Match of the Millennium

Description: Lotus has been drawn into an abandoned chemical plant by the promise of a lucrative assassination contract. Merrick has also been drawn into the same abandoned chemical plant with a lucrative assassination contract - against Lotus. Both have been double-crossed, whether by fate or by machinations unknown - as poisonous fumes start to fill the chamber! Only one will be able to escape...

[LOTUS]
Usually, Black Lotus is MOSTLY harmless as monsters go.

I mean, sure! She stabs people, poisons them, bites them (usually with the intent to further poison them), and makes people bleed from multiple places.

That said, her actual rate of lethality is suprisingly low! She actually DISlikes killing her opponents. If you break a toy after playing with it, you can't play with it again!

Lotus doesn't like breaking her toys.

However, from time to time, business takes priority of pleasure..... except when it doesn't. Thus, she crawls into the chemical plant through an airduct, twisting inhumanly as she crawls out and falls with a fleshy *SMACK!* to the floor below. Her monsterous regeneration heals any damage rather quickly as she begins to search for her contact. A lucerative job has been offered, and she's arrived to seal the deal before murdering some poor fop. Pale, cat-like eyes scan the area, searching out whoever it was she was intended to make the deal with, nose taking in the toxic air as she smiles at the pleasant scent. Reminds her of dinner.....

Just like mother used to make!

[MERRICK]
The factory was still in full operation, it seemed. Workers going this way and that, dangerous vats full of horrible smelling stuff, and presumably, some sort of cameras capturing this action.

As Lotus goes her way, she might notice the mundane workplace sights: Drum barrels, laundry baskets filled with contaminated materials, a vase filled with bamboo. There were a number of hazmat-

Wait a second. A vase?

The tactical ninja dropped the bamboo he was holding to blend in as he watches the crazy-looking girl pass by, and walks up from behind her as he speaks with that very calm, almost monotone voice of his.

"Hey, guess what?"

Even as he speaks, his right hand brings up that silenced Heckler and Koch, and a squeeze of the trigger puts twelve bullets in her back between her shoulder blades, while another aim for the back of her skull. The whole time his blank white goggles observe the action without a hint of remorse or even emotion. He looks down at her, presumably on the floor, and speaks again while squeezing out the rest of that magazine into what he thinks is a corpse.

"Chicken-butt."

That was it? That was his hitman one-liner? He's walking away all cool-like, so clearly that was it.

[LOTUS]
Lotus' body is rocked by the shots, and her head snaps forwards as the last one goes in the back of her head and out the front with a gory flowery bloom of red matter! She falls forwards, seemingly dead......

When Merrick walks away, he misses the best part!

The holes sloooowly start to close, pushing out the slugs that didn't go all the way through. Within a matter of moments, they are completely gone, with just holes in her clothes to indicate they were even there!

Before he gets too far, he would feel a tap on his shoulder and her voice in his hear seductively whispering.....

"Oh, you're a treat!"

Turning around, shes right behind him, grimming like a cheshire to reveal sharp, green-stained teeth dripping with a stench more noxious than the room itself, yellow cat-eyes staaaaaring with mad intensity into his own, and a bullet wound in her skull visibly closing before his eyes! After a beat, she breathes sharply, coating his goggles and face with a thin sheen of acidic, toxic saliva!

[MERRICK]
If he's alarmed by the sudden tap on his shoulder, he doesn't seem to express much of it. After whirling around to take in the sight in front of him, watching the hole shrink in her head while hearing that dangerous voice, Merrick's response is to snap his fingers, bang his fists together and gesture toward her with his best finger guns. At the same time, one goggle 'clicks' closed for a moment in a primitive wink.

"Shut up baby, I know i-"

A jetstream of split pea soup coats his face in a way that causes his head to shake. The black lycra/pleather type material starts to boil and bubble, a good quarter of it melting away to show the harder white skull facemask underneath even as the one open goggle cracks from the material. The ninja stands there a few moments, clearly underneath his two masks he is trying somehow to spit toxic liquid out of his mouth, and it's not going very well. But eventually,

"...shut up baby i know it"

Shaking his head, it seems that wasn't gonna do the trick of killing him. Lotus was gonna have to work a little harder if she wanted to break this one.

COMBATSYS: Merrick has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Merrick          0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Lotus has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Lotus            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Merrick

[LOTUS]
Lotus' initial response is simply a highly-amused sounding cackle!

Following up her initial acidic counter-attack, she takes a deep breath and exhales a large cloud of acidic gas at Merrick!

Regardless of his reaction, this has an unfortunate sideeffect. The cloud clips part of a nearby control panel, seeping in and melting a wire or two where the insulation had worn off. This causes a short that ignites the panel, rendering it inoperable while also activating the venting system for a few of the local canisters! This is usually only done when cleaning, not while filled, resulting in the green toxic gas flooding the facility in mere moments!

One of the workmen pulls a handle causing an alarm to blare, as everyone but the two fighters scramble to get out before the emergency containment doors close!

