Chapter 8-Back to the Fight!
In the room, Ryu stood, facing down Chun-Li. This was not how he wanted to reconcile their relationship. He envisioned a romantic dinner, clutching her hands, and giving her a earnest, heartful apology. Now, he was engaged in a fight for his life. But he couldn't tap into the hidden power he discovered almost two weeks earlier in his battle against Akuma. From behind a visor, Bison and his two associates, Juri and Vega, watched to see any changes in the warriors' power levels.
Bison groaned in aggravation. He said, "He must be withholding his power! In this fight, with a skilled opponent-if he would reach into that reservoir, this fight would be over quickly." Vega replied, "I think the reason he isn't is because of his feelings for her. Despite the danger of this fight, he isn't pushing himself because he cannot stand the though of hurting her." Juri laughed sarcastically, and said, "Love? What a foolish thing to waste his talent on!" Bison said, "Indeed. This fight needs something more…I know!" He pressed a button on his panel, and a message appeared-"FLOOR CAPACITATORS CHARGING."
Vega saw this, and said, "You're going to electrify the floor?" Bison replied, "Yes! It will spur them on to fight!" Juri said, "At least it will make it interesting…" While this was happening, Ryu continued to circle Chun-Li, looking for an opening to attack. Meanwhile, she shifted her arms, as though switching stances. Ryu took a step forward, and as he did, the floor panel activated, sending the current into him. Ryu cried out in pain, and dropped to one knee. Chun-Li stopped, and looked towards Bison, with a glare on her face. Bison exclaimed, "Go! This is your chance!"
Chun-Li flipped towards Ryu, kicking towards his head-since he was still on his knee. He brought his arm up to block the attack, then threw a punch towards her midsection. She brought her hands down to block, then flipped over Ryu's head. While she was in the air, she turned and attempted to land on his head. Ryu, sensing the attack, rolled out of the way-and right onto an electrified panel! As Ryu staggered, Chun-Li kicked him in his midsection, the spun and kicked him under his chin, launching him into the air. She then spun her plant leg upwards, hitting Ryu. She used the force to spin and kick him again, and spun and hit him twice more. Ryu fell to the ground, landing with a thud.
From their vantage-point, Bison shook his head. He said, "This is taking too much time. What more needs to be done to draw out his power?" What Bison didn't know, what that he was about to get his wish…and realize that it's best to be careful what you wish for…Ryu picked himself up off the ground. He saw Chun-Li standing in her fighting stance. As Ryu stood up, the sensors began to pick up a rising power source. Bison looked at his sensor, and said, "Hmm…something's happening."
Ryu began to breath. He then brought his leg up, and then brought his leg down, similar to the stance of his one-time adversary Akuma. But this time, wings of energy appeared from his back, and a bright blue light shot out from his body. The energy caused a feedback, and Bison's sensors shorted and exploded. Ryu then declared, "THIS ENDS NOW!" The wings disappeared, and he dashed towards Chun-Li. Chun-Li fired a Kikoken-but Ryu simply swatted the attack away and closed the distance.
Chun-Li then leapt into the air, and landed-only to see Ryu standing in front of her. He threw a punch that sent her flying across the room. She stood up, and charged him, throwing several kicks. Ryu, in his heightened state, simply dodged the kicks by moving to the side. He then drew his arm back, the hit her with an elbow in her side. His next attack was a knee to her chest, followed by an axe kick that slammed her into the ground.
In the meantime, Bison was watching the fight now with rapt attention. He said, "Is there any way we can measure this? This is what we've been waiting for!" Vega said, "We're trying to get the systems online...and he shorted out the electric grid on the floor, as well." Juri, with a psychotic smirk, watched the fight, gasping in near-orgasmic ecstasy, "That's so incredible! What power!" After a few more moments, Vega said, "We're online, again!" Bison looked at the reading, and said, "That isn't possible…no human can reach those power levels." Juri, in a mocking tone, said, "You can't reach those power levels." Bison said -in a voice low and so that only Vega could hear, "Remind me to find a suitable punishment for her…"
Ryu looked at Chun-Li, and said, "I do not know what has possessed you, but I will free you!" Chun-Li replied, "What if I don't want to be free?" Ryu replied, "If that was your decision-fine. But would you really seek to dishonor the memory of your father?" Chun-Li seethed, and said, "Don't speak about my father like you knew him! You don't know what I've been through!" Ryu replied, "Oh? I don't have a family-and the only person who was like a father to me was murdered…you're preaching to the choir!"
