Description: The Legion, a Goddess, and a girl possessed by an ancient entity all find themselves interrupted on Metro Bridge! Watch the cross of powers, and an agreement forged.
Metro city bridge, dusk.
To the west, down town Metro drowns the blossoming stars in a sea of light pollution. To the east, the dark bulk of the industrial district drowns out the stars in a sea of...pollution pollution. And between them, the brown bulk of metro city bridge is illuminated harshly by large hanging flood lights.
All four lanes of the once grand bridge are currently packed to capacity. Even at this late hour the aging bridge can barely keep up with Metro City's expanding population. In this age of 8 and more lane super highways, the grand old monolith seems almost quaint. But, it is a way over the river, and so cars wiz by in steady streams going either direction.
It is into this roaring, stinking, honking mass that a misty grey glow forms. Floating perhaps 3 feet off of the ground, the air directly between the two west-bound lanes warps, crackles, and explodes open in a hissing web of lightning.
Tires shriek, horns squeal, and the sound of crunching metal fills the air as cars swerve to avoid the rippling, six-foot wide portal that has just torn itself open in the middle of the road. It's color is a washed out purple grey, fading to swirling motes of lightning and random color at the edges.
Hovering before the portal, having just been spat out into the world, is a humanoid figure clad in black and carmine wraps. Fluttering bits of cloth dangling from the figure's outfit are swirled about by the thick cloud of green energy he floats suspended in. Blazing bright through that cloud are the figure's misty green eyes, and the gems studded across his outfit.
More tires squeal, and headlights illuminate the floating man as a dark grey hatchback tries breaking to avoid driving into the figure, or possibly the portal behind him. But, before the collision can happen, the floating figure lifts his right palm. The surge of psychic energy that swells forth from him is raw and primal, like a sledge hammer to the face. It is effective, however. His right hand flaring with sudden green energy, and a deep, humming vibration working its way through the air, the masked figure lifts the car off the ground without even touching it and heaves it over his head. The unfortunate vehicle clears both him and the portal, then tumbles further down the road behind him with a smashing of glass and crunching of metal.
Ermac has arrived in Earthrealm.
The portal snaps shut behind him.
Traffic. There are many cars, some nice, some taxi's and one particular car, a black car, driven by a very fidgety man. A Mister Powell. In the back sits Gabriel, in a long white and red silken robe embroidered with dragons, the sleeves too longs for her hands so only her finger tips can escape. She's using a tablet to eye a stock report and somewhere under all those layers of excessive silk she has a business suit on with a skirt instead of pants and next to her, a parasol (with a green smiley face painted on the top, she still hasn't noticed that).
There is a commotion up ahead and as if this traffic wasn't bad enough now it is positively stopped.
"Mister Powell what seems to be the matter?" Gabriel asks, impatiently,
"Miss Kai it's, well I'm not sure what it is, some kind of gas leak."
"Let me see..."
Stepping out of the car for who knows what reason, Gabriel opens her parasol and starts to approach where the portal opened. She's just in time to see the car get tossed and the look on her face? Irritation.
"I have a meeting with my financial advisor and my broker in thirty minutes," She confirms this with a pocket watch she pulls out and regards briefly.
"I do not have time for this," She mutters and starts to step toward Ermac like it were nothing. Surely by now there are other people reacting too, some getting out of their cars and fleeing, some staying in their cars and locking the doors and most pulling out their phones to get this on youtube as soon as possible. There are other figures to be sure, though Gabriel maybe one of the only ones walking TOWARD Ermac and she's doing it slowly, deliberately. Her eyes are narrowed into icy glares, like daggers. There is no sense in justice from her, just cold a- well irritation.
"Mister Powell," Gabriel says, "Please let the little puppy out of the trunk."
Incase anyone is wondering who the puppy is..? It's Jira.
***** A few hours prior *******
"So that was an Saturday night Fight," Gabriel asks, standing around the empty arena after Maki, Mimiru and Jira's bout.
