June 1989 
  

Even before the door opened the 10 year old boy scream like the last four boys and girls did. The feeling of dread had penetrated the thick metallic walls as what felt like a nightmare come true approaches him. The door slowly slide open and the boy scrambled to the furthest end of the circular room. 

Standing at the doorway was a small size creature whose faced seemed to be veiled by the shadows. Two long sharp horns poking out of its shaggy mane. The long row of sharp teeth glinting off from the reflected light. It's scaly tail lashed from side to side as it steps into the room. It looked at the boy with its head titled slightly to one side. 

The boy's back was towards the metallic wall like he was trying to squeeze into the wall away from this creature. A creature from a nightmare, a nightmare that he couldn't seem to wake from. 
  

The creature was now standing in front on him with a glowing globe of energy in each hand. The raw crackling energy frightened the boy even more. He couldn't understand it, he didn't want to know. All he wants to do is get away from this place. To be back in his nice warn bed. 

Not in this place facing this thing. He started to scream and cry at the same time. Huddle in his corner as the creature waved its fist in the air. It was saying something but the wouldn't know what. He don't want to know. He just want to be away from this terrible place. 

He cried once more as something entered his mind, words that he does not understand, it was like a crash course on the history of something. A history lesson that overwhelms his young mind 
  

From his viewing laboratory, Vega(Bison) watches with intent as the creature mouthed silent threats and curses at him. He couldn’t hear what it was saying for the speakers had being turned off. He pressed a button on the console and the wall where the boy was swung around sweeping the young boy into another room to determine the effects on the boy’s mind. The lights turned on as the revealing a dragonish creature, it folded its wings like a cape around its shoulders and stalked out of the room. 
  

Moments later the creature the entered control room, the creature though small in size was large in presence. It seems that somehow that both Vega and the creature held some sort of silent respect for each other. It moved to the desk a little distance away. As it sat down. It steeple it claw like hands together and lean forward. Vega couldn’t help but noticed the storm-blue scales of the creature. Had it not being for his family heritage he wouldn’t even believe that it does exist. 
  

But the creature was eyeing him silently with its cat like eyes, its head was titled slightly to the right. All it did was just sit there waiting. 

<<   Why?   >> it asked 
“Why what?” Vega asked back. Placing a cup of undiluted coffee in front of it. 
<<   Why did you not let me start with the one I chose?   >> 

“That child looks like she would not be able to stand a light punch let alone experience powers at your magnitude. Why not wait for a while more till she recovers from that asthmatic condition? Other host may prove to be even more suitable.” Vega added. Glancing towards the monitor. 

In that cell was an Asian girl about ten years of age. Unlike the other frightened children she remains silent. Her silence occasionally broke by well-timed fits of asthmatic coughing. 

<<   None are more suitable than her. Sickness is no big matter that I cannot handle. If she is to be my host. Nothing I do to her could ever harm her.  >> It added as its tongue laps up the coffee. 

“And should you prove wrong? And should she perish because of that? What would happen to you then Geotao?” Vega asked. 

The creature called Geotao didn’t even looked up from her coffee. Only her eyes met his and then back to her coffee again. 

<<  That which does not kill you will only make you stronger. I lost my connection to her because of what happened to Sho. I waited for a few decades. I can wait longer should anything untoward happen. But since the opportunity of a perfect host has arisen why waste that on pure speculation?  >> she said 
  

“But can the others wait that long? The Gathering has being put off for a few times.” Vega left it hanging. He was sure that Geotao understood his meaning. 
<<  The universe can hold out on a while longer. The raw energy would not be useful to anyone if they do not know where the Point of Power lies.  >> Geotao looked towards the door 
  
  

As ChunLi enters she was slightly shocked to see Geotao sitting there. There was curiosity in her eyes as she stared at the creature. More often than not the creature she see before her appears more as a shadow than anything. She stood there slightly overwhelm by the storm-blue colours of it scales a bit of grey in blue. It reminded her of a storm that was about to break. Ominous but sure as the dark looming clouds. 

“How?….” Was all ChunLi could say when she handed a folder to Vega 
<<  The proximity of my host, Dracona Lilian  >> Geotao answered her. Using a term that ChunLi found to be familiar. 
<<  I am more of a Storm Dragon elder missy. A standard small size creature of speed, an assimilation of speed and power among dragons. And we still exist though cloaked in human skins.  >> she continued. 

ChunLi stood fingering the small piece of scale that she wore as a pendant, she recollected herself and remembered something. 

“Why was I call here Father?” she asked 
“She wanted you to see something.” Vega said pointing out to window. 
  
