Preface: Hey readers! I've got another Streets of Rage story, and hopefully an interesting one!
I've been a fan of Streets of Rage long before its recent fourth installment, but strangely, I've had yet to post a story that didn't have anything to do with that of that particular entry-one that stuck purely to the 16-bit games. I'd always had it in the back of my mind, until ideas finally came flooding to me one day.
Said ideas for what I came up with exactly didn't completely line up with the way things canonically happen in SoR, but I also knew that I really wanted to write this story. So to accommodate, I simply decided that this was gonna be another one of those stories where I play loose with the cannon and imply the existence of certain things from the localized version of the third game in the series.
I also don't plan on keeping this purely a Streets of Rage story. I plan on placing the Eternal Champions in this same universe. For those unaware, Eternal Champions is a classic fighting game that SEGA released specifically for the Genesis. It got a sequel for the SEGA CD, which increased the number of characters, and the amount of gratuitous gore. It's plot revolved around an omnipotent spirit named the Eternal Champion, who decided to hold a fighting competition for these skilled fighters from across varying periods of time that would've impacted the world for the better had they lived. The winner of this competition would face the Eternal Champion himself for one final test of skill, and be resurrected for a second chance to shape the world for the better.
And if there are any Eternal Champions fans reading, the title and description of this story will indicate that I selected Shadow Yamato to be the one to be the winner. Most of the Champions were picked from the distant past, and a handful from the future, but Shadow was a fighter from the 1990's—right within the timeframe of Streets of Rage. Thus, she'll unfortunately be the only character involved. There'll be a mention from Shadow of one of the other Champions in particular though, and what she reveals about them opens Axel's eyes up to one of his allies. You'll have to wait to see what I mean!
And without further ado, let's get into the story!
The Dragon's Shadow
Chapter One
"Well I'll be damned. You were right."
Axel Stone stood with his arms crossed. Before him was a wall of wine, well stocked with brands that he'd never even heard of.
"Told you." Rudra said, a playfully haughty smirk crossing her lips.
"What is this stuff, anyways?" Axel reached out, spinning the bottle to see the label.
"The good stuff," Rudra gave him a friendly nudge. "Now c'mon, we can't keep them waiting."
"Not with liquor like this." Axel agreed.
He walked over to the wine cellar's exit, holding the door for Rudra with a smile.
Four years ago, Mr. X went from a powerful crime boss to a terrorist, planting bombs throughout Wood Oak City in order to incite a war with Lima. Together they'd managed to end him for good and restore their city back to its state of peace. The police force would even go on to remain in the much more honest state it had returned to upon his second defeat.
All of this seemed great, but as Blaze had said one day, The Syndicate hadn't been the only thugs out there. Mr. X had merely been one of the many seedy characters in the criminal underworld, and Blaze hadn't liked the thought of any of them sticking around to potentially become as dangerous as he'd been.
She'd mentioned to him that she was going to quit her job as a dance instructor to become a freelance crime fighting agent. With her white-hot passion for seeing justice done, Axel wasn't too surprised.
It had also gotten him to reflect on things. Axel was a fighter—one that had trained rigorously. At the time, he'd been "Wood Oak City's greatest fighter" by its residents and petty criminals alike. But that almost meant nothing to him. He knew fighting to be more than knowing how to attack. There was something rooted much deeper in the concept, and since the fall of The Syndicate, Axel had found himself needing to know what it was.
He'd figured that he'd had a chance finding the full truth stopping crime. Given how the job had no shortage of challenges, it was possible that his answers could've been waiting for him in any sort of predicament.
As to be expected, Blaze was more than open to the idea of a team up. There was strength in numbers, and she'd even told him that he was one of the best people that could have fought beside her on a job like this. Given how well they'd always worked together, Axel couldn't help but feel the same.
The two of them told Adam and Max a few nights later. To their surprise, they wanted in. After defeating Shiva, Adam felt compelled to take his skill beyond the WOPD. Max, having retired, yearned to fight without fear of being required to throw any matches.
