Even if she still had the mental capacity to count numbers, much less 
track the passage of time, she would still have forgotten how long she had laid 
there.  That strange woman with the key was looking down at her again.  Then the 
woman was wiping drool off of her face.  She couldn't help but smile at the 
woman.  The woman was always so nice, she thought.

	Her brow creased with thought.  "Mommy?"

	The woman shook her head.  "No, Washuu.  I am Ifurita."

	"Mommy was always good with ducks.  Quack!" she giggled happily.  

	The woman looked sad again.

*****

	"Ano, when is Mewtwo going to heal Washuu?"  Nuku-Nuku looked at Ifurita 
with big, pouty eyes.  "I beat him last week, fair and square!!"

	Ifurita's shoulders lifted in a deep sigh.  "I do not know, Nuku."

	The third member of the Cybergrrlz -- and interim-leader -- Gally slammed 
her fist into the table she was leaning against.  "Blast it!  He's going to 
weasel out of this!  He hasn't changed!  Only his views and nothing else!"

	*Actually, I was taking the time to recuperate fully before I tried 
something so critical on your friend.  Your catgirl companion taxed my 
reserves.*  Mewtwo phased in through the ceiling, despite all the precautions 
taken in Washuu's lab against that happening.  *I am here to complete the 
bargain.*

	Keeping eye contact with the psychic pokemon, Gally stood fully upright 
slowly.  "No funny tricks, got it?  You may be a full match for one of us at a 
time, but combined..."

	*Combined you will not have to fight me.  I am here to undo the damage I 
have done.*  The cat-like creature kept its gaze steady on the cybernetic lass.

	"Wai!  Washuu-chan will be back to normal!!!"  Nuku Nuku bounced.  "I 
wonder if she'll like me."  

	Ifurita patted Nuku on the shoulder gently.  "I'm sure she will."

	Mewtwo took this in with a passive gaze, then floated in the direction of 
Washuu's makeshift nursery.  *Shall we?*

	"Hai."  Gally opened the door and walked in with a determined gait.  The 
excitement was palpable in the air.  After all the weeks of waiting, it was 
finally happening.  They were going to have Washuu back.  

	"MOMMY!!!"  

	Gally sweatdropped.

	"Oooooh!  Pretty kitty!!!"

	Mewtwo landed softly on the ground, his paws resting on the cold tile.  
*Washuu.  Hear me.*  A light blue shine of energy surrounded him, and Washuu 
looked at him, enthralled.

	"OOOooh, pretty colors!"

	Mewtwo's eyes closed, and a beam of energy lashed out at Washuu.  Nuku 
Nuku instinctively took a step backward, as Gally had to restrain herself from 
doing the opposite.  Even Ifurita seemed slightly unnerved by the display of 
energy.  Washuu's eyes closed, as if in pain.  She took a sharp breath, and 
without any warning, the light stopped.

	Mewtwo opened his eyes and took a step backward.  *It is done.*

	All the Cybergrrlz eyes, however, were trained on the inert form of 
Washuu.  Slowly, her eyes opened and blinked.  She sat up straight, and blinked 
at all of them.  "Why am I in a crib?"

Gally's concerned frown broke into a genuine smile, and she leapt forward 
and hugged Washuu.  "Washuu!  You're all right!!!"

	Washuu sweatdropped, "All right?  I..."  Her eyes fell on Mewtwo.  "You 
put me out didn't you?"

	*Correct Washuu.  I see your astuteness has returned along with your 
higher functions.*

	"How did they convince you to reverse it??"  Washuu tilted her head 
curiously at the cat pokemon as she jumped down from the crib.

	*Their bravery and dedication, particularly of the new girl who did not 
even know you, convinced me of the error of my ways.  You did not enslave these 
beings, you befriended them.  While I detest your experimentation with the 
genetics of creatures, I appear to have misjudged you, Little Washuu.*  Mewtwo's 
face actually showed a brief flare of emotion other than intent or anger.  He 
looked apologetic.

	"Well, that's okay!  All's well!!"  Washuu smiled happily at the pokemon.

	*You are not... angry?*

	"Naaah.  You're sorry.  The girls grew and added a member, and you got rid 
of that darn robotic dog that was leaking on the ferns!  Plus you called me 
LITTLE WASHUU!"  Washuu posed happily, and began inspecting her lab for changes.

	*... I see.*

	"Mewtwo-san," Nuku began, "what will you do now that you're not mean and 
nasty?"  Ifurita's face reddened slightly at Nuku's rudeness, but the pokemon 
did not appear to be offended.

	*It has come to my attention that there are beings in Ultra that are 
enslaving others against their will.  I intend to rectify the situation.*

	Washuu stopped her busy inspection of her lab (after an amused titter at 
Dr. Light's repair droid, which she threw in the trash immediately), and turned.  
"Oh really?  Anyone we know?"

	*I believe you do...*

*****

	Marlo busily thrummed through the latest Ikea furniture magazine, checking 
out the newest in furniture armament.  Morrigan fluttered into Nabiki's office, 
noticeably lacking her favorite pet Wolverine.

	"Heya Morri!  What happened to Wolf-Man?"  Marlo quickly stuffed the 
magazine under a couch cushion, then sent the entire couch back to 
FurnitureSpace.  

	Morrigan gave Marlo a sinister smile.  "I found the most adorable way of 
leashing him.  He's around, and under my thumb completely."  She let herself 
float down onto the leather recliner usually reserved for her.

	Standing nervously on his feet, Marlo approached the succubus, "Ya know, 
Morrigan, I've been thinking and all... we have a lot in common you know, blood 
thirst, ability to destroy any and all who oppose us, badass skills.  Would you 
like to, ya know, go hang out sometime?"

	Morrigan stared at Marlo in the eye, who was having a problem with the 
concept of keeping his eyes on her face instead of her scantily clad bosom.  
When the boy realized she was staring at him, he blushed and laughed nervously.  
Morrigan opened her mouth, only to be interrupted.

	"Ha kid!  Do I need to pull you aside for the big talk already?"  Darshu 
smirked cockily in the doorway to Nabiki's office.  "You see, there's these 
birds, and these bees.  You, with your itty bitty stinger, are a bee.  She on 
the other hand, is a hawk with talons so sharp your stinger would break."

	If his face was a thermostat, Marlo's temperature would've been boiling.  
"Mind your own business, DarCHU."

	"Boys boys boys..."  Morrigan 'stood' a few inches above the ground, and 
floated between the two.  "There's plenty of me to go around after all.  And 
trust me, neither of you could handle even a piece."

	The two men alternated between glaring at Morrigan and at each other, when 
the sound of Nabiki entering startled them.  "Everyone getting along today?"

	"Why of *course* Nabiki dear."  Morrigan smiled naughtily at Nabiki as she 
floated back down to the couch.  The other two took seats grumpily.

	"Good.  Let's get down to business."  Tarou, Yuffie, and the Samurai 
entered the office as if on cue.  "Yuffie, glad to see you back in action.  
All right then, let's be brief on this one.  Morrigan.  Marlo.  You two will be 
working together today.  Special crossover match.  Tornado handicap crossover 
match in a secret location."  

	The two gamma fighters eyed each other than Nabiki.  "Handicap?  Who're we 
pounding?  Ranma?  Mr. Satan?  Akane?"  Marlo grinned eagerly.

	"You'll see." She turned toward the Samurai.  "You two have the night off.  
Use it to train so you won't be such an embarrassment." 

	The two enlightened warriors flustered, and fortunately for everyone in 
the room, Haohmaru merely nodded.

	"Darshu, you and Yuffie also have the night off."

	"The night off!?  But I wanted another shot at that pink poofball!"  
Darshu slammed his fist into the armrest.

	"Maybe you and Yuffie could go watch the fight he's scheduled into fight.  
Go cheer him on personally."  Nabiki gave Darshu a meaningful look.

	The mage blinked, then nodded while smirking.  "I should've never doubted 
your judgment, Ms. Tendou."

	"Well I think that wraps it up for tonight's show folks..."  Nabiki nodded 
at Tarou, who stood and went to open the door.

	"Actually, if you don't mind, I thought I might make a request of you, Ms. 
Tendou."  A perpetually grinning Mazoku appeared in front of Nabiki's desk.

	The entire room was in motion at once.  Marlo pulled out a rather large 
oak cabinet.  Morrigan was on her feet charging a Soul Eraser.  Tarou was 
running toward the figure.  The Samurai pulled out their swords as Yuffie 
prepared some materia.  Darshu stood and billowed his cape back, ready to cast a 
spell or two.  

	Nabiki merely stood still, keeping eye contact with the intruder.  
"Xelloss."

	"That's me!!  I just wanted to know if I could make a request for a 
special match tonight."  All around him, everyone stopped, as Nabiki held her 
hand up.  Morrigan looked a little put off at having to hold her super attack, 
but everyone else seemed merely tense.

	"And what would that be?"

	Xelloss leaned forward and conspiratorially whispered into her ear; 
Nabiki's eyes widened momentarily.  "Absolutely not.  That wouldn't be a match, 
it'd be a smear on the ground."

	The Mazoku grinned.  "I thought you'd say that.  Whatever shall I do with 
these then?"  The purple haired one held up a few cassettes in his hands labeled 
'Live footage -- Third Impact.'

	Nabiki had to strain to keep herself from visibly drooling.  "I had a 
request with Lina for that footage, I never heard back from her... "

	"Do we have a deal?"

	"Agreed.  Your match will go on tonight.  Any preferred location?"

	Xelloss shook his head, then placed the tapes on Nabiki's desk.  "Hell 
appreciates your cooperation in this matter, Ms. Tendou."

	The Mazoku vanished, and Tarou looked at Nabiki questioningly.  She shook 
her head.  "Don't ask.  Just expect a lot of trouble from Jack and Daisuke 
tonight."

	Tarou nodded.  "Consider it taken care of."

*****

	Morrigan coasted through the air lazily, headed back in the general 
direction of her dressing room.  As she rounded a corner, the sounds of muffled 
sobs emanated from the nearby archive room.

	Floating near the door of the room curiously, Morrigan strained to place 
the familiar sob.  The archive room was where fighters could go to watch tapes 
of previous shows, to prepare for fighting an unfamiliar opponent.  The sobs 
grew louder as Morrigan entered the room.

	"Any guess who's going to be fighting your alleged girlfriend?"

	"Not 'alleged' - and..."

	The sound a tape rewinding interrupted Hiroshi.

	"Any guess who's going to be fighting your alleged girlfriend?"

	"Not 'alleged' - and..."
	
	"WAAAAH!  HIROSHI-KUN!  Why did you chose that TRAMP over me?!"

	Holding back a gasp, Morrigan found the source of the sobbing.  Her sister 
succubus was on the floor, weeping in front of a replay of last week's Ultra.

	"Any guess who's going to be fighting your alleged girlfriend?"

	"Not 'alleged' - and..."

	"WAAAHWAHWAHWAHWAAAAHHH!!"

	Morrigan thought for a moment.  While Lilith had been even more annoyingly 
sweet and cute lately, they were sisters.  The thought of leaving crossed her 
mind, but then Morrigan's eyes lit up with an idea.  Gingerly, she let herself 
fall softly to the ground, and knocked on the wall by where she stood.  
"Lilith?"

	Lilith jumped around, "Ano!!  Oneechann!  Stay away!"

	"Stay away?  Lilith.. we're sisters.  You're upset about Hiroshi, ne?"

	Tears filled the younger succubus' eyes.  "He... he called her his 
girlfriend."

	Morrigan shook her head and took a step toward Lilith.  "I told you, 
mortals aren't to be trusted."

	"But... Hiroshi..."

	"Hiroshi is as flawed as every one of them.  Flawed like you."

	Perking at the accusation, "Flawed?  I'm not..."

	"You've been cursed Lilith.  With a soul.  That's why you've failed 
utterly to seduce Hiroshi.  And it's why he's failed to love you."

	The words stung as they entered Lilith's ears, "But... but... I don't want 
to hurt Hiroshi-kun!"

	Morrigan stepped closer to Lilith, "But you don't have to hurt him.  You 
just have to get rid of his soul.  Open him up just like all the other men.  
MAKE him worship you."

	"Worship.. me?  But I don't think I can do it Onechann."  Tears flowed 
visibly down Lilith's cheeks again.

	"I can help you, remember?  You got stuck with a soul... let me rid it of 
you."  Morrigan wrapped her arms around Lilith's neck, and pulled her sister 
into a 'warm' embrace.

	"I... I don't know."  Lilith didn't push away, but was still crying.

	"For Hiroshi Lilith..."  Morrigan leaned near her sister's face.

	The tears stopped.  "For Hiroshi..."  Lilith leaned forward willingly.

*****

	Back in another section of the vast dressing room wing of Ultra, Yohko 
stopped suddenly.  "My ward has been dissolved."

	Ceasing her search for her precious Iori-kun, she ran off to prepare 
herself for battle.

*****

	*squeak*

	"I'm impatient too Mr. Duck, but we can't plan until we know the booking 
for tonight."  Controversial Jack shook his head at the plastic duck on his 
shoulder.  "And you should really watch such language around young women."

	For their part, Sakura and Jessie tried to look offended.  Shermie just 
blinked.

	Daisuke tapped his fingers on the table, "This is taking longer than 
usual.  I hope nothing's up."  

	Karin and Shingo were sitting on the couch against the wall, and the young 
male martial artist looked up long enough to shrug, "James probably got lost."

	Looking offended, Jessie rose and began to retort, but then slowly nodded 
and sat back down.  

	Thus the silence continued, with everyone trying to look the other way 
when Karin and Shingo apparently forgot they weren't alone in his dressing room.
The door suddenly burst open, and James entered, panting and carrying a list of 
today's card.

	"Secret... *wheeze*  matches... *cough*  Us... *hack*  and Shermie."  
James promptly collapsed on top of Karin, his head resting at a slightly 
inappropriate position.  

	Shingo turned a furious red, and Karin raised a hand to slap the young 
Pokemon trainer off of her, when Jessie stood and shook her head.  "Allow me."  
Jessie booted James in the gut, and once again demonstrating their bizarre 
physiologies, James stood quickly, holding his gut gingerly.

	"Jessie!  That huurt!"  James whined loudly.

	Daisuke shook his head, "Does it say who you're fighting?"

	Sakura picked the discarded paper off the ground, "They're just listed in 
secret matches.  Shermie's starts the show too."  She frowned.  "Secret 
locations for both of them too, odd."

	Jack snarled, "Beeks is up to something."

	*squeak*

	"No no, we can't kill her Mr. Duck.  We're above that sort of mayhem."

	Daisuke's brow creased, "All right, we'll do what we can Shermie, Team 
Rocket.  If need be, we'll get to your matches and provide cover if possible."

	Shermie frowned sadly.

	"Shermie, is everything going to be all right?"

	"I don't know if I can do it.  I haven't fought without Yashiro nearby 
before."

	Daisuke reached over and patted her hand, "I'm sure you'll do fine."  Not 
noticing her heart covered eyes, he turned toward Team Rocket.  "You guys too.  
Did you manage to catch any new pokemon last week?"

	Jessie laughed confidently, "We'll show whoever our opponents are a thing 
or three."

	James nodded, slightly less confidently.

	*squeak*

	"BRILLIANT!  Mr. Duck I would kiss you if you didn't have the restraining 
order against that!"  Jack stood, "I'll see if I can find out the match 
locations from Lain.  We will be there to back you up!"  Jack hurried out of the 
room as the rest of CHAOS exchanged nervous glances.  

*****

                             LIVE!
               	     FROM THE ULTRADOME!
                     THE BIGGEST SPECTACLE
                    IN ANIME AND VIDEO GAME
                      SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT
                        AND IMPROFANFIC!
                        IT'S TIME FOR...

