Match of the Millennium

Description: It took some time, but it seems Abel has been ruffling enough feathers that his questioning throughout Thailand has at least caught the attention of one man. Cracker Jack found out someone was looking for him and is more than happy to be found. In the end though it seems neither man truely gets what they wanted.

[CRACKER JACK]
On the coast of Thailand sits a small fishing village, made more prominent because of its position to local roads that lead to the interior of the lush, jungle-strewn peninsula of Indochina. Besides being a fishing village, it is both a smuggling point and a mecca for spies and mercenaries alike, seeking shelter or rest or recruitment from or to various causes throughout the South China Sea and farther down into the archipelago of Southeast Asia. It is upon a fishing boat that Cracker Jack arrives, having tagged along from a city higher north on the shores of the tropics, the fishing captain already having sold his take of prawn to a city fishmonger.

The boat smoothly moves into the dock with the low sound of an ancient medium boat motor. There's the sharp consonants of Thai being spoken as the locals begin communicating with their friends on board, all grins and greetings as they moor the ship. And slowly, off the thick portion of the stern, Cracker Jack slides, holding a bat in his right hand as he land on the dock nimbly. Despite his build as a boxer, he's still quite light on his feet.

Cracker Jack has heard that someone has been poking around this village looking for Shadaloo. That is normally not a bad thing to do anywhere, unless Shadaloo is actually present where you ask. And that means, someone like Jack shows up. He lazily strolls up the pier, adjusting his salmon hat with his left hand, dragging the tip of the bat along the shifting wood below his feet. The sound of birds and surf calms him, but he's somewhat paranoid here, being in a foreign environment where everyone is speaking other tongues, and no backup. But that's good, he reasons. It'll make him sharp one he spots the man that has offended his interests.

[ABEL]
It had been a few days since Abel had that meeting with the strange woman who called herself Jezebel. Still to this point he isn't sure what to make of her. She claims she is Shadaloo and she said she had information, but instead he just saw a sad, broken woman wanting company. The only bit of information he could go on was a name she dropped. Even then Abel knows nothing about this Cracker Jack sort and if he is related to Shadaloo or not. People have been pretty mum when it comes to questioning and he had left Bangkok to look elsewhere.

The only information he got was from a few young punks that tried to rob him. A mistake because at the time Abel had no money. An even bigger mistake once the realized Abel isn't a typical hobo. They were mostly left in good condition. Some bruises on both the body and ego and their pockets lighter as Abel decided to take the money they had on them in order to get food and other things. Even then it wasn't too much and Abel will have to find a way to get some more cash. Perhaps in this village he can offer services in hefting things about. He is a strapping young lad afterall.

He will at least stick around a day or two more he figures. He hasn't had much luck in this small village either and in all honesty it would take Cracker Jack a scarce few moments to find out there is one out of towner here that seems inquisitive despite being polite and helpful. That and a six and a half foot tall French man with blond hair sticks out like a sore thumb in this sort of local. And even if not in town it is known he is camping out not far from the village where he has made a little makeshift place to stay before moving on.

[CRACKER JACK]
Cracker Jack does not know that Abel has heard of him, but does not care. As long as Interpol does not know he is Shadaloo, his family back home is safe. They are safe anyways, but Jack still fears his old man, despite never having had that old, crippling right hammer of a right hook lain across him. It is the order he fears, and the denunciation from that order. Not the man himself. He does not know this, however, having lost himself in nihilism, instead of understanding what it is about the order that makes him afraid.

He sees it when he sees Abel, though. His mouth pulls into a line as he approaches, lifting the bat to his left palm and tapping it, gritting his teeth. That look of heroism despite owning nothing. He grew up with nothing because his father wouldn't throw a fight to feed the family. And the Mafia broke every finger in that hand. Cracker Jack knows why, too. Every has to eat, your prize fighter fame isn't worth anything to the people watching, you're just dead bone and bruised flesh to the crowds. Your family is more important, whether it's organized crime, or a little Cracker Jack at home and his mother that needs to quite stripping before she becomes a joke.

He picked prize fight glory over his family, Cracker Jack's father. And Jack sees the same thing in Abel, just looking him over. Jack stops, in the middle of the street, swinging his baseball bat around and onto his shoulder.

"Hey!" he says, even stanced.

