[ S t r e e t F i g h t e r A l p h a (2) ( P a r t 2 ) ]

-------------------~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~-~--~-~-~-~-~-~--~-~-~--~--~--~-------[

"

Fire. Flame. Burning... It is this element that begins instant torment. Even a candle's melted wax is painful. When I cross my finger through a candle's flame… nothing happens. I don't feel pain. My finger, it is not ignited… why? The world of flame is powerful. Powerful indeed. As for naming this world, let's call it the 'Flame world', shall we? The fire's greatest source of energy is heat. Its core is similar to our Earth's core… Feverous… igneous… whatever you want to call it. So, where does heat come from? The pure way to establish heat is by friction. In a combat, numerous frictions occur. The friction of you ripping your fists through someone's soul, or the friction of a razor's cut. But there is always heat produced by regulating energy. The longer you battle, the more heat is involved.

Fire is neutral… it isn't your enemy. It isn't your friend. It is a tool used against anyone the user desires. In order to control fire, you have to use it, and be it. Be fire yourself. Mimic it completely… like the way it hurts when you touch it. The way mankind fears it. In this way, others should be damaged by touching you. They should fear you. That is how you become fire itself. And the only way to do that is to befriend fire. Those who attract fire deeply become obsessed… with invincible, unlimited power. Through these memories of fire… I have collected much data of people that befriend fire all over the world… it is not because they possess the demon that rages for death. It is only for the ambition for mastery! It is that deep feeling that you want to win no matter what! We all have had those desires… it is just that some people get so involved, they fear nothing. Not even water… fire's only weakness.

I look from afar.. like the fate of this planet… the dream of this planet. I know everything. What will happen in the future… the destiny of people… I look at those that have actually allied fire. All of them are, in a type, evil. I began from the evolution of our planet… even in animals, I see that ambition to control and fight fire. When humans came, I looked much specifically. I divided these humans by their occupations, due to their arguable quantity. I looked at everything… swordsmen, knights, gangsters, officers... but what I really pursuit were street fighters, whom gambled with fire much exceedingly than any others.

Two types of evil in fire exist. First, those who kill without mercy, refuse aid, training so gravely that they are considered beyond a human's restrictions. Second, those who engaged in building their defenses as much as possible, take control of all-powerful powers that are earned only by sacrifices… they, too, kill without mercy, but side with pure evil, unlike the neutral first section.

As the second evil absorbs more and more power, it becomes mad with it. When beyond intensity, this mad power could control the entire Flame world!

The flame world has much, much more longer time to burn than this planet has to live… how… how… can we change that? Is destroying Vega the only way? The lifeline of this world is not going to extend much longer. If Shadaloo continues to mount its power, a weapon so powerful will be built… that… the…….. entire planet will be destroyed. But the flame world will continue to burn. That, is the problem. That is the problem.

Pio, Ugo… go save those two that are battling evil as friends instead of enemies in the Memories of Earth… go …

"

-----------~-~~-~~-~~-~-------------~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~~-~-----------------]

[Memories of Earth, Earth's core]

"They fought well," Pio commented with pleasure, "don't you think?"

"Yes, but we must continue our mission," Ugo said, taking a smoke from his cigarette, "even we could end up dying. This is a dangerous task, Pio. We'll have to take it seriously, okay?"

"This is too difficult, Ugo," Pio whined, dropping his cigarette as he shivered with both cold and fear… the room was strangely cold… in the earth's core, how could you expect it to be cold? Looking down at the wasted cigarette, Pio stepped on it, sighing, and looking back up at the circular, pillar-supported room. "There was a time crash the last time they did it, remember? I think it was Adro."

"Yes, it was Adro," Ugo said, "The crash was so bad, the time couldn't recognize him in existence… so he… just disappeared. Like he never existed." Ugo began to shiver as well, and let his cigarette go. "Hate to admit it, but I'm scared."

"It's a pity we can't battle Vega."

Pio grabbed a device from his packet, and began operating it. Ugo grabbed another cigarette and drew a lighter, which was difficult to light in the freezing room. In the end, Ugo kept flicking his lighter, not waiting for it to light at all. After five minutes, Pio succeeded in working the device and a bright flash illuminated the room, and disappeared in the blink of an eye. In another two minutes, Pio attempted once again, and the flash remained for five seconds, and disappeared once again. The third time, after a half minute, the flash remained for three seconds, but did not disappear. This time, there were rays of colorful light shooting out of the device into random directions, all around the room.

"Good job… wow, three tries. That was quick," Ugo said.

