The sky darkens as night slowly overcomes day, Thick storm clouds gathers overhead threatening to pour at anytime. Lightning streaks across the sky and was punctuated by a thunder clap. Cold wind tosses leaves around, as the storm approaches the creatures of the night were silent. 
  

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ChunLi already in her fighting attire adds the finishing touch to her buns by securing cloth covering with two ribbons each. She walked over to a large wooden trunk and fished out a beautifuly carved oaken jewelry box that Ryu made for her. 

Within on the top tray lies the knobbed bracelets that she had wore in her younger days. ChunLi put the tray aside and took out what still remains in the box. The pair of spike bracelets which she had not worn since the tournament where she had fought to keep her title as one of the Apprentice to one the GrandMaster. ChunLi wiped off some tears from her eyes. 
  

<  And I thought I need not wear them so soon.  >  ChunLi removed her gauntlets and snapped on the cold familiar weight of the spike bracelets. 

<<   I’m coming for you, Ryu…  >> she sent to him via the Inner Circle mental network, hoping that he would be able to pick up her thoughts like he always does. ChunLi closed her eyes to mediate and clear her mind. 
  

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Eliza tied her hair in a long braid, she took out a package from her luggage. From the package she took out the half gloves with the brass knuckles studded on them. The Grand Master Heihachi Mishima had given them to her when she celebrated her last birthday at the Inner Circle’s island home. 

"I hope you will never have the need to use this gift." Heihachi had said to her. 

Eliza tightened the straps on her gloves, zipping up her black full body suit she waits for the others to be ready. Eliza has more to risk then the others, she was not a veteran fighter like the others, and both her husband and son are in danger. But she is a stubborn woman as well. 

<<  I’ll go to the even to ends of the earth to find and bring them back or die trying!   >> she resolved 
  

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Zannah ties her long silver hair in a high ponytail, as she zipped up her blood-red bodysuit, she knew that the ones who had taken the four of them were after her as well. For this was the handiwork of a gang of deadly mercenary group that she herself was a part of a long time ago. It was no surprise that this gang was hired to capture the four. Zannah strapped her two sabers on. There was icy anger within the cold blue eyes of Zannah. 
  

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Yuri, mistress of the KyokugenRyu. The one who tagged along on this suicide mission for a reason of her own. She had being kidnapped once and she knew what it was like. She knew what was going through the mind of the three women as well. She tied the red headband on and checked her shoelaces again. In her own fashion Yuri followed on this mission to confront her own personal demons. 
  

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Iwa sat mediating on her bed, a long black zipped bag lays in front of her. As she opens her stone cold dark brown eyes,  there was an eerie menacing look upon her face, it was a look that would chill the hearts of even the bravest of warriors. Expressionless as she unzipped her bag, taking out her sword. 

The pommel stone was a tennis ball size clear orb with a blue tint held by a dragon like claw to the hilt, within rainbow colored dust floats around. On the ends of the blue scaly curved cross guards are the heads of two dragons one western one eastern. 

Their fiery fan like tails curled around the part of the blade nearest the hilt. The scabbard was made of the same snake skin material as the glove on her left hand and that book’s cover. Tying on the blue headband to keep her fringe from her eyes and snapping on the straps to her spectacles. 
  

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ChunLi headed outside, alone as she walks through her door. Eliza joined her in silence as ChunLi passed the guesthouse. Iwa dropped down from the lone tree in the courtyard and joined them. Yuri followed them as they passed by the kitchen. Zannah was waiting for them at the gate. Sakura and Sean wanted to follow but Yun and Yang stopped them. 
  

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It was deep into the night when they neared the borders, the dead bodies of the Shadowlaw border guards was like a taunt that dares them to follow. It was not long when they reached the heavily guarded fort. 

"What are we waiting for? We should go in now?" Eliza said impatiently. 

"They expect us to give them a full frontal assault." ChunLi said as she passes the binoculars to Eliza. 

"Heavy weaponry as well, I do think that somebody wants us to believe that our men are in there when they are not." Zannah commented. 

