Wagner stumbled into Cammy's suite, struggling with the door handle while Cranky lay unconscious on his back. His neck, back and thigh muscles burned with effort by the time he arrived, and the heavy door wasn't making things any easier. With all the commotion Wagner caused, Cammy was startled from inside her suite and she came towards the door to find out what all the fuss was about. She stood in front of her adoptive brother dressed in a white robe, blonde hair falling loosely over her shoulders, blue eyes wide with fright at first. She calmed down when she saw Wagner standing there, and then started panicking again when she saw her unconscious boyfriend being carried by him.

"Oh my goodness," she cried, rushing over to his side, "what happened to Cranky?"

"It's okay, sis," he said, "I can handle this guy. Just point me to his bed."

"Well," she replied, looking a little nervous, "the bedroom's over there." She pointed towards her sleeping quarters, earning her a startled expression from Wagner.

"Where do you sleep, then?" he asked.

"We sort of share … um …" Cammy scratched her chin nervously.

"Nevermind," Wagner interrupted, "I don't want to know. Just help me with the doors."

The both of them struggled to get Cranky to the bedroom, Cammy rushing ahead to open the doors for Wagner to go through. He dumped Cranky on the bed, watching his body bounce off the soft bed. The mattress creaked with his weight, but settled down after the second bounce. Wagner brushed a hand across his forehead and sighed.

"Thank God that's over with," he breathed.

"You still haven't told me what happened to him," Cammy said, wanting an explanation.

"Oh isn't it obvious enough?" he asked, waving his hand at Cranky, who lay sprawled across the queen size bed, snoring lightly. "The guy's drunk. As if you can't smell the alcohol reeking off his body."

"Funny, I thought I was smelling it off of you."

"Well I guess we all had our share of drinks."

"You should know better," Cammy said, folding her arms across her chest angrily. "You know what Cranky's like around alcohol and yet you take him out for a few rounds?"

"Actually, no I don't," Wagner shot back. "I've only met the guy once before and you were so stuck on making a good impression of him on me that you failed to mention that little tidbit."

"Whatever," Cammy said, looking away from him.

"Did you have fun with the other successful contestants tonight?" Wagner asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, I did," Cammy replied. "We're all pretty nervous but it's to be expected."

"Cranky's been worried sick about how you're going to handle it."

Cammy rolled her eyes. "He just doesn't have enough faith in me," she explained simply. "I hope you were able to talk some sense into him."

"We had a long conversation over dinner tonight. It's not just you he's been overprotective about. It's Kenny, too."

"W…where's Kenny?" Cranky asked, roused from sleep by their conversation.

Cammy looked to Wagner, alarmed. "I thought he was with you guys," she said pointing at his chest.

"We dropped him off here," Wagner explained, "after we finished with dinner. Where could he have gone to?"

"Why wouldn't you keep him close to you?" Cammy scolded. "You know how unsafe it is for him to be alone, especially when we're not sure exactly what Shadowlaw wants done with him, if anything. It's a risk I'm not willing to take. He was kidnapped once, and nearly forced to kill himself. He doesn't have the capability to protect himself against them!"

"Well we thought it would be safe in the hotel!" Wagner protested. "How the hell was I supposed to know he would leave on his own? I thought you'd have drilled it in his head by now to stay safe!"

"Oh God, I don't remember being this much of a pain in the ass when I was that old," Cammy said, running her fingers through her hair in frustration. "We've got to find him."

"Try the rooftop," Cranky mumbled, half asleep. "When he wants to be alone, he likes to be on top of the world with a really nice view, maybe have a cigarette or two. I bet you he's up there."

"You really think so?" Wagner asked. "I guess it's worth a shot." Wagner started for the door but Cammy interrupted him.

"I'm coming too," she said.

Wagner shook his head. "No, you stay here and make sure Sleeping Angry gets tucked in and drinks lots of water if he wants to prevent a killer hangover tomorrow morning. I'll go bring Kenny back down here."

"And if he's up there," Cranky continued, "whoop his ass for me, for not staying inside where it's safe."