  

That same Asian girl was now in the same room where the young boy had being a little while ago. The silence broken by an asthmatic coughing and wheezing. The young girl seem no more than ten. Her black shoulder length hair had hidden her face from ChunLi. 

As if she knew ChunLi was watching her through the viewing panel the girl looked up, her eyes narrowed with distrust. The young girl titled her head slightly to right as her gaze remain fixed onto ChunLi, overwhelming her with the darkness of her eyes. 

The way the girl stared at her reminded ChunLi of someone. Someone who had being here a few years ago as a ‘guest’. Someone she hoped to see again. Someone she hopes had learnt to control his darkside. There was something else as well, this child brought to mind a few memories. Memories that she smiled fondly at as they gently touched her mind. 

From the corner of the girl’s mouth twitched slightly in a smirk when she knew she had a lock on somebody. ChunLi noticed that smirk, it reminded her again of the same person, more like his darkside for that smirk was characteristically his. 

By now ChunLi couldn’t help but feel that this young girl was some kind of an amalgam of her past and her memories brought to life. She was starting to like the young girl for some reason. 
  

And then Geotao walked over and waved her clawed hand in front of ChunLi breaking eye contact with the young girl. Looking out the viewing panel she was now sitting quietly knowing that the chances of escape is not that strong. Geotao smirked and laughed inwardly. 
  

<<  Typical  >> Geotao shooked her head. 
<<  Do you feel better now? Elder Missy?  >> 
  

ChunLi was helped to the couch, she shook her head trying to clear out the images. Her mind is usually strong but what had happen still bothered her. Geotao handed the girl’s bio data. 

<<   I assure you that she is not a clone of you and ‘him’. Although I know that you wished that she is the result of the coupling between ‘him’ and you, yes?   >> It winked mercilessly at her. 
“How did she do that?” ChunLi blushed knowing that Geotao’s guess was right 
  

<<   Presence. Unimpressive looking as she is. There is a standard presence about her. She prefer to use it to stun people and make her escape it seems. Don’t look into her eyes again.  >> Geotao said, sitting down again. It seems to ChunLi that Geotao is a permanent state of brooding. 

“…I felt something about her…. Why is she here?” 
<<   The feeling of closeness is natural, even she does not know how that happens. My host, elder missy….If your father here would be so kind enough to allow me to proceed with what I must do.   >> Geotao hinted with an evil glint in her stony eyes. 
  

“But look at her. Her asthma seems to be weakening her. She doesn’t seem to be the kind to withstand a single punch let alone something like. Why not take me as your host then. If strength is what you want.” ChunLi said, she noted that Geotao was shaking her dark shaggy head, an amused chuckle seems to escape from her. 

<<   I would offend the Dragonlord that way Elder Missy. Beside much as I would like that. Your mind is not exactly compatible with me. I don’t exactly reside in the body but the mind. Have you taken a sudden liking her?   >> Geotao inquired her fiery fan crest at the end of her tail lashing from side to side catching the light in her scales. ChunLi nodded. 

<<  Typical   >> another chuckle. 
<<  Why not speak to her first. Perhaps you would be able to convince your father to allow me to proceed.  >> 
“What would happen to her then?” 

<<  She and I will be one. Her thoughts and my thoughts will be one and the same. As it always had and will be now. From then on. We would walk the same path and ‘we’ will become ‘I’ as it once was. Time is not a luxury she has.  >> 
  
  

Moments later ChunLi dressed as one of the lab assistant entered the room where the girl was being held. She could feel that the young girl was eyeing her wearily. And the way she does it reminded ChunLi of ‘him’ again. She put the tray of food in front of her and smile. 

“Hello.” ChunLi smiled warmly. 
  

The same pair of dark eyes looks up at her from the fringe of hair, eyeing her as she eats the piece of sandwich. There was an uncomfortable silence. ChunLi could see the tan face of the girl. Chinese but she could be easily be mistaken for an Eurasian and to a point a Filipino. Her eyes was a little large but not threateningly large. Which some how made her likable despite her stone cold exterior 

“What’s your name?” 
“Does it matter what my name is in this place?” She asked in a flat tone. 
“You don’t look well?” 
“Asthma.” 

“You need anything?” 
“Fresh air. Open space.” 
“I’m ChunLi.” 
“My Ma said never talk to strangers.” 

“I want to help you.” 
“Then let me out now. I have to find someone before this Asthma do me in one day.” That was the longest sentence ChunLi ever heard her say. Oddly the girl reminded of her of Geotao somehow. There was that similar tilt of her head. 
“Do you know who you are looking for?” 
“Yes and No.” 

“Is that why you came to Shadowlaw?” 
“Yeah. Had to find this statue of seven critters.” 
“I know where that is.” 
“Help me then.” 
“Wait for me.” ChunLi held the young girl in her arms. The feeling return again. It was like holding ‘him’ and herself in a strange way. In some sense of the word she was starting to feel an attachment to her. 
  
