Conspiracy Ch. 5
By Ryu Dragon

Oakland, Mississippi…

It is a beautiful sunny and cool day, at a park, there are lots of kids playing ball or chasing around. There are also lots of toy on the park; swings, monkey bars, slides, etc. etc. There are a teenager girl and a man sitting and chatting on the swings.

“Beautiful day isn’t it ?” – man.

“Yeah, I like it when the day is bright like this, especially when I feel the sunshine, it’s like I felt amazing energy comes into me.” – girl.

“Aren’t you afraid your skin gets burned ?” – teased the man.

“Of course not. I wear sunscreen cream, so I’m not afraid.” – girl, grinning.

“Heheheh. With your skill controlling the fire, you won’t have to afraid getting burned anyway.” – man. The girl smiles. “You still have that super abilities, right ?”

“Yeah, although sometimes it feels like a burden, you know ? Having all those super powers means more responsibilities that I have. Sometimes I’m afraid that I might hurt the people that I care.” – girl. She looks at the ground.

The man smiles. “Don’t worry, as long as you believe in God and always use the power in His way, you can’t go wrong.”

“Yeah. But still… sometimes I wished that I were just a normal teenage girl like the others. Don’t have to fight the bad guys, get hurt or hurt someone. I just can’t get used with it.” – girl.

The man holds her hand to ease her feeling. “Look at this way, if you don’t have the power, the girl that you were saved two years ago might have been raped, and that counts for you too.”

She shudders remembering the night when she got her super power. What Billy said was right, if she didn’t suddenly get the power at that time, she and that girl would have been raped, and worse, could’ve been killed. She holds Billy’s hand, and smiles at him. “You’re right, Billy. Thanks.”

“No problem, Nadie, just be strong and always remember that I always support you and be there for you.” – Billy.

Natalie blushed. “Billy, I…”

“NADIE !!!” – a girl is yelling at her from far, she is running toward Natalie and Billy. (Writer hides behind a big shield - Nadie-chan, don’t kill me for ruining your romance scene >o<).

They (Natalie and Billy) both let go each other hand, and cursing silently for the interruption. The coming girl arrives and catches her breathes before speaks to them.

“Did you two hear what happened ? Mr. Jack was found dead on the alley near the supermarket.” – girl.

“What ? You mean that missing person ?” – Billy.

“Yes, it’s him and I heard that his body was mutilated.” – girl.

“Oh my God, Ashley, are you serious ?” – Natalie.

“Well, I haven’t seen his body yet, I just heard the people talking, come on, let’s take a look.” – Ashley. She pulls Natalie and Billy to go to the scene.

When they arrived at the scene, there are a crowd of people, an ambulance and police cars near the alley. They joined in the crowd and make their way to the front line to see what is happening. In front of the alley, there are some police officers searching the area, two paramedics, two beautiful women and two men in plain clothes talking with one of the officers.

After a few minutes, the crowd starting to lessen when some of the officers try to find some information, some of them are just don’t know or don’t want to get involved. Natalie and her friends are still there though. Just when Natalie sees the victim, her eyes grew wide, she knows the victim, he was a postman. He usually passed her house when he’s on duty, he’s a kind and friendly man, sometimes liked to have a chat with her when he’s not so busy, but he was reported missing a few days ago. Now, he is dead, his body was mutilated so sadistically, like being stabbed and cut over and over. She cries as the body is taken to the ambulance.

Seeing Natalie cry, Billy asked “Nadie ? Hey what happened ? Are you okay ?”

Still crying she replies “I… I know that man… He’s a friend. Oh my God, what happened to him ?”

One of the women in plain clothes heard what she was saying and walks toward her. “Excuse me Miss, my name is Chun Li, I’m a detective, and I heard that you know the victim ?”

She stops crying at looks at Chun Li. “I… I…” – Natalie.

“I guess you were mistaken detective, we don’t know that man.” – Ashley cutting in. She pulls Natalie and Billy to get out from the crowd when suddenly they heard a sound of something heavy was dropped on the ground.

They turned and see the two paramedics were in fear, they see the bag containing the body on the ground, it is moving, like there is something alive inside the bag. Suddenly the bag is ripped apart and the body inside is moving. It starts to get up and walks toward the nearest paramedic with its hands extended. The paramedics, the policemen, and the people, including Natalie and her friends were stunned to see what was happening. But lucky for the paramedic that was the target, there are four people that were not stunned, one of them took out a gun and shoots the zombie on its head twice. The zombie stumbles on the ground with half of its head blown.

Feeling relief, the paramedic faints, he is being taken care by his partner and a police officer. Most of the people that were crowding are running in fear. After the tension, Chun Li looks for Natalie, but can’t find her or her friends anywhere.

***

That night, Natalie is lying on her bed, she is thinking about the event that happened that afternoon. *It was impossible, he is dead, how can he moved like that, ripping the bag, and walks ? Dead people shouldn’t be able to walk, let alone ripping the bag* - thought Natalie. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and a woman comes in.

“Nadie ? There are some people coming to see you.” – woman.

“Who are they, mom ?” – Natalie.