"What do you mean" Eliza asked, she hates beating around the bush when her son is in danger. 

"Look at them, all of them are Gill’s Hunters none of mercenaries are here. They think if we were to survived the frontal assault we would fall prey to whatever it is they had installed as a backup plan" Zannah said. 

"How could you know so much, For all you know after this assault they would be here." 

"Eliza, don’t be naïve. This strategy of theirs brings me painful memories, I should know what they have in mind for I lost many people in this position." Zannah turned moody as she spoke of her dark past. 

"If they want a full frontal assault we’ll give them what they want!" ChunLi said. The rest look at her in askance. 
  

"Iwa, you know what to do. Just like last year, but keep the casualty rate low, we need some of those hunters for questioning." ChunLi continued. 

"Okay, Yuri wanna come." Iwa asked 

"Sure thing." Yuri and Iwa disappeared into the dense foliage as they descended the hill. 

"Now we wait and see." ChunLi said. 
  
  
  

A short time later there was an eerie howl of a lone wolf, broken by the sound of machine guns blazing. 

"AAAIIIIIEEEE DEMON!! WATCH OUT FOR THE CLAWS!!!!……" followed by a wet silence. 
"ATTACK FROM BEHIND!!!!…." the silence was followed by a few wet thuds. 

"What’s going on down there?" Eliza wondered as she reached for the binoculars. ChunLi stopped her. 

"Best not." She said sternly. The battle continues below with the sound of gun firing becoming less frequent. The howl of a lone wolf signified the end of the battle. A few moments later the two girls returned, Iwa looked slightly roughed up. 

"All clear!" Yuri reported, The others followed them down the hill, compound although empty betray splotches wet blood on walls, floor and trees. There was a moan coming from a far corner of the compound. Yuri held back the curious Eliza from investigating. 

"Not a good idea." Yuri quietly as they continue in. 
  

"MMOOMMMIIIEEE!!" There was a cry coming from within the fort. 
"MEL!" Eliza panics and ran ahead of the others. 

"It’s a trap! Get her back before she springs it!" Yuri shouted. 

The cries became louder as they got deeper into the fort. 

"MOMMMIIIEE! WHERE ARE YOU!" 
"MEL! DON’T BE SCARE! MOMMY’S COMING!" Eliza shouted. 

The long hallway leads to a circular room, there was a bundle and the cries coming from the center of the room. 

"MEL!" Eliza shouted but Iwa pulled her out of the room. 
"LET GO OF ME! MY BABY"S IN THERE!" Eliza shouted at the silent Iwa. 

Yuri and the others finally caught up with them. 

"Damn it. Eliza, that’s a trap in there!" ChunLi shook her. 
"But my baby’s in there!" Although a little less panicky she managed to get a hold of herself. 
  

Yuri grabbed the Iwa’s binoculars and slides it across the floor. A huge cage dropped from the ceiling as the binoculars hit the bundle. As soon as the cage was in place, long sharp spikes sprung out the floor piercing through the bundle and smashing the binoculars. Sharp spikes fall from the doorway shutting them out of the room. 

"There goes my bird watching days….." Iwa mumbled. 

"MY BABY! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO MY POOR BABY!?" Eliza asked in wided eye horror. Yuri shone her torchlight at the bundle it was no Mel but a long dead wild boar. Eliza was silence by both surprise and relief. 

A few seconds later the monitor on the wall flickered on showing the image of a brown hair woman with a cruel smile, red war-paint upon her face. 
  

"Ah what foolish heroes you are to rush in to save a poor child. I do hope you like our little present. The captives are still alive and on their way to the Twin Towers. Come find them if you are still alive." 

The monitor showed first a badly beaten up Cole, an almost as badly bruised Ryu, a somewhat battered Ken and a slightly rough up Mel, all four were unconscious. The five were seething in anger to see such atrocities. The monitor flicker and the woman return again. 

