TEKKEN: THE COLD AND THE WARM
ACT 5: One Vision
Inside a skyrise building in La Défense, Paris, France
This district of Paris was known to be the business and economic center of Paris, and France as of whole. La Défense was also probably the largest economic hub in Europe, rivaled only by Bankenviertel in Germany and City in Britain. Regardless of which was bigger, La Défense was home to a number of skyscrapers that dotted the Paris cityscape.
It was inside one of these tall glass-like skyscrapers that Lars Alexandersson, Lee Chaolan and Alisa Bosconovitch had settled themselves in after arriving in Europe. Having learned that Asuka Kazama and Ling Xiaoyu had been kidnapped, the three had decided to leave Japan, in hopes of finding out more about their whereabouts. But they also had other motives for moving operations to the French capital.
Right now, the trio stood in an office and watched the view of Paris outside the window. It was a wonderful view, not to mention that the sun was shining above the city.
"Would you look at that? The sun is shining upon the City of Lights" Lee exclaimed, once again using his extravagant humor to impress his friends.
Lars chuckled while he weakly shook his head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Lee. We didn't come here to enjoy Paris. We came here to work" he pointed out to his adoptive half-brother.
"Bien sûr, mon ami. But it doesn't kill to just enjoy the view for a while" the business magnate insisted, gazing out to the view. "That being said, Paris was the right choice for us to settle in. Violet Systems has many contacts with certain people who would do anything to see the Zaibatsu and G Corp fall. All from investors in L'Oréal to executives at Société Générale were more than willing to give us some "accommodation" in this building" he then explained.
Lars and Alisa stood and watched him with baffled expressions. But Lars was perhaps the one most astonished of them both.
"You sure have many friends in high places around the world, don't you?" Lars didn't know how to respond to Lee's reputation.
Lee smirked. "In these dark times, friends are valued more than anything" he pointed out a fact which Lars pretty much agreed with.
But as Lee and Lars kept having this conversation, they noticed how Alisa felt somewhat downed. Clearly, there was something on her mind, and the android decided to express her concerns to her friends.
"I know that we left Miharu and Panda behind in Japan due to our mission's dangerous capacity. But I'm a little concerned about whether they'll be safe back in Kyoto" Alisa expressed her worries about her friends.
"They will be fine, trust me. After all, the Violet Systems HQ has some of the most advanced security any corporations could even dream of having" Lee assured her, giving her a thumbs up.
"Besides, we promised them that we would be in touch with each other. Miharu has my phone number, so should anything troubling happen, then she gives me a call. Not to mention that I left several soldiers back there to assist her" Lars said while holding up his cellphone for Alisa to see.
Seeing as how adamant her friends were about Miharu and Panda being safe in Kyoto, Alisa was now convinced.
"Right. Then we best not let them down by failing to find Xiaoyu and Asuka" the pinkette remarked, a hidden determination building within her.
Lars stood by the window, looking out to see the view. He was joined by his friends.
"But even as Yggdrasil makes home here, we can't afford to let our operations be discovered. And not just by the Zaibatsu or the G Corp" Lars informed Alisa and Lee. The Swedish man's eyes narrowed as he watched the distance. "We have to contend with the Archers of Sirius…the Acolytes of Pluton….and of course, Kometa" he revealed to them both.
"But is it true what Master Raven and her associate says? Is there a criminal organization on the rise?" Alisa asked Lars, feeling worried.
Lars weakly nodded, his gaze remaining focused the view outside. This only filled Alisa with more worries.
"It is clear to me that with the ongoing stalemate, this "Kometa" seeks to use it to their advantage" Lee spoke, making sure his friends got what he was saying. "And judging by recent events…including the recent climatic changes throughout the world…...that satellite above space must have something to do with them. But we have yet to discover what it's true purpose is" the silver-haired man added his opinions.
"Which is why we will use whatever friends and allies we can get our hands on" Lars responded to Lee, only to pull out his cellphone. "But first, we will need to make sure that Jin is informed about the kidnappings. He's not gonna like it, that's for sure" he sighed as he tried finding Jin's number.
"Is he still in Britain?" Alisa asked him, and she could tell by Lars's expression that it was a yes.
"Then we best inform him and arrange for him to come down here to Paris. He may be hesitant at first, but Jin will understand why we need him" Lee spoke up.
"Correct. Yet I'm still unsure whether one of us should go pick him up. But quite frankly, it would be best if Jin made his way down here on his own" the Swedish man explained.
The three friends then started planning out their objectives. Sooner or later, they would come up with a plan on finding out where to locate Xiaoyu and Asuka. But first, they had to break the news to Jin, who they knew would not take kindly to this.
In the restaurant Feng Shang Princess, London, United Kingdom
This Chinese restaurant was located in Regent's Park and there was more to it. It was actually a floating restaurant, at the edge of the Regent's River. That explained why there were some boats docked nearby. It's peculiar location, as well as known for its spectacular Chinese cuisine.
Down to the restaurant's first floor, Julia Chang and Jin Kazama had taken a table with only two seats. Expectedly, there were a lot of customers at this place. Yet the two fighters did well to blend in, pretending as if they were just ordinary tourists.
"A Chinese restaurant at the edge of Regent's Park. Quite a choice, I must admit" Jin remarked as he had already observed his surroundings. "Still, I see your reason for bringing me here. This place is the least conspicuous to draw unwanted attention" he then expressed his support of Julia's place of choice.
The four-eyed woman nodded her head in agreement. "Exactly. Nobody would think looking for information at a place like this. All the more reason for us to have this discussion" Julia said.
Putting aside a menu card, plate and cutlery, Jin looked at Julia straight in her face. He seemed very determined to get some answers out of her.
"Let's cut to the chase. How do you know about me and Steve Fox being related to each other by blood? Did you gain that information from Lars Alexandersson? Or was it someone else? Answer me truthfully" Jin's question was demanding, yet he uttered it out so calmly.
Adjusting her glasses, Julia felt that he needed to hear the truth, regardless of how confusing it would perhaps sound like.
"To tell you the truth, it's the latter" she answered him, making Jin's eyes to widen a little. "Yes. I kept this secret hidden, even from Lars and his associate: Lee Chaolan. Because I learned about it during the King of Iron Fist Tournament 6" Julia continued.
"But that's impossible…how did you…" Jin stopped speaking once he realized what Julia was trying to tell him. "Of course. You were infiltrating the G Corporation during that tournament. But they discovered your allegiance to Lee. I can only assume you learned the truth via one of the many files belonging to the conglomerate" the Japanese man remarked.
Without hesitating, Julia took out her tablet computer and put it on the table for Jin to see. It was the picture of a blonde-haired woman with glasses. While Jin didn't recognize her appearance, he did recognize her name.
