Description: When normal people are in danger, there are those that immediately hear the call to arms to stand and fight. The United States Marine Corps has dedicated itself going anywhere in the world where they are needed to stamp out threats, and so the moment it was discovered that Cortejo Znebre had set their sights on Pueblo Thunderfoot, Minal "Mint" Panesh volunteered to protect the peace. While Zach Glenn has resigned his commission, he's no less dedicated to protecting the weak in his new position as part of a private security company. On a night patrol, the two protectors stumble upon a strange sight, a small group of black-clad figures setting up a bomb on the edge of town. Radios are suddenly down, no backup is on the way; do they have the strength to protect the peaceful Mexican town?
Relief for those at the post doesn't seem to be coming. But considering how late it seems, who knows, there aren't exactly a whole lot of clocks on this part of town, and the rustic nature of the town (only betrayed by the rather gaudy and conspiciously metallic BFW stage set up in town) doesn't exactly suggest a lot of smart phones around, nor a lot of folks being able to afford even cheap watches. It IS that sort of town, and that's part of the appeal too, something...simple.
But then again, simple towns don't tend to be completely separate from the more complex world outside. Sure, the watch tonight technically are outsiders as well....but then you have others, like the small group of men not too far off in the distance, clad in black to blend in with the night. In fact, only the shine of gun-metal and some sort of other reflective casing of....well, something....glinting in the moonlight betrays that anyone is there at all. Hushed voices direct traffic, as the group tries to surround a certain spot right on the edge of town. Whatever it is, they're clearly not locals. And they clearly don't seem to be up to any good.
Zach and Mint were passing the time, while keeping an eye out for trouble, bantering back and forth about training exercise hijinks. Zach was regaling Mint with a story about two men sword-fighting left-handed to keep things interesting when he stops short, holding up one hand to signal Mint to be quiet. The psion closes his eyes for a moment, focusing on a particular sense and skillset for a moment before opening his eyes to regard Mint carefully.
Zach holds up four fingers and a thumb to indicate five people, and then points more or less where they are trying to hide before reaching across his chest to slide the pistol free of its holster. The psion then slowly pulls the slide back to check the chamber before easing the slide forward again. He gestures quickly, indicating that Mint should follow him and provide fire support with her carbine.
Mint's eyes had lit up when Zach had mentioned two people fighting with their off-hands -- understandably, she has a plethora of anecdotes about that sort of story. She's about to share them, too, when Zach holds up his hand to stop! Stopping with her mouth open, it looks like she's about to get angry -- but then the memories of the Obi-wan-like psion's deeds in Metro City surface again. She looks off into the distance -- and sees nothing, at first.
Her glance back to Zach is just in time to catch the hand signal, bringing about an affirmative nod from the corporal as she quietly unsafeties her carbine. She may not be psychic. But now that her attention's been called, she can make out the shadowy figures in the moonlight.
The rogue group continues to set up, and when Mint and Zach get closer, they can hear hushed tones of harsh Mexican Spanish. The black outfits they wear become clearer as dark uniforms of...some sort. Not quite military, but almost like...contractors? Mercenaries? Either way, they're clearly an organized group. And they don't seem to sense anything wrong, as they continue to set up.
As they converse and follow directions, it's clear that two of them are mostly taking the lead, the other three simply following orders and repeating them as need be to each other as the muffled sound of drills. Finally, something is pulled out of a metallic crate...and while it looks unassuming, the wiring once the thing is opened is almost unmistakable: that HAS to be a bomb of some sort
Zach keeps a low profile, keeping the barrel of his pistol low at his side as he makes his approach. He stops, and watches the quintent for a moment. He's not sure what to make of the package they have, so he waves Mint up, and points out the device once she's near. He shrugs once by way of explanation.
Mint frowns as she squints back at the five shadowy gentlemen(?). She, unlike Zach, has a carbine at her side. And said carbine has a scope.
