Dead or Alive - Crackdown, Vol 3
[Toggle Names]Description: "Furthermore, the Ultratech corporation would like you to know it is aware of the rumors surrounding potential mergers between Ultratech and some of its contemporaries. Currently, any speculation should be considered premature and ultimately irresponsible, as espionage, terrorism and unrest remain at all time highs. However, Ultratech is pleased to announce it has extended its collaborative partnership with China's infamous Gong Family. History and Ultratech have always gone hand in hand, and now Ultratech is excited to feature a storied, timeless expertise as the cutting edge solution to the problems of today. Specialists from the Gong Estate will be on call throughout medical facilities worldwide to offer their unique therapeutic abilities and martial prowess for the benefit of all patients."
[TSINGHUA]
In an odd merging of tradition and technology, men and women in fine, archaic Chinese garbs were walking around a bleak DOATEC medical facility located in Japan. Gong Estate loyalists, they were. Practitioners of traditional medicine and massage that infused their respective arts with Chi, to make them actually effective at treating wounds and disease. Tsinghua was asked to accompany them, to serve as a middleman and translator where needed, as most of the Loyalists did not possess knowledge of Japanese or English.
The partnership between DOATEC and the Gong Estate was a sudden one, with the Ambitious current Patriarch of the Family, Gong Shuren, having instigated the alliance. There was plenty of protest and discourse within the Estate, as some members perceived the influence of such a technologically advanced group to be stepping on their traditional ways.
And Tsinghua was one of the ones that was deeply uncomfortable at the prospect.
The messenger hadn't heard of the JANUS project- He didn't -want- to hear about the JANUS project. Ignorance is bliss, and...
Just follow their orders.
"..Its easier that way.." the boy mumbled, under his breath. He had found an isolated locale in the facility- It was too busy where he was before, and he felt overwhelmed. Panicked, even. Even here, in this steel-walled corridor running across the outside of the facility, he was not free from the whirring of machinery past the walls.. But he was free from the dozens of people asking him to translate, interpret, or discuss with someone every hour. This tunnel was almost exclusively used by the Fulgore Units, to relocate themselves across the facility without getting in the way of other people. The envoy was currently seated against the sterile metal walls, looking downward, a little slouched over. His cane was resting by his side, and he was muttering something to himself. He was wearing a long beige robe cut mostly from a single piece. Decorated with green rims, and embroidered with a pattern of tiny leafs.
[RAIZA]
Ever since her arrival in the country of her ancestors, Japanophiliac teenager Lisa Eddow has been fulfilling her wildest dreams, and at a surprising pace. She's discovered that she's part of a secret ninja clan, just like she'd always hoped, even if it wasn't the Hattori. She's joined a foreign exchange program at a real live Japanese high school, where she has made real live Japanese friends that she goes for real live Japanese sushi and ramen with sometimes. She even got a job working for a Japanese pop idol, and that's not even the most important person she's met, because she's met the Kami of Thunder for real (not that she'd tell Lucky Chloe that she ranks Chloe a step below Raiden, God of Thunder in VIP status, because she's pretty sure that Chloe wouldn't have it).
Today, Lisa Eddow fulfils another one of her wildest dreams: cosplaying as a sexy nurse.
Of course, it probably wouldn't have happened if it weren't for all of the other dream-fulfilling events happening on the way. If she hadn't gone to high school in Southtown, she wouldn't have heard about the students disappearing from the schools. If she hadn't turned out to be a ninja, she probably wouldn't have investigated those disappearances. If she hadn't investigated those disappearances, Raiden probably wouldn't have showed up to tell her to investigate those disappearances even harder.
And if she hadn't made friends with Lucky Chloe, she wouldn't have had access to the wardrobe for Lucky Chloe's music video for hit single 'Feline Fine' (as in, 'You Got Me Feline Fine'), wherein Chloe's backing dancers dressed as nurses for a scene.
Fate is just on her side, I guess.
