Description: After years of searching, Thunder Hawk has finally managed to locate his missing sister, Little Eagle, at the center of a mockery of the Thunderfoot's traditions. It's obvious that she is being held against her will, so the giant Native American sneaks in to the festivities to find his sister and help her escape, but when he gets there, Little Eagle puts up a fight while possessed by a familiar Power.
As the sun sets on Pueblo Thunderfoot, the locals do a wonderful job welcoming all of the visitors to the small town with generosity and open arms. All of these people here to help the fading Thunderfoot Tribe complete their sacred ceremonies is a wonderful site of togetherness.
The good feelings that these events provide would probably erode if anyone realizes it was all glittery trash laid over a cardboard structure. The Dance of the Sky Spirit has never been a traditional ceremony among the Thunderfoot people, and the dance is an obscene conglomeration of someone's imagination of what a Native American ceremony would look like.
The fact that all of that proves to be more than enough to fool all of these visitors into believing that this is genuine would be an insult if there were enough left who knew or cared. Some perhaps have lingering suspicions, hushed by the lingering sense of guilt and ignorance that would make questioning these wounded peoples' history.
While it is clear that all of this is being orchestrated and brought together by the jovial and welcoming Mayor Fausto Mendoza, the core that gives credence to these claims is Little Eagle, the so-called Last Shaman of the Thunderfoot. Every tradition has been pushed forth with her breath, clad in the armor of legitimacy that her pure Thunderfoot blood provides. Despite the awkwardness, the moments of long silence, the almost monotone way in which she speaks, none seem willing to question the unwavering faith that seems to back every action she takes.
Finally the Dance of the Sky Spirit comes to a close; tired visitors shuffle off to their accomodations as locals begin to pack away the facade of truth. Little Eagle herself begins the slow path back to the accomodations she has been so often secluded to over the past week.
The false festival incited the real Thunderfoot survivors, presently attempting to rebuild, to try and petition the government to put a stop to this. But government wheels, especially in a land such as Mexico, move painfully slow, and by the time something gets done, the festival will have been over. So it was that T. Hawk, son of Arroyo Hawk and favored to be chief on day, hopped in his truck and drove to the Pueblo to take a more pro-active approach.
He parked on the outskirts and made his way through the throngs of tourists and foreigners, grimly ignoring them or shoving them aside - his mountainous size and aloof demeanor meant people quickly learned not to bother him. He would have some words with the Mayor, but his mind was focused on one thing right now: Little Eagle. His sister who disappeared, now suddenly leading some sham ceremony. It has been many months since his encounter with Shadaloo...the word echoes in his mind as he approaches her.
"Little Eagle!" he calls, stopping and waiting for her to turn. "It's me. It's your brother. T. Hawk."
As the words ring out, Little Eagle stops slowly and turns around with a casual motion, as if expecting for the voice to be issued from any one of the many visitors who has attempted to contact the shaman (frequently for their own internet publicity to show off to their friends how much better they are by the important nature of their vacation).
It's not until she finally turns around that there is a flash of recognition, and, perhaps strangely, no amount of surprise. The expression on the young native is similar to that one might express running into a co-worker on the street, rather than a long lost brother. The serenity that flows about her is almost unnerving.
"Thunder Hawk..." she starts, "What are you doing out here? It's dangerous."
Hawk stands staring, open mouthed as he processes this sudden encounter. "What am...what am /I/ doing here?" he asks, unable to properly form his thoughts into words. "You...Eagle, what the hell is going on?! You disappear, along with dozens of our own, Julia's father was...and then /she/ disappears...now you're here. Doing what? Conning tourists with this sham? Is this Mayor Mendoza or whatever his name is controlling you?"
He steps closer, the giant native kneeling and grasping Little Eagle's shoulders. He is disturbed by how calm she is. Something wasn't right, he could feel it, a certain energy in the air and earth that screamed something was off. It keeps him from embracing her, though he badly wants to; he aches to, it was his little sister after all. The one he took care of when they grew up in the shanty town, and all through their schooling.
"We need to get out of here," he says firmly. "Shadaloo, whoever they are, might be nearby."
It's impossible to deny that under circumstances like these, Little Eagle should be showing some sort of emotional reaction, whether it be joy, fear, or anger. Instead it's as if none of this really affects her. Was it a result of the rituals she'd just led? None of that had been anything real or spiritual for the Thunderfoot tribe.