The corporal frowns even more once she gets a sight of the wiring, glistening in the moonlight. "Zach, I'm about to do something very ill-advised. Because they... have a bomb."
Two on five? Terrible odds, yes. But the two Marines have initiative, and as soon as Mint dives behind a rock, they now have cover.
One single warning shot will ring out, the carbine's round landing about five feet short. "Hello travelers! Customs department, hands in the air! And /welcome/ to Pueblo Thunderfoot village!"
COMBATSYS: Mint has started a fight here.
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Mint
Unaware of any others around, the 5 contractors continue to set up their bomb. From the looks of it, it's C4. Whatever it is, it's not meant for indiscriminate destruction: it's about breaching. But the question is...breaching what?
That, thankfully, means that the warning shot, even as it lands short, doesn't really threaten to set off anything, except the groups awareness. Curses in Spanish fly out, as 2 pull out sidearms, and another shoulders a rifle, the rifle aimed directly in the direction of Mint's voice as she calls them out. A string of commands in Spanish come from the man who's clearly a leader of the group, befor he demands "SHOW YOURSELF!" The rest of them make a perimeter around their bomb. The other lieutenant doesn't pull out a firearm of any sort, instead putting up a stance of...some sort.
One of the mercs scans the night, before dropping to his knees, trying ot finish the set up for the bomb, while the others close the perimeter. "SHOW YOURSELF!" comes louder English, a warning shot of his own coming from the leader with the rifle.
COMBATSYS: C.U. Captain has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Mint 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
Zach blinks twice rapidly as Mint starts shooting. He shakes his head, forcing a grin. Mint's a hothead, for sure. The psion considers for a moment, then comes up with the plan. "Take care of the bomb," Zach orders. "I'll keep the others off of you as best I can," he explains as he reaches back for one of the handles at his lower back. Pulling the OKC Strap Cutter free of its sheath, Zach dashes around the far side of the boulder. Golden energy slides along the blade, highlighting Celtic designs down length of it.
The bright shiney knife? It's a bit of a distraction. Glenn points the pistol at the man taking the fighting stance and snaps off a pair of insanely precisely aimed shots, going for the man's thighs!
In Mint's mind, the purpose of opening fire was twofold: one, alert the -town- to impending danger, and two, -delay- the arming of the bomb. She has personal experience with bomb detonation, and would rather not get anywhere close to it again if she can avoid it.
Mint doesn't respond to the call to show herself. She just takes a quiet assessment of the situation, realizes that her warning shot had achieved the intended effect. Smirking, she braces the carbine against the rock. She'd love to open fire on the folks directly surrounding the bomb, but with the glint of moonlight across the scope of an enemy rifle, the one with the best aim needs to be the priority. "Soooo that's a no?!" The corporal opens fire -- aiming for the rifleman's thigh -- she wants to drop him down to his knees before she opens fire on anyone -else- with a bright idea.
COMBATSYS: C.U. Captain blocks Zach Glenn's Thrown Object.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Mint 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant blocks Mint's Thrown Object.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
As the shots ring out, it becomes clear that, despite being out here in the backwoods, that at least two men of this mercenary group aren't quite your normal gunmen. THe knife is a nice distraction, but when the shot to his thighs come from Zach, the man in stance manages to bring his hands down, a hasty glow of green surrounding his palm as it stops the bullets, the impact flinging said arm back a few inches from the recoil. The rifleman's reaction is much more mundane, but still impressive, the stock of the rifle brought in front of the path of Mint's shot and catching it. The feedback still ends up sending the rifle hard into his thigh, hard enough to likely cause a significant bruise later, and rattle it out of his hands temporarily, but the shoulder strap keeps it level enough to grab again. "THERE!" the rifleman shouts, taking aim. A few shots ring out, firing toward the direction of MInt. Most of it's suppression fire, but still not something you want to get hit by...unfortunately, the gun soon jams thanks to the earlier shot, causing the rifleman to growl, and suddenly BOOT it in Mint's direction.
