Tangling with Shadowlaw

by Ominae

A look at Mark Sy's past as a Center and Spriggan agent. The Center agent, for the first time, takes on a terrorist group named Shadowlaw in the old days before he met up with Diana and Java.

3. Confusion

Martin Mystery: Tangling with Shadowlaw

By: Ominae

Rating: T

NOTE:

All characters of Martin Mystery are under the copyright of Marathon; all characters of Striker/Spriggan are under the copyright of Hiroshi Takashige and Ryoji Minagawa; all characters of Street Fighter are under the copyright of Capcom. I exclusively own the rights to the characters Mark Sy and Patrick Chan.

Previously:

A trip down to memory lane. Now that Mark Sy has returned back to active duty in the Center as one of its military-trained field operatives, he has been deployed to Britain alongside his old pal, Martin Mystery, from his recruitment days in order to check on Shadowlaw's plans on attacking their secret facilities in British soil, as well as to look into details of a mysterious woman, who was only known through her Shadowlaw code name "Killer Bee". To even complicate things, a mysterious visitor then shows up to the two Center agents during a simple stroll through London, wearing a white mask with claws. What will happen next? Stay tune to this chapter to find out.

Note to Maynar Namiya - As for my "Decommissioned" story, Mark doesn't show up with Martin all the time. I'll try to give him a little more background on his solo Center career with my later fanfics, especially with the years that he has been an agent before and after being a Striker. Besides, the story's based on the show after the last episode on the 1st season. Season 2 is suppose to be on the way. (SHRUGS)

Chapter 3: Confusion

Streets of London - 10:30 A.M.

"It can't be! You're..." stuttered Martin.

"Yes!" smiled the man under his mask. He placed his claw near his mask before resuming, "I am the great Vega de Cerna."

"Aka the Spanish matador?" Mark had his eyebrow raised up as he was not that surprised.

"I am impressed with you, my friend." Vega landed on the ground with a flip and posed with his right hand on his side with his mounted claws pointed near the gray asphalt.

"Whaddaya want, pretty boy?" sneered Mark with his hands folded on his chest. "Besides, what's so great about you? You always get beaten up by the likes of, let's see..." Mark stretched his hands and began to count his fingers one by one. "Ryu, Charlie, Guile, Chun-Li, Ken, Guy, Cody, the list just goes on and on and on and on..."

"Pretty boy?" inquired Martin with a wide grin. "This, I like to hear from you, pal."

"He likes his face a lot. Claims that he's the most handsome man in the world." answered Mark.

"Then why does he needs a mask?" asked Martin once more. "That's...kinda weird, you know."

"Probably since he's secretly a gay." bragged Mark while trying to suppress his laughter.

"Yeah, gay." commented Martin in agreement.

"QUIET!" Vega did a slashing motion with his hand and landed his claw near the necks of the two Center operatives.

"Are you here to help us or kill us?" suggested Mark cooly to his actions.

Vega then slowly puts his hand down on his side. "You do have a point. Besides, I'm not here to kill you both anyway."

"What can you tell us right now?" demanded Martin.

"Killer Bee will be sent on a reconnaissance and a possible assassination mission somewhere in her native Britain. I will send you the details as soon as possible." answered Vega cooly with his arms folded on his waist. His claws were resting on his arm, though they were not touching it.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" The two Center agents were now getting confused over the amount of information that they were now receiving. "How do you know all of this? I'm starting to wonder if Bison does know all about this? Besides, why are you helping us?" asked Mark.

"If he does, then why would I be here? And to answer your other question, I'm beginning to despise Bison over his plans with Killer Bee." replied Vega.

"He does have a point, Mark." added Martin in agreement.

"What plans with Killer Bee?" Mark continued to interrogate Vega sternly.

"I will answer them in my next e-mail communcation with you, young grasshopper." answered Vega.

"Fine. And don't call me grasshopper!" hissed Mark at his comments.

"It is agreed then." Vega assumes a jumping stance on the ground. "I will contact you soon." In a few seconds, Vega jumped on the roof of a nearby apartment building before disappearing from the eyesights of both Mark and Martin.

"So we do have an ally for ourselves?" inquired Martin as he faced Mark in confusion.