COMBATSYS: Cracker Jack has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Cracker Jack     0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Abel has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Cracker Jack     0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Abel

[ABEL]
The time when Cracker Jack does find Abel it seems the amnesiac is just finishing up helping a local with moving some product about. While some money is offered, Abel finds himself declining. The man looked to be having trouble to begin with and the meager money he was offering wouldn't help Abel enough anyways. Instead he just gives a polite nod and a smile.

Then that 'Hey!' comes from behind him and not too far from what he can tell. Abel turns about and has a bit of an inquisitive look as he sees Cracker Jack for the first time. He has a name, but he hasn't gotten much of a description. For all Abel knows this can just be some random thug looking to cause trouble. His gaze moves to the bat then moves back up to look at Cracker Jack while seeming to just shift slightly. He is on the defensive and while he doesn't seem like it to most people, a seasoned fighter like Cracker Jack would know Abel seems ready for trouble should it come his way.

"Yes? May I help you?" The baseball bat is enough Abel doesn't think this man is here to talk. Even so unless he has to come to blows he would prefer not to. Was his questioning hitting the right buttons? Could this be someone from Shadaloo that could give him actual information and not some wild goose chase like Jezebel resulted in?

[CRACKER JACK]
Cracker Jack furrows his brow, hidden beneath both his long, wild locks and his salmon hat, at the response. "I think I can help you. You've been looking for Shadaloo, right?" There's a hush about the village, and the people quietly but quickly move away from the street, eyes peering at the two of them from inside their humble abodes, although the bazaars have a few urchins watching, softly pointing at each fighter and discussing who is most likely to be defeated. Purely for purposes of plunder, any thought of entertainment out here is replaced by a constant daily struggle. "The name's Cracker Jack." He passes his bat to his left hand, displaying a fingerless glove on the right hand not present on the left. "You've been asking about me, too. I figured, I might as well teach a nice country pumpkin about showing some sense. The frost's not off the pumpkin, yet. You a Cal Smith fan?" he asks, a rakish grin sliding across the left side of his face.

Cracker Jack breaks into a sprint forward, rushing at Abel. There's a startled murmur about the village at the beginning of hostilities, as Cracker Jack pumps his arms and cranks his adrenaline up with internal mantras based on 1980's metal lyrics. He swings his right fist upwards, sending his knuckles up at Abel's chin, leaving his defenses open.

COMBATSYS: Abel blocks Cracker Jack's Dashing Upper.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Cracker Jack     0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0             Abel

[ABEL]
Shadaloo. Cracker Jack. Those were words Abel has been wanting to hear. It also seems Jezebel might actually have Shadaloo connections. "I have a few questions, but I see you aren't going to be one to give the answers I want. This case is not like Jezebel. With her Abel was not wanting a fight, but a few days of frustration combined with the fact Crack Jack wants to throw down has the Frenchman's adrenaline going. "Cal Smith? Not familiar, but you have to forgive me. I have few memories. It was your organization that took them."

Abel has forgotten many things since he woke up in that lab. Of all things he retained it was his ability to fight. He can't even remember how he learned to fight, but it just comes naturally. All he can think it was he was perhaps to become a weapon of sorts. A weapon they tossed aside after finding something better. He is thankful he has retained memories of how to fight because he is going to be sure to make all of those that took his memories pay.

His arm comes forward as he steps more into that strike. It comes in closer to the midsection of Abel instead of coming anywhere near with his chin. Now he has Cracker Jack close and that is just what he wanted. The arm used to block the strike goes to grasp Cracker Jack by his shirt and he pushes forward again. His other arm reaching to get behind a leg and tug to rather forcefully send Cracker Jack to the ground. "If this goes bad for you can thank Jezebel. She said you were a good friend after mentioning her ties to Shadaloo."

COMBATSYS: Abel successfully hits Cracker Jack with Drop Throw.
- Power hit! -

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Cracker Jack     0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0             Abel

[CRACKER JACK]
"Urgh!" Cracker Jack grunts out as he's pushed backwards, breaking his charge, and then his leg is scooped out from beneath him and he's dumped to the ground, his upper back hitting first. Cracker Jack is processing Abel's words in the back of his mind as he swivels around to snake his leg out of Abel's grasp, taking advantage of his personal secret, finely ironed high quality suit slacks. Perfect for escaping grabs, a quality suit that is maintained. He snakes about on the ground, no form to his technique, but aggression instead.

"She's getting a raise," Cracker Jack grunts, not pleased with Abel's attempt at passive aggression. His hand jacks out from his side at Abel's ankle, and he attempts to yank his outermost leg forward, before swinging his baseball bat around at the inner one, aiming at the knee, with a swift, hard pop.