"I'm the master," Pio said, still seriously. "Give me the orb she gave us, with all the data of that time."

Ugo searched through his pocket and withdrew an incredibly white-glowing orb, and handed it to Pio. The orb seemed to be sparking with electrical currents.

"What's this?" Pio asked.

"It probably repels cold," Ugo suggested. "It wasn't going berserk like that in my pocket."

"Okay," Pio said. He placed the orb onto the device, and stepped back from his own hand, waiting for a reaction. There wasn't much to see; the device was easily reading the orb like normal.

"Wow, she's really a genius, isn't she?" Pio said, exhausted with fear. "Usually at times like this you expect something bad to happen… like an explosion."

"Let's be grateful and not think of that at this time," Ugo said, also shivering with fear instead of cold this time. After several seconds, both the device and the orb glowed energetically. The glowing intensified, and soon filled the entire room. Pio and Ugo both closed their eyes. And then.... there was no sound for a few seconds. They opened their eyes, and suddenly, a large sound of an odd explosion occurred… but there was no explosion. The light instantly flashed around the room…..

[Five Minutes Later]

"Pio, get up!"

Pio opened his eyes. His vision was very blurry, as he looked up at the Ugo standing above him, grinning widely.

"Hah! We made it, you dumbo!" he said happily. "I woke up a minute before you!"

"Yeah well, I wish we didn't have to faint while we do this," Pio sighed. "Did we make it?"

He looked around the room. This was not the same room that they were in before. This time, it was very difficult to see… the room was filled with a blue light, which made it difficult to see. All the six surfaces, including the walls, the ceiling, and the floor, were made of metal. There was a balcony above them. It was still, however, cold. Pio looked around more closely. There were three people in the room, who were all frozen, as in still… they seemed to be stuck in the middle of their actions. One man was grinning very widely, wearing all-red clothes and a red cap. He had his hand extended outwards, that seemed to be shooting something dark blue, which was easily seen compared to the other lighter-blue atmosphere of the room…. The dark blue light was aiming for a man who seemed to be using claws for weapons, dressed like a samurai. The third man was on the floor, also wearing red clothes… this man seemed to be wounded quite cruelly.

..It was Vega, Sodom, and Guy. Not a single object in the room, not a single chip in the room seemed to be moving besides Pio and Ugo. They didn't even seem to be able to move…

"This, my friend, is what you call a perfect time freeze," Pio concluded to Ugo, "learn how to do it, and you'll hopefully be a master like me."

"Hate to admit it, but you're pretty good at this," Ugo said, grinning. "Let's hurry up. We don't want to screw with anything. We only do what we were told."

"Yes, yes," Pio said.

Pio walked over to the still figure of Sodom, and drew the orb that he used before to operate the device. This time, he connected the orb to Sodom's body.

"Huh? What's that you're doing?" Ugo asked. "I didn't know we were supposed to use the orb for them too…"

"The orb contains data of very powerful defense," Pio explained, as the orb now glowed with Sodom's body lightly, "as soon as the time continues, their bodies will be protected greatly by that … blast."

"I see," Ugo said thoughtfully, " … that's a very powerful blast. Not even she could be able to defend herself against that."

"Don't judge the master lightly," Pio said, "I've seen her fight. Her powers are good enough to stand a chance."

"Perhaps," Ugo sighed. The light from the orb and Sodom faded away, which told them the object was done. Pio moved over to Guy on the floor, and this time connected the orb to him. Once again, the orb glowed along with Guy's body.

After the orb stopped glowing, and Guy's body turned back to normal, Pio stood back up and nodded to Ugo, whom nodded back. Pio once again operated the device. He held it above his head.

"Grab on to my hand or you won't make it back with me," he instructed to Ugo, whom hastily did so and nodded once again. Pio sighed, looking up at the device.

"Exit!!"

They both disappeared.

[Hidden Shadaloo Base, Thailand]

"PREPARE…… TO DIE!"

Vega unleashed the energy. All that could be seen was a giant flash.

The blast was certainly powerful. Almost being equal to the explosion of twenty tons of TNT, the dynamic energy was even too powerful for Vega to survive! However… Vega had a blue aura around his body which was protecting him somehow from the explosion. Sodom was blasted right into an iron wall, which quickly melted…

"In-incredible!" Sodom shrieked, as he slipped down from the iron wall. He looked at his hands, at his body… everything… completely safe. He looked worriedly for Guy, and spotted him also bouncing off of a melting wall… safe as ever. Guy, too, seemed to be shocked.

