Match of the Millennium

Description: What was to be a ribald Yo Momma SNF takes a horrifying turn, when the Darkstalker Lotus ambushed the Mayor of Southtown, with the intent of killing her. Bob, one of the fighters in the SNF, moves quickly to save the Mayor, but the punk Crock has his own agenda...

[CROCK]
Mrs. Kazuko Kori wanted to be here.

Oh, the venue at G-King was merely acceptable. And the nature of the fight? Insulting. But high up, the short, formally dressed Japanese woman was sitting up on the vantage boxes over the arena, where everyone could see. Over the arena itself, it was done up to look like an inner city alleyway, stretched out to encourage plenty of space. She was the mayor, and she was here to provide inspiration. Southtown had been battered and suffering, yes, and its economy was in the toilet. But the people were safe. She didn't want to allow another rise in poverty and suffering like in the aftermath of the Gears War. And with the Mishima Zaibatsu on the rise again... she needed to give people hope.

And keep Heihachi from luring them back to him.

"People of Southtown!" She calls out from her VIP box, down to the half-filled (or half empty?) seats below. "I have come here to the G-King Arena to show you all that despite the chaos, Southtown will endure!" She states on the microphone. "Tonight, for the Saturday Night Fight, our international reputation will come to the fore front. Down below, a scene will take place, not unlike what you would see in this very city. Two street toughs, Robert Richards and... Richard Hensley have come out from their stoops. They will battle, not only with their martial arts, but in turn, with their words, as they..." She pauses a moment, keeping her composure. "As they make insults about each other, and their mothers." She makes sure the mic is off before she sighs. She -hated- the fight theme. But. Fighting was the heart of Southtown.

People needed to believe in it.

[BOB]
Robert "Bob" Richards wasn't especially sold on the premise, either. Certainly SNF helps to pay the bills between investigations. It definitely gives him much needed practice and publicity to build himself up as a fighter. On the other hand, these things sometimes come with a cost.

When he enters the stage, he does so with a steady gait. Despite his size, Bob gets around remarkably well, moving confidently and smoothly toward the center of the ring. His eyes follow the sound of the loudspeaker, looking first at the nearest box and then moving up to the VIP section.

"She makes it sound like I'm some street punk," Bob says under his breath.

[CROCK]
Speaking of street punks.

The green-mohawked man in the ripped denim jacket strides out, piercings jangling as he carries his electric guitar in his hands. Nose turned up, lets the crowd roar around him. Was this a costume? Maybe it was. Maybe. As he reaches the dumpster, he actually stares at it. -Glares- at it. And before you know it, he starts kicking it, a stomping kick with his heavy boots. "Holy ****" (A special thank you to the G-King censors) "What the **** is this? It's -fake!- IT's all FAKE!-" He continues to stomp on the dumpster.

Not even -looking- at Bob at this point.

The mayor looks down at the punk stomping on a dumpster, cursing. Looking back towards Bob, she was even more nervous. That was one of the men who apparently kidnapped the Tokugawa girl. And the other? Assaulted Heihachi on the streets. Two low-life punks, of supposed equal caliber. And yet, as she looks from Crock, back to Bob, she does note something.

Bob was obviously much more rakishly handsome than the guitar punk.

[BOB]
The idea of the kidnapping still hangs heavy on Bob. While he knows the truth about the whole ordeal, sometimes getting that truth out there---getting others to accept it---can be a real challenge. And in this moment, Bob has other worries.

"Hey pal," Bob says to green-mohawked man. "Sorry you're not happy about the scenery, but I hope we can make the fight real enough to make up for it." He gives Crock a winning smile. He paces forward into the faux alleyway, getting a feel for the terrain, gauging the spacing, and noting what might be useful.

[CROCK]
For an alleyway, it has all kinds of features.

Trash cans all around, several hiding various improvised weapons, and in one case, a very clear roast turkey judging by the smell. There are plenty of blankets and awnings up and down the alleyway, running up faux walls in order to allow both springboarding and wall jumps of all kinds. There are dumpsters of course, and a few signs and lampposts all ready to be used for improvised weapons.

Cody would be well at home here.

Crock, having finished his stomping of the dumpster, shifts his attention back to Bob. He spits on the ground, leveling his guitar towards him. "Real? Jesus **** everything is fake here. Fake fake fake. It's a ****ing prison here, and it's rotting, and wrangling, and writhing all the way through. THis concrete pit of pain is pathetic in every way. It's just fake, fake fake." He looks up and down Bob. He gives a hissing snort.

"About as fake as those ****ing tits there, peachboy."

Up above, the Mayor turns the mic back on. "As you can see, the fighters are all ready to, as they say, lay the smack down. Both the smack, as in fighting, as well as the smack, as in the smack talk they are going to do. We have their microphones on them, so you can start hearing some of those real rough words about their mothers, in the form of insults!" The mayor doesn't turn off the mic yet, as she nods firmly. There was no way that did not sound awkward. But she looks over to the bell, and picks up a mallet. And with it, she gives it a good, solid ring. It was going to be a good fight.

And people at home were sure to enjoy it.

