Memphis Long frowned as he lounged back in the booth of The Ritz on Fighter’s Isle. Shortly after Jin Kushina had left with Vega, Memphis had returned to his hotel to find a message for him. The instructions indicated to meet someone who had very important information for him at the club. The place was open on a twenty-four hour basis since the tournament started on the island. It was an expensive, luxurious joint, where people socialized, drank, played pool, listened to live entertainment, ate…the whole nine yards.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting…” came a voice.

Memphis looked up and narrowed his eyes. “Urien…”

The tall man adjusted the tie of his suit before sliding into the booth. A leather briefcase was at his side. “I’ll get to the point, Long. I made you a generous offer before. You’ve considered it?”

Memphis shrugged. “Maybe…”

“Gill and I can beat your employer’s price per Essence head. I believe it was…five million USD?”

Memphis’ eyes shifted to black. “I seem to remember you asking me to partner up with Locke Koh …”

Urien’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “So I did. Fifty million per head split with Locke Koh. Five million more than what I offered you last time. And a five hundred thousand dollar bonus.”

Memphis’ eyes glowed to blue. His life as a Shadaloo assassin suited him nicely. He had to admit though…those extra fifteen million were as tempting as a beautiful woman sprawled on a bed.

Urien pulled the briefcase onto the table. He lifted the clasps and flipped it open. “In here is twenty-five million five hundred thousand. Your share for one Essence and a bonus. It’s yours to keep. Once you and Koh agree to work together, we’ll go from there.”

“Looks like you and Gill just got yourselves a new-age assassin…” Memphis smirked.

“Excellent. Sources tell us that Bison has recently…terminated Koh.”

“I know,” Memphis spoke up.

Ignoring that, Urien continued, “We have reason to believe that he’s on the northeastern part of this island…with several Essences. If you work fast…you two will get a lot more a lot earlier…”

Memphis stood up, grinning. “I know how to do my job. Later…”

************

Meliza watched as Locke propped Kay and Acinomia against the cave wall. The floor was lined with grass and moss, providing a soft cushion for her body. She glanced down at the bonds around her ankles. Her wrists were tied and a rope from her bonds were attached to Kay’s feet.

“Is this really necessary?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied, examining Kay and Acinomia to make sure they were in good condition. He wasn’t exactly sure what convinced him to kidnap her…or why he had to keep her…

“Fine. So…” Meliza glanced around. “What made you become an assassin?”

He arched a brow. “Hardly the type of question a captive asks her kidnapper…”

“Well…I could ask what you plan to do with me…or why you want Kay…or what we’re doing here in the middle of nowhere…but I really don’t want to know the answers,” Meliza responded. “So why’d you do it? Something happen when you were younger?”

“Now you wish to analyze me?” he shook his head. “This is ridiculous…”

“Fine. Whatever happened to you back then is your own business. And whatever is happening to you now is your own business, too. I just wish…I hadn’t been around to see it…” she murmured.

Locke stood by the opening of the cave, staring outside. She was quiet for a few moments.

“What made you become a gambler?” she asked.

He glanced at her. “What?”

“What made you go into gambling?”

“It was a challenge. Intricate, complex…the game of chance also required a strategic mind,” he answered simply. Before he could stop his voice, “And yourself?”

“I grew up in it,” Meliza responded. “My parents…had been gamblers before I was born…probably before they even met…”

Locke narrowed his eyes. “During all this time, I’ve never bothered to look into your background...”

“Are you in for a game of poker?” she challenged, deliberately changing the subject.

“Here?”

“It’s the best place,” Meliza replied, pulling out a deck of cards from her vest pocket.

“You think you can win this game?” he asked.

“I don’t see why not…”

Locke narrowed his eyes a fraction. The lady had confidence in her skills. Or she was bluffing. If she was, she was good at it. She wasn’t as easy to read as he first thought.

“I could use something to pass the time…” He took the deck from her, checked to make sure that it contained normal cards, and began to shuffle.

*************

Jin Kushina staggered to his feet. After being hit by a car, he wasn’t feeling in the best of moods. Would you? There was going to be hell to pay. He was gonna throttle the joker that decided to play hit and run with him…

************

Vega trudged through the woods to find Balrog sitting up, trying to clear the cobwebs of unconsciousness.

“Nice to see you didn’t do very well,” Vega spoke up.

“Knock it off, Vega,” Balrog replied.

“We have a job to do…” Vega announced. “I’m going to kill those little brats…”

The two didn’t like the fact that they had lost to a group of people no older than twenty. It was like getting beat up by little kids, as far as they were concerned. Sure, these Essences weren’t ordinary fighters…but they were still young.

“I thought we’re supposed to bring them to Bison,” Balrog stated. “Not kill them…”

“I know that!” Vega snapped. “I just want to make them suffer…”

The two men went in search of the Essences.