XXXXX

Juli was sobbing as she sat on the edge of the ledge overlooking the city below. The strong breeze that once served a therapeutic purpose for Kenny now panicked him as it looked like it would blow the frail woman off the ledge and to her doom. He just kept talking to her, hoping to distract the poor girl and delay her plans, hopefully enough for help to arrive. But nobody knew they were up there. Who was going to come and stop her from killing herself?

"He said he loved me," she said through her tears. "He told me time and again. He said I completed a part of him." Juli turned to Kenny, revealing her streaked face. "Why in the world would somebody lie to a woman like that, knowing her heart was on the line?"

Kenny shrugged. "Listen, some guys are assholes. Everyone knows it. It's just the way they are and you have to learn to stand on your own two feet and kick them out the door."

"I did," she sniffed, "but I still feel this pain." She motioned towards her chest, swallowing back more tears. Kenny was surprised Juli had anymore tears left to cry after they had sat and talked like this for what, twenty minutes now?

"You can be strong and love someone, be emotionally dependant on them," Kenny said, not knowing where he was getting all this from. "But before you can do that, you need to know whether that person is capable of bearing the responsibility of someone else's heart. This guy, whoever he is, clearly screwed you over. He doesn't deserve you, he doesn't deserve anything. Why bother killing yourself over a loser like him when you can just as easily push him over this very ledge?"

"Because he got me to love him, that red-headed son of a bitch," Juli cursed. "The bastard played me like a fool, and my God, he was a good actor. And now it's too late for me to take it back from him. Cranky … that bastard."

Kenny bit his tongue, causing him to jerk once in pain. But the physical pain his teeth had administered to his tongue was nothing compared to the shock that he felt when he heard Juli mention his name.

"C…Cranky?" Kenny asked, hoping she would repeat it.

She let out a sadistic laugh. "Yeah, it's a weird name I know. Said it was a nickname his kid brother made up for him and I thought it was cute. But that was probably a lie too, just to win me over with his charm."

Kenny's mouth was open in a gawk, trying to choke out words, but his shock only made him look like a fish out of water. The silence hung over their heads for longer than Juli had expected, and she looked over her shoulder at him, waiting for some kind of response. Kenny looked from the ground before his feet and into her eyes.

"Are you feeling alright?" she asked.

"It wasn't a lie, Juli," he replied, finally.

"And how would you know?"

"Because I made it up for him."

Juli jabbed a finger in his direction. "T…that can't be," she stuttered. "How're you…"

"I'm the kid he's talking about. Or, I was, anyway. It's been a long time and I've … sorta grown since then."

"But you don't even look alike … AT ALL."

"I'm his adopted brother," Kenny said, shrugging. "You're not the only one to ask, don't worry about it."

A horrified look crossed Juli's features. She held a hand to her mouth, trembling. What had she just done? She'd spilled her heart out to someone she believed was a kind Samaritan who was trying to stop her from jumping to her doom. But he was more than that. If he ever told Cranky about her predicament when she was trying so hard to forget him, Cranky would probably come after her and tell her to stop this nonsense and try to win her over and the whole godforsaken cycle would begin again. No, she couldn't – wouldn't have it. She turned away from Kenny suddenly, closed her eyes, and took the final step.

"NO!" Kenny cried, lunging over the rail guard after her. The top bar of the guard caught him in the lower abdomen and he winced as the pain shot into his hip bone and intestines. He caught Juli by the back collar of her nightgown, who was now leaning at an angle sharp enough to cause her to plummet if he'd so much as let go.

"What are you doing!" she shrieked angrily. "Let me go … let me GO!"

"Are you crazy!" Kenny bellowed. "If I let go, then it wouldn't be suicide anymore. I'd be the one killing you. And I'm not about to do that."

"You wouldn't be in this situation if you'd just minded your own damn business!"

"This is my smoking spot!" he cried. "You picked the wrong rooftop to jump off of, honey. Blame your own poor decision making skills."

"Why you little …"

"You ungrateful …"

"Let me GO!" Juli reached around and grabbed Kenny's wrist and tried prying his fingers from her collar. Kenny would've pulled her back to safety but at this point, he was leaning out too far and would risk pulling himself off the ledge with her if he tried. And Juli's struggling wasn't making it any easier.

