Match 1-8: Masters Team vs. the American Vigilantes
Author's Notes: I apologize for missing yesterday's update. This chapter was a rather difficult one, trying to balance two fights at the same time, until I finally threw in the towel and gave up. Please enjoy this half-hearted attempt to keep you interested in the story ... now, I need sleep ... yesh, sleep ... is ... good ...
Osaka, Japan
Three days have passed
It was nearly morning and the old temple situated outside Osaka was almost empty save for one solitary figure slowly walking through the gates. Overhead, the setting moon was full and brilliant, peeking through a moderate number of clouds and sharply framing the roof of the temple in soft light. The cobblestones crunched lightly under the feet of the visitor. It was quiet here; too quiet, with none of the night sounds that normally would have filled such a place. The old temple was very badly worn and would probably end up more so tonight. The figure halted in the courtyard, halfway between the entrance and the temple structure proper. What am I doing here anyway? Shadow Kenneth wondered to himself.
Ten years ... that's how long it'd been ... ten years since his real counterpart had unleashed him during a fight against Evil Ryu that had cost his life. He'd been miraculously resurrected but lay dormant until now, when granted a new life separate from that of his counterpart by ... by whom? He didn't know, nor did he care in all honesty. He'd been asked to meet someone here and Shadow Kenneth had developed a sinking feeling. Stay calm. You're dangerous and you know it. Anyone who crosses you is a dead man.
Slowly the temple doors slid open and a new figure emerged. He was difficult to see at first, but as he slowly stepped into a lit portion of the courtyard Shadow Kenneth could discern his features more fully. It was a fairly tall man, wearing a dark black uniform, red wristguards, and a nearly black headband. His eyes ... his eyes were not human, instead they shone completely red. His aura burned with a pulsing evil and Shadow Kenneth took an involuntary step backwards despite himself. Ryu. Given a separate life, much like myself. And tonight, one of these lives will end.
"How good of you to meet me here," Evil Ryu began, his voice deep and commanding. "Shadow Kenneth. I remember you. We fought once, long ago; have you improved any since then?"
"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Shadow Kenneth replied quietly.
"I was hoping you'd say that. It's just that we have a small problem. You see, last time I killed you without much of a hassle. Why should I believe that you would offer me any more of a challenge now?"
Shadow Kenneth frowned, wondering if Evil Ryu's memory had somehow been altered. The fight had been anything but a minor hassle, with both of them nearly killing the other. Evil Ryu had Shun Goku Satsu'ed Shadow Kenneth at that time, but fortunately the real Kenneth's soul had survived the assault intact and thus saved both of them. He was about to reply when a motion at the edge of his vision caused his eyes to whip upwards, to the uppermost roof of the temple, and his eyes narrowed. "Ryu, we may have a bigger problem."
"What?" Evil Ryu demanded, turning to look in the same direction that Shadow Kenneth faced. He stiffened considerably as they both saw him. Dadallent stood atop the roof of the temple, his back turned to the two below him and his sword sheathed. His arms were folded and he seemed to be contemplating the moon, but both fighters knew better than to trust to chance. Then he jumped, soaring high into the air before flipping back in a long, graceful arc and landing softly to Shadow Kenneth's right. He stood up and regarded the two fighters, both of whom had stepped backwards into defensive stances.
"The night is old," Dadallent stated. "Let's begin."
Yalta, Ukraine
Five hours have passed
"One thing I'll give our tournament host, she sure knows how to pick scenic locations for our fights." Scott Wagner surveyed the surrounding countryside with one hand shaded over his eyes. The Swallow's Nest Castle was a fortress situated high on a rock near Yalta, ringed by steep cliffs on three sides that fell sharply into the Black Sea below. The only approach was from a rather inhospitable path from the landward side, as the castle was built on the very outer edge of a peninsula. It featured round turrets and a number of crenelations, as well as imposing rock walls crowned by steeple-pointed towers. A scholar of medieval fortifications might have estimated the castle to be from the fifteenth century, well after the Crusades. The sun shone brightly overhead with no cloud cover to obscure any sight of the upcoming engagement. The battleground itself had been marked out as an elevated rooftop on the castle walls, where there was plenty of space to maneuver. The keep towered on one of the sides and the whole rooftop was ringed by stone battlements.
"Real nice view, isn't it?" Sean Matsuda asked, coming up to stand alongside Scott Wagner.
"You said it. This place is absolutely beautiful." Scott called over some of the camera crews who were busy setting up their equipment. "You guys have a spare camera by any chance? Could you take a photograph of us here?" Scott and Sean grinned as the cameraman snapped a picture of them, angling the view so as to take in the entire scene.
"Okay, boys, playtime's over," Guile called. "We're just about ready to start here. Gather up!"
Jedah Dohma and Gill met the contestants in the center, where Ken Masters was already throwing a number of experimental punches in the air. "Masters team, name your leader."
"Me, of course. Who else?" Ken gave a confident thumbs-up.
"American Vigilantes, name your leader," Jedah commanded.
"Here." Charlie nodded smartly and stepped up to the center of the battleground as everyone else cleared a space for him. Ken was wearing a confident smirk as he and Charlie shook hands. "Ken, afterwards, I'll see you at the U.S. Martial Arts Open."
"What, you looking for two helpings of ass-kick?" Ken asked.
"Don't push it, boy," Charlie warned. He and Ken might've traded more words, but the bright light flashed all around them and blinded both contestants for a moment. Begin.
Charlie ducked a high kick aimed at his head. While he had never faced Ken before in a fight, he'd spoken with others earlier and gleaned information from Ryu, Guy, and Dr. McGrath. Ken Masters was known for his hellish offense, something Charlie understood very well as he fended out a light punch and nearly took a Shoryuken for his troubles. But if Ken was skilled, so was Charlie; Ken failed to recover quickly enough from the Shoryuken and Charlie landed a solid side kick in his sides. Ken went back to the ground with a grunt and a gasp. Both assists came out simultaneously; Sean Matsuda jumped in and tried for his high-angle kick, but was knocked cleanly out of the move by Scott's Rising Kick. Charlie nodded in approval; the young airman was really getting the hang of the Somersault technique.
Ken took the opportunity to roll past Charlie and lash with a ground-hugging sweep. Whereas most opponents would have jumped over the attack, Charlie was wary of possible retaliation from Ken's deadly Shoryuken and instead blocked low. Ken then tried for a high ax kick, only that it took way too long to come out and Charlie stuffed it with a light sock to the face. Ken reeled back, but only for a moment; as Charlie advanced forward, Ken struck back with a flying kick aimed at Charlie's temples. The Air Force pilot blocked the attack but it left his arms numb. Ken then simply walked forward and pulled Charlie into a hip throw.
"So far the fight is dead even, folks," Kyosuke said, pushing his glasses up his nose as he tried to analyze both combatants. "All other things being equal, however, I'd say that the advantage lies with the Vigilantes for two reasons: first, they have solid teamwork, and second, because their team members are much better than the ones who make up the Masters team. Alia, what do you think?"
"I have to concur with the analysis, Kyosuke," Alia replied. "Like the Lords of Shadowlaw, the Masters team is really being held up by one person, Ken. Take him out of the picture and the team doesn't have much of a chance left. On the other hand, the American Vigilantes are a more well-rounded team and Charlie is quite a match for Ken. Back to you, Kyosuke."
