Episode 7 – Masked Beauty - (An invitation or a trap?)
On the last exciting episode of Street Fighter II- Deep Core Crisis. Chun-Li had a rough night battling Vega, but for some reason she hesitated to kill him, and for this Vega showed the ultimate appreciation, cutting himself to display his passion for Chun-Li.
-- Royal Hotel, Barcelona 09.46 am --
Chun-Li made her way to the reception wearing her office dress. Her beautiful long brown hair was braided, and while she didn't notice, her seducing hips which swung to the rhythm of her walk, captured the attention of the male staff. She leaned towards the counter and waited for the receptionist.
"What can I help you with, young lady?" An older man in his fifties approached her.
"For some reason, my telephone did not work last night." She said abruptly as if she was in some kind of hurry.
"What suite number are you staying at?" After she had told him, the man scowled.
"I am so sorry, it seems that our adapter which we have connected to our wireless modem had somehow turned itself off during the night." Chun-Li sighed and nodded while turning around, seemingly wanting to get back to her suite.
"Is there anything we can do to make it up to you?" The receptionist asked politely, she looked over her shoulder and smiled.
"No it's okay." And with that she stepped in the elevator.
-- Interpol Headquarters, New York 10.32 am --
Barrac sat on his office chair fumbling through various reports which he had to file through and approve, the redundant expression on his face, signaled his unwillingness and lack of interest, and to make things worse, the air-conditioning system had its days, and the entire staff waited for the maintenance to show up on this sunny day. The phone rang, and Barrac picked it up.
"Barrac speaking..."
"Chief..." He immediately recognized the voice.
"Ms. Li how are things progressing?"
"I am in Barcelona and..." He interrupted her.
"What!? didn't I tell you to stay away from that place?" Disappointment was evident in his tone.
"I am sorry Chief, but I had to investigate further, Vega has surfaced again, and I was close to arresting him."
"Argh... Ms. Li I can understand your frustration, but the truth still remains the same, we have nothing on him at this moment the only thing we can use against him is his psychology report that you will write with the help of Dr. Raul Julia Salgado. By the way did he give you a copy of his studies on Vega? This is the only thing that would possibly hold up in the Spanish court or any court in particular." Barrac paused for a brief moment to catch up on some air.
"Yes he did, but I have just found out that he has been murdered not long after we had talked." Barrac eyes widened.
"Shit! This can't be happening..." Chun-Li waited patiently for further instructions.
"I apologize for my language Ms. Li, but this is getting absurd by the minute, do you have further Intel on the situation?"
"Last night Vega invaded my hotel suite, he launched a full attack on me and threatened to kill me."
"Bastard... Has he harmed you in any way?"
"No, I managed to drive him off, and he escaped like the coward he is."
"This is not good news, I smell a conspiracy in the making here, not only are we restricted due to bureaucratic limitations, which would reduce this operation to a hotdog eating contest, but our key witness Dr. Raul Julia Salgado is dead too!? This is too fishy for my taste, and the recent attacks on our members has got to be a directly involved with this."
"Why can't we just send a sweeper team and arrest Vega?" Chun-Li pleaded.
"Because the Spanish government wants their own police forces to intervene, and as you know the Spanish Interpol department have not been active in the Shadowlaw investigation since Vega fled out of Spain quite a few years ago, so they are very slow on the trigger right now. But now the CIA is putting pressure on me and are threatening to close my team down if don't deal with this matter quickly, they are willing to make this a military operation rather than a joint one."
"So what should I do?"
"Stay put. I am sending lieutenant Guile to aid you, I will brief him quickly and he will be there in tops six hours, so stay put. We need to lay low and let this unfold so we can draw a bigger picture and get the CIA off my back. I know you and Guile have some experience in the field working together, so this is the best I can do right now."
"Thank you sir. Oh I almost forgot I have sent you a micro chip I snatched from Vega last night. I hope our labs can determine its whereabouts."
"They will, as soon as it gets here, good job! Take care Ms. Li" Chun-Li hung up and let herself fall on the soft double bed, she stared at the ceiling for quite a while trying to figure out what was happening.
"Why would he let me live... This doesn't add up..." She realized that she was starting to talk to herself, and decided to go out for a walk, it would do her good. Just as she was to leave the hotel, the receptionist called out her name.
"Ms. Li!?" She turned to face the man.
"We have received a package for you..." Chun-Li went to the reception and took a hold of the package it was wrapped in silk and had a beautiful red veil and a sticker attached to it. When she opened it she found a beautiful blue ball gown with a matching ball mask, underneath the gown was a red rose and an invitation to a masked ball which was to be held at the castle De Maria Isabelle. Intrigued by all this Chun-Li had a cunning smile on her lips, she took the package to her suite. She read the invitation carefully.
"Dear Ms. Li you are invited to participate at tonight's masked ball as the castle of De Maria Isabelle. You may bring an additional friend to the ball. Yours truly ...."
Chun-Li looked suspicious and figured that Vega was behind this since the four punctuations could only spell out Vega. She got an interesting idea and went out again, this time she wasn't about to take a walk, but rather go shopping.