And then Juli did it. She freed herself from his grip. She fell forward, but had accidentally taken Kenny with her. They both tumbled from the ledge, falling headfirst. Kenny clamped his eyes shut, feeling the rush of wind to his face while Juli screamed as they fell. But … were they falling? Kenny felt a rush of blood to his head. He was upside down and looking beside him, so was Juli. But the wind had stopped. The both of them just dangled there held by some mysterious force strong enough to keep them both suspended …

"Wagner!" Kenny cried as he looked up, seeing his face red with the effort on keeping his hold on the both of them. Wagner had reached his arms between the railings, one hand around Kenny's ankle, the other holding Juli, her gown baring all there was to see. Wagner's face was pressed up against the railings as their combined weight crushed him against it, and he tried not to look at her display.

Turned out that Juli wasn't screaming from fear. She was screaming in anger that her plans had been foiled by two do-gooders.

"Kenny," Wagner said, the veins and muscles in his neck straining with visible effort, "are you okay?"

He poked a finger into Juli's cheek. "This psychotic bitch tried to kill me!"

"I did not you little liar!"

"What the fuck is up with that? Pulling me down with you!"

"It's not my fault that you jumped after me!"

Wagner let out a sigh, at least as much of one as he could. They were alright, and thank goodness for that. Now the tricky part was getting them up.

XXXXX

Guile's flight was to leave in half an hour. They stood at the departure gates to Osaka's Kansai airport, headed for Las Vegas where he was going to face off with the first warrior of Bison's bodyguard panel. The members of the panel were being kept a secret from the competitors until the actual match. Guile would be heading blindly into the match at a disadvantage, having never seen any of his opponents fight before, let alone lay his eyes on them. He'd have to choose his tactics in the heat of battle. First impressions count and that fact had never rang more true for Guile in his life.

"Stay safe, Guile," Wagner said, turning his adoptive father around by the shoulder. The two of them clasped hands and pulled each other into an embrace.

"I will," he said, making a promise he didn't know if he could keep.

Cammy had to tip toe to wrap her arms around Guile's torso and he, just as well, had to lean down to reach her. "I swear if any of them lay a finger on you," she began.

"It's a tournament," he said, grinning. "I think they're gonna be doing a lot of that. But don't worry. They've got the same thing coming back at them tenfold."

"Best of luck to you," a fourth voice added, a late arrival.

"Colonel Wolfman!" Guile exclaimed. "What a pleasant surprise!"

"We're here to support Cammy," Wolfman said walking up to them with Ken in tow, "but since you're her surrogate father, you have our backup if you ever need it."

"I think I'll take all the help I can get," he chuckled. "It's hard, being the first one."

"We'll be right behind you," Ken said, clapping a hand to his shoulder.

Guile had a mixed reaction upon seeing Ken. At one time, he had been Cammy's lover, a rich, spoiled teenager whom he did not approve of, turning Cammy against him. But now, years later, he stood before Guile as a matured man, as grown up as Cammy was. And it was the fact that he was supporting Guile in their war to bring Shadowlaw down. Although Guile's initial reaction was to frown with disgust at him, he welcomed Ken with an arm around the shoulders.

"Literally," Ken continued, "I'll be right behind you. My flight leaves in a few hours and my fan club is about to arrive any minute. Oh hey, here's two of them right now!" He pointed into the distance to Eliza and Kenny who were moving their way towards the group. When they arrived, Ken gave Eliza a hug and a kiss on the lips and ruffled Kenny's hair.

"Are you headed off now, colonel?" Eliza asked him.

"Yeah," Guile confirmed, "I should really get going before the plane leaves without me. Sorry I can't stay to chat longer."

"There'll be plenty of time for that when this is all over with," Eliza said.

Guile gave Eliza a compassionate hug, gave Ken a firm handshake, patted Kenny on the back and was sent on his way to his native land to face a warrior he'd neither seen nor heard of, with his friends and family waving goodbye. His heart beat in his chest, tears welled in his eyes and for the first time since joining the tournament, he felt truly alone in his struggle against Shadowlaw. It was ironic, since this was the end, the final rounds of the tournament, where teamwork played the biggest role; the key to their victory.

