Match of the Millennium

Description: The Ikari Warriors are wanted people according to the NOL. Deep in their Brazillian base, Codename: Leona Heidern, determines that whatever presence is itching under her skin warrants investigation more than hiding low and avoiding the bounty hunters. In her determination, she takes along her fellow Ikari Warrior, Faolan. That is, after determining if he can stand against her should the worst happen.

[FAOLAN]
"Meh!"

That is a good way to describe how many of the Ikari Warriors feel these days. Something went down and Heidern hasn't been good at explaining why the mercs are pretty much to stay at the base and not venture forth for activities. It has lead to many a bored Ikari and Faolan just happens to be one of them. "He'll tell us what is up....eventually." The Irishman says while giving a dark a lazy toss.

It thunks into the board far from the bullseye he was aiming at which elicits a 'tch'. It has been some time. Heidern owes an explanation he feels. The fact even Ralf and Clark have been pretty mum on the situation just makes things feel more tense.

Here Faolan should be a hero. Someone that helped stop the gear invasion in Japan, but now he is told to keep himself in check and stay at the base which has only been causing some mounting frustration.

[LEONA]
Recovery from the conflict in Japan was swift on a physical level. Emotional was much more different. Socio-political healing has yet to even begin in many ways. Much of that having to do with the rise of the latest power blocs in Japan to fill the void left by the erstwhile authorities that caused the threat of a nuclear apocalypse in the first place.

There are times when the warrior is a criminal. Where the soldier fights for a side deemed illegal or a threat. And this is one of them. A time when to consider oneself against the grain of those in power must be considered the better position.

For Leona, it means following her commander and taking to heart what loyalty means to her. Even if that has meant mostly remaining on base and practicing.

Steady kata practice. Fluid, serpentine motions and strikes. Mock explosives tested and retested. The blue-haired silent soldier swings with cutting kicks and strikes. Each one a memory of the fight against the death of worlds. The cracking armor. The crippling tail strikes. The thought that, for a fleeting moment, she was willing and able to sacrifice herself for the greater good. To use the explosives on her waist to remove herself and the end of worlds from existence.

And underneath all of it was the itch. The lust for blood that screamed for release until the moment death in its most cold and real from held her by her neck. It left her with a deep seated why in the aftermath. Made worse by the lingering return of that itch. And the cry inside of her to investigate. But how to do so alone and under orders to remain?

[FAOLAN]
It was a growing annoyance. Thinking he did what was right and now it apparently he is a wanted man despite fighting to keep part of Japan from being overrun by Gears. "I don't want to play anymore. You win, Hicks." He tells the fellow Ikari he was playing darts with before slipping out.

His travels bring him close to where Leona is when he stops. The two honestly clash in style much the way Ralf and Clark do. Faolan being more loud and impulsive where Clark is the quiet one that will take time to assess the situation. That might be exactly why Faolan has always found the blue-haired woman easy to deal with. Someone who will say what is on her mind and not mince words.

"Hey, boss make any mention of what we are to do?" he asks while thinking how annoying it is most of the mercs can walk free when he is told to be careful and not leave base unless it is an emergency. "I am starting to get antsy here and I am not good about being all calm like you are."

[LEONA]
Move, strike, move, strike. Leona twists and strikes a cutting stance. Her arms flares with violent chi-force. A color off from her usual. She looks at it. A moment passes before she realizes and the energy fades. Certainly something strange about that. She stares at her own hand for a long moment before a new voice disrupts her training.

Faolan. Irishman. Capable. Someone like Ralf. Someone that she knows put every ounce of blood and sweat into keeping the world safe with them. Appreciable to have as an Ikari. She nods to him, it's a greeting of a sort. "The mission is to remain on base in the event of a raid or disruption."

She twists back around and resumes her unique back-footed battle stance. "While the commander is occupied with what may be a ploy for greater trouble in the world, we need to protect the home." A twisting heel kick that she holds in place while she closes her eyes.

"We have our orders," she repeats more for herself than for Faolan. The bubbling and roiling within her are eating at her no differently than they are at Faolan. "Perhaps you would prefer blowing off some steam?"

[FAOLAN]
He can be the type that acts first and asks questions later, but this is a situation where he is calm and not on edge. "Mnn, yeah. I just wish he would tell us why the hell we are apparently wanted men and women."

