Guile,and Dark stood across from their captured quarry.

The man seated before them was a man they and others thought was long dead--Lt.Charlie Nash.

Unfortunately,he didn't recognize either of them,he was claiming to be someone else.

"Let me get this straight…commando..Lash."said Guile. "You're really running with this cartel?"

"I'm on of their best trained men."he said. "But I'm not privileged to tell you nothing more than my name and rank..period."

"But.."said Dark. "..is this cartel..really Shadowloo?"

"SGT.Lash.."said the man. "tactical assault commando,rank sargent..and that is all."

Guile went over to Lash and looked down at him and straight at the eye at that.

"You…you don't recognize me at all…?"he asked.

"No..should I?"said Lash with a sneer.

Guile then sighed..and simply landed a hard punch into Lash's jaw,knocking him to the floor.

"GUILE!"said Dark as he grabbed him by the arm.

"What the hell you think you're doing?"

"What's it look like,Dave?"said Guile enraged. "Trying to knock some real !##@ sense into this guy!"

"Well that's no way to do it!"said Dark. "Come on..outside! Officer..watch our..guest."

The MP officer saluted Dark while the two commandos went out into the hall.

"Look,Will.."said Dark. "…I miss Charlie as much as you do…we were all great friends back in the Air Force days.

But…that man in there…may look like Nash..but for all we know it might be either a clone..or someone with a helluva plastic surgery job to look like him."

"I..I know--"said Guile sratching his head. "…it's just that seeing him again after all this time..I may put up a false hope that he would remember me..or anything. But he sounds and looks so much like him..it has to be him!"

"Hopefully.."said Dark. "..we'll find out. But it's going to take time and a lot of effort. We'll stash him away for later and continue the interrogations later. Right now..we need to report to the General,we've just received reports on more of the re-emergence of this cartel we're chasing."

Guile then looked back at Lash who was still on the floor and unconscious.

"All right."said Guile. "But if he doesn't crack by then…I'm going to land an even harder drop on him than before--and that's a promise!"

Tokyo,Japan.

Dan removed his jacket,shirt and tie,while Cody removed his jacket and shirt,both revealing their primed and scarred muscles of athletic strength.

"Just remember American!"said Dan. "You asked for this!"

"You gonna yap or you gonna fight?"said Cody. "BRING IT!"

Dan then rushed forward and made his first move--his flying Scissor kick!

But Cody simply ducked the first flying kick and then slammed Dan with a typhoon uppercut!

"UUGHH!"replied Dan as he was knocked backwards and fell on his back.

"You got anything better than that?'said Cody. "Cause I got all night here!"

"Errgh..I'll show you what I can do!"said Dan as he jumped back to his feet.

Dan then launched into a roll slide,and slammed both of his feet into Cody's legs,knocking him a few feet back and then fell up against a waste can.

This gave Dan the chance he needed as he thrusted forward and rammed a hard elbow into Cody's chest and then followed it up with a punch to the face,smashing his nose on impact!

"Erggh…now that's more like it!"said Cody as he wiped blood from his nostrils.

"I'm not the goof off you and others thought me to be,Cody!"said Dan with a scowl. "I'm twice as tough as I was before..and I'll make an example of you to the other street fighters who ridiculed me back then!"

"Yeah?"said Cody. "Well you're gonna have to knock me down first!"

"Gladly!"said Dan as he thrust forward for another attack.

Dan swung a high kick at Cody,but the fighter ducked it and then grabbed his leg and then landed a punch to his groin.

"ERRK!"cried Dan as he staggered back and clutched his crotch.

"HEH--dirty fightin'you know me."said Cody laughing.

But instead of keeling over,Dan simply stood back on his feet and coughed it off.

"What the hell?"said Cody arching an eyebrow.

"Nice try,blondie."said Dan. "But FYI,after certain…experiences..I've developed a better toughness than you could imagine. Besides that..I wouldn't want to disappoint any of the local ladies around here..if my 'package' gets damaged."

"Ughh..please..I just ate."said Cody clutching his stomach. "Now..let's get on with this!"

"Music to my ears!"said Dan.

Cody then jumped at Dan and then thrust a spin kick at him.

Dan then simply ducked it and then countered with a Kyoryuken to Cody's chin.

Cody felt his chin get clocked by a hard uppercut,but he quickly shook it off with fast and hard punch to Dan's chin--bruising it in the process!

The two fighters then jumped away from each other,and were ready to pounce again.

When suddenly….police sirens went off and a pair of squad cars arrived.

"COPS!"said Cody.
"DAMN!"said Dan. "Just when we were getting into it!"