Compared to a giant like Thunder Hawk, Little Eagle seems so utterly small. It would be so easy for her older brother to simply carry her off from this terrible mockery of their people. Just looking her in the face, it's so clear that this is Little Eagle, but the eyes that stare back at Hawk as his hands rest on her shoulders feel as if she's still miles away.
As the past flows through Hawk's mind, Eagle remains completely locked in her present. Rather than moving to hold her brother, her hands disappear behind her back before whipping around at her sides as they are occupied with lethal-looking tomahawks aimed to catch the elder Thunderfoot from both sides in a vicious maneuver. Her only words, a cold an emotionless, "Target identified."
COMBATSYS: Noembelu has started a fight here.
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Noembelu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk has joined the fight here.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Noembelu
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk dodges Noembelu's Double Chop.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Noembelu
Hawk has half a mind to pick Little Eagle up and run, in fact. His mind may be a swirl of emotions, but his sense of danger is what saves him when Eagle's demeanor changes, and the sharp tomahawks are produced. When she strikes, his arms shoot out and grab both of her arms. The big man rises to his feet, hauling her up as he does so. Even then, he's still baffled. "What the hell are you doing? Target identified? I'm your /brother/, Little Eagle!"
Honed fighting instincts take over and he throws her at the side of the trailer. Then he assumes his people's fighting stance, legs apread, arms held up with the elbows out like spread bird wings. His usual scowl deepens. Something was very wrong with his sister. She was changed. Did Shadaloo do this???
COMBATSYS: Noembelu blocks T. Hawk's Mexican Throw.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Noembelu
As she's tossed aside, Eagle shows remarkable agility by twisting around in mid-air, immediately setting eyes on Thunder Hawk as she hits the trailer feet first, cushioning herself from the blow. Already some feathers from the ritual headdress she wears have lost their hold, flittering through the air around her as she impacts.
The position is held for a heartbeat, seeming as if she's defying gravity for that instant, before she launches herself back into the air. First gaining height, she suddenly changes direction, arms spread out on her sides as if wings. It's immediately obvious that this maneuver comes from the Thunderfoot's own fighting style... with one difference: her arms begin to glow with a violent purple energy as she takes her collision course toward Hawk.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk blocks Noembelu's Condor Dive.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Noembelu
"Stop!" Hawk cries, hoping his sister can still listen to reason. When she comes at him with his people's technique - one which he is prepared to defend against - he realizes how hopeless his wish is, when he sees her surrounded by a vile energy that makes his skin crawl. Doubly so when she strikes him and he blocks her by crossing his arms in front of him. The purple energy seems to chill him to the core. This was definitely an evil presence. There was no doubt, he thought grimly. Whoever was responsible for kidnapping her, changed her into something wicked.
"Little Eagle, who took you? Give me a name!" he yells, and suddenly launches himself forwards. He seems to fly above the ground with his arms held out behind him like a soaring eagle, aiming to body slam his sibling with sudden speed.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk successfully hit Noembelu with Condor Spire.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Noembelu
When her attack is warded off, Little Eagle, bounces back to the ground, aiming to regain her footing, but it's obvious she put too much effort into landing the blow that never hit to be prepared for the retaliation. As Hawk hits her, she lets out a sharp cry of pain as she's knocked across the ground, sending more feathers flying everywhere.
And then she simply kicks back up to her feet. Every movement that Little Eagle makes is precise, practiced, even robotic. There's no sign that she views Thunder Hawk as anything more than a target at this point, despite the fact that as she brings both her tomahawks up, her ready stance is that same wide-armed positioning of traditional Thunderfoot warriors.
"Adjust for defensive parameters..." Eagle's words feel even more cold and emotionless now than before as she wastes no time to bring her weapons to bare on her brother. This time she attempts to make use of the size difference, twisting the tomahawk into an upward strike aimed to cleave midway up Hawk's torso, just past his guard.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk interrupts Crushing Strike from Noembelu with Tomahawk Buster.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Noembelu
It's sick, wrong to fight for survival against one's sibling. There's a knot in Hawk's stomach as he faces down his tomahawk wielding sibling, and a growing anger at being forced into this by whatever has changed her. WHOever has changed her. When her blade comes up to slice through him, he's already acting.