The group that put the bounty out is pretty much someone Faolan knows nothing about. He isn't the type to be an information gatherer. He leaves that to the people that are smarter than him. He isn't dumb, but he knows what he is good at. If you need someone put down quickly he is someone to usually call.

His free hand reaches up to adjust his cap a bit as he regards Leona. "I know we do. I mean if anyone knew what was going on in Heidern's mind right now it would be you. Less needing to let off steam and more figuring out what the hell we are to do. Can only train for so long."

[LEONA]
"Do you trust in Heidern?" Leona asks Faolan, returning to a more neutral stance. She does. Her loyalty is resolute. Her desire to serve out her current mission, dull as it is, is one she cannot deviate from.

However, she knows she cannot ignore the itch. And the idea that isn't leaving her that something in Japan has the answers. The man, Yamazaki, that confronted her and that woman that is now part of the organization that has declared them wanted.

The stoic soldier turns and looks out to the jungles of Brasil around the hidden enclave of the Ikari. She thinks, and slow and dawning realizations are coming to the woman.

"Faolan," she says. "I will be needing an airlift."

[FAOLAN]
"Leona.....if I doubted Heidern at all I wouldn't be here." Heidern was a man that gave Faolan a second chance. To give him a feeling he is doing some good in the world without the restrictions a normal military unit would have. For that he would be forever grateful.

"I just wish he would speak up. Other lads are worried about it and I won't lie if I don't feel like I should speak up on it. Feels like we are all walking on eggshells."

It isn't too far from the truth. Heidern is a good leader and that is why there is caution happening right now. No new missions. No deployments or even R&R for some members. It is starting to grate on some of the mercs as a whole.

"Ehn? Airlift? What are you going to do?" He asks while raising a brow. He can only be interested in that answer. It isn'lt like Leona to be spontaneous.

[LEONA]
It isn't like Leona to be spontaneous. And in this case, she isn't being spontaneous at all. This has been eating at her for a time. And many pieces have been fitting together inside of her head to lead her to the decisions that she has made. Of course, she hasn't really spoken to anyone about her thoughts, so it is fully and totally spontaneous as far as her decision.

"I'm going to Japan," she says, turning back onto Faolan. Her stands is firm, ready, planted as if she's waiting for an oncoming assault of her suddenly voice opinion. Mostly because she isn't totally clear on how voicing opinions work in any other way than being staid, steadfast and asserting.

And she isn't without her adoptive father's flair for the dramatic stance.

"There is something going on there. Something that involves me." She looks down at her hand and clenches a fist, taking a deep and steadying breath. "I want to look into it. Furthermore, there is an agent for this Library. I warned her that should we find ourselves standing in opposition that I would see to her myself. In this, perhaps I can find out more why the Ikari are considered wanted."

[FAOLAN]
%Japan. The place all this mess really started. The world was going to hell and the focal point was there. Faolan was there himself even if he wasn't dealing with the same threat Leona was.

"Hey if you are going you aren't going alone. I'm coming along because honestly I am getting my ass kicked by him either way." Leona could leave, but Faolan knows full well if he just let her go without making much of a peep about it he would be kicked around. In this case if he goes about her he gets kicked around after maybe finding out why the Ikari are suddenly being depicted as the bad guys.

"Need someone to watch your back I figure. And likewise if someone looks to come collect on you there will be backup."

He isn't sure what he is getting himself into, but at the same time staying on the base is getting him bored. Is there plenty of danger of leaving? Hell yes! At the same time he couldn't leave Leona to go out on her own. Well he could, but he wouldn't feel right in telling Heidern that he let the adoptive daughter of the boss to go wandering about on her own.

[LEONA]
It began in Japan, it was only fitting that the feeling would be sourced in the Land of the Rising Sun. Whatever the source of the itching, the creeping madness and battle-lust she felt, it was somehow tied there.

"It would be best to move as a unit," Leona admits in a dull manner, fact-stating rather than opinion. The truth of the matter is, she loves the Ikari like family and in this moment she's seeing chances of her family getting wounded. Despite their talents and training, she doesn't want that. So she's willing to go at it alone.

Though the reality that The Silent Soldier is nearly ignoring is that she fears it will be /her/ that hurts her family should she not be able to control the growing tide within her.

Leona turns to Faol and considers him. Her eyes narrow. She slowly slips back into a fighting stance. One hand held out, directed at Faolan along with her piercing gaze. "I will need someone that can watch my back. But I will need to see if you're fully recovered from the last battle."