COMBATSYS: Bob has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Bob              0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Mayor has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Mayor

COMBATSYS: Lotus has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Lotus
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/-------|

[LOTUS]
So much fun going on! Certain third parties just can't help but get involved as well! All the smashing going on courtesy of Crock helps to mask the sound of approaching footsteps, as well as any suprised responses from members of the crowd that might see the impending threat coming!

Lotus leaps onto the scene. Literally! She jumps from a higher rooftop onto the 'fake' wall, and runs like an acrobat at top speed towards a very specific individual.

The mayor herself!

Her daggers are out and in her hands as she leaps at the woman, intending to impale her with both weapons while literally landing ON her!

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Mayor with Catch the Prey.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0            Lotus
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[BOB]
When Crock begins his tirade, Bob narrows his eyes. Everything is fake? The comment about Bob's chest gets a brief sigh from Bob, who takes it in stride nonetheless.

"Getting started early, huh? I thought we were focused on 'your momma' jokes, huh?" Bob manages a smile despite it all. "Not that I'm too fond of th--"

Bob's eyes follows Lotus as she leaps from the rooftop, then makes an acrobatic run toward the mayor. Quickly glancing down at Crock, he gestures up.

"Uh oh," the corpulent fighter says. "Looks like our fight may have to wait if Trouble's brewing." He makes his way toward one of the nearby stage walls, dropping into a low, bent-knee karate stance. With a mighty kiai, Bob punches at the wall, knocking out a section that causes it to lean precariously with a heavy crack, falling against the a higher platform.

"If you'll excuse me," Bob says, hoofing it up the leaning wall. He snatches up a piece of wall as he goes, then leaps onto another ledge to grab hold. Then, dangling by one arm, Bob chucks the chunk of wall up at Lotus.

"Hey, you're missing the main event!"

[CROCK]
Crock looks up after Bob's gaze.

The blur of movement comes rushing through, as the figure, the creature, was bounding up the walls. Up the walls. UP THE WALLS. The creature was bounding UP THE WALLS! And then she sticks a knife in its back, and the blood runs out, and the blood runs out, and the blood runs out, and she sticks a knife in the back, and the blood runs out, and the blood runs out, and the blood runs out. And best of all, the Mayor's life was in -danger-. Crock doesn't chase after his acrobatic opponent. No. He starts rocking out on his guitar, as no sound rattles out. But his voice comes through the speakers.

"She's going to -kill the mayor!-"

Mrs. Kazuko Kori, in turn, screams as its pierces the loudspeaker. The knives run in deep in her shoulders as she continues to shout for help, help. She struggles, struggles with Lotus as she flails. All while shrieks, soldiers, and panic run through the audience. Where was the security? Where was the NOL security? The Mayor keeps screaming, keeps screaming as she suddenly pushes back, stumbling with her, as Bob throws the chunk of wall. She lurches with Lotus towards the open window-

Out of the VIP box, right through the awnings, to the arena below!

COMBATSYS: Lotus parries Bob's Thrown Object!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0            Lotus
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/------=|

COMBATSYS: Mayor successfully hits Lotus with Panicked Distraction.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0            Lotus
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/------=|

[LOTUS]
'So far, so good!' goes through Lotus' mind as she impales the mayor. Her hears Bob below breaking things, hears the object whistling through the air towards her, as if it was moving in slow motion...

With a simple gesture, without little more than a sideways glance, Lotus swings her arm up, deflecting the piece of scenery up into the air to fly off to the side. It likely ends up in the audience somewhere for someone to sell on Ebay when all is said and done.

This leaves her open to the slap from her bleeding target. The report of the impact echoes through the room and leaves a biiiiiig red welt on Lotuses cheek. Her response is hilarious "Ow! You shouldn't hit people like that! You could genuinely HURT someone!". Her look of concerned near-confusion turns to vicious bloodlusty grin as she continues to struggle with the bleeding woman.... and is yanked with her as they both plummet out the window to the ground below! Attempting to angle things so the Mayor lands on the concrete-side of things, Lotus brings up a knife and attempts to time her impact with the ground to increase the force of the stabbing attack, aiming for a vulnerable artery in the neck region!

[BOB]
A VIP takes a dive from the box, prompting Bob to reangle himself. The big karateka engages in some acrofatic manuevering by curling, turning, and cannonballing toward the side of the wall as the mayor and her assailant tumble out the window.

Bob's feet impact the concrete with enough force to create spiderweb cracks, after which the mountain of a man springs off to careen back after Lotus and the mayor.

His aim, it seems, is to slam into the assassin like a wrecking ball aimed at knocking her away, grabbing the mayor, and then rolling himself around to act like a particularly corpulent airbag for the falling politician.

"Sorry, but I've got to cut in--it seems like your dance partner wants to turn you down!"

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Mayor with Random Strike EX.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0            Lotus
[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/---====|

[CROCK]
And what of Crock.

The punk actually sneers as Bob, The Mayor, and The Monster all come down to the ground. The Mayor is gasping, her fall only slowed down as she flails through the awnings. Faster and faster, as he plays a silent tune. He gives a wheezing 'ooo' as Lotus keeps holding on, the shank coming to drive into a clinch. An 'aaah' comes as the crowd shrieks in horror, as Bob flies in like a superhero, to barrel into Lotus and the Mayor. All were coming down, down, down.

