Part 1: Enter the Assassin
I heard about the first Iron Fist Tournament from my sister, Anna. She told me that a letter
came to our house addressed to our deceased father, Richard, which invited him to test his
skills against some of the greatest fighters in the world...maybe even against his one-time
friend and partner, Heihachi Mishima. My father had taught both Anna and I in the style of Akido
martial arts, and although we both were skilled fighters, we both knew that I was the better of
us. Besides, it would allow me a chance to finish what my father and Heihachi started years
before...
My father and Heihachi met many years ago, even before Anna was born, when the Mishima Financial
Empire was looking to expand its base of operations across Europe to include offices in Dublin.
At the time, my father was a fairly well-known lawyer operating out of the capital, and was
hired on to act as a legal advisor to the MFE. During his time with the MFE, he and Heihachi
grew to be very close friends. A few short years later, after Anna and I were born, there was
even talk within the company of my father becoming a senior partner.
During this time, Heihachi had become the father of a boy named Kazuya. As with his own father,
and his father before him, it was up to Heihachi to train his son to become heir to the Mishima
empire. Kazuya was seen as nothing but a problem by Heihachi. He had a certain kind of rebellious
spirit which Heihachi did not approve of at all. Heihachi was ashamed to admit that Kazuya
was his son; it did not flatter the family name if such a wild child came of it.
And one day Heihachi came to my father with a proposal:
"Richard, there is much talk of you moving up within the organization."
"Well, I was wondering about that..."
"Well then, Richard, I am here to tell you: they are true. We are preparing for you to take over
as legal director of the MFE. Because I like how you work, you are always looking out for us."
"Heihachi, I...I don't know what to say!"
"Wait, that is not all yet. There is one thing I must ask of you before the change takes place.
You have mentioned you trained in the way of the assassin, yes?"
"Yes, but I don't see -"
"Excellent, because I am in need of an assassin. You see, a great shame has been brought upon
the Mishima name. He is my son, and he is, shall I say not fitting of joining the
organization. I need to ensure that he will not interfere with the power of the Empire. Do you
understand me, Richard?"
"Well, no, I don't think I do..."
"I need Kazuya destroyed. You know the way of the assassin, you can make it look like an
accident. I trust in you, Richard."
I remember my father coming home in tears. He and my mother were up almost all night talking
about it. My father refused to murder a child, and my parents both worried what might happen
should my father disobey Heihachi's wishes.
The next day, my father met with Heihachi to discuss it.
"Richard, I assume you remember our deal?"
"That's what I need to talk to you about...see, I...I can't do it. He's only a child, and more
importantly he's your child. How can you treat him this way? And does your wife know about this?
I can't even imagine how I'd feel if something happened to one of my girls, and...you can just
order your son's killing like it's nothing!"
"Very well, then. You disrespect me, you disrespect the Empire, I should kill you! But...I
cannot. You have done too much for us for me to murder you. But hear this, Williams; I will
see to it that you are destroyed! I will have you blacklisted throughout the world! You'll
never work again - let's see what those little girls of yours will think of you then!"
Since that day, my father and mother both made it their first priority to make sure Anna and I
were ready should something happen. They trained us rigorously after school each day in the
aikido martial arts style...it was the only way they could think of to keep us safe. He never
did get another job after the MFE, but we got by. Our mother worked as a secretary for a local
company, and Anna and I both found weekend jobs...it was funny, because when my father was out
of work, my mother and I paid most of the bills, while Anna spent all her money on fancy clothes
and make-up. Throughout the next few years, our different tastes caused Anna and I to drift a
little. She would be usually be out with her boyfriends while I spent my free time training
with father.
When I was sixteen years old, though, we were brought back together very quickly. One night,
our parents had gone out to a party being held by a couple across town. Anna and I stayed
behind, as I dreaded these things and Anna just wasn't feeling well. We both had fallen asleep
when I heard a knock on the front door. I went down to answer; it was the police. My
mother and father had both been killed while walking home from the party. Both died of
gunshots to the head...the officer told me it looked like a random act, but I knew better.
From that point on, my sister and I were on our own. We spent what was left of the family's
savings on the funeral for our parents...we were both left with nothing. We were in need of
money fast, so I went out looking. Someone I knew pointed me to someone they knew...I ended
up taking a job as a hired assassin. Most of my jobs were against lawyers, and some corporate
heads - even a few public officials. I never felt good about what I was doing, but it paid
well, and Anna and I were able to live quite nicely - even better than when father was working
for Mishima. It never was clear how Anna got by. I heard lots of rumors, and her name even
came up in conversations I'd hear around town, but I never believed any of the wild
things people said about "the Williams broad." I knew my sister too well.