Of course, no matter how cute she might look in them, the white uniform mini-dress, stilettos and nurse hat with a pink cross probably aren't standard issue for Ultratech employees, or that likely to deflect attention, so her mission has been more about avoiding being seen than actual disguise. At least the outfit makes her look old enough to be working there - especially with the white surgical mask on her face - and if anyone asks, she'll probably tell them she's new. And as long as they don't search her person, they won't find the dozens of scalpel-shaped kunai, smoke bombs, ninja stars, kusarigama, or umbrella that she's packing.
(She could explain at least one of those things.)
"They must be taking people through here, where no one will see them," she calls in a low voice to her partner-in-crime. "By the way, these shoes are really hard to sneak in. Didn't the wardrobe department have any crocs or something?"
[LUCKY CHLOE]
Lucky Chloe, or as she is known today, Nurse Christelle is wearing an almost identical uniform to Raiza. The only difference is the addition of pink paw prints on the toes of her white stilletos. Surely this professional looking detail must mean she's in charge. Her nurse's hat sits upon a wig, that's the same blonde colour as her own hair but styled into a jaw-length poker straight bob. Perhaps she decided that her ankle skimming ponytails would make her too noticeable.
As she sashays her way down the sterile and still corridor, she resists the urge to put her lips together and start to whistle, instead replying to her companion in espionage.
"I wouldn't be seen dead in Crocs. Not even the pink ones. You don't own any do you?"
The tone of her voice is more appropriate for if she'd been asking Raiza if she liked to kill people for fun.
"Besides pushing through pain is essential if you want to reach the top, Raiza. You can't just give in, because you feel discomfort. Do you know how many blisters I've danced my way through?"
She stops to check if the coast is clear, before handing a clipboard to the brunette backing dancer. To any unsuspecting observers, it would seem like a nurse sharing a patient's medical notes with her colleague, perhaps for a second opinion. What it actually is, is the information she has managed to gather on Ultratech and their rumoured merger with DOATEC.
The singer struggled with her mission at first, not wanting to seem suspicious by asking too many questions during her visits to G Corporation's headquarters. Her usual interactions were limited to ideas for new projects and publicity and how richly she would be compensated for the use of her lucrative brand. She was essentially the acceptable face of their company, softening their image and helping them to connect with the demographics they desired the attention of. So to switch from that to being curious about their corporate dealings and those of their competitors may have triggered alarm bells. So instead, the cat girl played it cool, claiming to be considering a business degree and wanting to educate herself more on the subject. A few flattering comments and free concert tickets later, she managed to secure some alone time with an executive's unlocked computer, from which she obtained the information that Raiza is currently looking at.
The word on the street, or should it be the boardroom, is that Ultratech were behind the murder of a certain Fame Douglas and that their proposed merging with DOATEC is much more likely to be a hostile takeover.
[TSINGHUA]
The messenger's keen ears had picked up on the footsteps coming down the hallway.
He had expected to run into DOATEC staff, as such, he stood up and straightened himself- Making sure not to present himself with the weakness his earlier stance may have implied. He took the cane from the floor, and slid it back into his sash. "What do I say to them..?" Tsinghua mumbled in anticipation- This might not be a place he's entirely supposed to be, after all.
Only, Neither was the pair that turned the corner.
The boy's brows furrowed, narrow eyes peering toward the 'nurses'. The whirring of the facilities tech filled the otherwise silence, thoughts swimming through Tsinghua's mind- Searching for explanations before he had to assume the worst.
Yet, there was no other explanation.
Having arrived at that unfortunate conclusion, the boy raised his voice- Sounding as confident as he possibly could. "You are not supposed to be here." For the faux-nurses, it would be odd indeed. Running into a boy their age dressed in traditonal garb in the midst of an otherwise technologically advanced institution. Well.. at least he was handsome?
In a bishounen-esque way, that is.
If either of them are into watching the professional fighting circuits, they might recognize him- Though he is very far from a big name. The envoy's hands were out in the open, yet he kept one of them fairly close to his cane. "And I am quite sure of that. You would do well to explain yourselves, lest I will be forced to act."
[RAIZA]
"Of course I don't," Raiza retorts when Chloe asks whether she owns any crocs, sounding slightly defensive, yet quick to drop the subject. After all, she may not wear crocs, but she does wear tabi, and those who wear socks designed for two-toed humanoid mutants shouldn't throw stones. "I bet you wouldn't dance through so many blisters if you wore comfier shoes, though," she posits.