Shortly afterwards, Adam managed to bring Skate on board—an easy feat given the boy's urge for excitement. As a courtesy, they'd asked Dr. Zan if he would join them, but as they thought, he'd declined. The doctor had been too busy researching Rakushin, but he assured them that given their capability, they wouldn't need him.
Their friend, Rudra, an assassin who'd been forced into The Syndicate's ranks by Mr. X himself, had also agreed to join. To Axel's pleasant surprise, she'd admitted to taking him up on his invitation out of admiration for him. It was due to his decision to open a martial arts dojo once he'd gotten the answers that he sought. It wasn't just the fact that he'd been willing to help people keep themselves safe. It was because he'd planned on also welcoming younger students, too, teaching them how to look after themselves, it had really struck a chord with Rudra, who'd been trying her best to raise her younger sister. He'd actually inspired her to go beyond simple hit jobs.
Rudra had even had a suggestion on where to start their careers. The Black Orchid Corporation.
They were a group of ninja assassins. A group that moved in secret and showed no mercy. They'd eventually taken over Japan, disposing of those in power whom they disliked, and of course, anyone who got the idea to put a stop to their activities.
Luckily, their actions hadn't managed to coerce the police into inactivity as The Syndicate had done to so much of the WOPD. Japan's police officers tried everything they could to combat the organization, but as commendable as they were, the men and women of Japan's law enforcement found themselves utterly outclassed by the Black Orchid, resulting in one of their deaths after the next.
The course of action that Rudra suggested was to simply go out and fight, claiming that it would garner attention from the authorities. And sure enough, it had. They'd intervened in the Black Orchid's would-be killing of a few officers. The cops had thanked them for their save, but just after they parted ways, they'd been approached by someone else. Someone who'd seen them in action that night, tracked their movements, and had been unwilling to let them slip away. A man named H.Q.
They'd recognized him instantly. H.Q was the head of the Japanese division of J.A.N.U.S—the Japanese American Netherlands United Security. Naturally, he'd been involved in the fight against the Black Orchid as well, and he and his crew were faring no better than the police had. He knew that the team of former vigilantes were just what was needed to bring them down for good, offering a temporary partnership once they'd made it clear that they were an independent team.
H.Q promised that their work with J.A.N.U.S would get their names out there as crime fighters if they could get the job done, and given how much he was willing to pay each of them for it, Axel and Blaze didn't see turning his offer down as an option.
H.Q had even stepped back to let them handle things their way. For them, that meant brawling with their members after they'd intercepted their secret meetings and would-be assassinations. Tonight, they'd finally found out where their primary base of operations was. The place itself was apparently a tall building not unlike the ones they'd found Mr. X sitting inside. They planned on storming it tomorrow night and finally putting an end to the Black Orchid.
But as bad as they were, their final attack on the Black Orchid would have to wait. They'd just come back from a long day of fighting, and the leader of the organization himself wasn't due to be in an optimal position to ambush until later on into tomorrow evening. There was nothing more they could do.
Before they'd even left Wood Oak City, Rudra insisted that they all stay at her vacation home, a beautiful mansion right in the heart of Ebisu. There were no complaints, given that it meant there'd be no need to stay at a hotel. Rudra had told Axel about her vacation home before, but actually being inside it had really driven home the way someone could afford to live if they'd become enough of a prestigious professional killer.
"And they have returned!" Max Thunder theatrically announced as they walked in.
Axel held up the drinks. "And with the good beer."
"We'll be the judge of that." Blaze challenged, flashing a smile.
"You got faith, Axel?" Adam asked, taking a drink from Axel."
"I've got faith." Axel repeated with a smirk.
"Welp," Max let out a bark of laughter. "You heard the man, drink up!"
"Can I have some?" Skate asked, putting on a bright smile.
"Eager to break the drinking law so soon?" Adam asked with a chuckle.
Skate turned to face his brother with a mischievous look. "Yep. Lotta perks to being related to the most decorated officer of the WOPD."