And the man in stance? He doesn't move, except to draw his arm back, palm still spread. A common ball of green energy suddenly grows in his hand before thrusting it in the direction of the boulder Zach is using for cover. The other three? THey continue to cover with their sidearms, and work on planting their bomb. The sheer difference of soldier is clear between the first two, and these three, the ones with their pistols drawn simply looking around skittishly in case there are more on watch.
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks C.U. Captain's Generic Fireball.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: Mint blocks C.U. Lieutenant's Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
The mercenary captain isn't the only one who can play with energy fields. Zach has already holstered the pistol and slaps the now empty hand, sheathed in the same golden glow covering the knife, at the green chi blast aside. The errant shot is slapped towards one of the minions as Zach continues to close. The psion pulls a second Strap Cutter free of its sheath, energy sliding along that blade as well.
Zach skids to a halt in front of the merc, slashing diagonally with both blades, twin arcs of soul power lashing at his opponent!
Mint ducks back into cover as soon as she squeezes off her shot, quite mindful that the muzzle flash would not be as much of a surprise as the first shot. The Marine bites back laughter as she hears the thump of the rifle stock hitting the guy in the thigh, and even more laughter as she hears the frustration building to such a crescendo that the entire rifle becomes the next projectile.
Mint does hear the nose of the rifle cracking against the rock she's using as cover -- it's enough advance warning for her to throw her arms over her head defensively. The stock of the rifle slams into her upper arm, but it's nothing she can't suck up and deal with!
When she pops back up though, her left arm is the one extended -- her rifle at her right side. Her pinky finger extends out to the lieutenant and his subordinates in turn, as audible beeps can be heard from a speaker on her shoulder -- targeting confirmations.
"Darts!" she announces -- she's /got/ to work on a snappier trigger word than that. But the fact remains that her arm shudders with a sudden burst of compressed air, as a volley of slender, needle-like darts erupt from cylinders on the wrists of her gauntlets, one after the other, with an aim of embedding themselves into both the lieutenant and his merry bomb-laying men. Fun for the whole Cortejo Unebre family!
COMBATSYS: C.U. Captain blocks Zach Glenn's Claw Flare.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: Mint successfully hits C.U. Lieutenant with Foreign Object Damage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
As the town's protectors continue to hold steadfast, the mercs do their best to hold on as well. The rushing advance from Zach finally gets noticed by the chi-using leader, whose eyes turn toward the Marine with those knives drawn. Eyes widening, he brings up his arms, the green glow forming again and using it as a guard against the twin slashes. Wincing as he'd drawn back from the strikes, he glowers. Narrowing his eyes, he comes in with a thrusting front kick toward Zach. It's not a fancy strike, but it seems rather basic military hand-to-hand strike. WHoever this one is, he has some kind of military training.
The one with the rifle previously, he ends up trying to dive away from the darts she throws. But both he and the other three end up stuck hard with those projectiles. The three men fall over, groaning painedly, but the lieutenant manages to hold on and stay upright for the most part. Tossing the darts away, he runs toward the direction of Mint's cover, leaping high. Trying to chase her down and go hand to hand, he lands...and goes eyes wide. "YOU!" he shouts, pointing straight at Mint, his demeanor changing almost immediately. "LA DIABLA!!" he shouts before hand-springing toward her, aiming to crack her over the head with one foot.
COMBATSYS: C.U. Captain successfully hit Zach Glenn with Average Strike.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: Mint fails to interrupt Cartwheel Kick from C.U. Lieutenant with Attack of Opportunity.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
Zach pivots to attempt to avoid the strike, but takes the strike cleanly in the ribcage, driving him back. The psion frowns for a moment, eyeing the captain thoughtfully. Okay. Energy games it is then.