"I managed to dig into some files that used to belong to this scientist: Dr. Emma Kliesen. As I dug further, I discovered that she was more than just a genetic researcher for the G Corp. She used to be one for the Mishima Zaibatsu as well. Specifically, she was involved in a project that revolved around creating superhuman soldiers for the Tekken Force" Julia explained as she swiped the screen to show more information regarding this woman. "Many children had died during the experiment due to the drugs they were injected with. However, there was one test subject that managed to survive it despite the amount he received. And that child was Steve" she went on.
Jin nodded his head weakly. "I'm well aware of that" he said, scowling as he thought about this experiment his late grandfather had ordered. "Heihachi sought out a way to defeat the Devil Gene. Sadly, his depravity had no bounds!" he muttered, clenching his fists in the process.
"Because of the amount of suffering Steve experienced, Dr. Kliesen took pity upon him and treated him humane when compared to her colleagues. At that time, the project was headed by the Zaibatsu's top scientific advisor at that time: Dr. Abel. That said, Kliesen knew that Steve was in danger and then faked his death" Julia told Jin.
"I know the rest. She wanted Heihachi and his servants to assume that Steve had died, but that was not true. In fact, Dr. Kliesen had put him up for adoption. With that taken care of, they both parted ways forever. She would not risk him being rediscovered by the Zaibatsu" Jin explained, sighing as he felt an enormous amount of remorse for his half-brother. "But I don't know what happened to her when she joined the G Corp" he then said.
"I do, ever since I read her research. You see, even though Dr. Kliesen had been in charge of Steve, she never knew the reason why Steve's body had been resistant to the drugs he received. She also never understood why the Zaibatsu took a great interest in such a small boy like him. That's why Dr. Kliesen decided to search more about Steve's origins" Julia said as she swiped the screen on her tablet computer. "That's when she discovered everything. Steve's birth had been ordered by Heihachi…by using DNA samples and genes from Kazuya. Apparently, he was desperate to find a way to counter the Devil Gene. That's why Steve was being injected with so many drugs….to test if he truly had the Devil Gene or not…" the four-eyed woman remarked as she looked at the screen.
"Maybe so. But let me tell you this right now, Julia Chang. Steve Fox does not carry the Devil Gene within him" Jin spoke up frankly as he faced the brunette. "That's right. When I first met him not so long ago, I couldn't feel an ounce of evil build within. Whether that is because of the drugs or something else….I can't be sure. But what really matters….is that Steve is not bound to the curse I wield…which fills me with relief" the Japanese man continued.
Julia smiled weakly. "I can understand that. It appears we're both in agreement of Steve being better without the Devil Gene" she noted, yet her expression turned grim. "With that said, I'm afraid Steve is still not safe from trouble. Someone is out to get him" the Native American woman revealed.
This made Jin very observant. Subsequently, he looked around to see if there was anyone spying on them. Yet none of the visitors eating at this restaurant seemed suspicious. Julia also took a look, and she had the same conclusion.
"While I was doing one of my streaming for my reforestation project, I was contacted by an unknown individual. This person wanted me to spread false rumors about Steve in exchange for funding my project" Julia explained.
Jin couldn't believe his own ears. "Spreading false rumors. In other words, defaming his character. But you declined it, didn't you?" the Japanese man asked her.
"Of course, I refused. I met Steve during the aftermath of the previous tournament and he turned out to be very friendly. No way I would engage in such toxicity on the internet. But from what this individual told me, he/her seemed very hellbent on destroying Steve" the four-eyed woman revealed.
"When you say this, I take it the person used a distorted voice to contact you" Jin wanted to know whether that was the case, but he could tell that Julia spoke the truth. "Damn. What reason could they possibly have for going after Steve?" he cursed, frustrated over this issue.
"I was also curious, so I decided to hack into that person's database…only to find…this" Julia swiped the screen on the tablet computer and it showed Jin a picture of a comet as well as a name underneath it. "Kometa…..I can't believe I'm saying this, but this must be a criminal enterprise in the underworld….that has recently decided to make its move. But I can't say for sure why they would target Steve" the brunette was pondering over this.
"It's not him they want" Jin suddenly broke her thinking by pointing out what appeared to be the obvious. "The person they truly want…..is me…." Jin spoke as if he wasn't surprised by any of this.
Julia stared at him bewildered. "What? Are you saying that you…" she was almost rendered speechless by his words.
Jin nodded his head at her weakly. "Yes. During my tenure as CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu, when I started the global war, there was an underworld crime syndicate whom seemed more than willing to share me secrets about the G Corporation and their leadership. That's how I first managed to get to know Kometa" he solemnly spoke as if he didn't want to say this.
"Then you better tell me what they are and why they…" Julia seemed ticked off, yet Jin held up her hand to stop her.
"Save your anger, Julia Chang. There's plenty of time to give me a fistful later" Jin pointed out nonchalantly, feeling that people getting mad at his transgressions did it so often. Jin sighed. "Right now, protecting Steve is what matters most. I really hate to say this, but I must meet with him again. He needs to be informed about whatever machinations Kometa has in store for him" the Japanese man added to his suggestion.
"But do you really think that when they will leave Steve alone once you show up? I seriously doubt it, Jin" she expressed her concerns.
"I can't be sure. Either way, I'll personally deal with whatever assassin they've hired to capture me" Jin insisted, his mind focused on this criminal enterprise who had its sights set on him. "In time, you will regret ever involving those close to me in your shenanigans. Because I will show you no mercy" his inner rage was on display.
While Jin didn't perhaps come across as aggressive as his relatives from the Mishimas, he could be a dangerous foe if provoked. Then there was this recent "boon" he had been given during his coma. Jin would make sure that nobody harmed those he cared about….even if Steve was perhaps against seeking his help.
Inside London Paddington Station, London, United Kingdom
This train station was probably the most important of all in the British capital. It houses rail routes towards other cities across England, as well as Wales and Scotland. Therefore, Paddington Station was always a busy place.
Amongst the crowds, Steve Fox was standing in the middle of the hall, waiting for someone. Unfazed at the chaotic crowds moving beyond him, Steve was calm.
"I swear, Paddington Station always reminds me of Thomas the Tank Engine. But then again, Britain is not that much different from the Isle of Sodor" he mused to himself as he thought of similarities between this station and the one from a beloved children's television series.
This young man had experienced a lot during the previous tournament. One of the many reasons for entering was to find out more about his past, as well as the reason he possessed the ability to enhance electric energy around his arms. Steve had spent his earliest days of his childhood as a test subject, yet he never understood why. He had tried getting some answers out of his biological mother, Nina Williams. But it had proven fruitless, given that she was just as confused as to how Steve had received those powers.
But along his journey, the British boxer had managed to discover everything about his heritage. Still, Steve had not yet come to terms with it. After all, he had all his life been a Mishima by blood, the very thing he despised.
Rubbing the left sleeve of his jacket, Steve began caressing his scarred arm. No matter how much he tried forget
"Those bastards…...I'll never be one of you…I swear to it!" he scowled, thinking about the family he would prefer not being related to by blood.
