Somewhere in the Andes mountains, Peru...

"We're almost there, ma'am," Esperanza's guide told her in Spanish. The trail they had been hiking for the last three hours was a steep incline, and the news that it was almost over was welcomed knowledge to her aching calves and thighs.

"Thank you, Juan. How long has the research team been up here?"

"Oh, about a month. It's been slow, but they finally picked all the debris away from the entrance. You should see the inside, now! It's magnificent..."

The debris Juan spoke of was several tons of rock pieces that had tumbled down from further up the mountain. Nearly two months ago, a small group of archaeologists had uncovered part of the outer stonework of a small, low-seated temple built into the steepest side of one of the smaller mountains. Since then, the team had been working night and day on the area, taking great care not to damage the site itself.

Leading the team was Professor Devon Childe. He was an expert on Incan culture, with a vast amount of knowledge on pre-Inca civilization as well. Esperanza knew him professionally as a respected comrade.

She also knew him more personally as her ex-boyfriend.

A small sigh was drowned in heavy breaths as Rios and her guide made the final stretch of the ascent, then Juan pulled back the final bit of vegetation with a grin, letting Esperanza see the excavated temple front. Her brown eyes widened as she sucked in a sharp breath.

The front of the "small" structure was a work of art and architectural design that still defied logic when considering the time the stones were laid in. "It's just like Sacsayhuaman..." Esperanza breathed. Sacsayhuaman was a series of zig-zag shaped walls in Cuzco. Massive boulders had been cut in perfectly angular, irregular shapes, and fit together without a single bit of mortar. Built by the Incas, the walls confounded science not only in how they formed such a perfect structure - which had withstood all earthquakes that laid waste to more modern buildings - but how the stone was transported. The massive, multi-ton slabs had come from many miles away. Esperanza had always been fascinated by the walls.

Her fatigue quickly forgotten, she jogged all the way to the front wall, ignoring the bustle of the archaeologist team around her, as well as any cautionary words from them. After showing her I.D. to one, she was left alone while Juan went to get the Professor.

She ran her fingers of the stones, much like she had done at Sacsayhuaman years ago. Though much smaller in comparison, the stone here fit together perfectly in their odd angles. Time had not worn the stones overmuch, and faint paintings could still be seen on the outside. Images of the sun...

"A temple... for the Virgins of the Sun?" she whispered to herself in wonder.

The Virgins of the Sun were the Incas' version of nuns, women dedicated only to serving Inti, the sun god. It was their charge to care for his temples and artifacts, to be living sacrifices in subjugation to the will of their chosen god, and to the king of their time.

"Amazing, isn't it? Just wait until you see the inside..." The vaguely familiar voice belonged to Devon. Esperanza turned and blinked away her awe, offering a small smile.

"It's incredible..."

"It's been a while, Esperanza." Green eyes twinkled slightly from beneath tousled dull-blond hair.

She sighed. No matter what he did to it, his hair usually had that just-out-of-bed quality when he was working. "So it has," she replied. "How've you been?"

He grinned, "Better than most, with this new find." His easy-going nature and willingness to avoid past issues put Rios at ease, showing in her answering chuckle. "Come on, let me show you the interior. I promise, it'll take your breath away."

She nodded and allowed him to lead her inside, jittery excitement fluttering within her chest. She expected much, if Devon was bragging on it. And she was not disappointed.

*~*~*~*

12:45 PM, The Makai

Victoria spotted Natalie in the Makai's lounge, again dressed in the suit and without most of her jewelry, looking very unlike the girl she had talked to before. Her disposition was even different from when they fought, notably the set of her shoulders and the look on her face. Victoria, being who and what she was, was good at reading people, and from Natalie's cool expression and rigid posture, it seemed as if she carried a lot of stress, and perhaps anger. On top of that, why did she no longer need to hide her identity? If what Victoria had heard was true, keeping her identity secret would still work in the woman's favor.

The pale agent looked tired as she entered the lounge area and went straight for a table in a secluded area. Victoria had been just about to rise from her seat at the bar to go talk to her, when a man beat her to it. Twenty-something, tall, cute with dark, short-cropped hair and dark eyes and a smooth, lightly tanned complexion. Victoria couldn't help quirking a brow as she glanced at them now and then, trying to watch without it being obvious.

