TEKKEN: THE COLD AND THE WARM
ACT 4: More Than Meets the Ear
Somewhere in Chinatown, New York City, USA
The streets of Chinatown on Manhattan were unusually busy, especially since it was a city such as New York. In this enclave lived the Chinese-American community of the city, although there existed other neighborhoods like this across America, not just in New York.
Walking around on the sidewalk was two best friends: the martial artists Paul Phoenix and Marshall Law. But for what reason were they walking around in this neighborhood?
"Wow. I don't know how to say this, but isn't New York's Chinatown larger than the one back in San Francisco?" Paul asked his best pal.
Marshall nodded his head. "Yup. It's the largest concentration of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere" he replied, impressed with their surroundings. "Man, I haven't been here since a business trip I did with Marshall China a couple of years ago. Looks like it's changed a lot since then" he added to his observation.
Paul was confused. "Marshall China? Oh yeah, that..." he remembered his friend once chasing his dreams to be a businessman. "Hard to believe how you tried creating your own McDonald's once" the Judo fighter admitted.
In response, Marshall only stared at him disapprovingly. "Really, Paul? That's the best comparison you can come up with? My food is ten times better than the calory bombs they serve at those!" the chef/fighter was feeling slightly nostalgic, only to realize that his pride was getting the better of him. He sighed. "But the past is in the past now. I've moved on from the restaurant business" he admitted with a optimism.
Paul smiled and patted his friend's back. "Good to hear it, buddy" he commended him, starting to look around in the neighborhood. "Now where do we find this dojo Forrest told us about?" he wondered.
"He did say that it was located just right across the building where this Chinatown's Marshall China once stood. That means its' somewhere along 101 Mott Street" Marshall remarked.
"But we're standing by it, aren't we?" Paul quizzed as and Marshall looked at the street they stood by.
It was indeed 101 Mott Street. But as Marshall looked around, he could not spot the building where Marshall China once stood.
"I don't see it here. Let's head upwards. Maybe we'll find it there" the Chinese-American man suggested.
The two friends then went upwards, walking past parked cars and busy shopkeepers. As they arrived in the next turf, Paul and Marshall looked around to see any of the buildings. But it was confusing, since almost every one of them looked the same.
"Crap…..there's no sign here that says what it is!" Paul cursed.
"Yeah, no kidding. I'm reading all those signs written in Chinese and they say nothing about a dojo or something. Now Forrest did say that this guy was probably the only dojo master here in New York, but I'm not so sure" Marshall responded, looking around to see if there was any building that resembled a dojo.
"You folks looking for somethin'?" this elderly voice made both friends turn around and see who it was.
Paul and Marshall were surprised. It was an elderly black man with grey dreadlocks and sunglasses. Given his age, he held onto a cane for support. This man's choice of attire was also intriguing, given that he wore a white jacket and red bottoms. The jacket was decorated with two golden dragons on the front, and a 戒-mark on the back. His shoes were golden and with a leopard-print decoration. He also wore a large golden medallion around his neck. Accompanying him was a black-furred pitbull.
"Umm, we're…" Marshall struggled with finding words, only for Paul to interject.
"We're lookin' for a dojo owned by some old dude named Leroy Smith. Do you know where to find it, gramps?" Paul cavalierly asked this stranger with no regards about his age.
Understandably, the old man frowned upon hearing Paul's comment about him.
"Who're you calling gramps? You better watch your tone with your elders, boy" he sternly replied.
In response, Paul scoffed at him. "Boy? Me?" he asked, only to let out a loud laugh. He then showcased his muscular arms and biceps. "Sorry to burst your bubble, old timer. But I'm still at my prime. Nobody punches a brick wall like me!" Paul boasted, grinning cockily towards the elderly man.
Marshall facepalmed in what he was seeing. "Why do you always have to be such a showoff whenever someone doesn't take you seriously?" he lamented, his best friend still exhibiting himself.
In response at seeing Paul's attitude, the old stranger chuckled. The Judo fighter was pissed, as he knew that this man was doing that out of mockery.
"In your prime, you say? I'll have to disagree with you on that, whippersnapper. To me, that attitude of yours is on par with an arrogant reality tv personality" he said, only to surprisingly throw his cane away. He then stood in a fighting position which was familiar to both Paul and Marshall. "And that, my boy, is bad for martial artists like us. True fighters earn their reputation humbly, not via fame or fortune" the elderly man went on.
Paul couldn't stand being berated by a man much older than him. But he was equally surprised to see the fighting stance this stranger was doing.
"That stance of his….is that…" Paul realized what it was, yet Marshall was already one step ahead of him.
"Yeah…...that's Wing Chun" Marshall exclaimed out in disbelief. But then something hit him. "Wait…didn't Forrest say something about this dojo master being an master in…." he was slowly starting piece the puzzles together.
But Paul was having other plans for this man. "Heh. You think you can handle me? Sir, you don't know who you're dealing with. I'm the toughest fighter in the universe: Paul Phoenix!" the Judo fighter exclaimed while showcasing his muscular right arm.
"Toughest fighter in the universe? That's some bold words coming from such a lousy loudmouth" the old man responded, more than keen on fighting Paul. "But if you're as tough as you claim you are then why not have a go at me? I'll be more than happy to humble you" he then challenged him.
Paul smirked back, cracking his knuckles. "You're on, geezer! I'll be careful not to break your precious bones and sunglasses! Osu!" the Judo fighter was willing to accept the challenge from this mysterious man.
Paul's opponent scowled. "Man, I'm really starting to dislike your constant name-calling" he admitted, only to spot his pitbull growling at the younger man. He chuckled at seeing this. "It's alright, Sugar. I've got this. This will only take a few seconds. Go stand beside Forrest's dad and watch the fight" he told his trusty partner by his name.
Without hesitating, Sugar did as her owner told him. The dog happily walked up to Marshall with a wiggling tail, who leaned down to pet her.
"Did he just call me Forrest's dad? Wait! Then that means he's the….." he was about to conclude his observation, only for a familiar voice to call him from behind.
"Dad!" the Chinese-American fighter quickly turned around and was met with a smiling young man. Marshall erupted out of happiness, as he stretched out his arms to receive his hug from him.
