Taken from the original, child-like mind of a very young Kim Kaze J
Written to be enjoyed, for fun
All Street Fighter names and characters are copyright Capcom and I didn’t ask permission to use them, because I wrote this stuff to help me remember my childhood universe as it were, and I don’t intend to make a penny out of it.
This page and it’s author are in no way endorsed or supported by Capcom or any other company

The same goes for any other borrowed or likenesses of characters or items from other copyrighted materials (games, books, films etc.)
Please don’t sue me, I’m poor & not making a bean out of this site, it's just for reading pleasure :)

 

NB: I suggest reading the ‘Why is this universe here?’ page before reading any other page.
Otherwise it will sound silly & probably make no sense at all

 

The Power of Rage

 

[ An explanation of Boom Loomer and Handis Tennel. Mentioned: Vega, Ryu, Ken, M.Bison ]

 

Every morning this autumn, it has been the same. Each grass blade twinkled with dew on its tip, shining like a diamond in the early morning sunshine. It was still too early to be warm although the sun was up.

Hands flat against the grass in the centre of the garden was the young man known as Boom (originally Bumm but that sounds way too much like slang for arse), punishing himself as usual with 100 push ups before breakfast.

 

From inside the large house came a yell.

 

“For goodness’ sake Boom; come and eat something! You can’t be doing that sort of stuff without fuel in your tank, and I don’t want you passing out on me.”

 

Silence.

 

“BOOM! Do you hear me?!”  This time the voice of Handis (Hand) was more serious; Boom’s young wife was notorious for her temper and her immense strength … for a female. After all, last street fighter tournament, she’d double KO’d Bison himself!

 

Unable to continue after being shot by a sniper actually aiming for the drug lord, she’d allowed him to lift the title, feeling that was the right thing to do; he has landed a whooping great hit on her nose and crumpled it in, so she expected that gun wound aside, she could not have carried on. Bison accepted her ‘honourable’ conduct with a mere grin that was his trademark now. Handis idly wondered what toothpaste brand he was packing…maybe she ought to get some in; it sure kept that smirk whiter than white!

 

Getting the message, Boom flicked himself back onto his feet in one swift motion; being a youth star footballer meant he had to stay in shape, sure! But messing with Hand wasn’t wise; never had been; never would be. The girl was a raging inferno in the wrong situation.

 

“All right, I’m on my way in. Hey, any mail for me this morning?” He asked, rubbing his face and mid section with a towel, since he’d only been wearing black training pants.

 

“I’ll check, love.”  There was a short pause while Hand wandered over to the doormat from her spot in the kitchen, where she’d been eating two fried eggs and toast, her selection for today’s breakfast.

 

After a while, Hand’s voice came ringing from the hallway:

“Yeah dear; there’s two here for you … this one’s just some stupid bill though. But this one looks like football business. It’s got the FA’s stamp on the top of it-“

 

“Can you leave it by my plate, then? I wanna’ read that on the way to schooling. I’ll just hop in the shower, this grass is really chilly this morning.” That said, Boom was already on his way towards the box shower on the downstairs floor, a simple glass cabinet with a power shower on one side where it met the wall.

 

Hand muttered something about Boom and not eating his breakfast on time whenever there was football or training involved, but she placed his letter where he’d asked her to. She loved him very much and would do anything to please him.  Ever the tomboy, he was the one person who’d never judged her even when they played together as children in the schoolyard.

 

Twisting the ceramic knob around onto the number six setting, Boom relaxed inside the glass shower box; steam quickly filling it and billowing out of the open top.

 

Whilst rubbing his well toned body over with shower gel and enjoying the bubbling sensation, he thought about the day ahead. After school there was a meeting with the rest of the Buzzers FC at the club’s grounds, which were luckily a five-minute stroll away from his place of education.  Before that though he had advanced geography to get through today, as well as maths, which had never been his strongest point.  No P.E today either, his favourite lesson bar none.

 

Still, at least no P.E meant no squabbling. Ken Masters always seemed to find some way of getting into some sort of fracas with at least one other student; and although Boom was his friend, he couldn’t help but think at times that Ken asked for much of what he got due to his arrogance and rash ways. He was lucky Ryu had such patience with him Boom thought, as he scrubbed his dark hair through with shampoo, fingertips rubbing furiously to get it right into the roots.

 

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

It hadn’t always been this luxurious a life for him, oh no. A young Boom, the second eldest in a family of four boys and no girls, lived under the parental guidance of just his father, Poket Loomer, a local Police enforcer. Boom’s life consisted of chores, football, school and sleeping/eating/drinking etc. the essentials of life.

 

The family home was inherited; a huge, semi gothic detached house not too far from the school, and came very basically furnished.  Poket was a man of little luxuries and the second youngest child Simon, and Boom would have to take it in turns to sleep in ‘the fireplace’ at night! This didn’t literally involve sleeping in a currently used fireplace, the fireplace itself was set way, way back into the huge thick walls of the old house, and the decorative fireplace went out so far that the built in bed construct above the hearth was technically still a part of the fireplace decoratives. Hence, the term ‘sleep in the fireplace’.  It was somewhat of a local joke down at the schoolyard, one which Boom especially didn’t appreciate.  The bed was old, hard and basic, obviously used for a servant at some point in time long ago.