The smoke didn't feel like clearing up soon… could Vega see them through that mass of smoke? Sodom sprinted towards Guy, helping him up. Guy was still bleeding, but those were the wounds he had before…

"How… did we survive?" Guy asked. "What is this?"

"I don't know," Sodom sighed. He jumped away from Guy, and began spinning around fleetingly with his claws, like a whirlwind, repelling the smoke away.

Vega's face emerged from the smoke, not as delighted as it usually was… he was wearing a gloomy, confused look. "Intriguing… so… before I waste you corpses, kind answer how you defended yourselves against that. If only there was no smoke, so I could really see what you did…"

"Hell, even if I knew I wouldn't tell you, it's fun to have a crackhead cry with fury," Sodom replied delightedly, making yet another stance with his claws. Guy was strong enough to get on his feet now, and he also managed a stance.

"Even if I'm hurt, I can always use my last energy to take you with me, Vega!" Guy said, looking very tired.

"Heh, like you can do that," Vega replied, trying to smirk.

"Don't take it as a joke… the final technique of the Bushin style is used only by sacrificing your life… it's undodgeable… although I want to live long enough to kick more asses in Metro City, I think that kiddy playing time is over."

"What are you talking about, Guy?!" Sodom shouted. "I fought to save you! You can't just do this."

"Stay back," Guy warned. "Let's go, Vega."

He made a very strange technique, overlapping his left leg with his right leg 90 degrees, along with his right fist. Vega continued to smirk, and turned slightly angry.

"Yeah?" he said. "Well, we'll see you fight against this!"

Vega, too, showed a sign of getting ready, as he floated in the air with his arms crossed. "PSYCHO—"

SLING...

TICK... TICK… BANG!!!!!!

A huge burst of energy collided with Vega, sending him into the air, high above. With the giant explosion that had melted the ceiling almost completely, and Vega now crashing into it, there was no ceiling left… all that could be seen now was the abandoned factory building up above, which too, looked as if it had been damaged intensely.

"Rose!" Guy shrieked, unbalancing from his stance.

Rose was floating in the air, just like Vega did… she didn't look happy, nor sad. But she did look slightly angry… as she charged up another blast. Vega didn't appear for several long, tense seconds… but when he did, it was obvious… The rocks above shot away in different directions, as the leader of Shadaloo floated down speedily to the ground, a distance away from Rose, Guy, and Sodom.

[ You… ? ]

[ Me, yes. ]

…

[ you're alive… hm… ]

[ fire can't always kill fire, Vega. ]

"What's with the silence?" Sodom asked angrily, stepping forward. "Guy, do you know her? Rose, is that her name? Huh?"

"Stand back," Guy warned, grabbing Sodom by the arm and fleeting by as Vega slammed into Rose. In only a matter of seconds was the area already full of dust and smoke… with very violent, deafening sounds and hints of blue energy flying around.

"This is insane!" Sodom shouted, Guy hardly being able to hear him, as an energy ball just whizzed above their head, leaving them paralyzed and yet safe. "In the middle of Thailand?! Where the hell are the cops?"

Instead of the smoke deceasing, it just began to increase… Guy and Sodom coughed loudly, but their sounds were nothing compared to the crashes they were hearing. And in no time, the factory building above them also seemed to be collapsing. But it wasn't because of Rose and Vega fighting : some jets above were dropping bombs.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Sodom shouted. "THE COPS ARE TRYING TO KILL US ALL?"

Sodom looked towards Guy, who also seemed to be confused, but wasn't complaining, unlike him. Some of the debris of the fallen building were falling below, showering down on them. But it seemed that Vega and Rose didn't even seem to care, wherever they were fighting. The dust did clear up, but it was most likely because of the wind of the rocks that were falling down. Guy slipped behind a large hole that was made in the wall, followed by Sodom.

"This is too much..," Guy said. "Who is in those planes?"

The bombing of the jets had stopped the moment the building had begun to fall. Was that their mission, to make the building fall? But the loud crashes and supreme energy kept going on frequently… they were even faster than their echoes!

[ powerful… yes… once I finish with you, I can use your powers and store it in as… hehe… you know… ]

[ unfortunately, that shall not happen…]

Through the loud crashing noises, they could now hear police sirens. However, it seemed unlikely that the police would be able to advance any further, with the violent fighting going on.

"Let's climb to the top and wait," Guy suggested.

"But how?" Sodom asked. "This place is completely destroyed. The way up there is pretty long. We can't fly like those two can."

"I know…," Guy said gloomily, "if only I could have ended this…
"why did you decide to help me?"

Sodom blinked confusedly. "What are you saying? If I didn't help you, then there would be no one to live on this planet the way Vega's heading to."