*************

Memphis frowned as he surveyed the terrain that Locke and the Essences were supposedly on. “Good thing Gill is paying me a lot…They could be anywhere…”

***********

“Two pair,” Meliza turned the fan of cards she had in her hand.

Locke smiled slightly. “Straight in diamonds.”

She sighed. It had been their second game. “I guess today isn’t my lucky day…”

Locke started shuffling the cards expertly, mainly to occupy himself. Meliza watched as his deft fingers cut and mixed the deck in a blur that an average human couldn’t see. But Meliza could see every movement. She had trained her eyes to see every action…every nuance…She needed keen eyesight to be a good professional gambler.

She sat back, leaning against a rock. Rather uncomfortable, but she’d live. Meliza allowed herself to get a good look at him. Now that she had the time, it wasn’t difficult to. She couldn’t deny that he was handsome, the contours of his face flawless, definitely the type that would make a woman look twice and daydream for a good few hours. She was definitely guilty of that. Course, that was before she found out he was a cold-blooded assassin…

She had always been a sucker for good-looking men. She sighed, remembering not too long ago when she had been romantically involved with another professional gambler. That had been another sad story…

Locke noticed that her eyes had suddenly taken a lost look. He got the feeling that the sadness ran deep…and it had nothing to do with her situation now. He couldn’t actually be concerned. Sympathy wasn’t part of his profession. Ignoring why he was even bothering over her, he continued to shuffle, keeping his eyes on his hands.

Meliza’s eyes shifted to Locke again. He seemed like a mystery…It was difficult to believe that this was the same man whom she had shared a few embraces and kisses with. Then again, he was a different person then. He had been after her friends, so apparently, he’d do anything to get to them. Which gave her an idea…

Suddenly, slight movement caught their attention. Nearby, Acinomia had placed an arm around Kay.

“Missed…you…so…” she murmured, her lids still heavy.

“What’s the connection between those two?” Meliza asked abruptly.

“I’m not sure…”

“They make an interesting pair…”she mused.

Meliza felt Locke’s eyes on her. She glanced at him before glancing at the cards in his hands. “How about another game?”

He cleared his throat. “Sure…”

“And this time…” she started.

Locke paused as he began to deal. “And this time?” he echoed.

“If I win, you let me and Kay go…”

He studied her features. No hint of cunning or mischief glittering in her eyes. “And if I win?”

“You’ve been doing pretty well so far,” Meliza pointed out. “You think you might lose?”

He grunted before dealing the rest of the cards. She had a point. “If you win, I’ll let you go…”

************

“Now where?” Chun Li asked.

“Quite a place the nefarious villain selected to hide,” Volpe spoke up.

The terrain of the land had become dense with brush and high rocks.

“He’s not far…” Ayame mused.

******************

Darkness. A cave, perhaps? He saw a small flicker of light. Slowly, his senses came to him, through the thick cloud of unconsciousness.

He heard the murmuring of voices. One was masculine…and foreign to his ears. The other…he knew that voice. Smooth, low and sweet…but his ears detected an assertiveness in its tone…

Meliza? he thought. What’s she doing here? What’s going on?

Victoria? his mind called out. Iwa? Ayame? Shockwave? Anybody? Anyone out there?

*****************

Ayame’s eyes widened. “Over there…” she pointed.

Chun Li, Volpe, Miko, Lilly, and Yang jumped out of the jeep and headed over to the area Ayame indicated. From there standing point, they had a view of a valley of caves, boulders, and brush before forming into another cliff that led to who knows where.

“Let’s split up,” Yang announced.

“Sounds good,” Chun Li agreed.

The group descended into the area.

****************

Locke handed Meliza another card when a sound caught his ears. Apparently, she had heard it as well.

“Check every spot in this area!” Volpe announced.

Meliza gasped. Help had arrived. In a flash, Locke yanked her towards him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and neck, his other hand clamped over her mouth. Meliza had been so shocked that she forgot to do something to attract the attention of the rescue team. The position had brought her half in the assassin’s lap, her legs sprawled on the ground, her right shoulder and right side of her head against his chest.

He held himself very still. A faint aroma filtered into his senses. Strawberries and…champagne? Meliza’s perfume. Adrenaline was pumping through her body, he could tell by the pulse at her throat that was rapidly beating against his fingertips.

“They’re here somewhere!” Chun Li declared.

“Unnnnhhh…What…what…what….what’s going on…?” Kay muttered, waking from his slumber.

Meliza’s eyes widened, and she glanced up. Locke’s eyes had narrowed to slits.

******************

Vega and Balrog stood on the hill overlooking the valley where Chun Li and the gang were searching.

“Round two,” Vega whispered gleefully.

Jin slashed the tires of the jeep before joining the other two.

Balrog slammed his fists together. “It’s party time…”