And finally, the impact comes.

There is a rumble as Crock stomps his foot, as shards of stones burst up. He does a shaking dance, as the Mayor finds herself on Bob's gut. The impact is mostly negated by Bob's flawless martial arts physique. But she is bleeding, very, very badly. She needed a doctor. She needed a miracle. And Crock? Crock plays the role of the bystander, watching the chaos unfold. The Mayor was groping around, terror seizing. And what does Crock say, as the audio rips through the air?

"You're mother's so fat, she needs a swimming pool to bleed -aaaaaall- the way out!"

COMBATSYS: Mayor takes no action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0            Lotus
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/--=====|

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Bob's Medium Kick.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0            Lotus
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/--=====|

[LOTUS]
At the last minute, Lotus peers up at Bob as he comes at her, and with what looks like a painful pushoff for the Mayor, leaps up and off her in an arc through the air, right over Bob!

As she drops down on the other side of him, she swings out with her fingers, using the sharp-tipped metal filigree shes wearing to try to teeeeeeeeear along his back as he rushes past! "So you wanna play too, Tubbo? SU-WEEEEET!"

COMBATSYS: Bob interrupts Vicious Rake from Lotus with Quarter Deck.
- CRAZY Hit! -

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Bob              0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0            Lotus
[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/--=====|

[BOB]
"I've got you."

While the words may offer little comfort in a situation like this, Bob does what he can as lands heavily with an earthshaking boom. He shifts the Mayor off him, placing her more gently on the ground. With Lotus bearing down on him, moving her to a doctor becomes something of a challenge. The private eye's first priority has to become staunching the bleeding and keeping her alive long enough to rush her to a medical professional.

The big karate fighter looks up at Crock's caterwauling, and he manages a frown. "Great," Bob says, "it seems like he's going to be a great help."

But Bob finds no room to dwell on Crock as Lotus arcs over him at the end of their descent, going for the slash as he tries to get his footing.

Bob's arm snaps up, intercepting the knife by catching Lotus at the forearm. He pushes back, twists his arm, and grabs her by the wrist. When the follow-up palm strike comes from Lotus's nose, it's a one-two-three rhythm: grab, pull, strike. The blow is enough to send her back, but Bob keeps holding, pulling Lotus back again again as he sweeps the leg to try and take her feet out from under her.

"Sorry," Bob says, "but I've got to make this quick."

[CROCK]
Crock is not going to be much help.

In fact, he seemed right on the cusp of joining into the melee, sizing up Lotus, Bob, and Mayor from a distance. The mayor herself is bleeding badly, but when Lotus shifts her attention onto Bob? The poor woman begins to claw away, scrambling towards a dumpster to take cover behind it. Bob was doing a good job keeping Lotus occupied now. But Crock?

"Where are you going, lady?" He purrs on the mic, as he swaggers towards the crawling Mayor.

COMBATSYS: Mayor takes no action.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Bob              0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0            Lotus
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/-======|

[LOTUS]
The grab gets a good hold on Lotus, and as Bob his her, you can her a loud audible *CRACK* as her nose is broken, and consecutive hits make blood spray from the broken nose and mouth!

After a few hits like this, she slips out of Bobs grasp and hops back and away, grinning through the damage "Oohh.... get this done fast. I bet you say that to ALL the girls you meet! If they're as big as you can your parts even REACH though!?". That said, she blurs forwards and attempts to step around him with blurring speed, slicing at him with her knives several times as she goes, each aimed at a minor artery or open area of skin.

COMBATSYS: Bob blocks Lotus' Armed Combo.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Bob              0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1            Lotus
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/-======|

[BOB]
When the flurry of cuts comes, Bob moves with Lotus, his speed deceptive as he turns on his heels to intercept. Blood splatters from his arm as he deflects one of the knives, taking a relatively shallow slash across his arm to spare the artery.

"Y'know, I assumed most assassins were silent," Bob says, "but then again, maybe the gallows humor helps one sleep at night."

When Lotus blurs again, Bob somersaults forward, curling into a roll that puts him directly in front of Lotus. The gut punch that follows fires like a cannon, Bob delivering a swift, powerful blow toward Lotus from a grounded karate stance.

"Hey," Bob calls over his shoulder to Crock. "If you wanna cause more trouble, your problem's with me!"

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Bob's Lyonnaise Break.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Bob              0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1            Lotus
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            0/-------/-======|

[CROCK]
"Blow it out your ass, fat boy."

Crock's words belt out as the melee unfolds. Where was the NOL? Where was the security forces? Or was everything happening so fast? The Mayor hides behind the dumpster, trying to collect herself, trying to stay out of the way. That is, until Crock gives a great big -kick- with his foot, shoving the dumpster a couple of feet. The Mayor screams, as the punk snarls with cackling laughter. "Look at this coward. A real leader, pissing herself as she bleeds out behind a dumpster. Just like the hundreds of millions of thousands of homeless people struggling to live on the streets! This is society, isn't it? THIS IS YOUR SOCIETY! This isn't an assassination, this is JUSTICE!" Crock wasn't attacking the Mayor physically, but his words echo through the panicking arena. He wasn't picking sides just yet in the fight.