"Thanks, Alia." Kyosuke fiddled around with another screen. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is currently 9:06 here in Osaka, where the competition is already heating up. For those of you just joining us, today's event features the Master team facing off against the American Vigilantes. On the Masters team are Ken Masters, Sean Matsuda, and Kenneth Feng, fighting in that order. On the Vigilante side, Charlie, Scott Wagner, and Guile form the lineup. If we take a look at the action right n - urk!" Kyosuke was abruptly cut off as Jin reached across the table and seized his fellow commentator's shirt, pulling the one-time student out of his seat.
"Did you see that?" Jin roared. "Seven hit aerial rave with a midair Moonsault finisher by Charlie!"
"Erm, right," Kyosuke sputtered as Jin thrust him back into his own seat. "Anyway, ladies and gentlemen -"
"Ken is switching out with Sean!" Jin screamed.
"Okay, let's take a closer look at the action." Kyosuke redirected his attention the screens while the fight played out on the massive holoprojector set in Osaka Dome. Ken, still looking reasonably fresh, had tagged out with Sean and the poor Brazilian boy had taken a Somersault almost the moment that he came in. Even as Kyosuke watched, Charlie jumped over an abortive Sean Tackle and then dodged a desperate Dragon Smash. Charlie broke into a dash as Sean came out of the attack. With a wild yell, he began laying into Sean with a withering barrage of multiple punches and kicks, finishing the attack with a Sonic Boom thrown at point-blank range straight into Sean's face. The Brazilian boy sailed across the battlefield and skidded to a halt on the ground, colliding into a battlement right before a fall that would have taken him over the edge. "And Charlie has knocked Sean out!" Kyosuke raved. "Fastest K.O. yet!"
Charlie tagged out with Scott Wagner as Kenneth Feng also jumped into the ring. The two friends faced each other for a moment before both of them began to circle warily. Scott tested Kenneth's defense for a moment with a swift kick, but Kenneth jumped back out of range. For the thousandth time Scott wished that he'd taken the time to learn how to execute a proper Sonic Boom, as he surely could have nailed Kenneth with one after the back hop. When Scott tried for another kick, Kenneth again jumped backwards. Scott failed to notice the way that Kenneth's back legs had bunched up, but Guile didn't and jumped in to assist. Kenneth lashed out with a swift Whipcrack Kick which would've caught Scott by surprise, only that he ran into Guile's Sonic Boom assist en route. Scott flipped a thumbs up to his teammate and dove in further on the offensive, rushing forward and tackling Kenneth around the waist. Scott then arced over Kenneth's head and brought his opponent to the ground headfirst. He would've continued the attack with a People's Elbow-type strike, only that Ken Masters also jumped in and threw a Shoryuken.
The attack hit Scott cleanly, burning through his uniform and up his body. The shock of the Shoryuken caused Scott to fly a good meter through the air, instinctively using his magnetic ability to cushion his fall somewhat. Kenneth was on him in a flash and the two locked arms in a grapple contest. Guile, jumping in to help Scott, had his Sonic Boom canceled out by Ken's Hadouken. Then Kenneth kneed Scott in the stomach; a moment later, he had the airman in a Hazard Slash, raking his right hand up Scott's chest. He scored a mark in his opponent and blood began to seep through the uniform.
Shaking his head clear, Scott quickly launched the Rising Kick, doing a fancy backflip that brought both of his boots into Kenneth's chin. Kenneth saw stars for a moment, but quickly shook his head clear. He then lunged forward with another Whipcrack Kick, but this one whiffed entirely as Scott tagged out and brought Guile into the battle. Guile eyed his foe sideways for a moment, then tried for a punch. Surprisingly, Kenneth did not hop away; instead, he parried the attack and pulled Guile closer, right into a textbook version of the circle throw. Guile landed on his back and jumped upright, grimacing to himself. The boy must've seen McGrath use that trick once too often. I shouldn't have fallen for it.
Kenneth kept out of Guile's reach, but he had already taken some damage and his reflexes were wearing thin. Guile began closing the distance patiently while Charlie and Ken contributed the occasional assist attack. When Guile had Kenneth's back to the keep, he blazed forward with fists flying, hoping for a swift knockout. After he landed the first attack, though, Kenneth Feng switched out with Ken Masters and Guile suddenly found himself facing a much tougher opponent. He tried to hit Ken with a powerful Flash Kick; unfortunately for him, Ken's Shoryuken came out at the exact same moment and outprioritized Guile's move, knocking the Air Force officer backwards.
"Right now the Vigilantes have a strategic advantage," Kyosuke informed his viewers, "but if Guile wants to take on a reasonably fresh Ken, then he'll have to work overtime." Even as he said this, Guile landed a powerful kick into Ken's chest at the cost of a Hadouken launched point-blank into his face. Guile tumbled backwards while Charlie covered him for a moment. When he recovered, Guile threw another attack at Ken, launching a powerful Flash Kick. It never hit, as Kenneth Feng appeared and parried it harmlessly to the side. Ken took a brutal revenge, knocking Guile into the air and following with a series of attacks culminating in the Hurricane Kick; Guile landed hard into the castle grounds. "Eight-hit aerial rave!" Kyosuke pronounced grandly.
Unfortunately, Ken must have allowed his attack to make him overconfident, as he dove in recklessly with more kicks at a beleaguered Guile. He paid for his brashness a moment later when Guile blocked a Shoryuken and drew his arms back, his aura gathering energy in his fists. In a moment he flung them forward with a wild yell of "Sonic ... Hurricane!" Ken dropped and managed to block the attack, but the Sonic Hurricane battered him from every side. Right as the attack ended, Guile switched out and Charlie jumped back into the fight. Ken grinned; pausing only to stretch his bruised arms, he jumped and tried to take Charlie down with a fancy aerial kick.
Charlie also grinned, sidestepping the attack so closely that Ken's foot only brushed his cheek. As Ken came down, Charlie seized his opponent from behind and dropped him into a German suplex, landing Ken hard on the unforgiving castle ground. Ken gave a short yelp and rolled away while Charlie pulled himself upright. Intent on pressing his advantage, Charlie shoulder rolled forward along the ground while Ken tested his back for broken bones. Ken pulled his arms back; Charlie saw the motion as he came out of his roll and instantly jumped upright, intent on catching Ken midway through the attack. He flipped into a Somersault Shell and instantly paid for his mistake.
Instead of launching a Hadouken, Ken faked the technique and grinned a tad wildly as Charlie came out of the Somersault, practically on top of his opponent. Ken sank his fist close to the ground and instantly erupted upwards in a powerful attack, spinning crazily. A small vacuum appeared around his body and suctioned in the hapless Charlie, unable to air-block the attack from below. Ken's fist burst into flames as it impacted hard against Charlie's skin. "Shinryu Ken!"
Caught flat-footed, Charlie ate the entire attack and fell back to the ground, hard. Ken landed and crouched; the attack had left him spent, but at least he was now in better condition than his opponent. Breathing heavily, Charlie staggered upright and drew back into his fighting stance. Ken rushed in, eager for a kill. His opponent paused only to fend off an attack before switching out with a much fresher Scott Wagner. Ken shrugged; who was he to pass up a chance to kick butt? "Here I go -!" he exclaimed, crouching low after having just thrown a kick that Scott fended off, his fist bursting into fire. Ken's eyes narrowed and his face took on an expression of devilish glee, calculating where Scott's defense was weakest. In a moment he had his answer as Scott jumped back; intending to catch his prospective victim midway through a transition, Ken leapt forward into the first of his deadly uppercuts.
"Shoryu Reppa!"
