Day 7 - Tuesday: Atonement


The rainforest floor seemed to want to go against every person that stepped foot on it. Large vines and muck puddles impeded progress, but even at the current clumsy rate, the men and women of Delta Red's Alpha team would eventually reach their destination in time. As one man tripped over a log and another went to pick him up, the squad leader wiped her brow clear of sweat and looked up into the sky.

Colonel Wolfman and Major Guile worked efficiently to bring their men together for this operation into Cuba, knowing that time was of the essence. Several squads had been dropped around the suspected area, three which were Delta Red's. The others were part of the United States Airforce, and were instrumental in finding the S.I.N. facility an hour before noon. Following directions given to them by the USAF pathfinders, the three Delta Red squads moved closer and closer to their destination.

Bravo team was comprised of Major Luwanda and Mathew McCoy, as well as a platoon of good men prepared for a firefight, should one arise. If things went sour, they would ascertain that they were the last ones out of the facility, putting their comrades before themselves. Charlie team had Wolfman and George Ginzu, as well as a squad filled with specialists who could bypass security and traps. They would stay away from combat if they could, taking priority in gathering data as well as securing areas. Last but not least, Alpha team was led by Captain Cammy White, who would be taking the offensive in the raid.

Many of the men in Cammy's group silently thanked the difficult terrain for forcing them to keep their skills sharp. The ride over in one of the many airplanes that had been given to them by the USAF had left the men tired, drained, and agitated. To have a chance to stretch their legs and work their muscles before it was time to truly act was much appreciated, and the Chinese Interpol agent with them did much to lift their spirits with her confident and optimistic demeanor.

Looking to her right, Cammy could see Chun-Li edging herself around a massive tree, the dull, dark blue color of her Interpol uniform making her hard to spot. Her right hand hovered close to a pistol holster near her waist, prepared to grab the firearm and act at a moment's notice. All the other members had multipurpose weapons like rifles and machineguns as opposed to the officer's single pistol. She hoped that she wouldn't use one, but as a precaution she brought it along.

Looking to her left, the Captain could see a well-worn dirt road, which the team was following at a distance. It was a challenge to find their bearings in the rainforest, and it was more so to find the road, but eventually the team found it. The road would lead them to the front gate of the facility and allow them to meet up with Charlie team. Cammy gripped her submachine gun closer to herself as she leaped over a stream, finding crossing via the nearby bridge to be too risky a move. The risk of detection was evident in the minds of the men, and they took whatever measures they could to remain incognito.

A voice called out to the pigtailed operative from behind.

"Captain, I think we're getting close."

Turning around to look at the source of the voice, Cammy's eyes widened. One of the men was near a metal pole that was just a foot over him. On top of the pole was a small sphere, and within it were optics for a security camera. In Cammy's mind, all efforts to remain inconspicuous were thrown out the window due to the blunder of one man. Visibly cringing in anger, she stormed up to the man only to be distracted by a spark erupting from the camera.

Chun-Li, noticing the look of confusion on her partner's face, walked up to the camera and rapped her hand on the base, looking up at the device.

"Don't worry, the optics look fried. Someone must have short-circuited this recently…"

"Then we are getting close," Cammy said, reinforcing what her man had said. "Alright, I want a five meter spread from here on out. This camera may be fried, but there may be ones further ahead that aren't. Be on your guard and stay clear of open areas, understood?"

She looked around her to see the men and women nodding in acknowledgement. Gesturing forward, the team proceeded to move as one in a crouch, using the foliage to their advantage. The rainforest proved to be a blessing in disguise once the team learned what to avoid and what to stick close to. The dark green outfits the team wore served as camouflage, and if they didn't wear their berets, they would be almost untraceable. Soft clinks and sloshes could be heard from their gear as they moved, but they were drowned out by the chirps and whoops of the birds and treetop creatures overhead.

Grumbling under her breath after ruining her white boots in a particularly troublesome patch of mud, Chun-Li looked forward to stare at Cammy. Despite the leaves and humid air of the forest, she showed no signs of weariness or fatigue, and she hardly flinched when a branch scraped against the peach skin surrounding her iconic green leotard. Her red cloak stood out too much in the forest anyway. Although tempted to look lower than the small of her partner's back, Chun-Li shook her head and continued to watch where she stepped.

A sudden snap of a twig and an open palm in the air stopped the men in their tracks. Following the silent order of their Captain, they silently readied their weapons and aimed into the forest. Large grey industrial walls could be seen in the distance, and the glare cast from the blue windows made it obvious that they had almost reached their destination. Cammy lowered her hand and licked her lips, softly forming one word.

"Theta."

Silence greeted her challenge, but only for two agonizing seconds. A respected voice called out from a dense patch of bushes.

"Blue."

A sigh of relief came from Chun-Li's lips as well as many of the men. Finding nothing wrong, Cammy lowered her weapon and trudged forward through the landscape to see her commanding officer in a prone position, binoculars pressed up to his eyes. Handing them over to his tech expert on his right, he turned to his left and watched as his star operative took a position next to him.

"Good timing, soldier."

Looking at her watch and seeing that the time was noon, Cammy nodded.

"Thank you sir. Any activity?"

Chun-Li remained in a crouch inside a heavily shadowed area near the two officers of Delta Red. She could see the men of Charlie team scattered about with rifles aimed at the facility and guard towers. The road to her left led to a chain-linked gate and guardhouse, which held a power box on its side. Two men from the specialist team were busy with said box, wirecutters in hand. Turning her attention back to the officers, Chun-Li could see the frown on the Colonel's face.

"We've seen nothing since we've arrived, not even one guard. I've got two men by that guardhouse poking around in the innards of a power box to open the gate. If that fails, we'll just cut through the fence."

"They're doing fine sir," George cut in, spectacles resting in his hairline as he observed the two men. "Yep, he cut the yellow wire… now just cross it with the orange one…"

"Any report from Bravo team?" Cammy asked.

"They radioed in not too long ago after arriving at their coordinates. Once that hangar is secured they can carry on with their primary objective while you take care of yours."

"Guile and his men won't be too far behind Luwanda with the helicopters," Chun-Li said, flicking a bug off her uniform. "I don't like going into the unknown… let's hope she keeps her word."

