Author's Note:
OK now, this is a really interesting one. I'm doing some origins background on Caius and most importaltly, this is the last gap between the SF4 movie "The Ties that Bind". In the next episode, everything begins.
Hope you like it:)
...
It's been a couple of days since Caius proposed to his Delta Red teammates for dinner at his newly acquired house. He also had time to decorate and tide it up as well.
"Alright, that should do the trick, I hope these guys will like it." Caius said, while adding some ingredients to the dinner he was making.
It was just a few hours before his new friends arrive to his place and he wanted everything to be in place. After some time, he could hear the bell ringing...
"Hey everyone, welcome, come in!" he said to his teammates.
"Good evening, Sarge! It's nice to see you in casual wear!" Wofman said.
"Likewise for you all. I suppose these clothes makes us look more human."
"And your hair tied in one place... Hmm, you look even better like that!" Lita said, making Caius blush somehow.
"Oh... anyway, come in!"
The team walked inside the house, while laughing silently at Caius feeling blush.
"Well, well, nice place you got here! Really cosy." Lita said.
"Indeed it is. And sufficient in space, too." Cammy said.
"You really know how to keep a house, bro!" George said.
"And the decoration is tasteful as well, mate!" Mat said.
Caius was feeling happy. His apartment wasn't big, but it wasn't small, either. It was a perfect place for one person, with enough space to go around.
"Thanks guys, I'm glad that you liked it. But, don't just stand there. Dinner's ready and I hope that you're hungry."
"You could say that! So, what's on the menu?" Matt said.
"Boiled rice, bovine meat and a special sos I've made. You'll love it, I promise. And after that, a decent dessert awaits you!"
"You're spoiling us like that, Caius." Cammy said.
"Come on, it's nothing. Well, what do you say, shall we eat?"
"Of course!" the team said back.
"OK then, sit down at it'll be served, right away!" Caius said.
…
"Wow, that was really good!" the team said.
"Thanks, it's a good thing that you liked it. And now...!"
Caius stood from the table and he went to the fridge. He took from it the dessert and put it at the table. It was cheesecake.
"Well, let's see if you like this."
"Oh my... That's cheesecake!" Cammy said with a tone of pleasure.
"You're font of it, Cammy?" Caius said.
"Oi mate, Cammy's really into cheesecake. You made her day now!" Matt said to him.
"Really, I didn't know... I'm more of the chocolate type, but I decided to buy something different this time."
"You managed to stroke Cammy's sensitive spot here, lad!" Wolfman said.
"So, what do you waiting for? It's all yours!" Caius said to them, giving a set of small plates at spoons for the cake.
…
After the dessert, everyone went at Caius's living room. It was time for getting to know him better.
"Make yourselves at home. Besides, it's your money we're talking here!" Caius said, looking at Cammy.
"Ha, don't make us cut any profits from your services!" She said back.
"Of course not! Anyway, you wanna know better about me, right? I'm all yours."
Colonel Wolfman took the liberty of speaking.
"First of all, we're all grateful for what you did to MI6 and of course, for tonight's dinner. Now, let's take it from the top, shall we?
Caius Lawrence. Your father was half-Greek, half-American and your mother was from Europe, specifically from Sweden, right?"
"Yep, that's right. Just like on the papers that I filled at MI6."
"Quite the multinational guy! So, where were you born?" George said.
"I was born in Greece. We moved to Sweden when I was 6 years old. Better life opportunities there for my parents. When I became 16, we moved to the United States and at my 20th year we settled down in Japan and we stayed there for 3 years, until they came... I spent 2 years with those guys back at the Atlantic. Finally, I was starting to understand the reason why we've moved so much..."
"I got it. Shadaloo kept an eye on you and your family, right?" Matt said.
"Yes, that's it. I was deeply into fighting and this attracted them. They were looking for fighters and martial artists I suppose..."
"That's probably it. But, since we found you at the Atlantic, no one ever has heard anything major from them..." Lita said.