Scott passed his hands in front of himself, crossing them in a semi-block. He was a good five meters away from Ken and very alarmed at the rate which Ken was eating up the distance. It would be a trivial matter to block the attack, but ... Ken was already breathing heavily and looked quite spent, so Scott took a major gamble, frantically summoning as much of his power as he could lay a hold of. In response, his entire body took on an eerily beautiful golden glow. "Magnetic ... Crucible!"
Ken didn't even have time to swear at his abrupt change in fortune. As he dashed forward, he ran straight into Scott's trap and in a moment was surrounded by a blistering storm of iron fragments. Each one cut mercilessly through his skin, propelled by unseen forces. It was like being swept up in a tornado; Ken was knocked cleanly out of Shoryu Reppa attack as the iron fragments slashed through his body. The storm subsided after a moment, but it was enough. Bleeding from a thousand ghastly cuts, Ken Masters gazed up at Scott for a heartbeat before dropping to the castle ground, blood pouring out of his wounds. The medics came exceptionally fast.
Left to himself, Kenneth Feng jumped in as Guile replaced Scott. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, the fight is definitely winding down now ..." Kyosuke began.
"Because Wagner kicked Ken's ass!" Jin screamed into his microphone.
Kyosuke winced, instinctively clapping both hands over his ears. "Erm, right, what Jin said. Both Charlie and Scott look sort of beaten, but the match is now down to a three against one exhibition. Any time now, Guile's going to end the fight. You see how, with Charlie's help, he's trying to corner Kenneth into a close-range fight. The two of them are using Sonic Booms to herd Kenneth against the battlefield boundaries. About all that Kenneth has going for him right now is his superior speed, but it's being pared down ... oh, wait, Guile got too eager and took a Whipcrack Kick for it. And Kenneth is out in the open again. Hey -"
"He's taunting Guile!" Jin screamed. "Kenneth has taunted Guile!"
Whatever Kenneth said, it must have made Guile furious as the air force pilot jumped up and tried to rush Kenneth, throwing caution to the winds. Guile's first attack was blocked, but his second kick came through by its sheer power and sent Kenneth sprawling. He followed up on his advantage with a merciless stomp into Kenneth's chest. Kenneth gasped; Guile lifted his boot for another stomp, but this time Kenneth was ready. He parried the attack and in a moment seized his advantage, while Guile was still trying to recover balance. Kenneth jumped up and seized Guile, catching his neck in a claw swipe. In a moment Guile was on the ground and Kenneth's arm descended in another swipe. His fingers, cruelly hooked, made contact with Guile's skin and cut through, tearing out a large strip of flesh. The attack prompted a scream of agony from Guile; it was a horrible sound and Guile writhed on the rooftop under Kenneth's Hazard Masher.
But the first attack was as far as Kenneth got. Before his other arm could make an equally devastating swipe, he was suddenly sent flying as Charlie jumped in and launched a Somersault Shell point-blank into his face, fire in his eyes. Guile took the opportunity to tag out, still fazed and unsteady with pain. Charlie then continued his assault; when Kenneth blocked, Charlie pulled him closer and headbutted the college student, then flung his arms open and went straight into another Somersault Shell. Kenneth crumpled to the ground even as the attack landed. "And the American Vigilantes have defeated the Masters team!" Kyosuke announced. "Excellent show by both sides! Ladies and gentlemen, the first match set of the World Collision tournament is over. But hang on to your seats, this competition hasn't ended yet and the best is still to come!"
Osaka, Japan
Three hours have passed
"... Anything, anything at all. I don't care how unimportant it might seem, please, is there anything else you can tell me?" Ernest McGrath faced Sakura Kasugano and Darrell Markis, pleading for more details. The three of them were seated in the dining room of the hotel, McGrath having brought a pencil and notepad. "Was there anything at all that seemed out of place to you, Sakura?"
"Sakura baby?" Darrell prompted.
Sakura shook her head slowly. They'd been at this for an hour, McGrath grilling Sakura for details on what she had seen at the jewelry shop. "I've told you everything that I can remember! There's only one other detail that I haven't mentioned. When I went out, Lloyd opened the door for me. I caught a piece of paper and there were some words written on it, but I can't remember exactly what they were. Roman characters, but in a language that I don't read. That's about it."
"Really? I wish you'd brought this up sooner." McGrath twirled his pencil. "Were the words written in pencil or pen?"
"Inked, come to think of it, they were written in that same golden ink that was on our invitation cards." Sakura frowned as little by little she dredged up what scant memory she had of the scrap. "And ... I think it was the same type of calligraphy, though I can't be certain. I only had a glance at it before I threw it away."
"You threw it -! Argh! Can you at least recall the words?"
Sakura's frown deepened. "Let me write it down for you." She took the pencil, thought for a few seconds, then hesitantly jotted down a single word. "That's all I remember. I can't remember how many words there were, but this one was the first - I think. I can't even remember if this is the whole word." She handed the pad back to McGrath, who studied the paper. Fin. Short for find, perhaps?
"Hmm ..." McGrath shook his head. "Try as hard as you can to remember, Sakura. Is there anything else at all that you noticed on that day?"
"Sorry."
"It's alright." They shook hands across the table and Sakura stood up. McGrath rose also. "If you recall anything, be sure to let me know, here's my personal communicator in case you can't reach me in my room." He wrote down the code and gave it to her. "Go on ahead, I'd like to speak with Darrell for a few moments if you don't mind." Sakura didn't, so she left the dining room alone as McGrath seated himself and turned to look at Darrell. "Yesterday, Jill Valentine left for Raccoon City. I heard that you and Mitsukake are also considering packing up and leaving. Is there any way that I can talk you out of this idea?"
"Look, doctor," Darrell replied, "I know all about your suspicions. But honestly, Sakura and Mitsukake and I all took a lot of time off work to be able to come here. I know that other people have - Jill, Commando, and Ken, to name a few - and we really need to get back. I'm hoping that you're wrong. This is my idea, really."
"I see. Then, take this." McGrath picked up a piece of paper and peeled a sticker off of it. It was nearly transparent and he offered it to Darrell. "Stick this onto your skin. Once set, it can only be taken off by a solution of equal parts alcohol and ethyl. It's an IDC-made tracker and it sends a signal to a number of orbital satellites. As long as you're wearing it, we'll be able to keep track on you twenty-four hours a day. The tracker's waterproof and shock resistant. It's also totally passive, so nothing should be able to pick up on it. If anything happens, we'll know where to find you. Just don't go flame-happy; the transmitter won't survive being burnt."
"I see. Thanks, I suppose." Darrell applied the sticker to the back of his left hand. "You also providing the others with this nifty device?"
"Yes." McGrath rummaged around and found another one. "Give this to Mitsukake and tell him what it's for. Jill Valentine has one, too. Since Sakura's still staying around until the end of the tournament, I'll try to keep an eye on her while you're away." McGrath sighed. "None of this makes any sense. If I had my way, I'd try to sort out all the evidence tonight. There's a definite picture emerging, but ... my wife wants to spent the night at a fancy restaurant and I couldn't refuse her."
"Oh, really?" Darrell asked. "You lettin' a woman dictate what you do? Why, it's totally different in my house. Sakura knows exactly what's expected of her; by the time I come home, the food better be on the table, and if it ain't, I slap her across the face. I know that she'll do the laundry and leave enough hot water for me when I need to shower. You gotta show your woman who's the boss, doc."