Even the socially inept Leona can lie at times. In reality, she hopes that Faolan is someone that can stop her should she fall prey to the itching that writhes and screams under her skin.

COMBATSYS: Leona has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Leona            0/-------/-------|

[FAOLAN]
It is best Faolan is ignorant to Leona's past. Only a handful even know about what happened to Leona when she was still a child and how Heidern found her. It is something keep members of the Ikari at ease. It is also dangerous because few could expect the fury they may one day face if Leona ever does lose control again.

"Mmm?" he tilts his head when she gets in the battle stance then he begins to chuckle. "Recovered? I was the one carrying the merc and that Delta Red girl after the fight. You had a much harder battle than I."

He does reach to pull his bata free from the makeshift sheath he keeps it in and gives it a bit of a lazy twirl before gripping both ends with a hand. "But who am I to say no to a challenge?" He has seen Leona in action, but never fought her directly so if anything he is interested how well he can hold up in a fight against her.

COMBATSYS: Faolan has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Faolan           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Leona

[LEONA]
A fury that Leona does not wish to unleash on those that aren't ready for it. And the reality of why she wants to test Faolan simmers under the surface of her mind. Even as she starts to circle, focusing and planning on her opening gambit.

"Lita is Ikari now," Leona chastises. Family is important to her and that Lita has fought and been wounded under the Ikari banner makes her as much of one of them as Faolan himself is. It would seem part of Heidern's predilection toward adopting people is within Leona.

She strikes outward for Faolan. Twisting herself, stepping cross footed as she moves in close to her fellow Ikari. She twists around with a sharp foot aimed for Faolan's thigh. A light, bruising kick to open the pace of the combat ahead.

COMBATSYS: Faolan blocks Leona's Light Kick.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Faolan           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Leona

[FAOLAN]
"Right right. She is. She was big help in that battle too. As was that Cooper fellow." the Irishman admits.

That is all he gets out before he finds Leona coming at him. Her movements quick and much more graceful than most of the other Ikari. It is a nice contrast to the style of Faolan who often acts like a rock and goads his opponent to see if they can move him. He releases the bata with one hand and he brings it about to hold it downwards to where the foot impacts on it instead of his thigh full on. The big stick absorbs some of the blow and he is barely rocked by the impact.

He quickly pulls the bata away and upwards as he moves to grip it near the middle with both his hands. Stepping forward he goes for a few quick strikes towards the chest and shoulders of Leona. Not overly hard and impacting, but something more to drive her back while he advances forward.

COMBATSYS: Leona blocks Faolan's Windmill.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Faolan           0/-------/------<|=------\-------\0            Leona

[LEONA]
The kick meets Faolan's club. And the solid Irishman pushes forward. The strikes coming with heavy consistency. This close, unable to dodge, Leona twists and turns with her blocking. Pushed backward by Faolan's strength.

This opening is a good sign for Leona, but she knows she has to test him fully if she can trust that, should things go wrong, that her back up can help keep her from causing greater destruction.

With a huffing grunt, Leona pushes back from Faolan only to take to the air. In a graceful arc, she turns in the air and twists toward Faolan. Like a striking falcon, she kicks down toward Faolan's head with the heavy heel of her boot. Not much of a talker, Leona never was one to pepper a fight with commentary and her practices are no different.

COMBATSYS: Faolan blocks Leona's Strike Arch.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Faolan           0/-------/-----<<|==-----\-------\0            Leona

[FAOLAN]
It is enough to keep Leona on her toes at least. He is able to push forward somewhat, but she does well in softening the peppering of blows. He just smirks when she finally does put some distance from him only to quickly move into action again with another kick only this time aimed at his head.

He slips his hands away from the middle of the bata quickly and raises it upwards overhead just around the time that foot comes down. Once again not a solid hit, but the sheer force of the kick puts some strain on his arms. A little bit of an ache starting just from bearing the brunt of the kick, but it sure beats the foot clobbering him on the head. That poor thing gets battered enough.

He isn't too talkative himself right now. He can banter when he wants, but sometimes it is nice to just take on another fighter and let his moves do the talking for him. He releases the bata to where it is in one hand again and he swings it about. A quick movement as he looks to swing the stick into Leona's side before taking a few steps back. This time not pressing the attack, but more urging her to come after him.

