-- Just after dawn, at the edge of a lagoon near Diamond Head Mountain --
 

"Hmm... well, if one of the treasures were here, it would be rather convenient!"

Ming checked his supplies once more out of the habit of being thorough, then checked the small, portable piece of technology he held in his hand. The sonar function of the tool gave a very vague impression that there might be quite a large cavern underground approximately three hundred meters from where he stood. He had already combed every inch of dry ground, but had found no entrance. That had left him with two options. One, the entrance may have been covered by layers of hardened lava and ash, which would prove difficult, or two, the entrance was underwater.

"One can only hope..." he muttered to himself as he zipped his wetsuit and shouldered his oxygen tank and supply bag. The water went fairly deep here, and he had no idea how far it extended into the entrance... if there was one.

Ming put the breathing apparatus over his mouth and waded in, disappearing with only a myriad of tiny bubbles as his trail.
 

*~*~*~*~*

-- Linda's room, The Makai --

So, the road ended here.

Linda looked out the window of her suite, unable to help feeling bitter. At circumstance. At Vega, Iwa.... herself. What the hell was she doing here? She was a student of martial arts, true enough, but revenge had taken her farther than she was capable of going, and now she was stuck with a choice. Her mind was made up.

Her bags were packed and waiting, all that was left to do was speak with the person who now knocked upon her door. "Come in."

Chun-li entered with a smile that faded quickly once she laid eyes on the suitcases upon the bed. Linda looked into her mentor's eyes from across the room, and let the silence between them answer the older woman's unspoken question. It was Chun-li who broke that silence. "I guess there's no changing your mind."

"I don't belong here."

"That's not -"

"It is true," Linda interrupted in a soft, convicted tone, hands folded in front of her as she turned away from the window. "I came here for revenge... but there's so much more going on. You and Ryu have Iwa to worry about... and my vengeance seems really small compared to that."

Chun-li sighed and looked down, dark eyes studying the carpet for a moment, "Linda, revenge can take a long time to get... and even when you have it, you don't always feel satisfied. I know more about that than most. But I'm willing to help you... if you just stay."

Linda shook her head, "There's more to it than that. I know I'll get what I'm after... someday. But it won't be here, and it won't be now. I'm just not good enough, not yet. There's more here than just a tournament, even I can see that. Besides..." She put on an obviously fake smile and tilted her head as she mused, "My fans are waiting for me. I put off an entire tour by entering this tournament, ya know."

A bland smile was returned as Chun-li stepped forward to hug her former student. "I know."

"Li-jie..." There was hesitation, regret in Linda's voice now. "What will you do without a partner?"

"I'll probably forfeit. I don't think there are many options."

"Li! I'm sorry... I guess this is pretty selfish of me..."

Chun pulled back and gave a warmer smile, "Nonsense. I've been in plenty of these things, they're mostly the same. Don't worry about it, I'm not really here for fighting the likes of all these people in a ring. It's no problem at all."

A sigh from the singer, then one more embrace. "Thank you, Li-jie. I knew you would understand. So..."

Neither was really hoping to say goodbye yet, so Chun-li took the initiative to extend their time together, "So, do you want some company for the ride to the airport?"

Relief washed over Linda as she nodded, "That'd be great!"

Once hotel employees helped them with Linda's impressive amount of luggage, the two were in a limousine, laughing now and then at some of the stories Linda would take with her from this experience. Neither mentioned the sadder notions of their parting again, all the way to the airport.
 

**~**~**~**

-- Somewhere dark and ... broody --

"Master, we have the surveillance footage from the destruction of Facility E."

Watching the actions of a handful of subordinates operating various computers and monitors - all from the comfort of his throne of steel and leather - was a man wanted by almost every law enforcement agency in the world. He was responsible for countless crimes committed against humanity. Eyes that no longer held any distinction but the blandness of solid white narrowed at the man who addressed him. "Put it on the main screen."

The largest of several flat-screen monitors suspended from the ceiling by unseen wires flickered to life, showing video of a man clad in a black tuxedo shoving his way through the doors to the main research lab of the minor facility. The Master watched in semi-boredom as the man with the black hair and mustache tore through the scientists who had been researching a few minor discrepancies in the process used to manufacture his dolls. Some research into the participants of the tournament had been done there as well, but nothing of true worth had been destroyed. The facility had housed a number of weapons, however, and those were a little costly. Eyes still narrowed under low-set brows, Bison waved his hand in a dismissive gesture and the subordinate stopped the video.