Zach takes a broad stance that might remind one of an astride stance in boxing: both feet firmly planted, shoulder width apart. He lets out a sharp kiai, and a visible aura of that golden energy surrounds Zach. A ripple of purple slides along the aura as Zach's slightly-longer-than-regulation hair is ruffled by the sudden display. It might be a trick of the light but as the violet ripple passes over Zach's head, his hair takes on a similar shade that flows up, through, and out of the whipping hair before passing into the night.
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn enters a trance-like state.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
Mint is pleased to knowledge that her darts landed true, drawing her fist back and blowing across the emptied tube. "Yeah," she announces with a prideful smile back at the lieutenant. Her boasting doesn't last long, though, as she acknowledges that the lieutenant is now moving to close the gap.
Frowning, she pops the release on the ammunition cartridge of her gun, shoving it into a pocket of her flak vest. She pops the release on her shoulder strap, letting the gun clamber to the rock below -- that's quite literally all she has time for!
Because while the pint-sized pugilist is -intending- to jackhammer a punch into her attacker while he's in midair, she misjudges his pissed-off determination, eyes going wide as he suddenly snaps from 'out of range' to 'in your face range'. She tumbles backwards, one dirty bootprint smudged across her dark-skinned face as her reinforced KNUCKS scrape against the dry desert floor.
Wiping her face against the crook of her elbow, she springs back up, eyes wide as she stares back at her aggressor. One of them. There's like three now, in her dizzied vision. "Alright then! Let's tango!"
The chi-using merc manages to plant his foot hard into Zach, something he knows well enough judging by the smirk crossing his face once he hits. As Zach backs up, and plants his feet apart with a kiai, the chi user blinks...and growls. Brushing a finger across his pencil mustache, he slams his own foot down and seems to mirror Zach. He doesn't have the kiai to go with it, but his skin seems to glow green as he summons up more energy within him as well in response.
Meanwhile, the lieutenant that managed to crack Mint with the cartwheel kick still seems rather...unnerved. "You....demon child!" he says with questionable proficiency of English, before scrambling forward on all fours. Once he gets close, his hands plant and feet lash out toward her legs, trying to sweep her off her feet first thing.
COMBATSYS: C.U. Captain gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
Zach grins a bit. "Follower, then," he mutters to himself. Zach charges at the man, taking a high leap. Energy trails in Zach's wake as he turns a single flip before hurling at the captain with an explosively powerful dropkick. Zach's weight, plus the radiant soul power at his command add to the force of impact as Glenn aims to blast clean through the merc's guard!
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant successfully hit Mint with Takedown Sweep.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
Demon Child. El Diabla. Minal doesn't have the strongest command of Mexican Spanish but she can piece together that they're kinda the same concept. "Uh...huh," she nods, narrowing her eyes back at the lieutenant.
In a moment, the thought might occur to her that he's not just calling her that to be mean. But right now, the only thing going through her head is that he's... scrambling forward on all fours. Like a cockroach. That's not a usual attack vector, she considers.
She tries to leap out of the way once she identifies an actual attack, but by that point, the short girl is caught unaware, swept right off her feet. Landing hard on her shoulder, she's now at a significant tactical disadvantage due to the additional 70 pounds of weight keeping her anchored to the ground.
Or =is= she? She rolls onto her back, and clenching both fists, she rams her elbows backwards. A sudden flare of light erupts from the back of her gauntlets, and she flies upward suddenly! Her right side more than the other, though -- and she steers her hook punch downward to attack the meanie who kicked her in the head. "You asked for it -now!-" Her rocket-propelled strike resembles the collarbone breaker: Sakotsu Wari!
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant blocks Mint's Hook Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn successfully hit C.U. Captain with Meteor Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 1/------=/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\1 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
The big diving kick that Zach drives toward the chi-using contractor hits with enough force that despite his attempt to shore up after charging up, it plows straight through him, blasting him back with the extra force of the soul power that the strike is infused with. "GHGHKNNN!!" Skidding back hard, the fighter slowly manages to pull himself back up, and groans. Looking up, he manages to get himself back up to his feet....and soon as he can, charges straight at Zach. Running at full clip, he tries to grab on to Zach's shoulders, hands glowing with the same green energy as before, and tries to heft him high into the air with a chi-charged slam to the ground.