         { M A G I C A L  T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G }
         {    C R O S S O V E R    F I G H T I N G      }
         {             F E D E R A T I O N              }
         {                .-----------.                 }
         {                | U-L-T-R-A |                 }
         {                `-----------'                 }
         {          http://www.mtcffultra.com           }

               Episode 50: Golden Anniversary
               Episode written by ColdFury
               with additional scenes by Twoflower
               MTCFF Ultra created by Twoflower

	"Are you ready for a little bit of that uuuuuuUUUUUUUUULLLLTRA-VIOLENCE!?"  
Hiroshi pumped the already loud crowd into a frenzy.  All over Tokyo, the start 
of another Ultra episode was announced, and specially crafted and marketed 
earplugs were placed into ears.

	Tarou shook his head, "If they weren't they wouldn't be here."

	Hiroshi grinned evilly at Tarou.  "Work with me Tarou!"

	The crowd literally erupted.  The foundations of the UltraDome shook and 
rattled almost as much as Tarou's teeth grated together.  Tarou started to speak 
but Nabiki's voice in his headphones cut him off.  "Remember, we still need him.  
No assault or insulting.  Sana-chan watched a tape of last week's show and 
almost exploded, so she's still out on medical."

	Tarou bit his tongue as Hiroshi continued his mad crowd pumping skillz.  
"We have a GREAT show for you tonight!  Shermie makes her debut as a singles 
fighter tonight in a special SECRET OPPONENT match!  The Angry Wolves and the 
Psycho Soldiers combine forces ONE more time to take on the diabolical Bison's 
Busters!  Ranma makes his triumphant return to official action in a match 
against Earth's Hero, MR. SATAN!"  

	Tarou's glass of water rattled off the table in response to the crowd's 
sonic gyrations and fell to the ground, shattering noisily.  "As you all know, 
this is our 50th week of Ultra.  We're just two episodes away from our year 
anniversary..." 

	"So expect some GOLDEN action from our 50th episode folks!!!"  Hiroshi 
stood and pumped his fist in the air at the crowd, the cheering nearly knocking 
him back off his feet.

	"Actually, this is our 49th episode, as one week the show was canceled due 
to the destruction of the dome."  Tarou pointed out.

	"WORK WITH HIM TAROU!"  The crowd chanted in one voice.  A singular vein 
popped out on Tarou's forehead, but the young Chinese man remained silent.

	Hiroshi grinned evilly, then went back to his announcing.  "And now we 
have..."

	"HIROSHI-KUN!!!"

	"More hot clone lust apparently."  Tarou sat back in his seat, grinning.

	Lilith floated over toward the blinking Hiroshi. 

	"Lilith, I'm trying to run a show here."

	"I know Hiroshi-kun."  Lilith gave Hiroshi a smile he hadn't seen on her 
for a long time, and he couldn't quite place the meaning.  "I'm just here to 
give you something."

	"A kiss."  Lilith landed in Hiroshi's lap and leaned towards Hiroshi's 
face.  

	"Lilith, I don't know if I made myself clear to you."  Hiroshi squirmed 
trying to avoid the succubus' lips.  "I'm... in love with Rei.  I'm sorry, 
you're my friend, but Rei is... the one I love."  A few scattered 'Aww's popped 
out of the crowd.

	"I know Hiroshi-kun!  This isn't a kiss saying I love you!"  Lilith smiled 
sweetly, and Hiroshi smiled back, relieved.  "This is just a kiss saying I want 
you and your soul to be mine."  

	Hiroshi blinked, and Tarou cocked his head back and laughed heartily.  
"Looks like succubus girl has her groove back."

	Lilith leaned forward as Hiroshi redoubled his efforts to squirm away.  
"Just hold still Hiroshi-kun, this won't hurt at all!  After your soul tears 
away that is..."

	Lilith suddenly froze in her seat.  Reaching back slowly, she pulled an 
anti-demon ward off her back.  Turning she saw Yohko standing in the ring 
dramatically.  "You!"

	"Lilith!  Why have you turned from the light of good!?  You shall never 
win over Hiroshi with your black magiks!"  Yohko leveled her Soulsword at 
Lilith.  "Please, rejoin the side of light!"

	Leaping off of Hiroshi, Lilith flew into the ring.  "You won't be touching 
me with those nasty mystic ward thingies again!"  The referee looked at Tarou, 
who nodded, then gestured for the fight to start.

][ IMPROMPTU HARDCORE FIGHT #1
][ YOHKO MANO vs. LILITH
][ FIGHT

	While Hiroshi recovered in his seat, Tarou spoke into his mic, "And it 
appears that Yohko and Lilith are going to settle their differences in the ring 
in an impromptu hardcore fight.  Personally, I think your lover-doll over there 
is going to clean the floor with Ms. Demon-Hunter, now that she's apparently 
found her true self again."

	Glaring at Tarou, Hiroshi managed to sit back up, "She's not my lover, and 
it looks like the action's heating up."  He stared at the ring with a concerned 
look on his face.

	Lilith flew past Yohko with a kick, who dodged while swinging her 
Soulsword.  Lilith crumpled to the ground for a moment, a bit of blood 
leaking from her right wing.  She looked up at Yohko and snarled dangerously.

	"And Lilith's main advantage, flight, has been taken away from the get 
go..."  Hiroshi announced nervously. 

	"Been a while since either of these fighters has seen some ring action, 
I've forgotten what exactly they could do."  Tarou noted.

	Lilith stuck both hands out in front of her, "SOUL FLASH!"  A trail of 
floating hearts erupted in front of her and slammed into the unprepared Yohko.

	Yohko stood and cracked her neck slowly, then assumed a combat position.  
Lilith ran at her, then at the last moment slid past her.

	"Lilith's sliding out of the ring... ?"  Tarou looked on questioningly.

	Lilith slid out under the bottom rope, and immediately rolled under the 
ring.  Yohko peered out over the ring curiously at where Lilith disappeared.  
She looked at the referee, who shrugged and muttered something about hardcore 
rules.

	"BRILLIANT SHOWER!!!"  A stream of shape changing bats came blasting 
THROUGH the bottom of the ring and into Yohko, exploding on contact.  Yohko fell 
out of the ring as Lilith climbed out of the hole she created holding a 2x4 
someone had left under the ring.

	"Why is there always a 2x4 under the ring?"  Hiroshi asked aloud.

	"Good planning?"  Tarou shrugged.

	Yohko stood shakily as Lilith jumped over the top rope with the 2x4 over 
head in a smashing position.  She blocked the blow weakly with her Soulsword, 
and forced Lilith back with a parry.

	Lilith laughed, "You'll never beat me, you dirty old hag."

	Yohko glared, "I was raised to defeat you."

	"I was raised to conquer men.  You can't stop me from having my Hiroshi-
kun.  Neeeener."  Lilith stuck her tongue out kawaiily at Yohko.  "Anoo, where's 
your boyfriend anyway?  Shouldn't he be out here staring at me threateningly?"

	Yohko took a step back as if she'd been visibly struck.  "I... I couldn't 
find him."

	Lilith giggled evilly.  "Can't even keep your man!  Want me to give you a 
few po--"  Lilith eeped as Yohko sliced the 2x4 in half.  Yohko sliced again and 
Lilith did a high back flip into the ring.  "You're not playing nice!"

	Leaping over the top rope as well, Yohko raised a glowing sword.  "Iori 
and I are just fine!  You shall soon NOT be!"  She swung rapidly at the 
succubus, mystic sparks flying out whenever enchanted blade struck out against 
unholy flesh.

	Lilith backed away steadily, having no weapon with which to defend 
herself.  Her body shown of many cuts and scrapes, none all too deep however.  
Her clothes were a different issue.  A full blown janitor emergency erupted in 
the nosebleed section as Yohko's sword ripped through the top of Lilith's 
clothes, which threatened to fall. 

	"Hey!"  Lilith cried out and swiped back with one of her claws, 
coincidentally scraping all the way through Yohko's outfit.  Yohko stood 
blushing and glaring at Lilith as her garb fell to the ring.

	"And how does Yohko always end up naked in the ring?"  Hiroshi wondered 
aloud once more.

	"... Good planning?"  Tarou deadpanned.

	Just then, heavy metal started blaring over the UltraTron sound system, as 
Iori came sprinting down the ramp, a steel chair in hand.  Both combatants 
turned to him, and Yohko jumped for joy at the sight of her beloved bishounen, 
causing about 50% of the audience to get whacked on the back of the heads by the 
other 50% of the audience.  "Iori-kun!"  Iori slid into the ring and ran towards 
the two women with the chair drawn back.  "You do care!!!"

	*WHAM* *WHAM* *WHAM*

	Yohko fell to the ring a bloody mess.

	Hiroshi stood at the announcer table, and even Tarou looked surprised.
"I can't believe my eyes ladies and gentlemen!  Iori has just punked Yohko!  My 
god!"

	Lilith stopped flinching at Iori, and blinked at her fallen opponent.  She 
sidled up to him, "Why thank you Iori-kun, I didn't think you--"

	*WHAM*

	Lilith fell to the ground beside Yohko.  Iori threw the chair on top of 
her and walked to the referee, gesturing for a microphone.  "I... AM NOT... HER 
BOYFRIEND!  I am here to fight.  I am here to maul those who think they would be 
the best there is.  I am the toughest fighter here, and I am SICK of being 
crippled by a dead weight pair of boobs attached to an airhead!"  Iori kicked 
Yohko's prone form.

	Iori left the ring slowly as medics rushed the ring.  "Good lord!  Iori 
has just taken out Yohko and Lilith!  Talk about your public breakups!"

	"It looks like the former hardcore and gamma champ is back in business as 
well tonight." Tarou grinned.  "If I was Yohko, I'd pack my bags as soon as I 
was well enough to stand.  With Lilith and Iori on her, she's better off to go 
back home to her mommy."

	Hiroshi watched nervously as the women were carried out of the rings on 
gurneys  "I wonder what got into Lilith?"

	"Stop worrying about your girlfriend, and start worrying about your 
buddy's.  Our next fight is a special on location crossover Gamma fight."
Tarou read off a sheet just handed to him.

	"Crossover Gamma?  Crossover with what?  Lambda?  Hardcore?"  Hiroshi 
peered at the sheet curiously.

	Grinning sadistically at the cameras, Tarou answered.  "Omega."

	Hiroshi nearly fell out of his chair as he read the sheet, "Shermie is 
taking on Asuka in a league crossover match!?"

	Tarou nodded, "The fighters are already arriving on location.  Since this 
is a crossover match, Asuka will not be permitted the use of her Evangelion 
form.  Instead she'll be simply using her hell-based powers."

*****

	The CHAOS war room was rather quiet.  

	It was rather deathly quiet.  Everyone, even Mr. Duck, was speechless 
while they examined Daisuke, who had turned a tight shade of white.  He noticed 
their glances and coughed.  "Yes I'm a little worried.  Sure she tried to kill 
me, and stalked me for months, and made my life a living hell.  But Asuka..."

	He trailed off and stared at the monitor.  Jack patted him on the back.  
"Don't worry Dai, how bad could Asuka be without her Eva's anyway?"

	"Are you sure Lain didn't know where the fight was?" Shingo asked Jack.

	"Nope, it was a new book.  Not even on the computers.  She's working on 
Rocket's fight though."  He gestured towards their empty seats.  "Hopefully 
they'll be fine in the interim."

*****

	Shermie waited patiently.  They were on some sort of desert planet.  Goku 
stood awkwardly, looking at the comlink on his wrist.  "Miss Tendou, are you 
sure this is all right?  A hardcore Omega/Gamma fight?"

	"Yes Goku.  Shermie is quite capable of taking care of herself.  Just make 
sure no one blows up the planet on accident.  We don't need that sort of 
publicity hazard."

	Just then a portal spewing fire and the smell of brimstone opened, Asuka 
emerged slowly, in full Hell armor, carrying a sword of hellfire.  "Hello 
Shermie."

	Shermie waved nervously, "Hi Asuka-chan."

	"Xelloss says it's not nice to fail him."  Asuka brought her Hellfire 
sword to bare.  

	Goku looked between the two, "All right, keep it clean."

][ OMEGA/GAMMA MATCH #1
][ ASUKA LANGLEY vs. SHERMIE 
][ FIGHT!


	Asuka charged, and Shermie ran in the other direction.  "Yashiro!  
Daisuke!  Help meee!!!  Waaaah!!!"  

Shermie quickly dodged out of the way of a few fireballs spewed from 
Asuka's outstretched hand.  She stopped and turned, blowing a few electrified 
kisses in the direction of Asuka.  The Eva-pilot turned demoness deflected them 
with her sword and smiled wickedly.  Shermie screamed and ran in the other 
direction again.   Goku watched it all with a bead of sweat rolling slowly down 
the back of his head.

*****

	"Jack!  You have to!"

	"No!  This isn't her business!  She might get hurt!  She may not even do 
it!"

	Daisuke gripped Jack's arm, "Please!  Shermie's going to literally be 
killed!  This is Xelloss' revenge!"

	Sakura nodded, "Ask Mr. Duck!  She's the only Omega fighter we can get 
a hold of quickly!"

	Controversial Jack grumbled unhappily.  "Dan's part god, why not pray for 
him to arrive?"

	Sakura glared at Jack, "Do you really want Shermie's life in Dan's hands?"

	Jack sighed, then turned to Mr. Duck.  "What do you think Mr. Duck?"

	*squeak*

	"I don't know, where would we get the shaving cream and would Sakura agree 
to that?"  Noting the glare Sakura gave him he turned to Mr. Duck again.  "Stay 
on topic Mr. Duck."

	*Squeak*

	Jack sighed and picked up the phone.  "I hate to do this.  If she gets 
hurt Dai I'm taking it out of your hide..."

*****

	Shermie tried vainly to land a punch on Asuka, who dodged nimbly then 
slashed Shermie again with her sword of flames.  Shermie screamed and fell back 
a few feet.  "It's not FAIR!  You're too strong!!"

	Asuka cackled, "You were a part of something!  Now you're just a doll of 
that fighting show!"  A stream of hellfire blasted out, which Shermie tried 
vainly to block.  

	"Waaah!"  Shermie leaped into the air and landed on Asuka's shoulders, 
"SHERMIE SPIRAL!"  Shermie twisted Asuka through the air and into the ground a 
few times with Asuka's head crunched between her thighs.  After the move 
stopped, Shermie dropped back, panting. 

	Asuka crumpled to the ground, but only for a moment.  She stood and 
smiled.  "That's quite a move there.  That's your finisher, ne?"  Asuka's hair 
whipped back in a sudden gust of wind.  "Here's mine."

	Asuka ran forward and slashed Shermie across the gut with her stream of 
hellfire.  She elbowed Shermie in head, and then swept Shermie's legs out from 
under her.  Asuka held her sword in a thrusting position, right above Shermie's 
chest.  "You shouldn't have crossed Xelloss."

	Raising her arms overhead, Asuka motioned downward with the sword.  Too 
tired to stand Shermie closed her eyes and thought of Daisuke.  But before the 
final blow struck her, she felt a brush of fur and heard a tumbling sound.  She 
opened her eyes, and found Asuka gone.  She looked toward the sounds of a 
scuffle, and noticed Nuku-Nuku and Asuka spinning on the ground.

	"Annoying catgirl!  What are you doing in my way!"  Asuka breathed heavily 
as Nuku spared no time in slamming through the blood red armor and punching 
Asuka again and again heavily.

	"Jack-san asked me to save Shermie!  So I will!"  Nuku-Nuku fought with a 
more determined look than when asked to fight Mewtwo for Washuu.  She punched 
Asuka repeatedly, and slammed her head into the red-haired teen's.  The fighters 
fell apart, Asuka falling to the ground, and Nuku walking dizzily.  "Pretty 
stars...."

	Shermie stood slowly and limped toward the cybernetic catgirl.  Nuku 
seemed to right herself just as Asuka stood shakily.  Asuka glared at the two 
women.  "You broke the rules, now so will I!"  Asuka erupted in a shower of 
blood as she quickchanged into her Eva form.  

	The giant Eva lifted its foot into the air to stomp down on the two women, 
only to be thrown off balance by a Sayajin-referee holding the foot up.  "That's 
it.  Double DQ, no winner.  This match is officially a draw."  Goku nodded at 
the cameras.  