"Forrest! There you are, son!" Marshall exclaimed as he and the man, who was indeed Forrest, hugged it out like any father and son would. The hug didn't last long, as Marshall let go of his son to look at him from up to the top. "Boy, you sure are looking great! Your wounds have already healed!" he was surprised.
Forrest shook his head nervously. "Sure they have, dad. They healed a long time ago" he told his father. "Speaking of long time, I heard Paul was coming with…" he tried looking for Paul, only to hear the sound of a wailing.
Behind them, Paul was already on the asphalt holding onto his stomach. Needless to say, he had been defeated in combat by this elderly man.
"Argh…goddamnit! My spleen…that hurt! Oww!" Paul felt the pain as his opponent picked up his cane and walked straight towards him.
"You got some spirit, I'll give you that. But you're not the only one who's trained his body all his life. I'm way ahead of you" he said, reaching out a hand to the man below him. "The name's Smith. Leroy Smith. I'm the dojo master you folks have been lookin' for" he introduced himself.
Paul was speechless. All this time, he had battled the dojo master he had heard so much about. Regardless, he accepted Leroy's helping hand and was dragged up.
"Master Leroy! You're back" Forrest joined up with them, the young man scratching the back of his neck. "Hehe…...I see that you've already met Paul…..." he chuckled nervously while observing Paul holding onto his spleen.
Leroy smiled. "No reason to worry, Forrest. I went easy on him. Had I gone out with everything I've had, your friend would've probably not made it out alive" he assured Forrest, taking a quick glance at Paul, who only huffed at him in return.
But Paul soon turned his attention towards Forrest, the Judo fighter quickly walking over to give this young man a bear hug.
"FORREST! THERE YA ARE, LITTLE BUDDY! HOW'VE YA BEEN!?" Paul asked while Forrest winced in pain, feeling Paul's tight muscles squeeze him.
"Paul…..you're almost breaking my bones…..I'm still trying to heal them…" Forrest reminded him through gritted teeth.
Realizing his mistake, Paul immediately let go of Forrest, regretting not knowing that earlier.
"Woah! I'm so sorry, kiddo! I totally forgot!" he apologized to the young man.
"It's okay, really" Forrest assured his friend. "Been a while since I've felt your bear hugs, though. I missed them sometimes" he then remarked, much to Paul's offense.
"Bear hugs? Give me a break! Do I look like Kuma to ya or something?" Paul responded, much to the amusement of Forrest and his father.
"Anyway, it's great to see you again, son" Marshall told him only to look at Leroy.
The elderly man held onto his cane while smiling at the pair of fighters. "You guys are the two fighters Forrest has told me much about. Marshall Law and Paul Phoenix. It's a great pleasure to finally meet you two in person" he politely told them.
"So you're the toughest dojo master on the American east coast?" Marshall asked, intrigued by this individual.
"There's no one tougher" Forrest joined in, cementing praises towards Leroy. "Master Leroy is stronger than you think. I can attest to it…as well as Paul" his words earned him a death glare by Paul, who did not take kindly to being reminded about his quick defeat.
Leroy chuckled at what he heard the young man say. "Now, now, Forrest. You know me. I'm not the kind of person who likes to brag. There are other masters here in New York and in other cities who are just as good as me" he insisted to Forrest.
"Mind if we get a look at this dojo of yours?" Marshall suddenly chimed in, bowing at Leroy with formality. "As a fellow owner myself, it would be an honor to see how a master like you operate it" he told him.
"Sure thing. The students are gone for today, but you are more than welcome to stay with us. You're Forrest's dad, after all" Leroy said before looking at the young man. "With his assistance, my dojo has become an ideal place for young students. I'm very thankful for that, because this dojo means very much to me" he remarked.
Forrest was already down on his knees petting Sugar. "Oh, and this is Sugar. She's Master Leroy's trusty companion…..as well as his only family" he told them while introducing the pitbull to his father and Paul.
"Sugar? Weird name for a dog, don't ya think?" Paul remarked before looking at Leroy. "At least you got good taste in pets. I've met people who's had bears and pandas as such" he remarked.
But Leroy frowned deeply for some reason. "Please don't call Sugar a pet. To me, she's much more than that" he said, only to begin walking. Anyway, let's get going. I'll take you folks to my dojo" he told the pair of fighters.
While Marshall had already started to develop some form of admiration towards Leroy, Paul was still not as impressed. His embarrassing defeat by him was the obvious reason.
Inside the dojo, Paul and Marshall were treated to a place that almost resembled a gym. However, there was Chinese decorations almost everywhere.
"Wow! This dojo is bigger than mine back in San Francisco" Marshall was stunned by the size of it as he looked around. "How do you even support this place?" he then asked Leroy.
"I'm a trader by profession. Before settling down here in Chinatown, I traveled across the globe meeting all sorts of people and cultures. Everything I earned, I put it on this place" Leroy explained to the Chinese-American man.
Marshall whistled in amazement. "Man, so that explains how you came to know Wing Chun. But why did you learn it?" he kept on with the asking.
"Dad, I don't think Master Leroy appreciates you asking too many…" Forrest tried to interject him, only for Leroy to stop the young man by holding his hand up.
"No need to scold your dad, Forrest. In fact, I was planning on getting to know him and his angry friend here a little more" he said, smiling as he looked the pair. "Let's go upstairs to my crib, where we can enjoy a conversation in peace without having bypassing folks looking through the window at us" the old master suggested.
Feeling curious about Leroy, both friends agreed. They took an elevator up to what appeared to be Leroy's apartment. It was at the top of the building itself. But when they got there, they were in for quite the surprise.
Everything up here looked completely different from the dojo below. It was a condo, with a flatscreen, a fancy table and even a swimming pool out in the rooftop. Needless to say, it was quite a home for someone so old as Leroy. What was also noticeable was how the condo had so many Chinese decorations in almost every room.
Around a small table by the flatscreen, Leroy and his visitors sat there and were already engaging in a candid conversation.
"Gotta say, you sure are living comfy up here, Leroy Smith" Marshall said, only to snap as he realized how wrong he was to have said that. "Sorry, I meant, Master Leroy" he clarified himself.