  

Returning to viewing laboratory she persuaded her father to let Geotao do what she must. Geotao smirk when ChunLi soften Vega’s hard stand on this issue. 

“If anything goes wrong you’ll be responsible.” Vega said, he always found it hard to resist ChunLi’s pleading, he shook his head wondering how he ever got his hard reputation. Considering that his daughter seemed to have melted his resolve. 

He handed two orbs to Geotao, one filled with Psycho Power and the other the Satsui no Hado of a certain young lad who was housed as a ‘guest’ here until ChunLi took it into her head and released him. 

“Wait. What about her family? Would she see them again?” 
<<  Yes. Elder Missy her family in some sense of the word is mine as well. You do not expect me to have her run around uneducated and homeless do you?  >> Geotao replied in mock anger. It seems that the permanently brooding creature was beginning to lighten up. 
  
  

A little while later Geotao entered the cell where the sleeping girl was held. Geotao knelt down beside her. And tap her with one clawed finger. There was no fear at all when the young girl saw the creature, there was however a strong sense of fascination from both party. ChunLi switched on the speakers to listen into their conversion. 
  

“I knew you were real!” she finally smiled as she fingered the fiery fan like crest. That smile reminded ChunLi of herself when she was young and was staying at an old friend’s house. 
“Never thought that I be looking at you from this point of view…. It feels different to look at oneself without the connection.” Geotao mumbled as she stroked the girl’s head. 

“You like her?” Geotao pointed at ChunLi. The girl nodded her head and waved her thanks. 
“You ready?” 
“All my life.” 
“Well then. Will you pay the same price for taking me once more?” 
“I will” 
“I will enjoy cultivating your mind once again.” 
  

Geotao stood up taking the two orbs she smash them together melding the two chi together to form a large ball of energy. As the girl’s hand reach forward, tentacles of wispy pure energy reached out and drew her in. 

As they both stood engulfed in energy, a feeling began to form in ChunLi’s head as she stood watching. There was something about that raw energy, enticing, beckoning, drawing. Like the a miniature version of the Big Bang. 

The energy was so pure, so raw and so powerful that it seem to be something and yet nothing. Gently Vega turned ChunLi away from the view of it, turning off the speakers and fogging up the viewing panel 

“It is too complicated for us to understand the things that be. Li. Our job is just to be caretakers of an old heritage.” He said. 
  

Creature and girl seem to be melding into each other, thoughts, body, mind and soul. What was once two was slowly assimilating into one. There also seem to be many things going on that’s far too complicated to be understand. 

Creature melts into girl as they both slowly hovered up to mid air. Then as the wispy strands was absorbed into the girl. Scales began sprouting up turning skin and cloth into scales. The leathery wings broke forth for her shoulder blades unfurling spreading them open. Geotao(slightly resembles Bahamut the GF of FF8) now returns as she turned a loop in mid-air. 

“There can be only one!!!!!” She laughs in mid air. Then while laughing she started to cough and falls to the ground unceremoniously, wheezing and coughing. ChunLi and Vega immediately headed to the cell. 
  

“I’m fine..ack! gack!! Damn forgot about the asthma…shouldn’t have laugh so hard….” Geotao said as she returns to her human form the only scales that remains were that of the gloves of scales that she wore. She now resembles the girl that was here moments ago. She took out an inhaler. 

“Geoy?” ChunLi questioned 
“Oh yeah. My name is Iwa Hoshi now.” Geotao/Iwa answered. 
“Iwa…Hoshi? Iwa as in rock…..Hoshi as in star….Hoshi as in that ‘Hoshi’?” ChunLi was slightly confused 

“Yes Iwa is made up of my real name. And it suits my hard head and personality. And me and me agree on the name.” Iwa said in mock seriousness. Her personality a blend of the creature and that of the girl. 
“Hoshi. If in Chinese is ‘xing’ rhymes with my true name. And yes Hoshi as in that ‘Hoshi’.” She smirked. Raising her eyebrows to emphasise her point. 
  

“Then why such a name?” 
“Standard issue name Sifu. Sides If you really want to pursue on its true meaning. Then yes I am related to you and ‘he’ then. Considering the Satsui no Hado is his and the Psycho Power is yours…then you can say I am your kid in some way. Would you like to officially adopt me then?” 

“…Sifu?” ChunLi couldn’t help but wonder what she got herself into. 
“Oh I’m asthmatic remember?. I need training naturally. Heh. I think you and I would get along fine. But at the moment I have a Gathering to attend” Iwa grinned heading out the door