Love & War: The Black Moons
Chapter 15: To Each Their Own
Since New York and basically everywhere else were blacked out, Chris and the girls along with Samus went to Outworld and met at Mileena's throne room. Chun Li and Cammy remained to care for Guile's injuries.
"So this is Outlworld?" asked Samus.
"Yes. This is my throne room," said Mileena.
"So what's the plan? Kitana asked. "Earthrealm is without power. Its food supply will no doubt be spoiled.
"Great. Now I gotta clean out my damn fridge," Chris said, frustrated. Tanya was looking outside, seething with anger. Rashid obviously picked the worst time possible to mess with her.
"Tanya?" Kitana was concerned of Tanya. "Are you ok?" Tanya remained silent, but she spoke. "I'm sorry, Kitana. That imbecile Rashid..."
"I saw what you did."
"We will meet again... I know it."
"You're not gonna kill him, are you?"
"If he tries to flirt with me again, I will. Besides..."
"Tanya, are you still in love with Chris?"
"Yes. He's the only one who I love so deeply."
"I sensed your anger back in Earthrealm."
"Forgive me, Kitana. It's just that I don't like being hit on in the time of crisis."
"I understand, but..."
"It's only a matter of time before Earthrealm falls victim to the Black Moons."
"We will find a way, Tanya."
Inside a bar in a snowbound village, Rashid is sitting by the counter, bored and in pain from the waist down thanks to Tanya, and listening to his voicemail.
"Well, I would like to talk about the article for the World Butler Alliance Journal. The deadline is...'
Rashid cuts off the message, bored to tears.
"Master..." said Azam.
Someone opened the door and walked in. It was Nash.
"You... ah now I understand. You were also receiving similar information..."
Nash just looks to the side.
"Why do they keep ignoring me?"
Nash spots Helen, who was reading a book. She approaches him and addresses Rashid.
"I guess you two already met each other," she said. "This is Nash, one of our associates who's tracking pieces."
"You're tracking pieces?" Rashid asks. "Why would you need them?"
Nash quickly tossed a crescent key to Rashid.
"He had no interest in those pieces. He plans to fight Bison, so he doesn't want them to fall into Shadaloo's hands."
Someone kicked the door down. A young female wearing a full bodysuit with a eye patch covering her Feng Shui Engine is none other than Juri Han.
"You're surprisingly on time, Juri," said Helen.
"So those are your personal toy soldiers," Juri says. "They look kinda dim to be fighters."
"Oh my, so you don't trust my keen eye for talent?"
"If you feel that confident, then let me try them out. Let's see..."
She points to Rashid, who is surprised by her challenge.
"Time to play."
Juri's sheer brutality was too much for Rashid as he is easily taken down.
"Enough already!"
This attitude only bothers Juri.
"If you're not gonna fight seriously, then you can just die!"
Azam got in his stance to protect Rashid. Juri felt obliged to take him out, but Helen stopped them by clapping her hands.
"Enough already," she said. "Now, let me explain why I gathered all of you here.
"I was not satisfied," Juri pouted.
"The Black Moons. One of them turned all of New York City into chaos. What if we could stop them with these?"
She shows them the control keys, which she had taken from Rashid without him knowing. Rashid a few moments later notices this and demands her to return them to him, which she does.
"Are you saying a little piece like that can control those Moons?" asked Juri.
"That's not the whole story," Helen replied. She paces around as she continues. "Sadness. Chaos. Fear. Hatred. Despair. The Moons can bring out negative emotions, and those negative emotions is what Psycho Power feeds off of to grow stronger. From the chaos unleashed by the Moons, Psycho power would grow immensely. It would become the ultimate power. That is the goal of Shadaloo... and Bison." She turns to face them and finishes. "So now it's up to us to destroy their beautiful plan."
"Doesn't sound half-bad," said Juri.
"My only goal is to kill Bison," Nash said.
"If they obtain all the remaining pieces, Psycho Power will become unbeatable, so if you want to defeat Bison, you must stop that." She turns to Rashid. "Additionally, we have found evidence linking those missing hackers to the development of the Black Moons. The one you seek is among them, am I correct? If so, isn't it more efficient if we all worked together?"
"That makes sense," Rashid agreed. "But if I'm going to risk my life for you, why don't you tell me who you really are?"
"Fine," Helen said hesitantly. I am really..."
Before she finishes her sentence, she sensed someone behind her. The man standing behind her is from the Street Fighter 3 series, Urien.
"So you're putting together secret plans in the place like this? You rat!"
"Lord Urien..."
"So this is your precious clay doll?" Urien asked, eyeing Nash.
"I truly appreciate your support..."
Urien cut her off. "Since I helped in its creation, I came here to see the fruits of my effort. I hope my tech didn't make a average puppet."
"I'm sorry to say..."
"Not one more word."
Urien and Nash fight. Unfortunately, Nash wasn't used to his new condition. Urien is the apex of human development, and thus he was able to defeat Nash. Before he delivered the killing blow, Rashid stepped in.
"Stop acting so violent to him! Aren't you satisfied?"
"Do not touch me, commoner! Get that filthy hand off of me before I make you regret it!
Urien pushed Rashid away and fired his patented Aegis Reflector, which Rashid cartwheels out of the way. Once it disappeared, Helen tried to convene with him.
"Lord Urien, please calm down. I'm begging you."
Urien concedes and leaves. "Fine then. I will be watching all with great amusement."
"I'm really sorry," Helen said. "I didn't realize that you haven't mastered how to use your body. That's not your fault. Because sadly, you're already dead."
Rashid was shocked beyond belief.
"That's a joke, right?" No, you idiot! "Are you serious?" This motherfucker...
Helen crouches next to Nash.
"Close your eyes. I can't touch your soul, but doesn't mean I can't give you a little bit of help."
She gently touches the stone embedded on Nash's forehead. Suddenly, a burst of energy radiated from the stone.
"So you were telling the truth," Rashid said. "He's really dead?"
Helen removes her finger from the stone.
"How's that? You should be feeling better."
Nash felt like he had recovered completely. He was able to get up.
"I didn't quite explain myself before. Let me just say, that I utterly despise Bison. But there's another man more suitable to lead this world. That's why I want to destroy Shadaloo. Is that satisfactory? Now, let me ask all of you again. Do we all share the same common goal? To stop Shadaloo's deadly plan, and to destroy Bison."
They remained silent.
"So now, we are all "comrades-in-arms," for at least as long as Bison lives."