A portal opened up, and Nuku helped Shermie into it.  Asuka shrunk back 
down to human size and glared at the two departing combatants.  "This isn't the 
end of this catgirl!  I'll get you for ruining my victory!!"

*****

	"And we're back!  What a stunning matchup Tarou!  Nuku-Nuku ran into save 
Shermie from imminent death by Asuka!"  Hiroshi smiled happily at the outcome.

	"That catgirl should keep her nose out of business that doesn't involve 
her."  Tarou non-chalantly sipped his water.

	Hiroshi glared at his co-announcer, "Shermie could've been killed out 
there!  She may not be the nicest person in the world, but she's still a 
person!"  He turned toward the camera, "Hold on and check out our sponsors while 
we set up for the next match folks!"

*****

	It would be unfair to say that of all the souls in Hell, Aerith's was 
the most tormented.  There were people down here far worse off than she was, 
and she wasn't selfish enough to put herself above them.  But there are 
times, pinpoint moments of weakness, when she felt justified in her sorrows.

	Nothing had gone as she'd hoped.  First she had tried to explain to 
Cloud that she couldn't be with him anymore... it had to be done, it had to 
be.  She wasn't the same person she was as a living, breathing human.  But if 
she had KNOWN he'd turn to darkness, maybe she'd have lied for his benefit, 
or... no, that wouldn't have been any better.  It was a no-win situation.

	Then she'd followed him to Hell, hoping to dissuade him.  Perhaps she 
could guide him back to the light, by staying at his side and working with 
him.  It was a long term plan cut short by the X factor -- Xelloss.  She had 
underestimated the depth of the hooks the Mazoku had laid into Cloud Strife, 
and now was trapped down here, to be tortured repeatedly until she renounced 
God.  Another no-win situation.

	Her sorrow wasn't based in the pain that Xelloss ensured she 
experienced.  That she could deal with, she could accept it as part of the 
penalty for her misjudgment.  But what caused her tears was how useless she 
felt... how she could do nothing to help Cloud, nothing to stop the freight 
train that had started with his rise as the lord of darkness.  Now Heaven and 
Hell were at war, all of creation was nearly destroyed, and in some small way 
this was her fault...

	When you're trapped in a darkened cell, chained to the wall and left there 
to rot for days on end, thoughts like this loop like a broken record.  
Eventually, the constant stream gets to you.  I'm no good.  I'm no good.  I'm 
no--

	The door creaked slightly.  Someone was entering.  But usually Cloud or
Xelloss would fling it open and walk in proudly, since this was their domain.  
Who would sneak in..?

	"S.. Skuld??" Aerith blurted, shocked.

	Skuld waved her hands, trying to shush Aerith down, as she slipped the 
door closed again.  She carried a bucket of water with her, keeping a firm 
grip on it as it was her only escape route if this botched.  There was 
something unusual about her, Aerith thought... something about the eyes, they 
way they reflected the dim light like two pools of quicksilver...

	"I can't stay long," Skuld warned.  "I really screwed up, I forgot there 
wouldn't be much water in Hell I could teleport in through.  Ended up a half 
mile from your cell.  If I stay longer they might find me, so I'll get to the 
point.  Do you want to put and end to all this?"

	This had to be a dream, Aerith thought.  Nobody walks in and offers an 
answer to your prayers... except maybe a goddess...

	"Of course," Aerith whispered back.

	"Thought so," Skuld grinned.  "Okay, this is gonna sound a little wild, 
but if you hold up your end of the plan, it just might work..."

*****

	"All right, next on our roster we have... Oh no."  Tarou groaned at his 
episode card.  

	Hiroshi leaped onto the seat of his chair, and the crowd murmured in 
curiosity.  Hiroshi took a large breath, and bellowed out of his base of his 
throat, "ANNNNNND IN THIS CORNER!  The mistress of mecha!  The only Ultra 
combatant evil enough to win over Sephiroth's heart!  B-ko!"  

	The Ultratron showed the VoidTron appear through a portal, piloted by a 
laughing B-ko.  "OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!  This fight shall be short and pitiful!!"

	"Annnd the challenger... coming to us from a long line of fighters, Former 
Gamma Champion and current Omega contender... TAUNTING GODHEAD LEGEND STONE COLD 
DAN HIBIKI!!!"  Hiroshi jumped from his chair to the announcer's table at the 
end of his yell, causing it to collapse with him on it.

	A rolling pink jumble of man somersaulted into existence on the Ultratron, 
which zoomed out to show Krillin, B-Ko, and a still somersaulting Dan 

*****

	Krillin looked around the forest nervously.  Too many places to hide, he 
thought.  Gonna be hard to keep up with both contenders.  He looked over at the 
Voidtron and bright pink Dan.  Then again, maybe not.

	Dan stood and flexed his forearm with all of his godly might, "YOSH!  B-ko 
know that I am not afraid of pummeling you with my bare fists of godly might.  
You might be a female, but you are a female of evil!  Thou shalt know my holy 
fury!!!"

	B-ko and Krillin blinked and looked at each other.  "Thou shalt?"  B-ko 
stared at Dan curiously.

	"Yosh!  I am now a holy symbol in some parts of the world, so the taunting 
godhead legend that is myself has decided to act the part!"  Dan flexed his 
forearm.  "AMEN!!!"

	Voidtron's pilot hatch sealed.  Dan flexed again.  Krillin nodded.  
"Ready?  Remember the rules..."

][ OMEGA MATCH #1
][ DAN HIBIKI Vs B-KO DAITOKUJI 
][ FIGHT!

	"FEATHER DUSTER!"  B-ko screamed from within the giant Duck.

	Dan paused and slowly assumed a defensive stance, waiting for something to 
happen.  

	B-ko blushed as a warm cup of coffee was made for her.  "Er... FEATHER 
DUSTER!!"

	She pressed the right button and dozens of feathers detached themselves 
from the mecha's form, the human sized metallic feathers slicing right towards 
the godly pink form of Dan.  He nimbly rolled to the side to dodge most, and 
quickly flung forth his open palm in front of him.

	"GADOKEN!"  A poofball of ki exploded from his palm and destroyed the 
stray feather headed toward his new position.

	"OHOHOOHOHO!  That is one of only MANY features of the Voidtron Mark 7!!!"  
B-ko pressed a button and the tail of the mechanical Voiduck detached itself, 
and flew towards Dan.  Dan didn't budge however and the tail rammed right into 
him.  An explosion rocked outward from the point of contact between Dan and the 
tail piece, and Dan flew backwards into a tree trunk.

	"OOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!"

	Standing dizzily at his place by the tree, Dan flexed his forearm once 
more.  "It will take more than that to defeat the might of Taunting Godhead-- 
EEP!"   Dan somersaulted away quickly as a missile impacted where he was once 
taunting.

	Voidtron was an entire array of armament now.  Guns and missiles protruded 
from every imaginable crevice.  "[VOI]."  The mecha monotoned as the armament 
launched itself at Dan.

	Dan ducked quickly, "SMILEY SHIELD!"  He reached into his Gi and pulled 
out a 20' x 20' autographed glossy of himself and placed it in front of him.  
The missiles and bullets impacted harmlessly into the photograph.  The glossy 
dissipated as Dan flew through it.  "DAN-DAN BOOT TO THE HEAD!"  Dan flew 
through the air and impacted the Voidtron smack in the head.

	"Aiiiieee!!"  B-ko screamed as the Voidtron toppled onto it's back, the 
short arms unable to right itself into a standing position.  The Mecha grabbed 
it's head and shuddered, "Voiooioi.  [Duck]."

	Dan landed on the ground by the giant pokemech's webbed foot and 
concentrated.  "OOOOOOSHA!"  The power of the taunt blew Voidtron through at 
least a dozen trees before it came to a stop.  The mecha was able to latch onto 
a tree and get into a standing position.  Sparks and odd miscellaneous parts 
flew from the mecha as it moved.

	Signing an autograph, Dan threw it at the Mecha with all his godly might.  
The autograph punctured the cockpit's shell and gave B-ko a nasty papercut.  
"Yosh!  Your technology is nothing compared to the mighty might of Dan!!"

	"HEADACHE LAUNCH!"  A section of Voidtron's forehead extended and smashed 
into Dan, sending him skidding into the ground.  "SPINNING SWAN SONG!"  Voidtron 
leaped into the air with the assistance of thrusters, and span dizzily in the 
air, completing dozens of 360 degree twists.  It came down with its feathery 
tush directly on the form of the taunting legend.  The spinning subsided after a 
moment, to reveal a nearly flattened Dan.  Voidtron leaped back.  "VOID!  
[Tron]."

	B-ko had the Voidtron commence in a preprogrammed victory dance, not 
noticing that Krillin hadn't awarded the fight to her yet.  That thought crossed 
her mind just split seconds before she head Dan's voice.

	"OTOKO MICHI!!!!!"  Dan's godly aura flared up to full power as he latched 
onto the small leg of the VoidTron.  There was a mighty explosion, and the 
Voidtron lay still on the ground.  Dan remained standing, yet smoke was rising 
off his skin and his nearly burnt-off gi.  

*****

	"And the pink wonder has won yet another match."  Tarou noted dryly.

	"But... why hasn't Krillin awarded the match to Dan yet?"  Hiroshi 
queried.

*****

	The camera cut to Krillin, who was busily trying to unentangle himself 
from a glomping Yuffie.  "Bald referees are soo cute!"

	Dan peered curiously at the two, not noticing the figure emerging from 
behind the brush behind him.  

	"SODOM!"  Darshu pointed his hand out at the unaware Dan.  Three slashes 
of energy laced the Godly Warrior, and he fell to the ground.  Darshu laughed, 
and quickly resumed hiding in the bushes.  

	Slowly the Voidtron got up and kicked the prone form of Dan.  B-ko stared 
at him curiously, "Hello?"

	Krillin finally threw Yuffie off of him, and quickly flew over to the side 
of the fallen warrior.  "This match goes to B-ko in the VoidTron!"  He hefted 
Dan up onto his shoulders and carried him through an opened portal.  From 
somewhere in the brush, Darshu cackled maniacally.

*****

	"Foul!  Why didn't Krillin call for a DQ!?"  Hiroshi glared at the 
Ultratron.

	"Maybe he knew better than to cross paths with the maelstrom of 
destruction that is Krillin?"  Tarou smiled thinly.  "Or maybe he was just too 
dumb to see it."

	"But Dan had the match won!  B-ko was down for a good minute!"  Hiroshi 
slammed his fist into his desk.  "I hate seeing Dan lose."

	"You must hate seeing him fight then."

	Hiroshi gave Tarou a glare of death, then turned back to the camera, 
"We'll be back after this word from our sponsor!"

*****

	She sat.  No one entered, no one bothered her.  She merely sat.  In the 
room.  At first one could've mistaken her silence for meditation, or even sleep.  
But then she pounded both fists into the wall with all her might and watched as 
the walls absorbed the blows harmlessly.  Blow after blow, she channeled all of 
her frustrations into her closed fists.

	"How could I lose AGAIN!?"  Asuka screamed.  The wall to her room in hell 
didn't answer.  "Why do I always lose!?"

	Somewhere, deep inside a voice answered her frantic cry.  "Because it's 
wrong.  I don't want to fight.  I don't like fighting."

	Asuka cried, "I... I don't want to fight."

	"We should all get along.  Fighting causes pain.  Pain is bad."

	Asuka stood silently for a moment.  "Pain is b... bad."  She wavered in 
place for a moment and then her eyes grew wide for a moment.  "SHINJI!  BAKA!  
What have you done to me!?"

*****

	"And we're back!"  Hiroshi segued from commercial.  "As you can see, This 
Old Dojo has repaired the damage sustained to the ring earlier in the show, and 
we're all set for our next Gamma matchup!"

	"And this one should be mildly entertaining too."  Tarou added.

	"Really? You think this is going to be a good fight?"  Hiroshi gasped.

	"Yup.  So much raw material.  Fem-boy and Afro-man.  I should be in my 
prime." 

	"... Right.  Seriously folks, this next match is the challenge of the 
former Gamma Champions!  Earth's Favorite Hero Mr. Satan will take on the 
original Gamma Champ, Ranma Saotome!  This will be Ranma's first official brawl 
in the ring in quite sometime."  Hiroshi peered down toward the entrance ramp.
"I wonder how he'll combat Mr. Satan?"

	Tarou shrugged, "Knowing these two, we'll be lucky if they actually decide 
to spar."

	The two silenced as Mr. Satan's beat pounding music sounded at the ramp.  
He stood at the edge of the ramp, with back light causing him to appear as a 
silhouette.  A giant muscular shadow with a bigass hairdo draped down the ramp.  
Mr. Satan strode confidently to the ring, and walked in over the top rope.  

	As he finished his posing for the crowd the music shifted gears, and a 
more serious, traditional Japanese song came over the Ultratron speakers.  Ranma 
jogged down the ramp, microphone in hand.

	He hopped from the apron over the ropes into the ring, and waved at 
everyone.  Applause for him was scattered, but there.  "Hey everyone!  I just 
wanted to say that I know I've been kinda quiet lately, but I've had some 
personal issues that've held me back.  But I'm gonna try to put those aside, and 
work my way to the top of the roster again!  And I might as well start with the 
best!" 

	He tossed the mic out of the ring and bowed to Mr. Satan.  The wrestler 
chuckled momentarily, then bowed in return.  "It should be interesting to see 
how your style matches up to that of your student Ranma."

	"If you're counting on that knowledge, you've already lost."  Ranma 
grinned.  Both assumed fighting stances.  The referee looked between the two, 
and then nodded.

][ GAMMA MATCH #1
][ RANMA SAOTOME vs. MR. SATAN
][ FIGHT!

	"SAAAATAN PUNCH!"  Mr. Satan threw a modified version of his infamous 
punch, swinging much sooner than in previous versions.

	Ranma felt the fist brush his hair as he dodged to the right.  "I see 
you've been practicing."  Ranma twisted around, his foot spinning toward Mr. 
Satan's jawbone, only to have the wrestler deflect the blow with a beefy armed 
slap.

	"Little rusty, eh Ranma?"  Mr. Satan lunged forward and grabbed hold of 
the young martial artist.  Ranma struggled briefly against the vice-like grip, 
but before he could even try to counter, Mr. Satan twisted Ranma and slammed his 
back into the ring hard. 

	Ranma stood slowly, noticing Mr. Satan giving him clear distance while he 
did so.  "What're you afraid of?"

	"Just giving a fellow fighter a break."  Mr. Satan smiled, then quickly 
ducked under a flying kick.  

	Ranma landed on the ropes on the other side of the ring, springboarding 
off of them into a twisting back flip, which ended when his feet connected with 
the back of Mr. Satan's head.

	The wrestler stood groggily, shaking his head, as the young Japanese 
martial artist was the one who stood off to the side this time.  "No more 
games?"

	Mr. Satan nodded, "No more games."

	The two fighters rushed each other, each landing a few punches while 
dodging a few as well.  Ranma's punches were faster, but the muscular Mr. 
Satan's punches packed quite a bit more wallop when he did hit.  Things were 
falling even in the out and out slugfest, so Mr. Satan again broke the pace by 
grabbing Ranma's head under his shoulder and launching himself backward.

	"DDT by Mr. Satan!  Wow!  This is great!  I don't know who to root for!!"
Hiroshi waved Ranma flags in one hand, and Mr. Satan flags in the other.

	"Wow.  You're right.  Now let's see that again, this time not in slow 
motion.  Oh wait."  Tarou smirked.  

	Nabiki's voice cut through his headset.  "I can just feel our ratings 
sagging Tarou.  It's time for our plan."  

	Nodding, Tarou's hand went under the rebuilt announcer's table, after 
unpocketing a remote control.  A quiet click was lost in the roar of the crowd 
as Ranma was bodyslammed heavily into the mat by Mr. Satan.  