"Steve! Over here!" that familiar female voice called to him from the left and it immediately brought Steve's attention to that direction.
The blonde-haired man smiled, as he saw Eleonore "Leo" Kliesen standing there waving at him. Without even hesitating, Steve ran up to Leo and embraced her in a tight hug, much to the German girl's surprise. The hug itself was also tight not to mention how long Steve did that.
"Umm…Steve…..you can let go of me now…." Leo awkwardly told him.
Realizing what he did wrong, Steve immediately removed himself from her. He was flustered.
"I'm so sorry, Leo. I was too caught up in the moment" Steve apologized, only to smile at Leo. "But I couldn't help myself. It's just so great that you could come visit me" he added to his enthusiasm.
"Sure. I was doing some spelunking in Scotland, so I thought it was a great opportunity to visit you" Leo remarked, smiling at the man before her. "Well, what do you say we get out of here? Paddington's not exactly the nicest place to stand and chat" she then suggested.
Steve nodded in agreement. "Sure. I know a pub not far from here where we can sit and chat. Believe me, I'm anxious to get out of this noisy place" he told her.
Leo giggled. "Then lead the way, Steve" she told him and the two friends headed their way out of Paddington.
Steve and Leo thereafter found themselves at a pub near Hyde Park. They sat by a table, each of them having a drink. Steve had a glass of beer, while Leo had opted for some cider.
"So how was the train ride? Bet you didn't see anything particularly interesting when you came down to England" Steve asked her as he took a sip.
Leo giggled a little when being asked about that. "You forget that I'm German, Steve. Our country is much of a train paradise as Britain. The only difference is that our highlands and mountains are down south near the Swiss border, whereas yours are up north" she explained some fun facts.
"You don't say" Steve was amused by how knowledge Leo was in terms of geographics. "Well, given my profession, I haven't travelled much around Britain itself. But the outside world on the other hand….." he then admitted.
"Speaking of which, how goes your career? Has the boxing championships started again?" Leo was curious to know what Steve had done since they last met.
For some reason, a downed expression formed itself on Steve's face. Leo could tell what the answer was.
"I'm afraid not, even as I'd hoped that the ongoing stalemate would've managed to bring some boxing tournaments back on track. However, I pray that I can at least find a tournament here in the UK. So far, my search has been in vain" Steve answered, lamenting his unemployment status.
In response, Leo reached out her hand to his, trying her best to encourage him. "But it will be alright. There has to be some tournament you can participate it. Other than the King of Iron Fist tournaments, I mean" she said, trying not to reference the infamous global competition.
Steve chuckled, removing Leo's hand from his. "I appreciate your encouragement, Leo. It gives me some optimism in these troubled times" he praised her kindness.
There had been a good reason as to why Steve and Leo had managed to build such a close friendship. Leo was the daughter of Dr. Emma Kliesen, a researcher who had a played a huge part in Steve's traumatic past. She was the one who treated him like a human being, as well as making sure he got adopted and escaped the eyes of the Mishima Zaibatsu. But what happened to Emma later was terrible.
"Before I came down here, it was to my understanding that you met your half-brother. How did it go?" Leo suddenly changed topic. She could see how neutral the expression on Steve's face looked, and it made her want to take back what she said. "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer if you…" the German girl was interjected by her friend.
"No need to apologize. Considering that you are my friend, it's fair that I let you in on what happened, no matter how much I despise it" Steve reassured Leo, taking time to compose himself. "To be blunt, my meeting with him was…very awkward. Which was expected, seeing as neither of us knew anything about us sharing the same dad" the British boxer recalled back to meeting his half-brother for the first time.
Leo seemed awfully curious as she listened. "I can understand that. But how did he behave towards you? Was he kind? Gentle? Hostile?" she pressed on.
"Don't know. Quite frankly, I would say he was curious. But I was prepared for him to assault me due to how he hates his family so much" Steve answered, yet found himself smiling a little. "But beneath all this unpredictability, I'd say that our meeting went smoothly. I've no idea what he's up to now, but he did say he looked forward to meet me the next time…...whenever that is" the boxer continued.
"Hmm, that's interesting to know, Steve. Maybe he isn't so bad after all" the German girl responded, yet found herself saying the wrong words. "I mean, of course he's not completely innocent. Those lives that were lost thanks to his warring…he doesn't get a pass just because he may have regrets about his actions" Leo then corrected herself while drinking her cider.
Steve seemed to be in agreement of Leo's words. "You could say that. Let's finish our drinks and head over to my flat, shall we? I've cleaned and readied the room you'll be sleeping in" he suggested.
"You got it" Leo was in favor of it, and drank up her cider.
Walking out of the pub, the two friends walked downstairs to take the underground. Steve's flat was somewhere near City, so they didn't want to go on foot.
As they bought tickets, Steve and Leo walked into one of the many tunnels leading to the platforms.
"I assume you've never taken the underground before. Sorry, but I think it's much faster than sitting on a double decker. But fear not, because this route goes through near City where my flat is, so it won't be long" Steve told his friend.
"I'm not really fond of cities, so I really can't tell which is more preferable" Leo insisted.
But as they walked through one of these tunnels, they saw almost nobody in there. The only person was someone reading a newspaper while leaning against the wall. Still, this didn't bother Steve nor Leo, and they proceeded to walk through this tunnel like normal. They passed by the man and nothing happened.
But five seconds after they had passed by him, this stranger finally began uttering out words that were loud enough for the pair of friends to hear.
"Good afternoon…NT01" the voice rang.
The moment Steve heard that, he froze instantly. He knew what that final word was. It was his test subject name during his days in the Zaibatsu's laboratory. Leo had also heard it and she looked at Steve.
"Steve…...what just…." Leo turned around, only to see that the stranger had put away his newspaper, thus revealing himself.
This middle-aged man with brown hair stood there, facing the pair of friends with a smirk on his face. He was unfamiliar, especially to Leo. The cloths he wore consisted of a black t-shirt, black gloves and black cargo pants.
For some reason, Leo felt a cynical aura around this man, not to mention that she could see the weapons he carried. As such, she stood her guard. Steve was still mum on the name he heard, not even turning his back to face this individual.
"Who are you?" Leo asked, feeling an urge to launch herself at this man, only to keep her cool.
In response, the stranger bowed himself to the friends in a mocking manner.
"A pleasure to finally meet you in person Eleonore Kliesen. You may call me Edgar Grant" he introduced himself to her.
Leo snapped, feeling more insecure about this man. Still, she did not make a reckless move towards him.
"How do you know my name!?" the German girl demanded, her fists clenching tightly.
Edgar scoffed. "Why, everybody knows the daughter of the infamous Dr. Emma Kliesen. Quite the chameleon she was, being able to work for both the Mishima Zaibatsu and the G Corporation without any issues. A pity that she's dead" he explained everything.
Leo scowled, feeling as if Edgar was speaking about her mother out of ridicule rather than admiration. But she still kept her cool, no matter how much she felt the disrespect coming from this Englishman.
