By Richard Palmer

Billy stormed into his Bosses office, the British fighter knew that in order to be taken seriously in this business you’d be better to never show any emotion. Still, the rage was quite apparent in his face, as was the pain he was feeling.

"What can I do for you Billy?’ Geese said in his usual no-nonsense tone.

"Me sister’s been shot," Billy answered, "I want retribution!"

Geese sat back, "I am well aware of what happened tonight, Billy. Believe me when I say the culprit will not go unpunished. But I’m letting the police take care of this matter."

"Fuck the cops, Geese! You know them blokes is complete fools!" Billy shouted, "I want ta ‘andle this bastard personally!"

"Impossible," Geese replied calmly, "I need you here. You’re too valuable for me to…"

"Stuff it, this is personal," Billy yelled, "you don’t mess with family!"

Geese stood up, of all of his associates Billy was the last one he would expect to hear insults from. "Tell you what Billy," He said as he placed his hand on Billy’s shoulder and led him out of his office, "I’ll see what I can do. Right now that’s the only answer I can give you."

Billy nodded and left without a word. He knew his boss would think about it, that’s all he could really ask for. He would still go after his sister’s attacker, though, whether he had Geese’s consent or not.

As the door shut Geese turned to one of his thugs, "So what’s the word on this assault, Hopper?"

Hopper stepped forward, "Judy, the manager of the restaurant got a good look at the attacker, we already know who he is." He handed Geese a file, "Marcus Boss, an Ex-special forces member who also has training in Ninjitsu. He’s been involved with several criminal organizations, including a brief employment with Ryuji Yamazaki."

Geese flipped through the file, "Is that all?"

"No sir, If you’ll take a look right there," Hopper said pointing to a part of the file, "you’ll see who his present employer is."

Geese smiled as he read the name, "So he’s working for my newest rival, good. Billy can be of some use here after all." He walked back to his desk and pressed a button on his intercom system. "Grace, Is Billy Kane still here?"

"He’s just leaving Mr.Howard."

"Well go get him and bring him to my office, immediately."

Ryuji Yamazaki sat down at the bench press at his gym. As he lay down and grabbed the bar he grimaced. It wasn’t a grimace of pain or a grimace of exertion. He was grimacing at the thought of what he was going to do to the man he ran into earlier that night. Ryuji finally recognized the man; it was Marcus Boss, an old associate of his. He and Marcus were hired to retrieve a series of disks with weapons schematics on them, a very profitable job. But Marcus betrayed Yamazaki and not only left him to the mercy of the police, but also took off with both his payment and Ryuji’s.

Ryuji shot his arms out lifting the barbells with ease. Others at the gym looked over at him. Although Yamazaki was quite a regular here it was still a sight to behold when he had more than half of the weights available piled onto one barbell.

Yamazaki grinned as he thought about his revenge. Marcus had left quite a while ago; he hadn’t witnessed how tough Ryuji had now become. When next they met, It would be Marcus’s turn to pay. Yamazaki took one hand off the barbell and continued his set with only one arm. A psychotic look came over his face, Maybe he’d let Marcus witness what he’d learned since he found out his heritage to the Orochi bloodline. He chuckled as he got up still holding the barbell in one hand. He looked around the room, his eyes stopped on a man cautiously waiting to use the Bench press. "Here," Yamazaki said as he tossed him the heavy set of weights. The Barbell knocked the man down and pulled him halfway across the room. Yamazaki let out a Psychotic laugh that echoed through the gym.

"Billy," Geese said as Billy reentered his office, "I’ve had a change of heart. I realized that, as an attack on your only family, this is something that should defiantly be handled by you." Geese sat down in his chair. "So here’s the deal, my resources are your resources. If you need more manpower you got it. Information, it’s yours." Geese picked up the file, "and speaking of information here’s a little to get you started." Billy grabbed the file and started to thumb through it. "I’ve already been told that this man, Marcus, has been seen in the eastern district of Southtown, that’s Big’s area. Go get him to help you on this."

"Thank you sir." Billy said as he turned to leave.

As he opened the door leading out of the office, Geese added, "We’ll be in touch."

Mary Rian sat in the Bar with Harold, the bartender. It had been a rather slow night for both of them. Mary hadn’t had any good assignments for weeks, and in a town where nearly everyone wanted revenge on someone else, that was quite a surprise. "Well, nobody said bounty hunting would be a steady business." She thought to herself.

"Can I get me a Blue Mary over ‘ere." Said a voice from the entrance of the bar.

Mary looked up, She knew before she did who it was at the door. "Billy Kane, What rock did you crawl out from under?"

"Oh, that hurts, luv, it really does." Billy said as he approached. "And ‘ere I am comin’ to offer ya a job too." The bartender came over and handed Billy the drink. Billy took a sip and smiled, "Kind of a cheerful mix with a kick, they named it after the right person."

"Cut the act Billy," Mary said, "Whatever job Geese is trying to sucker me into I’m not interested."

"Geese is not involved," Billy said, "This is my fight."

"Right, since when have you ever thought for yourself," Mary said as she got up, "and not jumped through Geese’s hoops."

