** 1 day after chap 38 **

Ibuki is driving in the cab on her way to the Tokyo Central airport. She is clad in some casual clothes. A Dark blue T-Shirt, pair of jeans and some fingerless gloves adorn her body, giving her the exterior of a teenager.

To remove any sort of suspicion she also wears some silver punkish look sword shaped earrings, and a Goth looking set of makeup. She's holding her trust bag beside her, and her single worn suitcase at her feet.

She's humming a catchy tune that the cabby’s radio plays and examining the scenery of the evening streets of Tokyo from the window beside her. He head is placed against the window gently and her brown eyes are absolutely devoid of any kind of emotion. She was still in pain from the battle with Mai at the previous night, she had an unfair advantage on the Shiranui ninja, she was tipped off, and had time to study her style and how to counter it with her sensei, from youth he had taught her, how to combat almost all styles of Ninjitsu.

Her body still ached from the blows and she still had some unpleasant burn marks on her skin in several places, some lotion had calmed then enough to be only a minor nuisance. She sighs and pushes the thoughts of the battle from her head, and concentrates more on the task ahead of her, finding her target and acquiring the venom blade part from her.

" Seniorita Alexis Fiona Lorenzo…also known as "Vibora", or “the viper”, Younger sister of the Ex- Shadowlaw lord Vega, or Martin Lorenzo..." Ibuki thinks and sighs lightly, remembering the info Geki had given her to examine on the woman.

Ibuki her head forward and leans her head back unto the seat and shuts her eyes. "Head of the Lorenzo Mafia branch, mistress of the arena of Barcelona, and self proclaimed queen of Assassins..." Ibuki muses to herself mentally.

The cab stops and Ibuki pays the fee and thanks the driver with an added honorable head bowing. She then grabs her things and exits the cab. She melts into the crowds, attracting as little attention as possible, but even as she walks she feels eyes resting at her neck.

She takes no heed, knowing by now, that the cybernetic minion of Xavier Bison have her constantly tracked for surveillance and intelligence manners. Ibuki sighs lightly and quickly manages to dodge the Cyborg's watchful eye and sneaks over to her designated gate.

** Meanwhile, "Arena de Sangre" (Arena of blood), Barcelona, Spain **

Within a dark and crowded room two figures are standing in a tall metal cage. One of them is standing in the meager soft light of the disco light around them, whereas the other remains concealed in the shadows.

One is A young man is standing in a fighting stance; he is holding a rapier blade in his hand and hopping lightly on his feet. He is clad in a pair of spandex pants and wearing a pair of kneepads lined with spikes.

He is scanning his opponent with cold black eyes; his handsome young face cold and angry as he lays eyes on the foe that had so horribly humiliated him by beating him to his plight and boasting on this fact.

"You are foolish to challenge me to this duel Alehandro, you know nobody crosses me and lives to tell the tale, do you not, old rival?" a slick and cold feminine voice invokes coldly.

"Silencio! Les puta!" (Silence you bitch!) He shouts angrily and grits his teeth. He Gazes daggers at his hated opponent and then spits at the ground in a disrespecting manner before laying eyes on his hidden foe once more.

All he's greeted by is a soft and amused female giggle as footsteps can be heard from within the darkness.

** Meanwhile, Back in Tokyo **

Ibuki manages to stalk over to a ticket booth and walks up to the ticket clerk after quickly and masterfully traversing the crowd and avoiding her pursuer.

The warm female smiles at her as Ibuki takes out of her ticket and shows it to her. She keeps her eyes and senses sharp, scanning the passing people with great care, yet in her great prowess and experience it looks as if she doesn't put more than a glimpse into it.

She then passes the gate and walks toward the Terminal, she quickly and hurriedly melts into the center of the crowd to be as hidden as possible. She can feel the cold eyes of the Cyborg nearby and she sighs lightly, as she melts into the bus like vehicle and heads for her plane.

She sees the reddish glint of the cyborg's eyes as she heads for her plane, scanning, ever scanning from afar before it turns to report no doubt. How she despised this, the minute she found out of this kind of surveillance last summer, she was ever eerie and careful after all the trouble she had sustained last year.

She walks up the stairs and heads for her seat, ready for the long flight and sighing lightly as her back collides against the stuffy uncomfortable chair as she buckles up.

"The hunt begins, and another task unfolds, It's time to brush my recon skills I presume" Ibuki thinks as she adjusts her leaning against the seat until she's comfortable.

Then she shuts her eyes and sighs lightly, allowing her body to drift away into the gentle slumber she needs, knowing that when she wakes, her mission will begin, and rest will be scarce.

