It was beginning to be late evening around different parts of the city where the Street Fighters were,but they all kept up a steady pace at what they were doing,even though some of them were partying.

OUTSIDE OF FRANK’S GYM…

A police car pulled up near the alley outside the local fitness center,and a lone cop exited from it.
He then went over to a local vending machine for a cold drink.

He inserted 50cents in,chose a clearly canadian cherry cooler and was about to head back to his squad car,when suddenly….

…..he noticed a fresh trail of blood coming from a darkened alleyway.
He bent down to look at the blood,it looked as if it was there for only a few minutes.

He then carefully stalked into the alley and cautiously whipped out his firearm.
“Anyone here…hello?”called the rookie.
Silence was all he heard.

Suddenly,his foot tapped up against something.
Looking down into the darkness,he then got out his flash light.

He switched it on,shone it on whatever was there….

…..and found a dead and blood covered body.

“GASP!”replied the cop in response as he staggered away in fright,and fell up against a garbage can.
A cat,whose sleep was disturbed,screeched and leapt out of the can,causing the scared rookie to jump away from the can and fall on his back.

“Huh—huh---man---that’s two scares in one day—I can’t take!”he said as he got back to his feet.
He then shone his flash over the dead body,it apeared the body of someone dressed in a white and black karate gi,and the blood that oozed down his back was from a deep gash wound in the back on his neck.

“Oh my gosh….”he said and then remembered the sightings of various martial artists being killed in a brutal fashion.

“Th-the killer!”said the cop. “He was here! I—I’ve gotta call for backup!”
But as the policeman made his way back to his car,he found that someone—had made a sudden disconnection!

When the policeman reched for his cb radio,and pulled it out…the line came undone and dangled from the receiver like a strand of loose spaghetti.

“WHAT THE HELL?”he said aloud. “Who did that?” was no sign of life for a few miles.
“Either this thing’s faulty---or some of the guy’s played a dirty trick on me back at the station before I left! Man,whatta time for this to happen. Maybe I can get to a pay phone around here.”

The rookie looked around and saw one just on the other side of the alley on a lone street corner.
“What luck!”he said and ran over to it.

The cop came to the phone booth,entered it and placed a quarter in.
He then dialed the number for the local precinct and waited for the dial tone and someone to answer.

“Local Precinct 402.”said a voice on the other end.
“Hello Shirley?”said the cop. “It’s Harvey,I need you to inform the chief that I need an ambulence and a forensics team here right away.”

“Will do Harvey.”said Shirley. “But why couldn’t you call from your c.b?”
“ I dunno.”said Harvey. “When I got to it,someone cut the cord. Anyways…I found another dead body murdered the same way those other bodies were found. Ya know the same way that Mike Blazefoot was?”

“Really…?”said Shirley. “Does he have…puncture wounds on his neck?”
“You kidding?”said Harvey. “This was just like those Dracula movies…the guy’s back is soaked red,and he looks like a—a karate fighter by the looks of it.”

“Okay then.”said Shirley. “Just tell me the exact location of where you exactly are.”
“I’m at----.”

But poor Harvey’s sentence was cut short as someone ripped open the phone booth doors and lunged at the policeman’s throat.

The stranger’s left hand poked both of his fingers straight at his throat,and they both pierced right through his soft flesh.

“ACCCKK—GURGLEE---*”
Were Harvey’s last words as he died instantly from the blow and fell to the floor of the booth.

“Harvey…?”said Shirley on the receiving end of the phone.
“Are you there…HARVEY?”

The killer then placed the phone back on it’s hook and then dragged the dead policeman away into the darkness.
 

WHILE BACK INSIDE THE GYM…

R.Mika looked around the gym for any leftover wrestlers to fight when suddenly,someone emerged from the shadows of the room and approached her.

“Nice litle bout ya had there dahlin.”he said in an australian accent.
“And..who might you be?”said Mika.

The man who stood before her was a wrestler like her,dressed in a red and blue get-up of red shorts,blue leotard,and suspendars with bright blue boots.

He was taller than Mika with a hard musled body that stood firm and tall with pale red hair that was thinning above the forehead,a goattee on his chin and a solid gold trophy belt around his waist that read:WOW WORLD CHAMPION on it.

“Rango Randis is the name.”he said. “Wrestling’s been my game for nearly 20 years now,mate!”
“A wrestling champion huh?”said Mika. “You here for the tournament?”

“As matter of fact yeah.”said Rango. “Poor’ol Blazefoot,he was a good brawler I tell ya. I’m here for one final shot at some competiton,’fore I retire. And I saw ya little…excursion there with the other wrestlers there…and maybe you an’I could spar for a bit darlin’.”