Well, the guy was not someone close, that was for certain. Natalie's posture remained guarded, if not threatened, and her expression was one of near apathy. The guy, for his part, looked to be attempting to buy her a drink, hailing a waitress while wearing easy-going, flirtatious smile. The woman took the order and left, returning with the drinks moments later. Natalie looked nearly annoyed the entire time, while the man was leaning in towards her as he spoke.

***

"Have you thought it over?"

"Yeah. Doesn't look like I've got much choice, since you obviously need silence and I doubt you would tell someone all this, then let them walk away after turning down your offer."

Jack chuckled, "No, Natalie. I don't work that way."

"I didn't give you permission to call me by my first name," came the frosty reply. It was soon followed with a sigh as Mr. Carter apologized and Natalie realized she was being too cold. Perhaps it was Jack's flirtatious front that put her off. Well... at least she guessed it was a front.

"Sorry. It's just been a rough few days..." He gave a sympathetic nod as she trailed off, patiently waiting for her answer. She didn't keep him waiting long. "I'm in. But you better level with me about all the sh*t that'll be involved. I don't wanna get caught unprepared."

Jack nodded. "I'll disclose as much information as I can. Not here though. I'm already taking a great risk as it is."

That much, Natalie didn't doubt. "We can't meet here again," she said while still wearing the facade of an annoyed patron, sipping her drink. Jack grinned and leaned closer, causing Natalie's left brow to twitch. Before she could warn him that he was invading personal space, Jack slipped one arm around her back and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.

Simultaneously, she felt him slip something into her jacket pocket, using the hand that had snaked around her back.

Even knowing it was all a show performed in order to give her something didn't keep an angry flush from her cheeks as she hissed quietly, rigid as she spoke. "Cover or not, Jack, do that again and you will limp away."

He chuckled and pulled away, feigning answering his cell phone. Well, she guessed he was faking that part. Once he was done he gave another flirtatious smile and spoke in a low tone, "I'll be in touch."

"Uh huh."

And with that, he stood and walked away, stopping briefly to speak to a waitress. By the looks of it, he was very good at his game of flirting. Natalie scowled and muttered. "Some people enjoy their work too much..."

***

Once the cute guy was gone, Victoria waited a minute before sliding off her barstool and walking towards Natalie with a casual smile. Turquoise eyes looked up to meet her as she neared the table, turning from cool to warm, though still tired.

"Victoria... hey."

"Hey! How've you been? I haven't seen you much since the fight..."

Natalie chuckled softly. "I've been around. Busy, mostly." She didn't elaborate, and Victoria didn't inquire further, choosing instead to sit down in the booth's bench directly across from Natalie.

"How about you? I saw that you made it to the second stage," Natalie mused, sipping her drink.

Victoria smiled and nodded, "Yeah, Sean's really excited that our team made it. I told him not to get too happy about it, since now it's just going to be tougher. You and Honda made it too, right?"

Natalie nodded with a small smile, and one of those awkward silences ensued. Victoria was the one to tentatively break it. "So...." she said with what she hoped was a casual tone, "Who was that cute guy? I saw him flirting with you..."

Natalie blinked, "Oh... him." She slid down in her seat as she leaned back, elbows resting over the back of the cushioned bench. "He's some idiot who doesn't know how to take 'no' for an answer," she lied out of necessity.

"Oh. So where's your boyfriend? Didn't he get into the second round too?"

The soft chuckle, nod and pause before speaking told Victoria that that was a bit of a touchy subject at the moment. "Fiancé, actually. Yeah, he made it too. He's probably training right now..." Natalie rolled her eyes just slightly with something of a wry smirk. To Victoria, it seemed forced.

Steering away from that subject, Victoria noticed that - with Nat's arms propped and her blazer open - she could see the butt and holster of a very large revolver strapped snugly against Natalie's right side. She blinked, staring at it, "Wow... that's an awfully big gun..."