"Now then, you are probably wondering who I truly am. Well, allow me to…" Edgar's speaking was interrupted by the abrupt voice coming from Steve.
"SHUT UP!" he snapped, his back still turned against him. But it didn't take long before the blonde boxer looked over his left shoulder, his visible eye glaring at him. "I don't give a damn about who you are, but I really wanna know one thing from you! How do you know…that name?" he calmly, yet angrily asked him.
Edgar crossed his arms, not feeling intimidated by Steve's voice in the slightest.
"That name? What on earth do you mean?" he asked, only to form a so-called surprised expression. "Ah, so that is truly your name? Quite pathetic, wouldn't you say, NT01?" Edgar mockingly asked him before chuckling to himself.
This really made Steve pissed, and Leo could tell that by seeing his hands clenching tightly.
"DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME THAT, YA WANKER!" Steve finally turned around, his anger on full display. He never took his eyes off Edgar. "Cut this bullshit game you're playing and answer me! How do you know that name!?" he angrily demanded.
Leo was very concerned for his friend giving himself into his rage. But Steve had not made any rash decisions so far. Therefore, she decided to stand by him and demand some answers out of Edgar.
"You seem to know more about us than what you're letting us in on. Care to explain your motives for approaching us like this?" Leo asked, feeling very distrustful of this man.
"If you must know, then I'll just have to say this frankly. You see, I am an assassin for hire. As such, I take out designated targets for a living" Edgar answered, trying to make an impression upon them.
This made Steve's eyes widen. "An assassin? Then you're one of those bloody things from the Syndicate, aren't ya!? Damnit all! I thought all of you had been arrested by Interpol!" he cursed, feeling as if Edgar had some connection to this group.
"You know there are other organizations besides the Syndicate that employs assassins in their ranks. I happen to belong to a very prestigious grouping" Edgar responded, only to point a finger at Steve. "But before I joined this enterprise, I was freelancing, much like your dearest mother: Nina Williams" he revealed.
Steve froze as he heard the Englishman say that name. He was stunned how someone like him knew his mother.
"So that means you're…" Steve sneered while clenching his fists.
"Correct. I used to be an old partner-in-crime of Nina, before she became fixated upon the bloody nonsense around the Mishimas" Edgar responded, yet he didn't seem finished speaking. His mouth even curved into a smug smirk. "But then she got caught by the Zaibatsu and was put in cryosleep. That's when she gave birth to you…...thanks to some sperm donating from Kazuya Mishima, of course" he then said so mockingly.
This set fuel to the angry fire within Steve and he charged towards the assassin without even thinking.
"YOU BASTAAAAAARRRRRRDDDDD!" the young Brit's rage was unlike anything he had carried.
Enveloping yellow electricity within his arms, Steve was intending punching a hole through Edgar anywhere on his body. But as he did that, Edgar managed to evade and dodge his moves so quickly. It caught Steve off-guard. The way he moved and evaded was so similar to Nina's.
Angry at missing his mark, Steve turned around. "Get back here, you…" Steve froze as he could see what Edgar was doing.
The assassin chuckled as he was holding Leo at a gunpoint. His handgun was pointed right into the girl's head and Leo was shaken with fear. Seeing this filled Steve with both distress and rage.
"Let her go, arsehole!" Steve demanded. He was about to take a step forward, only for Edgar put his finger near the trigger.
"Uh-uh. Take one step and your friend gets a bullet to the head. If you want me to let go of the gun, please stay where you are and listen to what I have to say" Edgar was playing at a game of hostage with the boxer, much to Steve's infuriation.
Leo, despite feeling very traumatized, had enough strength to angrily utter out words towards his captor.
"Du bist ein Hurensohn!" she swore at him in German.
"Hah. Es könnte mir egal sein" Edgar mockingly responded back to Leo in her mother tongue. The assassin then turned his attention back to Steve. "Now listen carefully, chap. I have a request for you. You see, I wish for you to contact your half-brother…Jin Kazama" he revealed to him.
Steve was gobsmacked by hearing the assassin's request. As a matter of fact, it infuriated him to the fullest.
"What the hell does that have to do with me!? I want nothing to do with him!" Steve hit back, furious at hearing Edgar's demand. "If you're that desperate to find that knobhead, then do it yourself!" he added, still feeling pissed.
Edgar remained unfazed. "You have no choice in this matter. So I'm telling you this one more time. Find Jin Kazama and bring him to me. That man has a good bounty on his head and I plan on collecting it. If I don't see him with you tomorrow….." he pulled the trigger in order to scare Leo and Steve. It revealed that his weapon was unloaded, much to the trauma of the German girl. "Next time, this gun will be loaded" those were the final words from Edgar before he proceeded to run away.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going!?" Steve was about to run after Edgar. But he stopped as he witnessed Leo's being in complete distress.
Realizing that his friend's well-being was more important, Steve rushed to her side. Being held at a gunpoint was traumatic and the young boxer could tell that by just looking at Leo's expression.
"Leo! Are you alright!?" Steve asked, feeling awfully concerned for his friend.
After taking deep breaths for about three minutes, the German managed to find peace within herself. It was as if she was breathing out her distress. Soon, she formed a reassuring smile while looking at Steve.
"I'm fine…...really. No matter how much scary being held at a gunpoint is…..I've seen much worse" Leo told him. "Besides, I did notice that his gun was unloaded while he held it close to me….it's only a shame that I didn't notice that earlier" she then lamented.
Surprised at how strong Leo seemed in face of such horrible experience, Steve smiled, relieved that his friend possessed such a strong willpower.
"Thank God. The moment he pulled the trigger, I had feared the worst" Steve said, his angry gaze looking at the direction in which Edgar had run off to. "Fucking wanker…...the next time I see him, his face will be met with my knuckle!" he snapped.
Leo took her time to reflect on the words Edgar had said. "But for what reason did he decide to confront us? Or more importantly, how does he know about you being a Mishima? Somehow, I feel that this criminal enterprise he's with must play a huge part in this" the German girl wondered as she got up on her feet.
"Whatever their motives are, I couldn't care less about it!" Steve was furious, yet he took his time to compose himself with a deep sigh. "I thought I was done being persecuted by crooks. Turns out I was wrong" the boxer added to his frustration.
"Let's head back to your place quickly!" Leo suddenly suggested to Steve and he followed her. "I think there's someone we need to have a discussion with, Steve" she then revealed.
Steve knew that his friend meant by that, and it made him scowl. Still, there was perhaps some truth in Leo's words. Therefore, he would listen to what she suggested when they got back home.
At the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland
The sun was about to go down over the Polish capital of Warsaw. Still, there were signs of activity everywhere in the city. The same was said for the politicians in the country.
Outside the Presidential Palace, a small limousine was parked outside this historical building. It was the official residence of the Polish president, who was known as the head of state. Outside the palace itself, security guards stood all over the area, including around the statue of the Polish general: Józef Poniatowski.
