By Richard Palmer

Mary pulled up in front of the club. Up above the doors in bright yellow neon letters read the words ‘the Duck Pond’. This was one of Duck King’s dance clubs; Techno dance music was vibrating from every corner of the building. Terry got off the bike, "I’ll go inside and start looking around, we’ll meet each other here later."

"Okay, I’ll be at King’s place." Mary answered.

Terry nodded as she drove off. He stepped up to the doorman and paid his way inside.

Several minutes later a large man in dark clothes approached the entrance. He gave one quick look to the doorman who immediately staggered back. He wasn’t About to Argue with Yamazaki about admittance. Still Yamazaki Tossed him the entrance fee rolled up into a wad, and casually strolled into the club.

Several streets away, Two men were arguing with a younger man on financial troubles. The first was Mickey Rodgers, a tall man of mixed heritage who had some training in boxing and western kickboxing. The next was Brody Brits, an urban punk clad in leather, with a wild yellow hairdo. Tucked inside his jacket were a pair of Tonfas, his weapon of choice. The younger man was an inner-city kid merely trying to make it back to his apartment unharmed… he hadn’t quite gotten far enough.

"So you see," Brody said, "I’m in need of a little financial assistance, and gosh darn it I’m just not in the mood to fill out a loan application." Mickey Chuckled at the Joke, his intelligence obviously wasn’t high enough to discern a bad joke from a good one. "So if you wouldn’t mind helping me out, all I need is somewhere around,.. um… all you got."

"You’re still at it, huh Brody?" came a voice across the street. Brody turned to see the large form of Mr.Big, "I told you when I fired you you’d never amount to anything other than a two-bit hood. And it looks like you need help to make it even that far."

"Shut up Big! Shows what you know," Brody yelled, "even the small time swindlers can make it big."

"Whatever, I didn’t come here for your street philosophy," Big said as he approached, "I want to know about Marcus Boss."

"What makes you think I know anything about Marcus Boss?" Brody said as he pulled out his Tonfas, "Or better yet what makes you think I would want to tell you?"

As Big reached Brits and Rodgers he motioned to the young man they were with, "Get lost kid." The young man ran off as fast as he could. Then Big looked at Brody, "Well, it’s your choice, You can tell me now or when I visit you in the hospital."

"Don’t you seem confident. But you don’t know how much I’ve improved since I left your gang of fools and simpletons." Brody smiled, "And even you can’t take us both on and expect to win."

"Oh please." Big said as he pulled out his polearms, "Are you gonna fight or what?" Brody didn’t answer but swung at Big with one of his Tonfas. Big Blocked quite easily and Jabbed Brody in the stomach with his other polearm. Mickey shot at Big with a right hook and was greeted by the sole of one of Big’s leather boots right in the face. Brody swung at Big several times. Big block or dodging to moves quite easily. Finally Big Shot at Brody with an uppercut like motion with his polearms and shouted, "Ground blaster!" The following energy wave sent Brody sprawling back as he crashed into some trashcans. Mickey Came at Big with a few more punches and then threw a kick that broke through Big’s defenses and hit him in the gut. Big took this brief moment to connect his polearms and then strike at Mickey with a rising staff uppercut. The California Romance as the move was dubbed, sent Mickey flying into the side of a Dumpster with a resounding thud.

Brody leapt at Big with a Flying Kick and was first Struck aside with the staff, then as he got up to deliver his next blow Big had disconnected his staff and used both polearms to lift Brody off the ground in a strangle move. Mickey took this opportunity to Charge at Big again. Big saw him coming and threw Brody at his attacker. This time the both crashed into the Dumpster, this time knocking Mickey unconscious.

Brody sat up before he felt the pain in his right arm, it was definitely broken. Big had obviously improved as well since their last encounter. "So," Big said as he approached, "Are you ready to tell me what you know, or does this beating need to continue?"

"Boss’s at ‘the Duck Pond’ right now… don’t know for how long. He’s leaving town tonight."

"Where to?" Big said. He bent down and leaned on Brody’s broken arm. Brody winced in pain.

"Japan, I think… But not on a commercial flight,… he’s got someone… taking him there on a private jet… Someone… Crawley I think."

"Crawley." Big sniffed, then he looked down at Brody, "You know which hanger?"

"Hanger C, I think… C’mon lay off my arm."

"You see?" Said Big as he put his polearms away, "was that so hard?" Brody gave Big a nasty look as he walked off. Then he pushed Mickey off of him and stumbled to his feet.