"I guess so. Let's boogie anyhow. I need to get some lunch." Mark then walked off towards the main street with Martin following behind when they were interrupted by a British accented voice.

"Spin Drive Smasher!"

The two agents turned around to locate the source of the voice. The only thing that amazed them was that Martin was first attacked by the mysterious person, who kicked him in his chest with her Cannon Drill technique and he merely replied with an "OOF". Mark jumped and tried to do a Stealth Dive, but was at the receiving end of her boot to his face with her Cannon Spike move. When she dropped on the ground safely, Mark was facing the asphalt while Martin landed on some discarded cardboard boxes on the sidewalk. The mysterious person landed on the ground with her hands helping her stabilize so as not to fall. Mark had mentally noted her clothes; he still remembered the time that M.O.M. had shown the two operatives her photo in her sky blue Shadowlaw Psycho Doll garrison uniform. His body was aching for action, though he did not want to hurt the renowed brainwashed Shadowlaw assassin.

"Dammit!" Mark got up on his feet and assumed a Hachiji Daichi (Ready Stance in Wado-Ryu Karate) stance and faced the lone assassin. "Stop it, Killer Bee! We don't want to hurt you!"

"I do!" yelled Martin as he cleaned the debris from his clothes before getting into his Kung Fu impression by doing a Wing Chun stance that he learned on tv. "Just look what she did to me and my cool clothes!"

"Just what did you watch this morning, Martin?" Mark shifted his feets and arms while trying to encircle Killer Bee around. "Listen to us, we can help you. We don't want to hurt you."

"Hostile targets in range. Beginning anti-personnel combat mode. Preparing to analyze for possible combat data." said Killer Bee with her robotic voice. Mark saw Killer Bee raising her arms and shifting her legs in a Shadowlaw Special Forces combat stance.

"I SAID STOP IT! WE DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU!" shouted Mark while activating his U-Watch to obtain his X-Staff. Martin did likewise and in a matter of seconds, both of their X-Staffs had changed into quarterstaff forms. "Why must I always resort to violence?" thought Mark while gripping his weapon.

"Well, I'm going to hurt her and I'll rock her world!" yelled Martin as he charged at Killer Bee from behind with his quarterstaff hoisted over his head like a baseball stance. In minutes, Killer Bee grabbed his wrist, twisted it and threw him near a trash can, tumbling it and covering Martin with sooth all over his clothing. She then tossd his X-Staff down to a curb before resuming her fighting stance.

Killer Bee rushed at Mark as he tried to strike her with his quarterstaff on her side. She quickly blocked it, gripped it and threw him across the street with his weapon as leverage. Killer Bee, with confidence, threw his X-Staff near him. Mark twirled his legs, placed his hands near his head and leapt up, getting to his Junzuki Daichi (Sparring Stance in Wado-Ryu Karate) stance as he prepared to face against the relentless genetically altered Shadowlaw assassin.

"Gale Kick!" Mark did a Mawashi Geri (Roundhouse) movement as he turned his body just enough for him to completely exert some force in kicking the face of Killer Bee as a roundhouse kick move with some traces of ki exiting his foot before and after kicking her twice. It knocked the Shadowlaw Doll from her feet to the ground. She immediately countered by springing herself off the floor, but not letting her get up as he placed her hands on the ground and kicking the Philippine Center operative with two boots onto his chest, sending him near a parked 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV parked nearby with his cap flying out of his head on impact. The vehicle didn't have a dent, but Mark was a little bit hurt from her attack and was beginning to cough some blood. Killer Bee did a small leap and landed in front of Mark and kneeled before his side with her head close to his ears.

"It's a shame that I had to hurt you and your friend for Master Bison. You're such a handsome boy." whispered Killer Bee to Mark's ear, which was soothing since his back hair stood up at the tone of her voice.

"Snap of it! You're (COUGH) under Shadow (COUGH) law's control (COUGH)!" demanded Mark as he kept coughing blood . Killer Bee was busy wiping blood from his chin with her thumb.

"Awww. Did I hurt you, cutie pie?" Killer Bee gently squeezed his cheeks with a wicked smile. "Don't worry, I'll make you all better. If you were only with us, then we wouldn't have to meet like this."