COMBATSYS: Faolan successfully hits Leona with Evasive Strike.
- Power hit! -

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Faolan           0/-------/-----<<|=====--\-------\0            Leona

[LEONA]
The distractions in her head keep the trouble up for Leona. In some ways, she may want him to win. She needs to know that those in the Ikari can stand against her if things are wrong. Strength, capability, self-reliance are all things she's been raised with, but if those things can be turned against the ones she loves. Against the world itself. Then what good are they?

5t She doesn't even see the stick coming. Her ribs ache when the thump bends her to the side. It leaves him time and distance to move away. She puts her hand at her side and shakes her head with a muttered, "Damn it."

She puts her all into her next rushing attack. She dashes forward like a bolt. Her hand reaches for Faolan's wrist, but the crux of the blow comes in the form of a chi-infused knife hand straight to his chest. Along with a sharp war cry to strike at the heart of her fellow Ikari.

COMBATSYS: Faolan dodges Leona's Leona Crash EX.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Faolan           0/-------/-----<<|====---\-------\0            Leona

[FAOLAN]
Is she holding back? Faolan was in a way wanting to question her on that, but he soon finds out she is not holding back at all because despite putting some distance between himself and the other Ikari that is quickly gone when she drives forward looking to slam that dangerous blade of chi right into his chest.

He doesn't really have much time to think about it. Her movements are so quick it is more his body acting on its own as he twists and he leans away. He actually loses his footing and falls right on his ass as Leona's strike comes dangerously close to hitting the mark. "Holy shit!" That was close. Way too close.

He quickly scrambles to his feet and brings his bata about for another strike just to keep Leona distracted so he can regain his footing. A thrust this time aimed at one of the woman's legs. The end of his bata crackling a bit with black energy that will deliver a shock to Leona if it hits.

COMBATSYS: Faolan successfully hits Leona with Bata Thrust.
Grazing Hit

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Faolan           0/-------/---<<<<|======-\-------\0            Leona

[LEONA]
The crack gets deep and ripples up through Leona's body. She stumbles away and twists from Faolan.

Her eyes screw shut and she twists around. A turn and she repositions. She shakes her head and looks back toward her opponent. Her fellow Ikari. She's failing him. Maybe out of desperation, maybe out of distraction. She doesn't know, but she has to give Faolan the fight that he deserves.

She locks her attention on Faolan and settles back into a stance. Recovering her focus and steeling her resolve against her fellow Ikari.

COMBATSYS: Leona gains composure.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Faolan           0/-------/---<<<<|====---\-------\0            Leona

[FAOLAN]
The strike was enough to allow Faolan time to get back to his feet and ready himself. Yet Leona doesn't attack and instead seems to be taking a moment to assess the situation instead.

"Too bold to ask if something the matter?" Leona often is a hard read. Her expression usually stone faced and she isn't one to mince words, but something seems a bit off. As if maybe she has something on her mind that is distracting her during this little spar. Or has she not fully recovered from her fight with Justice and just won't tell anyone?

He doesn't press his attack. Instead he looks to see if he gets a response, but he also doesn't stand idle. He is already holding the bata in both hands one again, the black energy he wields twisting about from his wrists and hands to along the entire length of the stick. He is going to let her make the next move.

COMBATSYS: Faolan gathers his will.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Faolan           1/-------/<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0            Leona

[LEONA]
Leona stares at Faolan. Her expression flat and inscrutable. She studies herself for the answers to Faolan's questions. In a lot of ways, she has to ask herself if that is the case. And in doing so, she falls as silent as she ever is.

"There was a man in Japan. There was a sort of power he controlled there. I've been thinking about it. It's distracting." It's true, technically, but it's a light touch on the reality of the situation.

She watches her opponent. Her focus on Faolan not wavering. She follows the direction of his bata and the energy building up there. A talented fighter, and she needs to consider the situation and the approach she has to take. "I'll not use the distraction to disrespect your skill."

COMBATSYS: Leona assesses the tactical situation.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Faolan           1/-------/<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0            Leona

[FAOLAN]
A brow raises. "Well Japan was full of weirdos like that Sol guy." Not to mention the crazy rocker witch he had to deal with too. He supposes he can't really blame Japan for Elphelt, but she was there and a weirdo too!

He then shakes his head. "No disrespect taken at all. You wanted to fight and I am giving it to you." He replies with a smirk. She is still holding back so he decides perhaps he should be the one to break this little standstill. He releases the bata with one hand once more as the energy he has been siphoning into it has formed a little ball at the tip. He gives the bata a little swing and the ball floats away and speeds up as it approaches Leona.

