Truce Declaration

The Next Day, Lili Rochefort's Mansion in Monaco…

Nina woke up before everybody else did in the Rochefort Family Mansion. She took her time getting out of bed. Leo slept in a room reserved to her by Lili, but Steve and Edgar crashed on the couches at the central living room. As much as Nina appreciated the pit stop, she did not want to remain at this place any more. But before that, perhaps she could wash the few clothes she had with her. They were rather smelly after all of her ordeals so far. Nina looked around the mansion and eventually found the laundry room near the garage area. Not wanting to walk back to her room, Nina decided to make herself cozy and laid down on top of some clean towels resting over a large crate.

Steve eventually got up next. It was after 9 in the morning. Edgar was still sleeping and snoring not too far from him. Some noise was waking him up, so Steve stretched his body and decided to find out who was walking around. Eventually, Steve heard some vibrating sounds coming from the room near the garage. He opens the door to the laundry room and views his own mother sleeping over a crate ironically. The washer just turned off, so Steve assumed Nina was washing her clothes. Steve puts the wet clothes in the dryer and then Nina suddenly wakes up from the noises.

Nina: "What are you doing?"

Steve: "Huh?"

Nina (On her feet): "Move!"

Nina discovered her few clothes now in the dryer after the washing machine stopped running…

Steve: "All I did was move your clothes in the dryer. Take it easy!"

Nina: "I never asked you!"

Steve: "You feel asleep."

Nina: "Tch. Just what do you want?"

Steve: "I..I…"

Nina: "Ugh…men. I'm going back to my room."

Steve: "Wait!"

Nina (Stops and looks back at Steve): "Tch."

Steve: "What are you planning to do now? Are you going back to see Heihachi?"

Nina: "I do need to go back to the Zaibatsu. Whether or not I decide to see Heihachi is of no concern of yours."

Steve: "If he finds out you helped me escape from the Marksmen you will be in a lot of trouble. Why not stay with us?"

Nina: "You and the girl should just stay out of my way. When my outfit is done drying, I am leaving this mansion."

Edgar (Coming into the hallway): "And what about me Ms. Williams?"

Nina: "Edgar?"

Edgar: "Surely you didn't think I would just let you disappear again without an explanation. Morning Steve!"

Steve: "Uh…morning."

Nina: "The only reason I am still here is because my outfit was too dirty. Once that is finished I am leaving Monaco."

Edgar: "So soon?"

Nina: "Yes. I'm sorry Edgar. Things behind the scenes in this tournament are going to be too much for all of you to handle. There is no need to get in trouble because of me."

Edgar: "We know about the pictures. Nina."

Nina: "You what?"

Edgar: "Leo spoke about it last night. About what Claudio did to you. Allow us to deal with that man Nina. I'm sure it will ease your mind if I can just get a good shot at him."

Nina: "Dammit! This is why I don't like kids!"

Edgar: "Do not blame her for this Nina. She was only concerned for you that's all."

Nina (Shaking her head in disbelief): "Whatever. If you creeps wanna get yourselves killed then just do whatever. Just do not get in my way or I will kill you myself!" (Storms off.)

Steve: "Mother."

Edgar: "Good thing Leo is still asleep. I think Nina would have attacked her right on the spot if she were out here with us."

Steve: "I hope she will be okay. Nina I mean."

Edgar: "The girl has been through a lot. She's been a loner even back when I first met her back in the day. Nina is not used to having teammates, not since she lost her father in Beirut."

Steve: "You know about her father?"

Edgar: "Oh…your grandfather Richard? Yeah I did a few missions with him and his daughters. It was quite exhilarating. Let's keep this discussion going in the kitchen. I could use some coffee."

Steve: "Well…alright."

90 minutes later…

Nina eventually got her outfit cleaned in the laundry room and put it back on as she prepared to leave. Nina had already texted her ride to come near the Monaco Harbor with the chopper ready to come and get her. The others inside the mansion were done eating breakfast. Nina did not eat with them. Instead she would just eat one on the way to the harbor after she catches a Lyft ride. The three individuals all saw Nina walk by with her small suitcase heading for the front door. Leo was the first to call out Nina's name right after she left out of the door.

Leo: "Nina! Are you really going now?"

Nina (Stops near the road.): "What's the problem? I have no need to stay here again."

Leo: "At least give me your contact info just in case I need your help in taking out Kazuya and the G Corporation's bases."

Nina: "There is no need for that. I do appreciate you helping me kid. But this is no playground. You would only get in the way and get yourself killed."

Steve and Edgar come right behind Leo…

Edgar: "No goodbyes Nina?"