"I know," Guy sighed.

Rose and Vega continued fighting… and then, for about a minute, only the sound of flying and sprinting around were made… and then the crashes continued as usual. It was endless. After another minute, a few more crashes occurred. These crashes, however, were something else besides the combat.

"Could it be the cops?" Guy suggested.

"May… be… but not even the cops can stop Vega. He's too powerful."

Guy began to crawl out of the hole, Sodom behind him. Sodom didn't know what Guy was up to now, but he knew that he would only be safe with Guy on his side, for now.. and then, another few of those contrasting crashes occurred, and more rock pieces showered the area.. After the cloud of smoke perished, a figure of a man shadowed their eyes.

..it was Rolento.

"You?" Sodom said, trying to look angry. But this was not time to start anger… he had to be patient.

"Yes, me," Rolento said. "Is this Vega's place? … those noises… who's that fighting with him?"

"Dunno, a girl named Rose," Sodom said.

"Vega's pretty raged at you, he better not spot you here," Guy warned.

"I have my jet over there," Rolento pointed just a distance away, revealing a jet that they didn't realize was there before..

"Hmm?" Sodom said worriedly. "What about those sirens?"

"Cops, of course," Rolento replied, "they've got the area cornered. They almost shot my jet down, but I just landed in here. It's pretty deep down here, so they can't do anything about it. They'll need a helicopter or something to get in here. But before that, we must leave."

"Why would the cops want to shoot you down?" Sodom asked.

"Why wouldn't they?" Rolento said, gripping the stick that he always held in his hand. "I'm not a legal military commander. I've got an illegal army, have much weapons, and have rows of jets. Wouldn't they want to shoot me down?"

Sodom nodded, but didn't understand why Rolento was being so calm. Why would he want to help him now, and not want revenge for the time before?

"Okay, let's get out of here," Guy said anxiously, looking at the energy getting louder. "I think this place is going to explode with all this racket. I don't even know how we survived the last explosion."

The three of them hurried towards the jet. Two soldiers hopped out, waiting to greet Rolento, who grinned at their loyalty. The soldiers walked towards them, they rushed towards them, trying to get there as fast as possible…

… but it seemed that the clock had just struck doomsday. A powerful red-and-blue energy blast shot at their only jet. So, what else is left to describe an exploding jet?

"…."

Guy, Rolento, and Sodom stopped. This was the End. But it seemed Vega was too busy battling Rose than attempting to kill them quicker.

[ So… where have you been hiding all these years? You didn't even follow the Street Fighter Tournament to find me.. ]

[ … ]

[ Come on, answer me… hehe… too busy fighting to talk? ]

[ Don't take me as a weakling, Vega… ]

[ … don't forget, Rose… I'm the reason you have that psycho power. I taught you to control it… you're practically nothing without it. ]

[ … the flame world can always burn itself, you know. ]

"PSSSYYYYCHOOO—"

Rose charged another blast, which caused Vega to fade a distance away, canceling his move.

[ Why, Vega? Why did you leave us? ]

[ because my powers were far beyond your limitations, fools…you were simple babies to me. ]

Vega charged up a powerful energy blast, struck it in the ground, causing several electrical strips to crack through different paths, surrounding Rose, and exploding. The vigor was very powerful, sending Rose high in the air.

"Can you read me? Can YOU?!" Rolento screamed through his radio.

Yes, sir, loud and clear.

"Okay, send squad number fifty two with a jet pronto," Rolento instructed.

Affirmative, sir Rolento.

"It'll take a while…," Rolento sighed, shutting off his radio.

"How do they know where you are?" Guy asked.

Rolento drew a small chip from his pocket, "my army can detect this chip… and since this is in my pocket… hehe… you get the idea."

"Oh."

"PSYCHO—" both Vega and Rose shouted at once. And in the other second, Vega was binded by a magical-looking rope, created by Rose.

"LIGHT," Rose yelled, "Pio, Ugo!"

Two young-looking boys appeared at the side of Rose.

"Transfer!"

Vega struggled to unbind himself, however the rope seemed pretty strong… meanwhile, the two boys shot what look like glowing-white energy into Rose's hand. It collected, and collected, and finally, fired off into Vega's chest.

"kkkk….ugh…GZAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

[ Y…you… ]

[ Good-bye, Vega. ]

[ Don't think I'm finished just yet………]

Vega collided with a rocky wall, and then another avalanche of large, enormous rocks toppled the area, while two or three explosions occurred sequentially. The two boys who were standing next to Rose nodded to her. She turned to both of them. The cops above seemed to be taking action by now, all of them jumping down the rocks that were now making a mountain all the way to the top, easily able to climb.

