"Guy, we've got to do something, and soon! With how those alarms are blasting, something big is going down, and we need to get the ladies out!"
"Easy, Cody. Let us be glad that only Sodom and Rolent remain. Still, both of them are stern opposition. It takes only one of Rolent's grenades to do the damage. We also need help from the others, as neither of us know how to work the subs."
"I know, I know. What do you think this is, a Saturday morning cartoon show? ...I do believe I have something--follow my lead."
Guy was hesitant. Under these circumstances, his good friend sometimes made rash choices. Other such times, he made decisions that brought a doomed opportunity into an uncanny victory. He followed Cody's glance, and he had an idea about Cody’s plan.
The room Sodom and Rolent was like a large meeting room of sorts. The two were at the opposite side of the room, engaged in a light sparring match, for no other reason than the fact that they were bored out of their minds. The door Guy and Cody were approaching was about mid-way through, allowing them to block off Sodom's blades, and Rolent's grenades. The latter was cast aside, for neither wanted the pins to dislodge in their sport--it would have prematurely ended their game.
"So, what do you think about the Mad Gear teaming with Shadowloo, Sodom?"
"I try not too. Bison is a powerful alley, and can help us to crush Haggar and his pals...Bison is power-hungry! What's to say that after we crush them, and Bison gets what he wants, that he won't alter our deal any further. I do not look forward to serving him forever, nor do I wish to challenge him. His Psycho Powers are more than I wish to challenge."
Rolent laughed his deep, sadistic laugh. It was the same one he used when he tossed a live grenade on defeated foes. Only a man possessed by insanity would think to challenge Bison, especially in the way Rolent was thinking. Then again, this is Rolent--he had hung one of his own troops, just to make a point!
"You lack vision, and the edge to fight him. Bison may be strong, but even he couldn't survive the blast of one of my babies. He can only teleport so much, before one of them hits him. Everyone has an Achilles Heal; you just need to find it, and hit it...hard!"
"What you say is mad! He has the ability to do such a thing. More than likely, the blast would take you out long before a stray flame would touch his cape. I don't see how you can use them like you do, without killing yourself!"
Rolent smiled at his friend, only for it to be replace by shock. Sodom turned in the direction the Italian Special Forces Commando was looking, and nearly fell over his own feet. If one could see the look under his gear, one may almost swear that he had seen a ghost.
There, between them and the only way out, was Cody and Guy. Each of them had taken one of Sodom's blades, each being equally adapt to fight with blades, or fists. Sodom had only his twin Sai, while Rolent was armed only with his stick.
"I'm not sure why I'm going to bother," began Cody, "but are you willing to free the hostages and...guess not!"
Sodom was engaged with Guy, while Rolent and Cody were fighting their own fight.
Cody, my beloved, where are you? I wish you could be here, with me. Whatever this Bison has planned, I know you and your friends will stop it, as you did with both the Mad Gear and Skull Cross. After our most recent tragedy, though, I know we can over come this. We can, and always will survive, my love.
"Cody, wake up!"
"Lucia? What's...what are you doing here, and with all these cops."
"...I'm sorry. You are under arrest. You are charged with: possession of Doll, abuse of this drug..."
"What!? What?!"
"...The murder of Jessica?"
"Are you crazy?"
"I wish she were, son?"
"Haggar? What's this all about?"
"This was found on your drive-way. A small, unused Doll capsule. Your blood has also been found at the scene of Jessica's murder."
"You know it ain't true, Lucia!"
"Of course! We all know it...but we still have to take you in. We'll give you a blood-test. That will at least help the case."
"Bring it on! I've nothing to fear!"
Ah, my darling. But none of us knew, nor could we have guessed it.
"You test positive," was all she could say, in a mono-tone voice.
"This is nuts! I'm not going to..!"
"Cody," Guy whispered in his ear, "Somehow, they've been able to get to you. We'll learn out how, I promise you. Until then, work with Lucia. She can make sure you get a private cell. We'll do what we can."
"You have been acting irritable, my friend. Now, we understand why. Next, we must learn how it happened. Then, we will make the ones who did it suffer, especially for the death of my daughter!"
As it turned out, they had been contaminating the water in the complex. Not only had you been infected, but nearly the entire complex had been.
In their last effort to ruin your name, they used the Doll to force you to break out of prison. After that, the effects of it were too weak to cause you to do anything threatening.
In the end, you were cleared, and I had been drugged by Doll, and put in a suspended state. That--is as close as I want to get to death anytime soon.
"Jessica! Look! It's Cody and Guy! They're fighting Sodom and Rolent!"
"I knew they'd come!"
Each of the four were battered and bloody, standing only by their sheer will. The will was of total hatred, or of total love, depending on who the man in question was.
"This game has been around too long! It's time we ended it! Sodom!"
Rolent leapt at Sodom, who caught him, and hurled him over Cody and Guy. Before they could turn, Rolent brought them to their knees with a strike from his weapon, followed by Sodom mowing them down!"
"NO!" screamed the two women, and fell with a heavy thud to the ground.
"Well, boys, it's been real fun. Ready to point them to their ends?"
"That is a very bad pun, Rolent!"
They heard footsteps racing toward them, and as they turned, Jessica and Rena punted them each below the belt, dropping them instantly.
"I--don't believe this! We were supposed to rescue you. How--embarrassing!"
"I agree, Cody," grumbled Guy, "How did you get free?"
"Somehow, in your fight, you must of hit the device to open our cells. As we screamed, we each slammed against the door. We were surprised to see the floor rush to meet us!"
"That's probably right, Rena. I now have an idea as to what it was that I got slammed into," half-groaned Cody, as he rubbed his back.
"We're free, but what about the others? There's a lot to be done!"
"Right Jessica! Since these two aren't in a position to argue, let's make them comfortable in your old room. Then, you can lead us to the other prisoners."
"Right, Guy!" the two answered.
"How noble," mused Akuma from the shadows, as the small party left.
"Still, I think I have seen enough. This is Boring! Perhaps I shall fight at another time, but this is of little importance to me. There is a warrior of a dark and tormented life, that I have seen in some events. He looks to be an interesting challenge, and will be different from these usual fights. Maybe, I shall be here, at a later date. I have lost interest in this. Whatever this final battle may yield, is of no concern to me."
So finishing, Akuma blinked out of sight, seeking out an 'E-or-e.'
©1999