And its felt like lead
To think to let anything else in
It is too heavy to stand
I won't push out

Please God this tears me apart
On the inside
You quit and you suck
And you are still the same
...As far as I can see

I wish to breathe
I can't take this change
I would rather stay here
With my hands gripping my throat

What now?
You find yourself on the outside?
What about them?
What about her?
What about all of your responsibility?

I find this in blood
For some...easy to walk away
I find that I can never break

God! This hurts
It tears me apart on the inside
I've quit, we are done
It seems that now you're the absentee

I still feel so much for you

Haste- "The Absentee"

            Wagner darted his eyes nervously around the airport as he waited for Ken's flight to arrive.  He really had no reason to be nervous.  Shadowlaw had what they wanted for now.  At least it seemed so.  But he couldn't help being nervous.  His old fears and instincts were coming back and it pissed him off.  He had worked a long time to rid himself of those and in one night they were back, doubled.  Looking at himself in a tinted glass wall Wagner noted how worn out he looked.  His hair was in all different directions without any gel to hold it down, and he had a full blown beard. 

            When he spotted Ken he felt better about his appearance.  Though he'd only met him a few times, Wagner knew this wasn't how the martial arts master/millionaire usually looked.  Ken's hair was matted and fuzzy, rising a few more inches above his shoulders than usual due to the tangles.  His eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles under them.  Ken was scanning the crowd, looking for him.  Wagner waved figuring that Ken wouldn't recognize him.  A lot of changes happen to a man between the ages of 17 and 23.  Wagner knew he was at least a little taller, and positive that he was of a larger build.  Ken gave him a half smiled and headed Wagner's way with a Japanese man in tow.  Reaching his hand out Wagner spoke.

"Hey."

Ken replied.

"Hi.  You look about as fresh as I feel."

"Tell me about it."

Ken reached back and patted the Japanese man's shoulder.

"This is my friend Ryu.  He's come to help what whatever we plan.  Ryu, this is Scott Wagner."

"No offense or anything Ken, but I don't think it's a good idea."

"What do you mean?  We need all the help we can get."

"That's true, but all that does is involve more people with Shadowlaw.  If it weren't for you helping Cammy you wouldn't be involved in this mess."

"But I am, so I want to come full force and finish this."

"It's a nice thought but I highly doubt it's going be finished with us.  We just are rescuing our loved ones.  Their safety is key."

"Their continued safety is key."

"One step at a time."

Ryu stepped forward, probably trying to break the two up before things became heated.  He spoke softly with much concern.

"I understand what you're saying Scott, Shadowlaw is a powerful organization.  You are just trying to keep the most people safe.  But I am willing to take the risk.  Ken is the closest thing to family I have left.  I want to help for the same reasons as you are helping."

Wagner nodded, calmed by Ryu's soft tone and understanding words.  He nodded as he spoke.

"Okay.  I guess one more will help a lot.  Just call me Wagner though."

Ryu nodded.

"My car is outside."

The three men started walking towards the exit to the airport as Ken spoke.

"Where's Cammy?"

"She's getting some information."

"From?"

"Julian Marquez."

--

            Rubbing his hands up and down his legs, Julian tried to get his head straight.  However he knew it was useless.  There was nothing he could due but wait for time to sober him.  He could feel it though.  It was the time where he could feel the trip winding down and usually he was doing whatever he could do to make the trip last longer.  Now he concentrated on ending it as soon as possible.  This was a big deal.  The man who tried to kill him was probably one of Shadowlaw's lackeys.  Julian looked at Cammy who sat opposite of him, waiting nervously. 

            He didn't like the fact that he was making her nervous or that he had kissed her.  She was right, she hadn't changed except that instead of putting off the vibe that she was going to fall apart any second, she was confidant and strong, she was on a mission.  He wasn't helping and he could.  He punched the wall causing her to jump a little.  He spoke.

"Sorry."

"Are you better?"