"I'll let ya off this time Danny!"said Cody. "But when we meet at the upcoming World Warrior contest..it's gonna be different…so be there if ya dare!"

Cody then ran off into the night.

"Oh,I'll be there all right."said Dan. "My reputation is gonna bank on it!"

While across town at the local Battle Dome,preparations were being made for the upcoming tournament.

Ken watched from the judges seats and main office above.

"Yessiree."he thought grinning. "This is gonna be one major contest for all fighters across the world. Both Ryu and Sakura went back to the country to train some more. So it looks like I'd better get back and train my two boys.

Within a year..this is gonna be the greatest contest of all!"

A SECRET LOCATION…

A small group of thugs and would be terrorists stood before a lone man in shadows.

Leading was a tall and lean middle aged man wearing a red beret military uniform and standing with him was a pair of aging crooks.

One was Birdie,british street punk and once member of the evil terrorist group Shadowloo.

The other was Sodom,samurai bandit and once member of the Mad Gears.

In the middle was the dreaded Rolento,also once an enforcer of the Mad Gears,now leader of the group of roughnecks he was leading.

With him also was El Gado and a bunch of mercenary thugs as well.

"All right man."said Rolento,now sporting a beard and a patch eye.

"We're here..what you want us for?"

A lone and mysterious man stood in the shadows before them.

"You know who I am?"he said.

"Oh yeah."said Rolento. "We thought you were dead..but hey we all knew better right?"
"Yeah,you got more lives than an alley cat mate."said Birdie.

"Hai."said Sodom nodding.

"Good,good."said the man. "Than you know I have enlisted you all to re-join my ranks of our group.

The pay is great,the profile is high…the thrill is great as ever..what do you all say?"

"Sure..why not?"said Rolento. "We all needed a change of venue and deep pockets..so we're in boss-man."
"Yeah,just say the word..we're yours mate."said Birdie.

"Most excellent."said the man. "Now this is what I want you all to do…"

BATTLE DOME,JAPAN..

Workers and builders were making arrangements and conversions to the indoors of what was to be the new tournament venue.

Ken,along with Ryu and Sakura had gotten first look at the building,but after a few minutes of touring,Ryu felt that he and Sakura had to return to training back at the dojo.

So they made their goodbyes for now,and returned to the countryside.

"Yessir."thought Ken. "This is gonna be the biggest and best contest there ever was. And why…?

Cause there sure as hell aren't gonna be no villains,bad guys,terrorists or any kind of sorry ass bastards to run it this time--that's a promise!"

"Lost in thought Mr.Masters?"said a female voice behind him.

"Eh..?"said Ken as he turned around.

Standing before him was a tall,slim and shapely young woman.

She had long blonde hair and wore a two piece muave suit with skirt and black heeled shoes.

"Uh..can I help you..ma'mm?"said Ken arching an eyebrow.

"Don't recognize me do you?"said the woman with her arms folded. "I know it's been awhile…but ah well..I have been out of the fighter's circle for a while.

Does the name Kanzuki ring a bell for you?"

"Oh--oh yeah--!"said Ken. "Karin--Kanzuki..yeah it's been awhile."

The two blondes shook hands as they approached.

"How have you been?"said Ken.

"Oh as fine as I ever will be,Ken."she said with a smile.

"I..I wanted to see Ryu--and….Sakura here..but it looks like I came here too little too late.

But at least it's good to see you again."

"Yeah,likewise."said Ken. "I'm really sorry you missed them though,but you know Ryu…gets his mind on serious stuff and no stopping him till it's done."

In recent years and battles,the two millionaire fighters had become good friends despite being so similar in many ways to their opposite rivals.

"Well…"said Karin. "…I was really hoping to see Sakura again..to issue that she and I…still have some old scores to settle."

"What?"said Ken surprised. "After all these years you're still on about that..with her?"

"Yes,I do."said Karin in a matter of fact reply. "You and Ryu should know…you were both there when she and I left our last match unfinished after graduating high school."

"But Karin,"said Ken. "that was years ago..and it was cut off due to an attack from a biker gang nearby!"

"Yes,I am aware of what happened."said Karin. "But..since my father passed away and I was left in charge of the company he ran…I swore two things.

One..to be a great a Kanzuki as he ever was..and to finish my rivalry with Sakura once and for all!"

"You mean till one you beats the other?"said Ken. "Come on Karin..you've matured a lot more than you ever had,don't you think that's…"

"Silly..immature?"said Karin. "True..I did eventually put away my snobbish ways for the better. But…can't you as a fellow fighter understand the concepts of fighter's pride and resolution. I mean you after all still hold a rivalry with Ryu don't you?"