	The giant wooshing sound got everyone's attention however.  Mr. Satan 
paused mid-strike as he looked up, as below him Ranma's eyes went wide.  
Hundreds of gallons of cold water came rushing down on them, from a tank hidden 
in the shadows above the ring.

	"OH MY GOD!  The ring has been flooded!"  Hiroshi was drenched as the 
water flooded out of the ring and into the table.  Tarou quickly got out from 
under the table, untouched by the cold water.  Hiroshi sputtered momentarily, 
"Who could've done this!?  What would they have to gain!?"  

	Mr. Satan attempted to get his sopping wet afro out of his eyes, when he 
heard a sudden feminine laughing sound.

*****

	I saw it happen.  It came down.  I was down though, and the water was 
everywhere.  There was nothing I could do.  It drenched me, and then... silence.

	But only for a moment.  Next thing I knew... I was outside my own body.  
This hadn't happened before.  Last time I changed forms, I was almost in 
control, I even behaved almost rationally.  This time... this time I was 
practically exorcised from my body.  

	Mr. Satan was standing in front of me.  His hair was flopped down onto his 
face.  He got his eyes clear just in time to see her... me... us coming at her.  
We tore him apart.  Before I had been having trouble.  I couldn't put the 
strength into it that I used to.  Maybe I'd been idle too long.  Maybe... maybe 
she was the real fighter out of the two of us.

	Our fist buried into his gut.  I saw his eyes bulge as he tried to 
comprehend what was going on.  But I didn't let up.  She didn't let up.  A kick 
to his face knocked him back into the turnbuckle.

	I winced as I saw the trickle of blood down his neck from the impact, and 
at the indention left in the metal post as he stood up slowly.  She didn't.  
Before I knew it, and most certainly before he know it, we were back up there.  
She pulled off the Katsu Tenshin Amaguriken while his guard was down, and as the 
rapid fire punches bounced off of him, I saw his eyes roll back.  I knew it was 
over before he even hit the mat.

	"Why are you doing this!  This man is our friend!!!"  I wanted to scream 
at her, if I only had a voice.

	"Because I CAN Baka!  Because I'm not afraid of a fight!  And because I'm 
the STRONGEST and everyone should know it!!"  She raised our fist in anger at 
me, to the puzzlement of all watching.  Somehow I knew she could see me in the 
distance as I could see her.

	"You're not strong!  You're a coward!  He wasn't ready!  Only a bastard 
attacks when an opponent isn't ready!"  

	"You're the coward!  You run and run from your problems!  Face them!  Face 
ME!"  

	"...."

	"That's what I thought."  She looked at the referee, who finished his 
count to 10 and raised our arm in victory.  "I'm outta here."  

	As we left the arena, I prayed Akane was nearby, and I prayed for the 
madness to stop.  It had to stop.

*****

	A hope in Hell is a rare thing indeed.  And now, Aerith had one.

	It was a flickering hope, however.  The one who called himself Metatron 
hadn't filled her in on all the details, the hows the whos and the whys, but 
she got the basic idea.  If it worked, and if Metatron really had some way to 
stop everything...

	But first she had to complete her end of the plan.  Fortunately, all she 
had to do was wait for Cloud, and he hadn't seen her in days... he never left 
her alone for too long.  It would be any time now--

	The door to her cell swung open wide, clattering lightly against the 
hidden discarded bucket.  Aerith winced; she'd forgotten that was left behind 
when Skuld vanished.  Cover for it, cover...

	"Cloud?" Aerith asked, blinking a few times as her eyes adjusted to the 
light from the doorway.  "Is that you?  Please let that be you..."

	"Cloud and company," Xelloss said, walking in behind him.  "Although I'm 
beginning to suspect this is a colossal waste of my time, I'm afraid I have 
nothing better to do at the moment.  So, your 'retraining' continues.  
Cloud?"

	"Yes," Cloud said, rolling over a tray of unmentionable sharp things.

	"Wait, wait," Aerith pleaded.  "Cloud, I need to talk to you alone--"

	"You're about to try to trick him into doing something stupid, aren't 
you?" Xelloss asked.  "Please, young lady, I've seen enough cheesy movies to 
know that I never leave the slightly soft in the head guy alone with the wily 
vixen with her alluring charms--"

	Cloud turned on him.  "Soft in the head?"

	"I don't mean that in a bad way," Xelloss protested.

	"How about 'alluring vixen', then?  Just what are you implying about my 
dear Aerith?"

	"You know, a vixen is a fox and foxes are very intelligent creatures," 
Xelloss countered.  "It's a compliment, see.  Anyway, if she has something to 
say, she can say it in front of me.  Yes?"

	It was worth the risk, Aerith decided.  "I can say it in front of him.  
Cloud... I've made a decision.  I'll willingly join your side on one 
condition.  All of these... retraining sessions aren't going to do it, but I 
know something that will."

	"Ah, so it is a trick," Xelloss realized.  "Cute, but--"

	"What do you want me to do?" Cloud said quickly, ignoring his comrade.

	"Defeat Lina Inverse," Aerith said.  "Challenge her to one-on-one match 
set up at UltraRage Epsilon.  Loser leaves creation.  If you can beat her... 
you'll have proven your love for me, and she'll no longer be able to 
interfere between you and me.  But if you lose, I'm hers forever." 

	"I'll do it," Cloud answered without thinking.

	Xelloss slapped his forehead.  "Hello?  Hell to Cloud, come in Cloud?  
We've discussed this.  Lina Inverse is well above your power level, something 
to the tune of 'omnipotence', if you recall?  A direct assault is not going 
to cut the mustard.  What we SHOULD be doing is (as I've said many times) 
rallying the troops for a subversive invasion of--"

	"I'm tired of this war," Cloud said truthfully.  "It's keeping me and 
Aerith apart.  All we ever do is fight, and nothing really happens.  Even 
when Third Impact happened, nothing really happened.  But if I can defeat 
Lina one-on-one... just like I beat Sephiroth in the Lifestream... I'll have 
won!  It'll be over, and Aerith will be at my side!"

	"This is about CONSIDERABLY more than your lady fair," Xelloss frowned.  
"I realize you've always been a bit blinded by her, but you're SATAN, 
remember?  You've got an obligation to be the Adversary.  We're talking about 
the destruction of Heaven and the annihilation of the world and all that good 
stuff--"

	"I am the father of lies," Cloud echoed.  "And that means I'm in charge.  
I make the decisions, not you, Xelloss.  A war... I'm not good at wars, but I 
can tell this one isn't working.  A duel... that I know about.  Issue the 
challenge immediately to Heaven."

	Xelloss fingered his staff, irritated.  Of COURSE he had to pick the 
lovesick spiky-headed twit for his puppet.  Of COURSE everything had to stall 
out because of the brat's inability to think logically.  (Of course, Xelloss 
had seen to it that he had a hard time thinking logically, to prevent an 
uprising... but sometimes you really needed a level headed minion.)  Still, 
he had time to make as many appeals and counterpoints as needed.

	"Okay, let's assume we go through with this silly 'sports entertainment' 
matchup your doll suggests," Xelloss reasoned.  "You are Satan, but you're 
nowhere near Lina's power level.  Your Deed to Hell does not match up to the 
Godhead.  How do you propose to win?"

	"The same way I beat Sephiroth in the lifestream," Cloud said, smiling.  
"No materia.  No teamwork.  No summonings.  No powers beyond our own innate 
abilities with the sword, our own determination to win.  She drops her 
godhead, I drop my deed, and we settle this like Soldiers."

	Xelloss sighed.  "Okay, maybe Lina can swing a sharp bit of metal, 
but..."

	Wait.

	Drop the deed?

	He'd be in the perfect position to pick it up while it's 'temporarily' 
shucked from Cloud's soul.  Perhaps the Godhead too, if Lina's stupid enough 
to accept this...

	And given Cloud had a much bigger sword and was far better at swinging 
it around (possibly because he was a tough, brute manfolk), Lina's piddly 
sword skills wouldn't match up.

	Worst case scenario, Lina turns it down.  Midcase scenario, Cloud dies 
and Xelloss just finds a new puppet to hold the Deed.  Best case scenario, 
Lina dies, Xelloss claims all the power of the universe and kills Cloud and 
his bitch and then HELLO, APOCALYPSE!

	"I'll prep a messenger right away, sir!" Xelloss chimed.  "Onward to 
victory!"

*****

	"How bout that God Damned Tea!?"  Hiroshi smiled to the camera.  "Cloud 
tested!  Lina disapproved!  We're continuing on with our first Lambda fight of 
the evening, this fight was a specially requested grudge match, so you know 
we're in for some great ULTRA VIOLENCE!!!"  

	Without any further fanfare, the lights in the Ultradome dimmed, and the 
sounds of an amazon forest played over the speakers.  Monkeys squawked in 
surround sound as the first team made appeared at the top of the ramp.  Streaks 
of lightening lit up the Dome from the Ultratron, and Blanka let out a furious 
howl.  "First up to the ring... the JUNGLE WARRIORS!!"

	Blanka and Cham Cham walked to the ring, playing it up for a slightly 
lackluster applause.  Cham Cham poked Blanka on the shoulder.  "This Cham Cham 
big chance to get crowd favor.  Then Tendou lady let Cham Cham and Blanka beat 
up stupid Samurai and claim Cham Cham fiancee."

	Blanka nodded.  "Aroou! Aroo ArooooouuU!"  Blanka beat his chest 
emphatically.

	"I've gotta be... the very best..."

	Ash and Misty appeared at the rap at the sound of the original pokerap.  
"We're the best Misty.  We're gonna beat those two cheaters!  Blanka was teamed 
up with Pikachu, he's got to be just as traitorous and lying as Pikachu!"

	Misty nodded with determination.  "Ash, I want to go first today."

	"You what?"  Ash nearly tripped on his way down the entrance ramp.

	"I'm a pokemon trainer too Ash, and I deserve some ring time.  I'll tag 
you in, but I want to contribute.  If we're going to stop Team Rocket, we have 
to do it together!"  Misty stared Ash in the eye.

	"Are you sure?  You haven't seemed too sure we're doing the right thing 
lately..."  Ash stammered as they slowly made it down the ramp, to the chagrin 
of the crowd.

	Misty nodded, "I've been thinking about it.  And to be honest, this place 
has done nothing but stomp all over us.  You lost Pikachu, I lost Psyduck.  Both 
are evil little brats now.  The audience hates us.  And worst of all, I feel 
USELESS.  Ash, I'm fighting today.  I'm winning today.  You got that?"

	Nodding, Ash stepped up to the apron and helped Misty up, "Uh, sure 
Misty."

	Misty stepped into the ring, and Cham Cham greeted her.  "Cham Cham not go 
easy on your pets."

	Sneering in reply, Misty answered, "And I won't go easy on your lice."

][ LAMBDA MATCH #1
][ TEAM POKEMON VS JUNGLE WARRIORS
][ FIGHT!

	"Starmie, I choose you!"  Misty flung her pokeball in Cham Cham's 
direction, coming to a rest a few feet before her.  The pokemon sprung into 
existence before the startled amazon.  "Starmie!  Spinning Tackle!"  

	The starfish-like pokemon spun in place and flew at Cham Cham.  The young 
girl didn't realize soon enough the pokemon's intentions until she was sliding 
butt first across the mat.  Cham Cham stood and rubbed her tush gingerly.  "Cham 
Cham get stupid girl for that."  

	Cham Cham threw her boomerang in Misty's direction, who countered by 
throwing a pokeball at full force at the incoming weapon.  There was a crack, 
and Cham Cham's boomerang fell to the ground along side a broken pokeball.  

	Looking confusedly at the remains, Cham Cham tilted her head, "Where be 
funny creature thing?'

	Misty scowled at the girl, "That was Voiduck's pokeball.  Starmie, energy 
blast!  Now!"  

	The center of the pokemon glowed rapidly and fired an enormous blue hew of 
energy at the distracted amazon warrior.  She flew back into her corner, 
crumpling against the ring post.  "Cham Cham not feel so good."

	"And Cham Cham's out early on in the match!"  Hiroshi observed from his 
vantage point.  "How will the Jungle Warriors come back from this setback?" 

	"They won't."  Tarou supplied.  "They're clearly out matched.  Team 
Pokemon is steadily becoming a force to be reckoned with."

	Blanka tagged his barely conscious partner and pulled her out of the ring.  
He entered the ring only to be whapped in the face by a spinning starfish.  He 
grunted, and grabbed hold of the pokemon before it retreated once more.  
"Arrwoo."

	Curling into a ball, Blanka flew across the ring, causing Misty to 
scramble out of the way after recalling Starmie.  "Horsea, I chose you!!!"

	Horsea popped into existence and landed on the mat, looked up curiously at 
Misty.  It turned and saw Blanka and trembled slightly.  Misty frowned, "Horsea!  
Bubble beam attack!"  

	A stream of tiny bubbles flew out at the Brazilian beast.  He dodged to 
the side and before either pokemon or trainer could move, he had Misty in his 
grasp.  "AWRROOO!"  Blanka charged up his full voltage, and starting to shock 
Misty.  

	Cham Cham stood on the apron and turned wide eyed watching the opponent's 
corner.  She began to come into the ring, but the referee stopped her, and the 
two argued fiercely.  

	A vine whipped out and wrapped round the young girl before she was too 
electrified, and pulled her from his grasp.  From ringside, Bulbasaur was 
pulling her out.  Squirtle stood beside him, and fired a stream of water at the 
electrified mutant.  Horsea followed suit in the ring with a smaller watergun 
attack.  Sparks flew as the water shorted out Blanka's system.  The yellow-toned 
beast fell to the mat with a plop.

	The referee turned back to ringside to see all the commotion to see a 
slightly dazed Misty stand next to a happy Horsea, and Blanka out cold.  He 
signaled for the bell.  

	"TEAM POKEMON ARE THE WINNERS!" Hiroshi exclaimed.  "Though it's not their 
style to bend the rules like that."

	Tarou shook his head, "If the referee didn't see it, it didn't happen."

	Misty climbed out of the ring after recalling her pokemon.  "Why did you 
help me Ash?"  

	"That beast was going to shock you to death like he nearly did me.  I only 
did it to stop him from going too far like last time!"  Ash nodded to himself.  
"And did you see his partner?  She tried to run in the same time!  So they were 
planning to cheat all along!  We showed them a thing or two."

	Misty smiled and hugged Ash, ignoring the boo's of the crowd as they 
walked up the ramp.  "We did it Ash!  You and me!"

	Ash nodded, "Just you and me."


*****

	"Maybe it's an outdoor arena in the middle of Shinjuku!"

	"Or Tokyo Tower!"

	"Or the Emperor's Palace!"

	"Pika!"

	Jessie and James beamed at each other, though the expressions seemed just 
a tiny bit forced.  "Well, no matter where our match is, we'll show everyone 
just what Team Champion Rocket is made of, right?" Jessie blustered, turning to 
peer out the limo window into the evening darkness.

	"Of course!" James agreed, his voice unsteady.  "I'm sure our surprise 
match will be nothing like Shermie's surprise match!"

	"Of course not!"

	They smiled at each other again, displaying their perfect bridgework.

	"...Jessie, I'm scared."

	"Me too."

	"Pika."

	The sound of tires crunching on gravel precluded Jessie and James from 
striking their normal position upon realization of fear -- namely, clutching at 
the other person -- and they swallowed hard as the car drew to a stop.  The 
driver stepped around to open the door for them, and they stepped out of the car 
to see the amazing, shining, glitzy locale of... an abandoned warehouse.

	Jessie's expression barely had a chance to fall before she had to bat away 
a cambot that zipped towards her, scowling at the lens.  "Do you mind waiting 
until our entrance?"

	The floating camera stayed right by her, giving Jessie her answer.  She 
sighed and motioned James forward.  "Let's see what we're up against.  At least 
we have our new pokemon from last week."

	"And I have Growly!!  My parents can get along without him for awhile..."  
James eyed the warehouse warily.  "Our uniforms are going to get filthy."