He answers her tomahawk with his own, sort of. He crouches slightly and thrusts his body upwards, rising up to slam into her and send her flying. He takes a bit of cut across his chest and near his shoulder, but it's light despite drawing blood. At the peak of his ascent he comes back down to the earth in a crouch, not saying a word as he begins to fully focus on the fight now.
The blow sends Little Eagle careening until she hits the red, desert sands in a violent dust up. The hit felt brutal, the landing knocked the headdress from her head, leaving the now nearly plucked ceremonial garb in shambles.
None of it appears to bother Little Eagle in the least. She rises up off the ground with no hesitation, even as a small trail of blood runs down her chin from a split lip. There are no cries for help, no attempts to remove herself from this threatening situation.
"Initiating new combat protocols," are her only words as she surges back into motion. It's as if every failure simply encourages her to fight more recklessly. In a flash of motion, she drops low, catching herself on the ground with one hand as her legs rise up into the air and then swivel down in an effort to sweep Hawk's legs out from under her. As the motion continues, her legs begin to glow with that same violent energy, her body righting itself upsidedown as she props herself up onto her forearms and then launches herself upward in a spiralling kick aimed as if it intends to take Hawk's head off, while her tomahawks fly up behind her with lethal intent.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk barely endures Noembelu's Psycho Splitter.
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T. Hawk 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Noembelu
Little Eagle's next line is cause for worry; new protocols? What was she, a robot? Either way, nothing good was coming. He clenched his fists and prepared himself, watching as Little Eagle swept in for his legs. He's swept up from the blow to his legs, momentarily airborne and left wide open for the next part of her attack: a vicious spiral kick to the face with the added flavor of Psycho Power. Luckily he isn't decapitated, but he's nearly knocked unconscious from the blow. His vision is an explosion of color, then black, and he feels the sensation of falling...then impact with the ground.
On his back, two longer gashes sliced into his flesh by the tomahawks, writhing in the sand from the feeling of the psycho power - he remembers now. The same power emanating from Vega himself, from the fight at the science institute not too long ago. Of course! He really was behind this! Horror dawns on him. That madman did THIS to his sister? His eyes snap open and he sits up in rage.
With a warcry he charges for Little Eagle, a surge of energy making him move forward. He grabs for her and leaps into the air, swinging her around in a windmill motion as he is carried up. He slams her down into the ground, hard enough to bounce her - whereupon he'll grab her again and rise even higher, for one final power slam into the ground. "DOUBLE TYPHOON!" he screams.
"RAGING TYPHOON!" he screams.
COMBATSYS: Noembelu blocks T. Hawk's Raging Typhoon EX.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Noembelu
While not considered common, there are a great many practioners of fighting arts that make some use of Psycho Power to enhance their combat capabilities. Unlike the effects of chi, however, this power is drawn exclusively from within, and as such holds a very personal touch within. Lord Vega's Psycho Power stands apart more than any other. The purity of its darkness combined with its potency is unique in all the world.
Unique, that is, except for the extension of his power that he gifted into his Dolls. Each of the Psionic Soldiers carries within them a portion of Lord Vega's power, a piece that explains why they are unwaveringly loyal to their master. This is what Thunder Hawk feels emanating from Noembelu, the girl once known as Little Eagle.
And now that she's truly tapped into this power, it's as if Noembelu is really showing the strength that she has been blessed with. As Thunder Hawk snares her, thrashing her about, a portion of her relaxed center is maintained, keeping her focused as she's launched toward the ground only to whirl about in mid-air and land on her feet with enough force to leave a small crater after the dust storm passes. None of the horrendous pain in her legs is enough to slow her down right now as it leaves her an opportunity, allowing her leap free just before Hawk can catch her again.
"Accessing power reserves," comes Noembelu's robotic voice again as her whole body suddenly begins to glow, sending out an oppressive wave of Psycho Power in all directions. "Target aquired..."
With a reckless burst of motion, she rockets back in at her brother, lunging up to his head as she aims both tomahawks for his shoulders, and planting both feet on his chest. The twin, Psycho Power infused weapons aim to dig in deep enough to take hold on his back before she twists the weight of her body to flip him off his feet, up over her head, and then slam him bodily into the dirt with her heels.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk blocks Noembelu's Psycho Slash.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Noembelu
Hawk's head is swimming, and not just from the damage; he can't believe this is happening. He searched high and low for the kidnapees, and this is what he finds. It seems like the trials will never end. "Little Eagle, listen to me! I'm your brother, remember? Our father was Arroyo Hawk, we are members of the Thunderfoot tribe! Vega took our land and drove us out! You have to remember!" Saying these words makes him feel stupid - of course she won't hear him. Not when she's like this. The only thing that will work is the clashing of fists. He must not falter.