When the pair round the corner and come face to face - well, actually, in her stilettos, it's a bit more like chin to face, considering the height difference - with the green-haired Gong representative, Raiza clutches the clipboard to her cleavage, eyes widening in surprise behind her mask.
"O-oh, hi! We're new here!" she explains to the Chinese teenager, tilting her head in a friendly manner before putting the board behind her back and bowing slightly at the waist, putting her most charming smile on behind the mask.
"We're here to help check on the 'special patients.' We're specialists. For special patients. With special powers. And special needs. Do you know where they're being taken to?"
[LUCKY CHLOE]
As well as being a competitive fighter herself, Chloe also keeps a careful watch on the circuit, so Tsinghua does seem familiar to her. She stares at him with aquamarine eyes, wondering what he's doing in this place, just as he questions their presence. As for him being handsome, she doesn't trouble herself with such things, at least not when she's working.
"I could ask you the same question" she shoots back, stalling for time.
"As I'm sure you can see from our outfits, we are here on duty. Like my co-worker says, it's our first shift, so we're still sounding the place out, so to speak."
Her words are followed by a stilted smile. Normally in situations where she wants to be liked, she would pull a cute kitty pose, but that doesn't seem appropriate in this situation or outfit.
Raiza's special explanation earns her a sharp glance from the irritated idol, but she quickly regains her composure and nods in agreement.
"Yes, that's right, we were especially hired for that purpose. They even requested we wear special outfits to differentiate from the other nurses."
Is the green haired guy gullible enough to buy this babbling? Time will tell.
[TSINGHUA]
In a different situation, the boy might -have- been naive enough to believe their story. Yet, he was on high alert. He could not risk showing himself- And more specifically, his masters as incompetent to DOATEC.
"I am ~terribly~ sorry for my inquisitiveness, but I simply cannot set my doubts away. Especially with that... Attire." The last word was said with a healthy dose of contempt, he thought it ridiculous. "And I do have to say that you look rather young to be a nurse, miss." Tsinghua adressed 'Christelle'. He had a keen eye, and even with the disguise made an apt judgement about her age. Not so much with the other nurse, considering her mask.
"Of course, I do not mean any offense."
Putting on a fake smile, he continued his pressure. "Yet, to ease my worries, I would request that you accompany me, so that I can ask this establishment's head if you are indeed authorized personnel." Though he has a smile plastered on his face, the tone of his well-spoken voice is cold as ice.
"I am certain specialists such as yourself understand the importance, no?"
[RAIZA]
It goes without saying that this situation doesn't have Raiza feline fine. Well, it could have gone without saying, but now it's been said, and we're just going to have to live with that.
At least Tsinghua is smiling, but Raiza can recognize the slightly patronizingly polite tone of a five star hotelier who can see that -you- obviously can't afford a room here judging by your shoes, even if she doesn't own a pair of crocs. She can't be sure that Chloe has had the same experience, because Chloe is a wealthy pop icon, and no one would doubt the authenticity of a woman who makes a living by dancing in a cat costume.
Wait. Did Tsinghua just imply that Lucky Chloe looks younger than Raiza does? That makes her puff her chest up a little with barely-contained pride.
"Nurse Christelle is my protege," she explains in her best authoritative and mature voice, although she can't help but sound a bit chirpy and friendly, especially after Tsinghua's unintentional compliment regarding her physical maturity. "I'm sorry if my explanation seemed vague. It just doesn't look like you're old enough to have the security clearance for open discussion of the ~program~. You are aware of the ~program~, aren't you?"
Raiza leans down a little closer so that she can speak in a more hushed tone, using one hand at the side of her mask-covered mouth to make herself harder to eavesdrop on, even though most of the functional utility of covering your mouth is already handled by wearing a mask in the first place.
"You know - the Anus-Jay Roject-Pay? We're here to elp-hay - I mean, we're here to help keep the new patients ~pacified.~ People are starting to get suspicious, after all. Especially with the DOATEC takeover. We're here to entertain them! Like this."
She turns slightly to the side and holds out an arm before sweeping it in a semi-circle toward the side of her head.