COMBATSYS: Merrick blocks Lotus' Toxic Miasma.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Lotus            0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Merrick

[MERRICK]
So, good news, bad news. Good news, is Merrick got his H&K in front of him as a sort of shield, letting it take the brunt of the impact along with his protective gloves. Bad news, the gun almost warped to one side from the assault, quite possibly useless even before Merrick tossed it aside to clatter against a wall loudly. Also bad news, the entire building was now a deathtrap.

"Well, I think you broke the AC. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone though."

Even as he speaks he drops to one knee, reaching for his belt buckle and seeming to pull the gaudy stylized 'S' open. He brought something to his chest and, with his right hand holding them steady, brought his left hand up to suddenly chuck a series of very cool and very historically inaccurate 'ninja stars' at the form of Lotus. From her neck to her belly button, the barrage was brief but numerous. And very sharp and stabby.

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Merrick's Thrown Object.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Lotus            0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Merrick

[LOTUS]
Just like in an anime, Merrick would see Lotus dodge in between all his thrown sharp stars, grinning all the way as almost a blur of side to side motion that would normally seem impossible.

As if normal ever applied to something like her! She'd be insulted by the notion.

The gas begins to burn at her skin, the flesh seeming to repair itself almost as fast as it can be stripped.... making for an odd sight. She herself seems either oblivious, or to not care in the least "Nothing like a bad case of gaaaaaas!". Another laugh follows at her own joke as Lotus finishes closing the distance, lashing out with an elbow strike aimed right at Merricks masked face!

COMBATSYS: Merrick dodges Lotus' Fierce Strike.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Lotus            0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0          Merrick

[MERRICK]
"A fart joke?"

Merrick sounds almost disappointed as Lotus closes in for the elbow attack, only at the last minute does the ninja dodge while still on one knee: As the strike approaches, Merrick bends over backwards, arching his spine and landing on his hands while he looks at the crazy woman sail past him.

Still upside down, Merrick brings his lower torso upward, trying to wrap both of his booted feet around a plastic bag that's floating down in the air from all the commotion between the two of them. That plastic bag he attempts to wrap over her head and tighten across her mouth. All while upside down, and all while those toxic fumes are seeping into his suit and causing him to cough rather scarily inbetween bouts of dialogue.

"That's it, you've lost your joke privileges. Shhh shhh, just go to sleep..."

COMBATSYS: Lotus blocks Merrick's Little Plastic Baggie.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Lotus            0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0          Merrick

[LOTUS]
Lotus ERKS as she suddenly has a plastic bag over her head and neck! She struggles briefly before grinning again, looking backwards at him. She slooooowly licks her tongue out along the inside of the bag, causing a hole to melt in it "Whaaaaaaaaaaat? Just because i'm easily amused!". a pair of flashes of her knives and shes freed of the bag! Turning around, she says "I had to take a stab at it!". With that shes a blur of slashes and stabs, aiming for chinks, gaps, and openings for vital places in Merricks outfit! Arteries are a particular favorite of hers!

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Merrick with Slice and Dice.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Lotus            0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0          Merrick

[MERRICK]
Still upside down, he takes two slashes across his calves before he rolls away and springs to his feet and then goes straight back down as his legs are lacerated. Down on his hands and knees, looking up at the knife-wielding psycho, he can't help but shake his head and chuckle dryly to himself. His goggles 'click' audibly and go from blank white to a glowing red, but what did that mean?

That question would have to go unanswered for now. Because right now, he does a push up, launches himself up into the air towards his opponent, then rolls across the ground when he lands well before any kind of striking range. Instead he tries to close the distance and grab at her legs, trying to trip her and wrench one of them in a classic sort of MMA leglock, some sort of heel hook as he grabs the ankle and twists it the wrong way.

"Knives, huh? Ok, I get the point."

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Merrick's Joint Lock.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Lotus            0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0          Merrick

[LOTUS]
As Merrick grabs at Lotus' legs, she steps back at the last minute, causing his hands to grasp only empty (toxic gas aside) air "Well, they give me an edge!". Her razor-edged retort made, her physical reply is to simply kick forwards like Charlie Brown trying to kick Lucy's football.

Except replace the football with Merricks face!

COMBATSYS: Merrick interrupts Strong Kick from Lotus with Dragon Punch.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Lotus            1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1          Merrick

[MERRICK]
"Uhhh huh, well-"

If he had some attempt at a clever quip or reply, it was ended by a running kick directly into his face, the hardened white skull underneath that black mask staining red immediately even as the impact causes him to launch into the air...launching up even more as his fist finds the chin of Lotus and rocks it as hard as he can in such an awkward position.

"DRRRAAGON PUNCH!"

Calling it out is customary, the move an almost picture perfect copy of the famous uppercut, done by men in gis.

When Merrick lands back down on the ground, he lands on his feet even as blood oozes out from the slices in his leggings. He is a bit wobbly, clearly those knives cut deep. But the fact that he's even able to stand moments later means that he must recover quite quickly...