"Darrell, listen to you!" McGrath responded, horrified by what he'd just heard. "When I come home after a hard day's work, I know that Samantha will have dinner ready, but not because she's afraid of me! She'll be waiting because she respects me! And if she hasn't finished with preparations, why, I wash my hands clean and go help her! Likewise she knows that if she comes back from a bloody battle that I'll be waiting with a towel, a bar of soap, and a fresh change of clothes. It's not about showing your wife who's the boss, not at all! It's a relationship built on mutual trust and respect!"
"If you say so," Darrell replied doubtfully.
"Trust me, man." McGrath stood up, gathering his materials. "But I could tell that you were just joking around with me, anyway. I'll give you a hint. You're planning to buy Sakura a farewell present, right?" When Darrell jumped as though he'd seen a ghost, McGrath had his answer. "That jewelry store where Karin and Ibuki disappeared may offer lower prices than any of its competitors in all of Japan, but try not to buy anything there. All they sell is zirconium." So saying, McGrath bundled his materials together and vanished through the door, heading for his room. Darrell's eyebrows arched; he hadn't realized that. At least he could get a refund for the necklace that he'd just purchased, right?
A shadow fell over Darrell; he glanced up and nearly fell out of his seat, staring as Bison towered impressively over him. He gulped loudly, but Bison merely pulled a chair opposite Darrell and sat down heavily, producing a bottle of spirits and two small drinking cups. "Darrell, you've got to try this," Bison confided. "Hard-core alcohol. Better than the sake that's sold here. The latest shipment came in just yesterday and I've been dying to share it with someone." He tilted back his head and drained a glassful of the liquid, smacking his lips. His face was contorted as though he'd just bitten into a particularly sour lemon, giving Darrell the suspicion that he was perhaps a little drunk.
"O-kay," Darrell answered warily. "What is it?"
"Exploda."
"Exploda?! Uh-oh." Darrell made a face. Bison poured him a glassful of the liquid and Darrell took it, attempting to down it in a single gulp the way that Kenneth Feng did. The moment it hit the back of his throat, though, his muscles swiftly rebelled and Darrell ended up spraying the contents of his glass all over Bison's uniform. "Whoa, that's strong!" Darrell exclaimed, wiping tears out of his eyes as Bison brushed his uniform clean. He declined when Bison offered to pour him another glass.
"Y'know," Bison commented after a moment, "life can throw any number of curveballs at you. I never thought I'd end up like this, back when I was a boy. You know what my father was? He was a lumberjack somewhere in the United States. Wanted me to be schooled properly, though. I was a good student back in high school, made straight A's, went to Yale on a full scholarship. I think I was in the same class as someone else who later became President; can't remember his name for the life of me. Anyway, I studied civics at the college. Also joined a fraternity and I used to party with the boys. That's where I met the man who'd teach me all about Psycho Power."
Bison's eyes shone red for a moment as he continued. "Psycho Power! Now here was something that defied all attempts to explain it scientifically. And yet ... it was raw power, I couldn't deny it. So I learned as much about Psycho Power as I could from the man. He took on two more students after training me, but ... well, as you can imagine, I'm not a person who appreciates competition." Bison poured himself another glass of Exploda. "So, to make a short story even shorter, I killed my master and my two fellow students. If you know anything about Psycho Power, you'll know that the more evil a person, the stronger that power manifests itself. So, to increase my power, I expelled the good side of my soul. Don't try this at home, Darrell, since the operation nearly killed me and I had to spend a month recovering."
Bison stared at his glass of Exploda without drinking it. "Ironic, isn't it? I could've been Professor Bison, a respected authority on civics, if I'd continued with my studies. Instead, here I am ready to conquer the world. And believe me, I will one day." He knocked back his glass and Darrell by this point had become convinced that Bison was thoroughly drunk. "I'll start by kidnapping those two girls, Kikoken and Chan. The Lian! Who'd ever thought that they actually existed?"
"Wha -? Wait, Bison, you mean that you're behind all these disappearances?" Darrell cried, feeling his right hand burst into flames under the table.
"Who, me? No, I didn't have anything to do with any of that." Bison shrugged. "Where was I? Oh, yes, the two girls. I suppose you're familiar with the problem of harnessing the Psycho Drive? It runs on electricity, but it needs a strong life form to draw in energies from around the world. Most bodies used as such tend to last only for days, but the Lian, now they're different. A Lian draws on elemental powers, thus they have unlimited energies to expend. With those two girls in my hands, the Psycho Drive will have an infinite source of power to draw upon. And I will rule!" Bison laughed maniacally and Darrell drew back in disgust; his breath was awful.
"What's this about kidnapping us?" a new voice interrupted. Bison swore and spun around, half-rising out of his chair. "Stay seated, Bison," Kikoken continued, playing casually with a bubble of water that floated above her open palm. Too casually. "You really think that you could take me, a Lian with, as you said, a limitless supply of power?"
"Heh, I'll have you one day, girl," Bison retorted. "Really, I only need one of you two. But why not kill two songbirds with one stone? After I've drained you of your power, I'll let Vega deal with you. Chan's the stronger one, after all, so she'll be serving Psycho Drive duty. In fact, what's to prevent me from seizing you right now, eh? I think I'm more than a match for you, girl." Bison lurched upright; Darrell growled as his hands burst into flames.
"You're drunk and even if you weren't you're rather slow-witted to begin with," Kikoken answered amiably. "Perhaps you could deal with me, but Darrell is looking rather annoyed right now. And, you'd also have to reckon with Chan over there." Bison turned to look; on Kikoken's opposite side, Chan waved merrily as a small wind began to whisper through the dining room.
"Fine, I see your point." Bison wrapped himself up in his great cape. "But I will have you two by fair means or foul. Most likely foul, given Shadowlaw's history. Good day." He faded out and gave a mocking bow as he did so, leaving behind a half-full bottle of Exploda.
"So, how was your time with Bison?" Kikoken asked conversationally as she and Chan both commandeered seats at Darrell's table.
"Not bad, actually, if it weren't for this foul stuff that I drank." Darrell pointed to the bottle, then glanced down at his left hand and swore vividly. "I knew I was forgetting something. Remind me to ask Dr. McGrath for an extra transmitter tonight, since this one went up in flames."
Osaka, Japan
One hour has passed
Brushing sweat off his forehead and breathing heavily, Shadow Kenneth gazed at the implacable opponent in front of him. He and Evil Ryu had been fighting for nearly half a day, but they'd both realized very quickly that Dadallent was simply testing them, holding much of his formidable strength back. He knew now - they both knew - that they couldn't defeat him and Shadow Kenneth was grimly aware that Dadallent knew it too. Beside him, an exhausted Evil Ryu crouched on the cobblestones. The sun was high overhead but the surrounding air was cool. Arms folded, Dadallent regarded both of the beaten fighters before shaking his head slowly. "Is that all ...? You disappoint me, both of you. Was it too much to expect you to have improved, even by a little, over a whole decade? What a waste of time."
His arms dropped to his sides as he slowly covered the distance separating them. Then, without further words, he seized both of his opponents, one in each hand. His keen spiritual eyes saw each person for who he really was - only a shadow, a broken and pitiful reflection of his true self. Shadows can mock life, but they will never be as strong as their true counterparts. They cannot be. It's sad, really. Perhaps you didn't choose this path in life, but it was chosen for you by your true counterpart. May you find peace and rest in the afterlife. Dadallent sighed and asked, "Any last words?" When neither of the two responded, he tightened his grip. Tangible darkness seemed to flow out of his hands, completely obscuring the three of them from sight, and Dadallent went about his work swiftly ...
They will eventually find the bodies, with the word for "evil" written through the hearts, Dadallent thought as he stepped out of the temple grounds, closing the gate softly behind himself.