“First off,it’s not darling,it’s Rainbow Mika,wrestling champ of Japan and disciple of Zangief.”she said.
“Zangief eh?”said Rango.”I fought him back when he was just a rookie in the wrestling federation,I hear he’s gotten mighty bigger and bolder since then.”

“Yeah---and he’s the greatest wrestler in the world!”said Mika. “I fought him and his Super Cyclone crusher once…I’ll be a great a warrior as he someday. And I’ve come to fight wrestlers as strong as myself here. But….looks to me like I’ve outclassed them all tonight.”

“Well,if you’re looking for a bout to make you even stronger…Mika…then look no further.”said Rango.
“Huh..what?”said Mika raising an eyebrow. “You’re saying you want me to spar with ya?”

“I’m not asking for a dance if that’s what ya mean.”said Rango. “You said you’re practicing your wrestling moves and strengths? Well so am I and this couldn’t be a better opportune time for it.”

“Well I uh---.”said Mika.
“And before you even begin to think that I’m as you youngsters would put it—past it and don’t wanna hurt me too much.”said Rango. “Remember..that age means nothing when you can still do it right as you always did. I even wrestled other greats like Mike Haggar and Hugo and even Sumos like E.Honda back then.”

Rango then picked up a steel bar and twisted it into a pretzel and then threw it to the young wrestler.
“Gulp…!”she replied. “With his own hands…and his hands aren’t even the size of master Zangief’s.
she thought.

“So…still wanna turn me down…or do we get down and funky in the ring?”said Rango.
“Okay…you spiced me into it.”said Mika. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn ya—mate.”

“Music to my ears!”said Rango as he and Mika got up into the ring.

WHILE BACK UPSTAIRS…

The ninja known as Hiryu adressed Ryu,Guy and Makoto.
“I am Hiryu Nakazoo.”he said bowing to them. “Former clansman of the Preying wolves. I am here to futher my own strengths and skills for the competition ahead. I couldn’t help but watch your little…spar matches with each other. And was wondering if you would spar with me for a bit..i’m in for some long overdue practice.”

Ryu turned to Guy.
“What do you think?”he said.
“As a fellow ninja,I’ve heard of the preying wolves.”said Guy.”They were once a ruthless band of ninja assassins for some mob bigwigs in Kyoto years ago…”

“I think he means well,if he is kinda strange.”said Makoto. “It’s great seeing another ninja in the competition,which means mr.big bad Bushin has some right now.”

“I’ll approach him.”said Guy. “Let’s just see what this ninjitsu practicioner can do.”

The Bushin walked up to Hiryu on the blue training mat and they both bowed to each other.

They then took up fight stances and the match began.

Guy made the first move as he thrust forward at the ninja and did a turn elbow strike.

Hiryu simply blocked it off,then vanished…

“Huh—what the…?”said Guy in astonishment.

“He---vanished?”said Makoto.
“Not really suprising.”said Ryu scratching his chin. “I’ve seen other ninjas do this same trick as well in two past tournaments. Namely Geki and Ibuki.”
 
 

Suddenly,Hiryu appeared behind Guy and then slammed a knee into his back,causing him to fall forward.
Guy landed on the floor,but then rolled away and jumped back to his feet.

“Clever…”he said. “…I admit that even Bushins did not know or need the art of concealment for their fighting techniques.”

“I’m sorry if I was too quick in judgement in doing so.”said Hiryu. “Force of habit in the arena for me these days. We will start again,and use each other’s best and strategic moves on one another fairly.”

“Very well.”said Guy. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The two began again and this time Hiryu made his move.

He thrust at Guy and turned his body around in a rapid spin motion,causing Guy to inch away for a safe enough distance to fight,until suddenly,his next turn swung out a high and hard roundhouse kick!

Guy saw it and then ducked as far to the floor as he could,just barely missing the high kick.

“Whoa!”said Makoto. “Just barely missed it!”
Guy then rose up and did hisBushin Hassoken .
Hiryu was decked in the chest and abdomen several times by Guy’s fierce and fast punches and was then knokced across the mat with a lash out kick.

“YEAH—GO GUY,GO!”said Makoto cheering him on.

Hiryu then sommersaulted backwards to his feet and then launched another attack.

He ran at Guy and then did a flying kick.
But before Guy could counterattack,the ninja vanished again.

“Aw man—not that crap again!”said Makoto.

Guy turned his head to the left and saw Hiryu re-appear out of nowhere and come straight at him with the same flying kick he did.

The Bushin then jumps high into the air,sommersaults right over Hiryu,and then grabs ahold of him by the waist.