"Looks like the puppy didn't fair so well," she comments looking down at a peacefully snoozing Jira,
"Mister Powell, bring the car around."
"Miss Kai, I don't think this is appropriate and as your lawyer I must insi-"
"The Car. Mister Powell."
* * * * * Present Day, Present Time * * * * * * *
"If she's not awake Mister Powell, please use some smelling salts and then stand back."
She's certainly awake alright, a little upset at having found herself in a trunk and not somewhere more agreeable, like tucked between the seats in the cabin atleast. But the car is stopped and the trunk is open. Jira gives a slow yawn and stretches with all the room available to her then sits up, somewhat.
"Are we done the field trip?" she murmurs sleepily and glances around her small vantage point. "Traffic jam?"
Smoke pours from wrecked cars sandwiched against concrete barriers to either side of the road. It's unlikely that anyone will be getting out of those without emergency assistance. However, several of the cars further back have pulled safely to the side of the road. Confused people are climbing out of their vehicles and looking forward toward the floating man, then either running off or psyching themselves up for an epic fight, depending on their level of stupidity.
Only one of the figures is brave enough to actually approach Ermac. Or, well, she's something. Maybe not brave, but something.
Drifting calmly down to the ground, Ermac lowers his car-throwing hand from above his head and points a finger at Gabriel. She is approaching him, icily, and thus must be a warrior of merit. No one else would approach him like that, right?
The lime-green mist that had been floating around Ermac is drawn back into his body, taking the gut-vibrating hum away with it.
Standing on his own two feet, rather than floating, the black and red clad figure is much less intimidating. Sure his eyes are still glowing that creepy green, and sure the air around him is heavy with power, but at least he isn't a very big guy. Nothing like the over bulked mass of chin that is Vega.
"We are Ermac." Intones the same. His voices are flat and matter-of-fact, but there are perhaps thousands of them layered one on top of the other. All different cadences and tones, all apparently male, and all combining into one mass. The voice of a crowd chanting in unison.
"You will take us to the sorcerer Shang Tsung." Intones Ermac grimly, continuing to stand calmly in the middle of the street and point at Gabriel.
Camera phones start recording all along the bridge.
"Please come out miss, " Mister Powell says to Jira as he attempts to help her out of the trunk and then points her at Gabriel and Ermac,
"Miss Kai has asked that I let you out of the trunk and, please don't ask me why." He steps back around the car after Jira gets out, or he has to drag her out, at any rate he gets into the driver seat and the wheels screetch as he pulls the car onto the sidewalk to make some space between him and whats sure to be messy. In his heart of hearts he hopes beyond hope that Gabriel doesn't survive this.
Meanwhile. . .
"Mister Ermac," Gabriel replies and gives a short bow then brings her hand to her neck to clasp a golden pendant,
"In the name of the glorious Goddess, the Maiden of Light, I, Gabriel Kai, Crusader of light shall purify you." She sniffs and twists her parasol, pulling from it a hidden weapon. . A sword? One of those neat swords? Nope.
Gabriel pulls fourth a long shard of glass. The glass has no guard, no hand hold, she's just cutting her hand to even hold it. Presently she continues,
"You're making me late for my meetings. As a point of courtesy I will be sure to sent Mister Tsung to the netherworld after you."
She takes her stance, clearly intending to attack Ermac because well, just because, her eyes cold as she continues to glare at him and hardly moves. Perhaps he can make the first move, perhaps not.
COMBATSYS: Gabriel has started a fight here on the right meter side.
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Gabriel
COMBATSYS: Ermac has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ermac 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Gabriel
Jira's out of the trunk easily enough and thanks Mr.Powell for the help thusfar and turns to where things are getting.. green. And sounding interesting, or rather, like they might further her 'guest'. Whom takes this chance to assume direct control of Jira, covering her body in a white glow. Jira makes quick strides up to the side of Gabriel, looking rather tense and fairly stiff in her movements.
"What are we looking at?" they ask, Jira's usual voice layered with a deeper, more masculine tone alongside it.
