Chapter 73

South Town was an interesting mixture of cultures. Carved out of the Bayous of Cajun Country, it started life as a French Coastal Fort guarding the westward approaches to New Orleans from English Privateers out of the Tri-Island Area, as the Governors of Melee Island were known for handing out letters of marque and reprisal to attack French and Spanish shipping in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. It grew as New Orleans did, becoming first, a port of call for ships going from Spanish Mexico to New Orleans before turning into a hub of shipbuilding as the nineteenth century dawned.

When the US purchased French Louisiana from Napoleon, the city expanded rapidly as one of only three ports in the Louisiana Territory capable of large-scale shipbuilding, along with New Orleans itself and Mobile in what would eventually become Alabama. The Dockyards were greatly expanded under Governor Claiborne and immigrants from all over the Caribbean flocked to the new jobs in shipbuilding. A large number of Haitians, Dominicans, Cubans, Mexicans, and even Brazilians arrived and the Port Town Neighborhood has long been a hub of Caribbean and Latin Culture in South Town.

During the Civil War, the City was occupied by the Union Early on, thanks to the Garrisons of Fort Bonhomme and the Naval Base in the City seizing control of South Town once word arrived of the attacks on Fort Sumpter. Owing to the large presence of immigrants in South Town at the time, the Sympathies of much of the City were not with secession and South Town remained under siege, yet continually supplied by sea from the Union Blockade, for the duration of the War.

In the aftermath of the War, a large amount of rebuilding had to be done, which was handled by the importation of Cheap Chinese Labor. This was difficult for the immigrants, who were often targets of discrimination. To help the immigrant population, a large group of Martial Arts Families also immigrated to South Town to act as the guards of the local population. This was the Zhuyin Quan Tong or the Righteous Fists Association.

Of course, by the time the city was complete, the Grand Continental Railway was looking for workers to complete its Southern Trans-continental Line. Some of the Martial Families, like the Li Family and the Chin Family, remained in South Town after the rebuilding in the newly constructed Chinatown. Others, like the Shuwen and Ling Families, moved elsewhere, with the Shuwen settling in Metro City and the Ling returning to China after the Xinhai Revolution.

As Oil was discovered in the thirties, more immigrants flocked to South Town in order to facilitate such work, even from places as far afield as Europe or Japan, with the Takazaki Family of Japan and the Lecarde Family of Andorra being examples of this. As the oil bubble grew, the inhabitants of South Town diversified into a number of different enterprises. Nightclubs and Restaurants being perennial favorites, along with entertainment, fishing, and finance. When the Oil Bubble finally burst in the eighties, South Town had decades of diversification and could now boast a booming economy.

All this was to say that immigrants effectively built South Town and the prosperity of the twentieth century was a testament to the unique character of the City. That was never more apparent than as I pulled off the Southern Expressway to pass by a sprawling Classical Mansion complete with a fountain and Lamborghini parked out front as I drove through a swanky neighborhood, only to come out of that neighborhood and immediately be confronted by a traditional Karate Dojo on the next block over. I passed through a large Chinatown Area with traditional Chinese architecture only to emerge into a section of downtown that would be more at home to Rio or Cancun than Louisiana.

Notably for such a large town, I didn't sense the presence of any Vampires in town. Normally, a giant town like this would have a few in the sewers hiding from the morning sun that I could sense with my Mystic Radar. The only other time I could remember such a large town not having any Vampires that I could sense was back in New York City and that was thanks to the Foot Clan actively hunting them. I had a feeling I knew the reason why, too.

As I looked around the city, I spotted billboards for a Company known as the Howard Connection, purportedly a private security firm. My downloaded information said otherwise, however. The Howard Connection was actually a front for a Criminal Organization, their CEO Geese Howard, effectively ran the rackets in South Town through subordinates and middlemen. Apparently, the last of the independent underworld factions, run by an Australian known only as Mister Big, had bent the knee around four months before I'd woken up in the Lab in Seacouver.

It was highly likely that with all the powerful Chi signatures I could sense in this town, the Guy who controls the Underworld of South Town routinely hires a few of those fighters to clear out any Vamp nests that spring up. At the very least, it seemed like South Town was more of a Mecca for Martial Artists than any place in the US this side of Metro City. That by itself would lead to more Vamp hunting, just by the law of averages.

As I was stopped at a red light, my stomach took the opportunity to growl loudly, letting me know that it had been around thirteen hours since I'd eaten something. I wasn't in any danger of starting to suffer complications, but I had literally just decided to keep an eye on that after stopping at Roswell. With a shrug, I decided to hit up one of the local restaurants.

Pulling into the Parking Lot of a small Chinese Restaurant that was apparently open at ten in the morning here. I parked and headed inside where I was shown to a table by a young waitress in a traditional Qipao. I looked around and noticed the decor was all highly traditional. All lacquered wood and silk wall hangings, with various bits of statuary and the odd vase for the tourists.

At a table nearby a bearded, white-haired, green and brown-clad, Old Man sat drinking what looked and smelled like high-proof Baiju out of an actual gourd. He only paused his drinking once, when I sat down, before going back to it. Furthermore, his Chi was extremely well-trained, though he didn't have the same kind of natural advantages I did. I could tell he'd spent his whole life cultivating Chi and would likely be able to beat me if I kept to just Chi techniques.

"So I see you've sensed my Chi and you know I've sensed yours." Mused the Old Man, before taking another swig from his gourd.

"I have." I nodded.

