None of the warriors fighting in the Pattaya Buddhist temple that day had lived during the last world war. But had they, this would have been exactly what they experienced. The noise of gunfire, explosions, screams of pain, suffering and death combined into an enormous wave of deafening sound. Sound so loud, it was silent. Everything moved excruciatingly slow. Particles of dirt could be seen moving up at a snail-like pace from the ground, forming a mini mushroom cloud before collapsing on itself back onto the ground as thrown grenades exploded amidst the automatic gun fire.

It was amidst this crawling, silent scene that the second Street Fighter tournaments ended for each warrior involved; with a whimper, a bang, an atomic boom, or all three.

XXXXX

Katarina and Aaron Issei Feng

A formidable force of automatic rifles and handguns sprayed hails of bullets at the members of Delta Red, taking cover behind bits of debris, trapped there by hot lead flying every which way. Luwanda, McCoy, Wolfman, and Ginzu each tried numerous times to find a window of opportunity to fire back, each attempt ending with a frustrated grunt as they reassumed their protective positions behind the debris.

The former Shadowlaw prodigies, twins Katarina and Aaron Feng weren't much luckier. They were sitting ducks. While a team of soldiers provided cover fire, a small team of Shadowlaw forces approached the ragtag group silently, most likely to take them out with melee attacks. Aaron had expected this, and a quick glance past the debris confirmed his predictions.

"How's the ammo supply looking?" he asked Wolfman, who responded by ejecting an empty magazine from his handgun. Bullet casings blanketed the ground where they had taken shelter. Wolfman motioned to the casings without saying a word.

"There must be more," Katarina protested, having been watching in on their conversation. "You guys are a branch of the freaking military for goodness sakes."

"We brought as much ammunition as four people could carry," Luwanda hissed angrily. "We didn't expect you two to be joining in on the firefight, and we didn't think we'd face facing multiple Shadowlaw death squads out to get our blood, honey."

"We work with the element of surprise," Ginzu added between looking over the rubble that separated them from their approaching enemies. "Covert ops missions. Sneak here, shoot a guy there. This? This is fucking war!"

"They're coming!" Aaron reminded, putting an end to the quick squabble. "Get your melee weapons out. They'll be coming at us with knives."

And Aaron was right, to a certain extent. He spotted a flash of silver. Heard the rush of air being sliced right through. Something sharp and spinning … headed right for Katarina.

"Issei!" Wolfman cried.

"Aaron!" Katarina screamed in a shrill, terrified voice. The thrown knives weren't the only things piercing the air that day. An explosion sounded somewhere nearby but Katarina paid it no attention. Had her brother's head in her lap, stroked his black, sweaty, matted hair gently. She could see grease on his skin, the dried blood and dirt caking his pores and stubble … and the knife handle sticking out of his chest.

A voice inside her asked about the soldiers. If they were still coming to kill them. But her heart replied quickly. It didn't matter even if they were. If her brother, the only family she had left, died here today, she would die with him. Katarina bent down and pressed her forehead against Aaron's as she cried.

With his remaining strength, Aaron took her hand into his and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Ke … Kenn .. ," he whispered into her ear before closing his eyes, slipping from consciousness and from life.

Katarina was in the first split second of mourning her brother when someone ruthlessly caught her in a headlock from behind. She felt the soldier's clothed forearm press against her delicate throat, attempting to strangle the breath from her. A sudden rush of anger flooded Katarina just then. They just took her brother not even ten seconds ago and now they wanted to take her too.

"Like hell you will," she hissed, grabbing onto the soldier's forearm and elbow with both hands. She dug her nails through the fabric and into the soldier's skin and threw him over her shoulder. Katarina rose while the soldier fell. Blocking the despair that threatened to engulf her, she let the warrior in her – trained in the very same Shadowlaw Assassination Arts programmed into the Dolls – take over. She gripped the knife handle, still sticking out of her brother's chest, and tore it out. Stepping over to the Shadowlaw goon who was struggling to his feet, she plunged the blade into him, making sure she hit the exact spot that had taken her brother, an ex-Shadowlaw admiral, in an instant.

It was within those few seconds that Shadowlaw had finished what they started with her when she was a little girl – taking the lives of everyone that meant anything to her – Dr. Feng and his wife, and now her brother Aaron. It was also in those same seconds that she had gotten her first taste of revenge.