COMBATSYS: Jira has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ermac 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Jira
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Gabriel
There is a moment in which Ermac simply stands and stares, green eyes focused at a point between Gabriel and her recently arrived companion. The heaviness in the air shifts, seeming to, taste, the two females standing so near the enforcer.
"Your soul is stained dark with your sins, priestess." Ermac's voices state flatly, "But your self delusions are none of our concern. We will send you both to the Nether realm." And as the final word drifts out through the air, the dark-clad warrior bursts into motion.
The dangling strips of cloth on Ermac's outfit whip out behind him as he sprints forward, closing the distance between himself and the female fighters with frightening ease. There is no flare of power, just that oppressive force in the air around him as he plants himself between the women and twists to face Gabriel.
As he twists, Ermac whips a vicious left-handed back fist at the side of the glass-wielder's head, then flows in after the initial strike with a chain of 3 quick jabs aimed at her chest, an effortless series of 'rightleftright' punches that send his various tatters of cloth snapping out behind him.
COMBATSYS: Gabriel blocks Ermac's Rapid Jabs.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ermac 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Jira
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Gabriel
And so it begins. When Ermac speaks Gabriel narrows her eyes and is quick to cross her arms under the assault so he can just pound away at them instead of at her. His assault is fast and pushes her back. Strong too. This isn't a great start. She lets off a 'tsk'
"I do not know what manner of man this is, however it is easier to study something after it has ceased to struggle."
Gabriel says furtively to the girl whom she put in the trunk of a car while she was unconscious. What ever happened from then till now we may never know. Dun dun Dun.
"You will repent your ways," Gabriel tells Ermac, "Before I end you."
Drawing her hand back, The Crusader of light tries to return with a quick move of her own, a palm thrust toward Ermac's fast with a flash of purplish chi crackling about her hands, just dying to be transferred to his nose? -Whatever- It's not fire, but it will burn. She's quick to return to a ready stance after the palm strike and shove her 'sword' (read: shard of glass) into her belt.
"If you can assist me in purifying this cretin, little pup, I shall give you a treat." - This is apparently to Jira.
COMBATSYS: Jira has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ermac 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Jira
> ////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Gabriel
Jira is quite surprised by the appearance of the new.. thing, the plural of voices is unsettling. And for her partner, it just inspires a smirk, the mention of a treat.. she'll have words for Gabriel later, right now punches are flying. As Gabriel responds to Ermac's attack, Jira's left hand manifests a luminous orb of white energy that weeps in its place. Before she hurls the ball in a quick, underhand lob straight towards Ermac. Whether it hits them or not it explodes out in a bright puff of energy that lingers in the air.
COMBATSYS: Jira successfully hits Ermac with Orchid Breach.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Jira
> ////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Gabriel
COMBATSYS: Ermac blocks Gabriel's Admonish.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Jira
> ////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Gabriel
"Hup." Ermac grunts as he spins out of his combination of jabs, gloved left hand lifting to smack Gabriel's wrist from below and direct the burst of chi harmlessly over his head.
Coming out of his spin facing Jira, the green-eyed monster notes the ball of energy flying through the air at him. A bone-vibrating hum shakes through the air as a thick mist of green energy swirls out of the enforcer, consuming him in a tornado of psychic force. The tornado, and Ermac within it, vanish, only to appear 2 steps to the right. The energy pulls back into the warrior, the hum dies away, and...Jira's projectile smashes into a yellow SUV just behind Ermac and explodes.
The force of the exploding psy ball washes over Shao Kahn's enforcer, blowing his wrappings stiffly to the side and sending a shock wave shuddering through his body. The force doesn't seem to have done an undo amount of damage, but it has motivated him into further action.
"Harck!" Ermac barks in his multiple voices, shouldering his way through the dissipating energy and charging the 3 steps necessary to be right in Jira's face. Again there is a bone-grinding hum, and a surge of primal psy as Ermac's right hand is pulled back and chambered, then explodes forward in a charging palm strike aimed right for the center of the white-haired girl's expansive chest. Green energy covers the entire hand, rolling off of it in misty waves.
