Conspiracy Epilogue
By Ryu Dragon

Date: December 24th.

That night was meant to be a happy and full of blessing night, after all it was the night before Christmas, when everyone would stay at home with his/her loved ones. However, not all of the world’s people are in joy or happy, some of them are in Ken’s house, in Seattle. Ken, Eliza, Ryu, Chun Li and Natalie are decorating the house, preparing for Christmas party, but their minds are occupied with their own thoughts.

Ken and Eliza’s thoughts are filled with planning and preparation for the party, but those are not the only thoughts that occupying their mind, there is another one and it’s more affecting than the other two.

Ryu and Chun Li thoughts are mixed between the grateful thought of being alive from their last confrontation with Bison – and killed him for good – and the thought of their new relationship that was developed during the mission. However, there is another thought that occupying their minds, and that thought is as big as the thought of their relationship.

Natalie is thinking about Jill, wondering how is she now. She (Jill) had gone back to her place with Barry, the other S.T.A.R.S agent that helped them to escape. When they parted yesterday in the airport, she saw Jill somewhat look sad and distant, as if she still thought that the monster they destroyed in the secret base was her friend, or boyfriend. She also has another thought, a big one and that was the same with her friends.

The thought about Ryu Dragon. They have not yet received any news about him since the secret base was destroyed. They didn’t know whether he managed to escaped or still captured, or whether still alive or dead. They are worried for him. The Interpol and S.T.A.R.S. investigating team are doing their best to search him and yet they have not been able to give any news.

Suddenly, a servant comes in. “Master Ken, there was a letter for you.”

“A letter for me ?” – Ken. He took the letter and dismissed the servant. He saw that there is no sender name or address, nor the receiver address or a stamp, the letter was delivered personally. “Jeff, did you see anyone when you received the letter ?”

The servant stops and turns around. “No, sir. I found the letter just under the front door. It was slipped inside by the sender, I think.”

“Thank you, Jeff.” – replied Ken and wave. The servant bows a bit and walks away. Feeling anxious, Ken quickly tears the envelope on the side part, takes the letter out and reads it.

“Whose that from, Ken ?” – Eliza.

“It’s from Ryu Dragon.” – Ken excitedly.

The other fighters attentions are quickly turn to Ken. They run to him and urge him to read it quickly.

“From Ryu Dragon ? How is he, Ken, how is he ?” – Ryu , Chun Li and Natalie at the same time.

“Hold on, I’m trying to read.” – Ken.

“Quickly.” – Natalie.

Ken just smiles and continues to read the letter. He was smiling when he reads the beginning of the letter, but as he continues to read, his face ashen and his eyes begin are watery. When he reads the last part of the letter, his face becomes pale and his body is shaking.

“Ken, what happened ? Is he alright ?” – Chun Li.

He squeezes the letter with his left hand and holds his head in his right hand. “That… idiot…” Tears begin to trickle down.

“What ? Ken, what is it ?” – Eliza.

He calmed himself before begins to tell his friends about the letter. The first part of the letter was about Ryu Dragon that he is well and ok, physically. The second part of the letter is about his team that were all killed n the secret base during the mission and that he had revenged the death. The last part, was the most shocking part of all, it was about the evil part of him that escaped and running around the world.

“Oh my God.” – Eliza.

The other fighters are silent and mourning for Ryu Dragon’s teammates. Ryu clenches his fist when he hears the last part. After all, he is the one who had the same experience as Ryu Dragon.

“He said that he will not look for us until he managed to destroy his evil part, it is as a sign that if his evil part is coming, we should be ready and cautious.” – Ken.

They are all silent. There was not much joy that night, although they were relieved to know that their friend is still alive and well. In their hearts they pray the same thing, that God will help their friend through everything and come back to them, sometime, somewhere.

***

Date: December 24th.

She is now at her home, back to her sanctuary, well, at least for a while until next two weeks when she has to report and back to her job.

It was just after her dinner and bath, when she is sitting in front of TV, watching the late news – she, well, not only her, is one of the news item – when there was a knock on the door. She frowns, it was almost midnight ‘Who could that be ?’ She takes her gun and proceeds carefully to the door. “Who is it ?” – Jill aims at the door.

“A friend.” – a familiar voice answered.

She is shocked, almost lose the grip. She quickly opens the door and her face becomes white, as if seeing a ghost – which is true in a manner of speaking. “Chris ?” – Jill, she was too shocked - a mix of happiness and disbelief – that the name came out as a whisper.

The man outside smiles softly to her as if answering all her doubts.

She runs to him and hugs as if never wants to let go.

It was a happy night for some people after all.

***

Date: December 28th.

A young man about twenty-five years old, dressed in casual black clothes, is standing silently on a graveyard. The wind blows ruffling through his hair and his red bandana, the bandana waves like a flag, there is a letter ‘R’ sewed on each end of the bandana. He stands silently watching a small crowd gathering near a grave down below. He wanted to be there, to be in the crowd, but he couldn’t, he couldn’t stand the sight of his friends’ family crying because of his fault. His fault that was paid by the life of five people, four of them are best friends, and the other one is his girlfriend.

When the funeral is finished, and the crowd left, he goes down. He stands and weeps silently. He said sorry many many times in his mind, but he know that its not enough, not even when he avenged them, he owes them a lot, for sacrificing five lives to saved one, his.

Suddenly, he felt a presence, two persons. He turns to see whom. Two ladies, one in her middle age, about forty years old, the other one is younger, about twenty-two years old. He knows them, well enough that he considers the older lady as his auntie and the younger one as his sister.

“You weren’t here this morning.” Said the younger lady. She is Zarkoff’s daughter, Natasha.

“I was, just not on this spot, a bit further up there.” – Ryu Dragon.

“How’s your wounds, Dragon ?” – the older lady. She is Zarkoff’s wife, Angelina.

“All will heal with time, Angie.” – Ryu Dragon.

She nods.

“Angie, Natasha, I…” He wanted to say the words but couldn’t.

“It’s alright, Dragon, there is no apology needed, dad just did what he had to do, and we proud of him. Thank you for your concern.” – Natasha.

“Yes, we are all proud of him. He is one of the strongest people that I have ever met.” He paused. “And thank you for your understanding.”

He takes off his bandana and ties it to a red rose that he brought. Using his index finger, he digs a hole on the top part of his girlfriend tombstone. He placed the rose in the hole and puts some soil and water in it. He moves back and prays for her. “Good bye my love, we shall meet again.” He turns, picks up his backpack and faces the two ladies. “I must go now, take care of yourself.” He hugs both ladies.

“Take care of yourself too.” – Angelina. She cries silently.

“Visit us sometime.” – Natasha.

“I will, when my journey is done.” – Ryu Dragon smiles.

They parted, Angelina and Natasha go to their car and drive away.

Ryu Dragon waits until their car is gone then starts walking in different direction. He takes out his old red bandana and ties it on his forehead as he starts his journey, to find and destroy his evil part.