By Dan

"*Should I really ask Cody for this money?*", Guy wondered to himself. Even though Cody owed him, it wouldn't be very smart to come around his house this late, the Bushin master realized. So Guy walked to the phone booth and called his friend as he waited for the train to arrive. One ring, two rings, three rings... Guy sighed quietly. He almost knew no one was going to pick up the phone. Yet, at the sixth ring, someone picked up.

"Yo... Hello...?", a man answered. Guy nodded. It was Cody.

"Hey, Cody... It's Guy.", the Bushin master responded. Looking at the digitized clock by the station booth, Guy realized the next train would be approaching soon to uptown Manhattan where Cody and Jessica lived. So he made the conversation quick.

"Listen, Cody...", Guy began, "...I need another favor, friend. It's important."

"Important?", Cody asked. "...Well, you've got it, whatever it is. As long as it isn't my girl Jessica."

Guy chuckled, although rather dryly.

"Nah, it's not Jessica. I need funds, Cody. I'm on the chase of Shadaloo, and I honestly believe that I won't get enough information here on the East Coast...", Guy informed Cody, who yawned on the other line.

"Well, you've got it. I've got the cash, so come over in the morning, okay?"

"Sure enough. I appreciate it, Cody.", Guy replied. Then the phone went dead, as the three-minute limit came in. The Bushin master turned around and realized the #6 line was pulling into the station. Putting a token through the turnstile, Guy entered the station's platform and into the train.

Even though the train was basically empty, Guy still saw fit to stand up. Looking out the train's side window rather dramatically, he sighed tiredly.

"*I hope there aren't any crooks on this train getting ready to start something I'll have to finish...*", Guy thought with a yawn following immediately after.

*****

Balrog hit the streets of Metro City rather quickly after his brief meeting with M.Bison. He had a plan- rather, M.Bison had a plan. Staging a meeting between several bosses in groups affiliated with Shadaloo inside a large-scale hotel, he made Balrog the headmaster of the entire group get-together.

And when Guy or Crimson (or any hero type, for that matter) came to investigate what was going on, the bosses or Balrog would encounter and apprehend one or both of them. But for the moment, nothing was going on.

"Damn...", Balrog muttered over a deck of cards. "...Aren't one of those do-gooders gonna' show up anytime soon?"

"Maybe they're too scared to come, eh?", a boss named Marion Auriga replied. Some of the bosses laughed and chuckled.

"Besides...", Marion added in Balrog's direction. "...I'm glad they aren't here yet. I get to take more of your dough. Ha!"

Balrog growled. "Ya? We'll see about that, Mr.Gambino..."

Shuffling the cards several more times, Balrog threw the cards around the table to each of the card game participants. When he was done, the hulking boxer sat down and looked at his own cards. Making his eyes half-lidded, Balrog looked to the left of him, and to the right. Then he spoke.

"Got any threes?"

"Go fish, Balrog..."

"Damn!"

*****

Crimson shook his head and inhaled a breath of fresh air. Looking around atop his roof, the younger Bushin Ninja took off suddenly. He needed to get away for awhile. The last thing Crimson wanted to think about at the time was Guy's words, so he left his apartment, not even caring to lock the trap door.

"*As if someone is out here roof-hopping like me?*", Crimson reasoned.

"*...Who else would be out here on a roof? Spider-man?*"

Performing a front suicide dive frontflip onto the next roof ten feet below, Crimson then heard sirens approaching. Dashing over to the ledge of the rooftop he was on, Crimson peered over and saw three police cars racing toward an unknown destination.

"What's going on?", Crimson asked himself. Shaking it off, the Bushin student ignored it, thinking that it most likely the cops were chasing a petty thief in a car. But then he heard the helicopter...

Looking up with wide eyes, Crimson watched as a helicopter equipped with a searchlight hovered over his location and went past.

"Damn... This must be something serious!", Crimson exclaimed. Running after the helicopter, the younger Bushin followed the helicopter as best he could to wherever the location was. But Crimson realized he'd several blocks behind, as the chopper was obviously going much faster than he, so what he'd do is follow the searchlight instead, which was making circular motions underneath the helicopter.

Something definitely was going down, Crimson realized. But what could it be that they would have police cars *and* a helicopter in heavy pursuit of something... or someone?

*****

"Man, are you crazy?", one of the bosses asked Marion. Marion replied with a gunshot in that man's direction.

"That Balrog punk cheated! I know he did!", Marion replied angrily. Balrog hid behind an overturned bar table, waiting for his chance to take out Marion. A couple more shots rang out, as Balrog continued waiting. He did cheat, but he was hoping Marion wouldn't go *this* bonkers, but hey, what did Balrog know?

"CUT IT OUT, MARION!", another player replied, ducking.

"You're bringing the police right to us, you moron!"

"So what? Let 'em come. I ain't gonna stop blastin' until Balrog gives me my money back!!!", Marion replied. Finally, the boxer saw his chance, as Marion backed up towards the overturned table. With a yell, Balrog burst past the table and charge punched Marion in the back of the head, knocking him out immediately. Looking around, Balrog realized no one else had guns, so he became calmer.

"Anybody got any bright ideas?", Balrog asked the other boss members. Lord knows he wouldn't be able to come up with anything...

"I'd figure we get the hell out of here, Balrog!", one suggested.

"Good idea, but what about Marion?", another asked. Balrog spit on the floor.

"Puh! Forget 'dat chump! Let's go get the hell out of this hotel... Bison's gonna' be pissed...", Balrog replied angrily. Bursting through the door, Balrog and the other gang bosses made their way out into the hallway in a rush to exit the premises amidst several frightened patrons of the hotel and wide-eyed bellboys and maids.

"Whaddya lookin' at?", Balrog asked, knocking a maid over who was coming through with a cart containing towels. As Balrog and the gang bosses hit the stairway, they realized the police were coming right up the stairs.

"Aw crap!", Balrog lamented. "Tha' elevator! Go to the elevators!"

The bosses followed his lead to the elevators. Pressing the call button, the boxer breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the elevator doors open immediately. Crowding into the elevator, Balrog pressed the button for the first floor.

"HEY! STOP, Police!!!", the cops exclaimed as they rushed towards elevator to no avail. Balrog looked at the bosses who were all breathing sighs of relief as well.

"That was close... I can't afford to go back to the pen. I got a drug charge that they'll get me for if they catch me...", one said. Balrog rolled his eyes.

"They're *not* gonna catch us... You guys got guns, right?"

"Yeah."

"I got a piece on me."

"I've got three."

"You...", Balrog replied. "...Gimme one."

"Fine by me.", the man said, handing Balrog a .38-caliber. Clicking it in place, the prizefighter grinned evilly at the pistol.

"Now we've got things on even level should the cops come with beef...", Balrog muttered, glancing at the elevator floor indicator. Five, four, three, two... The elevator slowed down coming towards the main floor.

"Get ready, youse guys...", Balrog said with a grin. The elevator's bell let out a ring as it finally settled to a stop at the first floor. The doors slowly opened, with Balrog and the crime bosses ready to blast any and everything in their path...