The agent's brows rose and she glanced down to see that Claire was exposed, then lowered her arms back to the table to let her blazer cover the weapon once more. "Oh... heh, yeah. I figure that if I wanna carry a gun, I might as well have something with some guaranteed stopping power."

No time like the present, Victoria decided as she leaned on the tabled with her elbows, keeping her voice low but curious. "So, it's true then? You're working for the government?"

Natalie chuckled softly. "Enrique told you?"

It was hard to keep from raising a brow, but the Hispanic woman did a fine job of it, and nodded. So, he really was here on business...

"Something like that. It's a little hard to believe though, you know? I mean, you're no older than me..."

Another chuckle, and Wynshire just smiled and shrugged, "I'm an exception rather than a rule. It's not something I ever pictured myself doing, either..." One more thing added to a long, long list, as was evident briefly in pale blue eyes.

Victoria ventured on in a sympathetic tone, "I imagine it's a very tough job. Riq... he doesn't talk about it much." She knew from Natalie's previous statement that the agent was aware that the two Puerto Ricans knew each other well enough to share at least some personal information.

"Most agents don't talk about their work. Enrique would, I assume, have to be more closed-mouth about it than me. Just part of the job."

Victoria nodded, sighing inwardly as what Natalie just said made asking her next question more difficult. "Can... can you tell me about someone who was in the tournament? That's what you guys are here for... isn't it? Investigating people?"

Natalie raised a brow, looking over Victoria thoughtfully in a long pause before speaking. "I'll do what I can. I can't promise anything, though."

A grateful nod, then the question came. "I need to know about a man named Pablo Ver-"

The question was cut off as Natalie's eyes darted around the lounge. Victoria took the hint and lowered her voice further to a mere whisper. "Why is he here and who does he work for?"

"I can't say..." Wynshire's eyes had again cooled to the detached expression she wore as an agent. "But stay away from him. He's very, very dangerous, and he's not alone."

When Natalie started to slide out of her seat, ready to leave, Victoria grabbed her wrist. "Please..." she whispered, "I need to know..."

Natalie hesitated long enough for Victoria to plow forward, "He almost killed someone. Someone I care about..."

The sigh that came from the tired, pale girl gave her a small bit of hope. "Look," Natalie began. "I'm not as deep into the investigations as Pierantoni is. It's him you should be asking, and he'll probably tell you even less. All I can say is that Veracruz is a known mercenary, and he's been hired by some very, very bad people. He doesn't work alone, either, and we suspect he's killed more than a few times to accomplish his goals. That's all I can tell you, Victoria. If it's revenge you're going for, your best bet is to wait."

Victoria released Natalie's wrist and pursed her lips, while Natalie stood, straightening her jacket. "It was nice talking to you. Be careful, Victoria. Things... they aren't safe here," the federal agent said very quietly.

The Hispanic woman nodded with a sigh, "You too. Maybe next time we'll talk on a better subject." Natalie gave the barest smile, then left. Victoria mulled silently over the tidbits of information she'd been given. It told her very little that was of use... but one thing was for certain.

She would most definitely give Riq an earful after this.

***

Natalie was heading for the door leading to the lobby when she spotted Jin, standing next to Fei just inside the bar area. The small argument over her job came to Natalie's mind, and she tried to read whether Jin was over that or not. She wasn't going to pass him without a word, but before she could speak, he beat her to it.

"Who was he?"

Well, hello and I love you too, Natalie thought sourly. She should have known by the nervous, awkward expression that Fei Long wore that something was up. So... Jin had seen Jack. Well, that was just peachy.

"Just some guy," she replied.

Though wearing an unreadable (to most, at least) expression, Jin felt a twinge of anger at the obvious lie. "He seemed interested enough in you..."

One slender brow lifted, her eyes fully ignoring Fei Long, passers by and completely missing Victoria, who had been about to leave before walking up on the scene from behind Natalie.

"A lot of guys tend to be, for some reason." Not that most ventured to make any physical moves on her, and certainly not like she invited it.

"You talked to that particular one." All said in a casual, quiet tone, but Natalie could see in his eyes that the remark was anything but.

