Life After OZ Ch. 9 (Part 3)
By Dan

Punching in random numbers, Warden Ferguson chuckled as Rolento and Sodom tied up Maki, Lucia and Jessica.

"Get ready, you two. Cody and his boys should be here soon.", the warden said coolly. Rolento turned in the warden's direction and smiled.

"Don't even worry about it. I've got some of my men waiting for Cody and his friends. They won't be getting through here without encountering some serious problems..."

"Good."

Warden Ferguson finally got an answer from the numbers he dialed.

"Well, finally. Where have you been?"

The voice on the other line said, "Nowhere. I've got something to say, by the way."

Warden Ferguson sighed. "This had better be good..."

"Oh, it is. Trust me, it is.", the voice on the other line said.

"Well? What's the big picture, then?", Warden Ferguson said impatiently. The voice chuckled.

"We quit."

"WHAT???"

The phone line went dead shortly after. Warden Ferguson shook his head, then slammed the phone in anger.

"What's the problem, Ferguson?", Sodom asked.

"Traitors. That's the problem...", Warden Ferguson said with a scowl.

*****

"Come on!", Cody said leading the pack of himself, Dean and Guy. Running through the same woodlands that he did long ago when he was being chased by the cops, Cody ran with renewed vigor. Dean and Guy trailed Cody.

"You sure it's this way?", Dean asked, huffing and puffing from behind Cody.

"Positive! In fact, I-"

Cody's words were stopped short, for even more of Rolento's henchmen dropped down seemingly from the skies.

"More of you? D*mn it!", Cody said, getting into a fighting stance. The lead henchman smiled.

"Get them.", he said quietly.

*****

Mike Haggar punched in the phone number for his house one more time. And still, no response.

"What the h*ll is going on?", he wondered aloud. Getting into his Lexus, he drove in the direction of his estate. Something bad was going down, and Haggar wanted to know what was going on.

*****

Rolento's smiled as he awaited the Final Fight Trio with Sodom close by.

"They won't get by us this time, right Rolento?", Sodom said, spinning his jitte in his right hand idly.

"No they won't, comrade.", Rolento said with a grim smile. Warden Ferguson approached the duo with information.

"Hearken up, you two. Rolento, your henchmen have informed me that Cody, Dean and Guy are fast approaching our location."

"Is that so?", Rolento said. "...If so, we'll be ready for 'em."

"...Besides, they won't do much seeing as how we have Cody's girlfriend as ransom for his cooperation..."

*****

Cody yelled out in sheer anger as he floored one of Rolento's lackeys. Taking another in his arms, Cody picked up one henchman, and threw him into two of his own allies. Dean was fighting off two at once. Punching one in the face, he got low to the ground and floor-tossed one into the other.

"Dean! WATCH OUT!", Guy said flipping out of the way of danger. Bouncing off a tree, Guy thrust downward with his elbow and knocked out one lackey. Flipping away from another, Guy jumped in front of Dean.

"Whoa!", Dean said. Guy caught a knife by it's handle just as it would've pierced through Dean's chest.

"D*MN!", Dean said, impressed. Guy nodded then pointed ahead of them. Splitting up, the two continued fighting Rolento's henchmen. Cody was having no trouble beating down the henchmen, seeing as how he was in a rage-induced fury. Punches, yells, and groans of pain came from all around Cody, but he wasn't the one making the sounds, except for the punching. Cody's fists just couldn't stop their task. Soon enough, Cody had leveled all but four of Rolento's men, and those four were soundly defeated by Dean and Guy. Cody bent over at the waist and breathed heavily.

"Are you okay, Cody?", Dean said. Cody smiled, then coughed again.

"I'll be fine. Let's go. C'mon, we don't have any time to waste."

That being said, the trio ran across the woodlands an into the residential area where the Haggar Estate was located.

*****

Warden Ferguson frowned. "I can't believe this. Your henchmen didn't stop Cody."

"Incompetent fools.", Rolento said, shaking his head as if saddened. Sodom turned in the direction of the front door of the mansion.

"Someone's pulling into the driveway...", he said quietly.

"Y'know something? You're right. Go see who it is.", Rolento said, now hearing the vehicle slowing to a stop from outside.

*****

"*What is going on here?*", Haggar said, closing the door to his luxury car. The front door was open to his house. This wasn't a section known for robberies, so he knew it had to be something revolving around Jessica. Approaching the steps to his house, he then got an idea.

*If anybody's in the house, they would expect me to go through the front door. I'll try this instead...*"

Haggar then, as quietly as possible, made his way to the back of his house. Upon reaching the closed back door, Haggar heard footsteps fast approaching. Turning around to fight, Haggar stopped when he realized who it was.

"Cody!"

"Haggar!", Cody said, breathing heavily. "The warden has Jessica!"

"WHAT???"

