Collision of Worlds

Morning came. It was about 7:27 a.m. Cody had just woken up while Jessica lied there asleep after the wild night at the club. With Forge and Bishop there standing guard for the quartet of ladies, they had to step in when any male patrons bought the ladies drinks or tried to get frisky with them, especially with Jessica, the mayor's daughter.

Cody wasn't without having a wild night, either. If a few of the bruises on his face were of any indication, it was clear what he was up to. Thankfully, the bruises and cuts weren't that bad, though some were visible, like around his jaw-line and close to his eyes.

But what caught his attention was his younger brother passed out on the couch. Why was Kyle sleeping on the couch? Did he have trouble sleeping? Did he have a nightmare?

RING! RING! RING! The telephone rang in the kitchen.

Who could be calling this early? Cody thought to himself. It was roughly 7:30 in the morning. It was still early. Jessica was out because of her wild night, probably danced and drank. Cody wondered why he was awake at this time. But none of that mattered, Cody picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Cody said. "Guy, this is early. I didn't expect a call this early on a Saturday. What? Yeah, he's here."

Cody turned around from the kitchen and looked through the doorway and saw Kyle lying there.

"Wait, what did you say?" Cody said. "What happened?"

Cody didn't say a word which meant that Guy had a lot to say. Kyle ascended his body up from the couch, then shook his head and rubbed his eyes a bit. Through his line of vision, as groggy as it appeared, all he saw was a taller blond-haired man in the kitchen talking on the phone.

"Okay, I'll talk to him a bit," Cody said and then shivered a bit after what he had been told.

Kyle's eyes were wide open, as a jolt went through his system at what the sight of Cody on the phone, especially after what his brother said.

"Thank you for telling me this, Guy," Cody said. "If you and Maki weren't there…well, you know what I mean."

Cody looked right at his brother as he talked to Guy. Kyle had a look of "oh shit" on his face. He heard Cody address Guy, as well as thanked him and Maki for what happened. Kyle got up from the couch and quickly went to his bedroom.

"Okay, I'll talk to him," Cody said. "Thank you for calling me, Guy. I owe you big time for this. Bye."

Cody put the phone. He glared towards the door to Kyle's room, but it was different than anger. Cody didn't know whether to feel angry or concerned, but was more than relieved that two of his friends saved Kyle and his friends. He went right for Kyle's room and knocked on the door.

"Go away, Cody!" Kyle said inside the room.

"Fuck that, I need to talk to you right now!" Cody said.

In the other room, Jessica's eyes opened after she heard the shouting. It couldn't be good, especially with how Kyle had been to Cody lately.

"I got nothing to say," Kyle said as he packed up some stuff in a bag.

Cody muttered to himself and just stormed right into the room. Much to his surprise, Kyle's door wasn't locked, which was weird because there were times when Cody's door was locked, as well as had something on the door whenever he and Jessica had their alone time.

Kyle looked up and saw the stern glare on Cody's face. Cody saw a look of fear in Kyle's eyes, rather than a look of stubbornness. There was no getting out of this for Kyle. It was clear to him that Cody found out about the night before.

"Kyle, put that stuff down, and you're going to hear everything I have to say," Cody said.

"Cody, if you just listen, I'll tell you everything," Kyle said. "Look, it's…"

"SIT YOUR ASS DOWN!" Cody yelled.

In the next room, Jessica sat up and looked towards the wall. The shouting woke her up some more. From what she had heard, Cody had told Kyle that Guy and Maki saved them, which caused her eyes to widen more and then she got out of bed.

"Now what were you doing over there?" Cody said. "You know Mad Gear has a lot of people everywhere."

"I wanted to hang out with Vanessa, as well as Paco and Celeste," Kyle said.

"I understand that, but you couldn't just go to Vanessa's house or something?" Cody said. "Seriously, Kyle, you wouldn't be here if Guy and Maki didn't step in and save your ass."

"We just wanted to go and find a place to hang out, like an arcade or go grab some pizza," Kyle said. "But then those guys came up to us. I couldn't let them hurt Vanessa or Celeste."