Author's Notes: I apologize for missing yesterday's update. This chapter was a rather difficult one, trying to balance two fights at the same time, until I finally threw in the towel and gave up. Please enjoy this half-hearted attempt to keep you interested in the story ... now, I need sleep ... yesh, sleep ... is ... good ...
Osaka, Japan
Three days have passed
It was nearly morning and the old temple situated outside Osaka was almost empty save for one solitary figure slowly walking through the gates. Overhead, the setting moon was full and brilliant, peeking through a moderate number of clouds and sharply framing the roof of the temple in soft light. The cobblestones crunched lightly under the feet of the visitor. It was quiet here; too quiet, with none of the night sounds that normally would have filled such a place. The old temple was very badly worn and would probably end up more so tonight. The figure halted in the courtyard, halfway between the entrance and the temple structure proper. What am I doing here anyway? Shadow Kenneth wondered to himself.
Ten years ... that's how long it'd been ... ten years since his real counterpart had unleashed him during a fight against Evil Ryu that had cost his life. He'd been miraculously resurrected but lay dormant until now, when granted a new life separate from that of his counterpart by ... by whom? He didn't know, nor did he care in all honesty. He'd been asked to meet someone here and Shadow Kenneth had developed a sinking feeling. Stay calm. You're dangerous and you know it. Anyone who crosses you is a dead man.
Slowly the temple doors slid open and a new figure emerged. He was difficult to see at first, but as he slowly stepped into a lit portion of the courtyard Shadow Kenneth could discern his features more fully. It was a fairly tall man, wearing a dark black uniform, red wristguards, and a nearly black headband. His eyes ... his eyes were not human, instead they shone completely red. His aura burned with a pulsing evil and Shadow Kenneth took an involuntary step backwards despite himself. Ryu. Given a separate life, much like myself. And tonight, one of these lives will end.
"How good of you to meet me here," Evil Ryu began, his voice deep and commanding. "Shadow Kenneth. I remember you. We fought once, long ago; have you improved any since then?"
"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Shadow Kenneth replied quietly.
"I was hoping you'd say that. It's just that we have a small problem. You see, last time I killed you without much of a hassle. Why should I believe that you would offer me any more of a challenge now?"
Shadow Kenneth frowned, wondering if Evil Ryu's memory had somehow been altered. The fight had been anything but a minor hassle, with both of them nearly killing the other. Evil Ryu had Shun Goku Satsu'ed Shadow Kenneth at that time, but fortunately the real Kenneth's soul had survived the assault intact and thus saved both of them. He was about to reply when a motion at the edge of his vision caused his eyes to whip upwards, to the uppermost roof of the temple, and his eyes narrowed. "Ryu, we may have a bigger problem."
"What?" Evil Ryu demanded, turning to look in the same direction that Shadow Kenneth faced. He stiffened considerably as they both saw him. Dadallent stood atop the roof of the temple, his back turned to the two below him and his sword sheathed. His arms were folded and he seemed to be contemplating the moon, but both fighters knew better than to trust to chance. Then he jumped, soaring high into the air before flipping back in a long, graceful arc and landing softly to Shadow Kenneth's right. He stood up and regarded the two fighters, both of whom had stepped backwards into defensive stances.
"The night is old," Dadallent stated. "Let's begin."
Yalta, Ukraine
Five hours have passed
"One thing I'll give our tournament host, she sure knows how to pick scenic locations for our fights." Scott Wagner surveyed the surrounding countryside with one hand shaded over his eyes. The Swallow's Nest Castle was a fortress situated high on a rock near Yalta, ringed by steep cliffs on three sides that fell sharply into the Black Sea below. The only approach was from a rather inhospitable path from the landward side, as the castle was built on the very outer edge of a peninsula. It featured round turrets and a number of crenelations, as well as imposing rock walls crowned by steeple-pointed towers. A scholar of medieval fortifications might have estimated the castle to be from the fifteenth century, well after the Crusades. The sun shone brightly overhead with no cloud cover to obscure any sight of the upcoming engagement. The battleground itself had been marked out as an elevated rooftop on the castle walls, where there was plenty of space to maneuver. The keep towered on one of the sides and the whole rooftop was ringed by stone battlements.
"Real nice view, isn't it?" Sean Matsuda asked, coming up to stand alongside Scott Wagner.
"You said it. This place is absolutely beautiful." Scott called over some of the camera crews who were busy setting up their equipment. "You guys have a spare camera by any chance? Could you take a photograph of us here?" Scott and Sean grinned as the cameraman snapped a picture of them, angling the view so as to take in the entire scene.
"Okay, boys, playtime's over," Guile called. "We're just about ready to start here. Gather up!"
Jedah Dohma and Gill met the contestants in the center, where Ken Masters was already throwing a number of experimental punches in the air. "Masters team, name your leader."
"Me, of course. Who else?" Ken gave a confident thumbs-up.
"American Vigilantes, name your leader," Jedah commanded.
"Here." Charlie nodded smartly and stepped up to the center of the battleground as everyone else cleared a space for him. Ken was wearing a confident smirk as he and Charlie shook hands. "Ken, afterwards, I'll see you at the U.S. Martial Arts Open."
"What, you looking for two helpings of ass-kick?" Ken asked.
"Don't push it, boy," Charlie warned. He and Ken might've traded more words, but the bright light flashed all around them and blinded both contestants for a moment. Begin.
Charlie ducked a high kick aimed at his head. While he had never faced Ken before in a fight, he'd spoken with others earlier and gleaned information from Ryu, Guy, and Dr. McGrath. Ken Masters was known for his hellish offense, something Charlie understood very well as he fended out a light punch and nearly took a Shoryuken for his troubles. But if Ken was skilled, so was Charlie; Ken failed to recover quickly enough from the Shoryuken and Charlie landed a solid side kick in his sides. Ken went back to the ground with a grunt and a gasp. Both assists came out simultaneously; Sean Matsuda jumped in and tried for his high-angle kick, but was knocked cleanly out of the move by Scott's Rising Kick. Charlie nodded in approval; the young airman was really getting the hang of the Somersault technique.
Ken took the opportunity to roll past Charlie and lash with a ground-hugging sweep. Whereas most opponents would have jumped over the attack, Charlie was wary of possible retaliation from Ken's deadly Shoryuken and instead blocked low. Ken then tried for a high ax kick, only that it took way too long to come out and Charlie stuffed it with a light sock to the face. Ken reeled back, but only for a moment; as Charlie advanced forward, Ken struck back with a flying kick aimed at Charlie's temples. The Air Force pilot blocked the attack but it left his arms numb. Ken then simply walked forward and pulled Charlie into a hip throw.
"So far the fight is dead even, folks," Kyosuke said, pushing his glasses up his nose as he tried to analyze both combatants. "All other things being equal, however, I'd say that the advantage lies with the Vigilantes for two reasons: first, they have solid teamwork, and second, because their team members are much better than the ones who make up the Masters team. Alia, what do you think?"
"I have to concur with the analysis, Kyosuke," Alia replied. "Like the Lords of Shadowlaw, the Masters team is really being held up by one person, Ken. Take him out of the picture and the team doesn't have much of a chance left. On the other hand, the American Vigilantes are a more well-rounded team and Charlie is quite a match for Ken. Back to you, Kyosuke."