To the casual observer no doubt what is going on now is fast and exciting, scary too. It might not be easy to follow the motions, all of the movements, but to others it might be all too obvious. Innocent people are watching this! They're recording it with their phones, they could of been hit, could of been killed. They're still in harm's way. Gabriel doesn't seem to care. Instead she is watching Ermac very carefully.
Brows drawing downward and lips closing in tightly, it's clear something is annoying Gabriel.
"It is foolish to ignore me." Gabriel says, but doesn't explain why, instead she flicks the fingers of her hand that was brandishing her shard of glass, splaying some blood onto the ground,
"Little pup, he is using his energy to power his moves now, you had best do what you can to cover yourself and know he will probably be leave himself opened after his attack, go for him then hard."
And without waiting Gabriel goes for Ermac hard now. Typically the sort to make maybe more of an effort to hit and run, she instead tries circling around him and aims a grab at his neck in an attempt to shove him over her outstretched leg in a very simple, yet effective throw.
Either way she's quick to dance back if she can, using apparently something of a hit and run tactic - she never truly leaves the range of Ermac's attacks, she stays close.
"Confess." She hisses at Ermac, her expression turning back to one of cold devoid of emotion,
"While you can.."
COMBATSYS: Jira endures Ermac's Nether Palm.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Jira
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Gabriel
Jira sees the attack coming in and does nothing to stop it, leaning back to take that too-solid palm to her chest and thrusting her leg out high, aiming for his face. Hit or miss, she ends up hitting the ground hard and rolling to her knees and taking a stand. Her eyes look up at Gabriel and she huffs.
"I could let you to handle this yourself. I had assumed you would enjoy some willing company." they retort.
COMBATSYS: Ermac blocks Gabriel's Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Jira
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Gabriel
COMBATSYS: Ermac dodges Jira's Iris Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Jira
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Gabriel
Beneath the aura of power, the glowing eyes, and the scary ass voices, it is likely becoming clear that Ermac is also a very competent martial artist.
A deft sideways stagger in his forward charge allows him to slip past Jira's rising foot and land the Nether Palm, which sends her tumbling over and gives him more room to maneuver.
It is then that he spins out of his forward charge, dangling strips trailing him in a fabric tornado, and once again comes face to face with Gabriel. He is just in time to snap up his hands, both of which are now radiating that eery green light, and knock her descending hands out to either side of his body. Simultaneously his right shin swings around and smacks into her knee, stopping the tripping motion dead.
"We will make your death quick and painless." Ermac responds simply, just before an ungodly amount of energy pours out of the enforcer and starts to swirl about him in a dense cloud of souls. Now and then a face can be seen peering out through the mass.
A voice can be heard talking, laughing, screaming. The gems secured to his body start to dim, while the green light in his eyes brightens dramatically.
The deep bass hum that rolls through the air shakes the concrete beneath them.
Almost casually, Ermac lifts his left hand with the palm up. As he does, Gabriel can feel a massive pressure trying to grip her body and lift her high into the air, her body trying to follow the line of his hand as he whips it behind himself in an attempt to smack her chest-first into the pavement behind him, then brings his hand swooping back around and forward to dry and drive her back-first into the hood of the still smoldering yellow SUV.
COMBATSYS: Ermac knocks away Gabriel with Relinquish.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ermac 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Jira
> //////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Gabriel
Now this is new and for once Gabriel's expression shifts from her usual unshakable cold stoicism. For one moment she seems confident, watching Ermac with her eyes narrowing, but the moment she is lifted that changes. She looks positively shocked. What are you supposed to do when you're pulled into the air by unseen force. It's like gravity stopped working, or rather like she was having it counter acted by something lifting her. She can still feel gravity, but she can also feel herself lifted. She does struggle in mid air, she kicks and flails a little, but it's all for naught, there is no purchase, there is nothing to purchase, she's utterly helpless to the ether she's being handled in, even if she can't see it.