"Yeah, and look what happened," Cody said.

Although Kyle didn't tell him everything what happened, Cody saw right through him that Kyle, as well as Paco tried to protect the girls, but given that the two were teenage boys and the guys they faced were rough thugs, the two boys were no match for them. Guy had told Cody that two of the Mad Gear members held down the girls, who cried and tried to scream, but had their mouths covered so that no one else would hear them scream in horror as they saw their boyfriends being beaten up.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Come in, Jessica," Cody said. The door had opened and in walked Jessica.

"What's going on?" Jessica said, and then noticed some blemishes on Cody's face.

Cody filled her in on what happened with Kyle the previous night. Jessica looked at Kyle with so much shock and concern on her face. Although Cody and Jessica were relieved that Kyle was okay at what happened, both of them were not happy that they defied Cody's orders that Kyle stay home.

"Kyle, listen, I'm so relieved that you're okay," Cody said. "But I am not happy that you didn't listen to me."

Kyle looked down and nodded his head after what he had heard. Jessica signaled to Cody that she wanted to talk to him. Cody then followed her outside of Kyle's bedroom.

Jessica looked at Cody's face. "What happened to you?"

"What are you talking about?" Cody said.

"Your face," Jessica said. "When I kissed you last night, I felt something around your lips. You got a bruise right there. I see a few bruises and scratches on your face."

Cody didn't know how to respond to that, especially since Jessica saw some of the fatigue that he had on his face from the fight he was in the night before.

"Did you get into another fight?" Jessica said.

Cody was at another loss. Jessica was aware that Cody had a propensity for violence, as she had witnessed her boyfriend getting into fights before. While those types of fights were in self-defense or because of some macho bullshit, the fight he was in for money.

Cody sighed. "Yes, but not in the way you would think."

"What do you mean?" Jessica said.

"You always say that we should be honest with each other," Cody said. "I was in a fight, for money."

"What?" Jessica said.

"I just wanted to make some extra money," Cody said. "I got paid."

Jessica sighed as her eyes shifted away from him in an expression of "are you serious?"

"Why didn't you tell me your plans?" Jessica said.

"I just wanted to go check it out," Cody said. "I didn't know if I was going to get into a fight."

"Yeah, but I hear about the kinds of fighters at those types of things," Jessica said. "Cody, I love you, and I know you can fight, but there are some guys who are tougher. I don't want you to get hurt. Shit, Cody! Kyle almost got killed!"

Cody nodded his head and leaned in to give her a hug.

"Listen, next time you do something like this, let me know," Jessica said. "I can keep an eye on Kyle."

"I don't need a fucking babysitter," Kyle said, after he overheard what Jessica said.

Cody looked up and Jessica turned around. Cody separated himself from his girlfriend and approached his brother.

"Listen to me, you should thank Guy and Maki for saving your ass last night," Cody said. "After what you went through, I think you should stay your ass at home at night. Just think what could have happened if I didn't find you in bed this morning, or on the couch, or if I heard that your body was found somewhere. You have no idea what I would do. You could have been killed."

Kyle knew that Cody was right, but at the same time, he also felt that he couldn't stay home. Only thing he could think about doing was not engage in a fight with any criminal, not just a Mad Gear member. His friend Celeste mentioned about that day when the group was at the Industrial Area as those guys had knives. They could also have guns, too.

Cody then approached his younger brother and put his hands to Kyle's shoulders. "I'm only saying this because you're my brother and I care about you. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Kyle nodded and hugged his older brother. Jessica then tapped on Cody's shoulder.

"You know that tonight we have that thing with my dad," Jessica said. "I am going to do my best to cover up those cuts and bruises."

"Thank you," Cody said and kissed her on the cheek.

Jessica knew that Cody had gotten into fights before, but this was something different. She couldn't say she was pleased to hear her boyfriend participating in underground fighting, but there was money involved. She knew that Cody was a good fighter, but at the same time, there might be someone better out there, whether it was in skill, or a size advantage, or a speed advantage. When she saw the scratches and bruises on his face, she knew there was something off when she kissed him before she went to bed the previous night.