But it's pretty clear which side he would end up on, if it came to fisticuffs so far.

COMBATSYS: Mayor takes no action.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Bob              0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1            Lotus
[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/-------/=======|

[LOTUS]
Almost like water, Lotus seems to bend inhumanly around Bobs punch, arching her torso around the arm in a C shape even as the force visibly ruffles some of her clothing from the force behind it

Lotus herself only laughs "Silent? Me? HA! That'd be boring! What say we open you up and see whats inside!". With another blur, and spin of her daggers, she ducks low and dashes past, attempting to drive both weapons deep into his bodys lower abdoman!

COMBATSYS: Bob interrupts Exsanguinate from Lotus with Hot Cross Bun.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Bob              0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1            Lotus
[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/-------/=======|

[BOB]
Bob's brow furrows. Crock becomes more dangerous by the moment, the punk rocker making it clear he has little intention of lending a hand. Before it's over with, Bob seems like he may have his hands full on trying to get the Mayor to safety.

But the more immediate and violent problem is Lotus, who shifts in with a blur of speed. The knives start to stick in to Bob's belly, but Lotus may find it to be quite an untaking. Besides the thick layer of fat, dense muscle intercepts the blades as they start to push through.

And in that brief pause, Bob steps back sharply, planting his boot heavily and twisting to get a solid footing. He snaps back with a powerful straight punch. "I think you may find I'm a tough egg to crack!" he quips back, but then turns. "Miss Mayor, please stay calm!" Bob tosses his cellphone, sliding it across the ground to the Mayor. It's not much, but anything might help.

[CROCK]
Bob slides the cellphone over.

The Mayor reaches out. She had to call people, the police, well, everyone was calling that and the ambulance and people could see. But she had to call someone. There had to be hope and stability. She was almost killed by a Darkstalker, but Bob had come to be a real hero. Not a thug. Not a kidnapper. A Hero!

Crunch.

Crock stomps on the cellphone, sneering down at the bleeding Mayor... who had finally stopped bleeding. The wound clotted. She was badly hurt, but finally, she was stable. Crock gives a mock gasp of surprise. "Oh no!" He says. "Did I do that?" He asks, leaning over the trembling mayor. "Well stay calm Mayor!" He repeats Bob's words sardonically, as he lifts his boot up from the crushed cellphone. "I'm sure tubby here is going to beat that monster real good, and you would be gutted like a fish in front of all the voters!" Crock leans back a moment, something suddenly getting to him. "Hey, freak." He states, turning back over to the fight. "Not you, porky, the carrot top." He begins to tense up, getting the guitar ready. This was it. He was about to start attacking Bob and the Mayor now, wasn't it.

"Why are you trying to kill the Mayor here anyways?"

COMBATSYS: Mayor takes no action.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Bob              0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[LOTUS]
An "OOF!" comes from Lotus as she's knocked back. Landing quickly, she leaps back further, plants on a wall, and seems to almost hang there a second as her targetting priority shifts back to the Mayor with Crocks question. She cackles, shouting with glee "OH YEA! I forgot about the MURDER part! Kira Volkov wanted me to give the mayor her regards while the life slipped from her eyes!"

With an exaggerated "WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!" the chaotic psycho-stabber leaps off the wall at the Mayor as the woman crawls to cover, dagger-points first!

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Bob with Intercepting Strike.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Bob              1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[BOB]
The tension rises with every moment. Even with his invincible self-confidence, Bob sweats bullets. The Mayor's attempted assassin is dangerous enough, and any slip-up could lead to success on her part. Crazy or not, her skills with the knives were no laughing matter.

Bob's eyes move to Crock as stomps on the phone and taunts the mayor. Bob bites his lip and grits his teeth. It seems that violence is unavoidable, but the ever-present threat still lingers. He could grab the mayor and try to make a break, but fighting both of them while trying to carry someone...even he has his limits.

But Lotus makes a decisive, putting Bob back on the defensive. He kicks off with deceptive speed, closing the gap in a great lunge before curling into a roll to get extra momentum. He springs up to wedge himself in between Lotus and the Mayor, her knives digging deep into his abdomen as he grits his teeth, braces himself, and takes the blow head-on.

"Hurrrk," Bob gasps, "I don't think you and I were done talking yet. Bob tilts his head back slightly at Crock. "Because I want to know the answer to his question."

With a snap of his arm, Bob brings his elbow up for Lotus's chin, aiming to clock her on the chin, force her back, then pivot into a spinning toss.

And from there, Bob aims to leap after her, diving down with a dropping kick to catch her before she can get back on her feet.

COMBATSYS: Bob blitzes into action and acts again!

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Bob              1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[CROCK]
The Mayor wanted to get away.

But Crock was just there right as she tries to crawl away in the confusion. The punk didn't seem all too distracted by his own question now, and the answer? Enough to give him a sneer. "Kira Volkov, huh. So this is just another case of anarchy, huh? I wonder what would happen if you got away?" Crock lifts up his guitar, ready to smash it. And the Mayor yields. Holding the guitar ready to beat her, he yells out again. "How much is the booty if she dies?" He rattles out. "Hell, you got to be paid."

