2nd March 1971
A good three years
later.
A neighbourhood in
Hong Kong, ordinary, bustling with life and various activities. This is
one of Hong Kong’s safer neighbourhoods, where everybody seems to know
each other. A couple and their child had finish touring the building they
intend to stay at.
“Well. This is a
new building Mr Xiang. I doubt you’ll find another good place as this or
this price for that matter ah.” The chatty woman in her late twenties said.
“Markets are close
by and traffic is not that heavy. Good schools nearby what more. No Ah-Feis
(hoodlums) around here ah, I’m sure you noticed this too.” She continued
“So Mrs Liu about
deposit for the place.”
“Mr Xiang ah. The
price is already the lowest.”
“No What I mean
is. Is there a bank around here?”
“Oh that ah. Go
straight and turn right at the second crossing. So you’re taking the place?”
“There is no reson
not to.”
“Well then. Here
are your keys Mr Xiang.” She handed him the keys and squatted down beside
ChunLi who was holding onto a brown-white wolf stuff toy that was half
her height.
“Aiyah. What a pretty little girl. Sweet like a princess. What’s her name ah?” Mrs Liu commented while patting ChunLi on the head. Si-Nian was taken aback slightly but Dohrai nudged her to regain her composure.
“Her name’s ChunLi.
Don’t mind her silence, she’s a very shy girl.” Dohrai spoke up.
“It’s okay lah.
Xiao Li(Little Li) ah. Just call me Auntie Liu. Do you like kittens? My
cat is having kittens soon ah. If you like you can have one. Would you
like that?”
ChunLi nodded enthusiastically and Mrs Liu patted the young girl's once more.
“Aiyah look at the
time. I have to go to work. You can move in now also. The furniture comes
with the house you see. Bye see you later ah.” Mrs Liu waved and left.
“What a talkative
woman.” Dohrai shook his head as they headed upstairs
“You think she knew
who I was? I thought she saw my reaction. I think we should move.”
“Si-Nian, it’s okay.
We can hide out here until my superior can clarify things.”
“Whatever. I don’t
want to lead a life running from my husband.”
“Don’t worry. He’ll
be brought to justice. I can’t imagine why you wanted to bring your daughter
along.”
“She guarantees our safety, my friend. He would not try anything funny with us and risk compromising her safety. Now listen here you. Don’t ever talk to that woman again. Don’t ever even speak a word! If you do, I’ll send you to the bad man(Vega?). Understand!” Si-Nian warned
ChunLi looked up,
her eyes show slight defiance and slight fear, she held on to her toy tightly
and nodded.
“Now go to your room!”
“She’s not mute
is she?” Dohrai asked, watching the girl scramble to her room.
“Don’t know why
she won’t say anything…”
-----------------
A dojo a few blocks
away.
Mrs Liu headed into the dojo and towards the man in charge. She whispered something to Gen and made two gestures with her fingers. One signifies important information and the other signal a major project.
Gen excused himself
and had Mrs Liu follow his to his study. From there they entered a secret
chamber. Within the room there were a few other important people of the
neighbourhood. They gathered around a monitor which flickered to life.
They made a gesture of respect
“Speak. This better be good.” The sinister voice said.
“Lord I have found
your consort and the young heir as well.”
“Interesting. Here
of all places. Do tell.” Vega(Bison) seem greatly interested.
“I do not know why
but the agent who infiltrated the palace three years ago had rented an
apartment in my building.”
“How is my daughter?”
Vega was more interested in ChunLi’s condition than other things. His mood
seem to have improve.
“The young princess
is in good health. Lord….May I say something?” Mrs Liu said suddenly
“Speak.”
“The young Princess
is starting to bare a resemblance to the Dracona Lilian (Jiu Dao Nui).”
“Ah. The lady of
Dragons. A sign of her heritage indeed. Su Qing would you like a transfer
back to base?” Vega asked.
“I thank you Lord.
But I wish to stay in Hong Kong with your permission of course.”
“Then you shall
stay. And be promoted.”