"Well, he had something to say to me." Unlike a certain someone who's keen on walking out on important conversations, her mind added silently, yet the thought was fully implied.

Unnoticed, Fei rolled his eyes downward in an "oh dear" gesture, keeping quiet. Behind Natalie and unable to help but watch, Victoria could only blink at the unexpected scene before her.

"Looked like he said plenty to you just before he left," Jin replied with a certain edge underlying his tone. "So Parker's got you playing some guy's girl too?" He more stated it as a fact than asked, looking expectantly to his fiancée with one brow slightly cocked.

Blue eyes turned from cool and tired to piercing and narrow. To answer her earlier question, it indeed looked like Jin wasn't entirely over that argument. "If I wanna be accused of something, I'll go talk to my d*ckhead of a boss."

"I guess that wouldn't be the first-" Before Jin could finish his parting comment it was cut off by Natalie, who kept her tone low and cold.

"You know what? Whoever I talk to, or whoever talks to me, is not your concern. Now unless you have more conclusions to jump to, I'm going. I'm working now."

Without waiting for any reply, she brushed past Jin and through the door. Victoria stared for only a moment longer before excusing herself as politely as she could and heading for the lobby as well. So that's what was bugging her so much... she thought, but kept to herself. Dark eyes rolled, Men...

With a low whistle, Fei lightly clapped his friend on the shoulder, trying to break the silent tension that still permeated the air. "So... still up for that drink?"

"Aren't I always?" Jin responded with a small grin flashing across his features. "Don't worry about all that, either," he added as nonchalantly as he could. "Just a minor argument. It is what it is." If she wanted to lie and keep things from him in order to protect who obviously wasn't "just some guy", then fair enough. He wouldn't let the issue slide, of course, but he wouldn't allow it to ruin his day either.

*~*~*~*

1:15 PM, The Makai...
 

Luke had to admit, there were bonuses to being in the tournament besides the chance to fight Ken Masters. Food vouchers for continuing participants were another. Nobody, no matter how rich or poor, could turn down a free meal from a good restaurant. He eagerly perused the menu of one of The Makai's restaurants before telling the waiter his order.
 

It was lunchtime at The Makai, and the restaurant was full of press members, tournament staff, and fighters. Off in the corner, he spotted Ken sitting with his family, eating. Ryu was standing at their table, talking, before he promptly walked away to exit the restaurant.
 

On the table to his left, a petite young woman with brown hair was jotting down some notes on a flip pad. She was dressed in a sleeveless pink blouse and brown knee-length skirt and flats. As a waiter passed by, she raised her hand to grab his attention.
 

"Excuse me," she pointed to her order on the other side of the table. "I'm sorry, but I requested no sesame seeds. I'm allergic," she added in a whisper voice.
 

"Oh, I'm sorry. Of course, I'll get that right out..." the waiter seized her plate and headed back to the kitchen.
 

Luke spotted another customer reading the newspaper. Splashed on the front of the sports section was the latest update on the tournament. He was surprised about the turn of events. Team matches to single matches. It was enough to make anyone speculate on why teams were made up to begin with.
 

Another waiter passed by, knocking an item off the table belonging to the woman on his left. Ever the gentleman, Luke reached down to retrieve it, seeing it was a press badge.
 

"Oh, thanks," she accepted it gratefully before her eyes widened. "Aren't you Luke Blaze?"
 

"Yeah, that's right."
 

"Wow...congratulations on moving on."
 

"Thanks."
 

She held out her hand and he shook it. "My name's Andrea...I work for an internet sports magazine based in Los Angeles. This is very spontaneous, but do you mind if I interview you? One of my next assignments is to interview at least four of the qualifying participants for the next stage..."
 

"Uh...sure." Why not? An interview could be fun and it could never hurt to educate people about tournaments, right?
 

"I'll buy you lunch," she offered.
 

"That's okay," Luke laughed as he moved himself and his glass of water to the chair across from her that she had pushed out with her foot. "Tournament participants get free meals..."
 

"Lucky," Andrea shook her head.
 

"Isn't your company covering yours?" he asked.
 