	The decrepit building looked no more appealing on the inside than it had 
on the exterior.  Flood lights had been set up, burning away the shadows from 
all but the deepest corners.  Twisted metal and fallen bricks lay in disheveled 
heaps across the floor.  And most importantly for the viewers at home, a dozen 
cambots flitted around the space, filming away.

	Pikachu scampered forward, poking at a rusted piece of machinery.  It fell 
apart with a chorus of squeals and clatters, and Pikachu darted behind Jessie, 
peering out from behind her at the collapsed pile.  She looked down at the 
pokemon and quirked an eyebrow.  "Didn't you used to be braver?"

	Pikachu shrugged.

	"Uh, Jessie..."

	The redhead sighed and turned to James, who was tugging on her arm.  "What 
is it, Ja..."  She trailed off, her eyes getting as wide as his, as she saw the 
newest arrivals.

	"Well well well, together again.  Almost brings a tear to my eye. Haven't 
you missed these two, Marlo?"

	The Furnityre Savior smirked, one elbow propped on a bookcase he'd 
provided for dramatic effect.  "Of course I have.  It's always nice to have an 
easy target nearby."  Marlo cracked his knuckles, looking at the uniformed pair 
with a hungry look in his eyes.

	"Aren't you going to do that cute little speech of yours?" Morrigan asked, 
her expression pure innocence.

	"Uh..." Jessie swallowed, and raised one arm.  Her initial shock at seeing 
their opponents was fading, and her dramatic nature was kicking in.  "Prepare 
for trouble!"

	"And make it double, bitch."

	As two more figures strolled into the warehouse, Jessie and James struck 
the fear position they'd earlier been denied.  The motto's interrupter smirked 
and cracked her whip, resting one shinyleather-gloved hand on her shinyleather-
clad hip.  "Long time no see, rocketeers."

	Johnny Cage took his place next to Sofia and flicked down his sunglasses.  
"So all we have to do is get through these two, Sof?"

	The blonde smiled, trailing her fingers along the length of her bullwhip.  
"Not even that, Johnny.  Listen up, boys and girls.  Miss Tendou has been nice 
enough to set up a grand return to Ultra for Johnny and I: Sex and Violence, 
together again.  This is a Hardcore-" 

	Marlo grinned.

	"-tornado handicap match.  All we have to do is wipe the floor with one of 
you, and Johnny and I are back in Ultra." 

	A moment passed before James eked out, "...So we just have to beat one of 
you?"

	The four non-uniform-wearing former members of Sex and Violence laughed. 
Morrigan gleefully replied, "It would seem that Nabiki holds you two in high 
regard.  She thinks you can beat all four of us to get the win!"

	Jessie and James processed the fight stipulations, and reacted the only 
way they knew how.  They wailed like frightened children.

	Marlo whipped out his steel chair and grinned, showing far more teeth than 
he should.  "Fight."

][ SPECIAL INTERDIVISION MATCH
][ TEAM ROCKET VS. MARLO, MORRIGAN, SOFIA, and JOHNNY CAGE
][ HARDCORE TORNADO HANDICAP MATCH
][ FIGHT!

	It didn't take long for Jessie and James to realize what the sanest course 
of action was, and they took off at a run for the far end of the warehouse, 
Pikachu trailing at their heels.  Morrigan smiled and lazily fluttered into the 
air, leaning forward into her flight as she picked up speed.  Behind her, Marlo 
followed at a run, his steel chair held high. And near the entrance, one figure 
was kicking the other into shape for the match.

	"Will you kindly get your ass in gear, Johnny?  We've got to be ready to 
step in once we've got the advantage."

	The movie star-cum-martial artist flicked back a stray strand of hair and 
nodded.  "Yeah, yeah.  Quick and easy ticket back into Ultra for you, I know."

	Trailing her whip between her fingers, Sofia smiled seductively.  "And 
wherever I go..."

	The happily satisfied actor grinned.  "I go.  Okay, let's go get those 
contracts!"

*****

	"This is BULLSHIT!" Jack sputtered, staring at the television.

	"They're dead," Sakura whispered, her eyes huge.

	Shingo paced around the CHAOS war room, brow furrowed in worry.  "Can't we 
do something?  We've gotta save them, this isn't fair at all!"

	The sound of a receiver being replaced in its cradle drew their attention, 
and they looked up to Daisuke.  He shook his head and sighed.  "She doesn't have 
the location pinned down yet. She needs a minute or two mo-"  He stumbled 
backwards as Jack plowed past him and yanked the phone off the wall, stabbing 
his fingers at the keypad.

	"What the HELL is wrong with you, Tendou?" Jack demanded after a moment, 
yelling into the phone.  "This is complete bullshit!  What's your justification 
for this piece of total hors-"  He twitched, then stared at the receiver.  "'You 
don't NEED any justification?'" he repeated incredulously, though there was no 
one on the other end to hear him.

	The phone rang, and Daisuke moved to grab it before Jack could.  "Yeah?  
... Great!  Okay, writing it down now... got it.  Thanks, Lain!"  He replaced 
the receiver and brushed past the still-stunned Jack.  "We've got the 
warehouse's address.  Karin, will you watch the room?"

	The blonde nodded, and Daisuke moved towards the door, only to stop 
halfway there.  "I don't drive.  I don't have a car."  He turned towards Shingo 
and Sakura hopefully; they responded with helpless shrugs.

	Jack plowed past him, motioning for the three to follow.  "Got you 
covered.  To the CHAOSMobile!"

	"...We have a CHAOSMobile?" Sakura asked as she followed the men out.

*****

	"..." said Daisuke, Shingo, and Sakura as they stared at the car.

	"C'mon, time's a-wasting!" Jack demanded as he took his seat behind the 
wheel.

	"..." said Daisuke, Shingo, and Sakura as they stared at the lemon-yellow 
1957 Buick Skylark with a chrome duck hood ornament.  The three swallowed and 
slid onto the vinyl seats, strapping themselves in securely.

	"You, ah, can drive, right Jack?" Daisuke asked hesitantly.

	"I have a license," Jack shrugged as he shifted the car into gear.

	"That's a driver's license, right?" Sakura squealed as they screeched out 
of the parking lot.

	"Driving, hunting, same difference."  As the passengers grabbed ahold of 
the nearest thing to grab on to, Jack weaved his way through the streets of 
Tokyo.  Jack Lysias, head of CHAOS, was a man on a mission.

*****

	"DAMMIT!" Marlo yelled as he dropped his chair, twitching.  "I'm gonna 
KILL that damn rat!"

	Pikachu struck a victory pose, though was smart enough to not hold it 
longer than a moment.  It darted back by Jessie, looking confidently up at 
Marlo.  She matched the expression, fingering a pokeball.  "You seem to be 
pulling the same old tricks, Marlo, but I have some new ones up my sleeve!"  She 
arced her arm back, then loosed the pokeball. "PERSIAN, GO!"

	The elegant cat pokemon appeared in a flash of energy, promptly arching 
its back and hissing at the camouflage-clad teen.  Pikachu ran up next to it, 
cheeks crackling as it waited for Marlo to repeat the mistake of wielding a 
steel chair.

	Marlo Semaj hadn't held the Hardcore title for so long by being an idiot, 
though, and he promptly whipped out a very large and very non-metallic oak 
dresser.  He swung it at the pokemon pair, scattering them; instead of chasing 
them down, he advanced directly on Jessie, who scrambled for more pokeballs.

	She tossed two at once, aiming directly for Marlo's head.  "Arbok, 
Lickitung, I choose you!"

	Her aim was good, her timing terrible.  Marlo had already pulled the 
dresser aside for another swing, and she threw the balls directly into its path.  
As such, Arbok and Lickitung found themselves slammed into the nearest wall as 
soon as they'd popped into normal existence.  A flustered Jessie called them 
back, then ran away, Persian and Pikachu at her side and Marlo on her heels.

	James wasn't faring much better.  As Morrigan was much faster than Marlo, 
his pokemon were able to serve only as a distraction as she aimed her attacks 
directly at him.  Weezing's smoke screen was blown back in its faces by a few 
well-timed flaps of her wings, and she paused long enough to knock the poison 
pokemon out of commission. 

	She smiled broadly as he called Weezing back, eying the other active 
pokemon.  "Really, James.  Making a little kitten like that fight."

	Mew chirped at Morrigan, a frown somehow managing to appear on its 
adorable pink face.  James matched the expression, and reached for another 
pokeball.  "My Mew may not be very experienced, but it's more than enough to 
beat you!"

	Morrigan pressed one perfectly-manicured fingernail against her cheek, 
dimpling her skin.  "All this time, and you haven't worked on your lines.  What 
a shame."  Before he could move to throw the ball, her wings whipped forward, 
the edges that impacted with him turning as solid as blocks of steel.  James 
skidded across the floor, gasping for breath as he rose to his hands and knees.  
Allowing herself a congratulatory smirk, Morrigan then darted forward to claim 
an easy win, only to end up dodging an energy sphere.  She turned and scowled at 
Mew.  "Don't get in my way, pussycat."

	"Mew!" it chirped as it loosed another volley of energy attacks; the ones 
that didn't go wide were dodged by the agile succubus, and she aimed at the pink 
target with her own projectiles.  Dozens of bats darted at Mew, overwhelming the 
pokemon with their numbers.  Morrigan turned, moving in for the win before Mew 
could recover, only to nearly get what little clothes she had on burnt off.

	"Grow!" barked her attacker, chest puffed forward with pride. 

	James patted the Growlithe, smiling smugly at Morrigan.  "You can't 
possibly beat Growly... what would someone like you know about sticking up for 
someone because you care about them?"

	"Oh please," Morrigan groaned.  "You were annoying before, but now that 
you're doing this goody two-shoes routine, you're unbearable.  We'll be doing 
you a favor if we knock some sense into you.  SOUL FIST!"

	Growly threw itself to one side, knocking both it and James out of the 
projectile's path.  James beamed at it as he picked himself up, only to take a 
mahogany nightstand to the noggin. 

	Jessie ran over, trailed by Pikachu and Persian, all three momentarily 
forgotten by Marlo.  As she checked on James, Marlo and Morrigan folded their 
arms and smirked.  "Did the floofboy get an ouchie?" singsonged Marlo, twirling 
a barstool around his finger.

	The redhead sighed as she looked at her unconscious partner.  Well, it had 
been a while since they'd had a loss on the books.  "Fine," Jessie muttered.  
"Let's g-"  Her mumblings changed into a shriek as a Soul Fist came bearing down 
on her, fizzled out just in time by one of Pikachu's shocks.  "Hey, the fight's 
over!" she yelled at Morrigan, slowly backing away from the floating succubus.  
"Or has that subpar dye job messed up your brain?"

	Morrigan smiled at Jessie, stretching her arms above her head to show off 
her figure.  "Oh, I was wrong, you HAVE improved!  Go on, insult me again!"

	Uncertain on what to do next, Jessie looked warily at Marlo and Morrigan, 
who both were waiting for her to act.  A soft groan drew her attention, and she 
looked down at James, who was sitting up and putting a hand to his bruised 
temple.

	"Oh, bother," Morrigan pouted.  "Was that ten?"

	Marlo turned and smiled at Morrigan.  "Do you see a ref?"

	Jessie helped James to his feet as Morrigan and Marlo advanced on them 
again, their four active pokemon following them closely.  She leaned over 
towards James and whispered, "You better use the last one we caught."

	"But Jessie, what if the same thing happens as last time?"  She elbowed 
him in the ribs, and he winced.  "Ow!  Okay, okay!"  Reaching for his last 
pokeball, James threw it at the Tendou-sent duo. 

	As the light collapsed into a solid, rotund form, Marlo and Morrigan 
blinked.  Twice.  "You've gotta be kidding me," Marlo snickered.

	Morrigan put a hand to her mouth and started giggling.  "I take back what 
I said, Jessie.  You two are pathetic."

	Team Rocket simply stuck their fingers in their ears as a response.  Marlo 
and Morrigan blinked, then looked down at the newest pokemon.  Just as it 
started to sing.

	The Furnityre Savior was soon out like a light from Jigglypuff's song, 
dozing on a daybed he'd whipped out at the last second.  Morrigan was elbowing 
him even as she succumbed to sleep, and was slowly dropping down beside him.  As 
the last notes trailed away, Morrigan and Marlo were both soundly asleep, their 
confidence keeping them near the song until it was too late.

	Jessie felt nearly dizzy with pride as James recalled Jigglypuff.  They 
were winning!  The deck horribly stacked against them, and they were winning!  
Although, she half-thought, it seemed like there was something she was 
forgetting.

	"Shadow Kick!"

	The redhead went flying into the wall as the green images faded from 
behind Johnny.  She landed heavily, and groaned.  Right.  Something she'd been 
forgetting.  Growly nudged her to her feet as James motioned Pikachu, Mew, and 
Persian forward towards Johnny; Sofia was busy waking her two slumbering 
teammates.

	Morrigan scowled up at Sofia as she blinked away her dizziness. "Well, 
look who finally showed up."

	The blonde replied with a smirk.  "And look who's sleeping on the job."  
She glanced up at Johnny and rolled her eyes.  "Johnny, stop playing with the 
little animals and HURT THEM!" 

	He threw Persian to one side with a sweeping leg kick, then replied 
without turning, "Geez, Sof, we just need to get back into Ultra; why start like 
that?" 

	Sofia favored him with a glare that promised many nights on the couch, and 
he nodded weakly.  "Right.  Hurt them."

	Now working in unison, the four advanced on the CHAOS fighters.  Mew took 
to the air, followed by Morrigan; deciding the only real threat was gone, Marlo, 
Sofia, and Johnny aimed right for Jessie and James.  Persian leapt for the trio, 
only to be slammed flat by a marble bathtub; Growly let loose a fire burst, then 
was sent flying by a uppercut.  The two were duly recalled by their trainers as 
soon as their consciousness faded, leaving only Pikachu between Team Rocket and 
some very unfriendly-looking folk.

	"We'll be just fine!" James decided as they backed up.

	Jessie stared at him.  "How?"

	"This is just the kind of thing that the mouse always got Ash out of!"

	A smile spread across Jessie's face.  "Of course!  The twerp was always 
getting into situations like this!" 

	In unison, Team Rocket squealed, "Save us, Pikachu!"

	Marlo promptly squashed Pikachu with a cement birdbath.

	"..." Jessie and James replied shortly before Sofia flicked her bullwhip 
forward, binding them back-to-back.

	"...Mew will save us!" James decided, struggling against his bonds.

	"Right!  We saw a Mew take on Mewtwo!"

	"Save us, Mew!"

	In the distance, a pink form fell from the ceiling to land heavily on the 
pitted concrete floor.  Morrigan slowly fluttered down, her crimson lips parting 
in a smile.  "Bondage, eh?  Maybe I won't mind having you back after all, 
Sofia."

	Sofia glared at her; Johnny blushed knowingly.  No one noticed.

	"Marlo, go pick up their little pets.  Nabiki wouldn't mind having some of 
them, I'm sure."  Expecting her orders to be followed -- they were, though with 
no small amount of muttering -- Morrigan stepped towards Team Rocket even as she 
motioned Marlo away.  She looked over them for a moment, then shook her head in 
disgust.  "I always knew Jack was an idiot, but you two seemed to have the sense 
to know where your paycheck came from.  But you're only a couple of two-bit 
hoods who are, I'm sad to say, sadly deluded about the importance of this 'holy
crusade' you seem to be on."

	She took another step forward, leaning from one side to the other to meet 
Jessie and James' panicked gazes in turn.  "Since you were stupid enough to join 
up with Jack, and have been stupid enough to work against Miss Tendou nearly 
since she took command of this organization... well, I think we need to send a 
message to the real fighters of Ultra."

	James let out a yelp as she took his face in her hand, holding him in 
place.  Morrigan leaned in, her eyes narrowing to slits.  "You seem to have your 
priorities out of order.  But I do know what you two always think is the most 
important thing in the world."