"She'd better," Cammy replied coldly.

A light mechanical screeching came from the gate as it parted, rewarding the efforts of the two red berets near the guardhouse. Nodding in approval, George handed the binoculars back to his commander and readjusted his spectacles. Smiling with pride at the efficiency of his men, the Colonel gave a pat on the back to his techie before motioning the recently arrived team to move inside the perimeter.

Moving from their rainforest cover, the men and women of Alpha team followed their Captain as she darted out to the side of the road. They were exposed, out in the open. Running past the gate, Cammy slammed her back into a nearby jeep and slid down to a crouch, watching as her men found cover behind similar vehicles. Peering out from the front of the jeep, she could see more vehicles parked nearby. A large covered truck lay idle near the front entrance to the facility; a viable means of cover for the operative and many of her men.

She moved from cover to cover, easing her way forward to the facility. Chun-Li easily kept up with her. Once the two women reached the truck, they gave each other questioning looks. It was too late to back out of the operation now, but it wasn't too late to question it. There was no telling what could happen, and although there had been much planning, the thought of being lied to was strong. Juri was a murderer and a terrorist, yet Delta Red trusted her just enough to accept her offer. If she betrayed their trust, a righteous hammer would come down full-force on her head, courtesy of two scorned women.

Silence permeated the area. Looking at her watch again, Cammy muttered a curse to find it was five minutes past noon. Just how long was "a little after noon" to that witch? She may have been impatient in waiting, but just like everyone else around the facility, she wanted the operation to be over with as quickly as possible. The front entrance had a card reader, its reading light a bright red. If the generators where shut off, that light would die, giving them visual confirmation that it was time to move in.

Thankfully, Cammy didn't have to wait any longer. Above the sounds of feet shuffling and gear rattling, a dull boom surfaced from deep inside the facility. The light from the door flickered twice before vanishing, leaving behind a dead door. There was no attempt to hide the surprise on Cammy's face. Juri had kept her word when she said she would let them in, but what other promises would she keep? Pushing that thought back, she rushed to the door with her men following every step, weapons sweeping over the area.

One soldier reached into his pack and pulled out a block of plastic explosives as he went to the door. Chun-Li put a hand on his shoulder to stop him before standing in front of the two door halves herself. She had a theory that the door was electronically locked, and without power, the door would open with enough force. Sure enough after giving the door a good pull, the doors parted to allow the team admittance into the facility.

Dark hallways greeted the men as they advanced, the only source of light coming from their flashlights and the occasional red alarm light, presumably powered by a backup generator. A siren blared from somewhere within. Slumped against the walls was a trio of men in white fatigues, three of many guards in the facility. A raven-haired woman broke off from the team to inspect them, finding a pulse in each. They had recent bruises, which combined with their current stupor made it likely that they were knocked out with a blunt weapon.

"Keep your guard up and check your corners. Close quarters combat; shoot in retaliation but only to incapacitate," Cammy said, averting her gaze from the unconscious men. "Be wary of forked hallways. We need to find the stairwell in this place, so yell if you find it."

She received several grunts of acknowledgement as the men branched out into squads to cover more ground. Divide and conquer, as it was more commonly known.

Hugging the right side of the hallways, Cammy moved forward, cautiously peeking around corners. Along the way she saw a set of open double doors that revealed a lavish-looking study. Expecting valuable research and files to be present there, she ordered a man to stand guard there as she continued. Juri wouldn't be in there. Like any villain, she presumed the Korean would be in the lowest level of the facility, awaiting their arrival.

"This isn't like any Shadaloo base I've ever seen," Chun-Li mused from behind her partner. "Luckily there are signs around here."

Cammy mumbled in agreement as she rounded a corner. Her Chinese friend was correct; signs were abundant at every intersection, serving to make sure no one got lost in the large facility. After a few more twists and turns, the directions for a stairwell were located. Conveniently, the side entrance to the facility's hangar was near that, and if the rhythmic marching of boots on linoleum were any indication, Bravo team had just passed through it.

Passing by her group was Major Luwanda, who turned and gave them a curt nod of acknowledgement before disappearing into a random hallway. There was no need to converse; Bravo team knew their job too well to ask for directives. More of her men followed her example and sped down hallways of their own in four man squads, searching for hostiles to capture and areas to defend. Chun-Li could hear whirling noises from the hangar and more footsteps; the USAF had just touched down to assist.

A loud rumbling came from further down the hallway, easily heard over the dull wailing of an emergency siren. As Cammy reached the stairwell she discovered the sound came from the ranged weapons expert Matthew McCoy, whose giant feet shook the halls with every step he took. He grunted and broke off with a squad of men to search the upper levels, wordlessly giving Cammy encouragement with his presence. If there were to be any S.I.N. patrols coming back to the facility, they would be quite surprised to see the barrel of Matthew's rifle aimed in their general direction.

A smile graced the pigtailed woman's lips, a brief glimmer of pride in her comrades. It didn't stay for long as she returned to the task at hand. Yelling down the hall, she alerted the rest of her team to the stairwell before taking the first steps down, knowing that they would follow. For every level she passed in her decent, she had to give up at least four men to allow them to secure it. The USAF soldiers would come down with their assault rifles and reinforce positions and squads soon enough.

As Chun-Li continued to move down with her partner, she couldn't help but notice a strange, yet eerily familiar voice echo throughout the facility. It sounded like someone was yodeling, but who would yodel in a situation or time like this? Who could even bring themselves to cheer out in what seemed like glee when scientists and guards alike were presumably at a loss for words, their throats gone dry at the sudden explosion and intrusions? Although it was her first thought, it couldn't possibly be Juri. She had a feeling that whoever the voice belonged to was presumed to be dead… but how could that be true, now that she had heard evidence that proved the contrary?

Whether or not her partner noticed the sound, she gave no indication. The overpowering scent of smoke wafted towards her nose, alerting her to the presence of fire. Looking down over the stairwell railing, her expression darkened when she caught sight of orange flames jutting out from a recently destroyed wall. Sparks and zaps sprang out from a destroyed machine within, impeding the descent of Alpha team. Getting to the same level as the machines without being in danger, Cammy mused that the floor they were on had to be the same one that housed the generators to the facility.