** Meanwhile back in Barcelona **

Vibora steps into the light, letting the soft rays bath her body and reveal her frame and attire.

She is clad in a full body suit, made of tight leather, the suit all too complimenting to her body, clinging to her like a second skin. Also she wears a mask of metal much like her late brother's protecting her beautiful face.

But unlike her brother, she has special plates attached to her hands with a glove, these being able to attract and retract long blades. She was more hi-tech then her late brother, and also, she was willing to compromise due to her lack of psychotic self admiration.

The ailment unknown to most common men and women was in fact a direct by product to Bison's binding power, the tool which broke her older sibling's will and turned him to be the ruthless lunatic he became.

She laughs lightly to herself and licks her lips under the mask as she enters her own stance. "Flattery will get you no were Alehandro, if you wish to die, I shall not prevent you from losing your blood, you little swine" she whispers so only he can hear.

His grip on the blade tighten until his knuckles turn white and he lunges forward and swings his blade, Vibora easily flips over the wild slash and kicks his back and gracefully lands on her hands and rolls to her feet.

She grins as she turns to her foe, her eyes cold and calculating, yet holding a gentle flame of amusement in them as she gazes at the young man like a cat sizing up its prey, her lips twisting into a feral and evil grin under her mask as the crowd chants her name.

Then the crowd hears the bell for beginning ring "Victoria le poderoso!"(Victory for the powerful- I think =P) the crowd shouts as the two prepare for battle, circling each other and scanning one another hatefully.

** A few more hours later **

** Ben Gurion International airport, Lod, Israel **

Chunli Xiang has just passed the through and tight defensive means placed in the Israeli National Airport and feels a little exasperated. ”Metal detectors, luggage checking and Passport check on a computer, then they almost bit my head off before I showed them my ICPO badge, why don’t people listen before they go amok…Yeesh, and I thought our security measures are tight,” Chunli thinks ands sighs, not considering the strict situation of the Middle east, due to lack of information or interest in it.

She picks up her baggage and steps out toward the main part of the building, toward the gates through a long runway, many people waiting for their loved ones, none of them for her, She was already 30 and still single, what a depressing thought for the Chinese Lady.

Chunli then looks around the main gate after she walks off the runway and sees a sign with her name written in both Chinese and English, held by a tall man accompanied by another 2 men, all are wearing casual clothes, but are also armed, their guns apparent.

Chunli eyes then ”Guess those are my new contacts, guess this’ll be an experience …” She muses to herself in her mind and walks over to them. They turn to her and the one with the sign drops it.

“Miss Xiang, please follow us to our rendezvous point with your fellow counterparts and subordinates…” One of them says in a fluent English accent. Chunli nods and follows the men by foot.

They leave the airport area and lead her a couple of minutes through the streets, then they enter a small 4 story building and close the door behind them, locking it before leading her into a room.

The room is full of Interpol recon and combat agents, Chunli insisting on having agents she’s familiar with, and not wanting to rely and having to adapt to the Israeli procedures of combat and ways of covert operations, hearing from her chief, that while extremely efficient are quite complex.

Once she enters she sees some familiar faces of fellow agents and smiles lightly, the Israeli Intelligence agents close the door behind them and sit down on some empty chairs in the room, you’ve read the information, let us begin then, time is of the essence…” one of them says to her.

Chunli frowns lightly at being bossed, but understands the importance of speeding up the process, knowing of the mystery man’s trail of vanishing and not wanting him to slip between her fingers this time and sitting beside them as they show her maps and begin to explain their information to her.

** 3 hours later, 40 minutes to the north, more secluded streets of Tel Aviv **

Alone, the man walked alone in the streets, only lit by the weak lights of the streetlights he treads further on the streets with idle and casual speed and pace. He is wearing a T-Shirt and Jeans and his head is downcast toward the sidewalk on which his sneakers tread steadily.

A pair of slick and dark shades conceals his eyes and the strands of blond hair stream down his backside and flow between his shoulder blades. Some loose locks of gold blow on the currents of the evening breeze and he quickly brushes them aside.

He is the wandering assassin, he is the watcher, the eyes and fist of Xavier’s Cyborg legion, he is Jason, he is the prototype of the new age of cyber troopers and he is the strongest. And now, he is stuck, stuck in the small country in the middle of the desert and Arab lands, and he is bound to this little Pandora’s box by orders.

He had acquired the objective easily, crushing the Psychic known as Joseph, having both Psychic barriers around him thanks to X’s intricate technological inventions and his own wit allowing him to be the one with the element of surprise and upper hand.