He blocks the tomahawk strikes with his arms, giving a loud cry as the blades dig into his flesh. He's still flipped over her head, the big man crashing into the ground hard enough to rattle loose items around the trailer. He grits his teeth to bite back the pin, blood pouring from the wounds given by Noembelu's blades. He snaps a hand out to grab her by the collar and throw her while he sits up - nothing fancy, just something to get her away from him.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk successfully hit Noembelu with Medium Throw.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Noembelu
Once more, Noembelu has thrown herself completely into the offensive in an effort to efficiently end the fight. The fact that she was not able to put Thunder Hawk down has left her sluggish as she attempts to recover from her blistering assault. Even as she tries to throw herself out of the way, there's no hope of summoning up that much speed after nearly burning herself out, instead finding herself flung aside recklessly.
And still she rises back to her feet without hesitation. All of the stubborness, the refusal to give in that has flown through the Thunderfoot people for generations, now twisted here to stand against them. Noembelu leaps into the air, hoping to cut away at Hawk's recovery time, lashing out for a quick cut to Hawk's leg before he manages to steady himself.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk interrupts Power Strike from Noembelu with Thrust Peak.
- Power hit! -
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T. Hawk 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Noembelu
Hawk is unsteady, but controlled breathing and perhaps some attunement to nature helps stabilize him, sharpening his focus on the fight. He wants this over as soon as possible. He thinks he has his opening to finish it - as Noembelu leaps at him, tomahawk at the ready, he strikes. His arm swings upwards in a vicious chop, to slam into the space between Noembelu's neck and shoulder, her blade not even grazing him this time.
Noembelu nearly crumples as she's viciously struck at the neck, hitting the ground and going momentarily limp. With all of the damage laid out on her body, it wouldn't be hard to question whether she'd sufered some permanent injury she may not be able to get back up from. Certainly this fight has to be over.
"...Critical damage sustained..."
Noembelu's voice comes out weaker than before, but still monotone and calm. Whatever was done to her, as she pushes herself back up to her feet, it would seem apparent that she has no concern for her own wellbeing. Blood trickles from any number of cuts, her cheek misshapen from the swelling bruise beneath it, and yet her eyes maintain that unnatural, distant look.
In a flash she's barrelling down on her brother again, lashing out to grab him by the vest as her hands glow with pure Psycho Power. Using far more strength than a body her size should possess, she attempt to haul Thunder Hawk off his feet and leaping up into the air as she swings him around her in a spiral pattern, letting the Psycho Power flow over his entire body before she launches him at the ground.
COMBATSYS: Noembelu has reached second wind!
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T. Hawk 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Noembelu
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk blocks Noembelu's Mexican Typhoon.
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T. Hawk 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Noembelu
Noembelu lands back on her feet, eyes focused. "Reserve strength activated."
Hawk stares as Little Eagle keeps going. This whole thing makes him sick, disgusted. Beating on his own sister...what the hell is wrong with the world? "Stop fighting! Stay /down/," he hisses, dismayed as she continues on and charges for him. His eyes widen when she grabs him and hoists him into the air. Of course - he knew exactly what was coming. If the circumstance were different, he'd be proud to see her use the Mexican Typhoon so well.
He curls into a protective ball as she slams him into the dirt. Pain shoots up his back; his shoulder dislocated. He lets out a sharp breath and rolls, clutching it as he gets unsteadily to his feet. He would not allow himself to fall here. With another loud cry he charges her, leaping into the air to deliver a drop-kick straight into her face.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk successfully hit Noembelu with Medium Kick.
Glancing Blow
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T. Hawk 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Noembelu
There is no concern for her injuries. In fact, Noembelu moves now as if there was some unnatural swiftness to her actions when Hawk's boot comes flying at her as she spins out of the way, only catching the edge of his heel on her shoulder as she repositions herself. None of his words have any affect on her, there is not even a hint of response on her face.
"Eliminate target..."
Such heavy words come again with no hint of anything behind them. This is simply what she must do, there is no reason to question anything. Throwing herself back into the fight, she launches into the air, feet first, and begins to rapidly spin as she turns herself in a Psycho Powered missile locked on to Thunder Hawk.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk blocks Noembelu's Spiral Arrow.
