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Margot let the other fighter take Brown, gingerly transferring the injured girl. [color=cyan] "I wish you luck."[/color] As soon as Brown left her arms, she remembered something that made her body physically lurch. [color=cyan] [i]"Shit, where's Brooke?"[/i][/color] She spun on her heel and ran towards the collapsed stadium, pushing her way past the crowd of first responders, reporters, gawkers, and walking wounded. Nobody tried to stop her in the confusion of the stadium collapse; it seemed that every ambulance in the city had converged on the stadium. She also kicked herself for leaving Duncan back there too, though enough of the building was standing that she could convince herself that there was still hope.

Suddenly, a large piece of stone was lifted up, followed by some strained groans. There was a person underneath the stone, but obscured by the massive shadow cast by the rock. The person shook for a moment, before they threw the rock away.

There were some screams in the distance.

The person took a few steps forward, hunched, before she raised her head and looked up. 

"... Maaaargot..." Brooke said, slurred as she tried to drag her feet. "Aren't chu' a sight for sore eyes?"

[color=cyan] "Brooke,"[/color] She ran over to her, and offered a hand in support. [color=cyan] "I'm so glad you're alive."[/color] She cleared her throat, calming herself down a bit. [color=cyan] "Come on, let's get you a place to sit down."[/color]  She tried to guide her away from the rubble, eyes sccanning for a place to let her rest. 

"It's cool," Brooke said, as she grabbed onto her other arm. "I'm a Vanburen... we don't break easily...." She looked back at the destroyed Stadium.

"As you can see."

Though, she took a few more steps forward and had to sit down on the pile of rocks that was the stadium. "That doesn't happen a lot, does it?" She nudged her head back in the direction of the rubble.

[color=cyan]"No, this is a first for me."[/color] She knelt down next to her, the two an odd center of stillness in the chaos. [color=cyan] "It looks like the tournament was attacked. What happened to you back there?"[/color]

"Well..." Broke looked to the side... wondering if she should be truthful or not. "... I was attacked by a robot, and the whole arena came down around me. Fortunately, I have the Vanburen ultimate technique to save me."

In actuality, Brooke was looking for the prize money, and stuck around too long.

Margot let out a sigh. [color=cyan]"Yeah sounds about right. I was trying to find you when I got sucked into a fight with a giant robot. Quite literally. It had this vortex thing. Either way me and a few others helped take it down."[/color]

"Heh... sounds like it was more fun than what I was doing," Brooke said with a shake of her head. "Well..."

Brooke pushed herself to her feet, grasping her injured arm. She walked past Margot, then looked back.

"... I think it's time we got a move on, yeah? This place is killin' my good vibes."

Margot got to her feet, dusting herself off. She caught up with Brooke easily. [color=cyan] "I could not agree more."[/color]

[hr]

So, after leaving the wreckage of the stadium to MAVERICK, and emergency crews, the two fighters regrouped somewhere more scenic. After getting a change of clothes so they'd be less conspicuous, of course. Brooke was wearing jeans and a t-shirt as she sipped some soda as she sat at the table of this restaurant. Some tourist trap kind of place that sells Brazilian food to stupid American tourists so they can go home and brag about eating authentic Brazilian. She leaned back in the chair as she looked at Margot.

Though her attention was shifted from Margot, over to the television screen. So was everyone's. It was a news report.

[quote]"This is Molly Schuler, and tragedy has struck at the Brazilian Fighting cup in Rio!" Molly started off. "Right when the first match begun, a horde of machines, descended upon the stadium, and caused a massacre. Destroying a majority of the stadium, along with the death of many civilians."

Molly cleared her throat as she continued. 

"Brave MAVERICK soldiers fought bravely to ensure the contestants, and survivors get to safety, but it seems an explosive went off in the building." Molly started off. "Authorities are still looking for survivors."

She centered herself.

"MAVERICK is still investigating who is behind this attack, but it is believed to be either the work of the dreaded ZODIAC group..." Molly trailed off, as she pressed her earpiece, and turned to the side. "... We have received word that the two terrorists, Justin Haggar, and a woman who refers to herself as Seven, are the two behind the attack."

"These two are responsible for the destruction of MAVERICK headquarters, currently with a bounty of a trillion dollars," Molly started off. "Said bounty has doubled to two trillion dollars each. Seven is wanted strictly alive..."[/quote]

"Two. Trillion. Dollars!" Brooke said, excited at the prospect of money. "Oh my God, Blue! Imagine what we can do with it!"

Margot barely kept herself from dropping her food at that number. [color=cyan] "Where would they even get that much money?"[/color] She wiped her face off with a napkin as she pulled out her phone, quickly lookiing them up. [color=cyan] "Damn, looks like they attacked the MAVERICK HQ a while back. No wonder they have a huge bullseye on their backs."[/color]

"I'm wondering how they get around with all that moolah on them!" Brooke fixated on the money. "But, uh... where do we even start? Ha."

 [color=cyan] "They must travel in disguise for the most part, and there are always ways to get around without being noticed. But something doesnt sit right with me."[/color] Margot tapped away at her phone. [color=cyan] "Four trillion dollars is over 20% of the GDP of the USA." [/color]

"So, you're saying it's fake or something...?" Brooke asked.

[color=cyan] "The same number's being reported across several news outlets, so I think it is the actual offered bounty."[/color] She tapped on the counter a bit as she thought. [color=cyan] "With a number that big, there's going to be a lot of people gunning for them, but I also suspsect that if they have lasted this long they know how to hide. What I don't get is how the robots are linked to them. Why show up in person to the event you were going to attack with robots?"[/color] She showed Brooke the bracket from earlier, and pointed to Justin's fight with Jeremy.