"Thanks, Alia." Kyosuke fiddled around with another screen. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is currently 9:06 here in Osaka, where the competition is already heating up. For those of you just joining us, today's event features the Master team facing off against the American Vigilantes. On the Masters team are Ken Masters, Sean Matsuda, and Kenneth Feng, fighting in that order. On the Vigilante side, Charlie, Scott Wagner, and Guile form the lineup. If we take a look at the action right n - urk!" Kyosuke was abruptly cut off as Jin reached across the table and seized his fellow commentator's shirt, pulling the one-time student out of his seat.
"Did you see that?" Jin roared. "Seven hit aerial rave with a midair Moonsault finisher by Charlie!"
"Erm, right," Kyosuke sputtered as Jin thrust him back into his own seat. "Anyway, ladies and gentlemen -"
"Ken is switching out with Sean!" Jin screamed.
"Okay, let's take a closer look at the action." Kyosuke redirected his attention the screens while the fight played out on the massive holoprojector set in Osaka Dome. Ken, still looking reasonably fresh, had tagged out with Sean and the poor Brazilian boy had taken a Somersault almost the moment that he came in. Even as Kyosuke watched, Charlie jumped over an abortive Sean Tackle and then dodged a desperate Dragon Smash. Charlie broke into a dash as Sean came out of the attack. With a wild yell, he began laying into Sean with a withering barrage of multiple punches and kicks, finishing the attack with a Sonic Boom thrown at point-blank range straight into Sean's face. The Brazilian boy sailed across the battlefield and skidded to a halt on the ground, colliding into a battlement right before a fall that would have taken him over the edge. "And Charlie has knocked Sean out!" Kyosuke raved. "Fastest K.O. yet!"
Charlie tagged out with Scott Wagner as Kenneth Feng also jumped into the ring. The two friends faced each other for a moment before both of them began to circle warily. Scott tested Kenneth's defense for a moment with a swift kick, but Kenneth jumped back out of range. For the thousandth time Scott wished that he'd taken the time to learn how to execute a proper Sonic Boom, as he surely could have nailed Kenneth with one after the back hop. When Scott tried for another kick, Kenneth again jumped backwards. Scott failed to notice the way that Kenneth's back legs had bunched up, but Guile didn't and jumped in to assist. Kenneth lashed out with a swift Whipcrack Kick which would've caught Scott by surprise, only that he ran into Guile's Sonic Boom assist en route. Scott flipped a thumbs up to his teammate and dove in further on the offensive, rushing forward and tackling Kenneth around the waist. Scott then arced over Kenneth's head and brought his opponent to the ground headfirst. He would've continued the attack with a People's Elbow-type strike, only that Ken Masters also jumped in and threw a Shoryuken.
The attack hit Scott cleanly, burning through his uniform and up his body. The shock of the Shoryuken caused Scott to fly a good meter through the air, instinctively using his magnetic ability to cushion his fall somewhat. Kenneth was on him in a flash and the two locked arms in a grapple contest. Guile, jumping in to help Scott, had his Sonic Boom canceled out by Ken's Hadouken. Then Kenneth kneed Scott in the stomach; a moment later, he had the airman in a Hazard Slash, raking his right hand up Scott's chest. He scored a mark in his opponent and blood began to seep through the uniform.
Shaking his head clear, Scott quickly launched the Rising Kick, doing a fancy backflip that brought both of his boots into Kenneth's chin. Kenneth saw stars for a moment, but quickly shook his head clear. He then lunged forward with another Whipcrack Kick, but this one whiffed entirely as Scott tagged out and brought Guile into the battle. Guile eyed his foe sideways for a moment, then tried for a punch. Surprisingly, Kenneth did not hop away; instead, he parried the attack and pulled Guile closer, right into a textbook version of the circle throw. Guile landed on his back and jumped upright, grimacing to himself. The boy must've seen McGrath use that trick once too often. I shouldn't have fallen for it.
Kenneth kept out of Guile's reach, but he had already taken some damage and his reflexes were wearing thin. Guile began closing the distance patiently while Charlie and Ken contributed the occasional assist attack. When Guile had Kenneth's back to the keep, he blazed forward with fists flying, hoping for a swift knockout. After he landed the first attack, though, Kenneth Feng switched out with Ken Masters and Guile suddenly found himself facing a much tougher opponent. He tried to hit Ken with a powerful Flash Kick; unfortunately for him, Ken's Shoryuken came out at the exact same moment and outprioritized Guile's move, knocking the Air Force officer backwards.
"Right now the Vigilantes have a strategic advantage," Kyosuke informed his viewers, "but if Guile wants to take on a reasonably fresh Ken, then he'll have to work overtime." Even as he said this, Guile landed a powerful kick into Ken's chest at the cost of a Hadouken launched point-blank into his face. Guile tumbled backwards while Charlie covered him for a moment. When he recovered, Guile threw another attack at Ken, launching a powerful Flash Kick. It never hit, as Kenneth Feng appeared and parried it harmlessly to the side. Ken took a brutal revenge, knocking Guile into the air and following with a series of attacks culminating in the Hurricane Kick; Guile landed hard into the castle grounds. "Eight-hit aerial rave!" Kyosuke pronounced grandly.
Unfortunately, Ken must have allowed his attack to make him overconfident, as he dove in recklessly with more kicks at a beleaguered Guile. He paid for his brashness a moment later when Guile blocked a Shoryuken and drew his arms back, his aura gathering energy in his fists. In a moment he flung them forward with a wild yell of "Sonic ... Hurricane!" Ken dropped and managed to block the attack, but the Sonic Hurricane battered him from every side. Right as the attack ended, Guile switched out and Charlie jumped back into the fight. Ken grinned; pausing only to stretch his bruised arms, he jumped and tried to take Charlie down with a fancy aerial kick.
Charlie also grinned, sidestepping the attack so closely that Ken's foot only brushed his cheek. As Ken came down, Charlie seized his opponent from behind and dropped him into a German suplex, landing Ken hard on the unforgiving castle ground. Ken gave a short yelp and rolled away while Charlie pulled himself upright. Intent on pressing his advantage, Charlie shoulder rolled forward along the ground while Ken tested his back for broken bones. Ken pulled his arms back; Charlie saw the motion as he came out of his roll and instantly jumped upright, intent on catching Ken midway through the attack. He flipped into a Somersault Shell and instantly paid for his mistake.
Instead of launching a Hadouken, Ken faked the technique and grinned a tad wildly as Charlie came out of the Somersault, practically on top of his opponent. Ken sank his fist close to the ground and instantly erupted upwards in a powerful attack, spinning crazily. A small vacuum appeared around his body and suctioned in the hapless Charlie, unable to air-block the attack from below. Ken's fist burst into flames as it impacted hard against Charlie's skin. "Shinryu Ken!"
Caught flat-footed, Charlie ate the entire attack and fell back to the ground, hard. Ken landed and crouched; the attack had left him spent, but at least he was now in better condition than his opponent. Breathing heavily, Charlie staggered upright and drew back into his fighting stance. Ken rushed in, eager for a kill. His opponent paused only to fend off an attack before switching out with a much fresher Scott Wagner. Ken shrugged; who was he to pass up a chance to kick butt? "Here I go -!" he exclaimed, crouching low after having just thrown a kick that Scott fended off, his fist bursting into fire. Ken's eyes narrowed and his face took on an expression of devilish glee, calculating where Scott's defense was weakest. In a moment he had his answer as Scott jumped back; intending to catch his prospective victim midway through a transition, Ken leapt forward into the first of his deadly uppercuts.
"Shoryu Reppa!"