XXXXX

The sun was high in the sky by the time lunch rolled around, and the group headed for a nearby Chinese restaurant, just a ten minute drive from the airport. Colonel Wolfman had left the group to attend to "matters requiring immediate attention" and bid Cammy and the others a hasty goodbye. The aroma of fried dumplings, fresh noodles and roast pork filled the air, making their mouths water. The group was seated at a round table covered with a fine white cloth. A circular rotating glass platform was set in the center of the table allowing all to reach for the various dishes upon it; hot and sour soup, chicken friend rice, fish and tofu clay plot stew, and deep friend vegetable dumplings.

Ken shoveled the food into his mouth from a small bowl in one hand, with a pair of chopsticks he held in the other. Eliza wasn't quite as practiced with chopsticks but held her own nonetheless. Piping hot tea was served to the guests in small porcelain teacups that could fit easily into the palm of a hand, which Cammy was now enjoying while Cranky, who had just recently joined them along with Julian, had some troubles of his own.

"It's too damn small," he complained.

"You don't hold it in your hand," Cammy instructed. "Use your finger tips and sip from the cup. No, don't chug it like that!"

"It burns!" he cried, reaching for a glass of ice water.

Cammy let out a hearty laugh at his stupidity and leaned her head onto his shoulder. This is what she'd imagined their future to be like – full of laughter at the smallest things, surrounded by their friends and family. She wished that moments like this could last forever. But at the same time, she didn't want this to be the most intimate it got.

"How about a round of drinks for everyone?" Ken suggested, waving his teacup in the air.

Cranky shook his head. "Not after last night," he said, feeling his stomach churn at the mere mention of more alcohol. "I think I'll be feeling the effects for the rest of the day."

"Aw, suck it up and take it like a man!" Ken taunted, throwing his arm around Julian. "See, he's up for it!"

"This is the last thing Cranky needs," Julian laughed, "after Wagner had to haul his sorry ass home last night – literally."

"God," Kenny breathed, "I know I could totally use a …" but he was cut off by a glare from Cranky. "A … another glass of water," he continued. "I'm thirsty."

"I wanted to say," Cammy said to him, "it wasn't the best idea to leave the suite last night. If you wanted a smoke, the balcony would've been a good place. Cranky was starting to get worried, mumbling in his drunken stupor. I was so glad when Wagner came back with you."

Wagner and Kenny exchanged quick, worried glances.

"What took you two so long to come back anyway?" Cranky asked.

Kenny opened his mouth to reply, but Wagner beat him to it, speaking louder than necessary. "I got lost," he lied. Then mumbled softly to Kenny. "I'll do the talking." Then back to the group. "Which reminds me … there's, uh … a little matter I've forgotten to take care of. Next time, dinner's on me." He rose from his seat and motioned to Kenny, sitting beside him, who also began to rise.

"Well I guess I'll be seeing you guys when all this is over, huh?" Ken said to the departing duo.

"Kick their assess good, Uncle Ken," Kenny said.

"Waste 'em for me, Masters," Wagner followed.

"Oh, you guys know I will," Ken winked.

Cammy narrowed her eyes at Wagner, noticing something was amiss with her adoptive brother. He was a good liar as a kid, but seemed to have lost the touch as he grew older, as Guile helped to put him on the right path in life. She wasn't entirely comfortable with the way he stammered and how he jammed the last words of his sentence together in one long slur. His movements suddenly seemed quick and jumpy, almost clumsy in a way like he was struggling to suppress himself from breaking into a run.

Meanwhile, Cranky was staring suspiciously at Kenny. The teen didn't make eye contact with anyone as he stood from the table, bowed his head modestly, announcing his departure. He always had something to say and would say whatever was on his mind, more often than not. Cranky had learned to adapt to it a long time ago, which was why it had troubled him when Kenny remained meek and silent before leaving. It just didn't feel like him.

Cammy and Cranky turned to each other, locked eyes, and simultaneously said, "I don't trust him."