Needless to say everything works exactly as Ermac seems to be planning. Gabriel is lifted, she is flung and she flies into the SVU and -totally- demolishes it -with her body. The metal crumbles around her, the glass shatters, there is a cloud of dust and pieces of the vehicle fly in all directions. The epicenter of this wanton destruction is none other than Gabriel herself who is not even visible in the devastation.
The dust doesn't settle. Instead with a shout of frustration the vehicle bursts outward again as Gabriel breaks free, and takes a few steps out from the wreckage. She's bleeding from several cuts on her arms, her legs, her torso just under her ribs and across her forehead. Her suit is ruined, covered in scraps and filth. Her hair is messed and she looks positively furious. Though there is ground to cover, Gabriel wastes no time in charging Ermac now.
Not taking a direct path, Gabriel dodges this way and that and launches into the air, attempting to land on his shoulders. If she can do so it will be followed by just shoving a handful of sizzling chi right into his face before kick flipping off.
"This is it-! DIE" she shouts while making the attack. About the only thing unmarred are her teeth, though there is blood in her mouth, her teeth at least arn't broken and she's keen on showing them as her fury seems to be directing her actions now.
Jira's spending her time thinking on what to do next, when a display of psychic might is revealed. One that Jira's partner has only seen by one other being before. There's heavy debate of tactical retreat at this point. But right now isn't that time, not with the other combatant still standing. Jira charges in fast, rushing up to Ermac from his right and ducking low into a slide. During her descent her body becomes clad in a luminous layer of sobbing essence, giving the air near her a sense of pain and despair.
Her slide is meant to unbalance Ermac, enough for her to grab his right leg and toss him to the ground, followed by a heavy backhand unto his gut and rolling to her feet, crouched low at his side.
COMBATSYS: Jira successfully hits Ermac with Charged Combo.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ermac 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Jira
> /////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Gabriel
COMBATSYS: Ermac blocks Gabriel's Flash of White.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ermac 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Jira
> /////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Gabriel
No matter how good you are, you will make mistakes.
Having just finished exploding an SUV with the help of Gabriel's body, Ermac starts to twist away, to go into another of his tight spins that should put him face to face with Jira's recovering attack. But, the conglomeration of souls has misjudged just how tough the white-haired girl is. Not having expected her to already be underfoot, he twists right into her leg grab and is tripped up, his back hitting the concrete with a satisfying thud. The backhanded follow-up hammers down into tensed abdominal's, the psychic power assisting it being shunted away by the green aura of souls that still swirls around Ermac's prone form.
"HRGH." Grunts the enforcer's many voices as he looks up, past Jira, and sees Gabriel descending toward him out of the sky with a hand full of burning chi. His left hand lifts, stomach-churning vibration rolling off of him as the girl is shunted aside in mid air, her new trajectory landing her some 3 yards away. It's probably lucky for her that the move was purely a defensive reflex.
It is then, and only then that Ermac's attention seems to fall on the young psychic crouching beside him. He notes her power, and her guest, and decides that she is much, much too close. Lifting his right hand he clinches it into a fist, and Jira can feel a massive pressure forming around her, attempting to grab hold of her and crush her aura into her body. Then, the enforcer floats into the air, drifting up off the ground with his fist raised.
The force grabbing at Jira attempts to lift her up with him, following the motion of his fist as he whips her up and over his head, then spikes her stomach-first toward the ground, his hand opening and force trying to spread her wide into a belly flop. If he can ground her, the blazing green warrior will drop down out of the sky feet first and land on her back with a spine-straining crunch, then straighten from his crouch and step calmly off of her onto the street.
Landing some distance away from Ermac serves Gabriel just fine. She's not paying attention to what Jira is doing, but maybe, just maybe Gabriel is feeling nice because she's approaching Ermac to attack, slowly, but not without passion. Still just burning with fury, her eyes are deep glares and her every step just drips of violence as her hands clench and unclench and frankly she gives herself away by talking with every step.