"There's no need to be so formal with me, Marshall. Since you're a dojo owner too, I'm seeing you as an equal" Leroy assured him with a nervous chuckle, only to look at Paul. "Now as for you, Paul Phoenix. It's to my understanding that you once fought Kazuya Mishima to a draw. Is that right?" he asked the man with the weird hairstyle.
Paul scoffed at his question. "What does that have to do with you?" he replied, still acting quite sour towards the elderly martial artist.
"For the love of God, Paul. How long are you gonna keep being so butthurt over a quick match?" Marshall was completely in disbelief over his friend's attitude towards him.
"Yeah, get a hold of yourself" Forrest joined in.
But Leroy didn't seem to take Paul's moody behavior personally. Rather, he was amused by it.
"Stubborn and persistent, huh? I like that. Almost reminds me of myself when I was your age" Leroy admitted, but he wasn't finished speaking. "Now about your rivalry with Kazuya. You're not the only person who's been battling a Mishima to a draw, you know" he revealed.
This brought Paul's full attention to him. "What do you mean by that?" he wondered, feeling confused.
Marshall weakly shook his head at his friend, clearly upset that Paul hadn't seen the bigger picture.
"Let me just put it in a simpler way. Every infamous Mishima has always had a rival. It's clear to me that you're Kazuya's rival, although he himself may not see it that way" Leroy noted as he looked at Paul.
"Yeah. And that Hwoarang-kid considers himself Jin Kazama's rival…..although I can't say whether Jin really sees it like that" Marshall chimed in, only to snap when he remembered something. "Oh, that's right! Wang Jinrei, he was rivals with Heihachi's dad…..Jinpachi or something…" he then remarked, uncertain about the name of Heihachi's father.
Paul, who seemed to have finally gotten the picture together, stared at Leroy out of astonishment. The elderly man smirked as he noticed Paul's look upon him.
"No way…" the Judo fighter couldn't believe it. "You're saying that you once fought that old goat to a draw?" he asked in disbelief.
Leroy and the Laws had to laugh at hearing what Paul said of Heihachi, but it only lasted a few seconds.
"Now that goat-comment was a bit too much, but still funny nonetheless" the man with the sunglasses said, only to finally revert back to his serious persona. "But it is as y'all think. I once battled Heihachi Mishima to a draw. As such, I became one of the few fighters he considered a worthy rival. That made me only do that in return" he went on revealing the details.
Marshall and Paul were both surprised to hear this. All this time, they had always suspected that Heihachi had never been beaten by anyone outside his own family. But here they sat right before the man who had once gone toe to toe with Heihachi.
"Who are you, really?" Paul asked, this time being very respectful towards Leroy.
In response, the elderly man took off his sunglasses. Paul and his best friend were stunned as they saw that his right eye had no iris. That could only mean one thing. Leroy was blind in his right eye.
Leroy formed a deep frown, looking down at his cane while recalling back to his past.
"I was born in Harlem, New York. My family, like many others from that neighborhood, struggled to make end's meet. But no matter how poor we were or discrimination we faced, we always held on together. That's why I thought my family would always survive the harsh life in New York" Leroy explained, smiling as he recalled back to his family. But that smile quickly turned upside down. "But that never happened…..due to the Big Apple War" he then revealed.
Paul's eyes lid up in astonishment. "The Big Apple War? Is that even real? I've been told that it was nothing more than an urban legend!" he remarked.
Forrest nodded his head weakly. "The reason why it's never being mentioned in the American history files….is due to the authorities being complicit in it's making" the young man revealed.
"They were?" Marshall asked, facing Leroy with a respectful glance. "I'm sorry to ask you this…...but what happened during that war?" he asked the elderly man.
Those around him could tell that Leroy was not comfortable telling them about this. Yet he still felt the need to, as sharing his troubled history was the best way to let them know him better.
"During that time, crime and corruption was rampant across New York. Not only was it due to those damn gangs. The politcians and the NYPD were just as guilty with their bribes. As such, they let the gangs do as they pleased" Leroy told them, his eyes narrowing further. "Everyone wanted their fair share of the Big Apple. Italian mafia, Chinese triads, Japanese yakuza, Irish mobsters, Latino cartels, Jamaican yardies, they all treated the city as their personal playground. It wasn't uncommon to hear explosions and gunfights around every corner of the streets. And it was one of those gunfights…..where my family was caught in a crossfire" he revealed, shutting his eyes in order to take the pain of memorizing it.
Paul and Marshall could only see the sadness coming from this man, despite Leroy not showing it out in the open. It was clear that the loss of his family had affected Leroy deeply. Sugar got up on the sofa, sitting on her owner's lap. The elderly man happily petted her.
"Despite my family struggling financially, we refused to get involved in criminal activity. But we still weren't safe from their activities either. During a shootout between Italian mobsters and Jamaican yardies….my family died in the crossfire. I too was hit in my eye. At that rate, I was ready to die and accept my end…..only to fall in the Hudson River" Leroy revealed, moving his hand across his damaged right eye. Clearly, this was the scar from that horrible day he lost his family. "As I fell into the Hudson, I thought the watery grave was near…..until I was rescued by some Chinese merchants on their vessel" he went on telling them.
"Wow, you were saved? That's amazing" Marshall remarked.
"Amen. But my eye was still bleeding, and there were times I felt like I was on my deathbed. The only thing that kept me alive…..was my desire to avenge my family. Those damn gang wars had cost so many innocent lives. And if the NYPD wouldn't take action, I would do so on my own" Leroy felt somewhat embittered as he told them that. But he calmed himself and continued. "With that said, I left the USA and started traveling around the world. With some guidance from those Chinese merchants, I managed to become a trader by profession. When I arrived in Hong Kong, I became fascinated by Wing Chun. With some humility and persuasion, I managed to train it by a local dojo master" he went on telling them how he learned Wing Chun.
"Ah, so that's how you learned Wing Chun? That's cool!" Marshall was impressed by his story.
Leroy chuckled, amused at seeing how these youngsters took an interest in his story. It only encouraged him to continue.