"Pretty much." Andrea grinned. "I'm just lucky...I met some other press members who aren't. Their companies are only willing to pay for one meal a day...the rest they have to handle."
 

"That's too bad...So...you write for online?" Luke asked.
 

"Yeah. We update one article a day, and I've been uploading some video footage...either of the fights themselves or interviews with people...my last interview was with Karin Kanzuki...she apparently had some emergency which is
why she missed her last match..." Andrea shrugged.
 

"Can I ask you a huge favor?"
 

"Sure..."
 

"Did you happen to tape my last fight?"
 

"Against Pierantoni? Yeah..."
 

"Any way I can get a copy of that? It'd be great for me to study off of."
 

"Sure, I can get my camera guy to get a good quality video for you."
 

"Thanks."
 

"No problem," she smiled. "So...first question..."
 

*~*~*~*

4:00 PM, undisclosed building somewhere in Oahu...

Moving right past his secretary despite protests from the older woman, Natalie strode right into her boss' office. He'd called her, after all, so she saw no need to wait for introductions.

Kyle jumped slightly in surprise as his office door swung open abruptly and his most obnoxious agent marched in. "Christ, Wyn! Don't you have the decency to knock?"

Why was it that out of all the men she knew, none of them knew how to give a proper greeting? Natalie eyed her boss, Kyle Parker as she stood just inside his office, leaning on the doorframe. "I'm sorry, were you about to jerk it to women's fashion magazines again? Cuz, you know, I can go if-"

Parker's glare was something to be savored, for she rarely grated his nerves enough to warrant such a seething look from him. She only grinned when he cut her off. "Funny, Wyn. You're a real comedian."

"Thank you, I try."

"How'd the meeting go?"

"It went well," she answered, then went on, "Not much more info than what we already knew, though." That part was a lie, of course, but she had her reasons.

"Ahh. Well, I guess if everyone else is doing as badly as you, I shouldn't be too disappointed..."

Natalie smiled in mock-sweetness and barely kept her right middle finger neatly balled with the rest in her fist. The assistant director gave her a lopsided, cocky grin.

"I expect a full report on what took place at the meeting, naturally."

"You'll get it tomorrow."

"Your tone's rather clipped, Wyn. Is there a problem?"

"Mostly you."

"Heh, actually I would think that compared to your personal issues with your lucky husband-to-be, your problems with me should seem trivial..."

Blue eyes narrowed coldly, darkening like a brewing storm. How the hell did he know about any of that?

"You son of a bitch. You're having me watched?!"

Parker clicked with his tongue in disapproval and waved a finger at her, "Ah ah, watch your language, Agent Wynshire. It's unbecoming of both your gender and station."

"Answer me." Oh, how her hands itched for her gun...

"We have to keep tabs on you now and then, Wyn, to be sure you're doing your job. We can't trust you as we do most agents..." When her jaw visibly tensed and both fists tightened until her knuckles turned pure white, Parker hastily continued, "Now now, rest assured there is no invasion of privacy. But when you are on the job, it is our business what you are doing."

She eased, but only slightly, and he ventured on, resuming his grin. "I have to say, I can't blame Mr. Kushina for being upset with you. And to think, he thought I was the one behind you not retaliating against that bold fellow in the booth." He chuckled, smoothed a hand through his short, black hair and turned a piercing, inquisitive gaze on her, "Now... why didn't you lash out at the man? I recall all advances made on you ending in pain, when we first recruited you..."

Natalie's face betrayed none of her inner feelings, all of which boiled in dread and curiosity as to why Parker was so interested. "As a contestant in the tournament, I am forbidden from fighting of any kind while on The Makai's grounds, unless said fighting is either in the tournament itself, or in sparring to further both my skills and those of a consenting opponent, sir." Quoted in the true fashion of a trained soldier or operative, she knew he could offer no argument.

Still, she added, "I wanted no trouble, sir. The man has an interest in me and is not easily daunted. He has thus far made no severe intrusions or advances on my person, and therefore violent actions against him are unwarranted." Not that she had ever held back for that reason before when it came to persistent flirts.

