Sweat ran down his forehead in streams. His breaths were short and strong, in perfect unison with the smacking noises his fists made against the punching bag. Ken Masters stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow. He had been working out here for about two hours now. Ken grabbed a towel and wiped any remaining sweat from his body. His red fighting gi and the ribbon holding his strawberry blonde hair back had become his trademarks in competition. He was the U.S. Martial Arts Champion, and planned to stay it for a while.
Ken put the used towel in his gym bag and pulled out a telegram. It had arrived early this morning. There was a tournament and he had been personally invited. He didn't even have to participate in any of the preliminary qualifying rounds. Ken smiled and stuffed the paper back into his bag as he exited the gym.
"I hope they're ready for me."
He made his way down the sidewalk, meeting with a few fans along the way. Greeting them with his million dollar smile sparkling, he obliged to their autograph requests. Beside the door to the gym, stood a man with a hood covering his long golden blonde hair. He squinted his ice blue eyes and spoke to himself as he walked the opposite way of Ken.
"Oh, we are ready for you alright, Ken Masters."
--
Wrapped tightly under her covers, Cammy laid immersed in a deep, dreamless sleep. She subconsciously heard the door to her room creak open, making her senses more aware, but not yet awake. A hand rested on her shoulder and gently shook her. Wagner's voice woke her entirely.
"Are you going to sleep all day? It's almost 9:00"
She mumbled something and rolled over. Wagner didn't give up hope.
"Cammy, wake up. Come on. Guile's got some big news and he won't tell me until you're awake."
Cammy sighed and sat up in the bed, not yet removing her covers. Didn't Wagner know that she had only been sleeping since 5:30 this morning? Of course he didn't. Her hair was still a little damp in the braids. She rose from bed and Wagner followed her as she silently went into the kitchen where Guile was seated, reading the newspaper. She formed the first real sentence for the day.
"So what's this news?"
Guile looked up at her and quickly stood, grabbing her arm.
"Cammy what happened to you? And your face."
Cammy's eyes widened as she pulled her arm away from Guile and touched the bruise on her face.
"I-uhh…slipped getting out of the bathtub. I was more tired than I thought this morning so I got kind of dizzy when I first stepped out. It's not a big deal."
She sat down at the table and Wagner gave her a look before he sat down beside her. However he quickly diverted his attention back to Guile and his news.
"Don't avoid it Guile. What's the news?"
Guile sat back down, his worried expression slowly fading as he spoke.
"I just wanted to let you guys know that I got a promotion."
Cammy asked.
"A promotion?"
Wagner broke in.
"The promotion?"
"Yeah, I'm officially a Colonel."
Guile smiled and Wagner patted him on the back.
"Colonel William F. Guile. Sounds a lot better than Captain, don't you think so Cammy?"
"Guile I am so happy for you. How come you didn't tell us that the promotion was this close?"
"I didn't want to dwell on it. I was a little nervous."
Because of them. He didn't say it but she knew that it belonged at the end of his sentence. Thankfully though, he had still received the promotion. Guile continued.
"There's a formal dinner tonight. For me, us actually. Me and my family."
Cammy smiled and Wagner spoke.
"What about your wife and daughter."
There was a silence but Guile finally spoke.
"I've already seen them."
Cammy and Wagner spoke simultaneously.
"What?"
"It wasn't really a mission in London. It was a cover to see them. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you to. But I was advised against it."
"I can't believe I didn't think about that. I heard you ask Chun-Li to see them. I had just gotten so upset that night. Oh God. Guile, you had to leave early because of me…I'm sorry."
"It's okay Wagner. I think all this will be over soon."
Cammy jumped in.
"What?"
"We're getting closer to Shadowlaw with the help of Interpol."
"That's good news too."
"Definitely. Well you and Wagner had better look through all your stuff and find something nice to wear to this thing tonight."
Cammy nodded and got up from the table. She hugged Guile and headed back towards her room. She was happy for Guile but at the same time she was frustrated. This party tonight was going to interfere with the fight she had to go to. Plus if they shut down Shadowlaw too early, she'd never find out the truth. Cammy gasped when she felt Wagner grab her arm in the hall.
"Cammy."
"What? You scared me."
"Sorry. But I just wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"What in the bathroom did this?"
He lifted up the back of her shirt and pointed at the crisscrosses of scratches on her lower back. She swiped his hands away as she took a few steps back from him.
"It's none of your business."
"Cammy. I'm your brother. Just tell me what's going on."
"I told you…nothing!"
"That's bullshit."
Cammy slammed the door to her room in his face. She felt bad. He was only concerned about her. But she couldn't let him get involved with this. It was dangerous and if he told Guile he would make sure she didn't fight. And that wasn't going to happen. Wagner stormed into her room and slammed the door back behind him.
"You have to tell me what's going on."
"I did Wagner it's nothing. Just drop it."
"Who or what did that to you? Was it Conner or Lewis? I'll kill them."
"No! It wasn't them. Just don't worry about it."
"Please tell me Cammy."
"Just give me some time and I'll tell you, everything."
Wagner looked at her, his midnight blue eyes still hurt. Cammy walked over to him and wrapped her arms over his shoulders. She squeezed him and spoke softly into his ear.
"I promise."
He tightly held her back. She winced a little but luckily Wagner didn't notice.
"You'd better, or I'll have to kick your butt."
She pushed him back.
"Yeah right."
He smiled at her but his eyes still hadn't lost their concerned look.
"You'd better find something real pretty to wear if you're going to be my date tonight."
"Ha-ha…who said I was?"
"Who wouldn't want to be?"
Cammy smiled and Wagner left the room winking at her. She would tell him everything, as soon as she knew it. She wasn't lying to him. But until then he couldn't know. No one could. She had to make it through tonight. Who knows what memories would come to her? She couldn't afford to miss the smallest opportunity to remember something about her past. No one was going to stop her.