The evening had come. There was a gala being hosted somewhere in Uptown Metro City. It was hosted by the mayor himself, Mike Haggar, who had invited Cody and Jessica, along with Guy and Rena. Maki also came along, because her father said that he would be fine at home. He may be an old man, but he was able to take care of himself. After all, he did teach Maki some tricks, as well as Guy.

Cody and Jessica arrived. Cody wore a suit with a vest over a blue pinstripe shirt. Jessica wore a purple dress, with her long blonde hair hanging in stylish fashion. Guy wore a suit with an orange-red tie. Maki wore a red and white dress. She wore similar colors in her kunoichi outfit, but this wasn't that kind of occasion. Rena had a black dress as she walked in and held hands with Guy, just like how Cody held Jessica's hand.

They walked into the hotel where this event was taking place. This event was not unlike the mayor's ball where Haggar gave his speech, as that was mostly a conference. This event was mostly a charity ball for the citizens of Metro City.

Haggar, along with Carlos, saw the group of people as they walked in. Given Haggar's muscular build, he had worn a suit that filled out his large frame and wore a pair of glasses to give him a more studious look. Carlos wore a suit, but it was mainly because he was one of Haggar's bodyguards for that night.

"There you are!" Haggar said. "You're here."

"Hi, Dad," Jessica said.

Mike greeted Cody and Guy, as well as introduced himself to Maki, whom he had not met before, but met Rena a few days prior when she served for them at the restaurant.

Carlos greeted his friends, and then saw Maki as his eyes widened with an expression of "wow!" on his face with a chill flowing through his face.

"Oh, hi, Maki," Carlos said and gave a nervous chuckle.

"Hello, Carlos," Maki said as she smiled a bit. "You're looking good tonight."

"Well, I'm kind of on duty, but you sure look nice," Carlos said.

"Why thank you," Maki said with a smile.

Haggar addressed the group that the event was taking place in the conference hall. With this event being held in Uptown Metro City, it was one of the nicer areas of the city. In fact, it was in the metropolitan area, but that didn't mean that there wasn't corruption in that area.

"Mr. Haggar." Haggar looked up as he heard his name from a few feet away. There was a man in a wheelchair in a dark blue tuxedo with a frilly shirt and bow tie, as well as a cummerbund around his waist. This man was bald with black hair. Whatever hair he had left connected to his Amish-like beard, as he had no mustache.

"Mr. Belger, great for you to join us for this event," Haggar said.

"I told you I was going to be here," Belger said.

Like Haggar, who had a band of bodyguards with him, including Carlos, Belger had an entourage with him as well. Right by his side he had a muscular man in a military uniform with medallions on the left side of his chest and patches on the shoulders of his jacket and had an ascot. What stood out to the likes of Cody, Jessica, Guy, etc. was the long scar going across the left side of the man's face. To top it off, this man wore a red beret. It was Rolento Schugerg, who had his right-hand man Freddie with him, who wore an army uniform.

"Man, does this guy have military connections?" Cody said to Jessica.

"I don't know," Jessica said as she shook her head, because there was something off about those two men, but she didn't know what it was.

"Listen, Mr. Haggar, I have wanted to speak to you lately," Belger said. "What do you say we find somewhere to talk?"

"We have that big thing in a little bit," Haggar said.

"Yes, I know," Belger said. "I am involved in this event, too. So I was thinking we should go find somewhere to speak, and I'd rather it be alone."

Haggar nodded his head and addressed his bodyguards, as well as the rest of the group to go walk around and find a table and get something to eat. Carlos joined the rest of the group, especially if Haggar told his bodyguards to separate themselves, as Belger told his bodyguards the same thing.

Belger had a motorized wheelchair and rode down the corridor as Haggar walked with him towards the elevator. Because the ball had not officially started, the two most powerful men in Metro City went to the balcony where more tables were set up. The area was empty, but it was open enough for the two men to speak in private.

Haggar pulled out a chair so that Belger could roll right towards the table, while Haggar sat down in the other chair as he stared Belger directly in the eye with the two face to face.