COMBATSYS: Abel Toughs Out Cracker Jack's Cracker Blitz!

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Cracker Jack     0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0             Abel

[ABEL]
The grip from abel is loosened anyways once he has downed the other man. Even so before he lets go entirely Crack Jack is quick to roll away. "I am sure she will be pleased. More money for he friend she keeps talking about." He doesn't get much more time to say anything as he finds himself on the defense again when Cracker Jack comes in low. It doesn't see able is much for one for being fancy and trying to avoid strikes. He is sturdy and it shows about that time that bat comes around and slams hard into one leg.

There is also the fact it is a lot harder to move Abel when that other leg is tugged and there isn't much give at all. If anything Cracker Jack may have made things worse because now he is close in again and Abel's hands are already reaching out to grasp for Cracker Jack again. This time both hands look to just grasp Cracker Jack by his shirt and use his strength to heft the man up.

It also seems he is in for a bit of a ride too if he can't manage to break free from that grip. Abel starts to twist about on one foot and start to swing Cracker Jack through the air and swing him about a circle. It is a second swing that results on him using the momentum to swing Cracker Jack about and bounce him off the hard ground once more.

COMBATSYS: Abel successfully hits Cracker Jack with Tornado Throw.
- Power hit! -

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Cracker Jack     1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0             Abel

[CRACKER JACK]
Cracker Jack is hefted off his feet bodily, and emits a howl as he's spun around twice, a moan of fear as he's sent flying into a spice stand outside a house amidst the bazaar. He smashes into it and there's a great splitting of wood and shattering of glass, along with the screams of those inside the makeshift home. There's a long, heavy moment of silence, followed by incoherent babbling as a woman flees the house, covered with dust. And right behind her comes Cracker Jack, shaken and worse for wear. He's glowering behind his shaggy locks, hat in hand as he places it back atop his head and adjusts it to cover his eyes again. "You sure kick the shit out of people, guy."

Cracker Jack sprints forward at Abel, baseball bat having been lost in the confusion of the throw. He unleashes a combination with his body sidelong, opening up with three straight punches from the side, then cranking his torso about for a left hook aimed at Abel's temple, going savage instead of aiming for the cheap win manuever of a jaw blow. He does not mind this fight dragging out, and he wants to do damage.

COMBATSYS: Abel blocks Cracker Jack's Lazy Buffalo.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Cracker Jack     0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0             Abel

[ABEL]
Abel was trying not to do too much damage, but he is perhaps getting a bit carried away and the result is one damaged house he won't be able help pay for. If anything he will see about helping those that lived there in some way to make up for it. At the same time that is far back in his mind. He remains alert and waits to see if Cracker Jack gets up from the debris. He is doing his best to remain focused and calm and not let his emotions get the better of him, but knowing this man truely is Shadaloo makes it hard.

"I don't like doing it normally, but given your association with Shadaloo I am making an exception." he says as his brow furrows and he readies himself when Cracker Jack comes dashing in and unleashes those punches. Abel takes a step back and his movements are quick enough to keep up with the assault of punches coming from Cracker Jack. That hook comes for his temple in an attempt at a knock out blow, but Abel turns enough and gets his arm in the air to take the brunt of that swing.

His other arm is quick to move. A hefty enough punch going right for the gut of Cracker Jack thinking he left it easily exposed. He isn't sure how tough this fellow is, but he has taken some heavy hits so Abel isn't going to take him for granted. "I need names. I need to know who would have experimented on me." He isn't assuming someone like Cracker Jack would have answers. He figures much like Jezebel he is low on the pecking order, but this is a nice way for Abel to at least annoy them a bit he would hope.

COMBATSYS: Cracker Jack blocks Abel's Medium Punch.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Cracker Jack     0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1             Abel

[CRACKER JACK]
Cracker Jack shifts his arms down and his knee up to soak the punch to his stomach into his forearms, fists balling up to absorb the shock. "Fuck you," he hisses in close range, before he stamps his foot down and slashes his arms upwards against the extended fist Abel aimed at his gut with, trying to knock Abel back and open up his guard. His hand flies out at Abel's head, attempting to grasp onto the side of his cranium with his meaty hand, then swing himself around with the intent of spiking Abel's head right into the turf. He is positively glowing with an unseen aura of rage, his veins and muscles showing it more clearly on what little is seen of his neck amidst his trendy leisure suit's collar. You can smell him, though, sweat and cloves from the market and just a bit of wooden tinder from the destroyed house.

