Untitled Ch.7
By Shadow Dragon

Bison smiled happily. True, Chun-Li had managed to slip from his hands, but she had served her purpose. His Psycho Drive was now almost full, and in a few hours more, the Alpha Warriors would see power beyond all they had seen before. They would see..

... Shin-Bison.

=====

Next day, 12:58 PM

Chun-Li opened her eyes slightly, but still enough to attract Guy's attention. Guy walked over to Chun-Li's bed immediately.

"Chun.. Chun? You awake?" Guy asked softly so as not to disturb her in case she was still sleeping. A soft moan from Chun-Li's throat answered his query. Guy in turn shook Chun-Li excitedly.

"What's that? Water?" Guy poured a glass of water and held it to Chun-Li's lips, who gulped it down. Chun-Li sat up on her bed and shook her head a few times to clear it. Her head spinned as she regained her bearings gradually and the vision of Guy's face sharpened.

"Where are the others?" Chun-Li asked tiredly, seeing only Guy in the room.

"Out for lunch."

"Maybe I'll spend this day shopping around," Chun-Li smiled weakly. "I could invite Sakura and Rose.."

"Chun, forget that," Guy interrupted in a serious tone. "What you did was totally boneheaded and unauthorized. You could have DIED down there if Charlie and Dan weren't lucky enough to find you. Chief told me to keep an eye on you, and he's suspending your punishment until this case is closed. Another attempt like that and.. and I have orders to 'detain' you with whatever means necessary."

Chun-Li sat up straight in bed. "You TOLD Chief?"

"Why not?" Guy snorted back. "Consider yourself lucky you won't be facing serious disciplinary action due to your past performance, Chun. In fact, Chief even considered sending another agent to replace you, since this case involves your personal problems."

"All right, all right.. I need a bath," Chun said wearily. She was too exhausted to argue, and her body still ached viciously. Just then her memory snapped back to action.

"Wait a sec.. Guy, can you run a check on Bison' files now? There's something I need to know."

"Specifically?"

"When I broke into Bison's.. hideout yesterday I discovered a.. um, device of some sort. From what I found out that device is something Bison uses to collect energy, burt I'm not really sure."

Guy's face fell. "A WHAT??"

"That's all I know.. why? What's up?"

"Just a minute.." Guy switched on his laptop computer and tapped a few keys, logging on to Interpol's worldwide network and accessed Bison's files. He hated Bison's file the most, for it took the longest to load. Not very surprising, since Bison was Interpol's prime suspect for numerous criminal activities around the world.

"Got it," Guy muttered. His countenance became dark immediately. "Chun.. the machine. Can you describe it?"

"Well.." Chun-Li pressed her index finger against her forehead. "It was rectangular in shape, about your height. Plenty of wires here and there, and something which looked like a hole or a door in front. It hummed quietly, but the most confusing part was that purple wisps of smoke would come out of it from time to time."

"Could you sense any energy from it?"

"No, but then again the machine wasn't a living thing and didn't possess any chi. It could have contained enough energy to raze this city and I wouldn't have felt it."

Guy frowned. "There was been a few unauthorized reports about a certain machine in Bison's possession, but since there was no proof Interpol dismissed them as rumours. But I think we can trust your words, Chun."

Just then knocks echoed through the room and Guile stepped in. "Okay, Guy, I'll take over. You go out and fix yourself something to eat."

"That," Chun-Li stepped from behind Guy, "won't be neccessary."

"Chun-Li! You're awake." Guile paused. "That was a stupid thing you did."

Chun-Li rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, I get the message. It was a stupid move, I could have died and yadda yadda. Now stop yammering okay?" she stepped into the bathroom.

Guile looked inquisitively at Guy, who shrugged. "Maybe she's just had a bad day, I guess. By the way, will you please get Dan, Charlie and Fei? There's something I want to talk to you about."

=====

"So basically what you're saying is that this machine absorbs our energy and converts them to Psycho Power?" Fei Long frowned. "I don't see how that is possible."

"I am not sure too, but we cannot take any chances with this thing. With his Psycho Power enhanced by our energies, Bison could be pretty invincible," Guy replied.

"That does seem a rational explanation to why Bison would host these tournaments," Guile scratched his chin.

"Look, I told you I wasn't sure. Everything here is uncertain. That guard could have cooked up a story so I would let him go," Chun-Li pointed out.

"The USAF also received several reports in the past detailing the existence of such a device, but like Interpol, the Air Force dismissed them as rumours," Charlie said.

"Look, you guys chat all you want. Ken just called, and I'm going shopping with him," Dan got up from his chair.

"Men shop too?" Chun-Li asked in surprise.

"Why not? Maybe buy a few souvenirs home.. this is my first time here, anyway," Dan retorted.

"Dan's right," Fei Long said. "So assume this machine exists. What do we do? Demand Bison to hand it over?"

"I hate it when we can do nothing but wait.." Guy muttered.

=====

"914.. 915.. 916.. 917.. bingo!" Dan rapped on Room 918 curtly. A few minutes later, a tall handsome blond opened the door.

"Hiya Dan," Ken grinned. "C'mon in! You're a few minutes early, but we'll go as soon as Ryu puts on his clothes."

"Ryu's here? Sounds like a reunion to me!" Dan slapped Ken on the back as he walked into the room. "So, how's it been these few years?"

"Oh, life's been good for the rich man. Got married, had kids and all that family stuff."

"So I've heard. Ryu still single?"

"Not for long," Ken snickered as he pointed at a girl who was trying to pull on a t- shirt on Ryu.

"Sakura," Ryu complained for the fifty-seventh time. "Why do I have to wear these things?"

"Because this is Rio de Janerio! You have to present yourself properly to the public, you know." Sakura tugged the collar down over Ryu's head. "There. And don't squirm too much."

"See what I mean?" Ken nudged Dan.

"Long time no see, Dan," Ryu smiled as he offered a hand.

"Good to see you too, Ryu. And Sakura," Dan returned. "So, are we all set?"

"Yep," Ken flashed his credit card like a samurai sword. "I've got a few things to get for Eliza."