XXXXX

Juli and Scott Kurt Wagner

Wagner had managed to suppress a cry of despair this time as he witnessed Juli's small framed body eat a mighty gigaton punch from one of Balrog's gloved fists. This wasn't the first time he'd her absorb one of his blows in this battle. He was continually surprised with every hit that she absorbed that she had managed to get up and fight as if nothing had happened. Juli may have left the life of a Doll behind her – she might not have even remembered it – but her body sure did. She could still take a beating.

Juli's body hadn't even reached the apex of its curve as she sailed through the air when Balrog turned around to throw a second punch, this time aimed at Wagner. He managed to parry the attack, feeling the power of the punch vibrate through his arm bones. Balrog's mistake was putting his full weight behind the punch. Wagner used Balrog's momentum to his advantage, pulling the champion boxer into a savage knee into his solar plexus. What should have knocked the wind from his body and cause radiating pain throughout Balrog's body seemed to power him up instead. He boxer seemed to thrive of pain. Was that how the Shadow Technology embedded in his body was doing? What kind of sadistic modifications did Katarina make to her father's work?

Wagner tried to finish the move he started, but it was clear Balrog wasn't affected negatively in the least by his knee strike. As Wagner tried to flip the boxer over, Balrog resisted and threw Wagner to the ground instead, stepping on his chest to keep him floored.

"Quit tryin', boy," Balrog said with a toothless grin. "Shadowlaw's already won dis one. You ain't getting nowhere fast." Wagner raised his head with effort, spittle shooting from between his teeth but this only made Balrog apply more pressure to his chest. "Git up and I'm step a fuckin' hole through yer chest, bitch ."

Wagner thought he was going to blackout from the pressure being applied to his chest when it suddenly alleviated with a deep throated growl. As his vision cleared, he felt himself being pulled to his feet. It wasn't until he was standing when he realized it was Juli who had come to his rescue.

"Thanks," he wheezed.

"He's coming back for more," Juli said, before pushing Wagner out of the way. Balrog rushed them with another gigaton punch, giving her the perfect opportunity to counter the attack. Before her face could eat Balrog's fist for the fourth time that fight, Juli crouched, and waited that split second when his upper body was directly over her.

"Reverse Shaft Breaker!" she cried, using her wrists, elbows and shoulders to propel her body vertically upwards. Juli twisted her legs around each other and twirled her body, catching Balrog in the jaw with her heels. Both their bodies sailed skyward and as she twirled up, Juli thought she caught a glimpse of Wagner staring at her, slack-jawed in awe. She took the opportunity to shoot Wagner a quick wink, but that proved to be a fatal mistake.

Balrog had partially recovered in mid-air and made a sloppy grab at Juli. She couldn't break the grip of both his arms in time and they both landed on the dirt and rubble – Balrog landing on his belly, and Juli on her upper back. From a few feet away, Wagner urged Juli to get up, but she made no movement after her landing. She was out cold. And Balrog …

Balrog was getting up, slowly and shakily, but he was making progress. But if Juli was going to stay unconscious, Wagner was going to make sure Balrog did the same. He ran for the boxer and delivered a devastating punt to his jaw, the same spot where Juli had caught him with her reverse-shaft-breaker. That seemed to finish what she's started. Wagner stood still for a few moments, waiting to see if Balrog stirred. When he didn't, Wagner took the few steps over to where Juli lay. He was a counselor, not a medic, so he did what he knew how to do. Propped her up to a sitting position, held her close to his body and prayed to whoever was listening.

Together, Juli and Wagner alone had taken out one third of Bison's bodyguard panel. Judging from the ever so subtle smile on her lips, he knew that she knew it too. The rest was up to the others.

XXXXX

Vega De La Cerna and Julian Marquez

Try and Julian might to get at the giggling matador, he was just too quick to even go near. Vega continued to mock Julian, staying within an inch of his reach as Julian rushed and took swipes at him. To say that Julian hated Vega was an understatement. Loathe wasn't even a strong enough word. Vega had Julian's son, Dorian, hidden away somewhere and the way Vega danced about, toying with Julian like a cat would with a mouse, humming the melody to "I'll never tell" with a sickeningly sweet voice, drove him into an incomprehensible rage. And the lip gloss was the cherry on the cake.

