Chapter 15: Twists

Tatacoa Desert, Colombia

About a week had passed since Jun Kazama bumped into Michelle Chang, only to disappear after being rescued. Michelle had talked about it in front of Armor King and Julia who both came back early in the morning from the mountains. It came as a surprise for Armor King, but he could pick up her trail, using his heightened sense of smell. However, Jun's scent ended back at the airport. So she must have taken a plane. With confidence, Armor King said that Jun will be alright, for her willpower to live surpasses that of regular people.

The trio ventured to their next destination for their fight. It would be at a nesting ground for condors where they rested or feed off dead carcasses. The opponents of the third and final exhibition match would be Paul Phoenix and Kuma. Kuma lost contact with his owner, Heihachi Mishima, after the last tournament. He searched frantically for Heihachi throughout Japan, but no luck in finding him. Kuma blamed Paul Phoenix for this mishap, for he was knocked out for weeks. Kuma literally swam from Japan to America and found Paul Phoenix to settle the score with him again. This time Kuma wins and forces Paul to be his sidekick. The new tournament was announced months later, and this gave Kuma the initiative to find out where Heihachi could be. So today, here he is with Paul, riding on the motorcycle at the spot of the fight.

Kuma (Getting off the bike.): "Grrrrrr….aaaaarrrrrruuuu (Look, two women and a masked man. We got this Paul!)"

Paul (understands.): "Yeah, let's get to work so I can be one step closer to being #1!"

Kuma (Felt dissed.): "Grrrrrrrrr! (I'm #1! You're #2, until proven otherwise!)."

The duo got off the motorbike and start pushing each other. Armor King and the Chang girls noticed them fighting and wondered how this team won their last fight against the Williams sisters.

Armor King: "Hmm. That Paul Phoenix is still a sight for sore eyes."

Michelle: "I know right. But why does he keep messing with bears?"

Julia: "Paul has a rivalry with that bear. They always fight each other in every tournament. It's weird that they would team up."

Armor King: "Easy victory for us."

Michelle: "I don't know. Paul has that famous ultimate punch. He claimed he knocked out Ogre with it."

Armor King: "He's lying. Gotta be a bluff."

Julia: "Okay, so who is going to fight them?"

Michelle: "I'll fight. If that's ok with you Julia?"

Julia: "Sure mom, I'll sit this one out."

Armor King: "Ok then. I will fight the bear." (Looks at Michelle). "Don't get rusty on me beautiful."

Michelle: "Not to worry beastie. Paul doesn't intimidate me in the slightest."

A referee came from the shaded part of the stage. He lined up the competitors for their battle. Paul and Kuma stopped playing around and got their game faces on against the veterans of Armor King and Michelle (Emcee).

Meanwhile, at a circus in Warsaw, Poland…

Because King discovered the identity of the Shibata LP's main president, he did not travel to Poland with Craig. Acutally, King had a fallout with Craig about the whole situation working under this company. Craig was still reluctant to leave his newfound job as a bodyguard/mercenary under Katsuhiro. Yet, to honor King's friendship, Craig would not tell Katsuhiro of his current whereabouts, at least not until this next fight. Ganryu and Bob were Craig's competition at this circus venue in Warsaw. By playing rock paper scissors, Ganryu wins, so he will fight Craig first.

Ganryu: "Alright! I'm ready to face this man and honor the art of sumo!" (Gets in fighting position.)

Craig (not impressed.): "Hmph. You won't last long against me tubby. C'mon!"

The battle commences in front of a standout crowd of at least 2,000 fans, Ganryu didn't last long against Craig however. Craig quickly dominated Ganryu with the use of the ground and pound game. When Bob saw this from the front row, he felt that he needed to intervene. Bob leaps in the air from the front row, and kicks Marduk off Ganryu, whose face was pretty bruised up from the punches.

Bob: "Ganryu! You ok buddy?"

Ganryu: "Ugh. My Julia it's nice to see you."

Bob: "I'll take that as a no. Don't worry. This guy is all mine."

Craig (stands up.): "You're gonna wish you stayed in the sidelines chump!"

Bob: "Five minutes is all I need to take you out!"

Craig (Angry.): "I'm the one who should say it! Rrrrrrraaaaaaahhhhhh!"

After studying the predictable moves from Craig when Bob encountered him back in Austraila, and witnessing him beat up on Ganryu, Bob countered every punch Craig threw at him. The crowd grew in admiration of this overweight man, moving like a ballerina, against the gigantic Craig Marduk.

Craig (trying to smash Bob.): "Agggghhhh! Take this!"

With all his strength, Craig uses 2 hands to smash Bob, but he rolls out of the way. In response, Bob performs one of his ultimate attacks, The Grater Langouste Kick. This move caught Craig by surprise for he is knocked out. His body files into the backstage of the circus venue. The crowd cheers in approval of Bob's latest attack. Roses are thrown in his direction, and he kindly takes a bow.