"Then perhaps you'll let an old man have his drink in peace instead of jumping right to an exchange of pointers?" Tried the Old Man.

"I'm just here for breakfast." I demurred.

"Is that so? You weren't here to hound an old man for a lesson?" Pressed the Old Man.

"No. I'm actually new in town. I literally just pulled off the highway and into the parking lot of this restaurant." I explained.

"Well then, if you're not here to interrupt my hair of the dog, then there's no sense in not being cordial, is there? I'm Chin Gentsai, known in some parts as the Drunken Fist Master or Fire Body Chin." Introduced the Old Man.

"I've heard of you. They say you once defeated an Entire Triad back in Hong Kong on your own in the span of a few days." I nodded.

"I had to. They were peddling some sort of new, highly addictive, blue drug to poorer neighborhoods. One hit made folks chemically dependent on the stuff and if they went too long without it, they'd start having heart problems." Scowled Chin Genstai.

I frowned at that. That sounded an awful lot like Roshna, a sort of highly addictive synthetic drug that the Go'auld used on populations that were resistant to being taken as hosts in order to assure their subservience. The Black Dragon had gotten a supply from Ba'al to use in various Drug Markets. Places like Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and so on. The only thing was, the Black Dragon didn't usually work through middlemen. Everything I knew about them that they crammed into my brain told me that the Black Dragon preferred to use affiliated gangs whenever they couldn't have their own people do something. Before I could muse on that, however, Chin Gentsai broke me out of my thoughts.

"But, then, it seems you've got the advantage of me. I don't even know your name." He prompted.

"Ulysses. Ulysses Laertiádēs." I answered him.

"Hmm. I've heard of you as well. They say you gave the Foot a thrashing over in New York City a while back. Word was, you'd spent some time recovering before heading west. Nobody knows where you went, though." Nodded Chin Gentsai.

"I went where I was needed. It's a long story, but I've got time to tell it." I shrugged.

"That might have to wait for a moment. Can't you sense them?" Grumbled Chin Gentsai.

I frowned for a few moments, focusing on my Chi senses. It was hard to pick out, given how Chin Gentsai was right next to me acting as a beacon that drowned out all other Chi signatures, but I could just make out a trained Chi signature heading for the restaurant. It wasn't that strong or developed in comparison, so I wasn't too worried. Sure enough, a few moments later and the most oddly-dressed man I'd ever seen in my life walked into the restaurant. A giant, bulky, Man wearing black pants, a wrestling singlet, and a gold, black, and red Luchador Mask scowled back at the young waitress, who was cowering away from his glare.

"It's payday. Mister Big wants his money and that Old Fart in the Kitchen better have it or else I'm gonna start breaking bones!" Growled the Masked Wrestler.

"Grandfather already paid you last week! We cannot afford to pay every week!" Protested the Waitress.

"Oh no? Maybe I oughtta start wrecking up this joint, then? You can pay us outta the insurance money. After all, who's gonna stop me, you?" Demanded the Masked Wrestler.

I looked over at Chin Gentsai to see him downing more Baiju from his gourd and waiving me off toward the Masked Wrestler. Well, he was technically my Senior, so I guess if he wanted me to handle it, then I should handle it. Honestly, I was going to do that anyway if he didn't make a move himself.

Standing up, I called out, "I'll stop you."

The Masked Wrestler turned around and looked over at me, before letting out an amused snort that some punk kid like I was dared to try and challenge him.

"You look like you still oughtta be in school, Kid. What, did your high school let wrestling practice out early? Fuck off if you know what's good for you!" Sneered the Masked Wrestler.

"I may be just a Kid, but I'm more than enough to handle the likes of you." I refused.

"Kid, I'd break you into pieces in under a minute. Last chance to back out and make like you never saw me." Cautioned the Masked Wrestler.

"I'm not leaving, you are. Whether you're conscious or not at the time is up to you." I retorted.

"Fine! Don't say I never warned you! You're about to feel the thunder of South Town's Crazed Giant, Raiden!" Spat the Masked Wrestler.

"The God of Thunder? I think I'd know if he were here." I frowned.

"No, you stupid Kid, me! I'm Raiden!" Insisted the Masked Wrestler.

"Taking the name of a God? Someone's a little full of themselves. The only thunderclap likely to come from you is when you hit the floor after I knock you out." I taunted.

"Gah! Shut up and fight me!" Roared the Masked Wrestler.

Then he charged, and the time for banter had ended. . .

XXXX

AN: Welcome to South Town! Hope you enjoy random street fights and Martial Arts Madness! This chapter basically serves as Ulysses' introduction to his new home. Of course, would it really be the main setting for a series of nineties fighting games if he didn't get into a fight in his first hour there?

Interestingly, he met up with Chin Gentsai, someone who is good friends with Master Tung Fu Rue and would be able to recognize Tung Fu Rue's techniques if they were used in front of him. That, in turn, is going to open up story arc possibilities.

Other nineties stuff in this chapter includes mentions of the Tri-Island Area and Melee Island from the Monkey Island Series, Roshna from Stargate SGOne, the Black Dragon from Mortal Kombat, Metro City and the Shuwen Family are from Street Fighter, while the Ling Family is from Tekken. The Lecarde Family is from Castlevania: Bloodlines and the Foot Clan is from TMNT. Finally, everything else about South Town, Chin Gentsai, and the rest of the references in this chapter are from the King of Fighters series.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the fight with Raiden.

Stay tuned. . .