	"M- money?" James stuttered, staring wide-eyed at Morrigan.

	"F- fame?" Jessie suggested, trying vainly to twist around to see what was 
happening.

	Morrigan let out a mock sigh of regret, then slowly put her hand up on 
James' cheek.  She arched her palm so only the tips of the fingernails pressed 
against his skin, then slowly increased the pressure.  "So pretty.  Such a 
shame, really."

	James trembled as Morrigan dug her fingernails in, so frozen with fear 
that he couldn't scream.  Five drops of blood beaded underneath Morrigan's 
nails, and she prepared for the swipe across his face.  "I do hope Jack is 
watching," she purred, tensing her muscles.

	...Right as a leg swept out and impacted solidly with her torso, sending 
her skidding across the floor.  Morrigan growled up at Johnny.  "What the hell 
are you doing, Cage?"

	The movie star lowered his sunglasses and glared down at Morrigan, disgust 
plain.  "You don't mess with someone's face, Morrigan.  That's just low."

	"Johnny," Sofia hissed, pulling her whip tighter as she glared daggers at 
him.  "Are you TRYING to screw me over?"

	"I didn't fight tonight so I could return to Ultra like this, Sof!"  
Johnny protested, hands wide in his protestation of innocence.  "Is this how you 
want to come back?"

	She looked at him for a long moment, staring into his eyes.  She looked 
over to Jessie and James, who were gasping for breath, then over to Morrigan, 
who was waiting expectantly.  "...Yes."

	She snagged a chair thrown to her by Marlo and cracked it across Jessie's 
head, giving James the same treatment in short order.  The two collapsed, and 
she put her boot on Jessie's shoulder, pulling the whip restraint even tighter.  
Behind her, Marlo and Morrigan grinned, as Johnny's face fell.

	"'Sexiest woman in Lambda' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" she 
merrily asked as she slowly pulled inch after inch from the bonds.  "They're 
still awake?  Marlo, do you mind?"

	The Furniture Warrior grinned, and whipped out his old standby steel 
chair.  "Not at all."  He brought the metal frame down hard on James' shoulder, 
grinning ferally as a wet snap greeted his action.  The trainer mercifully 
passed out, quickly followed by his partner as Marlo planted a booted foot into 
her stomach.  He rattled off a ten count, and laughed.  "Nothing like whipping a 
couple of pansy asses to put me in a good mood."  He raised his chair again, 
grinning.  "Seeing them out of commission to defend their title would be even 
better, though."

	"Indeed," agreed Morrigan, running her tongue across her lips. 

	Marlo raised his chair for another strike, only to be sent flying.  Sofia 
and Morrigan turned to scowl at Johnny, who cracked his knuckles.  "The fight's 
over."

	"I don't see any officials around," Morrigan quietly but firmly replied, 
taking to the air.  "Unless you'd care to try and tell me what to do."

	"You are SO dead," Sofia seethed, kicking the unconscious Team Rocket away 
from her whip as she retrieved it.

	"Just so long as they aren't," Johnny replied, swallowing.  "This isn't 
cool, guys.  Come on.  Sofia, we're back in.  Let's go."  Morrigan zoomed past 
him towards Team Rocket, and he whipped around.  "Hey!" 

	The succubus had only managed to make a matching gash across both of the 
teens' chests with her wings before Johnny knocked her away, and she landed next 
to Marlo.  The blonde boy was just now picking himself up from his sucker punch, 
and he looked ... less than pleased. 

	"DEAD," Sofia repeated in a growl, flicking her whip at her most recent 
sexual conquest.  Johnny moved his forearm to block, letting the black leather 
coil around his arm.  He jerked back, yanking the whip from Sofia's hands.  
Blood trickled from his arm where the strike had landed, but the expression on 
Sofia's face was worth it.

	Even if she was considerably less of a fighter without her weapon, the two 
very unpleased-looking warriors advancing on him were still real threats.  
Johnny looked between the three warily, trying to decide who to take on first.

	As it so happens, the decision was made for him.

	"SHIIIINGOOO KICK!"

	As Shingo plowed into Marlo and Sakura took down Morrigan with a surprise 
hit, Johnny took the opportunity to tie up Sofia with her own weapon.  He 
shrugged down at her helplessly.  "Sorry, Sof, just had to do it."

	A scowl was his only response.

	He ran off to join Shingo and Sakura; their surprise attacks hadn't taken 
Marlo and Morrigan down for long.  Behind them, Jack and Daisuke ran over to 
check on Jessie and James; their faces paled as they did. 

	"Damn," Jack whispered, eyes on the trails of blood that were winding 
their way from the corners of the trainers' mouths.  "This is... this is SICK."

	Daisuke's attention was focused on the ugly gashes that had split their 
uniforms and the flesh below, staining the white material of their clothes with 
bright crimson.  "Nearest hospital is about five minutes away if you ignore red 
lights."

	"That I can very much do," Jack assured him as he slung James over his 
shoulder.  "Let's get out of here before the goon patrol takes their attention 
off Sak and Shingo."

	Daisuke picked up Jessie, trying to motion to the two barely-conscious 
pokemon with the arm not used to balance her on his shoulder.  Mew picked 
Pikachu up in a psychic sphere, wobbling them both out of the warehouse as it 
dizzily flew after Daisuke.

	As the two CHAOS members and former Ultra fighter beat back Nabiki's 
chosen warriors, Jack set his car into gear, speeding out of the parking
lot.  This did not seem to be their night.

*****

	"..." Hiroshi stared at the Ultratron.  "Will Team Rocket be okay?  Will 
Cage and Sofia return to Ultra!?  What an amazing fight!  I was speechless the 
entire fight!"

	"Thank heavens for small miracles."  Tarou noted.  "Folks, we're cutting 
away from the unsanctioned rumble in progress as.."  he was drowned out by the 
crowd's boos and jeers momentarily "... it serves no purpose."

	Blanching at the poor crowd control, Hiroshi quickly took the reigns, "But 
live on the Ultratron we have Ms. Nabiki Tendou, CEO and Owner of Ultra, with an 
official ruling on the fight."

	Nabiki's smiling image appeared on the screen to a mixed reaction.  "Well 
folks, we're having a great show tonight right?"  The crowd clapped 
appreciatively.  "Unfortunately due to the interference of CHAOS, and the 
dissolution of their team cohesiveness... the match is a double DQ.  Johnny Cage 
and Sofia will not be returning to Ultra.  Sorry Sofia."

	The crowd jeered loudly at the DQ decision.  "However, I do have word that 
our next Lambda match is about to begin... take it away Hiroshi."

	The Ultratron flared off as the Reboot theme music flared to life over the 
speakers.  "That's right Ms. Tendou!  Coming down the ramp, we have the Internet 
Champion and her boyfriend, Reboot winner Tifa Lockheart and Bean Bandit, the 
Roadbusters!"

	Tifa appeared at the ramp, holding her Internet championship belt over her 
head.  Bean grinned as he escorted her down, but quickly took on a concerned 
note.

	"You sure you gonna be okay Teef?  Your arm still isn't 100%, it's only 
been two weeks, and even with your healing magic, that was a nasty break," Bean 
leaned over and asked her.

	Tifa nodded determinedly, "I'll be all right."

	"Well... I'll go first though all right?"  Bean punched his fists 
together.  "With any luck you won't have to come out long."

	Punching him in the arm, Tifa protested, "Don't try to win this by 
yourself.  We're a team." 

	Grinning, Bean hopped up to the apron, and helped her up.  "We're more 
than a team."

	The two shared a quick kiss then Bean entered the ring.  The lights dimmed 
once more, and ominous, foreboding organ notes drifted through the dome.  "And 
their opponents, coming from beyond the end of creation, the second team to bear 
the name... Disciples of the Void Chris and Yashiro!"

	The two young men walked down the ramp confidently.  Yashiro barked at 
Chris, "We can't screw this up.  You saw what Xelloss did to Shermie when she 
didn't do what he wanted.  We have to start a comeback.  And starting with these 
two is big step."

	The smile never left Chris' face.  "We'll slaughter them."

	A creepy grin appeared on Yashiro's face as well, "Right."  

	Yashiro hopped into the ring and regarded Bean.  "So we meet again."  

	Swaying his neck from side to side to loosen up a few muscles, Bean 
chuckled.  "Never learn your lesson do you?"  

	Scowling, Yashiro cracked his knuckles while glaring at Bean.  "This time, 
things will be different.  Ditz-girl is gone."

	With a shrug, Bean smiled.  "If I remember, last time you didn't let 
'ditz-girl' in the ring... and that's why you lost."

][ LAMBDA MATCH #2
][ ROAD BUSTERS vs. NEW DISCIPLES OF THE VOID
][ FIGHT!

	Yashiro opened with a straight punch at Bean's chest.  It impacted 
soundly, but Bean rolled with the punch, and returned one of his own.  Yashiro 
caught it with his left hand and grimaced, the two men attempting to out muscle 
each other.  They locked hands both pushed with all their might.  

	In the background, Bean could hear Tifa screaming encouragement, while 
Chris simply smiled at Yashiro's back while flickering the flames on his fist on 
and off.  The two men strained and pushed at each others grip, squeezing with 
all their might.

	"This is a real nailbiter!  Who will win this impromptu battle of the 
bulge?"  Hiroshi watched the ring intently.

	"It's nice to see the fighters using their only asset, their muscles."  
Tarou noted.  "Neither fighter was going out smart their opponent.  Although 
Yashiro does get bonus points for ditching that bimbo and picking up the kids 
who plays with matches."

	In mid grunt, Yashiro switched tactics, letting go of Bean with one hand 
and whipping him around with the other, using his own force against him as 
Bean's strain to push forward was suddenly met with freedom.  Bean flew into the 
ropes, bouncing off of them straight into Yashiro's waiting arms.  The Orochi 
related muscleman heaved Bean off the mat and tossed him over the top rope.

	Hiroshi gasped.  "Yashiro tossed Bean Bandit helluva far!"  

	Tifa looked down from the apron at her partner, "Beanie, tag out of if you 
need to."

	Using his hand to pull himself off the matted concrete, Bean swore under 
his breath.  "I'll be all right Teef.  Just let me have one more crack at him."  

	Sliding in under the bottom rope, Bean stood to face his smirking 
adversary.  "It's going to take more than that to put me down."  He rushed 
forward, and swung hard at Yashiro, connecting with his jaw.

	While his feet stumbled backward, Yashiro's mind tumbled from the force of 
the blow, he righted himself, and started to launch a counter offensive when 
Bean's shoulder rammed right into his gut.

	"And with a devastating tackle, Bean has knocked both men out of the 
ring!"  Hiroshi stood to try to get a better point of view.  

	Bean rose gingerly, Yashiro below him, crumpled in the remains of the 
Spanish announcers table.  Bean turned and climbed back up on the apron, 
favoring his right ankle slightly.  Before he bent under the top rope to climb 
back into the ring before the DQ count, he felt a hand on his belt buckle.  
Questioningly he turned around.

	An angry Yashiro stood behind him hand yanked him back down to the 
UltraDome floor.  Off balance, Bean could do nothing but flail as Yashiro flung 
Bean headfirst into the turnbuckle.  

	When Bean crumpled to the ground, Yashiro quickly lifted him back to 
his feet and shoved him headfirst into the steel chairs at ringside.  The crowd 
began booing loudly as Bean was rolled back into the ring by Yashiro.  Tagging 
Chris on his way in he stood the dazed Bean up, and locked Bean's arms within 
his.  Chris took to the turn buckle gave the worried Tifa an extra sadistic 
grin.  

	Leaping into the air, Chris completed a full twist before his feet landed 
dead center in Bean's chest.  Yashiro let go and twisted to the side at impact, 
making Bean take the full force of the blow.  Chris stood atop the unmoving 
Bandit, as the referee began his two count.  When the referee got to 8, Bean 
moved suddenly.  Grabbing hold of Chris by an ankle, he yanked the boy off 
balance and off of him.  

	As Chris stumbled to regain his footing, Bean rose and stumbled to his 
corner, where he tagged Tifa in.  "Be careful Teef."  He muttered in passing.

	Tifa grinned in response, "Rest up, I'll be done in a sec."

	She turned to face Chris, only to have the young man directly in her face.  
She barely saw his fist move before she felt the impact.  She took a step 
backward as Chris continued his assault.  Punch.  Punch.  Kick.  Gut punch.  A 
spinning kick caught her in the shoulder and knocked her away from his assault.

	"Wow kid.  I don't know how you sucked so much in the Gamma league, you're 
pretty quick."  Tifa brushed the required trickle of blood away from her 
mouth.

	In response, Chris smiled, and lifted his hand up.  His hand caught ablaze 
in the fire of his Orochi heritage.  Tifa smirked, "I'm not afraid of a little 
fire."  She lifted her hand forward, "ICE 1!"  

	Chris failed to freeze over.  Tifa blinked and looked down at her hand 
brace.  Where her materia should be were jawbreakers.  "... Yuffie..." she 
growled under her breath.

	Her attention returned to the fight just in time to dodge a purple flamed 
swipe at her face.  She dodged a follow up swipe and returned a kick of her own.  
Chris took a step back, and she punched him square in the jaw at the opening.  

	Falling to the ground like a sack of wet potatoes, Chris shook the cobwebs 
out of his head.  A light of understanding flickered into Tifa's eyes.  "Ah.  
Fast moves.  Flaming fist.  Glass jaw."  

	Chris scowled and charged Tifa again, but she dodged, ready for him.  She 
dodged the first strike, and the second, but was in the middle of a fist of her 
own when Chris tore wildly at her with his outstretched hand, and released a 
burst of flame.

	According to the laws of fighting tournament physics, the flames 
immediately ignited portions of her shirt.  She rolled to the mat and quickly 
snuffed the flames out.  She was only lightly burnt, and her shirt still covered 
everything that mattered.  Mostly anyway.  A large red gush from the nosebleed 
section caught her attention briefly, but then she returned her attention to the 
psycho boy.  He stood silently, waiting for her attack.

	"Well, let's not keep him waiting..." she mumbled to herself.  Tifa 
charged forward and threw a punch at Chris with all her might.  Instead of 
dodging, Chris merely stood there, then at the last second grabbed her arm.

	Her injured arm.  With his flaming hand.  Which promptly squeezed tight 
and ignited into a large amount of flames.

	"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"  Tifa fell to her knees.  Chris smiled eagerly and 
continued his barrage of evil flames.  Tifa saw nothing but white, and struck 
out with her free arm blindly.  The shot paid off.  The immediate pain ceased, 
and she opened her eyes to see Chris' eyes bulging wildly.

	"... I thought there was a mandate from God preventing that?"  Tarou 
blinked audibly.

	Hiroshi winced in sympathy, "Well I did hear a rumor that they shut down 
the computer that governed those things..."

	Many of the males in the audience winced in sympathy, and a few scattered 
female voices cheered.  Chris stumbled back to his corner and tagged Yashiro in.

	Yashiro paused as he entered, "Are you okay?"

	For once, Chris wasn't smiling.  He nodded briefly though, and Yashiro 
made his way to Tifa, who was still trying to regain her senses fully.

	"My arm... agony."  Tifa tried to shake off the pain when she suddenly 
felt herself lifted off the ground by her hair.  The fresh onslaught of pain 
woke her up quite a bit, and Yashiro smiled at her wide open eyes.

	Keeping her lifted with one hand, he kneeled down and touched the ground 
with the other.  He glowed brightly, and when he seemed to be content, he cocked 
his arm holding Tifa by the hair back, and he smiled toothily.  "Go away."  

	He slammed his arm forward, and Tifa with it.  She went flying into the 
air, free for only a moment, before a huge blue wave of energy hit her, and 
carried her halfway across the ring.
	
	Tifa fell to the mat, and didn't stir.  Bean leaned heavily on the ropes, 
and looked on pleadingly.  The referee quickly counted to 10, and held up 
Yashiro's hand in victory.

	"The New Disciples of the Void have beaten Bean and Tifa."  Hiroshi 
frowned, "Low of them to utilize her injured arm like that though."