Billy wandered through the crowd; Duck King was bound to be around here somewhere. Or, if he was lucky, Marcus Boss himself might be among this crowd.

Suddenly he spotted a familiar looking plated red cap. "Well, I’ll be damned." Billy thought, "I might settle two scores on the same night." He edged his way through the crowd and tapped Terry on the shoulder. "‘Ello, Bogard, your looking well."

"Billy!" Terry seemed surprised to see him.

"Well, shall we ‘ave a go?" Billy smiled as he pulled his Bo staff out and flipped it so that all three sections connected.

"Billy, I’m here to help. Mary…"

"What makes ya think I want your ‘elp." Billy said as he stuck at Terry with his Bo. All the clubs patrons cleared away from the two giving them room to fight. Terry blocked the attack and went into his fighting stance. Billy wasn’t the fastest opponent he ever faced, but he had a serious advantage in the range department. With his Bo staff he could easily reach twice or three times the distance of most fighters and that was while the staff was connected.

"Damn it Billy, Why can’t you just put aside your grudge until after…" Terry left the sentence hanging as he ducked another one of Billy’s blows. Terry knew he had no choice, he’d better stop this now before it escalated any further. He rushed at Billy and Shouted "Burning Knuckle!" Billy dodged in time, but the large man behind him didn’t.

Yamazaki staggered back a few inches before he looked up at Terry and smiled, "Terry Bogard, It’s been awhile." Yamazaki’s left hand shot into his pocket.

"Back off ‘ere Ryuji, Terry is mine!" Billy shouted.

The psychotic look came back to Yamazaki’s face as he looked down at Billy. Even if he wasn’t being paid for it two on one seemed more fun.

Off in a corner a large man in a black T-shirt and urban camouflage jeans was talking with some women. He looked up at this commotion only a few yards away and recognized two of the faces, one only from photographs. He got up and headed for the exit the lights shining on his face as he went making the scar on the right side of his face more visible. It also seemed to shine off of his long flowing dark hair that was tied back in a ponytail.

"Hello King, how’s business?" Came a voice from the elevator entrance of the club.

King looked over and saw a familiar looking blonde woman in a red top and loose Blue jeans with a white star embodied on the side. "Mary, It’s been awhile. I haven’t seen you since the tournament."

Mary smiled as she approached the bar. King sat at one end where, a moment ago she had been talking with her bartender. "Yeah, it has been awhile. I wish I was here under better circumstances but I’m working."

"Really?" King said as she stood up.

Mary handed her a photograph, "I’m looking for…"

"Oh, you’re after Boss too, I see."

"What do you mean?" Mary said, surprised.

"Well, Billy Kane was in here earlier tonight trying to find the same person. I sent him over to Duck King’s, I know he’s been over there before."

"Billy’s at ‘the Duck Pond’?" Mary questioned. King nodded. "I’ve got to get over there right away." She said as she turned to leave.

"Hey," King called as Mary left, "You kick Boss’s tail for me!"

Mary smiled and waved as the elevator doors closed behind her.

Billy stood his Ground as Yamazaki turned towards him. "Well if it Isn’t Geese’s dog. Did your master put you up to this?" Yamazaki grinned.

"I’m ‘ere on me own." Billy replied.

"Sure you are," Yamazaki said sarcastically, "I don’t think I’ve ever seen you off of Geese’s leash." Yamazaki looked at Terry, "Well, well, well, If it isn’t my old adversary," then he looked at Billy, "and my ex-teammate, this ought to be interesting." He put up his right hand and pointed at them alternating his finger between the two as he spoke, "So which one of you wants the first blow, I’m more than happy to…" Yamazaki trailed off as he spotted the scarred man in the ponytail trying to leave. "‘Scuse me a sec." Yamazaki said as he pushed his way past the two fighters.

Marcus Boss finally reached the door when an arm shot past him and held it shut. "Well, well, Marcus Boss, my old partner. Do you remember me Marcus?" Yamazaki grinned.

"I’m not sure," Marcus said smugly, "were you the psycho who was a fuck-up or the fuck-up who was a psycho?"

"I’m the Psycho who was backstabbed," Yamazaki grinned and guess what, Marcus, time does not heal all wounds."