"You don't have one of those stupid collars!"

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Bob's Combo Grapple.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Bob              1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Bob's Diving Kick.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Bob              1/---====/=======|=======\====---\1            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[LOTUS]
Lotus cackles "I thought i just GAVE you an answer!". She eyes Crock "Oh, i DO get paid, but i'm willing to give you my payoff if you finish her off for me. You'll just have to track down Kira and ask for it. I'm fine with just enjoying the slaughter! The moneys just gravy....."


She pauses her words as Bob comes back in at her, the distraction of responding messing up any chance she had at the time to retarget the Mayor herself. As his elbow comes up, she steps sideways, head up and angled so the strike slips just past, her hair ruffled and swaying from the air pressure behind the strike! She then ducks low and sweeps around him, leaping WITH him to land on his back as his kick comes down, whispering softly in his ear.

"Don't think i've forgotten about YOU, big boy! Gimme a little kiss.....". Her maw opens, revealing rather sharp teeth covered in saliva with a green tint, a drop or two dripping to the pavement moments before she lurches forwards, attemping to bite him in the neck!

COMBATSYS: Bob interrupts Deadly Kiss from Lotus with Spiral Rocky.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Bob              0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[BOB]
"Kira..." Bob mutters under his breath, the words almost too quiet to hear. It makes sense. It further destabilizes Southtown in that madwoman's bid to ... sow strife? Whatever she says about survival of the strong makes little sense to Bob, but then again, wasn't Vega working on some improvement to humanity as well? One megalomaniac to another, one supposes...

The elbow whiffs, cutting through empty air. Lotus moves around, evading Bob's diving kick as well as she moves to sink her teeth into his neck.

"Sorry," Bob says, his knees bending as he lands at the end of the kick.

"But I don't kiss on the first date!" Bob launches up in a twisting, spiraling two-fisted uppercut aimed at catching Lotus on the chin and carrying her up with him on the rise.

"And what about you, Mister Anarchy in the UK?" Bob says, "is buying a hit the kind of sickness you hate about the system?"

[CROCK]
"Mister Anarchy in the UK... oh, that's pretty good."

Crock actually laugh about that. "I dunno, survival of the strong, paying off a hit... it's all so -bland-" Crock stomps at the Mayor, the poor woman curled up in a ball by the dumpster. "It's so hypocritical! Those fat cats in their concrete phalluses... phalli, those big skyscrapers in their urban dungeons, that's what they do all day! I liked it when everything was burning down, but now, it's just so FAKE!" Another stomp. "As fake as this arena! It's all -FAKE!- A bunch of PHONIES! So yes, Big Boy. Weak people pay strong people to get rid of big and little people. There is nothing natural about it. It's a sickness, a real sickness." Crock was turning away from the mayor now, and eyeing -Lotus-. Something -shifted-.

"It's just one tyrant into the next!"

COMBATSYS: Mayor takes no action.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Bob              0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[LOTUS]
Just as Lotus' teeth start to sink into Bobs tender neck-flesh, he does his spinning attack! He is juuuust fast enough, and her teeth are only able to scratch bloody gashes, only a small amount of venom getting in the wound, before shes knocked up and away!

She flips in the air, landing in a crouch on a barrel ment as a prop, a laaaaaarge spreading bruise on her lower chin, and dripples of red dripping from her now swollen and bloody lip. Depsite this, she still grins, both at Bob AND at Crock "I'd LOVE to see it on fire and everything bleeding! Problem is bleed and burn it TOO much, and theres nothing to bleed or burn anymore! Even *I* know THAT!" She abruptly laughs, a thought dawning on her "One little old mayor will die and everyone losing their minds..... all we need is a badly-burnt DA with a coin and a revolver, and a blown-up hospital, cause i'm DEFINATELY the Joker in this movie!".

She devolves into a fit of mad laughter, seemingly lost in her own thought process.....

Though visibly, her lip has already stopped dripping red, and the bruise looks just a tiny bit smaller even now.....

COMBATSYS: Lotus takes no action.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Bob              0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[BOB]
"Well," Bob says, "can't disagree on not liking fakes. Still," Bob rubs his neck, still throbbing from where Lotus sunk her teeth in. He pulls his hand away to blood and green...something, before shaking it off.

The karateka's breaths are heavy as he tries to get a second wind, taking a breather while the chaos has stopped. His eyes move to Lotus and his fist clenches, but she's not after the Mayor...so Bob keeps talking.

"So I get the impression you two don't know each other--so what got you to sign up for this, anyway?" Bob asks Crock. His eyes move to the Mayor. Is she still breathing? Buy some time, Bob... "Just to sow some chaos?"

COMBATSYS: Bob gains composure.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Bob              0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0            Lotus
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Mayor            1/------=/=======|

[CROCK]
Was it deescalating?

The shift in chaos comes before Crock, as he watches Bob and Lotus stopping going at each other's throats. Well, maybe the throat-coming was one sided. The psycho monster wasn't even going after the Mayor now. So Crock, scuffing his boot on the ground, gets a wide, wide smile, especially when Lotus builds the whole tower of Chaos. "Oh, -why- I signed up?"

And there is a dark, dark chuckle from the punk.

