Ken stood to the side watching Julian fight his opponent, a huge African man. He outweighed Julian at least two fold. It was so odd to watch him fight. He had no distinct style what so ever. It was as if he had learned to fight on the streets of New York. He probably had. Even the way Julian's body was positioned in his fighting stance; it looked to Ken as if he should have a switchblade in his hand. But he was good, damn good. The man hadn't landed a single hit on Julian. He didn't let anything distract him. The reason Ken was watching Julian so intensely was not just from friendly concern, he was trying to keep his eyes away from Vega, in fear he wouldn't be able to control himself. He couldn't blow his cover, especially before he found Cammy. The African man left his guard down just long enough for Julian to land a punch square on his nose. The nose shattered as blood flew out over the man and Julian. As his opponent fell to the ground, Julian roughly kicked him in the stomach causing him to cry out in pain and defeat. But Julian didn't stop there; he picked the man up from the ground and slammed him onto the earth, hard, three times. The man hadn't been knocked unconscious yet and was still groaning in pain as Julian continued to hit him. Why the hell won't he stop? Ken's gaze shifted to Vega, his previous efforts forgotten, who smiled with much satisfaction as he watched Julian continue his assault on the man. Thankfully, the man stopped crying out, stopped moving all together, and Julian walked back to the sidelines, standing beside Ken. There was still blood splattered across his face. He looked at Ken, eyes filled with not only guilt, but contempt. Ken couldn't tell if it was sweat or tears forming under his eyes, he was guessing the latter. There was something more to Julian's story, but Ken wouldn't have time to ask just yet; it was his turn to fight. His opponent was a man, about his size, with his hair shaved so close to his head, Ken couldn't tell the color. Vega signaled for them to begin.
"Do not forget. The loser of this fight dies, if not in defeat, at my hands."
This enraged Ken; for Vega to act as if he were God and held the fate of these men in his hands. He had to try his hardest to control his rage. This was the one thing he had never fully conquered in his training with Ryu. It had been slipping lately, with good reason but slipping none the less. First just verbally, in his fights with Guile. Then with the pimp he had bullied for information. And with Adon, that was the worst. He had already won the battle but still hit him in rage. Like Julian had just done. His opponent rushed for him, aiming a high kick at Ken's head, which was dodged easily. He's slow and doesn't look very strong. It's in the bag. Ken reached his arm under the man's leg and pulled him to the ground, kicking him in the side when he landed. The man rolled to standing and began to rethink his strategy. Ken only smiled. Looking into the corner of his eyes he could see Julian and Vega. Julian placed an unfocused eye on the fight while Vega continued to watch with rapture. Ken remembered the look on Vega's face from the video as he murdered Charlie. It was the same face; the same bloodlust. Ken yelled in rage and thankfully aimed it at the man he was fighting instead of Vega. He punched the man swiftly and hard in the chest repeatedly, too quickly for the man to even attempt to block. He fell to the ground and Ken fell on top of him still swinging. He couldn't hear the man's screams of pain, only Cammy's. He couldn't even see the man's face anymore, only Vega's. Ken felt arms grab him from behind, and then heard Julian's voice soft in his ear so only he could hear.
"Don't do it. Just stop now, while you can. It was already too late for me. But not you. I can tell. Calm down, you won."
Ken blinked several times and took a deep breath, standing on his own. Vega came and stood beside him, Julian, and the other eight victors. Ken was too astonished by what just happened to even think of Vega. I'm sorry. I'm so ashamed. There was another way. I should have stopped. I shouldn't have lost my control. I'm sorry.