Scott passed his hands in front of himself, crossing them in a semi-block. He was a good five meters away from Ken and very alarmed at the rate which Ken was eating up the distance. It would be a trivial matter to block the attack, but ... Ken was already breathing heavily and looked quite spent, so Scott took a major gamble, frantically summoning as much of his power as he could lay a hold of. In response, his entire body took on an eerily beautiful golden glow. "Magnetic ... Crucible!"
Ken didn't even have time to swear at his abrupt change in fortune. As he dashed forward, he ran straight into Scott's trap and in a moment was surrounded by a blistering storm of iron fragments. Each one cut mercilessly through his skin, propelled by unseen forces. It was like being swept up in a tornado; Ken was knocked cleanly out of Shoryu Reppa attack as the iron fragments slashed through his body. The storm subsided after a moment, but it was enough. Bleeding from a thousand ghastly cuts, Ken Masters gazed up at Scott for a heartbeat before dropping to the castle ground, blood pouring out of his wounds. The medics came exceptionally fast.
Left to himself, Kenneth Feng jumped in as Guile replaced Scott. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, the fight is definitely winding down now ..." Kyosuke began.
"Because Wagner kicked Ken's ass!" Jin screamed into his microphone.
Kyosuke winced, instinctively clapping both hands over his ears. "Erm, right, what Jin said. Both Charlie and Scott look sort of beaten, but the match is now down to a three against one exhibition. Any time now, Guile's going to end the fight. You see how, with Charlie's help, he's trying to corner Kenneth into a close-range fight. The two of them are using Sonic Booms to herd Kenneth against the battlefield boundaries. About all that Kenneth has going for him right now is his superior speed, but it's being pared down ... oh, wait, Guile got too eager and took a Whipcrack Kick for it. And Kenneth is out in the open again. Hey -"
"He's taunting Guile!" Jin screamed. "Kenneth has taunted Guile!"
Whatever Kenneth said, it must have made Guile furious as the air force pilot jumped up and tried to rush Kenneth, throwing caution to the winds. Guile's first attack was blocked, but his second kick came through by its sheer power and sent Kenneth sprawling. He followed up on his advantage with a merciless stomp into Kenneth's chest. Kenneth gasped; Guile lifted his boot for another stomp, but this time Kenneth was ready. He parried the attack and in a moment seized his advantage, while Guile was still trying to recover balance. Kenneth jumped up and seized Guile, catching his neck in a claw swipe. In a moment Guile was on the ground and Kenneth's arm descended in another swipe. His fingers, cruelly hooked, made contact with Guile's skin and cut through, tearing out a large strip of flesh. The attack prompted a scream of agony from Guile; it was a horrible sound and Guile writhed on the rooftop under Kenneth's Hazard Masher.
But the first attack was as far as Kenneth got. Before his other arm could make an equally devastating swipe, he was suddenly sent flying as Charlie jumped in and launched a Somersault Shell point-blank into his face, fire in his eyes. Guile took the opportunity to tag out, still fazed and unsteady with pain. Charlie then continued his assault; when Kenneth blocked, Charlie pulled him closer and headbutted the college student, then flung his arms open and went straight into another Somersault Shell. Kenneth crumpled to the ground even as the attack landed. "And the American Vigilantes have defeated the Masters team!" Kyosuke announced. "Excellent show by both sides! Ladies and gentlemen, the first match set of the World Collision tournament is over. But hang on to your seats, this competition hasn't ended yet and the best is still to come!"
Osaka, Japan
Three hours have passed
"... Anything, anything at all. I don't care how unimportant it might seem, please, is there anything else you can tell me?" Ernest McGrath faced Sakura Kasugano and Darrell Markis, pleading for more details. The three of them were seated in the dining room of the hotel, McGrath having brought a pencil and notepad. "Was there anything at all that seemed out of place to you, Sakura?"
"Sakura baby?" Darrell prompted.
Sakura shook her head slowly. They'd been at this for an hour, McGrath grilling Sakura for details on what she had seen at the jewelry shop. "I've told you everything that I can remember! There's only one other detail that I haven't mentioned. When I went out, Lloyd opened the door for me. I caught a piece of paper and there were some words written on it, but I can't remember exactly what they were. Roman characters, but in a language that I don't read. That's about it."
"Really? I wish you'd brought this up sooner." McGrath twirled his pencil. "Were the words written in pencil or pen?"
"Inked, come to think of it, they were written in that same golden ink that was on our invitation cards." Sakura frowned as little by little she dredged up what scant memory she had of the scrap. "And ... I think it was the same type of calligraphy, though I can't be certain. I only had a glance at it before I threw it away."
"You threw it -! Argh! Can you at least recall the words?"
Sakura's frown deepened. "Let me write it down for you." She took the pencil, thought for a few seconds, then hesitantly jotted down a single word. "That's all I remember. I can't remember how many words there were, but this one was the first - I think. I can't even remember if this is the whole word." She handed the pad back to McGrath, who studied the paper. Fin. Short for find, perhaps?
"Hmm ..." McGrath shook his head. "Try as hard as you can to remember, Sakura. Is there anything else at all that you noticed on that day?"
"Sorry."
"It's alright." They shook hands across the table and Sakura stood up. McGrath rose also. "If you recall anything, be sure to let me know, here's my personal communicator in case you can't reach me in my room." He wrote down the code and gave it to her. "Go on ahead, I'd like to speak with Darrell for a few moments if you don't mind." Sakura didn't, so she left the dining room alone as McGrath seated himself and turned to look at Darrell. "Yesterday, Jill Valentine left for Raccoon City. I heard that you and Mitsukake are also considering packing up and leaving. Is there any way that I can talk you out of this idea?"
"Look, doctor," Darrell replied, "I know all about your suspicions. But honestly, Sakura and Mitsukake and I all took a lot of time off work to be able to come here. I know that other people have - Jill, Commando, and Ken, to name a few - and we really need to get back. I'm hoping that you're wrong. This is my idea, really."
"I see. Then, take this." McGrath picked up a piece of paper and peeled a sticker off of it. It was nearly transparent and he offered it to Darrell. "Stick this onto your skin. Once set, it can only be taken off by a solution of equal parts alcohol and ethyl. It's an IDC-made tracker and it sends a signal to a number of orbital satellites. As long as you're wearing it, we'll be able to keep track on you twenty-four hours a day. The tracker's waterproof and shock resistant. It's also totally passive, so nothing should be able to pick up on it. If anything happens, we'll know where to find you. Just don't go flame-happy; the transmitter won't survive being burnt."
"I see. Thanks, I suppose." Darrell applied the sticker to the back of his left hand. "You also providing the others with this nifty device?"
"Yes." McGrath rummaged around and found another one. "Give this to Mitsukake and tell him what it's for. Jill Valentine has one, too. Since Sakura's still staying around until the end of the tournament, I'll try to keep an eye on her while you're away." McGrath sighed. "None of this makes any sense. If I had my way, I'd try to sort out all the evidence tonight. There's a definite picture emerging, but ... my wife wants to spent the night at a fancy restaurant and I couldn't refuse her."
"Oh, really?" Darrell asked. "You lettin' a woman dictate what you do? Why, it's totally different in my house. Sakura knows exactly what's expected of her; by the time I come home, the food better be on the table, and if it ain't, I slap her across the face. I know that she'll do the laundry and leave enough hot water for me when I need to shower. You gotta show your woman who's the boss, doc."