"Too bad I don't exactly feel comfortable with giving alcohol to a kid." Rudra chuckled, sipping her drink.
"Hey!" Skate protested, a grin stretched across his face. "I'm eighteen, remember?"
"That's technically true," Rudra smiled wryly. "But I still don't feel comfortable."
"Alright, alright. . ." Skate relented, putting his hands up.
Axel could see him fix Rudra with a playful stare.
"But you won't be able to keep it from me for much longer!"
Rudra gently laughed. "Noted."
Axel sighed, relaxing into the couch. He took a long swig from his drink, tasting a fruity richness. His friend had quite the taste in liquor.
"It is good to be in Japan, though."
"Yeah, I guess so," Adam crossed his arms with a smirk. "Japanese arcade machines are all you talk about!"
Axel smiled. "And why wouldn't I? They're cool!"
"Cut him some slack, Adam," Rudra gently laughed. "Listening to him talk about video games is. . .funny."
Axel looked at her with a smile. "Funny?"
"Yeah," Rudra smiled back, sliding an arm around his shoulders. "It's endearing."
"Axel talks about those video games of his around you too?" Adam asked, grinning from ear to ear. "However do you manage?"
"Easily, really," Rudra laughed sweetly. "Even if every single of his Zelda games sound the same to me."
Axel let out a chuckle. "All of 'em?"
"Zelda runs around the forest killing monsters, looks for treasure and what, saves the princess?" Rudra smiled, crossing her arms.
Axel burst out into full laughter, infectiously causing the rest of the room to begin laughing themselves.
"You must really want me to drink, don't you?" Axel quipped.
"You're telling me I didn't just summarize those games just now?" Rudra smiled, innocently throwing her hands out.
"You just oversimplified those games," Axel chortled back. "And Zelda's the princess, your character's name is Link."
"Don't get him started!" Max cackled, waving his bottle at the pair where he sat.
Axel sipped from his drink, flashing Max a smile as he waved away his friendly jab.
"Oh be a sport, Axel," Max playfully chided. "Least you can do after stealing who knows how many of my knockouts tonight."
Axel's eyes flashed almost playfully. "What, you mean taking out the guys that were technically a threat to us all?"
"Yeah, the ones you got stingy with," Max mischievously grinned, leaning down to prop his elbow on his knee. "You're lucky I still managed to catch some of my own."
"I'm shocked that the number of Black Orchid assassins that you knocked out were enough for you." Axel smiled.
"Especially since you had to share 'em with us." Adam added.
"Oh, don't get me wrong," Max cracked his knuckles. "I still haven't gotten to take on nearly as much of them as I'd like to. Also'd be nice if it weren't as easy as swatting flies. . ."
Skate snorted. "I'm with Max. This has been kinda easy."
"Disappointed, Eddie?" Axel smirked, crossing his arms.
"That's sugarcoating it," Skate dryly chuckled. "Those guys call themselves ninjas? I skated circles around them!"
"Eh. . .they definitely knew how to fight," Blaze said, giving a toss of her hair. "But I still could've taken them out in my sleep."
Axel smirked. Like Blaze, he'd been willing to admit that The Black Orchid did have skill—lots of skill even. He just hadn't been particularly intimidated by any of them.
After having to fight legions of ninjas employed by The Syndicate, Axel knew that his skills had been sharpened beyond anything the Black Orchid's assassins were capable of. They were fast, but he was faster—they were strong, but he was stronger. He'd done away with Mr. X's ninjas with the greatest of ease among his allies all those years ago, and he'd done the same since coming to Japan.
Maybe those assassins were a group of well-trained fighters. But he'd been an even better fighter.
Axel raised his bottle to his lips for another sip of liquor, stopping short when he caught the look on Rudra's face. She looked. . .downtrodden.
"You okay?"
Rudra came out of thoughts, blinking once as she turned to look at him.
"Yeah, yeah," Rudra tried to assure him. "Just. . .kind of hoping we'd forget about them for the night."