"Try me." Mark had a smug grin on his face.

Without blinking her eyes for two seconds, Mark quickly used his stealth teleport out of Killer Bee's view. He was soon standing behind her.

"Do I have to get myself clear to your thick British skull? I said, you have to snap out of it! Fight it! Shadowlaw's ruining your life!"

Now Killer Bee was furious at Mark for getting away and trying to fight her again. "Not when I'm through with you, you little runt! It's a shame that I have to ruin your cute face!" shouted Killer Bee, running to his position with her clenched fist. "Oh well, I tried to help you." Mark shrugged his shoulders and countered her striking punch by executing the Koshigumura throw; he used his right hand to grab Killer Bee's right shoulder and arm. He then used his strength to lift her right arm before throwing her over his shoulder and landing on the street's gray asphalt with a thud. She was soon knocked out.

"Don't call me little, dammit!" Mark angrily replied at Killer Bee's harmful comments. He turned his focus to Martin, who got up slowly after his impact on the nearby trash can.

"Martin? You okay?" He then approached the Canadian operative, who was still removing the sooth and dirt from his jacket. "Yea, don't worry about me."

Both agents came near the unconscious body of Killer Bee. "So this gal's the one that Shadowlaw will be after, Mark?"

"Yep." He then took out his Nokia 8210 cellphone and began to dial some numbers. But as he tried to get the call done, Killer Bee rose up to her feet and assumed her Shadowlaw Special Forces combat stance when she held her head with her hands.

"MY HEAD! MY HEAD! GET OUT! GET OUT! AAAAGGGHHH!" With that, she quickly ran out towards the direction of the main street before leaping to nowhere.

(Sweat drop) "Is she having a headache or is her brainwashing therapy beginning to fade?" observed Martin in awe.

(Sweat drop) "Both." Mark was soon distracted by the party on the other line with his cellphone. "Hello! Get me Colonel Wolfman right away, it's very important!"

"Colonel Wolfman here."

"Colonel, it's me Mark."

"Lieutenant! Are you and Martin all right?"

"Yes sir. We just had our first and personal encounter with Killer Bee."

"The KILLER BEE? Bison's personal killer and bodyguard?"

"Yep. The one and the same."

"Where are you?"

"We're at the West End District, in the residential area."

"Okay, we just got your location. I'll send some of my people right away. Whatever you do, don't go anywhere."

"Of course, Colonel." Mark pressed the end call button and placed it in his inner jacket pocket.

"How do you feel, Martin?"

"Aside from a splitting headache and joint pains, I'm perfectly fine."

"Let's sit down on the curb and wait." Mark then assisted Martin to sit on the curb since he had some sore joints from being thrown by Killer Bee before Mark took his cap from the road. After waiting for 20 minutes due to Britain's horrible traffic, a 2002 Land Rover Range Rover SUV came up to them. George Ginzu exited the vehicle and assisted them in getting inside. With Rita Luwanda at the wheel, they drove back to Delta Red Headquarters.

Unknown Corridor, Delta Red Headquarters, MI-6 Building, Britain - 1:30 P.M.

Martin was now being checked at the infirmary for any signs of injuries or bruises while Mark waited outside as he had been the first to undergo a checkup. Leaning on a chair as he tried to relax, he sensed footsteps approaching him and used his psychic sense to identify two unseen individuals approaching the infirmary.

"Commander Watson and Colonel Wolfman, I presume?"

The two muscular figures, consisting of both Commander Watson and Colonel Wolfman, came around the corner and walked towards the infirmary, stunned on what they've just heard from the Pinoy Center agent.

"How did you know? We weren't even around here yet?" wondered Commander Watson.

"That's my secret, sir." Mark stood up from his chair and gave both Delta Red officers a salute. The two of them saluted back before the two officers took their seats next to the Center operative.

"How is Martin doing?" asked Commander Watson with some concern in his voice tone.

"From what the doctor's said, he's doing well. Only some bruises and cut, but none of them are serious."

"And you?" added Colonel Wolfman.

"Don't worry about me, Colonel." replied Mark, waving his hand near his face. "I'm used to this kind of stuff."