The remaining grunts groan, slowly trying to come to. Even if it's hard to tell with them otherwise engaged, there is a rather telltale tattoo on one of their forearms as the black clothing they had on rides up at the sleeves. The lieutenant, in the meanwhile, manages to bring a knee up to intercept the overhand hook strike, caught on both forearms and leg, despite the element of surprise. "Jesus, Maria y Jose..." he mutterrs to himself, still clearly unnerved. "La Diabla," he keeps calling her, even as he plants a hand again and spins out with legs extended, trying to catch her in a wild spinning kick. He's clearly trained in a capoeria-like style, which is strange, but then again...you never know what groups are hiring powered fighters.
COMBATSYS: C.U. Captain successfully hit Zach Glenn with Surging Chi Grapple.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant successfully hit Mint with Helicopter Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Zach Glenn 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Mint 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
Zach goes for the ride, letting out a surprised yelp as the chi burns through his body. The psion takes a tumbling bounce before sliding across the desert sands. He lays still for a moment before regaining his feet, sheathing both knives. His right hand drifts towards the hilt of that claymore strapped to his back, but stops. Zach glowers, shaking his head as if to get rid of an errant thought.
A half second later, Zach charges in, throwing a three-quarters uppercut directly at the captain's jaw. The punch, backed by an explosive display of force, ought to give the mercenary pause for thought!
But... but it works so well when she uses it in the ring! Minal can't hide her disappointment at seeing the twisty punch deflected by a... -knee-. While the rockets extinguish, she mutters, "Wow, that looks -forced-..." hopping back to what she feels is a safe distance. But she doesn't have too much time to appreciate this before getting called that demon child name again. "I'm -not- a child! I'm twenty-five years old, thank you!" Despite her good nature, her cheeks are reddening at the repeated insult -- but they'll be reddening even more once those feet catch her in a spinning kick, sending the diminutive corporal spinning (once again) to the desert floor.
Mint slams an open palm onto the desert floor to anchor her against flying away from the impact, the seams of her gauntlets glowing a faint blue. Probably not doing much for the 'el diabla's' reputation, there. "Okay, I might be getting angry soon! Knock it off, you're already in trouble, mister!" And then with a sudden blur of motion, she rushes forward, aiming to slam her fist in an underhanded blow of force one would -probably- not expect from someone her size!
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn successfully hit C.U. Captain with Dynamite Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Zach Glenn 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>--\1 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Mint 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: Mint successfully hits C.U. Lieutenant with Body Blow.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Zach Glenn 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>--\1 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Mint 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 C.U. Lieutenant
The big dynamite uppercut that Zach lashes out with once he recovers from the huge slam catches the merc right on the jaw hard, his head lashing back harshly and nearly sending him spinning off and away. As it is, he 'just' falls to the ground, groaning and spitting out a mouthful of blood. Groaning and gowling, he pushes himself back to his feet. ANother gout of blood is spat toawrd Zach's feet before he throws his hands up into the air. Amassing that green energy from before, a large sphere gathers before tossing it straight at Zach, like one might a beach ball...and with about as much speed behind it..
The Agile lieutenant meanwhile gets slammed with a mighty blow to the ribs, the attempt at a knee-guard faltering as the punch ends up swinging AROUND his guard and catching him hard. A sucking sound comes as he's clearly having trouble breathing after the strike. "Hrrrrhhhhhh...." Buckling to the side, he glowers at Mint, but with eyes clearly tinged with fear. "You are a demon....mi conpaneros...you....." he continues to babble before thrusting a kick outward, straight at Mint's chest. No fancy movements this time, just a stab outward with the ball of his foot.