"So, Mr. Belger, what is it that you want to talk to me about?" Haggar said.

"Listen, Mr. Haggar, I know that I lost in the mayoral race against you, but make no mistake that I still have the capital to help give back to Metro City. I have helped out the poorer communities with the schools, as well as the medical department."

"Yes, I know that," Haggar said. "That's great you helped out, especially with all of the crime and assault that has been plaguing our city's streets for a long time now. But I've also been trying to help out the police department, who haven't been doing that good of a job in helping out with the city's problem."

"Well, my business had helped with the economic problems, but I see where you're coming from with the crime element," Belger said.

"And what is that? I had heard about drugs and weapons being sold on the streets," Haggar said. "I had heard about disturbances happening across Metro City but the police don't do a good job at responding to the crimes that really needed to be stopped."

"That's exactly what I was going to tell you," Belger said. "Some members of the Metro City Police Department have arrested some criminals, like members of the Punx, the Latin Lords, and others."

"But what about Mad Gear? That is more than just your normal gang," Haggar said. "A lot of misguided youths have joined them, as well as own several establishments."

Haggar noticed that Belger mentioned some smaller organized gangs. Well, except maybe the Latin Lords, but they were known for having had ties to Mad Gear, at least until recently. The only other examples he could think of were the 800 Dragons, which ran Chinatown, and had some connections to Mad Gear.

"The police department has been lacking the funds that are necessary for their resources," Belger said. "I could help them out."

"Are you insinuating that we should partner to help improve this city?" Haggar said.

"I'm just saying that there are a lot of things that could be done to help make this city better," Belger said. "But with my financial backing, it shouldn't hurt to turn to me for some help."

"Listen, I appreciate that there are no hard feelings for losing the election," Haggar said. "But I am the mayor, and I know that there are other problems besides the economy. I had heard that there is some corruption in the police department, and as the mayor, it is my duty to take care of the problem. I may appreciate your offer for us to work together, but I don't need your money, nor do I need you to provide the money for what you say the police department lacks. It's great that you provided money for healthcare and the education system, but aside from that, I need to see about solving the crime element myself."

Belger nodded his head. "Okay, I understand, but just know that you had your chance for us to be partners."

Haggar got up from his chair and shook Belger's hand as a sign of respect. The two were on their way as the ball was about to start soon.

But what was puzzling about this meeting was that Belger only mentioned some gangs that Metro City has, but not Mad Gear. Haggar couldn't wrap his brain around why Mad Gear wasn't mentioned, when they were the primary problem for Metro City.

Back with the group, Cody and Jessica sat with Guy and Rena, as well as Carlos and Maki, who were talking to each other.

"I bet I could take you on," Maki said.

"So you think that your Bushin style is superior, don't you?" Carlos said.

"It's a unique style of ninjutsu, your karate and kenpo won't be any match for my style," Maki said.

Carlos smiled. "We'll see about that. I almost took down Guy over there."

Everyone at the table looked at Guy with an expression of "really?" Guy nodded his head while keeping a straight face, as no expression of embarrassment was on display, but rather his stoic and calm demeanor.

"Well, you're on, handsome," Maki said to Carlos.

"Oh," Carlos said as blood rushed through his veins all over his body, as a red shade rose on cheeks through his tan skin as Maki smiled at him. Everyone in the group saw the way the two interacted.

Haggar had returned to the group at their table.

"Hey, Dad, where did you go?" Jessica said.

"Someone just wanted to talk business, that's all," Haggar said. "Let's all have a good time."

Meanwhile, Belger rejoined his two bodyguards, adding to the fold were El Gado and Holly Wood, both of whom dressed for the occasion in some nice military uniforms to blend in for the occasion.

Rolento looked on at all the people at this event, and then turned to Belger. "So did you talk to the mayor?"

"Yes," Belger said.

"What did he say?" Rolento said.

"He says he needs time," Rolento said as he looked at the mayor, but then turned his attention towards Cody, and then Jessica, as well as the others.

A smirk rose on Belger's face as he looked at them. "All in good time, Rolento. That's all that matters."