XXXXX

Luwanda wandered down the hollow metallic corridors of the Shadowlaw base in Thailand. Her main base of operations was here, to gather information on Bison's plans for the street fighters, and perhaps if she could, thwart them. At first, the information she'd received from Colonel Wolfman told her that this was a less important mission, as most of the action was taking place in the Mount Fuji base in Japan. What importance could some backyard Shadowlaw base, just a few miles from the Pattaya City suburbs hold? She'd been here for the last few weeks, working under cover, keeping track of Shadowlaw's every movement. It was dry for Luwanda at first, watching her co-workers work behind closed doors, only their silhouettes against closed blinds giving her any hints pertaining to their activities. She'd written down as much as she could – what her higher-ups wore, their daily schedules, their mannerisms, everything that she didn't particularly care about, hoping that it could provide some clue to the Colonel.

The first week was interesting, as she made her janitorial rounds, cleaning up the scuff marks left by hurrying scientists, cleaning up their shit stained toilets, and refilling the hand soap and paper towels in the washrooms. But as time went on, her activities fell into a routine. She got be familiarize herself with the faces of those scientists that shared the same routine path as she did every day. The short guy with glasses would nearly bump into her at the same time every morning around the entrance. Towards the elevators would be a man in a business suit coughing into a pink handkerchief. Then he'd take off these impossibly large glasses and place them in his breast pocket. When she reached the first floors of her rounds, there'd be that lady with the unbuttoned shirt walking past her, breasts threatening to spill from her lab coat. The list of faces went on and the more Luwanda thought about it, the more people she could recall.

As dry as things were, they began to pick up a few days ago. Her boss had given her special orders, for the first time since she was "employed" there, to have the place extra clean for a special guest. She wondered who could command such fear among her own corrupt, snot nosed employers, but couldn't come to her own conclusion. Since day one, they had been making her work ruthlessly. She went in under the guise that she was a French maid looking for a job and was willing to travel all over the world for it. It was a good thing that Delta Red's training kept her body fit or she would never be able to put up with the strenuous physical activities her bosses placed on her, activities designed to make her hurt by the end of the day. Rumors ran rampant around the base that the special visitor was going to be Bison himself. That bit of information, whether true or not, sent Luwanda's pulse racing. If it was indeed true, then this would be the opportunity they were looking for; an opportunity to take him down from the inside. Cammy could no doubt do a good enough job of that, as she had a chance to face him directly in battle, but Luwanda, Colonel Wolfman, and the rest of the Delta Red team help around behind the scenes.

Luwanda was on a break from her duties, cell phone in hand, ready to speed dial the Colonel to tell him the news. She left the complex for the outdoors, the humid heat making her break out in sweat the moment she stepped out from the compound. As soon as her foot hit dirt ground, she hit the speed dial for the Colonel's number, held the phone to her ear, and waited.

"Wolfman here," he answered gruffly.

"Luwanda reporting, sir," she replied, voice thick with a British accent. "I've got some good news. Well, it's more of a rumor actually, but word has it that Bison himself is due here shortly. Now would be a great time to come up with some sort of battle plan."

"Thanks for bringing this to my attention immediately, Luwanda," he replied, "I can see that planting you in the Shadowlaw's Thai headquarters was a good idea. But I'm already aware of this. The successful combatants are due to face Bison in Thailand in the final match."

"So the rumors are true then, sir?"

"That's right. I have another important task for you."

"Just name it."

"I was recently approached by Ryu. I'm sure you've heard the name before. He's the standing street fighter champion."

"I've always wanted to shake his hand, sir."

"Well recently, we have been successful at recruiting two important figures with Shadowlaw to assist us," Wolfman explained. "They are a pair of fraternal twins; one of them a head scientist, the other an admiral with their military forces."

Luwanda's mouth gaped open. "H…how were you able to do that? Are you sure we can trust these people?"

"It's alright. We have reason to believe they would never backstab us. It turns out that Shadowlaw's victims aren't limited to those outside their ranks. These two have been through a lot of emotional suffering during their stay with the organization. And I think their cover's just been blown."

"What did Ryu have to say?"

"He was accompanied by Admiral Issei, one of the twins I was just telling you about. Shortly after their meeting with us, his sister went missing. I've had Ginzu, along with the cooperation of Interpol track down her whereabouts, and we've got reason to believe that Katarina has been taken to Thailand. She should be arriving with Bison."