"Apart from my master, there were plenty of dojo masters I encountered in my youth. Wang Jinrei. Jinpachi Mishima. A powerful master of Agni Pungar from India whose name I've forgotten. They were the admirable fighters I got to meet" he explained, musing at his history with these individuals. "But the toughest fighter I'd ever encountered was Heihachi. Man, I still remember that look on his face after I sent him flying" Leroy revealed, chuckling as he recalled back to his duel with Heihachi.
"You managed to almost defeat that miserable coot? Woah, you could've entered the King of Iron Fist Tournaments. I'd love to see you beat his sorry ass to the curb" Paul expressed his admiration for this old fighter.
For some reason, Leroy frowned. As he heard Paul say that. The Judo fighter wondered whether he had said something wrong.
"Not a chance, boy. A tournament competition has never interested me. Especially since those are only luring fighters with their prize money" the elderly man solemnly stated, putting his sunglasses back on. "Besides, I had much more important goals to reach than settling a petty score with Heihachi. When I returned to New York, I started cleaning up the streets, starting with bringing justice to those gangs who'd killed my family" Leroy then revealed how he had avenged his loved ones.
"Not only did he do that" Forrest suddenly interjected, looking at the martial artist with admiration. "Master Leroy also started the dojo below us, in hopes of rescuing young boys and girls from the crime life. And boy, has that worked out" the young man didn't hold back his praises.
Marshall nodded his head in understanding. "I see. With so much crap happening around the block, not to mention the inadequacy of the NYPD, it's great to see someone like you taking the initiative" he remarked, only to look down at his lap in slight shame. "And me who's been too busy getting money. I've almost lost sight of what it means to be a dojo master" the chef/fighter lamented.
"Then perhaps it's time for Forrest to be brought over there as a teacher" Leroy joined, forming a reassuring smile as he looked at Marshall. "Under my guidance, he worked out well taking care of the place while you were gone. And he can still do the job. Give him the chance he deserves" he encouraged him.
The Chinese-American man quickly nodded his head at him. "You're right. Also, I must thank you for what you've done for me and my family" Marshall said as he looked over at his son. "Forrest has finally gotten back on his feet. And he did so eloquently" he kept raining praised upon his son.
"Thanks, dad. I'm still trying my best" Forrest assured his father with a respective nod.
Paul, who was liking what he saw so far, decided to change the subject into something more drastic. He only wondered whether Leroy was willing to hear it.
"Say, Leroy. I take it you heard everything about me and Marshall's latest adventure overseas. You probably know that Heihachi's…" Paul stopped speaking as Leroy held up his hand.
"No need to fill me in. I know everything. It's a damn shame, really. Being killed by his own son" Leroy remarked as he thought about the great event. "Despite me resenting the ongoing battle between those Mishimas, I can't help but to feel some level of pity towards Heihachi. I don't know why, but perhaps it has to do with the fact that…he hid his inner struggles all his life" he suggested while thinking about the late Mishima Patriarch.
"Tch, well I sure as hell don't feel an ounce of pity towards any of them. Hell, Kazuya's now readying his forces. From the way I see it, it's not looking good for any of us" Paul replied.
The elderly master nodded his head weakly. "Exactly. Not to mention that Wang Jinrei is gone too. I heard how he bravely went down after sacrificing himself to save y'all from that wicked cultist. He will surely be missed by those who wish an end to this damn war" Leroy spoke very fondly about Wang.
"Yeah…..he was the strongest of us all…." Marshall lamented, also mourning the fall of the late martial arts master.
"But now that the entire world is at a stalemate…..things have only been more tense lately…." Forrest noted as he looked at his lap. "Just look around us. This war has driven more people into crime and despair, despite the US not being directly affected by it. But on a bright side, neither the Zaibatsu nor the G Corp has dared bring their war planes or military near the country" he then pointed out.
"But that does not mean we're exempt from any attacks, Forrest. Indeed, it's only a matter of time before either side decides to go all out on the strongest countries in the world, America included" Leroy then reminded Forrest and the other fighters.
Paul and Marshall looked at Leroy, each of them pondering whether this old master had something in store for them.
"I hate to ask you this, Leroy. But are you planning on making your move against Kazuya and the rest of his goons?" Marshall asked him.
To their surprises, Leroy nodded his head. "Correct. But only when the battle strikes. Until then, my priority is making sure the streets of New York are protected from any sorts of crime. I assume y'all wanna hear what my plans are" he explained, only to see how much interested these guys had.
Smiling, Leroy decided to tell them, knowing that he could trust not just Forrest, but his father and Paul as well.
Inside the Pentagon, Washington D.C., USA
The Pentagon was the seat of the United States Department of Defense. Every military organ of the armed forces, from the army to the agency, ran their operations from there. Needless to say, the Pentagon was a symbol of the USA's military might.
Inside one of the many corridors, a young man was walking to an elevator, with two security guards accompanying him. This was Bo Montana, also known better under his codename: Rodeo. Having entered the previous tournament to not only stop the Mishimas, but to investigate the actions of the Acolytes of Pluton, Rodeo had been on quite a journey. Since returning home after the incident on Hawaii, he had been called into a meeting with his superiors at the Pentagon itself.
That is why Rodeo had been dressed nicely for the event, wearing a uniform and a hat that was common for those serving in the Marines. But from what Rodeo himself knew, the President himself would not be present. However, the Secretary of Defense himself was among those he would meet, alongside several high-ranking officials in the army.
The soldier and his entourage arrived at an elevator that was open. As they entered, Rodeo pushed a button which would take the trio underneath the building itself.
While standing inside this tiny space, Rodeo rubbed his face.
"I'm not looking forward to this" Rodeo lamented, yet made sure not to say this so that the security guards would hear him. "But it is necessary, for the good of the nation" he realized, sucking it up and readied himself for this chance encounter.
Once the elevator's doors opened, Rodeo and his entourage entered dark corridors that had people standing guard on each side in lines. It was as if they were expecting him to come. Still, that didn't surprise Rodeo, as he knew how much security these halls had.
Walking around a corner, the trio entered what appeared to be a large hall. In here, a giant screen was on and it showed the world map, with several red dots marked across it. But Rodeo turned his attention on two men who rose up from their seats. The first was a general, someone whom Rodeo didn't seem to recognize. But the second man, who was an imposing black man, looked very familiar to a person he knew.