"Ye of detestable name and virtue, false apostle, thou art bayed back to the abyss... Deliverance!"
And it's then that Gabriel makes her move, charging Ermac, but not attempting to hit him out right. Rather she makes a grab at his arm and attempts to twist it around behind his back, a very standard lock. The next part not so standard, if she got this far. . Gabriel charges her other hand with a blast of energy enough to send a beam piercing the sky, only she isn't trying to pierce the sky, she's trying to shove it all into the small of Ermac's back with an utter lack of care for holding back.
COMBATSYS: Ermac knocks away Jira with Controlled Chaos.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Jira
> ////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Gabriel
Jira's not got enough filling to resist the grab's influence, and goes up with a huff. Certainly not her day. Nor is the landing too happy, but it's questionable whether or not the back stomping elicits a grunt of pain or satisfaction with the series of crackles and pops. The woman spryly springs to standing upright and works her upper half from side to side, then back.
"I knew she had some kind of back problem brewing." they murmur, still glowing bright. "If you'd like, we could share notes on body maintenance. I always have an issue with fine motor control. Have you found a way around that?" they ask to Ermac.
COMBATSYS: Jira idly punches at the air, doing nothing for now.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Jira
> ////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Gabriel
COMBATSYS: Gabriel successfully hits Ermac with Deliverance.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Jira
> ////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Gabriel
"We are not the parasite you seem to be. Your lack of control is not our problem." Ermac responds flatly to Jira, turning to glance toward the woman as he says this.
That might have been a fatal mistake.
Gabriel hits him just as he's starting to turn to face her, her muttering going unnoticed over the roar of voices swelling in his head as he pushes his souls harder. His arm is yanked back and up, but he starts to twist, half turning out of the grip by the time the energy beam is aimed and fired. As a result, the blast of chi misses the small of Ermac's back, but instead strikes him just beneath the left ribs and throws him to the ground, his arm torn from Gabriel's grip by the force of her own attack.
As the enforcer rolls away across the pavement his costume smokes and hisses. The skin beneath is charred and leaking fluids, while the wraps that had been covering the area are burnt completely away.
Lifting his bowed head, the conglomeration of souls focuses his glowing green eyes on Gabriel. Forcing himself up to one knee, he allows the last of the souls still drifting about his body to focus into his left hand. Clenching it in a fist above his chest, he then whips it out straight, palm flung open. A brick wall of TK is flung out of him straight for Gabriel's center mass. If it hits, it's likely to launch her right back up the street where she originally came from, toward the crowd of gawking spectators that now surrounds her black car.
COMBATSYS: Gabriel blocks Ermac's Surrender.
[ \\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/---<<<<|======-\-------\0 Jira
> //// ]
|======-\-------\0 Gabriel
There is a look of satisfaction on Gabriel's face, though it's more like a sneer. Her attack hit, hard.. So she really wasn't expecting Ermac to get up so fast. . Not that he does get up that fast. She sees him coming and brings her arms up, crosses them in front of her chest and braces herself before being knocked on the street anyway. Despite her best efforts his blow lands solidly and she seems to feel it. Though she does manage to throw one parting attack in there.. A palm thrust, with the chi flash as before toward his face, consider it a parting blow.. Her eyes a narrow glare as she goes into the pavement.
COMBATSYS: Gabriel can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/---<<<<|======-\-------\0 Jira
Atleast her opponent has -some- sort of moral standing, to dub Akabara a parasite atleast implies they believe themselves of greater standing. But a mutually beneficial symbiont is a bit different than a parasite. But, Jira doesn't stand still, she runs over and takes stand between Gabriel and Ermac. She gives a glance back to Mr. Powell, a very knowing glance. There's the impression a certain lawyer might lose his job, and credentials if Gabriel isn't brought home safely. But, they instead speak aloud to Ermac.