He had now been given a small side objective, a little challenge from his lord. The Islamic militants known as the Hizballah were getting in his way, he wanted to pass on a message to the bands of Terror bound fundamentalists and fanatics.

His message, He was the only player in the game, and anyone in his way is doomed to either submit or be crushed by his forces, Unlike most countries Xavier already had spies and agents in the central core of most Middle Eastern Terror organizations, the second he would lose his patience, his spies would execute an assassination protocol.

Jason always agreed to a quote Xavier used to tell him when speaking of such murderous acts “Joseph Stalin used to say “No person, no problem” I like that, it’s logical and quite amusing and practical In my opinion, thus you shall execute it” X would say and Jason would obey, and enjoy the hunt, oh yes, enjoy the hunt indeed.

His vision rises and he inspects a red Toyota Corolla, his eyes glint in red under his shades as he scans the license plate. A grin reaches his lips and he chuckles lowly “Bingo…” he mutters ”Just in time…to die… he thinks and he licks his lips lightly as his eyes get a predator’s look as it rounds up its prey.

** Meanwhile, Van on its way to Tel Aviv **

Chunli is sitting in the back and strapping on her bulletproof vest. She secures the straps and her brown eyes reflect nothing but calculation as she moves to grab her barrel cut M-16 rifle.

She arms it quickly and slips in the ammo clip before securing safety-catch and then places on her laps before reaching for her baby, her criminal seeker number one, her silver barreled Magnum, she slips in the clip and her eyes reflect slight satisfaction as she cocks the pistol and strips it into its holster.

Chunli then leans back into her seat and cradles her head between her palms, cushioning her head and sighing lightly. “The wait sucks the most, doesn’t it Xiang?” a SWAT agent muses as he arms his own rifle.

Chunli smirks lightly as he continues “It’s kinda like sex, no? In the beginning its tense, but then it goes smoothly, in the end you finish your fun and go home for the next thrill.

Chunli smirks and shakes her head “Wallace, with you everything is about sex ya nutty pervert” she muses as he scowls and hmphs “Is not” he mutters.

“Is too” all his buddies say in unison as Chunli grins and looks smug.

“Whatever!” he says and grumbles something about that woman and pisses off. Chunli then licks her lips lightly. “Ok, fellas, you remember the drill, right?” Chunli asks as the sign of Tel Aviv comes into view from the right side windows.

“Team Alpha will gain position from the emptied building in sector G21” one of them with a red piece of cloth around his arm says.

“ Meanwhile Team Beta will go the opposite sector and occupy sector E15,” A women with a green piece of cloth on her arm says.

“My team, Gamma will flank him from the D26 sector and sneak in from side streets, a man with a blue piece of cloth around his arm says.

“Me and my sniper rifle friend here will be placed on one the Azrieli building Skyscraper and have a good clear shot of his last escape route, a bullet in the knees and he’s ours…” a guy totally clad in black says and grins.

Chunli nods as the van pulls up and parks. Chunli hops out “Synchronize watches and keep radio contact on, that’s all ladies and gents, happy hunting” she says and grins, hefting her rifle and grinning as she pulls on her night vision goggles.

** Hours earlier, New York City, USA **

Anticipation, anxiety and perhaps even a tinge of fear, those were common emotions for normal men and women as they traverse the maze of side streets of the slums, but a Caucasian man is currently walking proudly, calmly and carrying himself with dignity and holding a certain aura of power around his muscular body.

The wind blows gently and ruffles his blond hair; the golden locks arranged into the almost absurd shape of a broom or brush, ever an attraction for snide remarks. But this hairstyle good or bad is in fact one of his most distinguishing trademarks for he is a world known street fighter and anti terrorist, he is William Guile, Major William Guile.

Why would this all American soldier be traveling in the streets of New York while the world is under the threat of a new unknown terror cartel, simple, he was on a mission, recon mission, he was searching from information, any information which would assist him, and his contacts have lead him to believe he might find some in the big apple, so he is here, on his way to meet this source.

He is wearing a brown leather coat over a white T-Shirt, and a pair of black jeans with a black buckle, and leather cowboy like boots tap on the cement ground as he walks and looks forward, his blue eyes narrows as he looks around.

“This is spot, so where’re they?” he mutters and then hears foot steps from his left and turns his eyes toward the source and blinking “Why is it every time I want to talk, people want to fight?” he muses to himself under his breath as he inhales deeply.