"I believe you are boiling in rage, yes? Anyway. If you wanna see them again, bring ChunLi, her kid, Volume seven of Art of Shotoken and that heretic if she’s not too afraid to come. We’ll send a message to your dojo. Meanwhile enjoy your last moments. A pity I could not see the look of death upon your face, Zannah. I know you who sure come to save your puppy, but even if you are not here now, you will come. AHHAHAHAHAHA!" She laughs as the screen changes again. 
  
  

"Self destruct sequence acknowledged and commencing. T minus 5 seconds" 

"RUN! GO! GO! GO!" The five yelled in union. 

"T minus 4 seconds." Iwa noticed that Eliza was slower than the rest. 

"T minus 3 seconds." Iwa let Eliza pass her before pushing Eliza onwards. 

"T minus 2 seconds." They were nearing the door. ChunLi realized what Iwa had in mind. 

"T minus 1 second." They were barely out the door. 

"SAYONARA SUCKERS!!!!!" Came the pre-recorded voice of that brown hair woman. 

"KKKKAAAABBBBOOOOOMMM!!!!!!!" The five were sent flying across the compound. Iwa had absorbed the brunt of the shockwave for the others. 

A while later ChunLi regained consciousness, she found herself in the undergrowth, bruised but no major injuries. 

"LIZA!" She called out, 

"Over here!" Eliza answered, coming out with Zannah. Both of them were slightly bruised as well. 

"YURI! IWA! Where are you?" ChunLi called out. 

"OOFFF!!!!" Yuri felled from the tree she was entangled in. 

"I think I saw her landing that way…." Yuri pointing groggily. 

Going in that direction Eliza caught a strong smell in the air, but ignored it. They found Iwa lying sprawl under a tree. They had also found the source of the smell. A few ripe green football size, spiky fruits. Apparently when Iwa was slammed against the tree and the impact had cause them to dropped. The dangerous spiky fruits had missed her head by a few inches. 

"Who….pulled that… combine Power Geyser…… and…. Haoh Shokoken on me….." Iwa mumbled as Yuri shook her. 

"Whoa!!! I think I…… need new glasses…." She was seeing double. 

"Come on I think there’s a cave nearby where we can take shelter in." ChunLi said. 

"Let…me …..take…em…first…" yawned Iwa as she picked up the spiky green fruits. 

"Come on let me help you." Yuri said. At this point in time the storm clouds broke and started to pour. 

It wasn’t long when they got a fire going. Iwa kept yawning as she used pulled out a dagger. Plunging it into the durian and slicing it open, the smell was even more overwhelming as the slightly wet and yellow fleshy seeds came into sight. Iwa licked her lips in anticipation. 

"Have….some…." She yawned as she offered it to the others. Everybody took some except for Eliza. Zannah help her open the rest of the fruits when she noticed Iwa could hardly keep her eyes open.. 

"You…..don’t…wanna…sleep…on ….empty stomach……" After leaving the fruit beside Eliza, Iwa headed into the back of the chamber like cave. Gingerly Eliza took a small piece and tasted it and expected the worst. She was surprise, the taste was not what she expected. There was a light sweetness to the flesh not overly sweet. 

"Kick in on time." Yuri said, noting the faint blue light coming from the back of the cave. 

"I’m sorry for yelling at you like that. It’s just that I was worried about my baby…. Should have known…" Eliza said punching the cave wall, 

"I understand." Yuri said as she offered Eliza more durian. 

"How do you know it was a trap." Eliza asked as she took another fleshy seed. 

"With three tough fighters like them, They wouldn’t want them to escape should Mel be left behind." Yuri said. 

"Zannah you seem to know them. Where is this Twin Towers they mention. 

"My apologies, Liza. For in my years with them I have not heard of a base called Twin Towers. Perhaps it is the base of Gill and Urien ." Zannah suggested. 

"I’ve a feeling Gouki is involved somehow… Not many people know about that book…. Come on guys, get some sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow." ChunLi said. 

The rest were silent as they gathered their thoughts about what to do for tomorrow