"Hurry, go—if he comes back now," Rose said quickly. "… we can't afford to lose three Elite Psychic Members at once. It's too risky."

The two boys nodded, and disappeared.

"SHIT, the cops are coming!" Rolento shouted angrily, as Guy rushed towards Rose and Sodom looked around confusedly. "I'm innocent, I tell ye!"

"Tell that to the judge," one of the cops came towards Rolento and Sodom. "Extend those lovely hands, please, gentlemen."

"Errr!" Sodom shouted, now realizing the cops. "Hey, I'm not in this! I'm fighting crime!"

"Yeah, what he said!" Rolento shouted.

"Shut up," the officer said, "get those two over there."

The officer pointed to Guy and Rose.

"See you later, all!" Rolento said hastily, smacking his stick on the officer's head and hurrying up the rocks.

"H-hey, wait for me!" Sodom shouted, following Rolento, who was now throwing bombs behind him to lose the officers. "AHHH!!"

Meanwhile, Rose was still staring towards the direction where Vega had just crashed. Could he be dead?

"Rose, are you okay?" Guy asked. "It looks like we have more time to talk now, than last time.. our second meeting was rather quick, don't you think? Sorry, I don't keep track of the times… hehe….—!!! oops… did I see more time? I meant… wow… the cops are here."

"You two stay here while we get the other two," a cop told them, while the others hurried by with guns, up the rocks.

"You're a nice person, Guy," Rose commented. "But it looks like I'll have to go now… all this mess. Bye."

"Hey, not now!" Guy said angrily. "What about me?!"

"You're not going anywhere, and neither are you," the cop said, overhearing their conversation.

Rose placed the tip of her finger on Guy's forehead. His body flashed, and he suddenly disappeared.

"H-huh?!" the cop was alarmed. "WHAT THE HELL?!?! What the hell are you?!?!"

Rose, herself, disappeared, leaving the cop all by himself.

[The Open Streets, Thailand]

Guy reappeared just ten feet above the ground.

"H—hey!!" he fell.

He looked around. He could see smoke from behind a few buildings… very big smoke. And the clouds above already seemed to be using the smoke to add to themselves, as he observed. That smoke must be coming from the factory… so he wasn't very far away from it. He looked around. No one seemed to have noticed him. There were no cops around.

Hm…. That was weird… damn you, Rose. What is with you and Vega?

"So, you leaving?"

Guy swung around. There was no one there. He turned to an alley, and spotted a large pile of small car-tires. Behind those tires, he analyzed Rolento and Sodom, standing in front of a jet.

"Yeah, I guess so," Rolento said. "It was tough to make a life without Mad Gear, but I did it. I think you should continue with your life as well, Sodom."

"So… you left the Mad Gear and created a military of your own?" Sodom wondered. "Amazing."

"Although it's still not good to the society, it's my art," Rolento sighed, ".. when I was a kid, I couldn't make anything out of myself. Doing evil tasks is all I'm good at. It's my idea of utopia, is all… However, I still appreciate Guy's and Cody's opinions. I think I'm going to look for Cody now… perhaps, by fighting him, I will find out how to become a better fighter."

"Didn't you get enough experience by fighting Guy?" Sodom asked.

"Yes, Guy is indeed an excellent fighter, even if he is more on my enemy side," Rolento said. "When I saw Guy last time, just after bombarding the factory building, I felt almost guilty for being evil… looking at his pride, I wanted to be like him. Like join him. He's really got style, you know."

"Yes, he does," Sodom said. "Very spirited… however, I think I'll go to Japan and fight more… sumo wrestlers."

"Hehe, need a lift?" Rolento asked, waving his hand to his jet, which was being controlled by a few pilot soldiers.

"Yeah… sure," Sodom said. "I think I'll stick with ya for some time."

"So, what do you say?" Rolento asked.

"To what?"

"… well.."

"Yes, let me join your army, please!" Sodom pleaded happily.

"That's the spirit," Rolento patted Sodom. "With us two as top commanders, nothing can stop us. Me, the elite soldier and you—the master of blades."

They both hopped in their jet, and jetted off. Guy smirked up at the jet. "At least they made up…"

[ E n d o f S t r e e t F i g h t e r A l p h a (2) ( P a r t 2 ) ]

Note: Yes, this does mean that this is the last chapter of Street of Alpha 2. The next chapters are on Street Fighter Alpha 3. Prepare for LOADS of excitement, what with all the Shadaloo screw ups and some sequels to previous chapters.