** Meanwhile, outside a bunch of large industrial buildings, Snowy Tundra Siberia, Russia **

“Camouflage, that was the name of the game, Cammy’s game as she snuck through the icy hills. She is wearing a commando outfit colored in gray and white and very carefully and slowly approaching the facilities.

She has a belt full of ammo clips around her waist, a gun strapped to her right thigh, wearing a silencer and currently loaded, a barrel-cut M-16 strapped to her shoulder and a commando knife strapped to her left thigh.

She’s wearing a special hi tech helmet on her head, with built in binoculars and Infra red vision and motion detectors, all the devices controlled by a bracelet on her left wrist, currently, none are active and she’s got the lenses turned off and acting like sun glasses due to the sun reflecting on the snow.

She is on a hill covered by lush green trees, currently covered in snow, but leaving her quite a cover from both aerial and most likely ground forces finding her location.

“How do I get into this d*mn missions all the time?” she mutters to herself and lies down on a hill and puts down her extra bag, full of all the equipment she needs for this mission, She takes out her sniper rifle and unfolds the intricate set of parts and then slips in six hullo point bullets into the rifle and aims the rifle carefully.

Her laser crosshair travels up a wall and toward a guard. He is smoking a cigarette and looks down the Icy planes around him idly. The small red dot climbs up his thigh before creeping up his abdomen and sides, then up his neck and stopping at his temple.

The man takes one last whiff from his Marlboro before Cammy pulls the trigger. The 40 cm long bullet is fired and crosses the distance easily in less than 2 seconds and boom he’s dead.

His body falls a huge hole left in the side of his head and blood spilling all around the ceiling he stood on. Cammy then puts the rifle behind a boulder and pops her neck once, preparing herself mentally for the infiltration.

** Meanwhile, Back in NYC **

Guile takes a step backwards and brings his foot lashing upwards. His boot rams into a man’s face and sends him staggering. Guile’s eyebrows would furrow if he had them.

He quickly sidesteps and outstretches his arm, his forearm ramming into a man’s neck and causing him to fall and hit the ground hard. A man rushes at him, hefting a knife and sending his arm back, preparing to slash at Guile.

Guile leaps back, avoiding his first slash, then shifting sideways and narrowly missing a thrust of the knife, he then grabs the man’s arm and pulls him forward, the man gasps and exhales sharply as Guile’s knee rams into his groin area.

Guile then moves his grip to hold onto the man’s shirt before pulling him forward while turning around as he does. He tosses the man and he is sent airborne, colliding into another two who tries to Jump Guile from behind.

Guile then grunts as metal rod hits his back, he staggers forward and quickly ducks while turning, avoiding another blow to the back of his head and outstretches his long leg. His sweep kick connects and a thug falls.

Guile then leaps onto him as he hits the ground and punches him hard across the cheek, causing his head to whip sideways before grabbing onto his collar and lifting him up as he gets up.

He then punches his gut and glares into his eyes “Who sent you losers?” he asks and scowls at the man. The man spits at him and remains silent; Guile shakes his head, before head butting him and tossing him aside.

The men who attacked him moan and groan in their pain. Some trying to get up, managing only a sitting position and the others left sprawled n coughing blood or saliva accordingly, depending on where Guile hit them when he retaliated.

Guile then hears running footsteps and turns to see a thug approaching him with a baseball bat hefted in a swinging motion. He decides to leave an impression and channels his Chi, wisps of energy circles his hands as he pulls both arms “Sonic…” he says and the wisps intensify and grow brighter.

“Enough!” a voice speaks and the thug stops running. Guile drops his Chi summoning and turns toward the voice. His blue eyes locking with a pair of dark brown ones. “What’s up with this?” Guile asks angrily.

“Just needed to be sure it’s really you old man, and not a trap by the Feds,” A deep heavily New Yorker accented voice speaks and chuckles lightly.

“Well I’m here, and I’m no old man punk” Guile says and moves to brush his arms from dust before turning fully to the speaker, a scowl on his face and his eyes showing his displeasure.

“Let’s talk then bub, my club ain’t too far away, we’ll have the privacy you requested there” The speaker says and heavy footsteps are heard walking away.

Guile nods and follows the man. “Indeed, let’s talk” Guile says as he walks, speaking to the man’s back. ”How come I always get morons as sources?” Guile wonders as he follows.

** Meanwhile, back in Russia **

After Cammy shoots the guard she looks to her left and catches sight of a patrol group of 2 troopers coming her way. She rolls and hides behind the large boulder, placing her sniper rifle on it and leaving her enough space to be left concealed.