"I'm pretty confident that they're up to something." Cammy said. "For them to cease to exist like that..."
"It's a shame that I don't remember anything at my stay with them back there. I was drugged most of the time and this pain at my right eye when I woke up... They really enjoy tampering with humans, don't they?" Caius said.
Cammy looked down with a sad face.
"Yes, they do. They're inhuman, that's all." she said.
"I mean, I didn't wanted to...Well... You know..." Caius was in a bad position, fearing that he made a reference at Cammy's past.
"Lad, we know that you know about Cammy's past, there's no use of hiding it." Wolfman said.
"But Colonel, it's not what I meant... Anyway, I'm sorry, guys. I should have told you, but it's not a happy topic..."
"It's OK, handsome. We knew right from the beginning that you would have such kind of info. No one is blaming you for knowing about it. We were supposed to be enemies after all, right?" Lita said.
"I suppose you're right, Lita. It's just..."
"Hey, it's over now. We dealt with our past, remember?" Cammy said.
"Yeah, I do. Looking forward's the only way." Caius said.
"That's the spirit! You're alive and that's all that matters!" Matt said.
"Matt is right" Wolfman said. "You're doing really well Caius; I want you to keep it up. Whatever those creeps are planning, we're going to be there and face it together."
"Affirmative. Oh, look at me, speaking militaristic now... Maybe I'll start drinking tea next?" Caius said, making the rest of the team laugh.
"You'll do just fine, trust us!" the team said to him.
"I'm fine, don't worry. Oh yeah, there's something else..."
Caius stood from the couch and he went to his wardrobe at his bedroom.
"Cammy, this is yours. Just be careful where you toss this thing."
"My red coat!" Cammy said.
"Well, this one? I found it at the ruins of the Atlantic base during my survival; it was one of your weapons that you used against me, remember? And I suppose it's not the only one if you go around and tossing the poor things like that!"
"Maybe I should cut this nasty habit..." She said.
Lita watched Cammy and Caius closely and she said:
"Hahaha, you know what? You and Cammy are really getting together nicely!"
"..." Caius and Cammy were left speechless.
"Lita, mind your words please. They can't go more red as they are now...!" Matt said.
Everyone laughed and was feeling happy that night. Those happy times where pretty rare for Cammy. And for Caius, in one extend.
Little do they know however, that sinister forces are working in shadows. Every passing day it's another step for those forces to appear to the surface and throw the world into chaos again...
…
"Sir, she's in the line."
"Thank you, you may leave now."
"Well, when I'll get to test the prototype?"
"Hang on now, hasty aren't we? If I don't give the OK, we won't move a muscle."
"I know, but we're becoming pretty useless by every passing day. The shipments and all are good for the income of the company, but..."
"You'll get your time to play with the prototype. I just want to be sure that everything's ready for the B project, OK? So be a good girl and be patient. I haven't failed all of you up until now, haven't I?"
"...No sir, you did not. Now what about the FSE?"
"It's coming along nicely, don't worry. The young Korean fighter was more than agreeable to accept it. Now we need to know if she can take that much power."
"Let's hope that we won't have any failures like with the C2 project back at the Atlantic."
"The C2 has buried his own grave. His friends within Delta Red won't help him much. I'll deal with him personally."
"Bummer, it would have been nice if I had an opportunity to meet the C2 project from up close."
"Maybe you will, since he's affiliated with a military organization. But I wouldn't suggest it; he's formidable and if you throw the Shadaloo doll in the mix, well, you know... Even you won't have a chance. Not to mention his eye we gave him. Although inferior to the FSE, still, it holds a lot of potential."
"I know how to take care of myself. You can leave the surviving issues at me while you tend to your comfy chair and office."
"You really don't want to test my patience... Anyway, let it be known to you that in a few days, we're going to make our much-anticipated move. Is this OK with you?"
"At last, you said it. I'll be waiting for your instructions."
"Oh yes you'll do. Now, I must tend to my comfy chair and office, if you don't mind."
...
It appears that Cammy's fears are about to become a reality...