"Oh yeah…that."said Ken. "I..I don't know about that anymore,Karin. I mean..he and I beat each other several times in the past..but in case you don't realize…times change..and we have to change with them.

Besides that…Ryu's gotten a lot more notches under his belt than I did since then…he's a master himself you know."

"Yes,I know."said Karin. "Hell,even I never thought I'd see it happen.

But unlike your past battles..I still have my own to resolve..I haven't let being CEO of the Kanzuki empire slow me to down..and you shouldn't let yours fatten you either.

So..please..I am asking you.."

Karin reached into her jacket and took out a single white envelope and handed it to Ken.

"…to please mail this to Sakura before you leave back for the US..I would appreciate it."

"Uh..okay I will."said Ken. "And I suppose you'll be there to attend the tournament as well besides being one of the sponsors to it then?"

"I wouldn't if I didn't add to the funding,Ken."said Karin with a grin. "See you there..and if I was you..I'd take up my training as well..before you do…get old."

Karin then exited from the arena building and back to her limo.

"Humph…"replied Ken. "I guess some things sure as hell do never change..especially when you're a..rival."

Ken then looked at the letter and thought for a moment about what Karin said.

"Well..I guess two can play at this game then."he thought. "One last time..while Sean trains my Mel..I'll whip myself back into real training for this contest. But I swear…this shall be the final ultimate for the great US champion--NO MATTER WHO WINS!"

US AIR FORCE BASE.

Guile,Dark,Cammy and Ace all stood before General Hawkins.

"Any luck,colonel?"said Hawkins.

"None so far,sir."said Guile."He doesn't…recognize any of us right now."

"Hmmm..that's really too bad."said the general. "Frankly..I'm shocked that it's really him…but then even back then..no body was ever found…so it may come as no surprise.

Anyways..we'll get into cracking..Charlie's…head later. Right now..we've got another lead on the next whereabouts of the next strike and appearance the new terrorists group will strike."

Hawkins lay a few files out on the desk out for Guile and the others.

Guile picked up one,it was a flyer advert for--the new World Warrior tournament being held by Masters foundation.

"WHAT?"said Guile. "A new…WW contest..being held by Masters?"

"You've got to be joking!"said Cammy. "Ken's holding the tourney this time?"

"That's right."said Hawkins. "Ken Masters,CEO of the Masters foundation has decided to revive the old WW contest for street fighters around the globe.

That's where you and Cammy will come in."

"We will sir?"said Cammy.

"Yes."said Hawkins. "I am aware of your recent involvements in the second WW contest that was held by Shadowloo years ago.

We have reason to believe this will attract old and new terrorists and former thugs from the past. And we have also learned that an old…enemy of ours just recently resurfaced that will probably be approached by the new cartel."

Guile opened another file which contained a photo of..

"Rolento--I shoulda known!"he said with a scowl.

"Not him again!"said Dark. "I still remember the scars he and his men left me years ago."

"That bastard gives soldiers everywhere a bad bloody name."said Cammy. "He should've stayed in Metro City where he belongs!"

"Be that as it may."said Hawkins. "I want you all to infiltrate this contest when it comes..two of you shall enter..that is you Guile and you Cammy.

And the other two shall watch from the sidelines and watch for any…suspicious involvements."

"A pity really."said Ace. "I was hoping to try my hand at the contest."

"That's why we need the most experienced Ace."said Hawkins. "So..are you up to it as well,Guile?"

Guile took a deep sigh and then cracked his knuckles.

"Well…"he said. "…it would be good to meet and beat some old friends."

"Same here."said Cammy. "We're up to it!"

"Good."said Hawkins. "Now..here's the plan…"

While across the rest of the globe all fighters continued their training for the great event to come.

Ryu trained Sakura.

Ken trained himself,while Sean and Mel trained.

Chun-Li trained her star student Pai Ling and the rest of the World Warriors from the past few tourneys trained their bodies,strength and skill to peak condition for the event to come.

While several villains in the shadows planned to make their move.

"I shall enter this contest!"said Urien who was in his training hall. "And I shall destroy those who defeated me and rule the fighting world..and then the world itself!"

"At last.."said Akuma. "That fool Masters has revived that pitiful contest…that means Ryu himself shall be there.

Very well…I shall take this contest as well..TO MY FISTS!"

"HAHA!"said the man in darkness. "Masters has made his move..THEN SO SHALL I!

Soon…the world shall know the return…OF SHADOWLOO!"

While in the depths of a deeper darkness…

"THAT--FOOL SHALL BRING ME FIGHTERS..OH YES..SHALL--AND ONCE IT IS ALL DONE--I SHALL RULE THIS MISBEGOTTEN HUMAN WORLD--HAAHAAA!"