“They said, they’re from the Interpol. One of the women said her name is Chun Li and you know her.” – Natalie’s mother.

She remembers, the detective from the scene this afternoon. “Yes, I know her, mom, thanks for telling me.” She gets up and about to goes out her room.

“Nadie.” – Natalie’s mother.

She stops. “Yes, mom ?”

“What is happening ? Are you in trouble or something ?” – Natalie’s mother.

“No, no. I’m okay. They probably just want to ask about Mr. Jack.” – Natalie.

“Oh okay.”

They go downstairs and go to the living room where the four fighters were waiting in there. The four fighters saw Natalie and her mother come in, they get up and introduce themselves, then they all sit, while Natalie’s mother go to make some tea for them.

Chun Li starts the conversation. “So, Natalie, let’s start, shall we ? We are now investigating about Mr. Jack’s case, and from what I’ve heard this afternoon, I thought you know something about him ?”

“Y…Yes, I do know him. But I don’t know if what I know can help or not.” – Natalie.

“Ok, just tell us what do you know about him, about his life, work, friends, probably if he has enemies.” – Jill.

“Well, as far as I know, he’s a kind and friendly man, I can’t think anyone hates him. I mean, he’s a nice guy, always willing to help others and… yeah, as far as I know, I can’t think of anyone as his enemy.” – Natalie. She tells the foursome all that she knows about Mr. Jack. In the end, there was actually nothing that can connect to his abduction or his death. After she finishes her story, it was silent, then she asks Chun Li “Miss Li, can I ask you something ?”

“About what was happened this afternoon ?” – Chun Li. Natalie nods. “Well, actually what was happening last afternoon is a classified information. We can’t just tell anyone.”

“Please, Miss Li, he’s a good friend of mine. I want to know what had happened.” – Natalie.

“Well, I…” – Chun Li.

“Natalie, I will tell you what was happening on one condition, that is you’re not allowed to tell anyone what you heard, and that includes your family too. How ‘bout that ?” – Jill.

Natalie nods. Jill tells her what was happening, not on details, just the main things. Natalie’s eyes grew wide, she was shocked and disbelief to heard Jill’s story. She feels sick to hear what the Umbrella and Shadowloo had done. After Jill finishes the story, she takes a sip of the hot tea to calm herself.

“And, they still continue doing the research ?” – Natalie.

“It appears to be like that, and from what we’ve investigate, they, Bison and the head of Umbrella, are here, trying to develop a more powerful bio-weapon.” – Chun Li.

“They are crazy, how can they do that to human life !” – Natalie.

“There are some people like that outside, Natalie. And believe me that we’re trying to stop whatever they plan to do.” – Jill.

“Well, looks like we’re done here, thanks for your cooperation, Natalie. We’ll let you know when we destroy those mad men.” – Chun Li.

They stand up and about to walks out the house when suddenly Natalie calls them. “Wait.”

They turn. “What is it, Natalie ?” – Chun Li.

“I… I want to help you all to destroy them.” – Natalie.

They raise their eyebrows hearing what Natalie just said. “Natalie, this is a serious matter, they are crazy killers, all you can do to help is to stay safe and inform us if there is anything that might help.” – RD.

“B…but I can help you more… I want to help. Please ?” – Natalie.

“Natalie, we appreciate your offer, no offense, but what can you possibly do ?” – Jill.

Feeling angry and sad, she accidentally raises her power level slightly. The four fighters were caught surprised. Being the closer, Ryu Dragon detects the unknown power from within Natalie. He smiles and turns to the others. “You know, she might be right. I think she can be a great help to us.”

“I understand what you mean, Dragon, but it’s just too dangerous, she’s too young.” – Chun Li.

“I know she’s young, but she’s even stronger than Rogue. How ‘bout if we give her a chance to prove herself ? Besides, as a local person, she might know more about around here.” – RD.

“I say that she can, if she’s as good as she appears to be. The more power we get, the better our chances” – Ryu.

Chun Li and Jill both don’t know what to say, what Ryu Dragon and Ryu said were right. On the other hand, Natalie is still too young and the mission that they’re going to is very high risk.

“Alright, I agree, but on the condition that she can prove that she’s good enough.” – Chun Li.

“Okay, how ‘bout you, Jill ?” – RD.

“Three to one, what can I say ? Just as long as you know what you were doing.” – Jill.

Ryu Dragon turns to Natalie. “Alright, Natalie, you can be in the team, but you have to prove us that you’re good enough. Is that fair enough for you ?” – RD.

Natalie expression changes into excitement. “Really ? Wow, thanks. But what should I do ? I mean to prove myself ?”

“Easy, tomorrow morning you come to this address.” – Ryu Dragon writes an address on a piece of paper and gives it to Natalie. “And there we will have a spar.”

She takes the paper and gulps nervously. She knows that she’s good enough, especially with her super power, but hearing a direct challenge like her power is nothing makes her nervous and wonders on how hard the spar will be. Steeling her mind, she nods “I’ll be there.”

“Okay then, we’ll see you tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.” – RD smiles. Then the four fighters say goodbye and head back to their place to get some rest.