-- Royal Hotel, Barcelona 6 Hours later --
She heard someone knocking at the door, so she went to see who it was, and to no surprise it was Guile.
"Guile! I'm so glad to see you." He smirked back to her.
"Good to see you too Kido!" She asked him to come inside, as they sat on the couch they started to talk.
"So what's this I hear that Vega attacked you last night?" He asked abruptly.
"Yeah I had a late night visitation..." She looked down at her lap and blushed, she was embarrassed about the fact that she was helpless against Vega and did not achieve one thing during their fight.
"It's gonna be alright." Guile said and looked around.
"Damn... Why didn't I get such a nice suite."
"Thi-hi, I guess they don't know that you have excellent taste." He grinned and stood up, and noticed the package on the table.
"What the..."
"I hope this tux will fit you, oh and what do you think of this mask?" Guile looked at her with disbelief.
"Oh no... we are not going to a masked ball?" He said while gulping.
"Oh yes we are..." She giggled. After Guile had been forced to dress up for the night he stepped out of one room and looked at Chun-Li with a depressed expression.
"This is not my style! You know this Chun."
"Haha! No, cut it out. You look really cute!" She replied.
"I think you are enjoying this..." He looked away and crossed his arms in protest.
"Thi-hi! More than you know." She grabbed a yellow ball gown and went into the bathroom.
"Aren't you gonna use the one the bastard sent you?" Guile asked and looked puzzled.
"You see therein lies the catch..."
"Huh?"
"I don't want him to recognize me, it would be naive to think that this invitation isn't a trap. Believe me I know Vega far too well to be fooled into this. While he least expects it we will arrest him and deport his ass to the states." Chun-Li came out dressed in a beautiful yellow ball gown, her hair was set up, she chose a tussled chignon look which only enhanced her beauty. She then equipped herself with her handgun which she hid in a leg holster.
"Hah! Amen to that." Guile took his dessert eagle and stuck it in his belt and covered it up.
"Are you hunting elephants with that thing?" She asked surprised.
"I never leave home without it." As they walked out of the hotel Guile noticed a luxurious limo parking outside.
"Where's all this money coming from?" He turned his gaze to Chun-Li who smiled back to him.
"I guess working for a goof agency pays off in the end. Man... I gotta find me a new job, the military discount I get is a joke compared to this." She took hold of his arm and guided him inside. While the limo was driving, Guile and Chun-Li planned the evening.
"Now remember Guile from the moment we get out of this vehicle we will ware our masks at all time, so that Vega won't recognize us."
"You told me the freak knew almost everything about you, what if he still recognizes you?"
"He won't I bought a new perfume for this occasion, just to be sure that he doesn't pick up my normal scent." Guile began laughing violently.
"Bwahaha! So you are telling me that you two are more than just arch nemesis?" Chun-Li frowned.
"Will you cut it out. Men... you are all the same. For your information there is nothing between us, the man almost killed me. I don't think I have much love left for him..." She looked away in irritation.
"So was there something before that incident?" Guile asked.
"No! Of course not, hello! Earth calling Guile, undercover Interpol agents and Shadowlaw terrorists don't mix too well." She made a silly face signaling to Guile how far out his assumptions were.
"I know... I was just trying to cheer you up..." Guile's poor excuse made her laugh.
"Anyways! This entire thing smells of trouble, I overheard your boss talking to someone over the phone speaking about a SWAT team being slaughtered at a brothel in New York. Apparently they were on to the killer who has been massacring hookers all over town."
"Decapre..." Guile looked puzzled.
"Who?"
"I saw her... I think she is committing the murders. She was a doll for Shadowlaw, but why is she doing this? Did they get her?"
"Yeah a guy shot her in the shoulder and both legs before they could grab her, she wasted 6 SWAT members..." The limo came to a halt. As they walked to the front gates, they showed the invitation and were led in without further notice. Chun-Li recognized the castle as being the one where she watched Ken duel against Vega in a merciless battle. Meanwhile....
-- Shadowlaw Underground Headquarters, Barcelona 10.23 pm --
A huge monitor turned itself on and a rigid looking old scientist contacted Bison who was sitting in his chair.
"We've just been informed that Decapre has been apprehended in New York..."
"Hmm..." His white lifeless eyes closed for a second before he stood up and walked gracefully in circles.
"We can indeed use this to our advantage, keep me informed about her activities and where they are taking her." His deep menacing voice echoed throughout the underground compound.
"Yes sir. I am pleased to inform that they haven't detected the tracing unite planted inside of her body."
Excellent, victory is not far away from our grasp, continue to keep an eye on her and try to mingle our surveillance cyborgs with the Interpol agents guarding her. When shit hits the fan I want her to have assistance in the eradication process." He once again took a seat and turned off the monitor, he leaned back and pushed a small button on his chair which brought up a second screen.
"Yes..." He grinned manically.
-- Castle de Maria Isabelle, Barcelona 10.30 --
Chun-Li and Guile stood in the huge mess hall, which was a antique as the castle itself, an orchestra was playing classical music, this was indeed a high class event.