Parker shrugged. "If you say so, Wyn. Seems you might've become a bit tame, after all." But Kyle's eyes told her plainly that he didn't buy it, and her own conveyed to him that the answer he'd just received was the only one she was willing to give.

"If that's all, may I go now? I've got work to do."

He nodded, "You're dismissed."

Wynshire spun and walked out, letting the door close behind her as she marched down the long hall. This job, this place, was getting more tiresome by the day...

*~*~*~*

Back in Peru...

Swatting away at the bug that had been buzzing in her face since they started up the steep trail, Juli huffed and glared up at Pablo's back, him hiking just behind their guide. Her dark, short hair stuck to the sweat on her face, and her back ached from the heavy pack of equipment she'd been carrying for the past hour. It wasn't that she was out of shape in any way, it was more the combination of a steep incline, the heavy pack, her empty stomach and a lack of sleep. Not to mention she couldn't tell what the hell was being said up ahead, for it was all in Spanish. They could be remarking on her tits, for all she knew, and probably were judging from the lecherous backward glances of their guard and the chuckles shared by both males.

"How far to the excavation site?" Pablo asked.

"About another two hours... long way to go yet," the guide told him.

"I want to leave the trail before we get there, you understand. We need to go above the site, by about two hundred feet at the very least. We need a campsite further up, still."

The man nodded, "I see. Then it will take another hour and a half, to go around the site without their notice."

Pablo grinned, "I knew you were the man for the job."

The guide knew Pablo was there to steal something. And Pablo knew that, unlike others of his countrymen, this man had no qualms about handing over ancient relics from his ancestors if it meant his pockets were filled. "Yes sir, if the price is right, there's very little I won't do." Meaning, of course, that if something else came up that Pablo needed done, the man would do it, if he was paid extra.

Pablo's grin dropped one side, forming a smirk, "I'll remember that..."

*~*~*~*

6:10 PM, in a park near the beach in Oahu...

"You really have to cut back, Maru..."

Iwa stared down at the squirrel who rolled onto his back in the grass in a park a little ways from The Makai. His belly swollen with stolen drinks, the furball could only chirr and burp now and then, the world spinning around him. Iwa sighed and nudged him with her foot. "Get up..."

The prolonged squeak that was Maru's response could be interpreted as a groan.

Iwa grumbled and sighed, bending to pick up the squirrel who would no doubt be in need of some coffee and children's ibuprofen.

"We keep running into each other." There was no humor in John Heagy's voice, and Iwa knew without looking that he stood directly behind her, about five or six feet back. A small smile played on her lips and she stood, cradling the squirrel in one arm, and turned.

"Funny how that happens, hmm?"

"You kidnapped a kid, and Ken is still pissed at you. You shouldn't even be here."

She huffed, "Kidnapping and taking the kid out for some fun are two different things. Why does everyone jump to conclusions?"

Heagy's dark eyes narrowed, tugging slightly at the scar on his cheek. "Just what is up with you?"

Iwa was surprised he wasn't brandishing a weapon, but he almost certainly had one on him. Or five. It was probably that there were so many people strolling through the area that stayed his hand.

"Are you like the rest of them?" she suddenly asked.

John's brow furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"

She snorted softly, "You are. Pretending to care. You all really gotta drop the act. It gets annoying."

"Iwa, I don't know what the hell has happened to you, but you've gone too far..."

He trailed off when her eyes narrowed and she looked sharply to her right, towards a small landscaped area that was home to several plants and bushes of various colors and sizes. John followed her gaze, then she called out.
 

"Will you come out already? I'm tired of you watching me all the time."

For a moment, nothing happened, but then a man stepped out from behind one of the taller bushes. Taking in his short, black hair, odd silver eyes and casual clothing, Iwa cocked one brow and huffed as she shook her head to toss black-streaked-with-red bangs out of her face. "How in the world do I garner so many stalkers, I wonder?" she mumbled to herself.

John looked at the new guy with wary curiosity. If Iwa didn't know him, the guy didn't work for Shadowlaw... but he wasn't a familiar face in any way.