"Just tell me when you want to stop. If you are too distracted this is a fight best left for later, aye?"

COMBATSYS: Leona full-parries Faolan's Irish Curse!!

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Faolan           1/-------/<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0            Leona

[LEONA]
Leona nods along to what Faolan says. It's not a terribly wrong statement, even if it's true most of the strangeness they fought was from outside of Japan. In this case, she's worried about the things that were coming up from within.

"It has to do with blood," Leona admits. "But I don't know more than that."

The most words used by Leona in a while and now she has a ball of energy floating toward her. The sphere picking up pace as it comes at her. But Leona is starting to feel more composed. She twists and the ball of energy meets Leona's equally chi-infused hand. The ball rolls along it. The black and blue energies crackle and swirl, dancing against one another before Leona casts the orb aside and flings herself low toward Faolan.

Her strike comes quickly when she closes the gap, a sharp and curving upward slash of her arm, it's edge honed to a blade like sharpness by her own chi power.

COMBATSYS: Faolan reflects Moon Slasher EX from Leona with Screaming at the Wailing Wall EX.
- Power hit! -

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Faolan           0/-------/-<<<<<<|=======\-------\0            Leona

[FAOLAN]
Blood? Faolan isn't even sure what to say about that, but the way Leona is acting makes him realize she can't go alone for sure now. Sure he could report it to Heidern, but it could complicate things too much. He'll just tag along and make sure she doesn't get in over her head. Even the most capable people sometimes need a helping hand.

He says no more. Not like he really has time in this case even if he wanted to. Leona quickly deals with the energy ball he threw her way and she is coming in quick again. He raises his bata up high as she comes in and he takes a few quick steps back as he swings downwards.

The motion itself leaves a trail of energy in its wake that is something like a strange protective barrier. Leona 's energy crackles against the barrier, but it doese not give and instead seems to push her back with a powerful shock before dissipating. Faolan has resumed his fighting stance and seems ready for whatever Leona throws at him next.

[LEONA]
The force of the blast ripples through Leona. She rebounds backward, landing briskly on her feet in a crouched position and sliding backward, scraping along the ground.

No words. The reflective barrier is one that works well. Leona appreciates it as a skill that Faolan might have to use more directly in due time. Another part of her wishes she didn't have the knowledge that he is capable of such defense. Knowing now that she may just end up using the knowledge against him.

She darts forward again, ever pressing. Turning toward him and putting her hip at Faolan's waist. A swift grab and a torquing throw to put her opponent off his game and hopefully send him to the floor with a hip toss.

COMBATSYS: Faolan just-defends Leona's Quick Throw!

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Faolan           0/-------/-<<<<<<|=======\-------\0            Leona

[FAOLAN]
If Leona needed to test the capabilities it seems Faolan is willing to put them on full display. Sure a great deal of this might be her letting herself be distracted, but it isn't often Faolan gets to take on one of the more noteable members of the Ikari Warriors. He wanted to show he isn't the headstrong pup that needed some refinement in combat skills like he did when he arrived. Faolan has learned and adapted. The ability to create that barrier is proof of that. Only something recently he has began to master and feel comfortable with.

He is also leaving little in the way of openings for Leona to strike. For someone who has never taken her own he seems to be a step ahead of her and having an answer for almost everything she has done. Case in point being her attempt to just give the bigger Ikari a hip toss and take him to the ground. It is like trying to move a giant boulder that doesn't want to budge and if anything Faolan tries to reverse things.

He tries to keep his grip on her and instead twist about and be the one to hip toss her to the ground before backing away a few steps. He feels like he should ask if they should stop for now. He knows she is a tough girl, but he doesn't want her getting hurt if she is being too distracted by this man she had mentioned. To leave this sort of impression on Leona must make him quite the monster.

COMBATSYS: Leona blocks Faolan's Quick Throw.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Faolan           0/-------/-<<<<<<|=======\-------\1            Leona

[LEONA]
Distractions put aside, Faolan is still proving a capable opponent. And in this case, a capable opponent is a capable backup. Striking and counterstriking, moving and rebounding. Throw and counter throw. A close in, snapping catch as catch can wrestling match ensuing as the two Ikari jockey for position.

While Faolan sits squat as a brick, immoveable wall of Irishman, Leona is simply too slippery to fully get under for a throw. Each grab and lock is met with a serpentine twist and a bend. Turning and righting as the woman keeps just out of a good grip.