"Darrell, listen to you!" McGrath responded, horrified by what he'd just heard. "When I come home after a hard day's work, I know that Samantha will have dinner ready, but not because she's afraid of me! She'll be waiting because she respects me! And if she hasn't finished with preparations, why, I wash my hands clean and go help her! Likewise she knows that if she comes back from a bloody battle that I'll be waiting with a towel, a bar of soap, and a fresh change of clothes. It's not about showing your wife who's the boss, not at all! It's a relationship built on mutual trust and respect!"
"If you say so," Darrell replied doubtfully.
"Trust me, man." McGrath stood up, gathering his materials. "But I could tell that you were just joking around with me, anyway. I'll give you a hint. You're planning to buy Sakura a farewell present, right?" When Darrell jumped as though he'd seen a ghost, McGrath had his answer. "That jewelry store where Karin and Ibuki disappeared may offer lower prices than any of its competitors in all of Japan, but try not to buy anything there. All they sell is zirconium." So saying, McGrath bundled his materials together and vanished through the door, heading for his room. Darrell's eyebrows arched; he hadn't realized that. At least he could get a refund for the necklace that he'd just purchased, right?
A shadow fell over Darrell; he glanced up and nearly fell out of his seat, staring as Bison towered impressively over him. He gulped loudly, but Bison merely pulled a chair opposite Darrell and sat down heavily, producing a bottle of spirits and two small drinking cups. "Darrell, you've got to try this," Bison confided. "Hard-core alcohol. Better than the sake that's sold here. The latest shipment came in just yesterday and I've been dying to share it with someone." He tilted back his head and drained a glassful of the liquid, smacking his lips. His face was contorted as though he'd just bitten into a particularly sour lemon, giving Darrell the suspicion that he was perhaps a little drunk.
"O-kay," Darrell answered warily. "What is it?"
"Exploda."
"Exploda?! Uh-oh." Darrell made a face. Bison poured him a glassful of the liquid and Darrell took it, attempting to down it in a single gulp the way that Kenneth Feng did. The moment it hit the back of his throat, though, his muscles swiftly rebelled and Darrell ended up spraying the contents of his glass all over Bison's uniform. "Whoa, that's strong!" Darrell exclaimed, wiping tears out of his eyes as Bison brushed his uniform clean. He declined when Bison offered to pour him another glass.
"Y'know," Bison commented after a moment, "life can throw any number of curveballs at you. I never thought I'd end up like this, back when I was a boy. You know what my father was? He was a lumberjack somewhere in the United States. Wanted me to be schooled properly, though. I was a good student back in high school, made straight A's, went to Yale on a full scholarship. I think I was in the same class as someone else who later became President; can't remember his name for the life of me. Anyway, I studied civics at the college. Also joined a fraternity and I used to party with the boys. That's where I met the man who'd teach me all about Psycho Power."
Bison's eyes shone red for a moment as he continued. "Psycho Power! Now here was something that defied all attempts to explain it scientifically. And yet ... it was raw power, I couldn't deny it. So I learned as much about Psycho Power as I could from the man. He took on two more students after training me, but ... well, as you can imagine, I'm not a person who appreciates competition." Bison poured himself another glass of Exploda. "So, to make a short story even shorter, I killed my master and my two fellow students. If you know anything about Psycho Power, you'll know that the more evil a person, the stronger that power manifests itself. So, to increase my power, I expelled the good side of my soul. Don't try this at home, Darrell, since the operation nearly killed me and I had to spend a month recovering."
Bison stared at his glass of Exploda without drinking it. "Ironic, isn't it? I could've been Professor Bison, a respected authority on civics, if I'd continued with my studies. Instead, here I am ready to conquer the world. And believe me, I will one day." He knocked back his glass and Darrell by this point had become convinced that Bison was thoroughly drunk. "I'll start by kidnapping those two girls, Kikoken and Chan. The Lian! Who'd ever thought that they actually existed?"
"Wha -? Wait, Bison, you mean that you're behind all these disappearances?" Darrell cried, feeling his right hand burst into flames under the table.
"Who, me? No, I didn't have anything to do with any of that." Bison shrugged. "Where was I? Oh, yes, the two girls. I suppose you're familiar with the problem of harnessing the Psycho Drive? It runs on electricity, but it needs a strong life form to draw in energies from around the world. Most bodies used as such tend to last only for days, but the Lian, now they're different. A Lian draws on elemental powers, thus they have unlimited energies to expend. With those two girls in my hands, the Psycho Drive will have an infinite source of power to draw upon. And I will rule!" Bison laughed maniacally and Darrell drew back in disgust; his breath was awful.
"What's this about kidnapping us?" a new voice interrupted. Bison swore and spun around, half-rising out of his chair. "Stay seated, Bison," Kikoken continued, playing casually with a bubble of water that floated above her open palm. Too casually. "You really think that you could take me, a Lian with, as you said, a limitless supply of power?"
"Heh, I'll have you one day, girl," Bison retorted. "Really, I only need one of you two. But why not kill two songbirds with one stone? After I've drained you of your power, I'll let Vega deal with you. Chan's the stronger one, after all, so she'll be serving Psycho Drive duty. In fact, what's to prevent me from seizing you right now, eh? I think I'm more than a match for you, girl." Bison lurched upright; Darrell growled as his hands burst into flames.
"You're drunk and even if you weren't you're rather slow-witted to begin with," Kikoken answered amiably. "Perhaps you could deal with me, but Darrell is looking rather annoyed right now. And, you'd also have to reckon with Chan over there." Bison turned to look; on Kikoken's opposite side, Chan waved merrily as a small wind began to whisper through the dining room.
"Fine, I see your point." Bison wrapped himself up in his great cape. "But I will have you two by fair means or foul. Most likely foul, given Shadowlaw's history. Good day." He faded out and gave a mocking bow as he did so, leaving behind a half-full bottle of Exploda.
"So, how was your time with Bison?" Kikoken asked conversationally as she and Chan both commandeered seats at Darrell's table.
"Not bad, actually, if it weren't for this foul stuff that I drank." Darrell pointed to the bottle, then glanced down at his left hand and swore vividly. "I knew I was forgetting something. Remind me to ask Dr. McGrath for an extra transmitter tonight, since this one went up in flames."
Osaka, Japan
One hour has passed
Brushing sweat off his forehead and breathing heavily, Shadow Kenneth gazed at the implacable opponent in front of him. He and Evil Ryu had been fighting for nearly half a day, but they'd both realized very quickly that Dadallent was simply testing them, holding much of his formidable strength back. He knew now - they both knew - that they couldn't defeat him and Shadow Kenneth was grimly aware that Dadallent knew it too. Beside him, an exhausted Evil Ryu crouched on the cobblestones. The sun was high overhead but the surrounding air was cool. Arms folded, Dadallent regarded both of the beaten fighters before shaking his head slowly. "Is that all ...? You disappoint me, both of you. Was it too much to expect you to have improved, even by a little, over a whole decade? What a waste of time."
His arms dropped to his sides as he slowly covered the distance separating them. Then, without further words, he seized both of his opponents, one in each hand. His keen spiritual eyes saw each person for who he really was - only a shadow, a broken and pitiful reflection of his true self. Shadows can mock life, but they will never be as strong as their true counterparts. They cannot be. It's sad, really. Perhaps you didn't choose this path in life, but it was chosen for you by your true counterpart. May you find peace and rest in the afterlife. Dadallent sighed and asked, "Any last words?" When neither of the two responded, he tightened his grip. Tangible darkness seemed to flow out of his hands, completely obscuring the three of them from sight, and Dadallent went about his work swiftly ...
They will eventually find the bodies, with the word for "evil" written through the hearts, Dadallent thought as he stepped out of the temple grounds, closing the gate softly behind himself.