Axel frowned, remorsefully casting his gaze downward.
According to Rudra, the Black Orchid Corporation was anything but a new entity. They're existence had gone back decades, far enough for Rudra's late parents to know who they were in their day. They'd only remained in Japan for ten more years when Rudra was born, not wanting her to grow up in a country practically governed by killers.
Rudra had lived in Wood Oak City from that point on. She told him that she'd come to accept it as her new home, and that was to say nothing of how grateful she was for what her parents did for her sake. But she also made no attempt to hide how utterly enraged that her country of birth had been stuck in such a state. And as angry as she'd been, she was no fool. Not even a fighter like Rudra was a match for the Black Orchid by her lonesome.
He couldn't claim to know what exactly about them had gone through her head this time, and he hated that—hated not being able to offer any kind of meaningful comfort.
"Ah. . ." Skate quietly groaned, scratching his head. "We're sorry, Rudra."
"Yeah, it's the night before they go down and everything," Max ruefully clutched his bottle. "We just thought it'd be no harm in shooting the shit."
Rudra gave them a reassuring look. "It's no issue, trust me."
"I mean, if you're sure. . ." Skate eyed Rudra warily.
"You guys are fine," Rudra laughed. "I just don't feel like dwelling on the Black Orchid. Not when I don't have to. Especially when I've got people I like sitting right here."
"Who would've thought you'd rather spend time with Eddie than your worst enemies?" Adam grinned.
"Screw you, Adam!" Skate laughed out loud.
Axel gave a laugh at the brothers' playful bickering. Rudra had laughed out loud herself, which made Axel feel good.
"Axel's right though," Blaze said. "It really is nice to be in a city in Japan. All this culture around, and Zan's not even here to see it."
"Why feel bad for the dude?" Skate shrugged. "Chances are he knows the culture. He's probably even travelled here before."
Blaze shrugged, her eyes drifting away. "I guess. . .but still. . ."
Skate grinned. "You wanna know what's really a shame?"
"Do I want to know?" Blaze asked with a playful sense of dread, inquisitively crossing her arms.
"Not seeing any kaijus!" Skate exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. "And Japan's the only place where they exist!"
"You goof!" Rudra laughed. "You do know that you're more likely to get struck by lightning than to see a kaiju, right?"
"So?" Skate smiled. "Still possible, right? We could've gotten lucky!"
Adam snorted. "More like unlucky."
"C'mon, bro," Skate grinned. "You've gotta admit that'd be a sight to see."
"You'd also wind up lizard food?" Adam retorted, the corner of his lip twitching upwards. "I'll pass."
"Wanna know what I sure liked to see up close?" Max sighed. "The food."
"That too." Skate agreed, nodding in Max's direction.
Rudra jumped in with a smile. "You want more Japanese food? Sit tight."
"Is my hunger that obvious?" Max rhetorically asked, a silly grin plastered across his rugged features.
"If I know you, I know that you'd still have room leftover from dinner," Rudra giggled lightly. "I can help."
Rudra stood up, oddly casting a wave of awkwardness over the group.
"You. . .do know that I wasn't really asking you for your food, right, Rudra?" Max's smile grew somewhat uneasy. "You already took us to dinner after tonight's run, I'll be fine."
"It's no problem, really," Rudra assured, standing up. "I actually wanted to offer you guys this one thing we eat over here."
Max's smile became genuine. He defensively raised his huge hands.
"In that case, don't let me stop you."
Axel watched as she headed for her large kitchen. She dug around her fridge, coming out with a large platter.
"And what is this?" Adam smiled, giving an upwards incline of his head.
Rudra set the platter onto the coffee table. In front of them was something that looked like slices of pound cake, stacked horizontally.
"Honey Castella."
"Looks good," Max smiled, eyeing the pastries. "And these are Japanese desserts? With a name like that?"
Rudra gave a nod. "This came to us from the Portugese back in the 16th century. It's been one of our signature foods ever since."