The man spoke, hands concealed in the pockets of his loose-fitting jeans. "Iwa Hoshi... my name is Darren..." Well, he hoped that might be a name she'd know him by. Yet no recognition showed on her face, so he ventured on, "Maybe you know me as Dante..."

Iwa smirked, chuckling softly. "Look, whatever you-" she looked back to Heagy, or you want, I haven't got the time..."

Still holding the squirrel, she turned to leave. Darren called out, desperately close to the one lead he had. "Do you know who I am?"

Iwa paused, looking at him over her shoulder. "I've never seen you before in my life, so no."

Silver eyes widened as they watched her jog off. She had to be lying! She... she had to be...

Unwilling to accept the answer, Darren followed.

John Heagy clenched his fists and started to go after both Iwa and the odd man who chased her, but his cell phone rang, cutting into his thoughts.

He looked at the number, sighed and then answered.

"Heagy here. Orders?"

"Report to temporary base location 1042. We have a new mission."

Fighting the urge to report on Iwa and asked permission to pursue, Heagy paused a moment before finally sighing. "Understood."

*~*~*~*

7:00 PM, The Makai...

Hours later, after coming back from a brief workout session in the gym, Luke returned to his room to find his phone message light blinking. He picked up his phone and dialled to retrieve the message:
 

"Hello, Mr. Charlton, this is Alana at the front desk. We have a package for you...please call and let us know if you'd like to come pick it up or if you'd prefer us to send a bellman up to deliver it."
 

Luke quickly called front desk and asked for the package to be delivered. While he waited, he turned on the TV to see Ken Masters on screen, speaking at a podium, with the hotel in the distance serving as a backdrop. Luke recognized that Ken was speaking from a fighting ring site, addressing the media, in what appeared to be a weekly press conference. Since the tournament started, even the preliminaries, either Ken Masters or Karin Kanzuki would speak to the media once a week, updating them about the tournament.
 

"Mr. Masters, what do you think the repercussions are of starting a team-based tournament, then changing it into a singles' match?" a reporter asked.
 

"If any, I think they're very small," Ken answered pleasantly. "Most of us who came here in the beginning all know each other...and it was great to work as a team. So now we're going into a game that we're all used to...fighting individually...and we all understand that...that's just how it goes. And we'll see who comes out number one."
 

"Do you have anything to say about the participants who are no longer with us...particularly Ming Croft who died recently and Reno Tseng and Cana Verdandi, who have been missing?"
 

"Well...it's...always tough when someone dies at a tournament...not really in the ring, but while they're there. Because they came out here to do something they love and for whatever reason, circumstances prevented that. And when people go missing...I'm not really sure what else to say about that. I can't say anything because I don't know all the facts. But I do know that the police here are very diligent and they're trying their best to make this easy for all of us," Ken answered.
 

"Do you ever worry about the position you put your family in? Being a man with your wealth and prestige, don't you think all of this is unnecessary?"
 

Ken frowned slightly. "No...because I've been like this since I was young. Fighting is what I love. But I love my family, too, and they accept this side of me. And they continue to support me...and they will until I become old and can't fight anymore." He chuckled, bringing a few laughs from the crowd. "If we could please stick to the agenda...and that's the current status of the tournament...I'll take a couple more questions..."
 

A knock came to the door and Luke opened it. He tipped the bellman and closed the door behind him to open the box that was simply labelled with his name.
 

Inside was a DVD in a clear jewel case and VHS tape in a plastic sleeve. Taped to the DVD case was a small note in female handwriting:
 

Not sure what media you have, so I thought I'd make both. Thanks for the
interview, my editor will love it! -Andrea
 

Luke grinned, pulling out the DVD and sticking it into the player, changing
Ken's press conference to footage from his last fight. He critically examined his moves and his opponent's, trying to see where he could improve.
 

Already he was looking forward to his rematch.

*~*~*~*

7:34 PM, Umbrella Pacific Research Facility

The room was cold, featureless, and clinical, except for the pictures taped to the wall, all showing a child's budding artistic talents. There was a small bed and a few other necessities, but none of the warmth that one normally associated with children's rooms. Even the pictures were mostly grotesque, though a few held that normal 'happy' touch.