He moves forward, looking from Bob, to Lotus. It seemed the Mayor was almost an afterthought. "See, now that there are -two- of you, I can work twice as hard. See, I signed up to fight babbling shitheads like you two. So uh, where was it, right?" He looks towards Lotus, strumming on his guitar. There is no sound. "It was all about your momma." The voice echos across the finally evacuated arena. "So uh, your momma is so ugly, that your daddy threw her to the wolves. And the wolves threw her back!"

Suddenly, a distorted groan rolls out, trembling the artifical walls as the Mayor covers her ears.

COMBATSYS: Crock has joined the fight here.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0            Lotus

COMBATSYS: Crock charges his next attack!

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0            Lotus

[LOTUS]
Her laughter finally under control, Lotus eyes Crock with a malicious grin.... then Bob..... then the mayor. She wipes some blood off her lips, then sloooowly licks it off her fingers menacingly "NOW we're talkin!".

She plants herself on the barrel with both hands, and looks like shes about to do a handstand on it. She eyes Bob "Your mommas so poor, i saw her kickin a can down the street! I said 'what'r you doin? she said 'moving!'". With that, instead of holding herself up, Lotus pushes off in a forward hand spring with enough force to send herself airborn towards the not-so-jolly fat man, feet first, STILL holding onto the barrel with her hands! As she arcs and comes down, she slams down with the barrel at him, aiming for the head!

COMBATSYS: Bob dodges Lotus' Large Random Weapon.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0            Lotus

[BOB]
"Great," Bob mutters under his breath. At least, for now, he's focused on Bob and Lotus instead of the Mayor. Small victories, the detective reassures himself. His attention shifts to Lotus.

"You really are a piece of work, you know that? But anyway, your momma jokes, huh? Let's see--"

Lotus is suddenly on the move, barreling toward Lotus with a makeshift club! The barrel careens toward his cranium, threatening to smash right across his head. Bob's eyes narrow, he shifts, trying to sidestep, raising his hands in defense--

CLANG. The barrel impacts and Bob's staggers backward, clutching his forehead with a groan. Depending on how attentive Lotus is, she may notice that the impact felt a little weird. There's also a bit of an indentation on the side of the barrel that's a bit unusual for it hitting Bob in the head. Even so, the big man staggers before tumbling down onto his face near the Mayor.

"Hey," Bob whispers, struggling to be heard by her--if not Lotus and Crock--as the volume ramps up. "Get ready. This may be rough in a minute."

COMBATSYS: Bob takes no action.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Bob              0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0            Lotus

[CROCK]
When Bob slips past the punk, Crock actually -enjoys- the complaint.

The din was rattling the arena, as he strums, strums, strums. He was focusing hard, as the sonic energy was rumbling in his bones. "I am a piece of work! I'm the piecest piece that's ever pieced!" He howls as the sounds echo. But he wasn't looking at Bob, no. He could slam him down. But he doesn't.

Because he's looking towards Lotus.

"Do me a favor!" He calls out, making sure the monster gets her warning. He tilts his head at Bob. "I'm going to be hitting the chubs next! Up to you if you want to double up on blubber boy, finish off the mayor, or head straight for my throat! Or run away! Or ALL OF THE ABOVE!" He raises his hand high, giving a middle finger once. "PEACE!"

And he drops his clawed hand down on the strings of the guitar, giving a stomp.

There is a great chord of cacophony that ruptures the ground. Stone spikes scatter into a line as a rift shocks straight ahead. The sonic screams would rattle the very bones, but the explosion of stone would be just as dangerous. The sound would rebound, bouncing straight back whether it was Lotus, or a wall. And once it came back to Crock?

He would begin another strumming drone.

The Mayor, on the other hand, looks towards Bob as the warning comes. She looks around, desperately. When Crock lets out the slam, she was already covering her ears. She stands up. She stands all the way up. She was ready to run, limp away. She was exposed now. Lotus had the full selection to choose from. She starts to limp away from the three way.

Unwilling to be the fourth.

COMBATSYS: Crock knocks away Lotus with Empowered Soup Glass Side Salad.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Bob              0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1            Lotus

[LOTUS]
Lotus, despite her strength, is off balance for a moment from the weight, and that is preciesly when Crocks wave is fired!

She drops the barrel as the wave hits her, the force of the shockwave throwing her into a nearby wall as it bounces back to him.....

Taking advantage of the situation, she plants herself for a moment, and LEAPS from the wall towards the retreating Mayor, weapons out and gleeful murder in her bloodshot eyes "NO LEAVING THE PARTY EARLY! IT'S BAD MANNERS WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE!". Both daggers are aimed for the side of her back, the edges horozontal rather than vertical with the intent of slipping between the ribs and causing serious internal injury!

COMBATSYS: Bob endures Lotus' Spider Bite.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Bob              0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0            Lotus

[BOB]
Bob's ears ring from even the proximity of Crock's humming, rumbling caterwauling makes the earth itself writhe toward Lotus in great, jagged spikes. He positions himself behind the Mayor as she withdraws, yelling back at her in the overwhelming drone.

"Just keep moving, and keep your head down!"