"They shot Lilly," Billy said casually, "She the only family I got, now she’s in a coma, who know when she’ll come out."

"Billy,… I’m sorry… I…"

"Look, I know you don’t care for me or my kind, but you of all people can respect this situation. Besides," Billy smiled, "You’re the best in the business, If anyone can find this bastard it’s you."

"Okay, I’ll take the job," Mary said, "But merely on principal, this doesn’t mean that I like you."

"Oh you’re breakin’ me heart." Billy said as he got up, "I got a file on the bloke already, you can take it and follow your leads, I’ll follow mine." He handed her the file, "I got word he’s hidin’ over on the east side. I’m gonna start there with Big. We’ll keep in touch, I’ll tell you what I find you tell me what you find, y’know?" he walked out of the Bar. "Thanks Blue, I ‘preciate it."

Mary looked down at the file. After She’d been teamed with Billy in the King of Fighters tournament she never wanted to see him again. But she knew what it was like to lose someone close to you, even Billy didn’t deserve that. She got her Jacket and walked out to her bike.

"Mary, where are you going?" she turned and saw a man in blue jeans, a red vest, and an unmistakable red cap with a metal plate above the brim.

"I’ve got work to do Terry, you’re welcome to come along but I don’t think this is something you want to involve yourself in."

Yamazaki casually walked into the dimly lit bar. He headed over towards a beefy man with sandy blonde hair and a matching goatee at the pool tables. The man was setting up his shot when he realized that he was being watched. He turned around and smacked right into Yamazaki. The man looked up at Yamazaki. At the height of well over two meters Yamazaki was quite imposing. But those who knew him feared him for a different reason. Yamazaki wasn’t entirely sane, and therefore unpredictable, on top of that he had spent maybe his entire life as a fighter. Nobody was quite sure how but his fighting ability exceeded all natural laws, although incredibly huge he was one of the fastest fighters you would ever meet, and uncanny in his accuracy.

Yamazaki looked down at the beefy guy, "Hello, Mike!" he said, putting a strange accent on Mike’s name, "Been a long time hasn’t it."

"Ryuji,.. What a… uh… surprise." Mike stammered "Sorry but I don’t have anything to give you right now."

"Can it Mike, I’m not looking for firearms today," Yamazaki smiled, "I’m here for your less tangible abilities."

"I d-don’t know wh-what you’re…"

"Marcus Boss, where is he?" Yamazaki smiled. Mike stayed silent. "C’mon Mike, you hear everything that goes on in this town. Where is he?"

"Oh, get lost you psycho." Yamazaki looked up to see who had the audacity to address him in such a manner. Across the room in a Red tank top and black fighting pants was a young oriental man with a pair of Nunchuku under his right arm.

"Hon-Fu, I should’ve known. Only an over-confidant loser like you would try to start up with someone like me." Yamazaki walked away from Mike who was still trembling. "Well, If you want a piece of me you’ll have to come get it yourself." Yamazaki’s left hand went into his pocket while the Right lay casually at his side. Several of the bars patrons cleared out of there as fast as they could. Most had seen Yamazaki fight enough to recognize his strange fighting stance.

Hon-fu stood up and with little warning he swung at Yamazaki with his Nunchuku. Yamazaki dodged effortlessly and followed up with a punch. Or at least what appeared to be a punch, actually Yamazaki threw several punches in that fraction of a second. Hon-Fu fell sprawling across the room. "Had enough you two bit…" Yamazaki stopped as he noticed Mike trying to leave the bar. His left hand shot out of his pocket and a knife whizzed across the room catching Mike's collar and pinning him to the wall. "I’m not done with you yet!" Yamazaki yelled.

Hon-fu took advantage Of Yamazaki’s momentary distraction and swung at him with his Nunchuku, flames leaping out from the end of the weapon. It caught Yamazaki across the side of his head and knocked him back a few feet. "Oh so you want to get serious now, huh?" Yamazaki smiled, He struck out At Hon-Fu again with a barrage of punches. Only each punch was aimed just inches away from Hon-Fu’s face. "Does this bother you?" Yamazaki smiled, "I’m not touching you! I’m not touching you!"

"This is getting serious?" Hon-Fu thought, He pulled back his Nunchuku and readied his next attack.

Yamazaki grabbed him around the throat, "NOW I’m touching you." He slammed Hon-Fu against the ground and ran. Scraping him across the floorboards until he reached a wall. Then, with his right arm still in his pocket, he lifted Hon-Fu up against the wall and kicked him through it. Hon-Fu staggered to his feet, then fell over in front of Yamazaki. "Does anyone else need a lesson in manners?" Yamazaki said. Then he walked over to Mike, "Now then, Mike, where were we?"

"So, his sister." Terry said as he sipped his drink.

Mary nodded, "His only family," She said, "A loss that I know all too well. So I promised him I’d help." She sighed, "Hey Billy’s a creep but even he doesn’t deserve this."

"I’d like to go with you" Terry said.

"That’s really not necessary." Mary said, "I know how you and Billy feel about each other, so I don’t want to force you into this."

"You’re not the only one to lose family," Terry answered, "If it wasn’t for Andy I’d be the only one left of mine. Even if Billy is a jerk he deserves all the help he can get on this."