When I was eighteen years old, the people of Ireland were shocked when the MFE announced that
it was closing all its operations in the country, putting many thousands of people out of
work. No reason was given, and to this day it still isn't clear, but within days I was
approached by a man named Boskonovitch. He was a strange little man, even moreso than what I'd
heard of him.
"Nina, I'll be honest. I need someone killed, and fast."
"Okay, I can do that. Who, when, and how much?"
"I'm ready to offer you one million US dollars for the death of Heihachi Mishima."
It was almost too good to be true! I'd been wanting to get back at Heihachi for years, and now
this guy was going to pay me to do it? "A million? How do I know you have that? And what do you
care about Mishima?"
"I work for him. I'm the director of the MFE Pharmacuetical Division. Our headquarters was in
Dublin, and I was working on a...project, shall we say. All my research was stored in a lab
just outside of the city, but Heihachi had all my work destroyed when he announced the closing
of the Dublin branch. I'd do it myself, but I'm not a very good fighter, and what would happen
should I fail? I've heard many stories of Heihachi ruining people's entire lives when they go
against him...even some murders. Someone I know referred me to you, she said you were the best.
Will you do it?"
He had to have heard about my father. Why else would he come to me? "Okay, but I can't make any
promises about how long this will take. It could be days, it could be years. Mishima executives
are an elusive group, you know."
"Fine, good good, here is where you can reach me when all is done. I look forward to hearing
from you, Miss Williams."
And so, two years later when the first Iron Fist Tournament was organized, I knew then that it
was time to finish this.
Part 2: The King of Iron Fist Tournament
I know that the Iron Fist Tournament was supposed to be a gathering of the world's best, but
for some reason my fights seemed a bit too easy. It was not until the final rounds of the
tournament that I was challenged. It made me wonder about Heihachi's motives, and why he didn't
invite a lot of the other great fighters, including my sister Anna. I know that she could've
done extremely well against most of these people. At each fight, I knew that Heihachi was
watching me - for he was the only one (besides myself) who knew what I was doing there.
In the end, there were eight of us left, one of whom was Heihachi's son Kazuya, the same one that
my father was ordered to kill so long ago. I met with him the night before we were to fight. I
told him about my father, about what Heihachi had said about him as a boy. He just sat there
and nodded with everything I said. He was very quiet the whole time, at one point I thought I
saw tears rolling down his cheek...such a sharp contrast to the fierce warrior we had all
seen in the arena just a few hours ago.
Kazuya revealed to me that he entered the tournament with the intention of not just defeating
his father, but to kill him as well. He told me about the painful childhood he experienced
under his father. He seemed so hurt, so distraught...this was his one chance to get revenge on
Heihachi. It didn't seem right for me to stand in his way. I forgot about Boskonovitch, I
forgot about the money, and I told Kazuya that I would withdraw from the tournament to allow his
certain victory. It seemed like the right thing to do.
The next morning, everyone was talking about why I was leaving. Some thought I was afraid of
disgracing the family name by losing to a "real" fighter. Others thought I was too nervous to
face Marshall Law the next morning. That jerk Phoenix even suggested it was "that time of the
month." But it didn't matter. I knew that Kazuya would resolve his past by destroying Heihachi,
and that in a way my father was also somehow being avenged. I stepped on the plane without ever
looking back. Finally, I thought, this is over.
When I got home, Anna had found herself a new mate, an extremely wealthy businessman from
London. As soon as I came in the door, she was telling me to "get ready, you're coming with us!"
"What?"
"Come on, Nina, his brother's coming with and you know I hate entertaining for two!"
"Anna, I just got off the plane! I'm tired, I'm hungry, and there's a lot I have to tell you
about this tournament!"
"Okay, fine, tell it to me while we're at dinner!"
"It's about dad, Anna. You really should hear this. I won't let you go until I've told you."
"Nina, you know I love dad, but I also really like this guy, I've got to go! Now, where's my
other shoe?"
I had it in my hand, but she didn't need to know that. "Beats me, maybe you should've kept
this place clean while I was gone."
"Great, now I have to find another outfit, just great, I'm supposed to meet him downtown in
ten minutes!"
Thirty minutes later, as she was running out the door, her man called from the restaurant.
"Anna," he said, "you could've just told me you didn't want to join me. My brother flew in just
to meet Nina and we get stood up by the both of you? Really, that was most childish of you!"
Haha. I never let her forget that one.
Part 3: The Return
I recieved a telegram from Boskonovitch two years later.
"Nina -
Too bad you couldn't win the first time, but no matter. See you soon!
Love, Dr. B"
"Love?" Whatever. I tossed it aside, because I had bigger things on my mind. Michelle Chang had
called me up earlier that week to tell me what had happened: Heihachi had lived! I couldn't
believe it at first, but she told me the whole story. The final match of the last tournament
was, to no one's surprise, between father and son, Kazuya and Heihachi Mishima. Heihachi was
dropped from a cliff after his defeat and left for dead by everyone, even his own forces. After
all, Kazuya was now the head of the MFE. But, somehow, he survived the fall and vowed to seek
revenge on his son. Despite being stripped of his status in the MFE, he still found the resources
to organize a second tournament - and another chance to finally destroy his son. Soon after I
recieved an invitiation to the tournament - as did Anna.