“Thank you Lord.
We await your orders.”
“A VTOL will arrive at your location tonight. Bring my daughter back unharmed. The errant woman must be captured. As for the agent. I want him back alive. He has hell to pay…They must not escape…Ye chang mong duo(Long nights bring more dreams)…” Vega shook his head
“Yes Lord, We will
not fail.” They saluted Vega
The screen flickered
off.
-----------------
That night
There was a crescent moon in the lonely sky tonight, as few stars twinkle. A little girl sat quietly on her bed in the dark of her room. ChunLi had being sent to bed without dinner for being rude.
She knew this wasn’t the first time and she was sure it wouldn’t be the last. Looking at her toy wolf she wished she could have more friends. She could have friends if they had not kept moving from place to place.
She couldn’t help but have this feeling that things were changing, her mommy seem more agitated lately, constantly scolding her for every little thing. She blinked back tears as her imaginary friend told her to be strong and that he’ll always be here for her.
She smiled a little,
her imaginary friend trying to cheer her up with tales of where he had
being, how beautiful the waterfall is and what he had being doing. There
was a loud crash outside.
< Mommy and Uncle are fighting again…. > ChunLi thought as she hugged her wolf closer. There were shouting as well, other people in the house. Out of curiosity ChunLi decided to outside to look. As the door creaked open she could see Mommy screaming away, Uncle being beaten up by a couple of masked men. Uncle struggled free as Mommy used a vase to strike one of the masked men.
ChunLi fell hard
as Dohrai ran into her door, he made a grab for the young girl, shaking
her up, frightening her in the process. The mask men froze on see ChunLi
held captive.
“I see….So he does want his child alive…..” Dohrai mumbled, narrowing his bloodied eye. He shook ChunLi make his point, frightening the young girl even more.
“Give up Agent! You
have no one to back you up.”
“Never! I’m sure
he wants his child alive! Soon people will come hearing such a commotion!”
“Not likely considering
this is a Shadowlaw run district.. Heh heh…” another one said.
“You’re not likely
to leave here alive agent.”
“Oh yeah….She’ll
die before you get to me!!!” tightening his grip around ChunLi neck. From
the window of the room, nobody noticed a figure climbing in. A glint of
cold steel glimmer through the air.
“AAARRGGHH!!!” Dohrai screamed in pain as a knife pierced his arm, his grip loosen and ChunLi scrambled away, huddling in fear in a corner, her head hurting like crazy as what felt like fire burns within her mind.
The masked men pounced
on Dohrai once more beating him up till he could no longer resist. Two
men restraint him as the knife thrower walked over. With one hand on the
handle he gave it a little twist before pulling it out. Relishing the pained
look on Dohrai’s face. He turned to Si-Nian.
“Your call. To go
back like him or as you are.”
“As I am.” Si Nian
said, pulling her hand away from another masked man. She moved over to
ChunLi, slapping her to get her attention.
“It’s all because
of you that the bad man got us. Your fault, ley yi gor sway loi(you bad
bad girl). You will suffer like we do.” Si Nian hissed, dragging ChunLi
screaming and kicking they headed towards the roof where the VTOL is.
-----------
Shadowlaw Palace helipad a few hours later
The VTOL landed and the two prisoners were marched out. Vega stopped in front of Dohrai, his hand shot up gripping his neck tightly.
“You denied me of
my heir.”
“You deserved no
descendants. PTUI!!” He spat in Vega’s face.
“You amuse me.”
Increasing his grip while he wiped the saliva off with his other hand
“You will be brought
to justice!!!”
“Considering that
the one in charge of your assignment is dead. You were not only disavowed
but your very existance is only known to that one person. Agent. You do
not exist on this very earth. An empty assignment you were following. Yes?”
“WHAT!!!!” Si Nian
shouted.
“Ah my beloved.
Didn’t he tell you? Heh heh heh.”
Si Nian shot a look
at Dohrai, who refused to say anything.
“You never have
that child! She fears you more than anything!” her eyes narrowed knowing
that a small victory was still hers. A smile form on her lips.