"Give me back my son," Julian whispered behind every punch. How he longed to feel Vega's bones being crushed to powder beneath his knuckles. But the matador kept eluding him.

"You've been in hiding too long, Marquez," Vega said. "You're losing your touch. What has the church done to you? What has God done to you?"

Julian stopped fighting now, deciding to employ a new tactic. He was going to fight defensive, like Vega was. He was going to have to play the waiting game and out-wait Vega, prompting him to make a move that he could effectively counter. Prompt him to just get within reach …

"The same thing He'll do to you," Julian replied, "when I send you to Him."

Vega reverted to a non-fighting stance, folding his arms. The head of his snake tattoo could be seen on Vega's chest, glaring at Julian with unmoving eyes. "Then come show me," Vega said, spreading his arms, as if the snake would leap from his body at Julian and take him out with one venomous bite.

Julian forced himself not to be tempted by Vega's invitation. He was inviting Julian to attack, and Julian knew full well there was punishment in the form of a counterattack just waiting for him if he acted on the temptation. He wasn't going to take any chances with that claw still attached to Vega's arm.

"Very well then, Father," Vega used the title mockingly. "Looks like you need a little incentive."

It worked almost too well. The moment Julian hesitated to attack, Vega decided to go on the offensive. Perhaps Julian was more visibly fatigued than he thought? Whatever, he wasn't going to question his luck, nor did he have the time to. As predicted, Vega struck with his clawed arm. Julian dodged to the side, took Vega's wrist in one hand and brought his opposite elbow down hard in the crook of Vega's arm.

The matador let out a high-pitched cry of pain but Julian didn't release his grip. He kicked out Vega's supporting leg from under him and took him down to the ground. To keep him pinned there, Julian rolled onto Vega's shoulder, still holding onto his arm, bashing it down onto a piece of adjacent rubble in a desperate attempt to detach the claw.

After a few well placed strikes, Julian finally heard the clang of the detaching claw as it separated from Vega's wrist guards and onto the ground. The matador was crying out in pain. Some of the bones in his hands were probably fractured … and broken, Julian hoped. Whatever injuries Vega might have sustained, as soon as he'd risen from the ground, he didn't act like anything was fazing him at all. He should have been in a world of pain by now! What the hell …

Mentally though, it looked as if Vega had lost all the composure he held himself with earlier. Crazed eyes stared straight at Julian through the tiny slits in the featureless mask covering his face. Vega's body was hunched over, fingers on his good hand curled into claws. His shoulders rose and fell from the deep breaths he took.

"You …. DARE!!" Vega screeched, not unlike a harpy.

Julian didn't expect Vega to lunge so quickly, just a blur of flesh in the air, before Vega was on top of him, hands wrapped around Julian's throat. He quickly felt the air and life being squeezed out of him and Vega's thumbs pressed against his

Adam's apple. Julian grasped his assailants wrists and tried to pry them off his throat. He succeeded in loosening Vega's grasp but that was all.

And then he thought about his son, Dorian. If Julian died now, there was no way he'd ever find Dorian. He wanted to be there for the boy, lead him and guide him in life. Julian didn't know how he would do that but at that moment, he would've given anything for that opportunity. And he wasn't going to do that dying, literally, at Vega's hands – never mind the fact that it was Vega who was about to kill him. That was why Julian did what he did next.

He seized Vega by his injured hand, and pried it off his throat. Brining one of his fingers to his mouth, Julian clamped his teeth down on one of Vega's well manicured fingernails and ripped it off with one hard jerk. He felt the warm spray of blood on his face, the metallic taste of it in his mouth, heard Vega's cries of agony and his weight lift off Julian's chest.

Vega cradled his injured hand, continually howling and crying in pain. He was still conscious, though in agonizing pain. He wasn't a threat anymore … for now, at least.

Julian jumped to his feet just as he heard a loud gunshot go off. Judging from the intensity, he could tell it was from somewhere close by. Swiping Vega's blade off the ground, he continued searching for the shooter and saw Genta with his handgun aimed at Kenny, who was still standing.