"Okay, But I’m not the one who suggested it," Mary said as she got up, "just keep that in mind if Billy shows up later."

Terry nodded as he stood, "Where do we start?"

"Billy said Marcus was seen in the eastern district, I guess that’s as good a place as any."

In a dimly lit corner of a spacious nightclub sat a large man in a gray robe with a fur-lined collar. He had on expensive leather boots, white slacks, a white collared shirt covered by a brown vest and dark sunglasses over the eyes of his bald head and thinly bearded face. He was surrounded by women, several scantily clad ladies attending to nearly every need.

"Hello Big." Billy said.

The large man turned to see him, "That’s Mr.Big, to you, Aussie."

"First off, I’m British, not Australian." Billy said as he approached, "And second I don’t care what you like to be called, I’ll address you as Magilla Gorilla if I see fit."

"Get lost Billy, I don’t answer to second rate punks like you." Mr.Big said as he motioned to one of his henchmen.

"You do now," Billy said, "Geese said…"

"If Geese has something to say to me he can do it personally, I don’t answer to his lapdogs, only Geese himself." Mr.Big smiled, "And then only if I’m in a good mood."

Mr.Big’s henchman finally reached the Table where Big was at. He looked at Billy. "I think you should tell him." Billy said to the man.

"Boss y-you got a phone call just before Billy arrived," The man stammered, "Geese said to do whatever Kane Tells you or it’s your neck."

Big nodded, "Fine, It’s been dull around here anyway." He got up, "So what do have to waste my time with."

Mary pulled up in front of a truckstop. She put the kickstep down on her bike as she and Terry got off. "So why exactly are we here?"

"Jack Turner hangs around this place, he used to be in with Mr.Big’s gang so he knows a lot of what goes around in this area."

They walked in and saw A small bar fight already in progress. Five smaller men were attacking a large Fat man in blue Jean attire. The big man was slow and about as agile as a safe, but he was still holding his own against the Five men.

"Hello Jack." Mary said. The big man turned to look at her just as one of the five he was fighting hit him over the head with a chair.

"Mary? ‘Blue’ Mary Rian?" he signaled at the five men who stopped attacking as he did. "I ain’t seen you for years! You still hanging out with that Butch fella?"

Terry looked at Mary, he knew her fiancée’s death was still a touchy subject with her. Mary continued to smile, but still all she said was "No."

"Thas too bad you two seemed like th’ perfect…" Jack stopped as a whiskey bottle flew and hit him in the back of the head. He turned around "Hey, I’m talkin’ here! Chill!" he turned back to Mary, "So whas up? Wha chu need?"

"We’re looking for a man named Marcus Boss," Mary said handing him a photograph, "We’ve got information he’s in this part of town."

Jack took the picture and looked at it, turning it sideways like he was trying to make sense of it. Finally, it clicked, "Yeah, that guy. I seen him. He likes to hang at some of the clubs down town; he was at ‘the Duck Pond’ last night. Strange dude. He’s got a weird mix of tastes, too. Someone told me he was at that revolving club King owns a few nights before." Jack handed the Photo back. "He do somthin ta piss ya off?"

"No, a ‘friend’ of mine needs to talk with him."

Jack shrugged, "Well good luck, see you around." He turned to the five men who immediately attacked him again.

As they stepped out of the truck stop Terry turned to Blue Mary and said, "Where the heck did you know that guy from?"

Mary looked at Terry and smiled, "Don’t ask."

King was walking around her club, A spacious circular tower that was based off of the idea of the revolving restaurant. She nodded at several of her employees as she strolled around the place. They were all dressed in similar attire as her own, Red suit minus the jacket, and a crimson bow tie to complete the ensemble. She noticed a familiar looking large man sitting down in one of the booths off to the side. She strolled over there and put her hands on her hips. "What do you want Big, I know you don’t come down here unless you need something."

"I need a favor." Big said.

"Not from me you don’t." King replied, "I don’t work for you any more, now get out."

"Look ‘ere darlin’." Billy said as he got up, "We just want to talk."

King continued to look at Big, "Using Geese’s goon squad isn’t going to impress me in any way. Now get out before I have you thrown out."

"You know me sister, Lilly, don’t you King." Billy said. King nodded. She’s been shot." For the first time since she came over to their table King looked at Billy. "She’s in a coma, we need to find the bloke that did it." He handed king the photo.

She looked at it, "Yeah, I know this bastard. He comes in here every now and then buys a couple of drinks, mouths off to the help, and then leaves without tipping." She handed the Photo back to Billy. "Don’t know much else about him, But he’s been to Duck King’s place too. I hear he and Brody Brits have been seen together."

"Brody’s Been with this guy?" Big said as he got up, "Maybe me and him should talk."

"Fine, you do that." King said still looking at Billy, "Just get out." Big got up and left through the elevator entrance to the club. Billy stayed standing for a moment before he started to head for the elevator as well. "Hey!" King said just before he left, "You give that bastard one for me. Tell him nobody messes with Lilly and lives."

"You don’t ‘ave to worry about that, luv." Billy said as he left.

To be continued