[LOTUS]
The classic uppercut smackes into Lotus' chin good and clean, even as she kicks him in the face. The impact drives a tooth or two up into her gums, and blood pours from her laughing mouth as she lands on her back, rolls backwards, and comes up in a crouch! Grinning through red and green-covered teeth, she races forwards to close the gap again, throwing out a loooong needle-thin dagger with a hollow core.

If it impales him, blood will ooze through the center and out the back of the pommel.

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Merrick with Pinprick.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Lotus            1/-======/=======|=======\===----\1          Merrick

[MERRICK]
It hit center mass, and the blood flows freely while he looks down dumbly at it. His left hand reaches up to grab at the blade, gripping it tightly as he staggers backward, and pulls it an inch from his heart to look at the red plasma.

"So it's like a...skeeter needle? That's cute, I guess."

He's speaking mostly to himself, muttering even as he shakes his head and pulls it out the rest of the way.

Then he tosses it up in the air, and is a blur of movement as he runs faster than should be possible. When he's next visible it's because he's behind her crouching on one knee, katana in his hand. Then...that meant he must have...

COMBATSYS: Lotus fails to interrupt Lingering Zombie from Merrick with Boot Knife.

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

Slowly, Merrick brings the blade up to him, examining it as he flicks it suddenly. Blood flings off of the metal, as he calmly brings it back to him and sheaths it slowly. As he stands up, the world around Lotus would start to change. The drum of chemicals near her, the laundry basket, the metal railings, would start to slide, from an apparant diagonal cut they've suffered. Moments later, they fall to the ground in a loud sudden

'CRASH!'

[LOTUS]
Despite his speed, Lotus is one of the likely few capable of seeing him at least begin his movements. She attempts to counter move, a knife flicking out from under her foot followed by a back flip to try to strike him as he moves forwards!

She lands just in front of him as he stand there crouched, flicking his weapon clean. A beat passes, and blood suddenly SPURTS in a massive gush from the slash across her chest! A look mixing pain and pleasure crosses her face as she is overwhelmed, and drops to her knees, then to her hands as sensation overwhelms her body and minds ability to process it all.....

[MERRICK]
After a moment, Merrick stands up woozily, the chain of his skull charm jangling from the hilt of his extremely kewl katana as he sways and steps toward her. He was breathing heavily beneath the mask, and he was walking a but like a drunken John Wayne staggering through a saloon, but he wasn't dead the way he probably should have been. In fact, he was agile enough to bring his left leg up, snaking his hand around the side of his combat boot to pull out a little surprise, a little snubnose revolver. The glossy black metal gleaming in the low light of the factory, and as he quickly straddles either side of her, he'd let the cocking of the hammer be her only warning before the barrel is put up against the back of her head.

"Well, if at first you don't succeed..."

BLAM!

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Merrick's Intercepting Strike.

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

[LOTUS]
Never forget, Merrick isn't the only one with somewhat superhuman speed in this fight!

Matching his own, Lotus suddenly twists to the side as he fires, the bullet leaving a furrow in the skin of her cheek as it narrowly misses! Taking advantage of the opening, she lunches up at him, attempting to sink those disgusting teeth of hers into his neck!

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Merrick with Deadly Kiss.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >                                ]
Lotus            0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0          Merrick

[MERRICK]
Well, that didn't work. Instead a woman's biting his neck, tearing through his outfit and slicing into important vital tendons as he grunts.

"Alright, that's enough of that."

He says it almost casually as he brings up a boot to her chest. Not so much to kick or attack her, but to push him away violently, letting a huge chunk of his neck remain with her as arterial blood sprays every which way and he flies backward. In fact, he flies backward so violently that he goes flying over the railing and falls to the worker area below. Hurtling violently, falling ass over teakettle until he smashes through one of the larger vats, smashing through the metal lid and practically screaming as he's engulfed by what looks like very potent, very burny materials. He has enough wherewithall to reach out a hand, perhaps to beg for help in his "final moments"(allegedly)?

No, get real. It's to give a thumb's up, before he sinks completely.

COMBATSYS: Merrick has decided to be the bigger man and not engage in violence. Or, maybe this is some sort of mindgame or trick?

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

COMBATSYS: Merrick can no longer fight.

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

[LOTUS]
Lotus just sort of stands there, chunk of Merricks neck still in her mouth, her entire front a mess of red (both his as well as her own). With an audible 'PTOOEY!' she spits out the piece of neck-flesh, and walks forwards, peering down at the asidified Merrick. She gives the Vir finger wave with a parting line of "Don't forget to wriiiiiiite!' before breaking in a cackle.

The camera then pans back through a screen, revealing the entire battle was being viewed on a security monitor. On the screen, Lotus is seen slowly looking up at the camera, and grinning. After a moment of staring, juuuuust long enough to be uncomfortable, theres a flick of motion from her as she throws a knife at the camera, and the screen abruptly becomes nothing but static and then darkness as the monitor goes out due to the acidic gas eating through the connection.

COMBATSYS: Lotus has ended the fight here.

Log created on 17:42:10 04/04/2021 by Merrick, and last modified on 11:30:41 04/06/2021.