Two people suddenly came out of the palace's entry. This pair was headed towards the parked limo. The first person was a platinum-haired woman dressed in formal attire suitable for a politician. What was noticeable was a small visible scar running across her left eye. Her serious expression only indicated that she was a hardened politician. The man accompanying her appeared to be the woman's assistant. He was also dressed pretty formally.
"Well, Premier Sobieska. That meeting with the president went smoothly, don't you think?" the assistant asked the woman, who appeared to be the Prime Minister of Poland herself: Lidia Sobieska.
The stern-headed politician rolled her eyes when being asked that question, indicating that she was not amused with her subordinate's attempts to charm her.
"You really need to ask me that, Andrzej? Every meeting with the president is always a pain. Having to listen his insecurities nearly drives me insane" Lidia responded, looking down at what appeared to be a notepad. "Plus, he fails to realize that he should have concerns for the Polish people as well, not just us politicians" she added.
Andrzej mused to himself in hearing his boss say that. "But I think the president has already realized that you are more fit for the role of caretaker. I mean, if everyone knew this, even the most conservative and anti-feminist men would've followed your lead" he pointed out, trying to be silly.
Lidia shook her head in return. "O jeny…you really don't know when to take things seriously, do you Andrzej?" she questioned him.
"What can I say? Everyone would be lucky to work under you. With your benevolence, selflessness and passive aggressiveness, nobody would hate you" Andrzej responded.
"Enough fooling around for now. I have a meeting ahead of me" the prime minister shut him down and looked at the security guard who opened one of the limousine's passenger doors for her.
Lidia and her assistant entered the vehicle, and it soon sped up and got out of the palace's area. It wasn't long before they drove around the busy streets of Warsaw. All the traffic jams were opened up to clear the way for Lidia and her entourage. They drove by many buildings, including the University of Warsaw, not to mention driving at roundabouts.
In the limousine, Lidia was flanked by her assistant, as well as several other security guards. This it a perfect opportunity for the prime minister and her assistant to have some discussion along the trip.
"W porządku. What was the name of that person again? The one who so desperately wanted to meet you?" Andrzej asked Lidia, who looked at the papers on her notepad.
"A self-proclaimed "legal sugar baron" hailing from Latin America, specifically Cuba. From what I know, he claims to own large sugar plantations on Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and even São Tomé and Príncipe. Enrique Ortega is his name" Lidia answered.
Andrzej whistled out of amazement. "A sugar baron? That's very fancy. Still, it's strange that he would be willing to meet you at Belweder. As far as I'm concerned that place is only reserved for high-profile visitors of Poland" he explained with a hint of curiosity.
Lidia looked at her assistant nonchalantly. "His profession is the least of my interest. What matters more is that he carries some intel about the Mishima Zaibatsu and what their moves are, now that they are out of Poland" she reminded him, yet Andrzej didn't seem very supportive of her words.
"With all due respect, premier, can we really assume the Zaibatsu to be still a threat to us?" he asked her. "You saw the live footage. Heihachi Mishima is dead, killed by his own son. At this rate, it would make little sense to consider them as a threat" the assistant expressed his worries.
"That may be true. But the Mishimas still possesses weapons that are far more dangerous than the Russians produce. Even now, I hear they have completely withdrawn their troops from their western borders and concentrated on defending their holdings in the Far East" the prime minister explained, sighing as she had these challenges on her shoulders. "And let's not forget, the G Corporation is led by a Mishima as well. Dranie. That family is consisting only of troublemakers and murderers" Lidia didn't hold back her resentment of the Zaibatsu.
Andrzej chuckled a little as he heard his prime minister say those words. "I still have the letter Heihachi sent you when he refused your request to have the Tekken Force soldiers leave Poland. Still gives me the chuckles" he fondly remembered a famous episode.
Lidia scowled, remembering that day when she had received that letter all too well. It had made her blood boil when she read what Heihachi had written to her personally.
Dear Mrs. Lidia Sobieska, Prime Minister of Poland
I do not intend to follow your request for the withdrawal of the Tekken Force deployment in Poland.
However, I hold you in high regard on account of your ascension to the post of prime minister at such a young age. I have no doubt you will play a prominent role in shaping the future of your country. If you are of the mind to cooperate with my ambitions, you will have the strong support of the Mishima Zaibatsu for your country and all of the endeavors related to politics, economics, and military affairs.
If you refuse this offer, I am sure you understand the perilous situation in which it would place your country.
If you have any objections, you could always enter the King of the Iron Fist Tournament and propose them directly to me.
January 22nd
CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu
Heihachi Mishima
This was the content of the letter, and Lidia had not taken kindly to those words.
"Cholera, Andrzej. I told you burn that useless piece of paper" Lidia annoyingly grunted, much to the amusement of her subordinate.
"But he seemed to be very fond of you, Premier Sobieska. He even offered to give you a free one-on-one match in the tournament, yet you refused. Why?" Andrzej frankly asked the young prime minister.
Lidia groaned when she heard him say that. "Because governing Poland amidst the occupation was a greater concern to me than entertaining that sexist swine and his ideas" she answered, rubbing her forehead. "That being said, Heihachi's death has been a great blessing to us, no matter how cynical it may sound. I mean, even Jin Kazama had standards" she added.
"I don't think many would've agreed on with what you said, premier" her assistant pointed out.
"Regardless, I'm glad that there's not a single stench of Mishima in our country. What I hope to gain from this meeting is that…." Lidia was interrupted by her cellphone vibrating. Immediately she reached for it and answered. "Cześć? Pan Prezydent, co to jest…na litość Boską….." she was now speaking with the president in Polish.
Andrzej and the security guards sat on the sidelines, watching as how the prime minister strived to ease off the fears of the man she was supposed to cooperate with. It was amusing to say at least. Then again, they knew just the kind of woman their leader was.
Lidia Sobieska hailed from a very political family in Poland. Her grandfather, a former anti-communist activist during the days of Solidarity, became president when she was just 10 years old. She greatly looked up to her grandfather, mostly due to his pragmatic stance on many issues, among them the role of women in Polish society. Poland was a conversative country, and Catholicism was deeply entrenched in its population.
Emboldened by her grandfather's presidentship, as well as her father beginning a political career in the former's administration, Lidia dreamed of becoming a politician like them. Still, the Sobieska family did not experience the tranquility they had hoped for.
When Lidia was 12 years old, she had been waiting to welcome her grandfather and father back home from their trip to Germany. But something terrible happened before the helicopter was about to land. The large aircraft exploded while in the air, creating a large wreckage on the ground beneath it. The scattered debris injured Lidia's face and she was rendered unconscious.
When she woke up from her coma at the hospital, she learned that her grandfather had miraculously survived the crash, despite his mortal injuries. But the same couldn't be said for her father, as he had died during the explosion itself. It was then learned that the helicopter had exploded due to a bomb placed underneath it. Yet nobody knew who the perpetrator was. The assassination attempt on Lidia's grandfather was widely condemned as a terrorist attack from all corners of the Polish political system.
