know what. I went there myself this morning, but I didn't feel anything at all - no spirit traces, nothing. Most of the search teams have been using that jewelry store as a base from which to look around. The BEATs went over the store meticulously but I heard that they haven't found anything either."
"You think something happened?" Sagat asked, the question directed to nobody in particular.
"Wouldn't be surprised," Ken muttered. "This tournament's worse than any other that we've ever been in. The first World Warrior tournament, it was a megalomaniac who wanted to be acknowledged as the mightiest fighter on Earth." Ken ducked gamely as Sagat aimed a kick at his forehead. "The second tournament, it was a mad dictator bent on eliminating his biggest opponents. The third, it was a self-styled god looking to establish Utopia. And now we're dealing with actual gods, who I might add are giving me the creeps. This is why I became an atheist, you see. I believe only in myself." Ken sighed and stared at the television. "I just hope that, wherever they are ... those girls are safe."