“You dare turn my
own child against me.” He grabbed Si Nian by the chin forcing her to look
him in the eyes. Anger burns in his eyes while she showed defiance.
“No…The cells are
too good for the likes of you two. Bring them to my private dungeons. The
rats will have company tonight. Yes.” Vega smiled, heading up the VTOL.
ChunLi huddled in a corner, fear eating away at her as the words of her mother replayed in her mind, The fear increase when she heard the ‘click’ ‘click’ ‘click’ of metal boots coming up the VTOL and towards her. The pain in her head increased as the sound approached her, she tensed up as the sound stop right before her. A strong feeling of dread and fear wells up.
Opening her eyes
to see her worst nightmare in the flesh. The red uniformed bogeyman in
front of her. The very presence of this monster had intensified the raw
pain in her head. It spoke but she could not understand it. Like a cornered
creature, wild and unstable in a frightened state
“Wild Psycho Power….This
is very bad.” Vega mumbled. He tried reaching to her through her mind.
“Odd….her mind has
already being bonded to someone else….” Vega offered his hand. Something
within ChunLi’s mind snapped, she leap up towards him, sinking her teeth
into his arm.
“GGGAAAARRHHH!!!!”
From outside the unearthly scream was heard. Soldiers all surrounded the
VTOL, moments later Vega appeared with ChunLi still attached to his arm.
“Leave us.” He growled
withholding his pain, he headed downstairs to his private garden.
------
“Could you two do
something before the pain gets to me and I dash my daughter’s head to ground?”
he said to the two figures playing chess. They rose and moved towards him,
a low growl came from ChunLi as the young brunette pried her away. The
silver hair woman raised one eyebrow as Vega related to her what happened.
“What say the both
of you?” he rubbed his arm.
“Can’t reach her
mind in this state. Something fueling her on and it blocks any attempt
to reach her….” The brunette said, as she held ChunLi be the back of her
shirt collar at arm’s length. The child was struggling in mid air.
“That would be the
Psycho Power. Helen.” Zannah said.
“Can the power be
sealed?” Vega asked
“Yes. But it could
come back stronger than ever.” Helen said
“That is a risk
I have to take.”
“Shall we begin then?”
Helen asked
“Lets.” Zannah nodded,
tapping an acupoint on ChunLi to make the young girl stop struggling and
go into a sleep. She puts both hands on ChunLi forehead.
“Wipe her earlier
memories Zannah.”
“You sure about this?”
“It would be better
for a young mind like hers.”
“Your call.”
-----
The mind of the young child was too chaotic for her age, fear eating her up from inside. The wispy strands of qi, gathered all memories, all that had being tainted by this event, becoming like a clean slate once again as the power was shut behind a door, sealed for her own sake.
------
Some time later
“So how might she
react upon waking?” Vega asked as he place ChunLi on the bed, placing the
brown-white wolf and grey-white wolf by her side.
“Who knows.” Zannah
shrugs
“…..”
ChunLi’s eyes slowly fluttered open, she found herself in new surroundings. Two toy wolves now. Strange faces that felt familiar in a certain way, she blinked and looked at them questioningly.
“….What happened?…..”
ChunLi asked softly. The two ladies looked towards Vega
“You had a fall,
Li. Daddy was worried for you.” Vega noticed that ChunLi was still a little
lost and confuse.
“Let me.” Zannah
said sitting beside the young girl
“Would you like to
hear a story?”
“Yes please.” Her
eyes brightened up.
“You’ll have to
rest later okay.”
“Okay.”
“Well then. Long
before you time in the Western Province of Shadowlaw, there live a little
princess, who is a lot like you…….” Zannah started.
Vega sighed a breath of relief seeing that there was a big change in ChunLi. His heir had returned to him now. All that he needed to do is find the one whose mind was bonded to ChunLi’s and hope that there be a way to train his daughter. For now he has some business to attend to in his private dungeons. He has a collection of rusty and blunt knifes that needed a place to stick in……