Elevators were out of the question. They were disabled in fires, and even if by some chance they weren't, the power loss would do the job. Positioning her machinegun in one hand, Cammy used her other to wipe bits of grime and debris from a nearby directory. The floor that they were currently on did indeed house the generators, as well as a few lab rooms and interestingly enough, a detention block. A soldier spoke up from behind her, having read the sign and came up with a suggestion.

"We could cut through this level to try to find fire extinguishers, Ma'am."

"That'll work," Cammy said with a nod. Before anyone could support the soldier's idea, she added, "But that will take too much time. A facility of this size has to have two evacuation routes, which mean another way down for us. We'll cut through this level," looking to the soldier who voiced his suggestion, "and we'll make a mental note of where the fire extinguishers are, just in case we need to double back. Understood?"

She knew the men understood, yet they nodded anyway and confirmed it. She opened a nearby door and edged herself through, machinegun first. The fire had blocked off an area of the corridor, diverting the team through an open door. A lab awaited them, filled with dead monitors and prone scientists. While of the white uniformed men did indeed look like they had passed on, every few seconds one would cringe in pain, shattering that thought.

Making her way to one scientist who was slumped over his workstation, Chun-Li produced a white ziptie from a pack attached to her waist and enclosed the material around the man's wrists. Other men in the team did the same, restraining the unconscious scientists as their comrades watched over them. Even if they weren't a threat now, they certainly would be in the future if they were not restrained. Surely there had to be at least one casualty, Cammy thought, looking down at a body. With all the infighting, someone must have suffered, yet whoever attacked the scientists did a good enough job to make sure they would not get up for awhile.

She would be giving Juri too much credit to say she singlehandedly paved the way for Delta Red. Psychopaths like her can only kill, finding that a much more permanent solution instead of simply knocking out those in her way. The only thing that screamed 'Juri' was the destroyed generators and the damages that resulted because of it. This was someone else's handiwork, but who's? It had to be more than one person, and it was obviously choreographed. The whole thought of Juri having a team of men loyal to her was unnerving, but before she could reflect on it, Cammy caught a flash of movement in the corner of her eye. She cautiously moved to the entity's location, absentmindedly flicking the safety of her firearm off.

One scientist had slowly risen from his position on the floor, his attire differentiating himself from his colleagues. Groggily ruffling his hair with his left hand- his right was covered in a cast- he groaned. Bruises littered his physique and his lab coat carried a few singes here and there. Cammy wasn't sure if he was knocked out or disoriented from the recent explosion, but that didn't matter at the time. She caught sight of a pistol in a holster attached to the man's thigh as she moved to get in front of him, raising her machinegun as a precaution.

"Get down on the floor!" she shouted, taking a few tentative steps towards him. "Down! Show me your hands!"

He had to be hallucinating. He didn't even know what to believe at the time; everything happened too fast to comprehend. Was it an explosion, or was it a flock of assassins that took down his Med-tech team? The ringing in his ears tempted him to believe the former, yet it persisted to the point that he believed it had already passed to reveal another completely different, yet equally loud noise. Sight slowly returning, he gazed upon what looked like a person dressed in green with a submachine pointed in his direction. Or was it a man dressed in blue? Could there be two people in front of him?

The sudden thought of another shakedown by his cruel, psychotic leader surfaced in the midst of his disorienting situation. All too quickly, a surge of anger gripped him. It had to be that woman, it just had to be her. What twisted message was she trying to convey this time? Work harder? I'm going to break your other hand? I'm bored? He would have none of it. Others couldn't muster up the courage to do it, but he felt like he was backed into a corner, which granted him the means to do what must be done! He quickly reached for the pist-

Chun-Li stood in amazement as Cammy lashed out with a stiff right hook that was too quick to register. Everyone could hear the loud, resounding crack of flesh against knuckles over the turmoil happening throughout the facility. In an instant the scientist that made a move for his pistol was slumped against the wall, slowly sliding down it with his face. Shaking her hand, Cammy grunted and gestured for a ziptie. Chun-Li didn't need any encouragement and quickly deposited one in her partner's hand.

"Idiot," Cammy muttered under her breath, tying the unconscious man.

Before Chun-Li could lift a finger and comment on the situation, a shrill scream greeted their ears, then a loud, obnoxious bout of laughter.

'Things must really be going to hell,' she thought, frowning.

"Let's move," Cammy ordered, taking up her machinegun again and standing up. She pressed a door open with her foot and walked outside, hugging the right side of the hallway. Along the way one of the soldiers alerted her to a uniformed guard up ahead, assault rifle in hand. She held the team back and peered around corner, finding the guard pressed against a wall near a corner of his own, finger twitching near the trigger of his gun. His gaze was directed opposite of the approaching intruders, and it seemed as if he cared more about what was coming from a certain room than what was coming from above.

Cammy watched as the guard spun around to aim down a corridor that was out of the team's sight. Before he could fire his weapon, he was tackled by a younger-looking woman with blond hair in another, more decorated guards' uniform. Perhaps tackled wasn't quite the word, for the two guards laid in a crumpled heap, completely knocked out. The woman looked bruised and battered from a distance, as if she was thrown into her colleague.

"That's for ordering me around like some kinda lapdog!" someone said, his voice booming from the corridor the woman was just flung from.

"I… I know that voice…" Cammy mumbled, narrowing her eyes.

She picked up her pace and moved towards the two guards, hoping that one of them would cling to their consciousness long enough to answer a few questions. Time was of the essence, and she believed the woman would provide directions, or at least a helpful tip. No doubt she would want Juri to rot in a grave after the recent explosions and infighting, which was an optimistic thought. Before she could reach them, she forgot to check a corner, and thus, slammed into a random guard. The woman staggered back and hit her right shoulder on the wall, uttering a cry of pain.

Instantly a machinegun was pointed in her direction, its owner concerned for the wellbeing of her team and unconcerned for the obviously broken right arm the new entity sported. Her eyes widened in astonishment, then narrowed in anger. The woman dressed in a white guard's uniform had long crimson hair and jade eyes, as well as a scowl on her features. Adding a pair of yellow shades and a black suit to the woman's appearance in her mind, Chun-Li growled.

