Wow. It's been a real major time gap since I've updated this one again. Anyway due to my current work commitments plus my additional priorities for Fiction Press, updates for this one might be really sporadic in nature. Just to put out a brief summary:
Everything started with Guy's final battle with Vega (aka Bison in the US localization) via flashback format. After all the random musings, we jumped straight to Whip's POV with a dash of other characters. Apparently during a certain assassination mission in Myanmar, Guy entered the fray with him rescuing Whip towards the end. Needless to say everybody involved beforehand went wtf be it those who know him or not.
And now we're gonna jump straight into other characters' POV. Most notably a certain jailbird plus that one icon redefining cold beauty. ;)
X X X
The Axis of Fate
Comrades: That Unpredictable Bastard
"Wait a sec! You're serious on that?" asked Haggar as his eyes widened with disbelief, "That's your chance in getting bailed out of jail under legit grounds!"
"Yeah I know what you're trying to say, old man," replied a disheveled blonde youth as he gave out a yawn, "But get this right: The reason why I agreed to that commando job at Myanmar was just that, fighting for shit and giggles as you would always like to put it."
"Fuck it Cody," snarled Haggar as his expression barely veiled the inevitable moment of snapping, "That's not what Guy said. By going forth into the jungles with him, the exchange condition would be an immediate release from jail!"
"Well that's part of the terms alright," said Cody as his blue orbs hardened briefly in reply to that statement, "But you've overestimated him. What he said was nothing more than an option where I still reserve the freedom to reject. I knew what I'm prepared to do and this fact has not been lost on him. Apparently you didn't know how fucked up he has gotten ever since that debacle with Shadowloo."
X X X
Metro City Prison
"Oh God not again," groaned the warden chief, "I swear that this is the N time that he has done that jailbreak stunt. That's a maximum security cell for fuck's sake! There goes the taxpayers' money again..."
"So what we're gonna do now boss?" asked his follower, "The mayor himself won't have any issues for sure, but shit's gonna happen once we start doing the annual financial report. The prez won't be happy here..."
"Yeah I know!" screamed the head in frustration, "It's been going on for the past couple of years! State funding is gonna get cut sooner rather later and it's the ENTIRE city, not just here!"
"Hey boss," said another of the underlings as he kept his eyes glued onto his iPhone, "Latest e-news: Reported bashing of hate crimes felons in the act. Anti-LGBT bigots busted in the act. Or so says the headlines..."
Upon the latest revelation, the warden chief could only invoke one single thought.
Fuck that shithead... Hero of Metro City my ass!
X X X
"Pop goes the weasel..." whistled the bulky fugitive clad in white and blue stripes completed with handcuffs as he left his victims in a crumpled heap, "Pretty much amazing that I'm feeling like a defender of LGBT rights during that brief moment..."
As he neared the alley exit, a hulking middle aged man stood before him. Without any indications of acknowledging his presence, Cody Travers brushed past the other party while flipping the bird in a nonchalant manner. Mike Haggar sighed as he understood the meaning behind such a gesture. As a parting shot towards that one person who could have been his son in law, Haggar exclaimed those very words.
"Cody you bastard! I don't know what the fuck is wrong with you or Guy, but you better find a girlfriend before hitting the crash and burn status! And tell Guy that Maki is right now after his ass as well! No bloody innuendo intended due to Rena still waiting like an idiot, so don't stir any shit up on this front!"
"Man still as bothersome ever," sighed Cody with a wry smile as he scratched the back of his head, "Not gonna get laid where I myself is concerned, but for Guy... why is it that I'm feeling that interesting times are at hand? Those crazy moments over there in Myanmar was surely a blast from the past."
"Well let's get this clear, Guy. The fact that I'm wiling to play along doesn't mean that I'm gonna end up choosing the bail out option as that reward."
"Well I never said anything about you choosing that path Cody. But Haggar is really gonna rage big time sooner or later. I'm not too sure if he would end up getting the wrong idea once I tell him the conditions of the deal with the CIA."
"Will it be that bad?"
"Apparently I can see that he has detected what one would term a hundred and eighty degree change. But then again I don't have to account myself for everyone in the world."
"Well we both knew what the fuck went wrong with you all those years. It's just that..."
"Just what Cody?"
"Nah screw it. Shit is pointless anyway given how things have turned out..."
X X X
"And now for the latest news headlines..."