"Maybe, uh..." Brooke trailed off as she gave it a little bit of thought. Spinning her cup of soda around in her hand. "To mark your targets?" She shrugged.

"I'm unfamiliar with super-terrorism, sorry."

Margot shrugged and drank some of her own drink. [color=cyan] "I imagine that this is the early 'trying to get things to air' reporting. They''ll probably have to release a statement saying they screwed up and the bounty is like two million apeice. Heck maybe it'll come  out  that they were working with ZODIAC."[/color] She smirked to herself. [color=cyan] "I just remembered my mask recorded that entire robot fight. That'll be fun to send out later. I'm a little annoyed they made it sound like the MAVERICK soldiers were there. I only saw one. How about you?"[/color] She snapped her fingers. [color=cyan] "Oh, and how did your fight go?"[/color]

"Well, it [i]really[/i] doesn't make MAVERICK sound good if they got stood up by a ragtag bunch of misfits!" Brooke laughed as she downed the rest of her soda. She almost coked on it, and had to pause for a moment, before she prepared herself. She had a good answer to Margot's other questions. "I didn't see not one MAVERICKS there."

She laughed.

"I was fighting with this crazy North Korean broad before the robots attack... why does it feel like everyone has some kind of fireball, or dumb shit? But, she seemed... slow? Sluggish. Something like that."

Margot chuckled. [color=cyan] "Well it makes sense to do it if you can. Ranged ki attacks. There was a woman fighting the robot that just used guns. Aside from the one MAVERICK soldier, I mean."[/color] She finished off her drink. [color=cyan] "I really don't have a technique like that myself, if that makes you feel better."[/color] She subconsciously pulled her bag closer to her under the table. [color=cyan] "So, do you have any idea what you are going to do next?"[/color]

"Well, honestly," Brooke shrugged as she slouched back in her chair. "Not really... I just wanted some cash before I move on to somewhere else."

Part of Brooke wondered if she should even bother. Every time she tried something, it ended in disaster! Brooke shook her head... then the idea hit her.

"Heeeeeeeeey," Brooke hopped up, full of spirit. "I just remembered something! Japan is hosting their own tournament a few weeks away!"

[color=cyan] "I know, I was going to compete if possible. The Annual Japanese Championship." [/color] She put her half of the bill down on the table and stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. [color=cyan] "I was hoping you would join so we can have a chance at a proper showdown." [/color]

"Might as well," Brooke shrugged. "Oh! Maybe in Japan, I'll find a good enough teacher!"

[color=cyan]"Oh, well if you are going to find a sensei there are worse places to start than the Land of the Rising Sun. Maybe learn to throw a few fireballs yourself."[/color]

"Good!" Brooke said, "And I'll have a great travel buddy to accompany me!."

Margot couldn't help but chuckle. [color=cyan]"A little quick to assume that I'd accompany you. But sure, I would love to travel  with you. But, uh, how are you going to get there?"[/color]

She shrugged. "I'll ride a dinosaur there." She laughed.

[color=cyan]"I think I'll stick to a plane. Which, I guess if you count the oil does quality as riding on a dinosaur..."[/color]

"But without the fun or excitement!" Brooke said... before their conversations were interrupted by two letters gracefully landing from the rooftops. "... What?"

Margot caught both of them in a swift motion. She flipped them over only to find both of their names on the envelopes. [color=cyan]"I, uh, one is for you." [/color]Passing one to Brooke, looked up to see if she could see who had dropped them. It was already too late, whatever or whomever had dropped them had run off.  

Brooke shrugged as she nonchalantly opened the letter.

[quote][code]I am Hello, I'm Xue Lei, champion martial artist of China.

My father and I have been closely watching the tournament in Rio, and we are disappointed that you didn't get the chance to show them your strength. Both of your fights were rudely interrupted, and we don't find that satisfactory. Which is why we are inviting you to a private tournament hosted by my family. It will be in Hong Kong... arrive there for further instructions.
[/code][/quote]

"Holy shit!" Brooke said as she looked at the letter. "Zhu Lee!" She said and completely butchered the pronunciation of her name.

"One of the best martial artists in the world. Wants. Me. In. Her. Tournament!" She was practically shaking in excitement.

[color=cyan]"Congratulations Brooke. That's great to hear. Didn't realize she was so interested."[/color] She flipped open her own envelope and looked at the wax seal, carefully opening it to preserve it and the stationary. [color=cyan]"Let's see if she extended the invitation to both of us."[/color] The letter was written in immaculate French, and she translated it as she read it out.

[quote][code]Hello, I'm Xue Lei, champion martial artist of China.

My father and I have been closely watching the tournament in Rio, and I was very impressed with your opening fight. It was something out of the tales of old. We were also greatly anticipating your fight with Walter Duncan, and were greatly saddened by the events at the Stadium. We would like to extend an invitation to our private tournament we are hosting in Hong Kong. More information will be provided should you choose to attend. 
[/code][/quote]

Margot mumbled the rest of the contact information and date to show up by. [color=cyan]"This looks legitimate. Big name attached to it, and we could even make it after the Japanese tournament."[/color]

Brooke smiled widely at Margot, teeth showing.

"Then what are we waiting for? There's whole new horizons just waiting for us!" Brooke said as she got up. "I can learn a fireball in Japan, and use it in the tournament."

Margot waved towards the street, grinning back. [color=cyan]"Allons-y. Onwards towards glory  and tomorrow."[/color] She looked back to the smoke still rising in the distance, her smile faltering a bit. [color=cyan]"And away from this disaster."[/color]