"Huh." Axel muttered, his eyebrows inclining with interest as he reached for a slice.
He bit into the desert. As he could've guessed, it was spongy and sweet.
"This is good." Axel complimented, swallowing.
"Really good!" Skate hummed in agreement, his mouth full.
"Good pastries and good liquor," Blaze mused, giving a shake of her head. "You know how to treat your friends, Rudra."
"Sounds like an afternoon down at the shoreline."
Blaze perked up, catching her drift. "Really?"
Rudra laughed to herself, amused. "Rudra said, swallowing a bite of her castella. "The coastline beaches have some great drinks and food."
"Then it's settled," Blaze declared. "After we're done here, we've gotta come back. On vacation."
"An anniversary of our first gig?" Max happily raised his brows. "Sounds good by me!"
"I'm in!" Skate chimed in.
Adam smiled. "Much as I love bringing down criminals, I'd never complain about taking a load off. Count me in too."
"Should we really?" Blaze grinned, biting her bottom lip. "A vacation would require you to keep from trying to knock Axel onto the mat, you know."
Axel and Adam both broke out into laughter.
"We'll manage." Axel's reply was simple, almost smug.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Blaze crossed her arms with a smile.
"C'mon, Blaze!" Adam drawled, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "Ax and I can keep our hands off of each other!"
"What are you guys? An old married couple?" Max cracked.
Blaze giggled. "You'd think so, from how often they fight."
"Have a little faith," Axel smirked. "We can do it."
He and Adam exchanged somewhat guilty grins, As witty as her remarks were, Blaze had only been two of them had only ever had the friendliest of sparring matches with one another, and they'd managed to better themselves with each one.
But despite that, Axel didn't allow his training to consume him. He stopped to do other things, savor other parts of life. It just so happened that that didn't include sprawling out on a beach as Blaze often did. But he knew that stepping out from routine wasn't a bad thing either.
Being their friend, he and Adam had known that Blaze had been goading them into taking a vacation with her. Surely she'd known that they'd be able to give their sparring matches and training sessions a rest to spend time with each other and the whole group.
But all the same, Axel also couldn't help but enjoy the thought of proving her wrong.
Axel sipped his drink. Here they all were, leisurely waiting to finish a criminal organization in partnership with J.A.N.U.S themselves.
It was almost sort of ridiculous.
And he loved it.
Author's Notes: And thus ends the first chapter!
First off, I want to acknowledge that, yes, Rudra from SoR: Remake is here. I figured that "16-bit games" included Remake since it is a 16-bit game, just one made in 2011. That's to no say nothing of how interesting of an addition she could make in this story. SoR: Remake never confirms where Rudra was born, so in order to give her some reason to want to take down the Black Orchid, I had Rudra's birthplace be Japan rather than Wood Oak City. It was something I really liked writing into her story, and I hope you guys did, too.
Second—yes, I did mention kaijus in this story, but it's not a shout-out or a riff on Godzilla or anything like that. In Eternal Champions: Challenge From The Dark Side, there are multiple types of gory finishing moves that the player can execute at the end of matches. "Overkills" are commands you can input that will cause some element of the environment that finishes off your dazed opponent. On Shadow's stage, using an Overkill causes a huge scaly foot to come down on top of the losing player and completely crush them. I took this as an opportunity to world-build, and decided that Japan unfortunately has to deal with enormous rampaging lizards. Not very often, since Japan is depicted in a presentable state in Shadow's stage.
J.A.N.U.S is also something from Challenge From The Dark Side. It's a peace-keeping organization, run by the character H.Q, that eventually recruits Shadow in her ending. The game never addresses it proper, but there's some ambiguity on whether or not H.Q runs the entire organization or just one of the three divisions that it's composed of. I thought it would be a good idea to world-build again and settled on the latter. And I plan on giving more on the other divisions later.
I hope that I've done a good job of laying out the endeavors that Axel and company have decided to pursue. But I'm happy to say that this was only the beginning!
Until next chapter!