Nina: "Goodbye Edgar." (Walking off.)

Edgar: "Well…so much for the long reunion."

Leo: "Steve! Did you say something that made her angry? Now she is even more distant than ever!"

Steve: "No. It's as Edgar told me earlier. She always felt better doing things solo."

Leo: "Damn! All that effort of tracking her down and she just bails!"

Edgar: "Do not worry there lad. I just planted a bug on Nina's suitcase just before she left out the mansion. I will keep tabs on her as she returns back to their job with the Zaibatsu."

Leo: "Now that's sneaky."

Steve: "I think I will get ready to leave too. I never did ask Nina to regather my things back in Italy."

Edgar: "I can go get them for you. It's no big deal. When were you supposed to check out?"

Steve: "Like today actually."

Edgar: "You can just call the hotel, have them charge you for another night and that will be enough time for me to get your belongings."

Steve: "Yeah I guess I will do that. Thanks again Edgar."

Edgar: "Sure lad. Anything for the champ." (Laughs.)

Later that day, Nina Williams arrives in a Zaibatsu military outpost just outside Varosha, Cyprus…

Nina Williams went to the island of Cyprus for a brief pit stop. She was informed to meet Heihachi Mishima in Karachi, Pakistan on a special meeting while riding in the chopper. It had something to do with the talisman in which his troops were looking for in India. Someone had stolen it. The second reason Nina was summoned is because of the aftermath of her fight with Steve Fox. Heihachi was confused on why Nina forfeited her fight. Heihachi wanted Nina focused going in the elimination rounds so she could get the fodder of the competition out of his way. So while in a guest tent, Nina had no ideas on what to say about her reasoning for a forfeit.

Nina (Sitting on the chair): "Damn. Heihachi is on to me about what happened the other day. Does he realize that I was ambushed by the Marksmen right afterwards? He may not care about that. What do I say to him? Heihachi doesn't know about my connection with Steve. Or maybe he does."

Nina's cell phone rings…

Nina (Looks at it.): "Shit." (It's her sister.) "Yes Anna."

Anna: "Nina! How are you today sis?"

Nina: "Hey. What is it?"

Anna: "Stop talking so gloomy! Sheesh you are such a robot! You were better than this before you lost your memories! But please do tell me why you lost the other day?"

Nina: "Why? Even if I told you, all you would do is talk sh*t!"

Anna: "Uhhh…Maybe." (Giggles.) "Anyway, its about time we discuss on how to deal with that Claudio fellow. Remember?"

Nina: "Of course I do. That bastard almost had me killed after my fight!"

Anna: "What? He was there in Italy?"

Nina: "No his men tried to ambush me, but I was able to get away."

Anna: "Wow! Claudio must really want you out of the picture Nina! Won't the bossman get upset if you are dead?"

Nina: "That's just the thing. I doubt he would be."

Anna: "All the more reason why we should hunt Claudio down. This is a declaration of our truce sister! The look on Heihachi's face will be priceless!" (Laughing.) "So do you know where Claudio is at the moment?"

Nina: "I do not know. However, I am supposed to be on my way to Karachi and meet Heihachi there. Maybe I can get him to tell me where Claudio could be or someone close to him may share that information."

Anna: "Well maybe I can ask my friend in India to help me track Claudio down. She has her way of hacking into cell phones. I am sure she can find him quickly."

Nina: "Sounds like a plan. Where can we meet up once we find him?"

Anna: "How about Kish Island? Not too far from Karachi am I right?"

Nina: "Kish Island where is that?"

Anna: "It's a beach resort island on the Persian Gulf in Iran."

Nina: "Oh. Whatever, but we can't have anyone finding this out."

Anna: "Of course sis. You should wear a disguise on the way here. Let's be there by Friday okay?"

Nina: "Friday? Fine."

Anna: "Well Nina I will see you there. Don't have me wait on you now."

Nina: "Hmph. I should say the same thing."

Anna: "Just get there! Ta ta now!"

Nina: "Bye Anna." (Hangs up.) "I can't believe I'm going through with this sh*t." (Sighs.) "My chopper doesn't leave until tomorrow morning. I'm getting some sleep."

Not feeling up to the days ahead, Nina took a deep breath to calm her nerves to lie down on her bed. Nina hoped that Heihachi was not on to her premonitions of betrayal. While forfeiting a match would not raise that type of suspicion, it was an unusual move on Nina's part for it was the second time that she did such an act in the tournament. Claudio could possibly find out about Nina's intentions and warn Heihachi. The sooner she and Anna can deal with him, the better Nina would feel about not getting exposed online with her bathroom nudes.