"I'm experimenting on you right now, froggy, with my fists."

COMBATSYS: Abel Toughs Out Cracker Jack's Medium Throw!

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Cracker Jack     0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1             Abel

[ABEL]
It was pretty much the answer Abel was expecting. Even if Cracker Jack knew information he was hardly going to just blurt it out when he is still standing. There is just a soft 'tch' that comes from Abel and he nods in response. If Cracker Jack wants to play that way who is Abel to deny him of violence?

For the first time he leaves his feet and while Cracker Jack manages to get a good grip to toss Abel, his hopes for spiking the Frenchman on his head doesn't come to pass. Abel is a accomplished grappler as it has been shown and he has his wits about enough he can turn and instead he lands hard on his shoulder and he goes rolling away and comes out of a roll on one knee and a hand resting on the ground. Then there is a smirk.

And quickly Abel surges forward. He closes the distance quickly and he goes for a quick forward punch before turning about to try and follow it up with a powerful backhand to stagger Cracker Jack. And well if he manages to do that then Cracker Jack will be in for a ride much wild than the one that put him through a house.

COMBATSYS: Cracker Jack endures Abel's Heartless.

[                           \\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Cracker Jack     1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0             Abel

The backhand quickly is followed up with Abel changing direction again to grab a leg and pull it out from under Cracker Jack to ground him albeit briefly. The thug soon finds himself lifted again and swung about and tossed away again. This time at least Abel tries to aim away from causing more destruction, but it is often hard to have good aim when caught up in the moment. "Then if you won't give me answers I hope you are good at delivering a message when I am done with you."

[CRACKER JACK]
Cracker Jack swings his arm down at the cessation of his grip to throw Abel to the ground, before his eyes widen at the rapid recovery. Cracker Jack bares his teeth, showing his juvenile hall pedigree, before he takes a step backwards in the face of the rapid rush. The punch jolts him, before the backhand swings him around to the side, spittle flying from his jaw as it slides sidelong, teeth grinding against each other.

His leg is yanked upwards, before he's pulled into the air and tossed away. He hits the ground in a roll and slides to his feet, in a sprinter's stance, blood leaking from his mouth from a bit lip. He sprints forward and scoops up his baseball bat along the way, swinging it directly at Abel's jaw as he barrels forward. And then, one of the urchins happens to push out a handcart full of utensils that he slams into, and Jack is sent flying over it into his face. He lands on the ground, bodily jerking once, before losing consciousness.

COMBATSYS: Cracker Jack can no longer fight.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Abel             0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Cracker Jack successfully hits Abel with Home Run Hero.
- Power hit! -

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Abel             0/-------/---====|

[ABEL]
It all happens so fast. That baseball bat ends up in Cracker Jack's grip and is swung quicker than Abel has anticipated. It is part him starting to get a bit winded and part him not thinking Cracker Jack could have anything left in him. Cracker Jack is at least concious enough to hear the sickening noise of that bat hitting the jaw of Abel and sending him tumbling off to the side into a heap. If anything Abel is lucky with a swing like that his entire jaw wasn't destroyed.

Things remain quiet for a moment as both men aren't moving, but then there is a bit of a shifting and a still dazed Abel starts to get to his feet as he wipes the blood coming from where his chin was busted open. He takes a few moments to try and regain his equilibrium and clear the cobwebs. Then his focus shifts to where Cracker Jack is. The Frenchman lurches forward and looking ready to continue fighting in case his opponent is playing possum, but it seems he is truely out. That is when Abel checks to see if the man has money and offers it to the villagers. It probably wouldn't be enough to cover damages, but it is something. He then manages to gather the strength to heft Cracker Jack over the shoulder and he leaves the village to be at peace once more.

"I wanted you to be concious, but.....I hope what I did was a good enough message to let anyone in Shadaloo know that the man they took everything from and discarded is coming for paybacks." He murmurs and once a bit of a distance he dumps Cracker Jack on the ground. There is no reason to kill him. Killing him only makes Abel a monster they may have wanted to be. All that trouble and really no questions answered. He just has to keep pressing forward. He knew it wasn't going to be easy and he will find a way to keep going on. With Cracker Jack dropped off Abel heads back to his camp. Before long things are torn down and he will be on the move again. There is no reason to linger. Others might come and right now he is a bit too beat up to handle another fight any time soon.

COMBATSYS: Abel has ended the fight here.

Log created on 19:55:58 11/18/2016 by Abel, and last modified on 22:30:46 11/18/2016.