Lotus is upon them next, bouncing off the wall, bounding over the barrel, and bearing down on the Mayor in another vicious charge. Bob grits his teeth, plants his heels, and repositions with a wince before launching into a bounding leap. Bob goes for a roll again, using his ... unique ... shape to close the gap with a smooth somersault before launching himself into the path of Lotus's strike.

The knives pierce Bob's belly as he plants himself in the way of Lotus, but he doesn't move even as she presses them in. When he speaks, he coughs first, blood dribbling down the side of his mouth.

"Funny meeting you hear again," Bob wheezes, "I didn't think we were finished--" He tenses, trying to push the knives back out through muscle power. "-- how's the joke go? Your momma's so fat--funny coming from me, I know--" Bob sweeps his arms, focusing his power.

"I had to catch a train to get on her good side!"

Bob's leg sweeps around like a scythe, whipping through the air to try and catch upside the head and send her spiraling back toward Crock!

[CROCK]
"That's one!"

Crock snarls after Lotus, as he blasts her away. He pivots as the wave of sonic energy bounces back into him, skipping as he turns. Lotus was surging straight for the Mayor in manic delight. Just at the worst moment, the poor Mayor trips, stumbling to the ground. She turns back in time to see the monster descending on her, knives out. She screams...

And Bob leaps in to take the hit.

The hero saves her, but at what cost? Crock didn't know, or care. Even as the Mayor was standing up, the punk was sliding in, baseball style. The Mayor runs, nearly reaching the edge of the arena. Rushing in, the sonic energy around him carries as the ground splits. His heel was a wedge, riding a wave of sound as he aims not for Lotus, but for Bob now. Attempting to slam into the hero just as Bob aimed to hurl Lotus at him!

"That was a good one, Big Boy!"

COMBATSYS: Lotus parries Bob's Sucre Tile!

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Bob              1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0            Lotus

[LOTUS]
Pulling back her weapons from Bobs gut, Lotus smirks. As expected, he goes for her to try to dissuade her from the mayor! Well, it's semi-worked so far, but Lotus knows the lady's workin on leaving the playing field as it were, and she doesn't want THAT!

As such, she is keenly aware of Bobs movements, and as the attack comes in, she leaps forwards and handsprings off his leg mid-kick, sending herself vaulting into the air to come at the poor bloodied Mayor lady from above with a scream of "KIRA SAYS HELLO, MISS MAYOR!". As she lands, she goes for a killing blow with the sharpened filigree armoring her fingertips.....

COMBATSYS: Crock successfully hits Bob with Slide Like Bleeding Razors Baby.
- Power hit! -

[                        \\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Bob              1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0            Lotus

COMBATSYS: Bob Toughs Out Lotus' Disabling Swipe EX!

[                           \\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Bob              1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0            Crock
[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Mayor            1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0            Lotus

[BOB]
The heel careens through the air, but Lotus stays a step ahead. "What the-" Bob's exclamation is brief as Lotus clears him to go after the VIP once more. Bob gets ready to turn, to pursue, to intercede again.

But sonic energy rips through the air like a chainsaw and a trail of earth makes its way toward Bob. The two collide and, despite Bob's best efforts he's unable to adjust or reposition in time. The wind is knocked out of him as he's sent soaring back. He impacts the ground, kicks off, finally launching himself on backward instead of trying to regain his footing.

And by the end of his course he's collided with Lotus again, that jagged filigree digging deep into his shoulder as Bob tries to hold his ground. He listens, desperate to hear those footsteps that tells him she's staying on the move, trying to hold his position long enough to give her some clearance, but his stamina is fading fast. As trained as he is, he can only take so much punishment. He reaches out, trying to get hold of Lotus's arm...

And if he can get it, he pulls forward into an armlock, strikes up with his elbow at her face, then transitions into a spin into an attempt to break her elbow before trying to kick her to the ground. Each effort is strained, painful, a Herculean task for his remaining stamina.

...and either way, Bob collapses when he's done, dropping to the ground and not even able to stand.

COMBATSYS: Bob can no longer fight.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Crock            0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1            Mayor
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lotus            0/-------/--=====|

[CROCK]
She is not dead.

That is what the Mayor realizes, when Bob throws himself in the path- or is he thrown into it? The Mayor turns away from the blood. She had to get away. She had to run away. Lotus would come for her if she didn't-

"Now hold on just a second, sugar."

The natural drawl of the punk boils out, as Crock suddenly slips in, and cuts her off. He grips the Mayor, and turns her towards Bob, and Lotus. The Mayor screams, and struggles. Crock just sneers, as he grabs her by the wrist .. and begins to make her strum on his guitar. "People didn't elect you for this " He growls, as the cacophony builds again, over her tears.

"But we gotta hear the finale now."

COMBATSYS: Crock charges his next attack!

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Crock            1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1            Mayor
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lotus            0/-------/--=====|

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Bob's Cooler Shaker.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Crock            1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1            Mayor
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lotus            0/-------/--=====|

[LOTUS]
Lotus is suprised, and even somewhat impressed, when Bob is suddenly in front of her, his large bulk absorbing her clawed strike. She relishes the blood spraying her face and flecking the ground, even if it isn't her target.... But all good things must come to an end, and that includes her fun with him sadly. He DOES manage to grab her arm, but she tilts her head so the elbow flies past! When he goes into a spin, her arm twists at an unnatural angle with a CRACK in the shoulder, but this is by design, and she manages to slip her arm out of his grip and use the momentum of the spin the leap away! His kick meets empty air as he goes down, meanwhile Lotus manages a 'hero landing' on one knee. She looks up, grinning maniacally and with a quick audible *POP!* snaps her shoulder back into joint.