Back in Colombia…

The battle between Michelle & Armor King versus Paul Phoenix & Kuma was turning out to be an entertaining one. Julia couldn't watch the whole fight since she wore her mask and some fans wanted her autograph. She was getting really popular with this Jaycee alias. Julia needed to go back toward the stage area to see who was winning the fight. By the time, Julia comes back she notices her mentor about to finish off his opponent.

Armor King (Leaps in the air.): "It's time to end this!"

Kuma's claws could not dent the metal plates that Armor King wore. So Armor King managed to inflict his damage against him with minimal problems. Armor King uses his Capital Punishment attack and strikes Kuma right at his cranium. The bear hits the ground hard, no longer able to get up.

Julia (Watching.): "Wow. Mentor took out Kuma!"

Armor King: "Now to see about Michelle."

Michelle earlier in the fight was caught by Paul's mighty punches and got knocked into the cave part of the stage. This area held some interesting fossils and dinosaur bones, which were never excavated. The fall bruised her left hip. So she couldn't put much weight on her leg as she continued to fight Paul. Paul needed to finish her off so he and Kuma could win. But Kuma is no longer able to fight, something Paul will soon realize.

Paul (Apologizes): "Sorry miss! But you stand in my way of being the #1 fighter in the universe!"

Michelle (Hip hurting.): "This isn't good."

Paul: "Here I go! Ose!"

Before Paul charged up for his ultimate punch, he was tapped on his shoulder. Paul turns around get clocked several times by Armor King in the head. Michelle took this final opportunity to use of one her signature attacks, the Lighting Hammer. Ignoring the pain, Michelle charges at Paul and punches him high in the air. Armor King uses this moment as a tag combo. He catches Paul in mid air, and performs a Jaguar Pile Driver. This knocks out Paul. The match is over, Armor King and Michelle come out victorious.

Michelle (Falls down in pain.): "Agh! My hip!"

Armor King (comes to her aid.): "Michelle! Are you alright?"

Michelle: "No. My hip is hurting really bad from the fall. I don't think I can walk."

Armor King (touches her hip.): "Good it's not broken. Don't worry, I took care of Kuma. Now let's get the medical attention you need."

Lucky for them, the G Corporation medical team was on standby. Julia later caught up with her mother and Armor King at the medical team tent. Michelle would be okay for she only sprained her hip and thigh. The other duo of Kuma and Paul had to be flown away from the desert for they suffered head injuries.

Back in Poland…

Katsuhiro: "Craig! Craig wake up!"

The sound of that voice was very familiar to Craig. But it wasn't loud enough to wake him up from his nap. Suddenly a splash of water hit Craig's face. He rises up immediately from the water's cold temperature. He sees his boss Katsuhiro and a subordinate holding a bucket where he dumped the water out. Katsuhiro had a pissed off look in his face.

Katsuhiro: "Dammit Craig! How could you lose to those joke fighters! And where in the world is King?"

Craig (Shakes his head.): "Wha? Boss? I dunno what just happened to me."

Katsuhiro: "Of course not idiot! Now answer me! Where is your friend King?"

Craig: "King? He left for Algeria."

Katsuhiro: "Why on earth is he in Algeria?"

Craig (Halfway lying.): "He wouldn't tell me. Said it was very important. Like if he didn't do it, things would get outta control within the Shibata LP."

Katsuhiro: "What could be more important than doing what I tell him to do? (To his subordinate.) That's it! I'm sending our special task force to find him! I want him alive!"

Subordinate: "Understood Mr. Miyashita."

Katsuhiro (Turns to Craig.): "Craig I'll forgive you for tonight since you had to fight 2 on 1. But if I find out you're lying about King, then you will no longer be a part of this company!"

Craig: "Aw man."

Katsuhiro (Walks away.): "One last thing. Remember that Jaycee girl you fought? I'm interested in her abilities. Perhaps if I let you keep tabs on her actions, then I'll see to it you get a bonus, even worth more than King's payscale."

Craig (Grins.): "Are you serious? You're the shit Katsu! Just know that."

Katsuhiro (Before closing the door.): "You rest up Mr. Marduk. I will contact you when the time is right."

Katsuhiro leaves the hotel where he booked a room for Craig to recover and lay low. Now it would seem that one of his bodyguards was sticking his nose where it didn't belong. If King did go to Algeria, then it has to do with something about the youth rejuvenation research. What uses would King need it for is something that Katsuhiro would have to figure out.

Notes: Yep, Craig Marduk gets embarrassed gnce again by Bob. Somehow Katsuhiro quickly forgives him and wants him to find Julia Chang. In the next chapter, King will meet with Lei Wulong and Feng Wei to discover the Shibata LP's abandoned chemical plant in the Sahara Desert.