"After he's done, I guess you can return back to your hotel room. Just be careful, Shadowlaw's probably trying to send spies in to observe you guys." insisted Commander Watson.

"Thank you, Commander." answered Mark.

"I guess we'll take our leave now." Commander Watson and Colonel Wolfman stood up from their seats. Mark hastily stood from his seat and gave them a salute.

"We'll see you later, Lieutenant." said Commander Watson as he saluted back before he walked with Colonel Wolfman back to the main corridor

"Sir, will Interpol be involved in this?" Mark hastily threw one more question before the two turned around back to the corridor.

"Yes, they will." was the reply from Commander Watson before he and Colonel Wolfman disappeared from his eyesight.

Bison's Office, Covert Shadowlaw Base, Somewhere in Ireland - 10:00 P.M.

"Master Bison, Commander Juli of the Psycho Dolls has something to say." announced a Shadowlaw trooper, who was wearing a black Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), completely decked with a black balaclava mask and black PASGT ballistic helmet with a BlackHawk Omega Tactical Vest Cross Draw combat vest in a black color. He was armed with the Mechem BXP submachine gun chambered in 9 x 19mm Parabellum caliber, which was slinged on his shoulder. For his sidearm, he was issued with the Star Megastar pistol chambered in .45 ACP caliber. Another Shadowlaw trooper was standing guard on the corridor near Bison's office.

"She must have the surveillance reports that I've asked of her." M. Bison simply gestured to the soldier to send her in and stood up with his hands on his desk.

The armed Shadowlaw soldier opened the door for Juli of the Psycho Dolls as she arrived in Bison's office, standing before his desk, with a folder tucked under her arm. "Leave us now, Corporal."

"Yes sir!." The Shadowlaw trooper saluted Bison as he returned the trooper's salute. The trooper resumed guarding the front door of Bison's office after closing his door.

"What is it, Juli?" Bison now reclined in his chair, waiting for Juli to respond to his question. He had his fingertips touch one another as he waited for her to speak up.

"I have the surveillance reports that you've asked of. It also included Killer Bee's status reports on her mission in Britain." Juli casually walked near Bison's desk and handed him the folder.

"Excellent work!" commented Bison as he browsed through the folder. "You may go now, Commander."

"Sir!" Juli gave a stern salute to Bison. He soon returned it after standing up before seeing her leave his office. Once he was alone, he began to read the reports that were inside the folder.

"Killer Bee has failed her mission to capture combat data from the Center scum eh? No matter, I'll have her arranged anyway as planned." Bison peered through another file and saw the photos of two familiar faces, the pictures of Canadian agent Martin Mystery and Filipino agent Mark Sy.

"So the Center's fighting back, hm? No matter, I'll still raid their research facility in Britain. Let's see if these two chumps can stop me. But, this Mark Sy seems to be quite interesting." Bison picked Mark's surveillance photo and waved it in front of his face.

He turned to the folder and picked up the report that Juli has complied regarding her unit's encounter with the rising Center agent in 1998. "So, this young boy seems to be quite a challenge to Juli's Psycho Dolls and to Killer Bee. No matter, I will personally arrange him myself."

"Since Killer Bee was not able to obtain combat data from the two Center agents, she needs to disappear from my presence. Once and for all!"

Bison pressed a button on his personal intercom, linking it to the intercom machine near his door outside his office. "Corporal, send Commander Juli to my office right away after an hour."

"What should I tell her sir?" asked the soldier, who spoke through the intercom.

Bison grinned for a moment before he replied to the soldier's query. "Tell her that I'm going to give her some instructions once she arrives in my office. It's very important for her to know."

"Yes sir!" With that, the voice from the other line died down as Bison released his finger on his intercom machine.

"I have a feeling that Mark Sy will have quite an interesting background to check on."

Bison's menacing laugh soon echoed from the confines of his office room throughout the corridors and hallways of his Shadowlaw base hidden in the Irish countryside. Those who have heard the great Shadowlaw leader laugh cower in fear for they do not know what will he do next. Only time will tell. Only time will tell.

PS

1. Got the Totally Spies reference? Good if you know. If not, then it's your loss. : p

Chapter 3 END