"You must be Sergeant Bo Montana. Or "Rodeo" as you usually prefer to be called" the Secretary of Defense spoke with a smile as he reached out his hand to him.
This made Rodeo salute before him in return. "Secretary…..sir…..I….." the soldier was confused, seeing as the man standing before him had strong command and authority over the military, second only to the president himself. "It's a great honor to meet you" he then snapped, realizing that he needed to handshake.
As he and the secretary shook hands, the general took his time observing Rodeo from the sidelines. From what Rodeo could tell, he didn't seem that much impressed of him for some reason.
"Hmph, what kind of person codenames himself Rodeo, anyway?" he asked while eyeing the soldier from top to toe. "From what I gather in your files, you're not from Texas or any other state at the border with Mexico. So what's your excuse?" the general added.
This made Rodeo feel awkward, yet he decided to answer him, anyway. "It was just a nickname I got during my high school days, trust me. You see, I was a Quarterback football player during those times" he answered the general.
Even so, the general did not look pleased with hearing his answer. "Still makes no sense to me. You don't ride horses on the football field" he remarked, resting his hands behind his back.
"Let us not waste time with meaningless jibes here, general. We brought Sergeant Montana here for a very important reason" the Secretary of Defense spoke up, facing the young man with a look that made it seem like he wanted something from Rodeo. "Me and my colleagues here would like to hear of your report. So far, the president and the rest of us in his cabinet have only understood the more obvious events. We want to know what really transpired" he then revealed.
Rodeo understood what the secretary was saying. But as he looked around in the hall, he realized that most people here were nothing but military officials.
"I will fill you in on everything. But with all due respect, sir, wouldn't it be better if the president himself was with us to hear it?" Rodeo asked him respectfully.
"What kind of question is that? Soldier, you need to…" the general's rebuke was stopped by the secretary raising his hand to make him stop.
"Calm yourself, general. This sergeant makes a valid point. Sadly, the president will not be at this meeting for a good reason" he said before facing Rodeo. "With the global events that has transpired, uncertainty has taken hold upon the American people. As such, it falls upon the president to show some guidance towards all citizens. We can't afford everyone to fall into despair" the secretary added, giving the reasons for the president's absence.
Rodeo nodded his head in a formal manner towards him. "You're right. Please excuse my ignorance" he apologized.
"Now then, let us hear of your report, Rodeo. We wish to know everything" the secretary told the soldier.
For about an hour, Rodeo spent his time summarizing his recent mission. He informed them about everything, from the tournament, to the movements of Revenant and his cultist. The secretary and the other military officials listened closely, taking notes of everything that came out of the soldier's mouth. Once Rodeo was finished, it was time for his listeners to reflect on what he'd told them.
"So that's it then?" the secretary looked Rodeo with a troubled expression. "While the Mishimas were fighting, these Acolytes of Pluton used this confusion to their advantage. And this Revenant sought to kill both Heihachi and Kazuya, but for what reason?" he couldn't understand why the cultist would wish that.
"Truth be told, I've no idea, sir. But he clearly seemed to view them as obstacles to whatever master plan he had. He wanted to bring back the "Gods of Old" or whatever crap he believed in" Rodeo informed his superiors. "That being said, Kazuya won against Heihachi and threw him in the lava river, so it's safe to say that he won the duel" he then added.
"But the only question is whether he won the war" the general interjected. "So far, neither side has given any signs of entering a ceasefire. And their refusal to engage with the international community only makes it worse" he then expressed his frustations.
The secretary nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Which leads us to wanna discuss this with you" he said and suddenly pushed a button a remote he was holding.
When he did that, the large screen in the room showed everyone a large satellite floating in space. From what Rodeo could tell, it looked as if this satellite was rotated towards the Earth. But he couldn't tell whether the thing it had attached to it was a weapon or not.
"A satellite…yet it does not appear to be one of ours" Rodeo remarked from observing this.
"Correct. It is not. Neither does it appear to belong to the Russians or the Chinese. Which makes us wonder whether this satellite belongs to either the Zaibatsu or the G Corp. We know at least that the Zaibatsu previously had a satellite death ray floating above Earth, until it was shot down by Kazuya, as your report tells us" the secretary informed the soldier while everyone else were listening. "Nobody knows where this satellite was shot up from, but our sources indicate that it was fired somewhere from the Pacific. Whoever owns this satellite, it does not appear to be used for scientific purposes" he then noted warily.
"What do you mean, sir?" Rodeo asked him.
The secretary responded by pushing a button, thus showing something around the satellite and its reflectors. As Rodeo looked closer, he was shocked.
"No….this can't be happening…" the soldier was in disbelief.
"It is as you see. That satellite has been emitting radiation towards the Earth. It has thus heavily affected the climate, let alone the many bacteria that exists on the planet" the general informed Rodeo, as well as everyone in the room. "However, it is also capable of turning the crystalized methane hydrate that lies dormant at the bottom of the world's oceans to its gaseous form. If that continues….it will only affect the entire global ecosystem" he added.
"Normally, we would act quickly to down that satellite. But something has prevented us from making such a move" the secretary revealed as he gave Rodeo a newspaper.
When the solider looked at it, he could see that the main headline was all about the G Corporation, as well as Kazuya Mishima. The news article looked troubling.
"The G Corp are preparing for a military buildup? Then that means….." Rodeo was speechless.
"Yes. Our agents from the CIA have reported it. They are somehow readying their forces. And because of their military buildup, we fear that we are their next target of aggression" the secretary noted grimly, looking at the satellite in the screen. "This has made us wonder whether this satellite belongs to the G Corp, and that they are using it as a weapon of mass destruction, similar to how the Zaibatsu did" he added more details.
Rodeo looked at the screen. From what he could tell, people across the globe, including US citizens, were more concerned about a potential G Corp attack than the satellite. He also understood that Revenant and his followers were not much of a concern to them at the moment. Hopefully, the USA would find a way to confront these threats, along with the rest of the international community.
At an orphanage somewhere outside Hermosillo, Mexico
This orphanage, made out of white marbles, was a very important place for a certain man. The famed masked luchador called King had established it in order to help young Mexican orphans from drifting into the abyss of violence and crime. But since King's death at the hands of Ogre, his successor, who now carries the title of King, assumed responsibility of the orphanage.