"You…"

Her pistol had been drawn and was aimed at her. This woman, this… guard could be none other than Crimson Viper, the same woman who had beaten her partner into submission, nearly killing her. Revenge wasn't beneath her at all, and justice could work hand in hand with it for good. She ignored the sounds of boots echoing throughout the hall, focusing on the assassin.

"Crimson Viper, I presume?" she asked, making no effort to hide her scorn.

She could see her eyebrow twitch up in amusement, as if the whole situation was a joke. A quick assessment of her figure brought back a fact that the woman had seen better days. Bruises littered her body and she stood to one side. An injury to her side, perhaps? Her attire seemed hastily put together, as if she had recently waken up or was caught off guard.

"Hmm, that's right," the crimson-haired woman answered. "Nice to see you too, officer." She looked over to Cammy, and if the pigtailed operative didn't know any better, she would have sworn she saw a tinge of regret and guilt flash across the assassin's face. "And the soldier as well."

Such a calm, collected demeanor amazed both the Chinese woman and British soldier. She was held at gunpoint by several men, but that didn't faze her in the slightest. The confidence she radiated irritated her two rivals, one who wished ill on her for a past battle and the other who wanted her rotting behind bars for the same reason, only it was her partner who suffered. She didn't carry any weapons, and the suit she flaunted before couldn't be seen. The women took a bit of reassurance in her vulnerability, finding her to be just as human as any of the men behind them.

"What's the holdup?" someone said from behind, his gruff voice drawing attention to himself.

Cammy spared a glance towards the source of the noise and frowned. Guile and a few of his men had funneled through the door from the recent lab and were standing behind the soldiers from Delta Red. Dressed in his green military fatigues and a rifle slung over his shoulder, Guile was not too pleased to wait in the middle of a hallway, exposed in an unknown location.

"Who's this?"

His question was directed towards the redhead, which Chun-Li was about to answer had it not been for a sudden interruption.

"You know who I am," Viper said with a slight smirk. "It's been awhile, hasn't it, Bill?"

Guile tilted his head like a confused bulldog, less angry that she used his first name and more interested that she knew it. He quickly looked her up and down, taking in her appearance. Her voice was eerily familiar to someone's, and her hair, although grown to a ridiculous length, was just as familiar. Those jade eyes… It couldn't possibly be her... but, taking a shot in the dark, he asked:

"Maya?"

Smiling, Viper nodded.

"It's nice to see you again, how's the wife?"

"Don't try to pull me into small talk, Maya," Guile growled, pointing an accusing finger at her. "Just what in the hell are you doing here?"

The two women holding 'Maya' at gunpoint cast confused glances towards Guile.

"Hold on Guile, you know this woman?" Chun-Li asked.

Sighing, the airman nodded.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Girls, this… this is Maya Nash." Meeting Chun-Li's questioning stare, he continued. "I'm surprised you don't recognize her. You met her at Charlie's funeral."

"This can't be her," the officer said, shaking her head. "The woman I ran into couldn't stand to be in a place like this. How could she get in here, and just how could she interfere with my investigations?"

"Officer Xiang," Viper addressed with a tinge of annoyance, "you of all women should know that the more something is taken away from a human being, the more it is capable of doing. You take everything away from someone… there is no telling what they'll do. Of course, I'm lucky that that hasn't happened to me yet."

"You still have Lauren," Guile commented, maintaining his stoic, if not bored expression. "Now, for your own wellbeing," he grunted, gesturing to the guns leveled her way, "answer my question."

Chun-Li lowered her pistol and looked off to the side in thought. If Guile trusted this woman enough, the least she could do was give her the benefit of the doubt. However, until she answered the airman's question, she remained criminal; an assassin who killed for a terrible organization. And Chun-Li was good at defeating criminals… except for that one Korean woman. But she refocused on the task at hand... the supposed wife of Guile's best friend.

"Simple, I work here, for S.I.N. Before you assume anything, I work for another organization." Patting her recently acquired guard uniform with her uninjured left hand, she sighed. "I don't have my badge with me, so I don't take it that my word is good enough for you two," she grumbled, eying Cammy and Chun-Li.

"Get on with it," Cammy grunted.

"I was hoping I'd talk more. You know, build up suspense before the big reveal and whatnot. Sadly, meathead here took some of that suspense away." Unfazed by the pigtailed operative's hardened gaze, she said, "Fine. I'm with the CIA."

Cammy scoffed.

"That's so random it might just be true. If it is, I don't know whether to slap your hand for your work or kick you in the face for what you did to me. I'm tempted to do the latter."

"She's been beaten up recently," Chun-Li mused, gently pushing the muzzle of Cammy's firearm away from Viper. "I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and hope that you're the spy Juri caught…"

"We don't exactly have time to chat," Guile said, looking down one hallway. "We need to get going… 'Crimson Viper' isn't the woman we came here to get."

"You're right," 'Maya' replied, looking in his direction. "The fire blocked off the only stairwell down, but you can get to the lower level through the detention block just down the hall. From there, it's a straight shot to the core room, where I assume Juri will be waiting… either to surrender or end it all in some fiery, climatic battle."

Despite his best efforts, Guile couldn't help but smile at her sarcastic comment. He nodded to the women, giving them a sign to get going. They muttered to themselves over the fate of Viper until the gaze Guile gave them sunk in. He could easily handle himself, and he didn't seem like he would just let the crimson-haired agent go. They turned on their heels and moved down the hallway, trying to avoid the temptation to look behind them.

Taking Viper's good arm in his hand, Guile gave her a demanding look. She wouldn't be able to weasel her way out of this situation, and she couldn't run away with all the men between her and the exit blocking her way. But she wouldn't be running anymore. If things went according to Juri's plans, all her years of investigation and espionage would pay off, opening the door to the BLECE project and a well deserved vacation at home with her only daughter. The data would be in her hands, and soon, the CIA's.

A sudden, ear shattering explosion insulted her optimism.


Everything had gone according to plan. From the destruction of the power generators to the pacifications of certain troublesome groups of S.I.N. guards, everything had turned up diamonds. Never mind the fact the whole thing had been planned in a mere hour and on such short notice. Juri attributed most of her operation's current success to the old Shadaloo dolls. Without them, the path to her would be riddled with opposition, which would severely dampen the efforts of the intruding military forces.

