Chapter 9

Once again…Ryu found himself sitting in a small cell. Only moments before, he had fought his friend-his lover-Chun-Li. She had been under the influence of Bison's Psycho Power, which only amplified her considerable fighting abilities. The fight had pushed him to tap into his new power. While he was able to control the power, he hadn't learned how to use it for extended periods without risking damage to his own body…or so he claimed. And after the fight, they had taken Chun-Li to another cell. He had hoped they got her medical attention…but considering the fact that his captors were criminally sociopathic, he put the notion of mercy for them out of his head.

The door to his cell opened, and two armed sentries trained their guns on Ryu. Ryu, in turn, brought his hands up. He said, "How odd…the two of you with guns…and I'm an unarmed man." At that, Vega came behind him. Vega said, "We have seen what you can do unarmed. But we've got you a gift. We even patched it up for you." At that, another guard brought in Chun-Li-and Ryu saw that her arms were bound behind her back. Vega removed the bounds, and then pushed Chun-Li towards Ryu, who caught her. Vega said, "Don't get too comfortable, amigo! Bison's nearing completion for the Psycho Beam. And he intends to demonstrate its power to the world!"

Ryu looked at Vega in silence, as the assassin laughed, taking the sentries with him. Ryu then turned his attention to Chun-Li. He looked into her eyes, and she looked back. He said, "How are you feeling?" Chun-Li said, "Horrible." She looked at Ryu, and said, "I…I need to do something…" She then drew her hand back, and brought it across Ryu's face. Ryu grabbed his cheek, and looking into Chun-Li's face, could see anger cross her features. Ryu, holding his face, said, "I guess I deserve that…"

Then, in a move that caught the warrior by surprise, cradled his face, and kissed Ryu. Ryu eagerly accepted the kiss, and said, "I'm so sorry to have put you through this. I left you when you needed me…I was so confused and angry…I walked out on you…" Chun-Li smiled, and said, "It's OK…I know that this is first time that both of us have been in love. And we should have known that things wouldn't always be rainbows and sunshine. But you showing how much regret you feel about what you did shows me how much you love me."

Meanwhile, in the base's control room, Bison stood on a platform above the technicians operating the Psycho Beam. One of the technicians said, "Lord Bison, the weapon is powered up to maximum. Once we have placed the conduit, the weapon will be ready to fire." Bison said, "Excellent. Bring our guests here." As they sentries were heading to the cell, Chun-Li and Ryu were bonding. Chun-Li said, "What's going to happen now?" Ryu said, "Bison saw me full power. I believe he wants to place me in his weapon, and use it."

Chun-Li said, "But you can't tap into that power without endangering your life!" Ryu said, "Hmm…and what makes you think I told Bison the complete truth about my power? Bison is a man with no honor…and so, I only told him parts of what I can do. The truth…is beyond what he can comprehend." Before Chun-Li could ask Ryu what he meant, the door opened, and Vega appeared, along with several armed sentries. Vega said, "Amigo…I hope you are ready. For you will help Bison usher in a new age!" The guards grabbed Ryu and Chun-Li, and bound their hands behind their backs. The group then trooped towards the control room.

Bison declared, "Ahh…Ryu. Here is our man of the hour." Ryu glared at Bison, and Bison said, "Why do you have that look? You should be proud…because soon, the world will have but one master. I ,who will be the one to rule them all." Ryu simply said, "I am warning you…if you try this, you will be a ruler of a kingdom of ruin and ash." Bison said, "Still defiant…" Bison then looked at Chun-Li, and said, "And it is only fitting that the detective who has chased and hounded me only have a front row seat as I ascend to Godhood!" Two sentries grabbed Ryu and sat him in the conduit chamber. They attached several sensors to Ryu's body, after this, Bison said, "Power up the Psycho Beam!"