King had himself been one of the many orphans growing up at this place. Still, running the place proved to be a challenge, especially in these uncertain times.
As if things couldn't have been worse, King had also been plagued by other problems, something that was much more personal.
Right now, there was a barbeque happening outside the orphanage's gardens. The smell of grilled meat could be felt in the air.
"Alright, ya little ankle biters! Who wants some delicious snags from the barbie!?" a middle-aged man with bald head and dark skin asked a crowd of children as he was moving some sausages from a grill.
The children were cheering in return and they each wanted to gang up on him. These were the orphans whom King looked after. The wrestler himself had stepped in between the man and the children, along with his good friend: Craig Marduk.
"Cálmate, niños! Form a line! There is enough for everyone!" King told the hungry crowds as he and Marduk were trying their best to block the children from coming at the man who grilled.
He responded by laughing. "Crikey! Them kids look hungry as a pack of dingo pups!" he remarked out of amusement.
"Pops! Just cool it with the metaphors will ya!?" Marduk said to the man.
But he only laughed. "Ease up, Craigie! The tucker's almost ready" he responded to his son.
That's right. This man, who looked exactly like Marduk, except for being a miniature version and lacking his facial beard, was his father. His name was Mick Marduk. Unlike his son, Mick spoke in a straight Australian accent. His ethnicity was Aboriginal, and his skin color was almost the same as Marduk's, except being a little darker.
Not far from where the action was going, a grey-haired woman sat and laughed at the scene she was witnessing.
"I reckon these children will have a dinner they've never forget" she suggested, musing to herself.
That woman was Janet Marduk, the Vale Tudo fighter's mother. Judging by her ethnicity, she seemed to be a white Australian.
While King and Marduk had been overseas, the couple had taken the initiative to look after the orphanage in their absence. When King and his friend returned, he was stunned to see how safe the orphanage had been. None of the orphans had been harmed, and the Marduk-couple had treated them as if they were their own.
For that, King was very grateful towards their effort, as well as to Marduk, seeing as how it was his parents.
Sitting by many tables, the children enjoyed some delicious hotdogs. King and Marduk sat with the latter's parents.
"I must thank you for doing this for the children. On their behalf as their caretaker, I'm grateful towards you" King thanked Mick and Janet.
The couple smiled at the luchador in return. "No worries, King. It's the least me and Janet here could do for you, seeing as how you've been a great mate to our own Craigie" Mick replied, taking a glance at his much taller son.
Marduk only slumped when hearing his father's usual nickname for him. "Come on! Quit treating as if I'm still a little boy" he whined, annoyed at Mick's affectionate words for him.
"But you will always be our little boy, Craig. You're our son" Janet said while reaching out her hand to grab her son's elbow. "It's hard to realize how much Americanized you've become since you grew up and left Australia. Your Aussie accent has disappeared" she then remarked.
"Tch, and probably for the best" Marduk responded, dismissing his mother's concerns. Still, the tall man was careful not to be totally disrespectful towards his parents. "Look, I too am really grateful for what you've done for the orphanage. It means a lot to not just King…..but to these kids as well" the Vale Tudo fighter smiled at his parents.
"Of course, son. Your mom and I raised ya to be the strong bloke you are today. That's why we love children, especially those who deserve to have an innocent childhood. Someone's gonna have to make sure each them do not piss in their daks as you did at their age" Mick responded with a jibe directed at his son.
Marduk felt embarrassed and pissed at hearing this. "I told you not to bring that up again!" he respectfully scolded his father, much to the amusement of his mother, and King to an extent.
"That being said, Mick and I more than happy to give you a hand with watching over these kids. They need guidance if they hope to become outstanding men and women" Janet said as he looked at King. "Say, King. You wouldn't happen to have a chalky who gives the orphans here some lectures, would ya?" she suddenly asked him.
The luchador didn't know how to respond to it, yet he did so anyway.
"To tell you the truth, I have sort of been that teacher figure. Although I won't say I'm the right material" King conceded, feeling a little ashamed that the orphanage didn't have a teacher.
Janet's smile widened. "No worries, big guy. If you don't mind, I'll be more than stoked to give the kids some lesson in the simplest things. They need guidance about what is right or wrong. And don't worry about language barriers. I happen to know Spanish" she offered her services and knowledge, much to King's astonishment.
"Mom, quit acting like you're entitled to that job! You're freakin' embarrassing me, for crying out loud!" Marduk complained at his mother's antics.
"Now, now, Craigie. Don't you dare talk to your mother like that! She's a great shelia and has been working with children for many years" Mick reprimanded her son, only to hold up a can of beer for him to see. "Relax and enjoy a coldie instead!" he then said, bursting out into laughter.
Marduk facepalmed with both his hands, unable to fathom the amount of embarrassment he felt whenever his parents started acting out on their laidback habits and antics.
On the other hand, King was surprised by the behavior of this couple. He may looked like his son, but Mick nowhere near as cocky or hotheaded as Craig. And Janet was just as sweet and supportive as the ordinary mother was. The luchador sometimes wondered how someone so boastful as Marduk could come from them. Then again, King understood why his friend loved them dearly, no matter what antics they did.
"Now that I've met Marduk's parents, I can't help but to wonder whether their kindness and compassion would've vanished had I actually killed Marduk that day" King wondered inside, still recalling to the days he desired vengeance against the Vale Tudo fighter for Armor King's death. "Regardless, I'm glad I made the right choice. If only he could see the same thing I have" he lamented.
King was thinking about the new bearer of the title Armor King, who was the previous one's younger brother. Ever since King had befriended Marduk instead of killing him, Armor King had angrily vowed to pursue vengeance for his older brother himself.
During the aftermath of the recent tournament, Armor King and Marduk had almost come to blows on Hawaii. Despite the Vale Tudo fighter's pleas of giving him a chance of redemption, Armor King would hear none of it. The only thing that could satisfy him, was Marduk's death.
"Bastardo. You've really thrown away any last shred of honor" King noted.
Marduk and his parents had taken notice of King's behavior and they wondered what it was. However, Marduk could tell that based upon what he and his friend had been through, Armor King was on his mind. Sighing, the Vale Tudo fighter decided to get real with King.