Balrog had played his part well, for it was tailored to him. A lithe and tiny doll couldn't possibly take on his task. It called for more strength and constitution than what they possessed, and Balrog was just the welcoming wagon needed to secure that detention block. Men and women of the guard had tried, but their efforts to stop him from beating them senseless were fruitless. But even a hulk of a man like the crazy buffalo couldn't best everyone on brute force alone.

Juri folded her arms and looked to her left from her position near Seth's unnecessary and out of place throne. The crazy buffalo was leaning against a wall in the room, massaging his knuckles and looking quite singed. He had recently returned from his task at an unfortunate time, but, despite the ringing in his ears, he did not suffer much from Juri's seemingly impromptu act. Aprile was at his side, tending to a few cuts the boxer earned from his scuffles with the guards. She may have been seen as a mouse compared to his size, as he gave no indication of her presence other than a few grunts when she touched a sore spot.

An audible scoff tore Juri's attention away from the two and onto a particularly displeased individual skulking in the shadows of the room. She couldn't help but grin wickedly at his displeasure. Gone were the women, the dolls, that he used to handle. Now they took up positions on either side of the red carpet leading up to the throne, to their new master. Inwardly he was seething, but all that he showed on the outside were his eyes, which peered out into the room from his white mask like a hungry predator.

'Pretty smart, Vega,' he could remember the Korean witch say to him when he confronted her, 'using the fact that you're the dolls' handler to get close enough to eavesdrop on us. Now that you know what I'm up to, just what will you do now? I'll save you from thinking and give you the same offer that I gave Balrog, or I can kill you right here and now. It's entirely up to you either way,' she said with a sneer, as if the right to choose was a gift she gave and took often.

Oh how he wanted to drive his claw through her wretched body and be done with her. Chivalry guided his hand then, betraying him in his time of great want. He returned the Korean's arrogant expression with an upturn of his lips, deciding to humor her. He would listen to her offer, which he later came to realize was for money. He would be offered payment to stand at her side. In essence, he may have well been a mercenary.

Declining her offer and watching her face fall was utterly hilarious, and it took a great deal of effort to bite back the laughter. He was a nobleman; money was no problem for him. However, as he soon came to realize, Juri wasn't known to take no for an answer. Like a spoiled child, she always got what she wanted. If Vega couldn't be bought, he would be persuaded. He was a wanted criminal, yet he flew free like a bird. But even a free bird needed to roost every now and then.

'What will happen when you finally get caught, Vega? Don't say 'if', because today you certainly will. Perhaps you'll get lucky and you'll go to an insane asylum. They've got silky straightjackets and nice, clean white padded rooms for you to sulk in. Or,' she said, rolling her eyes nonchalantly, 'maybe the thought of a public prison suits your fancy. With a pretty name like Vega, I'm sure you'll fit in nicely. Just a few scars and bruises, but you're not afraid of that now… are you?'

He couldn't remember what exactly he did at that point, but to end up in the position he was in now, it was unforgivable. She threatened his face, and none who did that were able to see the light of the next day. But he couldn't kill her; it wouldn't solve anything, and she had a plan that could benefit him in the long run. It was the short run that troubled him, to give in and invest his freedom in hopes of receiving more in the future.

No doubt Juri was reveling in her triumph of 'convincing' Vega to stand by her side. He was a valuable ally after all. But not even the lanky Spaniard or the buff boxer were close to the level of worth as Crimson Viper. It was she who provided the plan and guidelines for Juri to follow, and follow them she did… to a degree. Her plan took a turn when it came to the fate of the BLECE project. Even when reassured by Viper, her mind was set and wouldn't be changed. She put up a façade of acceptance during the negotiation, fooling the agent into a false sense of accomplishment.

The sound of heavy footsteps caught the leader's attention and directed it towards an opening out of the throne room. She took a few tentative steps over to stand at the railing of the balcony overlooking the core room, which, after Juri's touch, seemed about ready to collapse. Cackling fires bathed the area in an unholy orange light, illuminating broken computer consoles and screens. The floor was a mess, and many of the hexagonal tiles had fallen into a water abyss, leaving behind few tiles that rested on stable rock. They would provide enough room to maneuver fully around the main core, which lay in smoldering ruins.

Juri had her reasons for destroying the core and all of its data, including the BLECE project. It was not done as a spontaneous act, but as a justified, righteous one.

As she looked down to the ruins of the core she could both see and hear Viper's lamenting. The agent was standing at the base of it despite her condition, staring up at the destroyed top. Two large balls of energy were circling the top of the core, dancing around as if they had been freed. In reality, they were free, for the energy was in fact the ki stolen from test subjects over the years in S.I.N.'s quest to bring the BLECE project to fruition. Juri shook her head at the sight of Viper bending down to pick up what seemed to be the remains of a crimson flash drive. She would want her head for this, but after this stunt and all that Juri did, who wouldn't?

"Years of investigation down the goddamned drain," she mumbled, drooping her shoulders.

As Viper angrily threw the destroyed flash drive to the side, a man came up from behind and grumbled a few words of encouragement. His blond, flattop hairstyle and military fatigues told Juri that this was the soldier she fought in the mountains. She felt a tinge of relief at seeing that he was alive, for if he died, negotiation with her favorite Chinese officer would be out of the question. She was there beside the soldier, dressed in a crisp Interpol uniform that exuded a sense of professionalism, more so that when she wore that blue qipao. Her auburn hair was done up in ox-horns, which were covered by tiny bits of cloth. It would be demeaning to call her cute… she was beautiful, even in the darkness of the core room.

Juri's stomach fluttered at the sight. She had believed she wouldn't come, and mentally cursed herself for goading that soldier about her. But that didn't matter now, as she was here. Chun-Li could be reasoned with, which brought hope back into her heart. Before Juri could even grin, she felt a pair of eyes on her. She sighed and searched for the source, standing up straight.

How odd that she hadn't noticed the Delta Red operative earlier, as she was rooted to Chun-Li's side like the ever faithful partner she believed herself to be. She stood to one side with a tilted gaze and a look that could kill outright. In her hands she cradled a submachine gun, but thankfully it was not pointed at Juri. Yet. It was a room clearing firearm, not a rifle, and even if she really wanted to, the Korean would either kill her before she aimed her gun or run off as soon as the first bullet left the chamber. But the purpose of this operation was to take her alive, even if the operative's finger was twitchy.