 

Occasionally Simon and Boom would have to share depending on who was staying over; which meant one of them literally sleeping in a sleeping bag in the plate area below the bed … in front of (although way, way in front of!) the fireplace. The reason being it was warmer there than in the middle of the stony floor!

 

There were two children’s bed and these were occupied by the eldest (because he had to study) and the very youngest (because he was ‘less tough’).

 

Dunstan was the eldest, Barney the little one.  Dunstan worked after school hours for a refuse company, hence his nickname ‘Dustbin’. He was a quiet and intelligent, dedicated lad who was rarely in any sort of bother. Having landed a spot in the grammar school, he was also the pride of the Loomer family.

 

Simon was a junior schooler, and like his brother Boom, played football and enjoyed life to the full. Unlike his brother though, Simon tended to stay out of trouble.  Boom on the other hand, seemed to have uncontrollable urges to raise *ell.

 

It wasn’t that Boom was a bad boy, nor did he have some secret desire to be a right pain in the arse.  No, he simply had what shrinks were starting to call ‘the power of rage’ syndrome.  This meant that he was hyper active to the extent where anything exciting him mentally could push him one of two ways.

 

One, he would excel with sporting, physical excellence and mastery of his chosen art, in his case, football (soccer). Two … he would fly into a blind rage without warning and use his body to take someone down. These bursts were usually very short and quick, and seemed nothing more than a temper spurt at first. But analysing brain waves had led doctors to the conclusion that this was more than a mere bad temper that snapped; this was ‘the power of rage’.  So, this was what Boom had and since there were no pills for it, he was simply told to behave himself or face the almighty thrashing from his father when he got home.

 

And many of those there had been. Poket was not well known for his patience or softness.  His wife, like so many others had been slain in the calculated slaughter of women, which took place during the despotic rule of Altensho Goth Senior. Having to raise a young family all by himself had pushed the very best out of Poket as a father, but also in many respects; the worst.

 

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

After a few more seconds of simply allowing the clear water to run across his handsome face, Boom reached for the dial and ended his thought time. The second the final droplet hit the shower floor he was already in his towel and outside, mind already focused on the day before him.  Redlanders typically were schooled to a high age, to the point where many young adults, parents themselves, were still in school.  This was normal really; no one looked and no one stared. After all, in Lelund it was quite normal to have your first child aged 15!  Schooling started at 4 or 5 and typically lasted in some form or another until 22, although it was compulsory up to 18. Some persons were in part time education at age 25!

 

Finding his letter as Handis promised, Boom sat at the table in his peach coloured towel, eating and reading at the same time. He glanced upward; Handis was already sorting her books out for the day.  Somehow she found the time to offer him a wide grin as she worked.

 

Boom realised why – his towel had slipped slightly, giving her a first class view of his firm butt. Gahh! Quickly he pulled the towel back and scolded her:

 

“You dirty old maid! Checking me out, eh? There’s no time for that cummon’, we gotta’ get to lectures early this morning. I’ll be ready in five minutes, wanna’ walk with me or go ahead?”

 

Pulling her red cap across her dark hair, Handis offered her Husband another smirk.

 

“I think I’ll dash ahead this morning, love. I promised I’d speak to Adam before lectures and knowing you, you’ll take forever to get your gear on.  So I’ll see you in the auditorium, ‘kay? Bye love…” She blew him a kiss without waiting for a response, and was out of the door and bounding down the pathway like a child on their way to the sweet shop. Boom smiled. Handis was quite incomparable at times, there was no other like her and none other that he could love beside her. She was Hand, and she was perfect. To him, at any rate!

 

The day passed quite uneventfully for Boom. School was plain and boring; he managed to get himself scolded by Mr Stich twice for talking though, not that that was anything new.

 

On break, Ken was bragging to a bunch of fellow karate-ka about how he won a tourney the week before. Uninterested, Boom sought out Ryu, who as usual was standing in a quiet corner of a gardened area with a single leg extended; practising perfect balance on the ball of his left foot. A traditional shotokan stance.

 

“Hey, Ryu! Don’t wanna break your focus or whatever mate, but have you seen Hand today? I haven’t seen her since early break.” Boom’s sudden call rang across the space between them, the happy autumn sunlight basking the pair of them in its rays, as though it knew winter was soon to close its icy hand around the warmth.

 

Ryu didn’t so much as flinch; his focus was strong as it always tended to be. He answered though, in a calm, collected, even tone:

 

“I saw her just now, Boom. She was trying to shake Vega off. The foolish one was trying to talk her out of making him serve his full community service bill. Hand was having none of it, though. She has a strong will.”

 

Boom blinked, his mind racing to picture the most amusing image just presented to him. He could see it now; Vega trying to persuade Hand not to make him do that gardening he’d been assigned to for his various follies. The poor guy – he didn’t stand a chance of changing her mind, Boom knew!