She walks evenly towards Crock and the mayor, hands held at her sides and the sharp filigree on her fingers shining in the sunlight, reflecting off the glittering red droplets covering them and her. "Don't worry, Miss Mayor..... it'll only hurt for a moment!". She doesn't seem to even acknowledge Crock for the moment as her casual gait changes to a dash, her clawed hands reaching out towards the Mayor with full intent to kill!

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Mayor with Slice and Dice.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////                         ]
Crock            1/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1            Mayor
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lotus            0/-------/=======|

[CROCK]
No.

No no no.

The Mayor writhes in Crock's grip. This wasn't supposed to happen. The good guy is supposed to win. The monster was supposed to be killed. And yet, Lotus dodged it. And she was coming to her. But there was still Crock. Maybe he was a diamond in the rough. The sonic energy was building up. He finally releases her. And then, as Lotus comes in, he gives the Mayor a shove, as he slams down his chord.

Unleashing his blast to the wayside, far away from Lotus.

He continues to rock out, waves of sonic energy mingling with rocks and stones. Tearing down the fake alleyways, tearing apart the fake. But not Lotus. Not saving the Mayor.

The mayor can only look up, helpless as a rabbit, as the first cut comes.

COMBATSYS: Crock takes no action.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////                         ]
Crock            1/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1            Mayor
[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lotus            0/-------/=======|

[LOTUS]
The first swipe from Lotus, followed by the second, sweep low to disembowel the Mayor. After a second to let her realize the shock of what just happened, Lotus leans in and whispers to her "Rest in peace, my sweet!", then jabs both her clawed hands into the womans armpits, killing the nerve centers for her arms entirely and making any sort of arm-based defense or even movement impossible. While the Mayor reels from the agony this would inflict, Lotus goes for the coup de grace!

Stepping beside her, Lotus strikes once, driving her sharp-tipped fingers into the womans neck and taking hold of the spine. The other hand comes around and grabs the front of her throat, and tears it out. This frees things up for Lotus to tear the Mayors head clean off, held by the spine, and hold it in the air for all to see as blood spurts from the stump for a moment before the corpse falls over in a large pool of expanding red!

For her part, Lotus just stands there, enjoying the havoc, mess, Crocks colorful music, and the sweet gasps of shock and dismay from the crowd. The cries of children witnessing such a horrible act of violence....

Lotus can only laugh like the lunatic she is...... pulling the head close, she says "Oh, i forgot..... " looks the decapitated Mayors head in the dull, dead eyes "Your mommas so old, i asked her to act her age, and she DIED!". On 'died', Lotus tosses the head up into the air to land in the middle of the audience! With a sigh of contentment she looks at Crock "LOVELY music! You really CAN bring the house down with that stuff! Definately my kinda stuff!". Before he can respond she runs off, dodging through the falling sections of the quickly-collapsing staged alleyways, her raucous cackling laughter filling the air, until it vanishes in the chaos of the noise.

When all is said and done, there is a trail of blood going the direction she went, which soon tapers off and vanishes entirely.

COMBATSYS: Lotus has left the fight here.

[                         \\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Mayor            1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1            Crock

[CROCK]
An audience purely in fantasy and horror.

The arena had long been emptied; The death and despair was between the Mayor and Lotus. All Crock would do is play until there was no more sound, and the destruction ended And when Crock finishes his song, he looks to Lotus. He did not care, about the final result. But he gives her a grin, before she disappears. But the strangest thing happens.

The security forces appear instead.

20 men and women of the NOL arrive. They were in disposed. And there were supposed to be more of them. "Drugged. How the fuck did they all get drugged?" The officer in command rants; they arrived when the at hand guards stationed failed to respond. "The wine was poisoned" Responded the scryer cooly. "All the codes changed too! We had to breach the armory!" The panicked chattering comes to a stop, as their blood runs cold. They found the Mayor. What was left of her. Crock turns around, looking at the squads, and the blood, and the destruction. A soldier says the obvious.

"She's dead."

Crock snarls a cackle, still swaying in the manic bliss of his strumming. It is only a second as three security guards bring him to the ground, restraining him in manacles. Bob is heaved up on a medical gurney, as the NOL guards try and understand what was happening, how it happened. What was going to happen with the NOL, what the Lieutenant would do to the commander here. A disaster was an understatement; this was going to undermine the very credibility of the NOL. Crock laughs, even when the soldiers begin to kick him in the head. The flapping sound was heard; the nearby Podiebrads finally arrived, too late like everyone else. Descending down, the commander of the squad stops by the torso of the Mayor. The smell of wine was strong on them. The Raven-masked mercenary shakes his head.

"How could this have happened?"

Log created on 11:08:20 05/27/2020 by Crock, and last modified on 23:10:43 06/05/2020.