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks C.U. Captain's Big and Slow Chi Fireball.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Zach Glenn 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Mint 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: Mint fully avoids C.U. Lieutenant's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Zach Glenn 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Mint 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 C.U. Lieutenant
Zach spins up a fine barrier of soul power before interposing it between himself and the chiball, causing most of it to disperse into the ether. Zach's arms show signs of slight burns, that start to fade a little as the psion takes a running leap at the captain. Glenn spins once on the horizontal axis, lashing out with a sweeping kick aimed at the merc's... followed by two more kicks with the same leg to the same area before bringing the kick upward for a smashing axe kick aimed at the captain's collarbone with crushing force!
Corporal Panesh pulls her fist back, all set to follow up her strike with another, more brutal strike after it. But once she sees the level of pain the lieutenant is in, she holds back a moment.
Companeros, was it? Mint's eyes narrow -- -that- much she understood. "Friends? What about your friends?"
And then an earlier conversation with Zach comes to mind. Missing time. Travel she wasn't aware of. And battle damage to her artificial hands to such a degree that she could barely even use them.
Mint leaps to the right of the plain and simple stab of the foot, adrenaline coursing throughout her veins. She's fired up, the numerous wounds starting to add up. "Zach, how you doin' over there...?" she asks, before lunging forward with an intent to grab onto the lieutenant's shoulders... and if she manages that, the pint-size pugilist would haul him up to her level with a good swift knee to the stomach. Followed by a second, and third.
With a smile that's borderline predatory, she proposes, in slow, easily-understood english "So I scared you and your friends? Call 'em off. And don't come back. And we'll forget about this little chat."
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn successfully hit C.U. Captain with Gale Force Kick.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----<<|=======\===----\1 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Mint 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 C.U. Lieutenant
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant blocks Mint's Lock and Load EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----<<|=======\===----\1 C.U. Captain
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mint 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 C.U. Lieutenant
With the gigantic chi-ball tanked well enough, the 'merc' looks on rather dumbfounded. Apparently, he's never seen that not work on someone, and the surprise is clear on his face. At least long enough for the expression to register for what time he has left, as the combo that Zach quickly pounces upon him with quickkly wipes it away, until the axe kick plows him straight into the ground face first, leaving him unmoving and embedded into the ground.
The others start to stir, one looking up just in time to see the chi-user defeated...and quickly crawls over to the bomb, trying to hastily finish setting it up. Another looks up at the same scene...and quickly feints being KO'd still himself.....and the lieutenant engaging MInt still looks rather terrified of her, eyes wide still after his foot thrust misses, and he's forced to cover up from MInt's fast assault. "I don't mean those pendejos lying down there!" he shouts back, even as he goes full out toward her, a spring kick coming from the air down at her, followed by several winging elbow strikes, before a rising kick that's almost like he's trying to walk up Mint and backflip off her.
COMBATSYS: C.U. Captain takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----<<|=======\====---\1 C.U. Lieutenant
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Mint 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: C.U. Captain can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/-----<<|=======\====---\1 C.U. Lieutenant
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Mint 1/-----==/=======|
"This end's done," Zach calls to Mint, turning to regard the Corporal with a concerned eye as he catches his breath. "Want a hand?" he asks honestly as he walks toward the people prepping the bomb. The look on Zach's face as he regards the remaining mercenaries promises more than a little bit of trouble...
COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Mint 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Mint blocks C.U. Lieutenant's Clear the Dance Circle.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Mint 1/---====/=======|
"A -hand?- Is that your idea of a joke, Zach?" Normally the cheerful Marine would add a smile with that, but she's kind of busy right now!
The corporal lives for the feeling of adrenaline coursing through her system. It's why she throws herself headlong into boxing, the visceral thrill of having punches thrown -- and ONLY punches thrown -- excites her in a way that most martial arts just don't. With punches, you can keep your eyes on your opponent and not have to worry about attacks coming from an unusual vector.