"Luuuckyyy..."
[LUCKY CHLOE]
Glancing down at the said attire, Lucky seems put out, as if Tsinghua not buying their banter is a terrible inconvenience. She lets out a dramatic sigh, puffing her breath out between perfectly painted lips, though this time they are a natural looking nude, rather than the popstar's usual shade of pink.
"I don't think your bosses are going to be very happy with you." They went to a whole lot of trouble to get us here and from what I understand they are very busy people."
"As for my age, I am actually twenty one years. I can't help it if my parents have impeccable genes."
Raiza's mention of being her mentor doesn't fit with her own casting, but she opts not to add further fuel to the fire by disputing this distribution of power.
She too has picked up on the patronising tone of the boy who's blocking their way. It's one she's used herself many times when people fail to live up to her expectations. Speaking of...
It isn't the fact that Raiza is talking in pig latin like a woman possessed or that she's about to give the game away by starting off her signature pose. It's that she's failed to execute the move perfectly. Striking out a stilleto clad foot, she aims for the other girl's shin, following the kick with an anguished cry.
"How many times have we practised that pose? HOW MANY TIMES?"
Oh dear, it seems like Chloe the cat is showing her usually carefully concealed claws.
[TSINGHUA]
Tsinghua was not talking about their shoes.
"The program?" His brow was slightly raised, though after that he looked slightly upset, as he was forced to think about the JANUS Project. He had seen a few of the Darkstalkers that 'volunteered' to be a part of it. Personally, he couldn't help but feel vehement discomfort- He had befriended a multitude of so-called 'creatures of the night', and was terrified of what they might think of him helping the ones leading it.
"What even are you..?" He stared blankly at Raiza's pig Latin, utterly befuddled. At Chloe's warning, he just responded. "I am quite used to that being the case, I'll take my chances." Let them pass, avoid conflict.
Tsinghua -wants- to believe them.
Gullibly believe their shaky story built on a crooked foundation. He can go back to translating, they can do their supposed entertainment. Peaceful, risk-free, safe.
"No, no. This simply won't do..." But any sense of credibility the two had shattered as the two had their squabble over Raiza's faulty pose. "The two of you are utterly ludicrous. I am sad to say that I can't allow you to pass in good conscience." The boy dug through his robe, and pulled out a downright ancient mobile phone: Beginning to mark in a number with agile fingers!
[RAIZA]
Being kicked for failing to live up to the expectations that Lucky Chloe puts on her backing dancers, while not a novel experience for Raiza, was not something that she was expecting to deal with in the middle of an infiltration mission. The nurse collapses sidelong to the floor with a plaintive whine, clutching her injured leg.
"Chloe-chan! Whyyy?!"
Unfortunately, there's no time for Chloe-chan to explain any further than she already has, even if she did see fit to. Knowing better than to expect any sympathy from the pop star, Raiza instead turns her brown eyes up pleadingly to the handsome Chinese boy who will surely...
...call security any moment now.
"No!"
Raiza kicks out and kips up to her feet next to Tsinghua, swiftly striking a pose with arms crossed and the index and middle fingers of each hand extended like guns.
"Call-Cancelling Static Jutsu!" she declares as her shoes slide against the carpet and a faint buzz builds around her fingertips, before striking her left hand forward with sudden swiftness - then attempting to delicately tap her two extended fingers against the casing of Tsinghua's phone.
If she manages to do so, a highly localized burst of static electricity would pop from the fingers, most likely instantly frying the internal circuitry of the cell phone.
"Gomennasai!"
The last apology is added quickly as Raiza closes her eyes in anticipation of the act of vandalism, the ensuing guilt, and the highly probable escalation of tensions that might ensue.
[LUCKY CHLOE]
"Ludicrous? You're calling me ludicrous?"
The dance diva seems dumbfounded at the audicity of the strangely dressed boy.
"I'll have you know I'm a highly respected medical professional."
Apparently she's still trying to stick with her clumsy cover story.
Ignoring the pained protests of the ninja nurse, she too focuses on their foe, getting ready to grab for the phone if necessary. It seems like Raiza is on the case however! The phone case that is.