She then forces herself to inhale softly despite the stinging cold, preparing herself, waiting for them to get closer while taking out her long and extremely sharp commando knife from its holster.

“You’re kidding me, nobody can drink that much vodka and talk normally” one of them says in Russian as they come toward where she once was. One of them nods and laughs at what he says and shakes his head “You know comrade…” be begins before catching sight of the shell of the hullo point bullet and pointing at it.

“I believe we might have an…” he says before Cammy leaps from behind the boulder Before he can think twice Cammy’s foot collides into his Adam’s apple in an aerial inner roundhouse. The Russian man chokes and falls to his knees.

His comrade in arms turns to her to try and shoot her but in the middle of his spin she is already on him, and grabs his hair and brings her knife slashing across his throat. His eyes widen and he gurgles as the blade easily slices through his throat and leaves a deep gash, bleeding furiously.

She then quickly backs away and lets him fall to his feet, She then crouches as she hears a plane above them, she thanks god for the cover of the trees and quickly and carefully covers the two corpses in snow, until they are totally concealed, cleaning her blade on the snow before covering the crimson as well with more snow.

“Come in HQ, This is Blond Fox, come in HQ” Cammy then says quietly and puts her fingers to her earpiece and looks around carefully. “Yeah, I’m in position, had to eliminate 3 hostiles, on m’way toward the building itself, I’m initiating radio silence for now, I’ll contact ya when possible…roger, Blond Fox out.” Cammy says and then carefully takes a sprint toward the facilities.

** Meanwhile, Back in NYC **

Guile follows the man into a side door, leading him into a techno dancing club. Guile winces at the volume of the music, eyeing the dancing people with a sigh “Children nowadays, no taste in music…” he mutters as he follows the man.

He looks around and is a little blinding by the flashing lights of the club, an addition to the booming loud music and smoke, leaving a laser light effect that is a nice addition to the dancing.

“Here’s m’office” the man says and enters a room. Guile enters and the man sits down beside a desk. Guile remains standing at the door and takes a closer look at this source.

The file stated the man’s name was Bernard Clemens, an immigrant from the UK, been in the United states for over 8 years, filed and received citizen ship. On the outside, a simple club manager. But under the surface he is well known as one as a very high influence and powerful gang leader, the head of the “black skulls” one of NYC’s most ruthless and dangerous crime groups.

“Are you gonna talk Bernard?” Guile asks.

“It’s Loki, and do you have the dough?” He asks and lights a cigarette and takes a whiff off the nicotine full rod while looking at Guile neutrally.

“Guile takes out a large pile of green bills, tied by a rubber band. “50 Benjamins, unmarked, new outta the bank and smelling fresh from the printing machine, as requested” Guile says and flips his hand through the bills.

Loki looks pleased “Cool, so what does the famous capt’n Guile need from a lowlife gang leader like me?” Loki asks and puts his feet on his desk and clears some ashes from his cigarette in a nearby ashtray.

“I want to know about the leader of Shadowlaw?” He says calmly.

Loki blinks and coughs, sitting down and pounding on his chest. Guile lifts a brow as Loki regains his breath and looks at him like he’s fallen off the moon. “Are you f**kin’ out of your mind?! I’m not suicidal! Xavier would kill me?!” he says.

“Who is this Xavier? How’d he get hold of Bison’s power and throne?” Guile asks.

Loki shakes his head “No deal, take ya money and scram” Loki says.

“Listen ya overgrown monkey, I came a very long way to meet up with you and get some info. So...spill the beans or I’ll have the feds crawling so far up you’re a** you’ll be singing like a fat lady in the Opera” Guile says coldly.

Loki shakes his head “Ok, Ok, I’ll tell ya what I can, Bison’s a kitten next to this maniac in terms of both wit and power. He’s got agents everywhere, and most of them aren’t human, machines the lot of’em. And finally I heard they got a small base in Colorado desert, that’s all I can say without becoming a bullet dummy” he says sincerely.

Guile tosses him the cash. “Thanks for the info Loki, I’ll be sure to make use of it” Guile says and heads out.

“Anytime, as long as there is cash involved” Loki muses and flips his hand through the bills while grinning to himself.

a minute later a glint of red flashes from the window and a silenced boom follows, trademark of a silenced firearm. The glass then proceeds to explode and Loki doesn’t even have time to scream or talk as a bullet pierces his head and he falls forward, his blood covering the dollar bills. A figure holds the gun, fumes of smoke coming out of the barrel.

Then the mystery figure heads off into the side street, its eyes glowing gently in red as it walks away, hiding the gun in the trench coat it wears and melting into the darkness.