But now... Mint is starting to get acclimated to the idea that, at a fair distance, she can adapt to other fighting styles as well. The pugilist looks up to see the spring kick coming down at her, and thrusts her palm up to block it. It jams her elbow backwards, but she moves backwards with the motion to dampen the blow. The following elbow strikes, though, she can match those with her metal gauntlets, knocking them away with the wide barrel-like protrusions on the sides.
That rising kick though? The best she can do is just plant her feet and screw her eyes shut for that, setting her jaw firmly in place.
She's waiting, really. For she's aiming to intercept the lieutenant the instant he lands with an rising left uppercut. And then the very instant that it lands, her metallic "backpack" will light up and thrust the boxer into the air so that she can intercept him in midair with a pounding punch akin to a volleyball strike, aimed at knocking the rest of the wind out of him. "Which pendejos do you mean then? Out with it!"
COMBATSYS: Mint blitzes into action and acts again!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Mint 1/----===/=======|
COMBATSYS: Mint successfully hits C.U. Lieutenant with Uppercut Punch.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Mint 1/---====/=======|
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant dodges Mint's Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Mint 1/---====/=======|
With that climbing flipkick finished, the remaining lieutenant ends up planting his feet...and barely avoiding getting completely leveled with a vicious uppercut, the strike staggering him as it clips him on the side of the head. Fight or Flight triggers as the second strike comes, avoiding the pop up from the backpack and the proceeding overhead blow. Eyes widening, as he scrambles away, he regards MInt with a look, then to Zack...and simply tries to claw his way back up to his feet before running away. "Screw this. You putas are on your own!" he shouts, presumably to his 'friends'.
Said friends look up at Zach...at least the ones not pretending to be out cold alread. Seeing what happened to the two of them that could actually fight, hands quickly go up. Universal sign of surrender.
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 C.U. Lieutenant
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Mint 1/---====/=======|
COMBATSYS: C.U. Lieutenant has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Zach Glenn 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Mint
Zach actually looks embarrassed when Mint calls him on his terrible choice of words. "Sorry," he apologizes without looking away from the cowering mercenaries. "But obviously you had your end under control." Glenn regards the men with a cold look as he draws his pistol again and changes the magazine for a fresh one. Then he aims the pistol in their general direction.
"The lady asked your guy a question," Zach declares. "I'm hoping you have an answer for that, and a few more questions of my own."
As Mint whiffs her follow-up punch against the lieutenant, she... realizes the man decided to take her up on that previous offer. Part way, anyway -- the bomb's still intact, even though, well... did they finish arming it or not? She shakes her fist at the fleeing lieutenant, jogging after him for a few steps before giving up the chase. "Hey, no, no, get back here, you... you pendejo!"
She blinks for a moment, then holds a button on her inner right gauntlet. "KNUCKS, translate 'pendejo' to English."
After a moment, a deep male voice responds, "In English, 'Pendejo' means 'stupid'. Alternates: 'coward, berk, motherfu-'"
"Cancel request, thank you!" interrupts Mint, as she begins to stride over towards the surrendering men. "Man, I'm a language -genius-..." she mumbles to herself, as she flashes a smile at Zach. Though, it would seem with each passing step, she seems to be moving a bit slower. And... appears to be getting dizzy, her arms windmilling out to the side for balance.
What really seems to nail it for her, though, is the sound of a magazine being locked into position. At that point, she abandons pretenses at standing, dropping to one knee with her palm flat against the ground. She knows what Zach just did... and she flashes a hopeful grin back at the hired help. Good cop, bad cop time? "Yeah, let's... just answer questions, right? Happy... happy talky time, right?"
The surrendering trio (at least the conscious ones) continue to keep their hands up, the C4 bomb wired but not armed, and without the detonator that can set it off primed for the electric charge necessary. With the gun drawn and cocked, one of them swallows, dart still sticking out of his shoulder. "Cortejo Unebre," is all he says, scowling up at Zach. Sure, they're stuck, but that doesn't mean he has to like it.