And she knew someone deserved revenge just as much as she did, and she would partake in it hand in hand with her.

'Dear god,' Juri thought, shaking her head at the pigtailed woman, 'do you ever wear pants?'

Before the tension in the room reached a dangerous point, Juri removed herself from the balcony and turned to return to the throne room. Viper yelled her name, but it fell on deaf ears. She wouldn't be intruding in her plans anymore, but the very least she could do was direct the other two women where to go. As Juri walked back to lean against the lavish seat, she swore she could see a smirk beneath Vega's mask. No doubt he would enjoy the inevitable verbal fight and her capture.

Juri knew she wouldn't get out of this, but it was her intention to get caught. What was there left to do in her eyes? Her eyes had been opened, her thirst for revenge was sated, she finally avenged her parents' deaths, and her part in this world was drawing to a close. Yet she couldn't help the sinking feeling that surfaced in her stomach that screamed this idea was nothing more than a terrible plot, that she was not destined to seek atonement. Destiny and fate were but walls that prevented beings from making progress, and to do so, the walls needed to come crashing down.

The last of the Han family stood at the top of the steps, awaiting capture. She felt complete, and she had nothing left to lose. There were no loved ones to encourage or dissuade her, no friends to support or discourage her, and no ties that bound her. She severed all ties over the years; most of them were done unintentionally in her work while the rest were done today, intentionally. If it were any other person in her position, they would face their capture with sad resignation, feeling that they deserved it and whatever would come their way for giving up. But Juri had not given up, she had given in. Despite her good intentions and meanings, she wouldn't go down without a fight, or at least a one-sided verbal debate.

Suddenly the big double doors at the beginning of the red carpet opened, revealing the Delta Red operative. Immediately her left hand whisked away from the material of the door and back to her firearm, which she aimed at Juri. Nothing could prepare her for the sight in front of her. Seeing not only Vega and Balrog standing idly by, her sisters were glaring at her with their weapons drawn. She felt cold metal at her throat and risked a glance to her right, seeing one of her Japanese sisters with a sword pressed dangerously close to her jugular vein.

She heard a gasp from behind and knew to belonged to Chun-Li. But her partner wasn't on her mind; it was the fact that her sisters were being used against her, and Juri was the one pulling their strings that probed her brain. A dark chuckle filled the room, followed closely by a clap. The doll to Cammy's right removed the sword from the original's throat and sheathed it, obeying a tacit order.

Juri brought attention to herself by clearing her throat. Although the dolls had the tendency to loyally defend their master, they would have to stand down today. The thought of turning them over to Cammy was interesting, but unacceptable. Judging by the scowl on the woman's face, she detested the idea of commanding her fellow sisters, but not as much as having her nemesis use them as her own personal guard. But if she did- no, she was too proud to do it. She readjusted her firearm, not aiming it at Juri but not exactly holstered. Surprisingly, the dolls did not mind the weapon, nor did they care about the Chinese officer bringing up the rear with her pistol drawn.

Upon seeing Vega, Chun-Li's expression soured.

"Vega? Shouldn't you be dead?"

The shock in her voice overshadowed the spite that came disguised with it. Juri raised an eyebrow at her tone, slightly surprised. Perhaps the two had run into each other numerous times before she got in on the action herself. She turned her head to look at Vega, who folded his arms across his chest and mumbled a few curses. By all means, he would rather be dead than suffer any upcoming humiliation. If there was any light to gather in this situation, he would at least be handled by beautiful women. Balrog grunted, glad to be ignored for once.

Cammy began to move forward, paying close attention to the dolls in the corners of her eyes. They followed her every movement, and their hands were hovering over their sheathed weapons. While the pink haired doll with the unholstered handguns was particularly unnerving, Cammy found the fact that she could only count ten was more so. Where was the doll with the auburn eyes and hair: Juli? She returned her full attention to Juri, raising her submachine gun yet again.

"My sisters… you're missing one!"

Slowly raising both of her hands above her head, Juri sneered.

"Two exactly."

"Don't get smart with me," Cammy replied, taking one of the steps up to her. Her tone started off calmly enough, but as she continued, the anger in voice became impossible to miss. "Brown hair, brown eyes, goes by the name of Juli… the one I saw you kidnap in the mountains?"

As Chun-Li followed, she swore she could see Juri's expression falter. Before she could verify it, Juri's sneer returned.

"She's not here. But other than that, isn't this one big family reunion?"

"What did you do to her?" was the reply.

"Honestly, I didn't do anything to her. If you really want to see how she is now, I'm sure you can poke around in the infirmary ward nearby. She's alive, that's all that matters."

Ignoring Cammy, Juri focused on Chun-Li. Her violet eyes connected with her brown. She wasn't delighted to see Juri as she was to see her, but she wasn't visibly frustrated like her partner. Like the professional that she was, she wore a stoic mask that was untouched by the tense atmosphere. The mask, however, was cracking with every snide comment the Korean was making towards her partner. In those eyes she found a message: make a move and you'll regret it.

Juri wished the situation could be resolved quickly and efficiently, and the only way to do so was to keep up her current insensitive and demeaning façade. She wouldn't drop to her knees and offer her wrists to be bound, for whatever pride she retained would not permit it. Coming off too soft and resigned would alert the officer and soldier to believe in a trap, and acting as if the whole ordeal was a joke and threatening them wouldn't help her either. To walk out in one piece, she needed to show them the Juri they were accustomed to while abstaining from stirring the waters of their acquaintanceship too much.

But just how much could she get away with?

"Here you stand," Cammy said, only a few steps away from Juri, "a wanted murderer and terrorist, and now you've given up?"

"Me? A terrorist? And here I thought terrorists had funny names and silly hats. Who said anything about giving up? Certainly not moi," she said, turning her head up and to the side as if she was disgusted. "Are you going to go somewhere with this, like, start monologuing or something? I've had enough crazy for one week."