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T. Hawk 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Noembelu
Hawk crouches forward and raises his arms in an x-pattern when Eagle flies at him feet-first. She drills into his arms, the impact enough to make him slide backwards despite his size. That's going to give his forearms some nice bruises. Still on his last energy reserves, he is simply silent as he plans his next move. It's only fitting he meet her earlier typhoon with one of his own, one he has practicted for many years ever since they were both very small. He grabs her by the collar and jumps up again, though this time without the height or the ferocity from earlier. "HYaaaaagh!" he screams, slamming her into the ground. No bounce this time - he's just aiming to stop her completely.
COMBATSYS: Noembelu dodges T. Hawk's Mexican Typhoon.
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T. Hawk 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Noembelu
Moving with a reckless haste, Noembelu is almost prepared for what comes next; as Thunder Hawk takes hold of her collar, she turns on her heel, wrenching herself free of his hold as she ducks low into a roll to get some more room out of the larger Thunderfoot's reach. If nothing else she's shown that she still has experience handling her people's martial arts, even if everything else surrounding her is lies.
Throwing herself right back into the fight, she lunge in with her tomhawks held tight. She stays low, in her best effort to limit Hawk's reach advantage while aiming a quick slash of her tomhawk for his thigh.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk interrupts Medium Strike from Noembelu with Fierce Kick.
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T. Hawk 1/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1 Noembelu
Hawk steels himself after his initial attack misses her; grimly he watches her move in low and acts accordingly. He turns quickly, thrusting his left leg up and back to slam into her with full force before she can get within slashing range. Considering Hawk wears a size 19 shoe, it's going to hurt. A lot.
A clean hit. Noembelu is sent rolling back across the red sand of the desert, leaving behind a nearly invisible trail of blood before she comes to a stop atop a small pile of scrub brush. She looks truly broken, her injuries severe, and yet still she pushes herself back to her feet.
"...Initiating final protocols," states in that same dull voice. Nothing seems to be able to put a stop to her, perhaps she will keep fighting until her body completely breaks and refuses to move.
The Doll throws herself at Thunder Hawk, launching herself up in an attempt to grab hold of him by the head and drag him with her up into the air. The atmosphere crackles with the unleashed Psycho Power flowing from her body into her brother's, dragging forth all those painful memories of the near destruction of the Thunderfoot Tribe. She swings her much larger brother around her in a reckless frenzy before flinging him down at the dirt below and taking her tomahawks back in both hands as she rockets down at him, aiming a dual chop for his chest.
COMBATSYS: Noembelu can no longer fight.
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T. Hawk 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Noembelu successfully hits T. Hawk with Psycho Typhoon.
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T. Hawk 1/-======/=======|
As the hit lands, whatever spark was keeping the Doll going fades down to a mere glimmer as she collapses from the damage inflicted on her in this fight between long-lost siblings.
Hawk can't believe she's still going; even after all this. This wasn't right. He steps back as she charges with Psycho Power, and, his energy exhausted, is helpless to defend against the head grab and the sudden elevation into the night sky. All he can see is the hideous glow of her Psycho aura, feel the energy moving through him - and then, he's flung back to the ground, slammed onto his back. A shock runs through his arms and legs. Dazed, he can do nothing as Little Eagle, or what's left of her, slams her tomahawks into his chest. Blood erupts from the wounds and he gasps, eyes wide, before his head falls back.
Luckily for him, emergency response units will be arriving to investigate the commotion, but he won't be forgetting this encounter any time soon.
COMBATSYS: T. Hawk can no longer fight.
A dragging, blood spattered trail leads off from the town; Little Eagle's body lays in a small puddle of blood, battered and beaten. The sound of the fighting was enough to draw in the guards around the town. Under the circumstances, there was no hope for Thunder Hawk to take his sister with him in his current condition, not if he wanted to escape.
Mayor Fausto Mendoza stands here, surrounded by Mexican National Guard uniforms as a medic tends to the broken Doll. "...Have the patrols keep an eye out for him, and then move that thing down into the lower levels. Make sure none of the damned visitors sees you or we won't be able to use this to our advantage. This is just what we need to move this into the second stage."
Log created on 21:26:26 06/26/2015 by Noembelu, and last modified on 18:09:43 07/07/2015.