"I'm going to have nightmares for a long time to come..." Guile expressed, and they both took a seat and observed their surroundings.
"Wake me up when something interesting happens, will ya..." Guile exclaimed while yawning.
"You need to watch my back..." She reminded him.
"I got an idea. I'll go to the bar from their I will have a clear view of what is happening on the dance floor, now the only thing you gotta do is to mingle with the crowd and catch Vega off guard, lure him near the entrance gates and I will catch up with you there." Chun-Li nodded and started to look for Vega, while Guile made his way to the bar.
"Le qué puedo servir yo señor?" The bartender asked him politely.
"Uhm... Eh... I don't what ya saying, but just throw a gin and tonic at me." He nodded to the waiter who began preparing the drink.
Chun-Li tried to spot Vega, but the crowded environment was making the search very difficult.
"La señora mi tengo este baile?" A man took her hand gently while waiting for her response.
"Si." She said and they both danced, this became a routine for her, since men were beginning to line up, much to the other women's distress. Then she finally spotted a man who could be Vega, he had long blond braided hair and wore a mask which resembled Vega's. While they danced Chun-Li placed her palm gently on the man's chest to see how his reaction would be. But the man did not seem to react. Her search seemed impossible, she knew that she had made herself hard to find, but in this moment she wished that Vega would find her. As she sat on a chair at a table she looked across the hall and spotted Guile who nodded to her, signaling that he had his eyes focused on her. In that moment she felt a person walk by her, and as she looked to see who it might be, she saw a man in a red tux, wearing a mask one hundred percent identical with Vega's, and long blond braided hair; she had to find out if it was him. As she approached him she saw that he had female company by his side, and elegantly took a hold of his hand, gently putting pressure on it, so she could have his full attention.
"Quién hace tengo reunión de placer?" She recognized that voice and pulled him away from the other women. As the music got slower and more romantic they both started to dance to the slow pasted rhythm. And as Chun-Li placed her hand on his chest she could feel his breath tremble, this was all she needed to know. She began whispering in his ear.
"I found you..." His eyes widened.
"Who are you?" He could now hear the safety switch being turned off while she pointed the gun at him.
"Beautiful Chun-Li? I should have known." His voice lid up, as if he didn't care that she was holding a powerful handgun to his chest.
"No tricks this time Vega... You are mine." She said with a bittersweet smile on her face.
"Yes... I am all yours my love... How did you know I was here? This makes my heart skip rhythm."
"You'll be skipping more than just a rhythm, I can assure you that... And what are you talking about? You sent me the invitation."
"No no... señora I am just here because the mayor personally requested it."
"Stop playing around." She grid her teeth...
"You have such a beautiful mouth, and your lips are like honey, did I ever tell you that your lips are the most sweet lips I have ever kissed... You should be proud of such an achievement, beautiful one."
"And that is just with you forcing yourself at me... just imagine if I was willing to kiss back... But you will never know." She teased him.
"My dear, please don't say that it hurts when you say something like that. And are you sure that it isn't the other way around? I don't force myself to kiss you, I am afraid that you force yourself not to enjoy it."
"Why don't you enjoy this." She pressed he gun against his chest, knowing it would cause him pain.
"You haven't really patched that wound up. That is surprising for a psychotic narcissist, like yourself."
"There is no pain I wouldn't endure to have you by my side..." His voice was soothing.
"The only person you will have by your side is going to be your cell mate, maybe there you'll find true love after all."
"What makes you think I belong in a prison?"
"Many things... but if you want me to name one... when you tried to kill me in my apartment." Her voice began to tremble.
"You mustn't cry beautiful one, it was a mistake. A mistake I never again will repeat."
"I am not crying... now move." She led him to a clearing, where he took his mask off and reveled his face, he had a sticking plaster on his left chin.
"So I managed to do something after all." He only smiled back to her. She came closer to him, their lips were only inches apart.
"If I didn't believe in our system justice, I would have blown your arrogant face off of this planet." He giggled to this and put one hand up to caress her cheek, but he was met with a slap.
"Don't..."
"Alright I will play along, you see there?" He turned and looked at the entrance.
"Do you know who is standing there?" She narrowed her eyes and looked closely before finally recognizing a tall bald man who was dressed like a waiter and had an eye patch." She gasped of sheer fright when she saw another man standing beside him, an overly muscular Afro-American.
"Yes... Sagat and Balrog, and it won't take them a long time to find us, we must go now if we want to escape." She looked in awe.
"But I must warn Gui..." Vega quickly covered her mouth and nose with a cloth, and waited for her to close her eyes. Then he took hold of her and lifted her up, and walked out through the garden, he then called for a cab and they disappeared into the night.
A/N: In the next exciting episode of Street Fighter II – Deep Core Crisis; Chun-Li has been abducted by the bloodthirsty prince all while Guile has no clue about this. How will Guile confront the two Shadowlaw assassins, find out on the next exciting episode – Abducted By The Bloodthirsty Prince – (And an impending fight!) – GONNA BURN SOME MUSCLE!
This episode was long overdue, so I really hope that it was worth the wait. Thank you for reading.