As for Lidia, the tragic loss of her father changed the young girl forever. During her father's funeral, her grandfather had imported some wise words upon the young girl.
"Remember, Lidia. Never give in to unjust power. Never. Be strong both physically and mentally" her grandfather had told her that day.
In response, Lidia had clutched is hand. Despite her tears and sorrow, a hidden determination had been born within the young girl.
"Dziadek. I have decided. I will be a good politician like you and ojciec!" the 12-year-old Lidia had told him at the funeral.
With that newborn determination, Lidia set out to become the good politician like her grandfather and father. At 16, she was enrolled at the University of Warsaw, studying law at the Faculty of Law and Administration. While there, Lidia scored very well academically. Five years later at 21, Lidia graduated from the university and started her political career.
Joining a liberal democratic party, Lidia ran her fest election and won. This resulted her in becoming a member of the Parliament of Poland. Her political positions, from better wages and housing to same-sex marriages, managed to win her many admirers, not to mention opponents. Despite many Poles being conversative, Lidia managed to gain voters from them as well. She eased their fears by hinting to her personal Catholic beliefs. In her opinion, religion shouldn't be a factor in what you do in life.
Over the years, Lidia Sobieska became well-known throughout her country for her outspokenness. Political analysts started comparing her to her grandfather, something she secretly disliked. While she looked up to him and her late father as inspirations, Lidia also desired to be seen as her own character. At the age of 29, Lidia Sobieska became the Prime Minister of Poland, both the youngest and the first woman to assume that role.
With that, Lidia began liberalizing Polish society, moving it away from traditional conservatism. But her role as prime minister was soon tested, by the actions of Jin Kazama.
When the global war broke out, the Mishima Zaibatsu occupied some of the European countries. Poland was among them. After Jin's disappearance, Lidia had hoped that the Tekken Force would leave the country. But Heihachi shot down any attempts. In retaliation, Lidia encouraged the anti-Mishima resistance inside the country and helped lead the Poles to withstand the occupation. The death of Heihachi enabled Poland to cast out the Tekken Force and its troops, in part thanks to NATO support.
Since then, Lidia had always been on the watch for Zaibatsu activity. But the young prime minister was just as hostile towards the G Corporation as well, given that their leader was a Mishima too. That said, Lidia had a hard time whom her country could trust outside NATO and EU. The USA had withdrawn its forces in preparations for a potential assault, as had the other regional military powers.
"Pani Premier. Dotarliśmy" one of the security guards informed Lidia as she was done speaking with the president on the phone.
"Doskonały. Drive up and park right there" Lidia responded.
The limousine parked right outside the entrance of Belweder. Right by the facade, there were security guards patrolling very single corner of it. Belweder was a building with classical architecture that once belonged to the Polish Royal Family. But that was centuries ago. It was now being used to host special visitors of Poland as a state guest house, as well as a residence for the President of Poland himself.
Lidia and her entourage got outside the limousine, the nearby security guards saluting as she exited the vehicle. The platinum-haired woman narrowed her eyes as she looked at the entrance.
"Let's see if this meeting can give me something interesting at least" she hoped, looking over at her assistant. "Chodźmy, Andrzej" Lidia practically barked that command at him.
"Right behind you, ma'am" Andrzej responded and he followed the woman into the building.
After walking up the stairs to the second floor, Lidia and her assistant arrived at door that was guarded by two men. The young prime minister could tell that this Enrique Ortega was waiting for her inside that room. Without hesitating, one of the guards opened the door for Lidia and Andrzej to enter.
The prime minister entered what appeared to be a conference room, yet she could see several guards standing inside. But Enrique was nowhere to be seen so far.
"I am here to see Enrique Ortega. Where is he?" Lidia demanded as she looked around.
Before anyone could even respond, a robot chuckle could be heard from what appeared to be a chair at the end of the table. It sounded very distorted, yet Lidia could tell the reason for that. Her eye snapped.
And as if that wasn't enough, two guards outside got into the room. They locked the door, drawing out knives and pistols for Lidia to see. The young prime minister was furious.
"It's an ambush, premier!" Andrzej called out to his superior.
"This has to be joke…WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" she yelled as she noticed that the guards here ganging up on her and Andrzej.
The distorted chuckle could be heard once again. Lidia and her assistant looked at the chair and saw what appeared to be a walkie-talkie taped to it.
"Sorry about this, Lidia Sobieska. But I happen to have stumbled upon some scheduling issues. So I couldn't make it today. Surely you can understand that" the voice of Enrique sounded so devious and sarcastic at the same time.
Lidia scowled. "Matkojebca….YOU'RE WORKING FOR THE ZAIBATSU, AREN'T YOU!?" she swore while demanding some answers out of him.
"You serious? Estúpida Polaca. You're too much paranoid about those Mishimas that you've completely forgotten about who it was that nearly succeeded in killing your grandfather" the voice of the walkie-talkie left a huge impact on Lidia.
For some reason, the young prime minister froze as she recalled back to theterrible incident which had resulted in her grandfather almost dying, and her father dead. No matter how many years it had been, Lidia would never forget that cursed day.
"Ojciec….." Lidia uttered out, still hinting to how much she missed him.
"But that really doesn't matter anymore. For you're about to die soon. A pretty damn shame, though. I would've loved to get to know you better, mamacita" Enrique's voice could be heard from the walkie-talkie.
Clenching her right fists, Lidia suddenly handed her notepad over to Andrzej. He took it, wondering what his boss would do now.
"Get behind me, Andrzej. Things are about to get ugly here" Lidia said and her assistant did as she asked.
One of guards was about to charge her with a knife, yet he was met with a powerful punch from Lidia herself. Another one was about to pull the trigger of his gun, yet the platinum-haired woman got right before him and kicked the weapon in the air. She then proceeded to kick the guard in his chest.
The enemy group were stunned to see someone like her perform such advanced moves. They were even more stunned when they saw Lidia stand in a fighting stance that greatly resembled Karate. The Polish prime minister smirked as she faced them.
"Did you really think of me as a defenseless woman? That's too bad for you, bastards!" Lidia berated her foes while daring them to come at her. "As a master of Traditional Karate, I tend to fight my foes with honor! So I'm going to ask you to do the same! Throw away your weapons and come at me with every strength you've got, tchórze! OSU!" she practically challenged them to a fight.
Feeling very insulted by this woman underestimating them, the guards decided to come at her with everything she had. Despite this, Lidia didn't flinch. She was prepared for combat.
On the sidelines, Andrzej watched as his boss beat up the enemies, one by one. It was amazing to see how much strength Lidia possessed. Based upon his experience, there was not another Polish woman he knew that practiced martial arts.