"Hey that chick looks uber hot!" commented Ralf off handedly, "Is she an Arab? Never imagined seeing one as a news anchor..."
"Well yeah I guess so," replied Clark as he downed his third mug of stout, "The American Dream remember?"
"I call it a bloody free for all," muttered Ralf darkly.
"Why you're so pissed off at the mention of this term?" questioned Clark even though he knew why his best pal's mood was suddenly darkened.
"Clark please don't test my patience..." sighed Ralf as he downed the remaining two thirds of his stout, "I know you want me to out my anger so that I won't go batshit crazy due to all that pent up rage, but..."
Before Ralf could finish his statement though, his cell phone rang. The number being indicated on the screen though was nothing less than nerve wrecking. And it's all because of the contact being indicated was that of Heidern's...
X X X
"Well why give that dirty look?" grinned Cody in a excited manner as he faced off against an attractive girl whose capability in fighting far exceeded his expectations. Upon his question, the blue haired hair chick just remained stoic without any verbal response. Sighing in resignation, Cody only replied to this very reaction via that one thing he has always done best. Fighting.
Zonk Knuckle!
With a swiftly executed movement, Cody managed to closed down the distance and deliver a devastating punch within one single instance. Any lesser opponent would have been caught with his pants down resulting into a straight out knock out. But not for his composed opponent as she managed to back stepped into safety just as the hit was about to connect. Taking advantage of the resultant lag due to the massive momentum, she dashed forward and delivered a single bare handed slash that managed to open up a wound on Cody that could have any normal human being down for the count straightaway. But yet Cody could only grin in response as to the girl's inner shock, not only did he never retreat back, he even managed to take the hit without any show of pain.
Criminal Upper!
With a single upward punch, a vortex of energy erupted upwards from the ground as the blue haired girl got caught up into the air as a result. The damage took the wind out of her as Cody followed up the attack with a single mid level kick that took her cleanly as she was descending downwards. The girl wasn't fazed by the double whammy though as she managed to recover in time. However such a show of fortitude had it's own price, for the impact of the kick had her being rammed against the alley wall beforehand. Trying to catch her breath while reorganizing her strategy, the escaped felon before her just stood on the spot while casting an amused look at her.
Leona Heidern was never one to be trifled with right from the start. Ever since the very tragedy that has forced her onto the path of battlefield, she had never back down from any challenger before her. For the only enemy she could only fear was that of herself. But this unruly blonde before her was a totally different deal. Seing his non-chalant attitude towards her at this very moment only served to make her flare up. In a very real sense, she felt that he was mocking everything that has defined her life. Of course there was no way he could have known her life, but yet yet she couldn't shake off this very false feeling of being belittled.
"Hey pretty gal," called out Cody, "You know one thing? You don't look too well here. Why not we call it a day? I'd hate to play out a half assed fight, but truth to be spoken you'e not that much of a cool beauty at this very moment. I missed that cold look you've displayed up until just now you know..."
Upon his words Leona could only remain silent. If she was to be goaded into action, her opponent would have won. As the mantra of combat goes, those who let their emotions rule their heads would rarely survive in a fight. But yet why was it that she felt that the muscular man before her would never take such an advantage? Somehow or another, she wanted to ask him straightaway, but yet there's no way such an individual could be trusted. In fact ever since she was betrayed by her own accursed lineage during all those years back, she began to create an emotionless facade no different from a robot. She has seen herself as a weapon to protect whatever she has valued. The comrades in the Ikari Warriors especially the only person she could call father ever since that trauma which began her journey. Then there were the trio who understands her more than the rest of the organization: Clark, Ralf and...
Then it came. Her mind started to wreck havoc onto her soul. All the memories which she tried shutting down from her mind had resurfaced altogether. She could see herself mauling Ralf and Clark on more than one occasion. Then there was that thrice cursed event which had condemned what should be rightfully hers. All the hopes of happiness and bliss with her family and friends... a life of joy and giggles... all had evaporated with the blood on her hands... but yet the voice of a young boy whom she had never heard before in her entire life somehow managed to resonate in her ears...
"SHIT! WE GOT BUSTED! THAT SON OF A MOTHERFUCKER ACTUALLY LOOSED THOSE DOGS ON US!"
X X X
Metro City General Hospital, Ward 55B
"WHAT THE FUCK?" roared Ralf in disbelief and anger, "Look you gotta be kidding me... it's a Grand Saber for fuck's sake! So you're saying that this little S.O.B actually took that hit full force without flinching?"