Marcus was about to respond when Billy charged through the crowd and thrust his Bo staff at Marcus. Marcus jumped back, "Billy Kane, am I right? Your reputation proceeds you, I hear your skills with the Bo are unmatched. However…" Marcus stuck his right hand into his pocket.

Before he could do anything, however, Yamazaki had grabbed Billy by the collar and was screaming in his face, "Hey, Frenchie, mind your own damn business! This one is mine!"

"I got me a score o’ me own to settle wit this bloke," Billy shouted back, "you can ‘ave what’s left of ‘im!"

"Sorry fellas but I’m pressed for time," Marcus said, "and although I’d love to stay and chat I’ve got a plane to catch." He pulled out an automatic Pistol and aimed at Billy. Before he could fire, though, Yamazaki had pulled his knife, knocked the pistol out of his hands, and stuck the blade a matter of inches from his face.

"Well, That’s too bad Marcus old pall, because we got some catching up to do." Yamazaki grinned. Marcus glanced at the pistol on the floor. "I woulda thought even a pathetic worm like you woulda learned not to resort to a gun by now. Even most of the rookie fighters can defend against that."

"It’s not so much a matter of needing to resort to it," Marcus smiled, "I just find that it works a little faster." With that he shot out two incredibly fast kicks knocking both Billy and Yamazaki down. He than pulled his arm back and several small blades seemed to appear between his fingers. Billy Jumped back as the blades were thrown at him and Yamazaki. But Yamazaki leapt forward. Slamming Marcus against the Mirrored wall of the club.

"You can resort to whatever cheap tricks you want but you’re still pathetic!" Yamazaki yelled with the psychotic look gleaming in his eyes. Suddenly the mirrored wall began to crack, and he and Marcus fell into the booth behind it.

"Not again!" screamed a man with a yellow and blue mowhawk and circular sunglasses. Duck King was sitting in the booth with a young lady, "Every time I open a club, I always get some bastard come in and start wreckin’ the place!" He grabbed Marcus’s collar as the man stood up, "You better have the money to pay for this, man or I’m gonna…" Marcus grabbed Duck King by the collar of his loose orange jacket and threw him at Billy Kane who was starting to advance on him again. Marcus then used this opportunity to run out the entrance.

Before he got out all the way he was kicked in the back by Terry Bogard. As he stumbled and turned around Terry yelled, "You’re not going anywhere you bastard, not if I have anything to say about it."

"Well you don’t, kid, I’ve wasted enough time as it is." He reached into another pocket of his military pants and pulled out a grenade. He pulled the pin and casually tossed it in Terry’s direction. "It’s been fun!" He said as Terry dove for cover. There was a loud explosion, and as the dust settled Marcus was nowhere in sight. Blue Mary, however, was just pulling up on her bike.

"If you ‘adn’ta interfered I’d a caught that bloke before ‘e’d a caught on we was looking for ‘im." Billy said as he stepped outside.

"Interfered?" Terry questioned, "Who attacked who? I only came to help in the first place!"

"I said before I didn’t ask for your ‘elp nor do I want it!" Billy snapped.

"I’m the one who asked, Billy," Mary said, "Terry’s with me!"

Billy looked at Mary and then back at Terry. Finally he looked back at Mary and said, "Fine, work with who ya want to, just keep ‘im away from me," then he looked at Terry again, "or I’m not responsible for me actions."

"I swear you two…" Mary started, then she caught herself and started over, "What the heck happened here anyway?"

"He was here," Terry answered, "If we didn’t have everyone gunning for him at the same time we probably would’ve caught him."

"It’s that bloody Yamazaki’s fault," Billy steamed, "The bloke’s stickin’ ‘is nose where it don’t belong."

"Well great," Mary said, "Now he’s made a clean break, he could be anywhere."

Suddenly, a limo pulled up in front of the club. The rear window rolled down and Mr.Big yelled from the back seat. "Billy, Get in! I know where Boss is at!"

"Where?" Mary yelled as Billy took off towards the car.

Big looked at Billy, Billy nodded. "Hanger C at Lucas International Airport! The plane leaves in fifteen minutes!"

"We’d better get going Terry said as he headed for Mary’s bike. She jumped on and the sped off following Big’s limousine.

Yamazaki walked out of the club and out on the street. He waited a few seconds until a Motorcyclist drove by. He clotheslined the man and then walked over and grabbed his bike. As he took off he could hear the man shouting insults at him. Yamazaki smiled, Marcus’s insults had only strengthened his thirst for revenge. This was going to be good.

To be continued.