	"She entered the fight injured, and it cost her."  Tarou shrugged as Bean 
carried Tifa up the ramp slowly, much to the chagrin of the medical techs. 

 	"Regardless, our main event is coming up folks!  The Hungry Wolves and the 
Psycho soldiers have divided their number once more, to take on the Bison 
Busters for what they promise to be the last time!"  Hiroshi's eyes narrowed 
when he said the word Bison.

	Tarou groaned.  "That's the main event?  I'd rather have seen the dynamic 
floofsters get beat up as the main event than another round of those wimps 
getting beat up by Bison's goons."  

	Hiroshi sweatdropped, and forced a smile at the camera.  "We'll be right 
back folks, right after this final word from our sponsors!"

*****

	Sakura, Shingo, and Johnny Cage exited the building quickly.  The sound of 
a cabinet smashing itself stuck in a doorframe followed them.  All three 
fighters paused and panted.  

	Shingo regarded the jammed exit.  "That's the only way out.  We should be 
all right for a minute.

	Sakura looked at the movie star cum action hero.  "You were back in... I 
don't get it.  Why'd you do it Johnny?"

	Johnny stared at the floor for a minute.  "I dunno.  Sofia and I... we're 
great.  We were great.  But she was so eager to get back in at any cost.  But... 
I mean... half the time in this world, all you've got is your moves and your 
looks.  I should know.  It's how I make my living."  He shrugged slowly.  "I 
couldn't let them just carve into those two like that."

	Shingo grinned and patted Johnny on the back.  "Well we appreciate the 
help.  It's a shame you probably won't be getting back into Ultra."

	Johnny's jaw narrowed slightly.  "We'll see.  I sure wish I could kick 
that furniture kid's ass one more time though."

	*QUACKQUACK*

	Shingo and Sakura looked at each other.  "Was that a horn..."  Sakura 
began.

	"Quacking?  Yeah."  Shingo affirmed.  "Looks like our ride is here Johnny.  
You gonna be okay?"

	The movie star nodded and pointed toward a motorbike parked a few meters 
away.  "Sofia's gonna have to hitch a ride home though."  He flinched.  "She's 
going to be... rough."

	Sakura blushed slightly, and Shingo just nodded, and added a suggestion.  
"I wouldn't be around when she gets there."

	*QUACKQUACK*

	Johnny nodded.  "Right.  We better split.  See you guys around with any 
luck."  

*****
	"It's time for the ultimate showdown of JUSTICE against the evil Lambda 
forces of Shadlowlaw!"  Hiroshi said through clenched teeth.  

	"Feeling a bit.. inadequate Hiroshi?"  Tarou gave his co-announcer a dirty 
grin.

	Glaring at Tarou, Hiroshi turned his mic off.  "One more word and I'm 
out."  

	Muttering curses under his breath, Tarou nodded once and turned toward the 
ring.  "And it looks like the Hungry Soliders are out first."

	"That's an appropriate title for them it appears that Andy and Athena are 
going to be the ones to face Bison's Busters this go around.  I wonder where 
their respective other halves are?"  Hiroshi kept an eye on the Ultratron as he 
spoke.

	"Hopefully far away from here, if they have any brains."  Tarou snorted.  
"Which would be a feat in itself."

	Andy and Athena entered the ring, and Andy motioned to Athena.  "Sie made 
me promise I'd go first."

	Athena glared at the blonde-haired warrior, "Why'd you have to go and do 
that?  I want a shot at these guys too ya know!"

	Shrugging, Andy answered, "I know.  But I promised.  I also promise you 
your shot.  Trust me.  I'm not flying solo on this one."

	After a moment of thought, Athena agreed and climbed out to the side of 
the apron. 

	The lights in the dome shut off once more.  But this wasn't a pyro stunt.  
"What the..."  Hiroshi spoke into his microphone, only to find it wasn't 
broadcasting.  

	A countdown appeared on the screen, in the form of the traditional 
Shadowlaw logo with a number overlaid on it.

	Five.

	Andy sucked in his breath, limbered up just a little bit more.  This had 
to go off perfectly.  "Good luck Mai..."

	Four.

	Hiroshi's knuckles tightened around his microphone stand, turning whiter 
than usual with pressure.

	Three.

	Tarou yawned.

	Two.

	Nabiki cackled gleefully.  Having one of the world's greatest criminal 
overlords on the show always lifted the ratings.

	One.

	Bison's face appeared on the Ultratron, just as Sagat and Ken teleported 
to the ring and the apron respectively.  Sagat suckerpunched a startled Andy, as 
the referee motioned for the bell.

][ LAMBDA MATCH #3
][ BISON'S BUSTERS Vs SNK
][ FIGHT!

	"I see you little fools are still trying to take me down."  Bison laughed 
gleefully.  "Don't you realize this show is nothing but a distraction for me?  
An occasional place of fun to pick up or use new toys."

	Sagat worked over Andy as Bison gloated over the Ultratron.  The 
experienced fighter moved in quickly on the younger of the Bogart brothers.  
Punch after devastating punch threatened to level Andy.  

	Pausing momentarily, Sagat brought his knee back for a tiger uppercut.  
Andy stumbled back in a weak attempt to evade, and was partially successful.  
Still, the connected punch sent Andy tumbling back into the ropes, where a 
concerned Athena tagged him on the back.  

	Still dizzy, Andy twisted around, "What're you doing?  He'll kill you."

	Athena stepped into the ring, "If I don't tag in now, he's about to kill 
YOU." She extended her arms out then brought them together rapidly.  "PSYCHO 
BALL!"

	"TIGER!"  Sagat countered a fireball with a fireball.  But what he didn't 
count for was Athena to quickly phase past him while he was countering, and to 
slam him in the base of his back with a quick kick.  He turned to face her only 
to catch a charged uppercut that caught him directly in his scar.  He stumbled 
back, his chest bleeding slightly at the offensive of the female Psycho Soldier.

	"You think you can finish me off girl?"  Sagat grinned, and charged her 
quickly. 

	Reacting on pure instinct, Athena jumped up and backwards, leaving Sagat 
charging at the space in the ring where she had been.  Mid-jump however, she 
brought her psychic energies to bare, curled up in a ball of energy and changed 
directions promptly, diving right into him.  

	The energy scolded Sagat's skin, but he held his ground, and when the 
energy cocoon dropped as she touched ground, he kicked her hard in the gut.
She fell to the ground gasping for breath.  

	"Sagat.  I'd rather not lose another match to these weaklings.  Tag me in 
so we can finish this."  Bison pulled out a his 6-button control joystick.  

	"Come on Athena!  Get up!  Kick his sorry ass!  You can do it!"  Hiroshi 
stood in his announcers chair, leaving Tarou sitting quietly beside him, 
attempting to blend into the background with a 'I'm not co-announcing with this 
moron... really' frame of mind.  

	His strength returning to him slowly at ringside, Andy whooped it up as 
well.  "Listen to the clone-boy!  You can do it Athena!  Get up!!"

	Ken entered the ring, and Bison pressed the buttons one at a time, as if 
testing them out.  Ken executed a quick series of warm-up punches and kicks, 
ending with a taunting motion, gesturing at the slowly rising Athena with his 
palm outstretched and his fingers motioning for her to give him her worst.

	Her eyelids tightened as she stood and stared at Ken.  He was a mindless 
tool.  A mere remote control car for which Bison to play demolition derby.  She 
began to glow with the power of her ki.  She charged at the motionless Ken.

	Bison reacted by hitting three buttons at once while twirling the 
joystick.  Just as Athena was about to contact Ken, he exploded into action.  
"SHORYUPEPPA!!!!!"

	Powered up attack met with ki flames and uppercuts.  The ring exploded 
with the light of colliding energy.  When the glare faded, Athena was standing 
firm in the center of the ring, and Ken was a few steps back, assuming a 
standing position, his right forearm charred and smoking.

	"Holy cow!  Athena seems to be really pulling out all the stops!"  Hiroshi 
pointed wildly at the ring.

	Tarou sighed and nodded, "Maybe this is a lesser manifestation of her 
transformed self."

	Ken launched the offensive first this time, moving noticeably slower.  
Athena blocked the barrage of kicks as he spun in the air, and was only slightly 
hit by the fist that grazed her shoulder.

	But while she wasn't getting hurt, she wasn't able to move onto the 
offensive.  Slowly but surely Ken kept up an impressive barrage of moves that 
kept Athena frantic to keep her head on straight.  

	Finally, she'd had as much as she could stand, a quick knee to Ken's 
stomach, and a moment of concentration, and Athena summoned one of her most 
powerful attacks.  Glowing spheres of energy circled around Athena, pulverizing 
anything stuck within their range.  Ken was one anything.

	The spheres thrashed Ken.  Bison wiggled his joystick frantically, but Ken 
merely stumbled to the ground as the attack finished.  Athena had to fight to 
maintain balance as she was drained as well, but managed to stay upright unlike 
her opponent.

	She tripped her way back to Andy, who tagged in eagerly.  "Good work 
'thena."  

	Sagat leaned in with his long arms and caught a reaching Ken with a tag on 
the palm.  After kicking Ken out of the ring, Sagat turned to face Andy.  "Ready 
for some more punk?"

	Rearing back both fists, Sagat pushed both fists forward with a large 
charge of Ki.  "SUPER TIGER!!"  A large blast of pure energy shot out at the 
young Bogart. 

	Right before the moment of personal Armageddon however, Andy quickly 
lunged to the side.  Before Sagat could regain a fighting stance Andy dove 
forward, a large blast of his own building in his fist.

	"This one's for you Terry."  Andy's glowing fist connected with Sagat 
square on the chest.  Sagat was knocked back by the force, but Andy stayed with 
him, his fist glowing into Sagat's chest.  "POWER GEYSER!" 

	Andy dove to the side as a orange hue exploded from Sagat's chest and 
traveled upward to his face.  Sagat launched backwards into the WashuuTech force 
shield protecting the crowd like cheap fireworks on the Fourth of July.

	For what seemed like an eternity, Sagat was pinned down between the force 
of the shield and the blast of ki blasting forth from him.  Just as suddenly as 
it started, the blast stopped.  Sagat fell smoking to the ground in front of the 
audience barrier.  A few brave fans waved signs like "M is for Mother******" and 
"Bison Blows!".  The referee gave a quick 10 count, and signaled for the bell.

	Hiroshi jumped in the air, almost missing landing on his chair again, and 
screamed, "They've done it!  They beat Bison!  They beat Bison!"

	Bison yawned on the Ultratron.  "And your point?"  He idly popped a 
quarter in the console.  Ken stood upright and appeared free of any significant 
harm.  

	Athena's aura glowed brightly once more.  "Not so fast Bison!"  A wave of 
energy flew out toward Ken, and held him tight.  Bison frowned and attempted to 
jiggle the controls, pressing buttons experimentally, but to no avail.  Ken was 
sealed in Athena's blanket of interference.

	"Oh no.  Whatever shall I do?  Sagat is getting up slower than Hiroshi's 
girlfriend came up to speed after I liberated her, and Ken is locked up in your 
psychic interference."  Bison pressed a button on his control console, and Sagat 
and Ken vanished from the arena.  They reappeared after a momentary delay behind 
the dictator.  "See?  Safe from harm."

	Hiroshi fumed at the announcer's table quietly to his co-host's amusement, 
meanwhile Athena walked up to Andy and helped him stay upright, and both of them 
grinned like mad.  "That's your cue guys," Andy said quietly.

*****

	Bison laughed, and flipped the signal override to Ultra off.  Sagat stood 
at attention beside him, looking worse for wear.  "Sagat.  You disappoint me.  
Try to do better next time.  And put my toy in his box."

	Bison turned to leave the room, only to have Balrog and Vega land at his 
feet.  He turned his attention to the doorway as he heard Sagat inhale quickly 
from surprise.  In the entrance to his lair stood Mai and Sie, slightly wounded 
from their obviously long trip through his layers of security, posed and ready 
for battle.  A half dozen cambots flooded the room, recording this moment for 
prosperity.

	Bison paused for a moment, considering the situation.  He tilted his head 
back and laughed heartily.  "I have to thank you two.  I haven't been this 
amused in a long time.  If Ms. Nabiki wants to watch while I tear you two apart, 
by all means she's welcome."  Bison threw his cape to the ground after 
unfastening it from his collar.  "Do you really think you have a chance?"

	*They don't need one.  They have me.*

	"Eh?"  Bison sensed a sudden presence unfamiliar to him.  The roof caving 
in moments later confirmed his suspicions.

	Mewtwo floated down from the hole caused by his psychic blast.  *Your 
hijacking of peoples free will ends here Bison.  I am opposed to slavery of any 
form, and this includes you.*

	Bison gritted his teeth.  "The pussycat.  I had heard you were powerful.  
I was going to send my new toy out to test you once I was sure of her abilities.  
But... if you want something done right..."

	Both Bison and Mewtwo tensed up, their eyes directly in contact with each 
other.  Uneasy dread filled all present in the room, as energy began to crackle 
in the air.  A haunted breeze picked up, growing stronger in proximity to the 
two psychic powerhouses.  Ken, who had remained standing upright without a care 
up to this point, fell to the ground.

	Mai kept her eyes on Bison, but spoke to Sie.  "What's going on?"

	"They're doing the psychic equivalent of arm wrestling.  Trying to see 
who's out and out stronger."  Sie's eyes were wide.  "The power they're using... 
it shorted out Bison's control on Ken for the time being.  I've never seen a 
fight this strong..."  

	"TIGER!"  

	The two warriors dove to either side to avoid the Tibetan fighter's sudden 
charge.  Sagat smirked at Mai as she picked herself up off the ground.  "I know 
why you're here.  You want Ken.  I don't think Bison would be too happy to find 
out he's gone after he wipes the floor with catface over there.  Why don't I--"

Sie's foot connected with Sagat's jaw squarely in mid-sentence.  Sie called 
to Mai, "Get Ken! I'll keep him busy!"  

	Sprinting toward the fallen shotokan master, Mai heard the smack of a 
flesh on flesh, and had enough sense to duck down before Sie went flying over 
her head.  She turned and saw Sagat charging her at full steam.  Twisting 
herself, she focused her ki on the edge of her fighting garb, lighting it on 
fire, and in turn singeing Sagat.  

	Despite the flaming pain, Sagat kept coming, and soon Mai was flying 
toward an unprepared Sie.  Both fighters crumpled to the ground. 

	Sagat pointed both fists at them and let loose a blast of his own ki.  The 
blast struck them both square on.  They were knocked back a few feet, then 
neither moved.

	Pausing, Sagat eyed Mewtwo and Bison.  Deciding to cut his losses for the 
day and run, he moved toward the fallen Ken.  "Couldn't have Bison lose his 
favorite toy now could we?"

	Just as leaned down toward his fallen partner, he heard a familiar voice 
cry out behind him.

	"SHIIIINNNNKUUUUUUUU... HADUKEN!"

	A quick dive was all that saved Sagat from being less than a smear on the 
wall as a stream of ki flew past the spot where he had just been.  Turning, he 
saw the cause of the blast.  His eyes widened, then narrowed.  The name escaped 
his lips encased in a growl.  "Ryu."

	The wandering warrior stood before him, his red headband flapping in the 
wind as Ryu walked toward Sagat slowly.  "I've been training Sagat.  Just for 
you.  For Ken."

	Sagat cracked his knuckles and approached Ryu slowly in return.  "Does 
this mean I'll have to throw two punches to K-O you this time?"

	"I'm taking him back to his fiancee."  Ryu's face betrayed no emotion, no 
anger, but steely determination.

	"Over my body."  In contrast, Sagat's face was a picture of barely 
contained rage and contempt.

	For the viewers at home and at the UltraDome watching over the Ultratron, 
at one second, they were both standing a foot apart talking.  Then the next 
moment there was action.  They didn't see Sagat unleash a mighty haymaker punch.  
They didn't see Ryu bap it away casually with his left hand.  They just saw both 
fighters move, then saw Ryu rise upward with his arm extended over his head.