Cammy woke to the sound of the lid of the box being lifted. Two soldiers picked her up from the box. Her whole body was numb; alive with tiny prickles that intensified where the soldiers were touching her body. Her nude body! Cammy tried to move, she barely could. She was helpless. Her limbs kind of flopped around without control. She didn't like being naked with two men, who would. But thankfully the soldiers' faces looked disinterested. They only concentrated at the task at hand. Which, thankfully again, was to get her dressed. After they had dressed her in panties, gray sweat pants, and a baggy white t-shirt, the soldiers laid her body on the floor and left. Very slowly Cammy began to feel her body. It hurt but was better than the numbness in which she couldn't control. At least with the pain she could move. Cammy wondered what it was they did to her. Reluctantly, afraid of what she would find, she stood to look at her body. She stretched her body, felt it, looked at herself. She was no thinner than before. But harder. Tighter. Rippled with muscles she remembered seeing in magazines and on television whenever they showed women who were Olympians, whose very life was exercise, exertion, sport. But there was nothing sporting about this. Cammy's body was taut and dangerous. She felt it even in the way she moved. She felt like a weapon. Is that what they want? Before Cammy could contemplate this any further, she heard footsteps, she didn't know how, but she heard them. She quickly, more quickly than she though humanly possible, laid back onto the floor and closed her eyes. The door opened and she heard the soldiers enter. They walked to her 'unconscious' form and each grabbed one of her arms, lifting her up onto their shoulders, letting her feet drag as they moved. Cammy remained still has then men moved her out of the room and into a hall. Before the soldiers knew what hit them, she had rammed their heads together, using all her new strength and was on her way down the hall, running as fast as she could, trying to find a way out.
Ken, Julian and the other men were led into a small meeting room where they could all sit. Vega remained standing.
"You men are to be commended for making it this far, but know it is by no means over. You are still expected to perform at your best and show loyalty."
Ken heard gunshots going off outside the meeting room. He couldn't help but slightly lower his head, knowing very well that it was the ten men who lost the battles.
"Now I am going to lead you to your own, private living quarters to rest for the remainder of the day. Stay there. Don't' do any thing stupid or you will suffer. This will also give us time to access your individual information files."
Vega led them through another door and into a long hall. Each man was led to a door. Dropped off one by one, until him and Julian were the only ones left. Vega stopped walking and spoke to them.
"You two showed the most potential today. Such lovely brutality. And I am told you showed the most in initial training as well. We are going to place you separate from the other men so we can use you to the full advantage. It is just a couple of halls down from here."
He had done it. Thank God. Now he would have more influence and that was sure to help in his search for Cammy. They arrived at a door, which was to be Ken's room. Ken looked at Julian who nodded and slapped him on the back.
"Later Ken. See you in a little bit."
"Sure thing."
Ken opened the door and entered the room. After the door closed it clicked locked behind him. Locked in. Ken jumped onto the bed and folded his arms behind his head. I'd better rest now. The real work begins when I become and active member and have access to certain areas. I hope.
Julian watched suspiciously as Vega locked Ken into the room. Does he think he's going to lock me in? Him and Vega hadn't made it two steps before they heard a huge commotion. Julian remained still while Vega ran ahead to look around the corner. As soon as Vega's body disappeared around the corner it returned, flying through the air this time, before it slammed hard, into the wall. A young woman turned the corner running full speed. Her long blonde hair trailed behind her, and her green eyes were lit up with fear and determination. Vega's voice rose through the air.
"STOP HER!"
Julian didn't think. He just listened. He lunged his body to the right, making the woman run left, where he wanted her. When he switched back left at the last second, she slammed into him and the two fell to the floor, her on top. He tried to roll on top of her in order to hold her down but she was strong. Really strong in fact. She punched his right eye and he saw lights, but grabbed her wrist surprising her. She began to scream.
"You don't understand! You have to let me go! I have to get out of here!"
Another man grabbed her from behind and together him and Julian were able to hold her down. A man in a white lab coat injected something into her arm while she was being held down. Her strength quickly faded. Before her eyes closed she turned her head towards Julian and softly murmured,
"Please…please…help me."
Now if that isn't a turn of events I don't know what is! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. As always I would love to hear your thoughts. Later!