Looking at the red-haired girl within the room through the viewing window, assistant director of Umbrella's subject developmental center - or GenLab 6,
as it was better known - sighed quietly and marked off a few things on his clipboard.

Jack Carter gave no outward impression of sympathy, noting the security cameras that watched every move within the facility could pick up. He walked to the door, slid his access key, and passed into the hall on his way to a meeting. He swept a hand through his light brown hair and adjusted his glasses, both of which would appear and disappear between the outside world and these sterile, bland walls.

He'd lied to Agent Wynshire, both about his position and his appearance, and would probably lie about more besides. It was a necessary deception. Whatever it took to keep his identity secret so he could continue his job, as well as whatever would ensure he had her aid within the Bureau. He was relieved beyond words that she would cooperate, since without her help, both his work and his life might soon be ended.

He passed the many doors that led to rooms similar to the one he'd just been in, and met one of Umbrella's more violent subjects along the way. Sergei Rezlorn Romanav spared Jack little more than a disinterested glance, and that was just fine with Jack. The man gave him the shivers, but only because Jack was not in a position to deal with the criminal in the way he normally would.

A few minutes later, Carter was inside the main viewing room above GenLab 6, along with the director, the lead scientist, and a handful of others. On the viewing screens were participants in the Champion of Fists tournament, but on speaker phone was the deep, unsettling voice of the man behind their current research.

"How soon can you begin retrieving and testing subjects?"

"Soon," one of the scientists replied. "Those who made it to the second stage will be narrowed down quickly, and we can pursue them once the public no longer holds any interest in them."

"I grow tired of delays."

"It can't be helped," Jack spoke up. "The media is raising plenty of questions as it is."

A long pause. "So they are. Which subjects are most valuable, by your assessments?"

"All participants in the remaining stage, aside from your operatives, show extreme promise," the lead scientist replied. "There are also others who have failed to make it this far, but may prove to be of some use. We're sending you the data now on who we value most at this time."

Jack watched the profiles of several fighters appear on the screens before them. He almost winced to see Natalie's profile come up, along with a good deal more info than she had provided for tournament purposes. Thankfully, there was not yet any listed information on her profession. Yet.

He recognized her lover's picture, along with Victoria Millan, Enrique Pierrantoni, Ken Master's now famous apprentice, Sean, Sakura Kasugano, and few others.

The contractor's voice sounded doubtful. "Your list is rather small."

"These are the subject in the second stage who will not garner too much attention once missing. Subjects like Ken Masters, Karin Kanzuki, and Fei Long are far too watched by the public to be quietly taken in the night."

"Your caution is not my problem."

"Part of our payment was lost in the two subjects you failed to provide," the scientist reminded.

"If I recall, it was the carelessness of one of your men that caused their deaths."

The silence that followed was mildly tense.

"We will gather the subjects as we see fit. Mind you, we will be lucky to obtain even a handful, let alone all those listed. Yet, as we mentioned, there are others..."

Pictures of combatants eliminated in the first stage came up. John Heagy and his partner Elena, were among them.

"Very well, I shall check back another time. Inform me of any noteworthy progress."

The call ended, leaving Jack with an uneasy feeling that was once again kept from his expression.

The scientist smiled, "We will do as we see fit. The best subjects, if any are indeed of real worth, we shall keep. Let the contractor have the rest once we are done with them."

***

Elsewhere...

Within the dimly lit, well decorated room, Master Bison sipped his tumbler of brandy and smiled to himself as he overlooked the data he'd received. He had no intention of waiting, or of letting Umbrella take all these fine specimens and hand him what was left of some while they kept those suited to their purposes to themselves. No, better to take a few for himself, test them, try them and see their worth. Then... if he could do nothing with them, he could turn them over to Umbrella for them to enhance as per their part of the contract.

It was, after all, what he was paying them for.

And if they didn't do as he asked? Well, he could leak enough dirt on them to bury them in public ridicule and legal suits, if not have the company shut down outright.

Comparing the reports he'd received from Vega and Iwa with the data from Umbrella, Bison chuckled to himself.

It would be interesting indeed, to see what came of this.