A gunshot suddenly rang out from above. Warden Ferguson was at the windowsill of the second floor bedroom inside Haggar's home, shooting off rounds from his newly acquired shotgun.

"Get out of the way!", Dean exclaimed. All four scattered around the house. Cody ran and waited along the side of the house. Peering around the corner, he breathed a sigh of slight relief. As quiet as he could, he tried to sneak past a window. Suddenly, two hands burst through the window, pulling him in!

"WTF!", Cody exclaimed. Sodom grabbed him and tossed him into the ceiling, causing debris to fall onto the both of them, but a significant chunk of plaster fell on Cody.

"So we meet again, hero...", Sodom said.

*****

"Oh s***. They've got Cody!", Dean realized. Guy nodded, and ran around to the back door. With a simple kick, he knocked the door down.

"C'mon. Let's get them.", Guy said. Haggar and Dean quickly made their way into the house, only to be confronted by Rolento and yet MORE of his henchmen.

"Ready for the real fight?", Rolento asked, twirling his baton.

*****

Sodom punched Cody, sending Cody staggering backwards. Getting a moment of inspiration, Sodom picked up a nearby chair and bashed Cody with it. Cody hit the ground in a noisy thud. Just as Sodom was about to capitalize on the fallen Cody, he rolled backwards and used his 'Criminal' Upper to send Sodom reeling.

"Take that, shogun.", Cody said. Punching in Sodom's direction, Sodom realized the danger and caught Cody's hand neatly in his fist. Then Sodom pulled Cody towards him with his left hand, and extended his right hand which contained his jitte...

"AAAARRRRRGGGHHHH! OH, S***!", Cody wailed out in pain as he felt Sodom's jitte pierce through his skin into his abdomen. Staggering back, Cody clutched his wound in obvious pain. Sodom then knocked Cody back towards the ground. Cody hit the ground, but didn't retaliate in any way possible. Sodom approached Cody slowly, reveling in his victory.

"Heh. You aren't so tough now, are you?", Sodom said. Cody said nothing. Looking up at Sodom, Cody wheezed as he felt his life slipping away slowly...

"Can't talk now? Thought so.", Sodom said with a chuckle.

*****

Rolento with a laugh threw smoke grenades into the air. Hitting the ground, the bombs exploded in a haze of gray smoke.

"Get ready!", Guy called out to his comrades. The fight then began. Rolento then suddenly burst through the smoke, and attacked Guy. Guy jumped backwards, avoiding Rolento's assault just barely. Guy countered with his 'Dashing Crescent' attack, knocking Rolento onto his posterior. The henchmen soon attacked after their boss' fall. Haggar fought off two at once, as Dean fought another duo. A punch in Haggar's direction was negated quickly as Haggar grabbed the man's hand and crushed it in his huge hand. The man cried out in pain as he grabbed his broken hand. Haggar knocked him to the floor with a simple smack. He then picked up the other lackey, and tossed him into Dean's adversaries.

"Thanks!", Dean said. Punching the other man, Dean then knocked another to the floor with an uppercut.

Rolento continued fighting Guy, not knowing that his mercenaries were already disposed of. But Guy noticed. As the smoke cleared, Rolento then noticed.

"Oh, no.", Rolento said with a tired sigh. Dean, Guy and Haggar soon surrounded Rolento.

"Looks like you're in trouble now, eh?", Dean said with a chuckle. Rolento just hung his head. Then, he looked up at the trio. With a grin, he took out a grenade out of nowhere!

"No. You are!", Rolento said with a laugh. Throwing it down, the Final Fight crew scrambled to avoid the blast. The explosion shook the entire house, and set fire to the area.

"We gotta' get Jessica and the others!", Dean said.

"What about Cody?", Haggar said. Guy was already on the case. Sensing Cody's situation, Guy quickly ran across the expansive Haggar mansion, which was in near ruins now.

*****

Sodom picked up Cody with one hand. This time, he wouldn't be fooled.

"You really don't have anything to say, do you? I'll give you once last chance...", Sodom said.

"What's six plus two?", Cody murmured. Sodom chuckled.

"Oh, I'm not falling for that one again!"

Cody looked into Sodom's mask. With a slight smile, he then said:

"That wasn't me..."

"Wha...?", Sodom said, dropping Cody. Turning around, he saw the face of an angered Guy.

"You don't know what you've done...", Guy said, his voice barely above a whisper. Sodom growled, then tried his hand at a jitte strike. Guy flipped over Sodom's attack, and landed gracefully past him.

"That's not going to work, Samurai."

"We'll see, Bushin.", Sodom said. With another angered growl, he charged at Guy with his Daikyo Burning attack. Guy waited on the attack.