"Calm down there Ralf," said Clark as he tried to placate his best friend, "Look that bugger has gone back into jail, so no point getting angry!"
"The reason why I'm getting pissed is very simple," replied Ralf as he tried to recollect his calm through a sequence of deep heavy breathing, "I've yet to conclude my beef with this bastard. Talking about reality as if it's nobody's business... if I can get my hands on him..."
"Colonel Ralf Jones, I know that what this convict has done is truly unforgivable back then in Yangon, but at the very least he did bring Leona back safe and sound this time round," said Heidern with a calm tone that only served to agitate Ralf even further as he remembered what has gone on back then in their mission at Myanmar.
"Well it's pretty much interesting for a fight, huh?" smiled the dishevelled blonde decked out in white T shirt and denim jeans before him.
"Fuck you bloody bastard," snarled Ralf back in reply, "Who in the blue fuck are you?"
"Does that matter, Rambo?" replied his would-be opponent in a bored tone as he cracked his bandaged knuckles in excitement, "Be it all those clusterfuck bombings right now or everybody running around like headless chickens... it doesn't matter if I can get one hell of a good fight here. You're a soldier so you should know very well that reality has always been a bitch. The only difference is the kind of hell we've seen and gone through... so much for that American Dream both for the great US of Ass and this country alike..."
"Oh you're so fucking dead, you damned brat," growled Ralf Jones as he prepared to face off with that one person who has truly pissed him off big time, "Let me tell you what is reality when I'm done with mopping you with the ground we're standing at."
Upon those words, the fight would be ignited after those ending words.
"Well now... let's see if we can do something about my boredom..."
X X X
Metro City Prison
"So apparently a case of court-martial will be on the cards then?" said Cody as he chewed on his roll of weed, "Sucks to know that no good deed went unpunished..."
"Stop that will you," replied an attractive young blonde cop with her hair cut short, "You've gotten yourself into enough trouble that is."
"But shit isn't lit up, Lucia!" protested Cody as his old time friend snatched the offensive item from his mouth.
"Cody, that's the exact reason why you started that mass brawl last time during our high school days!" shot back Lucia Morgan as a couple of veins popped up in her head, "What started out as an attempt to prove that LGBTs don't smoke weed by default as much as the 'normal' people as per stated by you ended up into that incident where you've managed to put thirty football jocks into the ICU!"
"Well I've got no choice on that front," sighed Cody in a show of mock remorse, "You know me at that time. I don't mind people calling you a faggot because you're one and you've pretty much outed yourself years ago. But for Jessica..."
Upon Cody's tone trailing off into the bitter end, Lucia Morgan could only feel helpless in the face of reality. Here she was trying to tell her best friend off despite the fact that she's the head of the Metro City SCU and him being an escaped felon back into jail. But yet when it comes to Jessica Haggar, both of them would feel the pain over what had contributed to that acrimonious break up years back then. For Cody, it was that of resentment. For Lucia, it was the fact that the bonds have been sundered beyond redemption. Especially given the fact that she had been close friends with the pair all the while. If Jessica was that one person outside her family to accept her as fellow human being, then Cody would be that one champion fighting for the equality she deserved just like other people around them. To the duo, the fact that she was a lesbian has never mattered.
"Well let's talk about something else," sighed Lucia in exasperation, "We're not going anywhere here..."
"Like how the forensics will prove that I'm innocent of popping that cold chick's cherry? Or maybe her cherry is still intact? But anyway, the fact is that I brought her back safe and sound after that freak show of PTSD."
"Cody, if I've never been your pal, I would have smacked you upside down over the head," growled Lucia as she tried to find something else to change the subject. Finally she's gotten one of a paramount importance. She knew how Cody would react to the news, but yet something would be better than nothing given the painful memories invoked in everything Jessica.
"Well I guess you know about the latest terrorist attack on the British parliament building..."
X X X
"Well, that was one hell of a clusterfuck you've done here my friend," mocked an androgynous youth with shoulder length white hair held up with a hairband, "I wonder how many casualties you've caused when you released the entire fireworks sequence throughout the whole of Downing Street..."
"What are you?" whispered the Japanese youth as he locked stares with the unknown individual decked out in the same color as him.
"Me? Well... let's see..." mused the offending lad as his mischievious grin warped into something much more sinister, "I can tell you my name, but provided you let me see for myself what Bushinryuu is all about, deal?"