"A little, it's wearing off."

She stood and walked towards him.  He took it as an act of bravery more so than an act of trust.  She had no reason to trust him right now, but whatever she needed from him obviously was worth it to her.  Cammy sat down beside him before speaking softly.

"I'm just going to come out and say all this.  Shadowlaw has rebuilt and now they are bigger than ever.  They kidnapped Guile's daughter and Ken's pregnant wife.  Guile was shot trying to keep them from taking Melissa and he's in the hospital now.  He wouldn't help me with this anyway.  He wouldn't want to risk it.  But I need you.  I need you to remember."

He looked at her, trying to take in everything she was saying.  Cammy was dead serious, that much he knew.  Things were moving fast for him but he pressed her on, wanting with all his heart to help.

"What do I need to remember?"

She reached into a bag and pulled out several large pieces of paper.

"These are maps of suspected Shadowlaw bases.  This one is where we think is the most likely place they took Melissa and Eliza."
Julian took it from her and looked at it, shrugging his shoulders.

"What do you need me for?  You got the maps right here."

"I need to get in there."

"What?"

She stood.

"You heard me."

"Yeah I heard you, but I didn't think you were crazy.  This is their turf.  It was hard enough during the tournament on neutral territory."

"I'm not taking over.  I just want to get Melissa and Eliza back."

"Cammy, you're talking war on them."

"They started this.  They came back after me."

"Like you did them?"

"That was different."

"It was revenge plain and simple."

"That's how you see it?"

"It doesn't matter how you or I see it.  It matters how Shadowlaw sees it."

Cammy was silent for a moment before speaking.

"Well than maybe it's because it's the right thing to do.  It's what I have to do.  I can't leave Melissa to him."

"Vega?"

"Who else?  You know more than anyone what he did to me Julian, and it makes my blood boil to know that she's within his reach.  I can't stand it."

Now was Julian's turn to be silent.  He stood and walked to the sink, splashing the cool water on his face.  He was thinking straight now and it wasn't fun.  He walked towards Cammy, grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him.  She jumped but relaxed when she saw his face, saw that he was in control.

"You think it would be bad enough that I was sent to this hell hole, but they sent someone to kill me."

"What?  But why?"

"Because that's how they work.  I suffered and now it was my time to be disposed of."

"Is that how...?"

She reached up and ran her hand along the scar running from the corner of his mouth.

He grabbed her hand.

"Yeah girl."

"I'm sorry you're here."

"I know.  So am I."

"Please help me.  Help me protect her like I couldn't be protected."

Julian sighed before speaking.

"The septic system."

"What?"

"That's how you're going to get in."

He grabbed the map from the floor and showed her.

"Here.  You're only going to have to go through the actual septic system for a short while, and then if you can find a door around here there should be a passage; the escape tunnel.  You'll be going backwards through it."

"Then?"

"Then you're on your own."

He looked into her eyes and showed her he was serious.

"This isn't a game."

"I never thought it was."

Cammy looked at her watch as she spoke.

"Ten minutes to spare."

Julian smiled at her.

"It's good to see a familiar face.  Maybe if I saw more I'd be a little better off."

"I'm sorry I've never come."

"No, no.  I wasn't trying to make you guilty.  I was just saying, you know?"

He scratched the back of his neck nervously as he stammered.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that.  I do things I wouldn't normally.  I'm just having a rough time, and it helps."

"But Julian…"

Suddenly there was a banging at the door and an officer's voice rose through the door.

"Time's up!"

Cammy quickly grabbed the maps and stuffed them back into her purse.  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Julian on the cheek right as the guard entered the room.  She nodded at the guard as she walked past him then she was gone.  The guard's eyes were wide as he spoke.

"Damn Marquez!  You got down to business."
Before Julian could question him, he noted the condition of the small room.  It was torn apart.  He ran his hands through his hair and tried to hold a smile and stifle a laugh as the guard placed handcuffs on his wrists.