"Can you be sure about this?"

"No," Wolfman said, the confidence deflating in his voice. "But that's where you come in. I need confirmation from you. The girl's name is Katarina Feng. Please, Luwanda, do whatever you can to confirm her presence upon Bison's arrival."

"You got it sir."

"Alright. I'll pass the news over to Ryu and Issei. Wolfman out."

XXXXX

"We shouldn't have left her alone," Wagner said, shaking his head. His voice was full of concern for the girl they'd rescued from killing herself last night. "She's in no shape to be left on her own right now." He turned to look at Kenny, strapped into the passenger side of the rented car as they sped down the Osaka highways, back towards the hotel. "Why did you leave her alone?"

"Oh, so now this is my fault?" he asked, disturbed by the fact that Wagner was holding him responsible for anything that she might do to herself. "If you were that concerned, you would have stayed with her and made sure she was alright!"

"I thought we agreed last night that she was never to be left alone! The poor girl is heartbroken and suicidal! You remember the deal. Cranky doesn't find out, and Juli doesn't get left alone. If we slip up on either …"

"Uncle Ken was leaving today! I couldn't just sit around. I had to say goodbye and besides, Aunt Eliza wanted me to go too. That's the least I can do for the man whose been giving me money for free my whole life! Besides, forgive me for thinking that you, of all skilled professionals, would be the one by her side."

"Kenny, I can't do this by myself," Wagner groaned. "I have other commitments and I don't have the time to sit around playing counselor to a suicidal girl."

"You're the perfect candidate to do that!" Kenny countered. "Isn't it your job?"

"My own surrogate father was leaving for a very important battle today! Did you expect me to not show up and wish him luck?"

"Hey, we're in the same damn boat so don't go around pointing fingers at me, especially when what you're asking of me is difficult enough. How can I keep this from Cranky? He almost skinned me and Cammy alive for keeping her secret from him. Imagine what he'd do to me this time."

"Cranky would never do anything like that to you," Wagner said. "He's your brother. He loves you."

"All the more reason to tell him, Wagner. Cranky's never told me about Juli before. But if what she says about their relationship is true, then I'm sure he'd want to know."

"Don't, Kenny. It's not good for Juli."

"Fuck that. He would've found out if she managed to kill herself anyway. And that would've been worse."

The car peeled into a crash parking job on the sidewalk just in front of the hotel. Wagner and Kenny had already unstrapped their seatbelts long before and jumped out of the car in a hurried frenzy, forgetting to lock the car doors behind them. But there were more pressing matters at hand. It was likely that Juli tried her crazy little stunt again when they weren't around to stop her. Understanding this, the both of them fought back the temptation to blame one another when they realized they themselves were equally responsible. Kenny and Wagner flew past the bellboys, and the hotel's other guests, as if racing each other to Juli's suite.

"Please be okay, please be okay," Kenny repeated, the hope driving him on.

"She was too beautiful to just let die." Wagner didn't say that. His mind did. And for a moment, he wondered where it came from. But there was plenty of time to figure out his emotions later. Right now, there could've been a life at stake.

Wagner and Kenny screeched to a halt when they saw two familiar figures standing before them, looking at them angrily with arms folded across their chests.

"Cammy!" Wagner cried.

"Cranky!" Kenny gasped. "How did you …"

"You don't just up and leave in the middle of something as important as that," Cammy scolded, "especially when you are being treated to lunch." She walked up to Wagner and grabbed his ear, twisting it painfully between her fingers.

"Ow, ow, Cammy, stop – OUCH!" he winced, face turning red.

"I don't know what matters you have to attend to, Wagner, but nothing is more important that supporting our friends, our families in their time of need."

"Kenny, book it!" he ordered. The teen turned to find another way up, but only succeeded in running into a one-armed headlock that Cranky delivered.

"You're staying put too, kiddo," he said, while Kenny struggled helplessly in his grasp.

"Cranky, let go! This is urgent!"

"If you are going to lie, then you need to do a better job. Don't forget, I was the one who taught you to lie and I can see through your tactics. Now you're not going anywhere until you tell us what's going on."