The singer stands by silently, assessing her ally's actions and preparing to pounce if the plan goes to pot. Her posture resembles that of a pussycat primed to pin down it's prey. There's only one problem. Those stupid shoes. Her usual fighting footwear is sneakers, but she hasn't brought them with her. Kicking off the heels, causing one of them to crash into the wall, she wiggles her toes to get ready to do battle barefoot.
COMBATSYS: Raiza has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Raiza 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua has joined the fight here.
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Tsinghua 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Raiza
COMBATSYS: Lucky Chloe has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Raiza 0/-------/-------|
[TSINGHUA]
The phone was blasted from his hand, and Tsinghua looked SHOCKED.
And then, slightly sad. "Aiii, mistress Yao will get mad at me again.." The boy mumbled, though his expression was back to neutrality in a flash, as he smoothly hopped backward twice, all the while drawing the cane from under his robe- Flourishing it softly before it found it's place in front of him, pointing toward the pair of nurses. "Those were the movements of a fighter, which I believe is sufficient proof of your questionable motives."
Though he kept stern, he could feel his nervousness rise- He rarely wins against one opponent, and now he risks fighting against two?! "Surrender, lest you will find my weapon planted firmly against your temple."
For a threat, that sure was a mouthful. His eyes peered toward the young Ninja in particular, attempting to gauge as much as he could from her prior offensive movements.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua calculates his next move.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Tsinghua
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Raiza 0/-------/-------|
From behind the pair, heavy footsteps of metal against metal could be heard. It sounded a fair ways off, but steadily approaching.
[RAIZA]
With the phone and the imminent threat to their mission that it represents handled, Raiza presses her palms together in front of her chest in supplication.
"Gomennasai!" she repeats as she bows her head ever so slightly in apology while inwardly sighing in relief that the spontaneous jutsu happened to work. Phone-types tend to be weak to electric type attacks, which is part of why the Edo clan has never widely adopted them - aside from the fact that cell service in the mountain forests where most of them live wouldn't be great, anyway.
"I promise, it's just our outfits that are questionable, not our motives!" she assures Tsinghua with a sober expression behind her mask, before her eyebrows curve with determination.
"But you can put your weapon whereever you want -" she says as she slips both her hands past each other and down the front of her dress, "- 'cause we're on a mission from God*!"
And with a violent motion that looks for a moment like she may be about to break rating for the rest of the teens in attendance, she pulls out a pair of blunted kama from the front of her dress, linked together by a long and thin yet sturdy chain! Fellow Japanophiles would recognize the weapon as a variant on the kusarigama, a traditional weapon of ninja.
"And you're working for the bad guys!"
One of the kama starts to swing in a circle above Raiza's head as she drops into a ninjutsu stance.
"So, um - sorry!!"
The awkward shift in tone back from zealous determination to fervent apology is accompanied by an unleashing of the hooked kama, the chain loosed to swipe at Tsinghua with the blunt end before retracting as Raiza leaps backward to plant herself up where the wall of the corridor meets the ceiling like a spider.
* Technically she means 'a god' rather than 'God,' but Raiza isn't very good at translating between English and Japanese.
[LUCKY CHLOE]
"I paid good money for these costume designs!" the pussycat impersonator protests. "Although I wasn't expecting them to have to pass as legit at the time. They were purely fan service."
Raiza earns herself a double take from her accomplice at the mention of being on a mission from God.
"Speak for yourself" she murmurs under her breath, before edging closer to their armed assailant.
"I know you know how to handle your weapon. I've seen you in action" she informs him "but I've also seen her, or felt her to be more exact" she adds, tilting her head towards Raiza "and then there's me..."
Tearing at the flimsy fabric of her counterfeit costume, she creates a split in it at the thigh, allowing for more ease of movement. Whilst Tsinghua is hopefully distracted by Raiza's swipe, she dances towards him, launching a low kick to his shins and calling out "One two!"
She then spins around, aiming to strike him with a quick jab from her left hand, followed by a straight punch with her right and then finally a pair of spinning horizontal knife-hand chops to the chest.
COMBATSYS: Raiza successfully hits Tsinghua with Evasive Strike.