"Well, I do suppose all of you atleast started at some point with a body of your own. I was not so priviledged. Though if you are not in the mood to atleast talk, then I do request you let me bring the girls to their homes. You wanted to be brought to someone, it is a name I have not heard in my time and I doubt any of these people nearby have either. We will assist you, if such an exchange is acceptable, in finding the one that you seek with the time given to us."
COMBATSYS: Jira idly punches at the air, doing nothing for now.
[ \\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/---<<<<|======-\-------\0 Jira
COMBATSYS: Ermac blocks Gabriel's Admonish.
[ \\\\ < > ////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/---<<<<|======-\-------\0 Jira
Unlike some of his fellow enforcers for Shao Kahn, Ermac is not an innately blood-thirsty creature. He does not revel in the kills he is ordered to perform. So, when given the chance to end this conflict, he gives the idea due consideration.
Ermac's eyes blaze bright as ever, the gem strapped to his forehead pulsing softly like a heart beat. The gut-grinding vibrations that had died down up to this point focus into a steady rumbling hum around the enforcer's kneeling form, the air growing heavier with each passing moment. Gabriel's attack tries to push through this condensed pressure of will, but by the time it reaches Ermac most of the energy has drained into the air. What remains splashes across his shoulder, sizzles, and dies.
"We have been commanded by Emperor Shao Kahn to find and assist the Sorcerer Shang Tsung." States the chorus of souls. Slowly he stands from his kneel, the exposed flesh of his left side leaking a faint stream of green light. If one were to look at the wound closely , they would see that the bubbling burns are slowly smoothing out, the crisped flesh lightning towards a healthy bronze.
"If you aid us in our search, we will spare you and your companion." Ermac agrees, now standing perfectly erect as if he weren't still horribly wounded. "However," He continues calmly, "If the false priestess confronts us a second time, We will not be so merciful. Now go." And with those final words Ermac gives Jira a solemn stare, fully expecting his offer to be taken, and his order to be obeyed.
COMBATSYS: Ermac gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ermac 0/-------/------<|======-\-------\0 Jira
Jira nods and drops her stance, crouching low and gathering up Gabriel over her right shoulder by the waist, scanning about for any erraneous or scattered belongings, then straightens up.
"Well, if she encounters you again, I wouldn't hold it against you to fully defend yourself. I will also need a way to contact you. Do you have room for another voice in your Legion? I could, perhaps, spare one of my subjects to further the cause of their continued survival." they state plainly, and turn to face Ermac with Jira's left brow quirked.
Tilts his head slightly to one side, eyeing Jira with something that might be contempt, distaste, or possibly surprise. It is difficult to tell with the mask and expressionless eyes.
"We will assume you do not know fully what you have proposed. No." Ermac responds mechanically, "We would not allow such an, intrusion. We will meet you on this bridge, at dusk, in seven days. If we are not here then, you will return here again once seven more days have passed. Continue until next we meet." Tilting his chin to indicate the body draped across Jira's shoulders, Ermac adds dryly, "We suggest you come alone, or in better company."
The throbbing hum that surrounds the enforcer slowly fades, his blazing eyes dimming to their usual misty glow. There is still a pressure in the air, a palpable feeling of oppressive power coming off of the creature, but it is almost unnoticeable after the last few moments. Pressing a gloved hand to his injured side, Ermac turns his gaze out toward the crowd that surrounds him. Staring at them and their recording devices he waits, and once the crowd is standing still, wondering if he might attack, he vanishes in a humming swirl of green souls.
Well, that's wonderful. She's stuck in America until she finds Shang Tsung. Or word of them, but she's left alive. Good enough. She nods at Ermac before he leaves, and sets off the bridge to find Gabriel a place to rest, to the nearest hotel on the other side of the bridge and attempting to avoid collapsing.
COMBATSYS: Jira has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Ermac 0/-------/------<|
COMBATSYS: Ermac has ended the fight here.
Log created on 18:30:52 11/09/2014 by Jira, and last modified on 01:01:47 11/10/2014.