That's right, Lidia had been training Karate ever since she was a teenager. In fact, Lidia had even won a world championship of Karate once for young teenagers. She would carry her skills with her as a politician as well. In addition to the world championship, Lidia had also participated in some of the local tournaments arranged in Poland. She became so infamous of her Karate that she earned the tittle "The Strongest Member of Parliament" during her days as a representative. But that title had fell into disuse since becoming prime minister.
As 10 seconds just passed, Lidia had managed to defeat the entire gang of enemy guards. They all lied down bloodied and beaten. The platinum-haired woman remained far from injured, the expression on her face only indicating her strong resolve to win.
"Zwycięstwo jest moje! OSU!" Lidia exclaimed as she uttered out the infamous phrase used by some martial artists.
Andrzej stood and watched in awe. "Lidia Sobieska…you really are something" the aide remarked.
But before Lidia could even start celebrating her win, Enrique's chuckling could be heard from the walkie-talkie once again. The Prime Minister of Poland glared at it furiously.
"Ay, mamacita! You really are as strong as the rumors say! Truth be told, I was rooting for you!" he said, trying to flatter Lidia as best as he could.
But she would have none of it. Approaching the chair, Lidia forcibly removed the walkie-talkie from the chair it was taped to and looked at it with anger.
"You have made a serious error in judgement by pulling this assassination attempt on me, Enrique Ortega! For that, I will not rest until I learn more about you and whatever cartel you run!" the prime minister's words were firm and loud enough for the man on the other end to hear.
"Cartel? We're no such thing, puta eslava! Kometa already has its arms, legs and even nostrils stretched across the world. You will understand why soon enough" Enrique responded, using a derogatory slur for Eastern European women.
Lidia's eyes narrowed. "Then take this back to whatever leader you serve. Know that I, Lidia Sobieska, will hunt down everyone of you snakes until bones is what remains left of you!" by firming her muscular grip, Lidia broke the walkie-talkie, shattering the device into pieces.
Andrzej could tell thather boss was really determined on finding Enrique, as well as discovering more about this Kometa. He snapped once she directed her serious expression on him.
"Andrzej, call and ambulance and get these fools to hospital quickly. I need them alive for interrogation" Lidia said while looking at her defeated foes. "If this Kometa really is as influential as they claim, then the whole world, not just Europe, is in big trouble" she added.
"Jak sobie życzysz, premier" her aide responded with a salute before reaching out for his cellphone.
In the meantime, Lidia was reflecting on the words Enrique had told her. She couldn't help but to wonder whether he had said that just to intimidate her nor not.
"Was it them? Did Kometa plant the explosives that nearly killed dziadek and killed ojciec? I have a hard time believing this. Either way, I cannot afford to be off-guard. For I now know that the Zaibatsu and the G Corp are not the only enemies Poland has to contend with" the prime minister was in deep thought, sometimes thinking about her deceased father.
Onboard the superyacht called Mazu, Tai Tam Bay, Hong Kong, China
The night was descending over Tai Tam Bay, behind the sprawling city of Hong Kong. Since this was behind the metropolis, there was not so much light around the bay, save for a few buildings and houses. Tai Tam Bay was also a famous spot for several boats to stand in.
Among the many boats docked in the middle of the bay was the superyacht called Mazu. Named after the sea goddess in Chinese mythology, this superyacht was a model belonging to the Italian brand Fincantieri. It had two helipads, one on the front and one on the back, not to mention an outdoor pool.
However, despite its impressiveness, Mazu was being operated by the criminal organization called Kometa. They possessed many vehicles at their disposal and Mazu was only one of them.
Deep inside what appeared to be a machine room, the scientist Dr. Lukas Hayes lied on what appeared to be a small bed. For a long time, he had worked for Kometa with its scientific affairs. But for what reason would he have to be involved with people like Lana Lai and Enrique Ortega.
"It's getting too hot in here. Why did it have to be near the machine room?" Lukas wondered, feeling himself weary sweaty.
Feeling the need to get some fresh air, Lukas decided to get out on deck. He exited the engine room and was almost near the door to the terrace. But as he was about to exit, the scientist could hear loud noises coming not far from him.
Looking to his right, Lukas saw a door that was not quite closed. As such, there was tiny opening, in which bright light could be seen. The scientist knew that this room was. It was the superyacht's conference room. But the right light made Lukas awfully curious.
"Strange. Lana and her entourage are usually in their personal quarters so late in the night. Who could possibly be inside the conference room?" he wondered, looking around to see if there was anyone nearby. "Well, it doesn't hurt to get a quick peek" Lukas concluded, deciding to se what was going on in that room.
Sneaking carefully, the scientist made sure that his shoes did not cause any noises. But he would not peek inside for long, as Lukas was only curious to see what was going inside. Somehow, he felt that the light came from the flatscreen itself as the rest of the room seemed pretty dark.
Once Lukas was at the door, he looked all around to make sure nobody caught him doing this. With the coast clear, the scientist carefully took a good look, wanting to make sure he did not take much space in the tiny opening.
He got a good look at who was inside. There was Lana Lai, Bryce Adams and Enrique Ortega, with Lana sitting on a chair between the men as she was facing the screen before them.
So far, the flatscreen seemed pretty distorted as if it couldn't get a signal. But in time, the screen managed to get it right.
"How long are we gonna wait for him to answer?" Bryce demanded, crossing his arms.
"Patience, Brycie. We have all the night ahead of us" Lana "assured" the executive in a manner which sounded as if she and him were dating.
Enrique only shrugged while resting the katana on his right shoulder. From what Lukas could tell, he looked quite bored about this.
"Let's just get this over with quickly. I've experienced much crap today, so I really wanna hit the bed quickly" the Cuban man groaned as he rubbed his forehead.
But Lana ignored his complaining and dedicated her focus on the screen. Quickly, it began showing them a picture of a masked individual.
Lukas bit his lower lip out of shock as he saw this person on the screen. The way he looked, let alone the glowing purplish eyes, it reeked with darkness. Still, Lana and her compatriots didn't seem intimidate by it in the slightest.
"My God…who is he!?" Lukas wondered in his thoughts, having never seen this man before, even when he was with Lana and the others.
Lana's curved into a smirk. "Took you long enough to answer…...Revenant" she addressed the individual by his name.
That's right. This was the mysterious leader of the infamous order of cultist calling themselves the Acolytes of Pluton. During the aftermath of the King of Iron Fist Tournament 7, this man played a huge role in bringing much of the hidden darkness to light. He had tried to kill both Heihachi and Kazuya, yet he failed both. However, he managed to kill a strong martial arts master: Wang Jinrei. But for what reason did he have to get into contact with Lana and her compatriots?
"Spare your pleasantries, Lana Lai. I did not agree to this meeting just so you could demand things from me. I came here to find out why you and your petty enterprise have dared reaching out to the Acolytes of Pluton" Revenant's voice was sinister as always, even as it was herd on the screen.
However, this didn't faze Lana at all. "No need to be so moody here. After all, I alone hold all the cards here" Lana told him, yet she was not finished speaking. "But let's not waste words on such trivial matters. I say we start negotiating" she said, waving her fan at her face.