Chun-Li looked towards him, and then said, "And our relationship…you left me over a misunderstanding!" Ryu said, "I know. I should have trusted you. And I am sorry for that." Chun-Li said, "'I'm sorry'? You left me, crying in my apartment!" Ryu said, "I don't know what else to do to show my regret at my decision. But if you will not throw off Bison's shackles, then I have no choice but to break them." Chun-Li, with shock, asked, "Why would you do that?" Ryu simply replied, "Because…because I love you…and only you."
Before Chun-Li could register what he said, or even what had happened, Ryu appeared behind her, and hit her in the back of her neck with a chop. She staggered, and turned around. She put her hands above her head, then swung them out and towards Ryu. She then said, "Take this! YAMI-Ki-Ko-Shoooo!" She then released a massive ball of dark energy that Ryu ran into. Chun-Li smiled, as she could sense Ryu being hit with the sphere of energy. As the attack dissipated, she saw Ryu standing there-with the top of his gi blasted off. She said, "No! You…withstood that?" He replied, "Yes. And now-it's my turn!" He then drew his palms to his waist, and began to charge his ki. He then pushed his palms out, saying, "Tenzen-Shinkuuu-Hadoken!" A sphere of energy shot towards Chun-Li, and hit her with so much force, she slammed into the wall. As she did, the force broke some of her ribs, and she collapsed on the ground.
She struggled to get up, and she looked at Ryu. She said, "I can't…I can't believe you would hit me!" Ryu walked up to her, and caressing her cheek and looking into her true brown eyes, said, "No, Chun-Li. Not you." Then, he released his energy, which caused her to collapse. As she fell, he grabbed her. He said, "That other Chun-Li, though…she was bad news. She had to go…" At that, the door to the room opened, and Bison walked in. Vega and Juri were with him. Vega was holding a portable sensor. Bison said, "What are the readings now, Vega?" Vega read the scanner, and said, "It's back to before the fight." Juri moaned, and said, "Oh what a shame…"
Bison said, "Oh, Ryu…where is the power you wielded moments ago? With that power, no force on Earth would be a match for you." Ryu said, "It is still there…but I only access it for short periods of time. If I overextend the use-it could be fatal." Bison said, "I must posses this power!" Ryu replied, "This power I wield is a power born of purity. That is why I was able to undo your mind manipulation. And it is also why someone as evil as yourself will never gain that power." Bison said, "It is no matter! I will use your power to fuel my Psycho Beam…"
And at that, several Shadaloo soldiers surrounded Ryu and Chun-Li, with assault rifles pointed at the couple. Bison laughed, and said, "…and there is no one on Earth who can stop me!"
Meanwhile…several aircraft carriers were stationed in the Pacific. On board the main carrier, the USS Invincible, Colonel Guile and Major Cammy White, were looking at an area map. They both knew the general area of Shadaloo's underground facility, but they needed something more concrete. Guile had also been informed of Chun-Li's kidnapping, and the possibility that Ryu was also with her. Cammy sighed in frustration, and said, "I wish we had a clue as to where those buggers are. We might as well put on blindfolds on and throw darts at the map."
At that moment, a UN solider entered the room. He said, "Excuse me, Colonel, Major. Something's just happened. You'll need to see it." Both Cammy and Guile followed the solider to the ship's control room. Guile said, "What's happening?" One of the technicians said, "Well, we just picked up a massive power surge. In fact we have isolated the signal to within 10 miles." Guile said, "OK, then. Show me." The technician hit some buttons, and a map of the area appeared. Several concentric circles appeared over an area populated by jungles and a large temple. Cammy said, "I'll quote you Yanks, and say that dollars to donuts that the base is in that temple."
Guile said, "OK, than. I'll inform the UN Security General. Hopefully we can get a force mobilized within the next few hours."
Ryu has freed Chun-Li from Bison's Psycho Power…but they are still prisoners! And Guile and Cammy-as well as the UN are mobilizing to strike back! What will happen next?