Zach walks slowly up to the man who speaks. "Ah," he says in that coldly neutral voice. "A volunteer." He gently places the barrel of the Colt 1911 on the man's forehead. "My Japanese is good. My Scot and Gaelic are enough to get by if I need it." Zach applies the slightest of pressure against the man's head. "My Spanish is pretty much non-existent," Zach informs the man. He lets that sink in for a moment.
"So what did you just try to tell me," Zach asks. His tone of voice is all business.
Mint stares at the ground, blinking rapidly as she attempts to focus. The tiny fighter got slung around quite a bit, both by her own bespoke weapons system and by the lieutenant. But she still has her wits about her. And she knows Zach just crossed a line.
Gulp.
"... Um. Zach? Language master, here..." She raises her voice, but attempts to maintain a chipper tone. "Eh-heh... what my partner's saying is... let's start with you bringing a -bomb- to a town full of civilians. C'mon, what part of you thought that was a smart idea?"
She wobbles slightly, trying to pluck her hands off the ground, but she's having a little bit of trouble there...
The Cortejo Unebre thug simply snorts. Even with the gun lined on him and pressed against his forehead, it seems like he's not really willing to share much more than that.
"You think we started this, you're more than pendejos," the other conscious one spits out toward Zach, even going so far to literally spit at his feet...all with hands up in surrender. "Puerco, you don't even know what you're protecting."
Corporal Panesh manages to get back to her feet... at which point she holds down the button again. "KNUCKS, translate 'puerco' to... um, hold on..."
"Command not recognized."
"Yeah, forget it," she mumbles, resuming a steady pace towards the thug-type people. She steadies her hands, and after a dozen paces or so she seems to be perfectly normal again. "Okay, answer me these then... why am I 'la diabla', and... is that /better/ or /worse/ than pendejo and puerco?'"
"You've got guts," Zach grants the man he is holding the gun to. "Either that or you're just plain dumb." Zach considers. "Though I suppose fear might be a good motivator," he guesses after a second. "Regardless, you're clearly not willing to share anything." That statement is flat. Without pity. Without remorse.
Despite that, Zach pulls the gun away. The thug won't get much of a chance to say anything. Or do anything, for that matter, as Zach pistolwhips the thug in the temple to knock him out. Glenn then goes to a pouch on his gear and produces a thick plastic zip-tie, which he uses to bind the man before walking to the one who spat at him. "Your turn," Zach says quietly. "Answer the questions."
As the man who spat at Zach gets ziptied, he doesn't bother looking toward him. His eyes are completely focused on Mint instead, and where the Lieutenant had fear in his eyes, this one simply has contempt. And the other one?...he's just not looking at all, clearly sweating. "...la diabla. You're the demon woman who attacked us. You and your leathered up puta going after our camps. You started this."
Zach is listening to the thug, watching through narrowed eyes, when the wave of emotion hits him like a wave. He turns to regard Mint, keeping the gun on the man in front of him. He regards Mint for a moment, his mind putting things together.
"Minal," he says softly, the first trace of /compassion/ in his voice since the fight ended. "You said it yourself. You weren't aware. It's not your fault."
"I'm the demon wha..." Mint shakes her head slowly. "No, no, that... that wasn't me..." she starts.
And then she hears Zach's words. And she nods slowly, kneeling down next to the Cortejo Unebre thug. "Okay. I'm not La Diabla right now. We're gonna make this right. But you leave the b-b... that thing with us. And you run back to your camp. We'll figure this out." She smiles back at the man.
And she silently pushes Zach's gun arm away from the man.
Zach frowns slightly as the gun is pushed away, but doesn't resist, either. He simply walks over to the man he ziptied, pulling one of those Strap Cutters out. He hunkers down and cuts the tie without cutting the thug. He sheathes the knife, and holsters the gun.
"You heard the lady," he pronounces coldly. "Leave."
And, at least for now, it's all quiet on this front of Pueblo Thunderfoot.
Log created on 15:47:42 07/12/2015 by Mint, and last modified on 19:23:29 07/13/2015.