"Hey, King. I know what you're thinking" Marduk said, catching his masked buddy's attention. "And I'm saying this to you once again, don't blame yourself for the predicament I'm in with Armor King. It's all on me after all" he tried to make King stop putting his burdens on his shoulders.
King could only glance at his friend, speechless at what Marduk had just told him. But then again, the Mexican man understood his reasons for coming up with such words.
"Ay dios mío" King uttered out in Spanish, rubbing his forehead on his mask.
"Tch, that wanker. He shows up randomly in Arizona to beat you up to death!? Oh, what I would've given to shove a fist up his…" Mick's angry words were interrupted by his wife.
"Language, Mick. There are children around us" Janet encouraged her husband to cease his aggression.
Mick grumbled, reluctantly refraining from calling Armor King whatever nasty words he could come up with.
On the other hand, Marduk shook his head at seeing what his father was trying to do.
"Look. We've been through this before. You guys KNOW the reason why I'm in this mess, right?" the Australian man tried to make his parents see the bigger picture. They both nodded their heads weakly. "Then you know that Armor King has a pretty good reason to be after my hide. I took his brother's life away…all because of my selfishness and aggressiveness" he then said, facing down the gap in the table between his arms.
"Marduk….." King watched as his friend was once again expressing his biggest regret of his life.
Marduk closed his eyes to think this through. "But no matter how many times I keep saying this, I can't change the past. That's why I've worked to transform myself as a person" he surprisingly spoke with words of wisdom, only to look at King with a smile beneath his beard. "It's all thanks to King that I managed to discover my true self. His forgiveness and honor led me to realize what a true man is" the Vale Tudo fighter expressed his honest gratitude towards King.
His parents did the same thing. "Bloody oath. You should feel damn lucky to have made a great cobber like King. As far as I recall, you didn't have many friends growing up back home, Craigie" Mick spoke fondly.
Marduk scoffed and looked away. "Only because they picked on me due to my Aboriginal heritage…" he muttered, recalling back to his troubled childhood.
Janet reached over the table to gently comfort her son by touching his elbow. "Of course. And those drongos were wrong to do that. But you being bullied doesn't give you the right to become a bully yourself. You know the old saying: two wrongs never make a right" she parted some words of wisdom to her son.
"I know that, mom. I know. Which is why I'm still gonna try convincing Armor King that I've changed, and that I've paid for my crimes" Marduk responded with a warm smile directed towards his mother.
It took a while before King had enough courage to respond to Marduk's words. The reason was because he was thinking about the words Janet had just said. They continued to hit him hard.
"Two wrongs never make a right" King thought of that sentence.
This. This was perhaps the one thing that had convinced King to spare Marduk's life, along with the fact that vengeance never brought satisfaction. For some reason, Janet's sense of wisdom resembled that of his late teacher's.
"If only you were here, master. You would know how to fix all this mess" King lamented, thinking about his teacher and the former Armor King.
"Hey, amigo. You okay?" Marduk's question brought King out of his trance.
"I am fine, really" King said, yet he realized that Marduk needed to hear his words about all this mess. "Listen, Marduk. About what you said. Thank you for not giving up on making Armor King see reason. Whatever he may be doing, I know that he's no beyond redemption" the luchador said.
Marduk grinned widely at that statement. "You said it, buddy!" he responded.
"Come now, Craigie. Can't ya say "mate" instead?" Mick interjected, much to his son's annoyance.
"I told you before, I hate the Aussie accent!" the tall man hit back, only to be pulled in his ear by his own father.
"Now that's no way to speak to your father, ya big larrikin! You love being an Aussie. Face it!" the middle-aged man owned his much taller son while Janet just laughed at what she saw.
While finding amusement in the Marduk family's antics, King felt somewhat ashamed of what he had just said. He felt as if he had lied to his best friend.
"Even as I want to make him see reason, I fear that Armor King is beyond hope. His heart is already consumed by his thirst of vengeance. That's why I believe there's no salvation left for him. I'm sorry, Marduk" the luchador silently apologized to his friend, not wishing to break up the hopes of redeeming himself in Armor King's eyes.
Inside Rio Sul Shopping Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This mall, located in the southern suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, was visited by shoppers every day. But given the size of the city, Rio Sul was not the only mall, as there existed at least six or seven more.
Rio Sul housed plenty of shops, all from fancy, antique boutiques to those selling sports gear.
At a nearby café, two friends: Christie Monteiro and Katarina Alves, were relaxing after an hour of shopping. They had purchased a lot of things, mostly clothes. Now, they drank some fruit juice, with Christie drinking peach juice while Katarina drank orange juice. From the looks of it, they enjoyed drinking these.
"Ah, refrescante" Christie sighed out in Portuguese after drinking it via a straw. "A cold drink is always nice. Shopping sure takes a toll on you physically and mentally" she then remarked as he looked over to her friend.
Katarina smiled. "Concordou. To be honest, I used to hate shopping. But with you, I'll admit that it's been a fun way of doing it" the woman with the sunglasses responded.
Christie giggled softly in return. "I'm glad that I don't bore you. No disrespect to you, of course" she tried pulling Katarina's leg.
"Relaxe, I know you were just trying to be funny. Truth is, those ex-friends of mine were too stuck-up and snotty to be around with. That's why I didn't go out shopping much. But now that I've made a new and better friend like you...it's much better than I ever realized" she told Christie.
The Brazilian girl showed understanding in return. Christie first met Katarina during the previous tournament, due to her friend, Eddy Gordo, having a not-so pleasant history with Katarina. But surprisingly, Christie and Katarina quickly formed a friendship, especially since they each sympathized with each other's problems.
"You're still thinking about him aren't you?" Katarina asked lowly, realizing that Christie had sometimes a painful expression on her face.
Instead of denying it, Christie nodded her head weakly. She even wiped off a small tear from her left eye. The young girl thought about her grandfather, who had recently been buried.
"I sometimes do that, given that the funeral was just a week ago. But as painful as that day was…..I needed to be in it….for my vô" Christie admitted, swallowing the pain inside of her. "It had to be done…and now…..I'm slowly making peace with myself…..in part thanks to you and Eddy" the Capoeirista remarked as she looked at her friend.