- Power hit! -
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Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Raiza 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua blocks Lucky Chloe's C Uprock.
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Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Raiza 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: FulgoreMkI brings its battle systems online.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Tsinghua
[TSINGHUA]
"God? You seem to be as starved for intellect as you appear."
He retorted, still peering toward the ninja-nurse. "And I am rather certain you could have done a lot better for your funds, miss.."
"Nontheless, I will not fall for your deceptions."
With the final remark, he peered at Raiza pulling out her weapon- Only to be distracted by Lucky Chloe dancing close, Raiza's blunt Kama suddenly smashed against his eye.
"Aii!"
He staggered back. clutching the eye just as the idol makes her own flurry. He parries her leg before smoothly transitioning his guard, Cane tracing a half-moon upward as it catches the cat's jab. The straight does scrape against his side painfully as he turns his torso away in tandem with a final deflection of her chops using his staff.
"Don't be foolish, you cannot just decide what is 'bad'!" Tsinghua groaned, spinning backwards and putting together his hands- "Mu Bo!" Between them, a whirling flurry of wooden shards coalecsed! Getting down into a low position, he aimed- Which was certainly not made easier with one his eyes being bruised. Finally, his palms stretched out- To launch a wide wave of chi-infused wooden splinters straight toward the perched Ninja.
*Clunk* *Clunk* *Clunk*
The boy smirked subtly, eyes looking past Raiza- "Fulgore unit: This is GO005, scan for intruders."
"Intruder detected. Moving to subdue."
The crash course on how to instruct these units apparently came in handy, as behind the pair, the metal footsteps had gotten close- Close enough for their originator to be visible. A sleek, tall, war-machine of metal. It had a broad chest, sleek metal that narrowed as it went down to the waist- Where long, armored legs planted it firmly against the ground. It's arms where of similair construction, only with bright-blue glowing double arm-blades on each wrist, made from crackling energy. 4 tubes sprouted from his chin, that connected the red-eyed, plumed helmet of a head to the chassis.
It spun forward with no hesitation, it's torso rotated independently to swipe broadly at Raiza with both blue blades, twofold!
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua successfully hits Raiza with Mubo Shi Bei Jian.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Tsinghua
COMBATSYS: Raiza blocks FulgoreMkI's Axis Slash.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Raiza 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Tsinghua
[RAIZA]
Perhaps, if Raiza had been more considerate of Tsinghua's background and country of origin, she wouldn't have brought up the subject of God. On the other hand, it wouldn't have helped her translation issues any even if she had thought of that.
"I'll show you! The Kami totally told me to do this! That means I can't lose - augh!"
Raiza throws her arms up to defend herself as the spray of wooden splinters pelts her, but not quick enough or effectively enough - she only ends up with several of them piercing her forearms and midsection for her troubles, causing her to drop like a sack of potatoes from the ceiling to smack into the floor just as the clanking footsteps approach from behind. Rolling over off of the shards of wood embedded in her arms, she flinches reflexively at the attack from the energy blades, barely managing to catch them with the metal heads of her kusarigama. Red-hot sparks fly from the clashing weapons, several falling onto Raiza's face and causing her to grunt with pain behind her mask. Just as things look like they might be about to get truly dire, she quickly rolls to one side, then throws one of her kusarigama to hook onto a fire extinguisher before pulling herself toward it, sliding away between the Fulgore unit's legs as its blades stab into the floor. Flipping up to her feet at the end of the slide, she pivots to face the robot and green-haired youth again.
"I know the difference between right and wrong, and kidnapping people is wrong no matter how you spin it!" Raiza declares as she starts to spin both ends of her kusarigama around her body. As she does, blue sparks of electricity start to arc along the chain between the kama, though the kunoichi appears unharmed by the gathering chi.
Her eyes focus on the Fulgore unit.
"Chloe! You've seen him fight, so focus on him! I'll deal with the killer robot, because it's dangerous, and robots are weak to lightning!"
Then, under her breath, she adds:
"Plus, you don't have to hold back against robots."
Yes, even Raiza, for all her virtue signalling about kidnapping and God, is, like so many others, a robo-racist, even though her friend is a self-avowed robot f***er.