For some reason, Genta turned his back on Kenny without realizing he was about to come face to face with Julian. Before Genta could even register Julian's presence, he took the blade, plunged it into Genta's abdomen, digging in as far as his internal organs would allow. Genta's mouth opened to scream, but no sound came out – just a hoarse whisper of pain and surprise. Deciding that the blade was lodged firmly in Genta's body, he released the youth, and let him fall lifelessly at his feet.

He kept his eyes on Genta, who had the same expression on his face, like a fish out of water with Vega's claw embedded in him. The Shadowlaw soldier didn't wasn't moving.

"See if the Shadow Technology heals that," Julian said. "Right, Kenny?"

No response.

"… Kenny?"

XXXXX

Genta Iwagaki and Kenneth Feng

"What are you waiting for, Kenny?" Genta smirked, his fists raised, fingers taunting Kenny, daring him to come closer and end the fight. "Afraid of a little pain?"

"Come here and say that, and I'll show you how afraid I am of dealing it," Kenny retorted. "I know how you bitches work." He shot a quick glance over at Julian. "Playing on the pain you cause people. Julian can't even land a punch on Vega. Driven by all the despair and anger …"

Genta's fists lowered, but only a little. "This isn't the time to get all philosophical on me. Shut up and fight."

"You seem so intent on making my life a living hell," Kenny continued. "But I realize it's not me. It's you. It's Shadowlaw. It's just what you do to people."

"That's where you're wrong, Kenny," Genta grinned slightly. "It's not just Shadowlaw. It's the power you possessed. One of our greatest technological achievements – hidden inside a sad little boy. That was your father's mistake – hiding his work inside you. Your father was the source of all your pain. We just needed to get back what he stole from us."

"He created the Shadow Technology."

"For us! Through our funds!"

"You killed him."

"And?" Kenny's expression turned into one of rage, but only for a second. He retained his calm demeanor after that, which seemed to irritate Genta. But the Shadowlaw youth continued to push his rival for a response. "Well, maybe we should've beat him within inches of his life instead. You were a useless street kid after all, hiding behind Crankurt the whole time."

"Sorry, I guess I should've been hiding behind the Noguchi Confederates instead?" Now it was Genta's turn to struggle to maintain his composure.

"You know that time you and Crankurt were attacked at the park? One of a series of 'hate crimes' committed against non-Japanese? That was us, Kenny. That was the Noguchi Confederates. We put that fiery haired foreigner in the hospital. Now had I known at the time that you were a chink –"

Genta ate Kenny's fist. Literally. Kenny's knuckles knocked out at least three teeth and loosened one from Genta's mouth. Genta stumbled, holding his mouth, blood dripping from between his fingers.

"It was you bastards who hurt Cranky!" Kenny cried. He delivered a spinning hook kick to Genta's head, nearly forcing the Shadowlaw agent to lose his balance. "It was you bastards who hurt Cammy and made her lose her baby!" A jumping axe kick floored Genta. "… who stole Juli's humanity, who took Father Marquez's son, who orphaned Uncle Wagner …" Kenny jumped onto Genta and began raining punches down on the boy's head. Genta could do nothing but cover his head for protection while Kenny pumped his fists into the fallen soldier's head. " … and ME!!"

When Kenny felt he was running out of energy, he released Genta and took a few quick steps back, just out of striking distance. "And you're proud of every fucking thing you've done!"

BANG!!

Kenny felt a piercing pain in his right side, and instinctively gripped his wound, feeling the warm liquid sensation of blood oozing through the fingers of his left hand. A moment of silence followed as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. He looked at Genta, holding a pistol in his right hand, aimed straight at the boy.

"No Shadow Technology to heal you anymore, huh?" Genta taunted.

Kenny dropped to his knees, suddenly feeling dizzy from the shock and rapid blood loss. Genta was right. There was no Shadow Technology in him to heal his wounded body. He'd used the last of whatever residual power remaining in him warding off Akuma, keeping the demon from Ryu. Wave after wave of excruciating pain paralyzed Kenny as he fell sideways onto the ground.

As Kenny fought to remain conscious, he found himself smiling at the very last thing he could remember seeing that day … Vega's claw thrusting itself through Genta's abdomen, ripping straight out through his back.