Guy then pulls him backwards and then brings his back down and hard upon the floor mat with a thud!

“ALRIGHT—BUSHIN RULES!”said Makoto.
Ryu smiled.

Guy stood over the fallen Ninjitsu.
After a whole minute,Hiryu got up,groaned and rubbed at his back.

“It seems I need much more practice than I realized.”he said.
“Too bad for you,the tournament starts this Friday night.”said Guy. “Better get some real training in before then.”

“I’d best do that yes.”said Hiryu. “I thank you for an exhilliterating match,Guy-san. But…just you wait till the actual contest starts…I have some real tricks of the trade waiting for even you. Until then..train hard.”

Hiryu then exited the room as quietly as he came.
“Hmmm…something not right about that guy.”said Makoto.
“Naturally,he was from a rather ruthless clan,Makoto.”said Ryu.
“No,I sensed something….different about his chi there.”said Guy. “It was there…but his life spirit seemed…elsewhere…or something.”

“Hmmm…perhaps we’ll find out more about him in the contest,Guy.”said Ryu. “Either way,stay sharp.”

WHILE BACK IN THE WRESTLING RING…Both Mika and Rango grappled with each other in close hand to hand combat,each trying to gain the upper hand.

Suddenly,Rango then grabbed one of Mika’s wrist and then with all his strength,threw Mika over his shoulder,causing her to fall falt on the ring floor.

Mika then jumped back to her feet and tried for an attack.

She thrust forward and did her Shooting Peach move at him.

Rango saw the attack coming and then thrust out both fists that bounced right off her rotund bottom,causing her to bounce away from Rango and back to the floor!

“YYOOUCH!”said Mika as she rubber at her tender tush.
“Nice try mate.”said Rango. “But I saw that one coming as soon as you did it. I gotta admit,pretty unorthodox move for a fine arse. I can think of some things I’d like to do with your pretty arse.”

Mika sneered in disgust at the man’s remark.
“I’ll have you know I’m a respected and famed wrestler—NOT A SEX TOY!”she barked.
“Easy there baby!”said Rango. “Just jiving with ya—trying to get your figthing flame alit is all.”

“Well,you’re gonna toasted by my flame—BIG TIME!”said Mika.
Without another word,she thrust at Rango and did another move.

She whipped out her Beach Special and slammed at Rango with a series of elbow strikes and multiple Shooting Peaches.

Rango manages to block off the first few,but is then slammed by the next few Peach shots.

“UUNNF!”went Rango as he fell backwards and up against one of the ring poles.
“Still wanna ‘kiss’my butt Rango?”joked Mika.

“Not really dahlin’.”said Rango as he jumped at her again. “Now try some of my super duper moves.

He charged up enough ki power to unleash a super art attack.
“SWING STRIKER!”he shouted and swung a spinning clothesline attack similar to the ones that Darun and Hugo did.

Mika was taken by surprise and got hit several times by Rango’s incoming lariet.

Mika then jumped away from her opponent to think of another approach.

She then thought of one and ran straight at him.
Before Rango knew what Mika was gonna do next,the femme fatale did her Heavenly Dynamite.

She grabbed Rango by the shoulders and does at least five head-butts against his forehead!

Once he’s stunned enough,Mika then drags up him away to the top of one of the ring poles and then brings him down upon the floor-REALLY HARD!

Rango was out of the moment,and Mika had won!

She jumped up and down signifying her victory.
“YES!”she said. “I AM JAPAN’S STRONGEST!”

Rango groaned as he got up.
“Not bad mate,not bad.”he said.
“Not bad?”said Mika. “That’s an understatement by far! Just ask those I’ve slammed in the ring with that move.”

“Okay matey.”said Rango. “I see you’re gonna be one of the greatest stars in wrestling yet. But just you wait till we tango in the arena this Friday night. So you’d better be ready—for anything!”

“Will put old timer.”said Mika. “See you in the ring.”

Rango then leaves the ring and heads out through the back door and into the night.
“Hmmm…that’s strange.”she thought. “Why didn’t he head back into the gym instead? He must have some place to be tonight,no matter.”
 

WHILE BACK AT THE PANTHER CLUB…

“All right boys.”said Birdie adressing a group of armed and black shited Shadaloo terrorist thugs.
“We do this by the numbers,hold everyone at bay,while Jack and me take out Masters and his cronies to take to the boss. Don’t fire unless I give a command,cappeche’?”

The group of men nodded.
“Good,now let’s move in.”said Bridie as he and Jack first entered throguh the doors.

It looked as it another rough sparring session was about to begin,and the name of it was…SURVIVAL!