We were set to leave when the phone rang. It was Phoenix, asking if his "favorite Irish lass"
was going to be there. I let Anna deal with him. It was funny hearing them talk, but at times
I couldn't tell if she was leading him on or if she was serious. At any rate, she told me what
Paul told her when we were on the plane. Apparently, Kazuya had developed some sort of extreme,
uncontrollable aggression disorder, something almost...evil. It didn't matter, because this
time Anna and I were there together. I would have someone on my side, and she wouldn't feel
bad about herself for not being invited.
The plane landed and both of us were scheduled to fight later that day. I checked in with
Mishima organizers and started my warm-up. Anna, on the other hand, was out on the town
shopping. She missed her first fight, and instead had to fight matches against other
late entrants - a nice man named Baek, and some guy named Bruce. On top of that, she came in to
these battles in a red evening gown she bought just a few hours before. Not that she didn't
hold her own, mind you. In fact, she was doing quite well until she went up against me. And,
just as when we were younger, I came out victorious.
That night, when we were out having dinner at one of Tokyo's finer restaurants (compliments of
the tournament's wealthy sponsor), Anna and I were talking about the tournament. I was
saying something about how good it was going to feel to defeat Phoenix the next morning, when
things turned sour.
"Nina, how could you?"
"How could I what?"
"How could you embarass me like that?"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"First you tried to kill me in our fight, then you took that picture of me coming out of the
shower!"
"Anna, the picture was just a joke, don't worry, there's -"
"You made copies didn't you? You were passing them around, weren't you? That's just like
you, always making me look bad so you can be number one for everyone else!"
"What are you talk-"
"No, you know it's true, you've been doing this ever since dad died, just because you don't have
anyone to show off to anymore!"
"Showing off, what are you talking about?"
"Ever since...ever since we were young, it wasn't enough for you to be the best, you also had
to make sure that everyone knows it, you've always been so petty, you've always been such a
bitch!"
"You're just jealous is all, Anna. All you were ever good at was giggling and being a whore,
you just wish you could do something right!"
"Whore? Whore? Is that all you can say? I think you're just mad, Nina, because you can't face
hearing the truth about yourself!"
We were both extremely loud by now, and Anna ran off with tears in her eyes. I just sat there
confused, feeling very angry at Anna, but also kind of sad...Anna was my best friend, after
all. But how could she have said those things? I couldn't believe it, and I was not going to
let her forget it. Paul came over to the table and put his arms around me asking if I was
alright, that he saw what happened and felt bad for me. I pushed him off of me and gave him
a swift kick to the groin and left (it made me wish I had thought of that move sooner).
I was so upset that I couldn't finish the tournament. All I could think of was how much Anna
had taken a turn for the worse. When I returned home, I found that she had moved out. Good, I
thought, maybe now I can get a little peace.
I didn't see her for a few days. It was my father's birthday, and I was at the cemetery paying
my respects. I had brought a lovely bouquet of flowers to decorate the headstone. I wanted to
show him how far I'd come, but I knew that I never could...what I felt was just beyond words.
I wanted to tell him about everything, about Anna, about Heihachi. I remembered what he used to
say to us when we fought as children, he'd say "Be nice to each other, because some day you'll
each be all the other has." And then I heard the sound of heels. Anna! I drew a pistol, but she
talked me out of it. She had tears in her eyes. "No," she pleaded, "not here, not in front of
dad." Very well, I thought, I can wait. I walked out of the cemetery and that was the last I
saw of Anna for a long time.
Part 4: Sleeping Beauty
It was three days after our meeting at the cemetery. I was sitting in what was now my kitchen
when the phone rang. It was Boskonovitch.
"Nina, you remember me, don't you?"
"Yeah...yeah, I remember."
"Do you remember our deal as well? I remember you never came through for me. Do you?"
"Look, that was a long time ago and I never promised anything. Don't even think about holding
me to that!"
"Yes, so long ago...Nina, I never told you about my daughter. She was your age when she died.
She had been fighting illness all her life...I thought she was going to make it, she had been
fighting for so long, but...she didn't."
"Doctor, that's too bad about your daughter, but I really don't -"
"And this is where you're going to help me. You didn't help me two years ago, so you're going to
help me now. I have a way to preserve my daughter in suspended animation, but my current method
is not going to hold. I have a prototype of a stronger cryogenic tube, but what I need is two
young ladies to test it out on. After all, I wouldn't dare try this on my precious daughter."
"How am I going to help you? What are you talking about?"