The room hummed as energy flowed into the weapon. Bison looked at a global map, and said, "Aim the device towards the Amazon Jungle!" The technicians aimed the weapon, and Bison said, "There. Right there-that village will be a perfect target!" Bison said, "Power up the weapon!" Ryu felt the machine push energy into his body-and he began to push the energy back. Bison said, "Yes! Yes! Awaken your power!" Bison turned to the gauges, and saw that the machine was feeding off of Ryu's rising power. One of the techs then said, "The Psycho Beam is ready!"

Bison then said, "Good! Open the communication channels!" The technicians did, and Bison the turned to a camera. He declared, "Good day, world! I am your soon-to-be ruler, Bison! You see, at this moment, I am preparing a test of my newest weapon. And once the rulers of the world see this weapon in action, they will have no choice but to acquiesce to my demands." He then turned to his technician, and said, "Fire the weapon!" At that, the tech pushed a button, and a purple beam fired from the superweapon.

As the beam traveled through space, Ryu said, "You should have listened to my advice…" He then closed his eyes, and concentrated. The beam, which had reached the upper atmosphere, then began its downward spiral towards Earth. It sped downwards, heading towards its intended target. A sinister sneer appeared on the face of Bison-but that sneer soon turned to disbelief. The beam, a mere few thousand feet above the target- dissipated into nothingness. Bison, who had moments ago was plotting to take over the world, stood in stunned silence. When he did speak, he said, "Turn off the camera! Turn it off!"

Bison then looked at Ryu, and said, "What happened?" Ryu said, "I warned you about trying to use powers beyond your comprehension. And all those things I told you-I was trying to warn you. But since you only care about your own selfish whims…" Ryu then broke the restraints as if they were paper. He looked at the Psycho Beam, and said, "I wonder what would happen if I tapped into my maximum power…I don't think your weapon could handle it…" And at that, a blue aura surrounded Ryu. The technicians, all looking at their monitors, said, "The power capacitors are already at maximum! If he continues to feed them…"

No sooner than that was said, Ryu caused a massive feedback into the Psycho Beam and its support machines. The machines shorted out, and the super-weapon shorted and blew up. Ryu then stood there, and his power returned to normal. He then said to Bison, "I have been able to control my hidden power for a long time. In fact, after my fight with Akuma, I discovered that I could in fact control my power." Bison said, "If that's true, then why don't you always use it? What force on Earth could oppose you?"

Ryu said, "The reason I don't…is what separates me and you. I am a master of my power…and you are a slave to your own. And you are right…no force on Earth could oppose me…not even your own. But I was content to live a life of relative peace. And YOU sought me out. And after what you tried to do to me…and the woman I love…THAT…IS UNFORGIVABLE!" Bison then stated, "Do you think I care for your 'forgiveness? I am a GOD among men…and gods do not pander for forgiveness!" Ryu replied, "None of us are gods. I am but a simple warrior. And you…you're a madman with only aspires to be a god. Let me give you a saying-'Be careful of reaching for heaven…for if you fail, the only thing you have is a long fall.'"

Bison said, "Charming words…but I don't care for your words! I care for action! So put your power against mine, and we'll see who is superior." Ryu said, "If that is your desire…"

And as all of this was happening, Colonel Guile, Major Cammy White, and a force of nearly 70 UN soldiers were in several small craft, heading towards the interior of Thailand. They had a clue about where Bison's base was, but time was not on their side. They had seen the demonstration of Bison's Psycho Beam, and were concerned that Bison might try to use the weapon again. Guile said, "I don't have a clue as to how we're gonna find that base."

Cammy said, "Don't worry, love. I think I can find us a contact." Guile said, "Oh, yeah? Who?" Cammy replied, "Don't worry about that. Give me a couple hours…because I need to locate a large, scarred, one-eyed brute who owes a debt to Ryu."

Dun-dun-dunnnn! (Stinger!) What awaits our heroes next time!?

And a special note: Next chapter will contain some fights and action! Promise!