"Juri," Chun-Li interjected as she gripped her pistol with two hands to aim it at the Korean, "I suggest you stop talking now before-"

"You suggest? Pfft… hehehe! Why don't you order me to be quiet?" Narrowing her eyes at the officer, Juri continued. "Here I was, standing idly by awaiting capture before your little kitten pops a question and sparks up a conversation. Not that I mind. I like beating her on the verbal front. Now, are you going to stand there seething or are you going to act?"

The goading was beginning to take its toll on the officer, if the bared teeth were any indication. She wanted to tell Juri to get on her knees, as her legs would become deadly if she decided to fight back, but she feared that if she opened her mouth, she would supply her with more material to be used against her. Would she be cooperative enough to tie? Only then would the officer be able to read her the only right she has.

Cammy shook her head, her face becoming the same shade of red as her beret. Still the witch insisted on fighting, even if it wasn't a physical battle. She would pay for her insolence, one way or another. If she so much as mocked Chun-Li, would that count as impersonating an officer? The operative dared Juri to try. She wouldn't be made a mockery of; especially in front of a group of terrorists.

Juri's sneer began to die down as she looked at the weapons in her rivals' hands. A look of genuine sincerity flashed across her features before she sighed.

"Look… if you're going to shoot me, shoot me. If not, put the guns away."

Once again, Cammy was reminded of the purpose of the mission. Juri, despite the overwhelming hate she garnished, needed to be taken alive. She orchestrated this entire operation, and without her the two wouldn't be here. The least she deserved was a little credit, and a sliver of trust. If she wanted them dead, she would have killed them as soon as she saw them, or she could have ordered that doll to slit their throats. Cammy mumbled and slung her firearm over her shoulder as Chun-Li holstered her pistol. Maybe things weren't always as they seemed. But… on the other hand…

"Yay," Juri exclaimed sarcastically, "we're making so much progress today! Now, if only-"

A punch to the stomach silenced her, leaving her to slump over the pigtailed assailant. Juri's eyes widened as the wind was pushed out from her; she wasn't expecting that from Cammy. She could see Chun-Li watching over the scene with a resigned expression, and she knew that she wouldn't step in to stop her partner. Nearby the trio could hear the grunts from Balrog as well as the muffled giggles from Vega, who was enjoying the schadenfreude.

The soldier took hold of Juri's arm and turned to fling the Korean over her shoulder. Once she landed painfully on her back, Cammy grabbed her hand and gave it a twist, locking her in a painful position with a boot to her stomach. She risked a glance up and saw that her sisters were surrounding her, prepared to pry the Killer Bee away. Juri waved them off with her other hand from the floor, attempting to regain her breath. When she did, she began to giggle, much to Cammy and Chun-Li's chagrin.

"Do you think this is a joke?" Cammy shouted, her hands digging into the fabric of Juri's gloves. "This isn't funny at all!"

"I beg to differ!" Juri retorted, trying in vain to stifle her giggles.

"You'll be begging for a lot more if you keep this up."

"The BLECE project," Chun-Li piped, crouching down to Juri, "why did you destroy it?"

"BLECE? Damn! That's what you came for?" She put on a pouting face. "Chunny, I'm hurt! I thought you came for me! It would have been such a romantic occasion… you, me, a big burning fire…"

Cammy pressed her boot further into Juri's stomach, winding her.

"Answer the question," she barked.

"I don't have enough people trying to kill me," Juri replied, sarcastically. "Might as well add Viper and all of S.I.N. And don't forget: I love explosions!"

"Last chance," Chun-Li growled. "Why did you destroy the BLECE project?"

"Persistent, aren't you?" Juri growled back. "You're an enigma, Chun. Just when I think I have you figured out you throw this at me. Shouldn't you be happy that the project's dead? You're so concerned about the reasons and meaning behind this little action that you fail to see the consequences of it. The fact of the matter is this: with BLECE gone, there's one less source of power for idiots in big chairs to squabble over. Don't believe anything Viper or whatever she calls herself says about it. Yes, BLECE is a tool, and while tools are meant to be used, they're also meant to be broken." She frowned and looked up at Cammy. "Who knows what could happen if the project fell into already powerful hands…"

"If you're implying that the American CIA will use this data to the worst of intentions-"

"Worst of intentions? Ha! They'd probably try to do some good with it; nothing but the best of intentions. But some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best intentions, and no matter whose hands they are, they'll screw up. It's a matter of corruption, you see." Juri turned her head to stare at Chun-Li. "Don't give me that face. You and your 'partner' would have done the same thing as I did if you knew what BLECE could do. You've seen corruption in the police force, seen fellow officers kill each other over weapons or some stash they confiscated. Can you imagine the chaos if everyone had the thought they could take and take without consequence?"

The officer turned away, absentmindedly fiddling with a ziptie as she spoke.

"Why should I believe you? You confined me to a hospital bed for a long time, attempted to kill both Guile and Cammy, and stole her sisters."

"Oh yes, yes! But that was then, this is now," she said quickly, albeit exuberantly. "Look Chunners, I can break free from your kitten right now if I wanted to. I'm not cornered, so I'm not lying to get out of it."

She had a point there. With the power radiating from her Feng Shui Engine, she could crush them as if they were paper and toss them aside. The fact that she hadn't fought them or let alone retaliated against Cammy confused Chun-Li. She was allowing them to back her into a corner, but instead of striking out like an animal, she would offer her wrists. Was this whole operation her idea of atoning for her sins? The thought sparked an inkling of respect for the Korean, and just a little more trust. It seemed likely, but Chun-Li needed to find out for herself.

"Cammy, let her get up," Chun-Li ordered, turning back to look at her.

The Delta Red operative gave her a questioning look. The words 'are you sure' were evident on her face. Sighing, Chun-Li nodded and approached Juri as she was released from Cammy's death grip on her hand and stomach.

"Good to know you're not barking mad… this makes things easier," she said dully as Juri picked herself up. She could feel her eyes on her holstered sidearm, and the hand that hovered near it. "Turn around and give me your hands."

Oddly enough, Juri complied. She rolled her shoulders, turned around and offered her hands without so much as a word. Skepticism gripped Chun-Li, as she was expecting a few words or at the very least a gesture of insolence. Just as doubt began to overtake her, Juri turned her head to give her a lewd smile as she clenched and unclenched her hands. The Interpol officer saw her smile and raised her one glare, quickly grabbing one hand. She removed her gloves and spiked bracelets and pocketed them before placing the material of one ziptie against her naked wrist.

