Dr Nakamura's hands refused to quit their nervous twitching. Lord Bison had ordered him to make sure that *no one* was to enter this chamber. And yet, the young lady before him was rather insistent that she should be admitted. If Lord Bison wanted to make provision for her he would have said so. Right?

Cammy lifted the spidery scientist off his feet with a casual move that spoke volumes about her strength, "listen to me you little worm, I've not seen Lord Bison for days and I need to consult with him about something." "Like rumors of his death," Cammy thought to herself. Shadoloo spies had reported that Ryu had vaporized her lord with some form of the Hadoken. That could not be true could it? He was M Bison, he *couldn't* die, right? Bison was invincible, Cammy had seen that for herself many times.

"But Miss White, my orders........."

"Stuff your orders," Cammy screamed as she punched the wall next to Dr Nakamura's head. "Bison and I have a *special* relationship understand? If you don't want to be pulling repair duty in one of our satellites without the benefit of a spacesuit, you'll open the door *now*."

Dr Nakamura gulped as he saw the dent Cammy's fist had left in the mortar. So he did what he had to do. He opened the door. Bravery never really was one of his strong points.

Fighting back tears for the fear that her Lord Bison was dead, Cammy strode into the eerily lit room; dim cyanotic blue lights were the only source of illumination. Cammy found herself shivering. The room was cold, far colder than the corridor that she had just came from. The vista that was before her looked like something out of a bad science-fiction movie. Numerous cylindrical tubes lined the chamber with a plethora of odd tubes and cables running from each one. Wiping the frost from the surface of one of the tubes, Cammy gasped when she saw Bison's face inside the tube. "He looks so peaceful like this.......as if he were dead," Cammy thought to herself. Falling to the floor, Cammy cried herself to sleep.

Cammy had no idea how long she had slept in that chamber when her slumber was interrupted by a digitized voice. "Rejuvenation sequence complete. Beginning defrost cycle." One of cylinders hissed as the machinery expelled coolants that were no longer needed. The cylinder's lid swung open and M Bison stepped out.

Stretching languorously Bison quipped, "ah yes, Death clears the mind wonderfully," as he worked out the kinks in his stiff muscles. Bison was exultant, the Soul Transfer ability had worked! With this power, he was now virtually immortal.

Blinking away happy tears, Cammy embraced her lord with a flying tackle that would have made any linebacker proud. "You're alive! I was so scared when they told me that Ryu killed you. I don't know what I would have done."

Stroking her hair Bison cooed, "now, now dear. To quote the esteemed Mark Twain, 'reports of my death were highly exaggerated'. Let us go and rally the troops shall we? It would never hurt for Shadoloo to know that their glorious leader is watching them."

Arm in arm, Bison and Cammy toured Shadoloo's main base. Visiting every department, the couple was more than effective in quelling the rumor that M Bison had fallen. The last department on their agenda was the Doll Development Project. Dr Kim Young, head researcher for the project came to his Lord bearing reams of paper. "My Lord, the newest test results are complete. It seems that both men and women are equally adept at utilizing the Psycho Power."

M Bison raised an eyebrow, "I knew that. Am I not living proof?"

Dr Young then cocked his head quizzically, "then why are we training only female operatives my Lord?" The other scientists began edging away from Dr Young. Questioning Lord Bison was not the prettiest way to die but it *was* one of the most expedient. Unexpectedly, M Bison began to laugh. "Maybe I just like to look at women in skintight bodysuits." The gathered scientists just nodded and murmured in agreement. Anyone who had survived a week in Shadoloo's employ knew just how capricious their master could be. Better not tempt fate since he seemed to be in a good mood today.

Striding imperiously to his throne room, the three other Shadoloo street fighters knelt before him. "Long live M Bison," the three intoned with perfect synchronicity.

"Lord," began Balrog. "Our hold on the Americas is complete. As of our latest reports we control over 94% of all organized crime in the States and over 97% in South America. We expect the rest to capitulate within the month." The boxer bowed and placed his dossier on the table for Bison to read.

Vega's effeminate tone soon followed Balrogs harsh mutterings. "My Lord, Europe is fully in our grasp. The economic breakdown of the former Soviet Union is proceeding ahead of schedule."

Sagat, ever brusque even in the face our his Lord simply said, "Asia and Australia is secure."

M Bison smiled at the competence of his captains, "excellent work gentlemen." He leaned forward and whispered almost conspiratorially to them. "So when you thought I was dead, did you three agree to divide the world among you or did you elect someone else to take my place?"

The three of them simply looked down and did not utter a sound. They knew that Bison's psychic abilities would have torn the truth form their minds even as they began their denials. Sometimes it sucks to work for a guy who can read your mind.

Cammy came forward then, holding out her dossier for M Bison to peruse. "I'm afraid Lord that my reports are not so positive. The Doll project is encountering problems." She gave Bison a sad, doleful look. "Punish me Master."

Bison cupped her chin with one of his hands. Grinning lecherously he said, "I'll see to that later, in private."

Still prostrated before their Lord, Sagat, Vega and Balrog exchanged looks. While they were grateful for Cammy pulling their fat out of the fire, they were also resentful that she was Shadoloo's second-in-command due to her *professionalism* with M Bison. Especially Sagat, with Cammy out of the way, he would be Bison's right hand. In fact he was once, before Cammy had returned to them. Turning away from Cammy, Bison looked bored as he asked one final question, "and how is Project Prodigy?"

Balrog held up another diskette for M Bison, "Lord, we believe we might have found a suitable candidate. Someone who has the potential for wielding the Psycho Power and yet pliable enough to be of use to us."

Slipping the diskette into a view screen, Bison skimmed through the data. "Yes she will do nicely, dismissed."

After three of his captains had left the room, Cammy began nibbling on his ear. "A worthy subject for Project Prodigy?"

"Yes, I think I will pay a visit to this Sakura Yugure shortly."

Cammy looked into his eyes and breathed huskily. "Later."

M Bison leered fondly at her. "Later," he agreed.