"*Got to time this perfectly...*"

Sodom got within arms distance of Guy when the Bushin master suddenly lashed out his right hand. Swirling chi energy engulfing his fists, Guy pulled Sodom towards him and initiated the Bushin Musourenge. The rapid hits hit Sodom with succession, and as quickly as it was initiated, it was over, and Sodom lay hurt on the floor, unconscious. Guy then quickly gathered up the fallen Cody.

"Are you all right, man?", Guy said.

"H*ll, no.", Cody said with a faint smile.

"Look, I'm putting you outside. Don't move, your injury is serious."

"No way, Guy. I've got to save... Jessica.". Cody said, struggling out of Guy's grip. Then with a groan of pain, Cody flopped back onto the floor.

"I told you so! Now let me get you to safety.", Guy said. Cody nodded, and Guy helped him to the front door.

"Don't move. I'll get Jessica, don't worry.", Guy said to Cody. To his surprise, Cody had already loss consciousness.

"*I hope he's makes it through this whole ordeal...*", Guy thought to himself. Making his way back into the burning building, Guy fought back the smoke and debris that began filling the air.

*****

"*What the h*ll is happening down there?*", Warden Ferguson wondered in worry while looking at the gagged and tied forms of Lucia, Maki and Jessica. As he went to the door to investigate, the door burst open smacking his square across his face! In came Haggar and Dean.

"You? You're the brains behind this?", Haggar said in sheer amazement. Dean put an arm on Haggar's shoulder.

"No time for talk! Let's get the girls and roll out of here!"

"NO! I won't let you!", the warden said drawing his firearm. A shot rang out in the room as the two heroes tactfully dodged the bullet which ping-ed off the wall in a ricochet. Dean jumped towards the warden and grabbed hold of the barrel of his shotgun.

"Let it go! I'll shoot you!", the warden threatened. Dean smirked, and with a yank, took the gun from Warden Ferguson. One punch from Dean sent the warden reeling. The warden growled, then pounced on Dean with renewed anger. Punching Dean several times in the face, Dean was able to throw the warden off of him. Haggar, meanwhile , was setting the girls free.

"Dad! Thank goodness! Jessica said.

"Don't worry about it. Just go, Jessica!", Haggar said. Lucia, Maki and Jessica all made their way down the steps only to be met by Guy.

"Come on. I know the way out."

"Where's Cody?", Jessica asked, coughing because of the smoke.

"Outside, and not in good condition, I'm afraid.", Guy said solemnly.

*****

Dean stepped back and avoided another blow from the warden.

"You think you're tough, eh?", the warden asked, the two of them circling each other amidst the smoke and rising flames.

"Nope, but I know YOU sure aren't!", Dean sneered. With a swift kick to the warden's lower leg, the warden cried out, stumbling. Dean followed up his initial attack with a three-in-one uppercut, that saw the warden on his way to the floor. The warden coughed and lay still, unconscious because of the hit and the noxious smoke. Dean picked him up, and slung him over his shoulder.

"C'mon, Haggar! Let's blow this joint! It's coming down!"

"Right behind you!", Haggar replied. Just as they left the room where the fight took place, the entire ceiling came down in said area, causing the entire mansion to shake.

"GO GO GO!", Haggar said, breaking into an all-out dash. Dean followed as best he could. The two got to the front door only to realize that it was blocked!

"Oh, crap! Now what?", Dean said, coughing violently.

"I got it...", Haggar said. Backing up a bit, he stood at least ten feet away from the blocked path. Then with a shout, he charged the blocked door and with a loud CRASH, freed them both from their fiery entrapment. Guy, Maki, Rena, and Jessica alongside Cody were all waiting for the two.

"My God, what took you two? We were worried...", Lucia said. Guy then spoke up, pointing at the building.

"We should get moving... This thing is coming down!"

With a surprised gasp, all of them noticed what Guy was saying was indeed true. Running for dear life, all of the group (with Cody being carried by Haggar) dashed as the whole entire mansion was finally engulfed in flames, ending the most intense ordeal they've all faced in a long time.

*****

Cody lay in his hospital bed, with Guy, Rena, Maki, Lucia, Dean, Haggar and Jessica all surrounding him. He hadn't woken up from his comatose state since the whole entire situation passed only a mere week ago.

"You think he'll be okay?", Jessica asked her father.

"I honestly do. He's a fighter, Jessica. He'll make it.", Haggar said. Guy and Rena quietly watched Cody's seemingly sleeping form, and everybody inside had noticed that they had each other's hand.

"What's with that?", Dean said to Guy, pointing to Guy and Rena's tightly clasped hands. Guy smiled.

"We're going to see if we can make this thing work again."

Rena nodded. "We miss each other, and we realized it just wouldn't be right to break up the way we did on such bad terms. So, we're basically starting over."

Jessica had also noticed something odd about Lucia and Dean. "What about you two? What's going on there?"