"I don't think I remember asking for your name," replied the cold ninja as his detached aura began to intensify ten fold, "Let me ask you one last time: What are you?"
"Oh ho ho," smirked his counterpart, "I'm truly sorry, but I don't remember swinging the wrong way. I prefer to bang hot chicks rather to let someobdy else doing my ass in... and by the term hot, I guess a certain Italian will do perfectly. As I like to say to myself, a world class hoe should have the legs and boobs of steel..."
Just as the repulsive sneer had started to surface, the ninja delivered a palm hit attack surrounded with a visible burst of ki. The very nature of the move closed the distance between them within a single blink of an eye with the attack connected at the very same instance. The resultant hit detonated the yellowish aura in an explosive manner which could penetrate even the most resilient of defense, but yet the white haired jester managed to evade the attack just as the moment of explosion was initiated, hence the fact that the reach of the attack went out of range.
"Wow that's really close..." sighed the joker in relief as his very expression showed otherwise, " I remember that move... Ganshin, better known as the your very own kidan. If I remember correctly, this is the one technique unique to the different shihan level warriors whose individual ancestors have conceived right from the moment where Bushinryuu was born. And of course I remember seeing one individual like you in this aspect. A Bushin ninja as well... and a hot Japper whore with an all-action attitude to boot no less."
"Do not test my patience, bakemono..." snarled the Bushin shinobi as it was visible that he was nearing the cracking end, "I don't know how you managed to know Maki, but..."
"Oh no no no! You've got it all wrong!" protested the other party as he held up his hands in a show of feigned innocence, "I never touch her, let alone know her! But I'm pretty glad that you told me her name... well I would want to have a longer chat here. You know, people tend to see you as boring but yet compared to all those idiots in the past, trolling you is the real blast. Even that moronic red head can't compare to you and I'm speaking from experience after I poked a major hole into his half assed Yasakani ego. Perhaps we will meet again. Maybe you will know my name as well... Guy-kun..."
Upon these ending words, Guy could only look on in response as he managed to swiftly recollect his calm just as quickly. For some weird reason, he knew that the unknown entity before him was laughing at him and mocking all that he has fought for. He remembered the twisted faces of the father and son upon their own death... the victims who died under his hands via that very move he had used to attack that phantom who just disappeared. He has never felt remorse for their demise though. The very nature of their acts and possible consequences meant that he couldn't take any chances especially given the likelyhood that the ruling politicians would let them get away unscathed from the law.
The powers-that-be would always reach their zenith much faster than anything else if the media empire was their base. But yet upon reflecting back on the people sacrificed for the sake of a Bushin shinobi's own obligations all the while and not just those in this most recent episode, Guy could only feel a sense of nothingness as he reflected back on what he had learnt all the while prior to his return to Metro City which ended up in it's destruction all those years back.
Order can never exist without Chaos... the purpose of good can never be conceived without evil... hence Chaos can invade Order as the source and evil will start to overflow into the world as the result. To prevent the world from being destroyed from this one and only manner... this is when justice is needed. To sacrifice the minority to preserve the majority. One life for a hundred, ten deaths to save ten thousand lives... this is the very duty of Bushinryuu... the face of reality... the truth of justice itself...
X X X
Yay finally done with this chapter. :D Okay originally I intended this to be a chapter for the thoughts within the relevant characters classified as "the comrades to the main players". But apparently shit has dragged on unto such an extent that only Cody was that one lucky sod. So yeah the whole comrade part will most likely be split up into that of different inidividuals per chapter unless there's actual space to place two or more into the mix. Also if you guys dunno who is the bastard trolling Guy, then you all are too dumb to live. :S At the same time, I won't blame you guys if after reading this chap, you all will end up imagining Cody and Leona banging each other lol! :D
Glosssary:
Bakemono: Japanese term for monster. Literally referring to an existence not being humane in nature.
Ganshin: Loosely translated as "Rock Shatter". This is my own version of Guy's close ranged ki burst attack in Final Fight games and the Namco x Capcom JRPG/ARPG hybrid. Granted the visual nature are absolutely different in their own ways, hence me trying to come up with my own mod of this move. Interestingly enough, the Namco x Capcom version has it's own name. Or rather it's the only one since side scrollers being side scrollers... -.- Also another thing: The penetration aspect of this move is something I've taken straight from the NxC version since I find the short range horizontal burst animation to be so cool. :)