"It's the man whose house we raided some time ago, Shing Tao. He goes by-"

"Venom, yes. I know," the Master cut in boredly. He then chuckled and adjusted the ever-present hat he wore. "Mr. Tao must be feeling quite accomplished by now. Surely, we must soon take care of that. Though without too much harm. The researchers we contracted seem to think he may be of use to us, at some point. Still..." Purplish-blue sparks danced in his eyes, then quickly disappeared. "If he continues to cost me money, he shall have to be dealt with. Permanently."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, I believe it's time for my tea. Thirty seven seconds passed time, to be exact."

The man swallowed the growing lump in his throat, "Yes sir, I'll see what is taking so long, right away."

A dark, amused chuckle followed the man out of the room.

**~**~**~**

-- An Office building.... somewhere --
 

"Dammit, I'm going to be late..."

The silver-tone watch with a studded, black leather band that she wore under the sleeve of a black business blazer told Natalie that it was already eight o'clock, meaning that everyone else she was meant to meet was already in place. It wasn't entirely her fault... she had to wear this damned suit. The jacket was unbuttoned, the shirt untucked and the top three buttons undone. The suit was black, the shirt white, and Claire was securely holstered against her hip, beneath the jacket that reached past her hips. At least it was a well-fitting pair of slacks instead of a skirt that she had to wear. Not exactly what Parker had intended, but she'd fumbled all morning with it and hated it completely if even one more buttonhole was occupied.

Natalie all but ran through the halls in search of the correct room. It was bad enough that she was going to be late for a meeting, but no doubt when she walked in... some of those present would just stop whatever they were doing and everything would feel damn awkward.

"Ohhhhhh, I HATE my job!" she whined and kept up the pace.

**~**

Guile sat at the head of the table, setting his gaze on each person present, his stare hard out of habit rather than genuinely scrutinizing. Charlie was standing next to a large display screen that currently showed a map with locations of potential target locations and other important places marked, droning on in that calm tone of his and stating things most of those gathered already knew.

Cammy hadn't been able to sleep much lately, for whatever reason, and was looking rather tired. Dark circles marred the pale skin beneath her eyes and it seemed easier for her to raise her eyebrows rather than the lids. Guile suppressed a smirk. Well, he guess seeing Vega dressed up as one's self and dancing might cause anyone nightmares. Next to her was a guy Guile didn't know too well, a man named Enrique Pierrantoni, who had done Federal work before and had recently come out of a sort of retirement. He'd heard the man was good at his job, but had yet to see him in action, save for a match in the tournament. And, as everyone present knew, that was quite different from field combat, where weapons and so many other factors were involved. The man was now working on what was at least his third cup of coffee.

On the other side of the table was John Heagy... who had been a walking disaster in military terms. His cover was all but blown, but it didn't matter all that much. He provided the butt for most of Guile's own pranks, and was good enough at his job that when the sh*t hit the fan, Guile knew the boy would prove his worth. John had a match scheduled for the afternoon, his first in this tournament. It would be interesting to see how that turned out.

He looked then to an empty chair, where some kid named Yukito should be sitting. They hadn't seen nor heard from him since their last meeting, and the worst was feared. The guy had been set to infiltrate into the enemy's ranks... but had since disappeared. Guile frowned as he stared at the chair. Too many bad things had been happening lately.

"So, here," Charlie touched the map with an extendable pointer, "is where an explosion occurred a couple of nights ago. The pier district in Honolulu. It's hard to tell everything just yet, but there was definitely something shady going on there. Weapons dealing at the very least. More importantly... we found remains of various types of equipment appearing to have belonged to Shadowlaw."

Cammy sighed softly and rubbed the bridge of her nose as she leaned with her elbows on the table. "So, they are around."

"This is the biggest finding of evidence we've had, and it solidifies our suspicions," Charlie answered. He pointed to another area, "And here we-"

The door opened with a loud squeak, causing the person who opened it to cringe. All eyes looked to the woman, and Charlie stopped mid-sentence. Cammy blinked, coming fully awake now. Charlie's mouth was still open and one brow arched above his glasses. Guile simply stared with wide eyes. Heagy squinted quizzically, trying to place the familiarity with name and significance. Riq just wondered what the hell all this was about, and took another sip of coffee.