"I'll go tend to the other two," Cammy said, detaching her gaze from the two women to focus on Vega and Balrog.

She carefully nudged a doll out of her way as she went, sadly finding that they were apathetic to her presence. It pained her to see her sisters like this. Juri was a provocative sort as well as a sadistic one, so the idea of her doing things to her sisters plagued her mind. As she shook her head to clear that thought Chun-Li began to speak in a monotonous- if not stern- tone.

"You have the right to remain silent," she said, tying both of Juri's hands together. "Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak t-"

Juri blew a raspberry, silencing the officer for a second.

"Yeah yeah, I know the Miranda Rights. Can we get on with this?"

"I wasn't finished, Juri," Chun-Li growled.

"Would it help at all if I said you're my favorite officer?"

Chun-Li reached for the ziptie and pulled, putting it into a tighter increment. Ignoring the cry of surprise, she continued.

"You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?"

"…Yeah," Juri muttered in a despondent tone.

"We meet again, Ms. White," Vega said from nearby, his voice easily reaching the officer and assassin. "If only we-"

"Not now Vega," Cammy interjected curtly, swiftly tying him and taking him by surprise.

"This is stupid," Balrog muttered, wiggling his bound wrists. "The dog gets chained and the cats get to run free?"

"Those 'cats' are my sisters, and if I hear you refer to them again like that, I swear I won't be so lenient with you."

"You put two goddamned ties on me! You ain't taking it easy on me!"

The dolls weren't a threat to anyone as long as no one provoked them or the person controlling them. Juri was the one in charge, yet she left them be. Cammy was perplexed by their calm demeanor, but realized they weren't exactly paying attention to the situation, instead only casting quick glances at their master every time Chun-Li touched her. If only there was some way to force the dolls to follow her orders, then Cammy would be able to coax them outside and to safety, and eventually to freedom.

"You're worried about them," Chun-Li said in a hushed aside to Cammy. "I can tell."

"If we get them out of here, I can call upon Dhalsim and Rose to help them." Cammy glanced at a red-haired medical doll for a few seconds before leaning into Chun-Li. "The problem is how we are going to do that. They don't seem to mind being pushed or lead, so I could herd them back to the surface."

"The helicopters should be humming right now and ready for touch-off, but don't forget Juli."

"I won't," Cammy said, nodding. "No sister of mine is being left behind." She turned to look over at Juri, who was mulling about on the left arm of the throne. "Do you need any help with her?"

"I think I can handle her." She shook her head and gave Cammy a guilty look. "Look, I know this is hard to take, but I trust her just enough to walk out of here and straight into the helicopter. When she gets there, I swear I will watch her like a hawk."

Cammy frowned and raised her eyebrows.

"You're going to ride in the helicopter with her? No no no, I won't allow this!" Her voice changed into a harsh whisper. "Please tell me you're joking. You heard what I had to say about her, and what she wants."

"Exactly, and because of that, I'm riding with her," Chun-Li retorted. "You said it yourself. She's not interested in killing me; she's just interested in me. If I'm hundreds of feet up in the air in the same helicopter as she is, the last thing she would ever want to do is kill me to escape." She caught Cammy's shocked expression and grabbed her by the arms, looking directly into her eyes. "Listen, this is our only chance. You need to take care of your sisters. I'll be alright with Juri." Sighing, she released her from her grip. "Don't you trust your partner?"

Cammy drooped her head and averted her gaze from Chun-Li. She looked to Juri again. Trust… she trusted Chun-Li of course, but not that Korean murderess. If her partner had enough trust in Juri to believe that she would be compliant enough for transport, then who was she to stand in a determined officer's way? She wet her lips and looked back at Chun-Li.

"Alright… Just be careful."

Chun-Li nodded, smiling softly. It quickly vanished as she turned around and approached Juri to grab her by the arm.

"We're leaving."

"Where to?" Juri questioned softly.

"A half-hour's flight to a nearby airfield, then England. You'll answer for your crimes there."


Present Day, Rindokan Dojo, Japan


Juri sighed and stretched, stifling a yawn. She scratched her nose afterward, rolling her eyes to the left to stare at the patiently waiting trio of young women. Her story had both entertained and moved them, and now it was nearing its close.

"What is it? Did you forget something?" Ibuki asked, clutching her knees close to her body.

"Na," Juri replied. "I just don't know how to end this little story."

"Well… what happened in the helicopter with the officer?" Makoto wondered, curious.

Groaning, Juri folded her arms before her tone became a disgusted one.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"What? Nothing?" Sakura raised an eyebrow and frowned. "You're Juri. She's Chun-Li. Something had to have happened between you two when you were alone."

"I wanted to talk, girl to girl, but Chunners would have none of it. I don't know what the hell I said that day to deserve the cold shoulder, but she refused to speak to me."

"Maybe you got to her," Ibuki chimed in.

"No no, I don't think I pissed her off. Now Cammy's a different story. Oh she was pissed at me for Juli, even when I insisted I had nothing to do with it." She smiled and unfolded her arms. "Thankfully Chun flew in the same plane as she and I did. I could feel a fight was about to break out at any minute."

"I don't think Ibuki means that you made Chun-Li angry," Makoto said, understanding her friend. "You made her think, and I believe because of that Chun-Li threw in a word of support for you at your hearing."

"Is that so? I thought I was coming off as someone I wasn't after she tied me." Juri chuckled and pushed herself up from the roof. "Certainly didn't score any points with her when I referred to Cammy as 'that one chick with the ass'."

Ibuki giggled at that while Makoto and Sakura laughed nervously. The day was hardly over, as it was just the late afternoon. A gentle breeze picked up, making the women shudder out of reflex.

"What will you do now, Juri?" Sakura asked, assuming her story was finished.

"Now?" She turned to the nearby ladder for a moment, smiling. "Meh. Whatever I feel like, I guess. Now if you excuse me, I have a spider to bury."

"Want some help?" she could hear the girls ask.


Author's Note: I'm done here. If I even add one more chapter, I'm just going to continue beating a dead horse. The end.