She finally breaks from the conflict, conceding that at this point she might not be able to fully outwrestle Faolan. Maybe she'll be better served falling back on her striking assault. She puts a boot to Faolan's leg, not to strike, but to propel herself backward enough to get a moment of clarity. And no sooner does she land that she strikes.

Dashing in, she strikes for Faolan's legs, hand cutting with a blade-like energy. But the assault is just the first in a string, the tripping slice first and following up with a striking kick upwards. Leona herself turning a graceful arcing backflip in the air.

COMBATSYS: Faolan blocks Leona's Gliding Buster EX.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Faolan           1/-------/<<<<<<<|=======\-------\1            Leona

[FAOLAN]
Getting a good grip ends up being a tedious task that leads to Leona eventually getting free. It feels so different to fight someone so agile and flexible. It seems often the Irishman is left taking on people his size or bigger when he does get to spar or on a mission. Even just watching the movements and how fast she is helps him how best to approach faster adversaries in the future.

She kicks up off his leg and at first he is expecting her to just put some distance between them again and plan her next move. It isn't the case as she quickly comes right back in and looks go for his legs. He brings the bata about try and deflect the hand. While he doesn't fully stop the strike he at least shifts the attack to where he is able to keep his footing and bring his free arm up to handle the brunt of the kick which staggers him back a few steps as she backflips away.

She has little time though once she lands. Faolan was quick to recover and he goes barreling forward. There is no real grace as he looks to just drive his shoulder into Leona to knock her off balance before using his bata to try and take the woman's legs out from under her.

COMBATSYS: Leona dodges Faolan's Celtic Crush.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Faolan           0/-------/<<<<<<<|=======\-------\1            Leona

[LEONA]
Striking at the seemingly impenetrable defenses that Faolan puts up is at the very least a good way to distract Leona from the thoughts gnawing at the back of her mind. Striking, flipping, landing, her attention snapping up again at the Irishman.

She's ready for him when he comes. She springs forward like a cat and lands in a combat roll. Shoulder first, she tumbles and twists herself back up to a crouching posture.

There's no fancy approach with her following strike. She's focused on the task at hand. A snapping kick, a hard left roundhouse aimed toward Faolan's side from behind. A blow meant to wind and to put herself on a better foot moving forward.

COMBATSYS: Faolan fails to interrupt Medium Kick from Leona with One for the Road EX.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Faolan           1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1            Leona

[FAOLAN]
He second guesses if giving chase was the better option. Letting her come to him had been working well, but pressing the attack didn't seem to be doing so well for him. She is just too nimble and while Faolan is slow and plodding he He is nowhere near as fast as Leona is.

Once she rolls out of the way he just comes to a stop so he can plant his feet and ready himself. He is thinking a bit ahead. He seems more focused on her hands due to the slashing attacks. Enough that he isn't fully expecting the kick when he starts to thrust his bata forward to jam it into her stomach. Instead it leaves his side open and that kick slams hard into it and what was seeming like an immovable object there for awhile goes stagger sideways and almost falls over.

That was a bit costly he comes to realize and clutches his side for a moment with his free hand. Doesn't feel like anything is broken at least, but he needs a moment to catch his breath. He can't allow for many more mistakes like that one.

[LEONA]
Short hopping kick and Leona's once more adopted her preferred stance over the crouching wildcat she had been for much of the time. She starts to slip into a circling pattern around Faolan. The steps pick up in pace until she's at a near run.

And then they stop. She cuts in toward Faolan. Running toward him, she leaps to the air. Her body corkscrews in the air, arms crossing in front of her. With a swing of her arms and a flash of chi, a scything X shape hurtles toward Faolan. The force of the assault pushing Leona backward, arresting her fall forward and twisting it to a backward roll.

COMBATSYS: Faolan endures Leona's X-Caliber EX.
# Disabling hit! #

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Faolan           1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1            Leona

[FAOLAN]
He is given little time to recover. His side is still sore, but he has dealt with worse. He might be dealing with worse right now as the X shaped energy comes hurtling his way much too fast. He tries to figure the best course of action and he just decides to face it directly and try to plow through it.

He does that for the most part. Man and energy clash and impacts squarely against him and he pushes through. Though it took more out of him than expected and he staggers forward once through the blast and any momentum he was building has stopped. He just sort of straightens up and does his best to look like that didn't hurt him, but he is still a bit wobbly.