Natalie could only offer a weak smile as she stepped into the room, the door creaking closed behind her. "Um.... Sorry I'm late."

The silence reigned again, and she moved to an empty chair to sit down. "Special agent, Natalie Wynshire. I apologize again for my tardi-"

"Where the hell have you been??" Guile's tone shook everyone else from their shock. Recognizing the name, Heagy pretended to study the report in front of him.

Head tilting down, Natalie's sheepish blue eyes met the colonel's piercing ones, "... My hair dryer fried this morning."

"That's not what I mean and you know it, Nat." The tone was harsh, biting.

Squaring her shoulders, Natalie hardened her gaze. "We can discuss this later, Colonel. Right now, we have business to attend to." And that, was that.

Wondering if his friend might jump the table to grab the girl and throttle her, Charlie hastily continued. "Here!" The pointer hit the screen with a sharp "ping", "is where federal agents uncovered the trafficking of live civilians to an as yet unknown facility..."
 

*~*~*~*~*
 

He broke the surface and pulled the breather from his face. Turning on his flashlight in the pitch blackness of the cavern, Ming peered out of the water warily. The underwater tunnel had been a tight squeeze, so much that with the oxygen tank he'd almost gotten stuck. With that tingling feeling of awe mixed with excitement and danger that came whenever he discovered a place like this, Ming eased out of the water and onto the slick rock bank. He removed the tank and his bag, rummaging through the latter for a moment. "Ah-hah..."

One flare hissed and sizzled to life, casting a red glow around the room. Ming tossed it as far as he could, then followed with three more, one on each side and one in the middle. A couple hit the wall, and once his eyes adjusted, Ming could see that this chamber was the only one, and the pedestal near the back of the room was likely holding what he had come for. He removed the restricting wetsuit, favoring the sleeveless shirt and shorts he had on beneath it, and surveyed the room. The room appeared no larger than the hotel lobby, maybe even smaller, but Ming knew looks were very, very deceiving within caves. The shadows played tricks, things that were huge looked small, and the dimensions were distorted by the strange way that human senses were thrown off when beneath the earth's skin.

Besides his breathing, the steady "drip-drop" of water was the only noise. The rock floor was rust-colored from salt and mineral deposits, the stalagmites that matched - dead, their knobby and hulking mounds never to grow again. In the back of his mind, Ming had to wonder what could have caused the water to rise that much, as the color ran almost five feet up each wall. He'd come at high tide, so it must have been a tidal wave of some kind. Beyond the rust, he knew the walls were pure white, though they now looked yellowed or orange in the dimness of the flares' light. A few stalactites clung to the ceiling in slender soda straw formations, and above the pedestal was a cathedral where the formations circled the pedestal and nearly touched it. Where the item lay, a stalagmite had been chopped off and now formed a flat surface. Sitting in a perfect concave that fit its exact size, was what looked to Ming to be the largest pearl he had ever seen. The size of a man's fist, it just sat there, shimmering pale lavender. So easily within reach. Too easy. Very, very dangerous. It took only a couple of steps to see part of the reason why.

Ming jumped back, almost toppling into the water as tiny needles fell from the ceiling to strike the ground where he'd been standing. He blinked, looking up, and then back at the perfect, unmarked floor. He stepped in a different spot, a less direct approach from the side, only to again dodge more poisoned needles once he got so far. The needles themselves dropped down from inside the soda straw formations. How the hell had anyone managed to rig that? "Strange..." he murmured. Why hadn't the flares set off any traps? He stepped once more where the first needles had fallen.

Nothing happened. So... each straw held only one needle. Ming smiled and kicked his oxygen tank, sending it rolling along the floor. It was too durable to be pierced by anything so small, unlike human skin. Sure enough, as it rolled all the way to the pedestal, hundreds of little deathtraps fell in a pathway behind it. A minimum weight was required to set off the traps. "Well, that wasn't too difficult," Ming mused and strode forward, still carefully.

He neared the pedestal, then picked up the oxygen tank, tapping the pedestal near the top. His tension eased only a little when nothing happened. There were no tell-tale hollow sounds tot he thing, so he put the tank back down and pulled a small sandbag from his pocket, where he'd placed it after removing it from his supply bag moments ago. With quick reflexes, he reach forward and snatched the pearl in in blink, simultaneously placing the sandbag in its place. For a long moment, nothing happened.

Then... the room began to rumble. Ming turned immediately and ran as fast as he could.