"It's quite simple, Ms. Williams. I have one test case already, a shady young woman. Maybe you
know her, this tall brunette."
"Anna? You have Anna? If you hurt her you son of a bitch, I swear I'll kill you!"
"No, I'm not going to hurt her. All I've done is let her rest her worried mind for a long, long
time. And, since you are so concerned, I'll let you join her." Click.
Where was he? What was he doing with Anna? What did he mean I would "join her?"
It was within minutes that they were at my house. All around me, Mishima Private Corps were
crashing through my windows and kicking down my doors. Before I could even react, I was bound
and gagged and put in the trunk of a car. After what seemed like hours, the car finally
reached a small airport where I was flown to the top-secret MFE Research Labs.
I was taken into a small laboratory where Anna was being held in a state of lifelessness on
an operating table. Boskonovitch was there, and he explained what was going on. They were
prepping Anna for "long-term cryogenic storage," and that I would soon join her. I was overcome
with rage. No matter what Anna said, no matter what had happened, I couldn't let them do this
to her. I tried my hardest to untie my hands, but I heard Boskonovitch order a solder to
"contain her, now!" I was stripped and shoved into a small tube. I could feel it filling up
quickly with some extremely cold liquids...and I remember seeing a face just before I slipped
into unconsciousness: Kazuya!
I remember waking up. I remember I had one thing on my mind: Jin Kazama. I didn't know much
about him at the time (maybe this was Jun's brother?), all I knew was that I had an
overwhelming urge to destroy him. Lucky for me, he did it to himself in time for me to focus
on other things. I didn't remember anything from before waking up. I didn't know who I was, how
old I was, where I came from, where I was, or even how I got there. Anna and one of the kinder
scientists (who were working for Heihachi now, not Kazuya) from the MFE tried to restore my
memories using information gathered during the sleep. Anna explained to me that we were frozen
for a little more than nineteen years. She tried to tell me about mom and dad, about the Iron
Fist Tournaments, about what had happened to us during those times...but I didn't believe a
word of it.
"Come on, Nina, let's go. I'll help you fight this." Nina? My name was Nina?
She took me to a cemetery. "Our mother and father are buried here," she explained. I watched
as she laid a bouguet on the headstone of a woman named Heather Williams. It seemed so familiar,
when it hit me! I remembered from many years before, visiting our father's grave, seeing Anna,
of course! All I remembered was what I felt towards Anna, how much I had hated her. It hurt my
head to deal with so much at once...
"Nina, Nina are you alright?" SMACK!
"You BITCH, I hate you!" I screamed at her. (Anna later told me she smiled after this, how she
was glad to have me back.)
The next few weeks were a time where I re-lived my entire life (with Anna's help). I remembered
my father training Anna and I...I remembered when he lost his job, when he died and mom died. I
remembered the Tournaments. But most importantly, I remembered my sister Anna. My father was
right; we were all the other had.
But I couldn't help but wonder about Heihachi and my father. I turned to Anna for the answer,
and of course she had the story. "I didn't want to tell you this," she began, "not yet anyway,
because I don't know what you'll think. But I think you're ready. When I came out of the tube,
I was approached by Heihachi. He told me he had heard about father, about how sorry he was that
he and mother were killed. I didn't believe him at first, of course, I was ready to kill him
right then and there, but then I thought, if he did it, then why was he saving you and I from
an eternity in Boskonovitch's machines? So I gathered the courage to ask him, and he told me
his side of the story."
"He felt bad," she continued, "about firing dad. He told me about how it was wrong to ask
for the murder of his child, a child who met his fate soon enough. Heihachi was even considering
contacting us when he saw that you were in the first tournament instead of dad. He had no idea
at that time about mom and dad, about us, about anything...the invitation actually was meant
for dad, Heihachi wanted to ask him back to the MFE as top legal aide. So you see, it wasn't
him. We've been wrong about it all this time."
I couldn't believe it. This meant I had risked my life on more than one occassion...for nothing,
for a lie! "Anna, what do we do now? I mean, it's too late to do anything about mom and dad,
and the third Tournament is over."
"Well, Heihachi did say something about..."
"About what? Come on Anna, don't play games!"
"He said that even though he could never repay us for what he did to dad, he will try to come
close, and has offered us full access to the MFE resources. Anything, cars, homes, you name
it, he said he would make us princesses in his Empire!"
"Well, that sounds good, but you know we don't need that. We do fine, and I doubt that even
you would know what to do with all that money. Besides, that's not the life either of us could
live."
"Okay, Nina, okay, I can understand that, and you're right, but we're going to have just a
little fun with this, I don't care what you say! I've already booked us for a vacation in
Key West, Florida in the United States. Hurry up and pack, our plane leaves tonight!"
So of course I had to go along with her. I could never argue with my sister.
...