Trying hard to stop her tears from falling beneath her sunglasses, Katarina held Christie's hands on the table. She then proceeded to hug her, in which Christie warmly returned.
"That's so sweet to hear, moça. I'm very happy for you" Katarina told her.
After they had returned to Brazil, Christie, along with Katarina and Eddy, had attended her grandfather's funeral along with many other friends and relatives. It had been a sad day, especially when watching the coffin being buried at the cemetery. But even as it was sad, Christie and Eddy had felt peace at being able to bid farewell to the man who'd meant a lot to them, as her grandfather and his master, respectively. Christiano Monteiro had been a great Capoeira master in his prime. His illness was unfortunate and nobody could save it….not even the highly advanced medicines from the Mishima Zaibatsu.
That's right. Eddy had joined the Tekken Force in hopes of saving his master from the illness via the Zaibatsu's medicines. But since his death, Eddy had vowed to protect what he considered to be his family: Christie. She was the final piece of connection to his master. As such, they had struggled to make it back to Brazil. In the end, they succeeded. But something else had happened along the way.
"So….have you and Eddy gone out since we got back?" Christie asked her friend, trying her best to not sound so nitpicky.
"Certamente! One day he tried luring me to go for a trip to Cristo Redentor to get a good view of the sunset. I was against it at first, but after seeing the view, I regret feeling so reluctant" Katarina answered her. She then formed a mischievous smirk on her lips. "Another time was when I'd asked him to go for a walk with me on the promenade near Copacabana Beach. I said yes to that, of course. But you know what I did, don't you?" she went on sounding so smug.
Christie shook her head. "No. What happened? Eddy never tells me anything about your dates" she was curious to know why her friend was acting so mischievous all of a sudden.
Katarina giggled. "Is that so? Homem tolo. He was completely embarrassed and frustrated during that date" she remarked, only to lean closer as to whisper something to Christie. The young girl listened carefully. "I showed up wearing only a thong and a bandeau bikini top…plus heels. And boy, was he turned on. He got pissed at almost every man who so much as looked at me" the Brazilian woman then revealed, much to the utter disbelief of her friend.
"Oh meu Deus…Katarina…what were you thinking?" Christie couldn't believe her own ears.
But Katarina was still finding amusement in this. "Come on, it was fun! I just wanted to tease Eddy a little…...while also showing him a bit of my romantic side for him" he erupted into laughing, proud of her accomplishment.
Christie shook her head weakly as she drank from her juice. "I can see why Eddy probably doesn't wanna tell me about their dates" she thought as she observed Katarina acting so mischievous. That said, Christie had to smile a little. "Given how strict and serious Eddy usually is, I'm surprised that you got away with what you did" the young Capoeirista remarked.
"That's because he secretly liked it. Sure, the stares from all those mulherengos was not appreciated, but that's their own fault, not mine. Plus, that thong and bandeau bikini were gifts from him. So its only natural that I wore them with pride on a date" the Savate fighter revealed some convenient secrets.
Christie's eyes lid up in surprise. "Espere. Eddy bought you those? Isso é inacreditável!" the young girl replied.
"Damn straight. He once got a look at my clothes and thought some of them looked too old. That's why he got me some new ones, the thong and bikini included. Muito bonito, você não acha?" Katarina responded before taking a drink from her juice.
"I agree. But I'm also surprised with how you're so casual about telling me all this about your dates. Eddy's the complete opposite" Christie pointed out.
Katarina smiled as she put her glass down. "Because we're girls, Christie. You and I can share any secrets that no man, not even Eddy, needs to know of. That said, Eddy means a lot to you as well. That's why I can't just keep you out of our relationship" she explained her reasons.
It was very peculiar. Eddy and Katarina, who were introduced as enemies, managed to develop romantic feelings towards one another during the aftermath of the pervious tournament. Clearly, the many predicaments caused by the outside world, as well as each person's personal issues, had somehow brought those two Brazilians together.
"Speaking of secrets. Eddy may have not told you it, but me and him are working on finding the whereabouts of my pai. Those G Corp bastardos are no longer in Japan, so they're obviously holed up somewhere else in Asia" Katarina revealed.
Christie knew what she was talking about. Katarina had entered the previous tournament to find out what had happened with his adoptive father, Gilberto Alves, who had raised her since she was little girl. But when she had found him, it was not pleasant. Her adoptive father had been turned into a biomechanical weapon for the G Corp called Gigas. And not only that, his mind was controlled by the conglomerate. However, seeing Katarina had somehow brought tints of humanity back to Gigas. Even so, her adoptive father was still a slave to Kazuya and his associates.
Katarina's fists clenched as she fought about the man who had raised her like his own daughter.
"I may have failed to rescue him on Hawaii, but doesn't mean I'm quitting. He's still alive and is only continuing to experience pain by being the G Corp's servo" Katarina insisted to her friend, who was following every word.
Christie showed understanding in return. "Sim. And I'm with you, Katarina. You helped me and Eddy a lot when we needed it most. It's only fair that we do the same with you" she said, yet something was bugging the Brazilian girl's mind. "But I must ask, has Eddy found any leads so far?" she wondered.
"Não. But that's about to change. Because I may get to see my papai sooner than I think" Katarina said as she held up her phone. She showed her friend a picture of a news article written in Portuguese. It was from O Globo. "They're on the move, Christie. This stalemate they're discussing in the media is just besteira. Sooner or later, the G Corp will make their move and start attacking the rest of the world. And I have this feeling in my gut telling me that the Brasil will be next" the woman with the sunglasses explained as she showed the article.
Christie looked at it with a worried expression. "Droga…..and just when I'd hoped that we would at least experience some peace without any Mishima drama. But our country will not be the only ones to become a battlefield between those warring sides I'm afraid" she remarked from what she saw.
In response, Katarina put her hands on Christie's once again. The two friends looked at each other determined expressions.
"But we'll make it through. You, me and Eddy. There's no way in hell that Kazuya and his minions will be the end of us. Not before papai has been freed from their grasp" Katarina assured her friend.
"Absolutamente, Katarina" Christie responded with a nod.
To be continued…