 

He could recall the day as though it were yesterday. Vega had publicly degraded M.Bison before his peers. And this news had reached the palace fairly swiftly. Even after attempting to do a runner, all that Vega had found was the Police force waiting for him at his house in Las Vegas Avenue, armed and prepared to take him by any means required to an audience before the newly honoured Prince of Redland himself, Bison.

 

Boom chuckled. No one knew exactly what had gone on in there, but Vega had never quite been the same after it. Rumours ranged from Bison giving him one hell of a kicking (not hard to imagine that one), right up to the most imaginative and hideous suggestions, some involving a red hot poker and stencil. Oh boy! Boom didn’t believe those rumours though. The King would never permit Bison to do something like that, even to Vega.

 

After swinging his right leg around in a sudden super spinning hook kick, Ryu landed close to Boom and grinned sheepishly at his classmate. Ryu had always been quiet and the outsider, the odd one in the group. But yet he and Boom shared a good time, laughs and friendship. Unlike Ken, Boom was not usually arrogant and always willing to hear Ryu speak.

 

“So Boom, how are things with you? Been kicking that ball around as always, eh?” Ryu spoke in a friendly tone.

 

Tossing his head a little, the football star laughed gently.

 

“Yeah, something like that, Ryu. Hand’s been very cool of late, things are really groovy between us, you know? You ought to get yourself a woman mate, there must be hundreds of chicks out there just gagging to date a one time Street Fighter champion like yourself!” He aimed a mock-jab at his friend’s shoulder.

 

Ryu swung a block to meet it, his boyish grin evident, even after all he’d been through.

 

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Still, there’s really only one woman for me, and she isn’t ready to hear that yet. Besides, we – I – have to stay focused on this year’s tournament. It might be a whole 8 months away but that soon vanishes when you’re training hard.”

 

Boom nodded, he understood that from his years of Football League. Ryu continued:

 

“Still, I hear that the entrance roster will be packed for this years fight. It’s a one round fight this time as well, so it should flow quicker than last year.  Is Hand entering again? She came so close to winning; it would seem a crime for her not to.”

 

Boom shrugged. “I guess that’s up to her I mean, I won’t push her either way, you know? I wasn’t too keen about letting her go up against Bison last time, and if that were to happen again … I dunno’ if I’d be cool with that.”

 

The karate-ka raised a slow eyebrow.

 

“I think Hand is strong enough in mind and spirit to resist Bison. Now that her sister is back from captivity in Higala as well, there seems to be nothing she feels she cannot take on – and win. I respect her spirit and drive. I wish it were mine.” Ryu admitted that with a wry grin. It was not often the most focused of all Street Fighters confessed a weakness to anyone.

 

Boom smiled in return as they walked back toward the large flat-topped, concrete-grey towers that were the college/school.

 

“I guess she can take anything on. If she wants in, I won’t stop her - I don’t think. Just don’t expect to see me in those fights, Ryu. Not me. I could fight … but football is my thing, and I am dedicated to it.”

 

The once Champion nodded, and half bowed as they walked on.

“I respect your choice, my friend. As I know you respect my own.”

 

Handis Tennel sat motionless, staring at the video tape image on the screen before her. She must have watched this tape a thousand thousand times already – she never got enough of it. It contained two things:

 

The recording of her sister, the long lost and imprisoned General Georgina Tennel returning in a parade down Miami St in Redland central, to be awarded the highest bravery honour by the King himself; the Cross of Jacob.

 

And secondly, her being near knocked out in the final round of last years Street Fighter tournament by that huge fist on her nose. The recording of her being sniped from a hidden tower, and giving the contest up to M.Bison because she was unable to continue.

 

She recalled how she had felt at both those instances in time. Her whole family had been there to witness both moments. One was incredible and happy; the other was strangling and solemn.

 

Having her elder sister back meant everything short of life itself to Handis. George represented everything she had always hoped for, everything that being a Redlander stood for, she thought. She was the pride of the whole Tennel family; not that Hand herself wasn’t also famed in her own right.

 

When she had felt her nose cave in and blood gush upwards and outward however, at that second when she saw the insanely hot psychic fist belonging to her opponent smash into her face – she had felt no fear. Only regret.

 

Hand hated to lose. But she hated to cheat even more than to lose. There was no way, she kept telling and telling herself, that she could have carried on the fight against M.Bison in that condition; bullet or no bullet. She had done the right thing, giving the fight away to him, she had. He had practically beaten her, but she had still been awake to see it. She had survived a miss-aimed attempt to kill the drug lord himself, and taken that bullet with pride.

 

She had won. In a manner of speaking. She had won much that day, even though the Street Fighter title was not hers that time around. Bison had won that, and survived an attempt on his own life by a terrorist. So they were both winners ... technically.

 

Quietly, Hand prayed that the terrorist would be caught someday. They had yet to find any clue as to who the shooter was, who he had been. Some suspected a Shadaloo disgruntled member. Others still suspected an ally of Handis herself, which Hand was revolted by.

 

Still, another day – another battle, eh? The power of rage that fuelled Boom and even herself it seemed, would never die. There was a fighting spirit deep inside her, a spirit determined to live, to succeed. She respected God, and she loved good.

 

Was there anything she didn’t have, then? Hand thought. Yes, there was.

 

Peace.