Then he just sort of falls backwards onto his ass and sits there for a few moments. "Oww."

COMBATSYS: Faolan takes no action.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Faolan           1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1            Leona

[LEONA]
Strike and move. Faolan has absorbed everything so far and there's no reason for Leona to expect he isn't going to do that now. The energy strike would serve to keep her one step ahead in a fight, to give her distance and to force Faolan to put a focus on her. She's trying to push her opponent onto his back foot. With pressure comes advantage in Leona's mind.

But then there's nothing. Faolan stops and staggers and sits. Leona, expecting an assault, a strike, at least maybe Faolan throwing that club thing he uses. But no. there's nothing. And that's somehow worse for Leona.

She stands, a little rigid, a little uncertain. Flat and stoic face as always but she doesn't know quite what's going on. She can see Faolan isn't that hurt, at least he doesn't look it. And she isn't certain that this is a deception of any kind. Or a particularly in depth feint. So she stands. She picks at her fingernail. She looks awkwardly at Faolan.

"You kept up with me," she says. that's technically true and it's technically encouragement. But there's an undercurrent of uncertainty. Hopefully he won't stop if she needs stopping.

COMBATSYS: Leona takes no action.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Faolan           1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1            Leona

[FAOLAN]
Hurt? Not too bad. Just perhaps some of the punishment from earlier catching up to him and that last hit taking more out of him than he expected. "Not sure if that is good enough, but also no reason for me to get my head caved in if we are going to Japan." he points out and starts to get back to his feet.

He lightly brushes at the seat of his pants and gives a crick of the neck. "Not going to be much use otherwise." Sure even if he did keep going he doubts he would suffer any serious injury and the medics here are good, but he also doesn't want any excuses if the pair run into trouble. "Besides, it was good just to see your style from a different perspective. Much different seeing you dive at me instead of diving at someone else."

Overall he is pleased. He knows he has more work to do, but the Faolan that originally joined the Ikari those years ago wouldn't have even done half as good he feels. "Also, there is a tiny bit of a problem. Nothing we can handle, but uh it might happen. We do kind of have a bounty on our heads right now."

[LEONA]
"Understandable," Leona states, seeing the wisdom in not wanting to have one's head caved in before undertaking a dangerous mission into an unknown and hostile territory. It's a logical decision. She does agree with it. And the comfort of that agreement brings her to assuming a more casual at ease stands.

Arms crossed behind her back, she watchines Faolan dust off with a slight incline of her head. "I'll appreciate you having my back in the field," she tells Faolan. "I needed to know if you could keep up because of the bounties that are on our head."

She looks out to the middle distance, toward the swaying trees of the Amazon outside of the Ikari base. The wilds of Brazil. "This is dangerous," she admits, "I can understand if you wish to not look into this with me. But it is important. I must take on this mission for myself." She closes her eyes and takes a short breath. "I'm sorry. I've been talking too much."

[FAOLAN]
Leona was apologizing for talking too much. That just makes Faolan stand there for a moment as he proccess what he just heard then he just starts to laugh. "Leona, you speak so little I think you can get away with." he finally says while getting a rather big grin. "And hey, diving into the unknown head first with the commander's adopted daughter? Sounds like an adventure to me."

It sure beats growing old and hanging out at the base like most people have been doing. Heidern hasn't exactly divulged why the Ikari are being called wanted terrorists now and Faolan is getting bored sitting around waiting for an answer. Besides, he won't be alone so the amount of trouble they can get into will be minimal.......maybe.

"Just give me a time and I'll be ready to go. I pack light anyways." he says while giving the twirl of his bata and sheating it as if it were a sword at his hip.

[LEONA]
Leona Heidern, capable on the battlefield, but not entirely capable of social matters. She nods. "I will keep that in mind for the future," she tells Faolan and now her fairly dramatic looking into the distance stance falls back to a casual stance.

And she immediately turns and walks away from Faolan, heading toward the barracks. She stops and looks over her shoulder toward Faolan. "You should pack," she tells him flatly before looking forward again to walk away with a faint wind blowing her hair.

She's not trying to be dramatic, really she isn't. She just didn't want to order him to pack and she's planning on leaving shortly so it really is in his best interest to start packing immediately. It just comes out that way sometimes. She is, after all, Heidern's daughter.

Log created on 23:34:16 03/03/2018 by Leona, and last modified on 10:24:15 03/09/2018.