Lukas' eyes widened behind his glasses. "Negotiating? With him? What is she…" the scientist didn't have the words to respond to this.
On the screen, Revenant did not seem pleased with hearing her words, despite his face never being shown due to his mask.
"What makes you think that I will agree to your offer of alliance? As you already know, our goals differ greatly. You better have good arguments, other than the fact that you have played the Mishima Zaibatsu and the G Corporation against each other" the voice Revenant could be heard all over the room.
"My, someone has done his homework, hasn't he?" Lana commended the cultist's knowledge. "But as you already know, Kometa has already ended this info-sharing, seeing as now both sides are at a stalemate" she revealed.
Chuckling could be heard from the screen, and it was Revenant's doing.
"All the more reason why your plans to influence the world has already failed. The Zaibatsu are practically leaderless. And Kazuya Mishima and his lapdogs are already readying their forces for continuing the war effort. Needless to say, Kometa will not succeed in keeping the world under their thumb" Revenant spoke as if he was mocking Lana.
"That is where you are wrong, Revenant. You see, Kometa has more tricks up its sleeve than just selling weapons and playing desperate fools against each other" Lana shot back, trying her best not to let the cultist's insult get the best of her. "I believe you've heard of the unfamiliar satellite that currently floats above us all. The one whom analysts have struggled to find out who it belongs to" the Chinese woman said, her smirk coming back on her lips.
This time, Revenant wasn't fast to respond. Rather, he seemed quite agitated at her words. On the other hand, Lukas knew what Lana was talking about.
"She's talking about Salacia…but why…." Lukas wondered as he continued observing the meeting from the opening.
"Foul woman. You mean that damn satellite does not belong to the G Corp? Then that explains the radiation…..the melting polar ice caps….." Revenant seemed to eventually grasp what this woman was talking about.
"That's right. Salacia has been very useful to Kometa ever since it was launched out in space while the entire world was busy debating who was the winner between the war. And it is just as you say. Salacia has been the one spreading radiation towards the Earth" she revealed without any shame.
But Lukas froze completely, as he had never heard something like that come out from Lana's mouth before.
"Radiation…..what does she mean?" the scientist was speechless.
Lana continued facing the cultist on the screen with such a devious expression.
"By using its reflection, Salacia is targeting microbacteria that give off heat when exposed to certain forms of radiation. These bacteria start turning the crystalized methane hydrate that lies dormant at the bottom of the world's oceans to its gaseous form. This will then rapidly destroy the ozone layer and allow the polar ice caps to melt. And what happens next? Well, you don't have to be David Attenborough to figure that one out" the Chinese woman explained the purpose of the satellite, as if it didn't matter to her one bit.
"Such sadism, Lai. And to think that you, a mere daughter of triads, possesses such dangerous ambitions. Clearly, the Mishimas are not the only depraved people that walks on this world" Revenant expressed his opinion of Kometa's goal.
A scowl formed on Lana's lips. "Don't lecture me about depravity cultist. We of Kometa use science to achieve our ends. While you and your pathetic cult blindly worship ugly monstrosities without question. If that isn't depravity, I don't know what is" she hit back, trying to get under Revenant's skin the process.
Revenant's eyes glowed darker, indicating to how displeased he was to hear these insults.
"Careful what you say, woman. As you already know, demons and monsters truly exist in this world. Ogre, Angel, Azazel…those blasted devils of the Mishimas…..nothing you see are just beliefs" Revenant pointed out.
Lana was not amused. "You think I give a damn? Unlike you, I will not submit myself to any creature in hopes of controlling the world. Rather, I will do that through the power of science itself. No false Gods of Old will be setting foot upon this world when Kometa rules it" she expressed her open ambitions.
Once again, Revenant chuckled. He did so out of mockery of Lana and his compatriots.
"Sorry for you not being educated enough. But it doesn't matter. For in time, you and your foolish gang of misfits will see your ambitions go to ruin. Now as for your negations. I spit upon them! The Acolytes of Pluton will not waste our resources for the sake of assisting you. Because even now, I can already see you being step in your own grave" those were the last words said by Revenant before the screen turned off.
Despite this, Lana and her friends were completely unfazed. It was as if they expected Revenant to end their "meeting" so soon.
"Well, that's one offer flushed down the toilet, I reckon" Bryce remarked.
"I told you it was a bad idea to reach out to him, didn't I?" Enrique told both Lana and Bryce, yet neither of them paid attention to what he said. "Por favor. Just answer me, already!" the Cuban man wanted at least one of them to respond.
In time, Lana did look at him, her eyes narrowing in the process. "Bite your tongue, Ortega. You don't get to divert attention away from your failure" she reminded him, causing Enrique to bit his lip. Lana giggled. "Yes. I know about your failed attempt to "assassinate" Lidia Sobieska. It appeared that the men you hired were not up to the job. Hopefully, Edgar might prove better" Lana then said.
"Tch, as if!" Bryce uttered out, not having much confidence in his fellow executive. "The only thing that stuck-up prom will be good at is trying to get Nina's attention" the gunman pointed out.
Lana responded by gently touching his chin, something he clearly liked. She formed a devious smirk while stroking it.
"We shall see, Bryce. We shall see" the Chinese woman kept talking as if Bryce was a child or something.
But what had happened while the trio had finished their meeting with Revenant? Lukas no longer stood in the opening of the door peeking at them. He was gone.
Outside in the corridor, the scientist sweated intensively, his eyes almost erupting into tears. He was filled with fear, pain and confusion at the same time. Clearly, listening to Lana's idea for Salacia had hit him very hard.
"W-why….why….HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?" he asked inside himself, the black man feeling completely distressed. "They promised me that it would be used for good….yet they lied….ALL OF THEM!" he continued thinking.
That's right. Lana may have kept her intentions for using Salacia open towards her subordinates. However, she had done it the opposite with Lukas.
"Salacia…was supposed to be my project of revolutionizing the energy source industry….to replace fossil fire with methane hydrate….but Lana and the others…..used me….." the scientist thought about what his goals with regards to Salacia's use were.
Feeling incredibly down, Lukas sobbingly walked into the machine room.
Unbeknownst to him, though, someone had taken notice of Lukas observing the meeting. This man soon took a step around the corner and watch the crying scientist head into the machine room.
"Poor fool. I can tell how hurtful it must've been for you to find out how you've been used" Shin Kamiya noted as he leaned onto the wall. The Japanese man then looked out the window, ignoring the noises coming from the conference room. "But then again, that's just how the world works. There are no good guys or bad guys here, only twisted bastards doing whatever they feel is right" he then added as if he was talking to someone.
For some reason, it appeared as if Shin was taking pity upon Lukas' situation. Had he been aware of Lana's plans for Salacia? That could be it. But only time would tell whether he would actually inform his boss about Lukas eavesdropping on them.
To be continued…
