Yeah sorry, for the quadrillion time life kicked me hard in the teeth and I needed some time to get up. But now, this time of transition is over and, if there no more bullshit surprises, I should go back to my usual schedule...so about this chapter. I wanted to show a glimpse at the persepctive of a relative Average Joe in the KOF world. How would they react in the face of all the crazy shit that usually surrounds the tournament?
LAPD'S STATION, INTERROGATION ROOM N°2
In the silence of those dingy walls, Rosa stared vacantly at the ceiling, wondering when it was going to be her turn at being pestered by the police. She assumed they were saving her for last and give priority to Big's men, but considering not even a peep was heard in the good two hours she waited, the mercenary assumed they all invoked the fifth and called it a day. In hindsight, that rookie mistake could've been easily avoided, together with everything that will now come after; For an "inhabitant" of the criminal underworld, if you get registered by the police or any kind of law enforcement, your career is as good as over. Thoughts on how she was supposed to keep a roof over her group filled her mind as a cop finally remembered she was still there at the station.
He was a morbidly obese, middle aged man with a thick layer of chest hair, the uniform consisting of a simple police waistcoat with a little "Bowman" written on the plate. The disappointed look on his face suggested he wasn't happy to be there...and Rosa now shared that sentiment even more as she recognized the police officer. One of the participants of a tournament disputed a long time ago, right before the rebellion against King Leo.
"Gordon? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Pretty sure I should ask that question." He sternly replied. "I was transferred here, plain and simple." Bowman sat down clutching her file in his hands, reluctant as he was to go through the standard procedure.
"Multiple instances of unlawful entry, property damage, battery, possession of false documents. Only the last one will cost you ten years, you know?"
"Please, spare me the interrogation routine. As if you don't know why I've done all that-"
"Not to mention, criminal activities and conspiracy with the mafia-like aggravating circumstance."
"Now you're just making assumptions-"
"Am I now?! According to Officer Evans, he find you in one of Mr. Big weapon delivery operations that we've been monitoring for months now. How can I know for sure you aren't in cahoots with him?"
"Wow...you think I'd ever stoop so low? The only interactions I have with these bastards is when I want to take something from them, never to aid." As she said that, Gordon went up and started pacing around the hand rubbing his forehead in frustration.
"Use all the excuses you want, Rosa. You're screwed now. No more poetic justice or spiels about how you're doing it all for your group."
"You're one to talk, since you've done the same thing back at the tournament. Pairing up with Leo's body double for your daughter's hospital bills-"
"Don't you dare bring her into this!" Gordon shouted, indignant. "I've realized my mistake and went back into being a law-abiding citizen, unlike you KOF types, who do nothing but bring about fucking armageddon every year. I mean, New Horizon just started and already we've a serial killer on the loose, a bloodbath at Skid Row, a goddamn terrorist attack at the Dodger and almost two hundred people missing. What about their lives, huh? And those of their loved ones? They suddenly don't matter because "the world is at stake" or some movie shit like that?!"
"Why are you pointing fingers at me like I'm involved?" Gordon conceded that his rant was very unprofessional, so his cleared his throat trying to get a hold of himself.
"...Everyone here is stressed the fuck out with all these crises one after another. I'm sure you noticed when my colleagues arrested you. You don't know what it's like to be this...powerless against stuff none of us understands. To add insult to injury, the feds promised that if we don't solve this mess before shit hits the fan, they promised they'll crack down hard on all future KOFs."
The defeated tone of his voice merely hinted at the turmoil he and his men were going through. Not being much of an expert in putting the right words into sympathizing with others, Rosa could only muster a weak…
"How's Kimberly?" Gordon wasn't taken aback by that question. He felt it would come up sooner or later.
"...She became a daughter to be proud of. A bit of a daredevil, but her heart is in the right place."
To break the somber atmosphere, Evans himself knocked on the door before softly opening it. Apparently there has been a change of plans.
"(Great. How can this situation get any worse?)" Rosa thought.
The two police officers were careful not let the mercenary or anyone else eavesdrop what they whispering on about. With the corner of her eye, Rosa could see a swift passing of hands. As Evans left the room, Gordon walked up to the other side of the table to inform her directly.
"Would you look at that...someone just threw you a life buoy." Gordon muttered as he slid a small piece of paper forward, looking the other way.
Unsure on what to think, Rosa read mentally its contents. It was a short, six-digits number with only two other words accompanying it...Commander Heidern.
NEXT TIME: Hesitant, Rosa responds to the Ikari's leader, ending up being half-forced to accept a deal to ensure she'll be able, in the future, to return to her beloved family again. In the meantime, somewhere else entirely, the wheels are still in motion...
BOYLE'S HEIGHTS STREETS
The bumps on the road felt like spikes to Turner, who was still writhing on the back of the truck where his partner left him, moaning loudly since they've made thier escape.
"That smug bitch! I'm gon' snap her in two like a breadstick next time."
"Hah hah, what a riot! I still can't believe you were knocked out by someone less than half your size." Crawley noted in mockery from the driver's seat.
"I still can't believe you two are talking so casually after this mess." Luan chastised, without moving her eyes away from her phone. "You do realize we have lost a third of our L.A. deployed men not even an hour ago, right?"
"Sheesh, you make it sound like we lost something of value back there. A phone call to Big and from Southtown they'll arrive in droves, in even bigger numbers" John dismissed. "What matters is that the thingamajig is assembled and ready to be brought to our new base-"
"Wait, shut your mouth, what is this?!" Luan interrupted, looking at the breaking news.
"What, some new bullshit cropped up?"
"See for yourself." The ex-Deva handed over the phone to John in complete disregard of basic traffic laws. His self-satisfied grin vanished when he read about Bao's hospitalization...and what that implies.
"GODDAMN IT!" John screamed while punching the steering wheel. It's a miracle the airbag didn't activate. "We've screwed up the time window! Now they have the second Fragment."
"Hey, don't scream so loud. My ears..." Jack whinged.
"See why I asked you to "check your surrondings at all times?" Thanks to that mercenary filth and your incompetence, things will be pointlessly complicated."
"Thanks, Captain Obvious, because I totally couldn't realize that on my own."
The two continued arguing in circles during the traversal in Boyle's Heights, with Crawley already dreading to deliver the awful news to Ron. As the Los Angeles sky darkened more with every minute, the race to the Dragon's Spirit has become much more intense.