	And they saw Sagat hit the ground hard and not stir.

	Sie and Mai groggily walked up to Ryu.  "I didn't think you'd make it."  
Mai hugged Ryu tightly.  The world warrior awkwardly patted her on the back.

	"I owed Ken this."  Ryu knelt down and hefted his lifelong friend over his 
shoulder.

	Sie noted the psychic stalemate.  "We better get out of here, that could 
boil over at any moment."

	The three fighters rushed out of the area as quickly as possible.

*****

	A fist slammed down against the announcer's table.  "NO!  You're 
forgetting Rei!!"

	Tarou looked up at this frustrated co-host, and a small touch of concern 
crossed his face.  "They don't know where she is clone-boy.  Have you seen her?"

	Lowering his head, Hiroshi sighed.  "No."

	"Eh.  This is Ultra.  Someone'll get it up their ass to get her out of 
there."  Tarou offered.

	An image of bewilderment crossed Hiroshi's face as he looked up at Tarou.  
"Thanks."

	"Don't mention it.  And I mean that."

*****

	The energy in the air sizzled, crackled, and popped.  Sweat poured down 
the faces of both Bison and Mewtwo.  Both strained and pushed to their fullest 
abilities.  One almost expected a big explosion or mind numbing pain to announce 
the victor.

	Instead they both merely stopped.

	*A draw.*  Mewtwo stated.

	Bison glared at the pokemon.  "You caught me in a weak moment pussycat.  
It won't happen again.  I hope you enjoyed freeing my slave, I can always create 
a hundred more.  Will you come for them?  My brain-wave numbifiers are 
unbeatable."

	"Annnoooo Bison-kun, did you mean THESE brain-wave numbifiers?"  Bison 
turned to see a particular pink haired scientist standing atop a mound of parts 
that presumably belonged to Bison's aforementioned mind control device du jour.

	Bison's veins bulged.  "You... I..."

	"Don't worry!  They won't go to waste!  I already made into a nice hair 
dresser!  See?"  Washuu pointed happily at an unconscious Vega receiving a perm.  
"By the way.. Ifurita says hi!  Buh-bye!"  Washuu waved cutely, then vanished.

	*I shall take my leave of you as well.*  Mewtwo floated upwards toward his 
entrance hole.

	Regaining his control for a moment, Bison stared calmly at the pokemon.  
"This isn't the end of this.  We will meet again."

	The cat pokemon ceased it's ascent momentarily, and considered Bison's 
threat.  

	*Indeed.*

	With that, Mewtwo flew off into the starry sky.

*****

	"Well folks.  Another evil force of the universe tamed."  Tarou yawned.  
"And we're running long." 

	"Good night folks!  See you back here next time!"  Hiroshi forced a smile 
and waved to the camera.

*****

	Unbelievable.

	Un-freaking-believable.

	If it didn't come on an official scroll made from pressed human skin and 
inked in the blood of the damned complete with a small imp doing the 
delivery, Lina wouldn't have bought it.  Heaven's top brass assured her it 
was legitimate, and that was really Xelloss's signature...

	"Lina, Cloud demands your presence at a special 'loser leaves creation' 
swordfight duel on that silly game show.  You will have to temporarily drop 
your Godhead in order to make it fair, and Cloud will temporarily drop the 
Deed to Hell.  Please phone Nabiki Tendo and make the arrangements, as her 
voice irritates me.  Your bestest pal, Xelloss!"

	How stupid did the smiley bastard think she was?  A loser leaves 
creation match?  As if!  Lina would never agree to something that...

	That final.  That decisive.

	Months of fighting, the risk of Third Impact, all that stuff out the 
window in one showdown...

	No, no, come on.  Too risky.  She could hold her own with a sword, but 
to put the stake of the universe on the line over a silly fight was 
ridiculous!  Even if it had been done at several of these pay-per-view things 
already.  Wasn't she trying to avoid the mistakes of the past?...

	The choir of angels sang.  Lina really wished they'd just knock instead 
of pulling the bellrope.

	"Come in!" Lina called out, setting the letter down.

	"Lina-sama?" Belldandy asked, walking in while carrying a print-out.  "I 
have some good news..."

	"I could use good news.  Lay it on me."

	"We found Skuld.  Metatron, I mean," Belldandy said, sliding the 
printout onto her desk.  "Our amplified sensors were able to spot her 
crossing the barrier from Earth to Hell, then from Hell back to Earth.  She 
seemed to enter outside the city of Dis, and leave from Aerith's cell of all 
places.  A much bigger disturbance to reality than her recent lying low... we 
lost track after that, but it could be enough of a lead to recalibrate and 
find her for real, and... and what's wrong, Lina?"

	"Just connecting," Lina thought.  "You heard about the challenge, 
right?"

	"Yes, I have," Belldandy sighed.  "Cloud's mind must be going."

	"Maybe it's not.  You said Metatron left via Aerith's cell?  He had to 
know we'd pick that up on our readings," Lina said.  "He blew his own cover, 
and he's been so good at staying under radar so far... work with me a moment.  
What if he got Aerith to convince Cloud to do this for some reason?  We have 
been theorizing he's interested in the Godhead, and this and that are too 
close together to be totally coincidental."

	"Then... this is his plan?" Belldandy asked.  "Is he trying to take the 
Godhead from you by getting you to voluntarily cast off the helm?  We'd 
better turn down the challenge, rather than let a renegade angel--"

	"I'm not sure it's that.  I'm not sure WHAT the deal is.  But... I'm 
also not sure he's a threat," Lina said.  "He did suggest we shut down 
Yggdrasil, and look what's happened.  We're running even more efficiently 
than before by letting the universe take care of itself.  He's setting 
something up and maybe it's not going to be a bad thing... maybe we should go 
along with this."

	"But Lina!  The risk to the Godhead, if it fell in the wrong hands--"

	"You're coming with me to the arena.  Then, I'm going to give it to you 
before I fight," Lina said.

	"...me?"

	"You're more qualified to run Heaven than I ever was," Lina smiled.  
"I've grown into the job, but it WAS thrust upon me.  I think I've done an 
okay job but... I'm getting tired, Bell.  Tired of the war, of sitting in one 
place helplessly.  I'm an adventuress; I seek fame and fortune and food!  
This chair isn't really mine to sit in.  You've been a loyal servant of 
Heaven for your entire existence and know more about the ins and outs than I 
do... and you're the closest thing to Kasumi Tendo we'll have now.  If 
anything happens to me... I want you here.  I trust you, and so does Shinji, 
and Terry, and the others.  You're a natural."

	"L.. Lina..." Belldandy spoke.  "Are you certain?  I..."

	"Mind's made up," Lina said, getting up from her chair and stretching 
out.  "Who the hell else can I trust the thing to, anyway?  Naga?  Dan?  This 
is for the best.  If my gut reaction is right and Metatron is trying to help 
us rather than kill us... we'll win in the end.  If I'm wrong... Heaven's 
safe.  Have someone connect me to Nabiki.  I need to book myself a match!"

*****

	The phone clicked off, as Nabiki returned it to the cradle.

	Unbelievable.

	Simply unbelievable.

	Loser leaves creation, God versus the Adversary, live on pay-per-view in 
two week's time.  As if Third Impact wasn't enough, now Nabiki was being 
ordered to clear space on the booking sheet for the final battle of the true 
apocalypse.

	A little angel-Nabiki poofed into existence on her shoulder.  "You 
mustn't!  The risk to the world is too great!" it worried.  "This is going 
too far, isn't this supposed to be a fighting show?  You have to say no!"

	A little devil-Nabiki (complete with sexy red suit and fishnets) popped 
up on her other shoulder.  "RATINGS!  Buyrate!  Money!" it shouted in her 
ear.  "Just think of the cash you can reap from that kind of matchup!  Ultra 
will go down in history even father than it already has!  And besides, 
what're you gonna do, say no to God?  Oh, and you should eat more chocolate."

	"Chocolate," Nabiki agreed absently.  It made sense; assuming they 
survived it, she would be the richest woman on the face of the earth!  She 
would be bigger than Oprah, at least in terms of financial holdings.  And if 
they all died, well... there wasn't a way to turn down God's request anyway, 
was there?  Not her fault.  Nobody in the next dimension would blame her.

	Of course... she'd rather be rich than dead.  Fortunately her policy was 
'If you don't like the odds, fix them'.  There was one perfect way of 
ensuring that, given what she saw at the end of Third Impact... and 
presumably even HE would take a handout when it came to the fate of the 
world.

	So, she had him summoned to her office

	"You understand, this is to be a FAIR fight," she iterated.  "Perfectly 
fair.  Just two old rivals settling their differences in the field of combat 
in front of every television set on Earth.  And you are a believer in 
fairness, aren't you?"

	"Yes, ma'am," Son Gokuu replied.  "I am."

	"And, of course, you like this planet.  You've saved it on many 
occasions and that's quite commendable, Gokuu.  So you understand the 
importance of this match, yes?  You understand what needs to be DONE, even 
without me explaining?"

	"I understand what needs to be done," Gokuu nodded.  "You can count on 
me to do the right thing."

	"Ah... yes, but you see, you need to understand what needs to be DONE.  
It's good to know you'll do the right thing, as long as we both know what the 
'right thing' is--"

	"I love this world, Miss Tendo.  I'll do the right thing."

	"I guess that'll do," Nabiki agreed.  "Hmm.  They didn't specify a 
location to fight... that's good, I can pick one!  We need a good 
battleground for this one.  Preferably somewhere very, very far away--"

	"I'm sure something appropriate will turn up," Gokuu replied quickly.  
"I'm an expert on Omega matches, ma'am.  Let me be the one to find a good 
battleground for them."

	"You're really getting into this, aren't you?" Nabiki asked, smiling 
evilly.  Who said Earth's Greatest Hero couldn't be a cheating mastermind?  
"I'm sure you can find something suitably FAIR, yes?  Something that won't 
give Cloud a huge advantage?"

	"Something will turn up," Gokuu repeated.  "I'll let you know before the 
event.  Excuse me, I have some training to do."

	The Saiyajin quietly left Nabiki's office... pausing just outside the 
door without looking at the small figure standing in the hallway.

	"I'm not happy about lying," Gokuu told her.

	"It's not really lying, it's just... non-disclosure of key information," 
Skuld replied.  "You know it's in everybody's best interests.  You of all 
people know what it means to protect the world.  We're real proud of your 
work against Freeza, you know..."

	"I know," Gokuu said.  "But I'm still being sneakier than I'd like to 
be.  I'll apologize to them all afterwards for the pretense.  Do you have a 
location picked yet?"

	"Still making the arrangements," Skuld said, fetching her new water 
bucket.  "I've got Hell in place, Heaven in place, and Ultra in place.  A 
little shaky on the setup, but it's the results that matter, I always say.  
Now I just need two things... the answer itself, and the place where it will 
be revealed.  I'll be in contact, Son Gokuu.  The Universe thanks you."

*****

	Sakura made her way out of the Ultra infirmary after getting a few of the 
cuts and scrapes she suffered from the brawl with Sex & Violence taken care of.  
She was almost out the door when she felt it.

	Him.

	She quickly turned around, and saw him.

	He was talking to Ken.

	"Ken's free!?"  Sakura blasted off at the speed of light and before either 
warrior knew it, she was hugging Ryu.

	"... Hi Sakura."  Ryu smile briefly.

	"Ryu!  You're back!  Ken!  You're free!"  She stared at Ken carefully, "He 
*is* free right?"

	Ken gave a weak nod, "Yeah kiddo.  I'll be back in action in no time."  He 
demonstrated with a mighty cough.  "All right, maybe in a little time."

	"Bison ran his system into the ground and beyond," Ryu explained.  He 
measured up Sakura carefully.  "You've gotten stronger.  We'll have to spar 
sometime."

	Her eyes lit up like a school girl's, which was quite appropriate all 
things considered.  "Does that mean you're staying!?"

	Ken and Ryu exchanged a glance, then Ryu looked at his feet before 
returning his gaze to Sakura.  "I'm afraid not."  Before she could protest, he 
held up his hand.  "Staying here before made me weak, as I'm not an active 
participant.  I just observe.  I'm not a master yet.  I still need to be out 
there... doing.  This place doesn't feel like where I need to be.  I was just 
saying bye to Ken when you arrived." 

	Tears threatened to flow from her eyes, but she held them in.  "But.. 
CHAOS.. we could really use the help..."

	"I've caught some episodes here and there.  Did you know Honda has a crush 
on you?"  He grinned at the blushing teenager.  "You're doing good here.  You 
belong here.  I... I would get in your way.  You're strong Sakura.  Follow your 
own path.  I'll follow mine."  Noticing her downtrodden look, he punched her 
lightly in the shoulder, "They'll meet again, I promise."

	Sakura looked up and nodded.  "I understand."

	Ryu smiled at her, then looked at Ken, who nodded back at him.  "Thanks 
again Ryu."  

	Returning the nod, Ryu picked up his ever present bag of stuff, and walked 
out of the infirmary.  

	Ken watched his friend leave, then weakly turned his head toward Sakura.  
"Tell me more about this CHAOS..."

	"OOOOOH no you don't.  I just got you back Ken, and you're taking a 
vacation till you're 100%."  Eliza appeared behind Sakura and kissed him on the 
cheek.  "Hi Sakura."

	"Eliza."

	"Ken.  You need time off.  I talked to Miss Tendou, and she was in a good 
mood or something because she said you have all the R&R time you need.  In 
writing.  Please?"  Eliza favored her fiancee with a pouty look.  

	Ken laughed, "All right, I surrender.  Sorry Sakura.  But Ryu's right.  
You'll be fine."

	A doctor walked up.  "All right then, visiting time's over.  I'm going to 
wheel you over to an overnight room, all right Mr. Masters?"

	After good-bye's, Ken nodded to the doctor, and was wheeled away towards 
the overnight area.

*****

	"KEN!  YOSH!  JIMMY! IT IS KEN!  Our friend is himself again!  The mighty 
Dan is so happy he cries manly tears of pain AND of joy!"

	"Arwoo!?"

	"Yes Jimmy, I have not forgotten my vow to Oyaji to avenge my honor 
against Darshu, but this is Ken!  We must talk all night Ken!  Exchange tales of 
our times!  Yosh!"

	"Aroo!  Aroo!"

	Ken would've facepalmed if he'd had the strength.

*****

	Somewhere, Vega stared at a mirror in disgust.

	"I... [HATE]... curls."

*****

Author's Notes:

It's done.  Oh lord it's done.  Now.  This is going to be fast as I have work in 
37 minutes and am not ready in the slightest.  I'd like to do a round of thanks.

Kristen Smirnov - Woo!  She wrote the S&V reunion matchup.  This was going to be 
my main event, but things got escalated with Bison, so...  This was my favorite 
fight of the show.  Kristen and I had collaborated on this idea from the get go.  
So when I realized I needed to outsource something to get this done in a 
reasonable amount of time, she came quickly to mind.  And she did perfect.  
Thanks Kristen! ^_^

TwoFlower - Without him, metatron would've been oddly silent ^_^;

Ardweden - Thanks Arwen for seeing me through my crisis in ego ^_^;;  And for 
everything else ^_~

Thanks goes out to Falcon, Shach, and Ravi for giving me feedback on this.  
Sorry I didn't have time to fix all the comma and grammar errors guys.  I ran 
out of time.

Also thanks goes out to ChrisN and Ravi for being good sounding boards while I 
was trying to iron out the outline.  Chris helped a good bit with the Yashiro 
fight, coming up with the finisher I used.  SNK isn't my strong suite ^_^;

Phoebe - Thanks for helping me out last night at 6 am when I thought I was dead 
^_^;;

Spork - Good luck with 51 ^_^;

Whee.  I'm off to try to write OWFT now.  Then WoF.  And H!f.  WHOOOO.  Go Impro 
*fallsoverdead*

-- ColdFury
8/22/00