Dean was the first to speak. "I realized that if Lucia cared that much about me, I needed to stay with her and tell her that I was sorry."

"Apology accepted.", Lucia said, giving Dean a kiss on the cheek. Haggar smiled.

"So everything is going okay now, I guess."

"Say...", Maki asked, "...What about Warden Ferguson? What happened to him?"

"Well...", Haggar started, "...We turned him over to the authorities. Chun-Li herself handled the whole investigation. They have him on counts of kidnapping, criminal intent, illegal firearms possession, and many other counts. They're going to give him up to ten years and more."

"That's it?", Dean asked with an incredulous look.

"It's enough.", Jessica said. Guy nodded, agreeing. Movement from Cody's bed made everyone turn in that direction.

"Hey... Where the h*ll am I?", Cody murmured, uncertain of his surroundings. He saw all the faces of his friends and smiled weakly.

"Whoa... The gang's all here.", he said with a grin. Jessica beamed, nearly crying, and all the others simply smiled.

"It's good to see you back, Cody.", Guy said.

"Nice to see you too, 'O Bushin master. Ouch.", Cody said with a chuckle. It was obvious that he was a bit delirious, but everyone stayed by him nonetheless. Soon the doctor came through the doors of Cody's hospital room.

"He's awake?", the doc asked.

"Awake and doing well, doctor.", Haggar said to the doctor. Cody saw the doctor and smiled.

"Am I going to be okay?", Cody asked. The doctor smiled.

"Yes. The wound wasn't as severe as we had initially thought. With a couple of weeks rest, you should be back on your feet at full strength."

"That's a relief.", Jessica said, giving Cody a kiss on his forehead. Cody smiled, then shifted slightly to talk to the others in the room.

"Guys, can you excuse me and Jessie for a second. I want to speak to her alone."

Dean and Guy both nodded. "Okay, then. Get some rest, Cody.", Dean said.

"We'll be here if you need us, man.", Guy said. All except Jessica left the hospital room.

"What do you want to tell me, Cody?", Jessica asked sweetly. Cody sighed as if tired.

"Let me get this off my chest. Jessica, I'm truly sorry for this whole thing. I didn't mean go to prison, and I definitely -ouch- didn't mean to have you in the center of this whole d*mn situation. I need your forgiveness. Please..."

Jessica looked at her boyfriend with a single tear escaping her eye.

"I can forgive you, but let me say something... I know that fighting is important to you, and I didn't recognize it back then. I don't know, I might've been jealous of it, if you can believe that. But I do know now why you fight, Cody. Not to just do it, but to protect the ones you love... like me."

"Yeah. That's how I would've liked it to be at first. But I know I won't be doing any more brawling or anything like that anymore. I'm going to make an effort- a real effort this time, to devote my time to you, Jessie.", Cody said.

Both Jessica and Cody looked at each other with nothing but caring and mutual respect in each other eyes. Jessica went to kiss Cody again, but Cody stopped her.

"Jessica... I want you to marry me."

Jessica's eyes went wide. "Oh my God... Cody..."

Cody smiled. "I'm serious. I love you more than anything, Jessie. More than any stupid fight, more than life itself. Let me be your husband. I want a chance to prove to you-"

"No need. Yes, Cody. I'll marry you.", Jessica said excited.

"*She said yes. Oh, God. This is the greatest moment of my life!*", Cody said, his mind spinning. The two then kissed passionately and slowly broke away from each other. Jessica smiled with a look only Cody really knew.

"Get well soon, Cody. Just wait until I get you home...", she whispered to him with a devilish look. Cody's eyes went wide, then he grinned. Giving him a kiss, Jessica made her way to the door.

"I love you.", Jessica said to him, blowing him a kiss.

"I love you too, Jessie.", Cody said. Jessica smiled, and made her way past the door. Soon after, Dean, Guy and Haggar made their way into the room.

"Man...", Dean said smiling, "...Whatever you said to Jessica has her smiling."

"Don't worry about it guys.", Cody said with a grin. Guy looked at the ceiling thinking. Guy then looked at Cody and actually winked. Cody KNEW Guy knew what had transpired between him and Jessica. Haggar then spoke up.

"Well, one thing I know is that I'm glad this whole ordeal is over."

"That's for sure.", Dean said.

"We might hafta' start over, but maybe it's better that way. We all have a chance to change things, now...", Guy said. "...But I don't know about your house, Haggar."

Haggar laughed. "That all right. I'll be getting the insurance for that, and I was thinking of moving anyway."

Cody chuckled at that. With a content sigh, he realized that indeed, it was over. Everything that had previously happened to him was history, and he was getting ready to start a whole new life alongside his friends, and an engagement to his soon-to-be wife, Jessica. Nothing was going to stop him from living his new life. Cody didn't think it was possible, but it was indeed his Final Fight, and he was the victor.