COMBATSYS: Raiza crackles with electricity!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Raiza 1/---====/=======|=======\==-----\1 Tsinghua
[LUCKY CHLOE]
Chloe gives Raiza a look that's somewhere between surprise and respect, as she expresses the desire not to hold back in her fighting. Perhaps there's more to her fellow American born buddy than dance routines and sushi lunches. That and the way she handled the boy bombarding her with wooden splinters proves there's some grit in there and the singer for one is glad to realise it.
She'd glared at Tsinghua as he dissed the nimble ninja. She may agree with him that God doesn't exist, but nobody insults her employees, unless it's her.
As he takes a shot to the eye she gives their opponent a girlish grin, which quickly switches to a snarl as he blocks her own assault.
"Don't worry, I'll deal with him" she assures her ally. "You mess up the machine like you said."
She seems pretty unphased by the arrival of the robot on the scene., but perhaps she's just got on her game face, something you have to get good at when you perform perky pop songs dressed as a pink loving pussycat for a hundred nights in a row.
She assesses the action around her before spinning forward rapidly and attempting to deliver a series of quick fire horizontal chops with her bare hands to Tsinghua's stomach with the intention of winding him. It feels strangely surreal to her without the padding of the paws she's usually wearing in combat scenarios.
COMBATSYS: Lucky Chloe successfully hits Tsinghua with Happy Swing.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/----<<<|-------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Raiza 1/---====/=======|=======\==-----\1 Tsinghua
[TSINGHUA]
"Tsch-" Tsinghua frowns, as his target retreats behind Chloe to focus on the newly arrived bot. Thus far, he was not yet familliar with how the Idol moved, making her a more difficult target.
He turned his attention to Chloe, he'll get his opportunity later, he thought- It is too much of a risk to turn his back on her. But before that, his expression turned pained at one of Raiza's comments. "Quiet! Spare me your lies!"
They weren't kidnapping people.
"Let us dance then."
And after he accepted the challenge through gritted teeth, the battle in the corridor exploded.
Chloe spun toward Tsinghua, and the robot boosted for Raiza- The boy tried, really tried to place his staff in the way: But he was distracted. Unfocused. And the strikes slipped past and into the sides of his stomach. "Hfff-!" A pained grunt was overpowered by the revving mechanics of Fulgore, its artifical intelligence determining a hit-and-run strategy against Raiza's building of power. First dashing forward to swipe at her with its claws, their blue glow absent for the sake of saving energy. It would waste no time to launch itself off of the metal floor, away from Raiza.
The boy staggered backwards briefly, but did not take long to make his own move- Eyes full of a cold fury. "You will feel the eight's fury!" He sneered, scouring the floor- No small object. Fine, he'll improvise again. Kicking off his sandal, it launched to up in front of him- Where he concentrated his Chi to envelop the footwear. It locked itself into the air, it's surface slowly being overgrown with a thick layer of bark- The spectral shape of roots growing emerging from the fabric, outward before dissipating in mid-air. His cane was pulled back.
And he swung, and swung. Building up kinetic power on the sandal.
A positive barrage of quick strikes later- It was trembling, build up momentum that was aching to be released. "Xiru!" He shouted, his palms coming together as he lifted the spell, finally causing the projectile to barrel forward like a bullet- Arcing toward Chloe, positively glowing with energy.
COMBATSYS: Raiza blocks FulgoreMkI's Evasive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/----<<<|=------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 1/=======/=======|==-----\-------\0 Tsinghua
[RAIZA]
The crackling of the sparks around Raiza seems to accelerate the longer that she holds the tension in her body, escalating into a practical aura of blue lightning. Her expression turns into a scowl behind her mask.
"Oh yeah, I'm sure it was somebody else's robots dragging people into the sky!"
Her kama cross to intercept the swiping claws with a clash of energy as Raiza glares at the Fulgore unit, genuine anger seeming to start to build as the robot leaps away. She doesn't even seem to notice the cut across her hand that one of the metal talons managed to draw as more blood seeps from her injuries.
"'Cause only good guys make killer robots!"
If this were a third person omniscient narrative, you'd now be getting treated to the flashback playing in Raiza's head of the grainy footage of an unreleased video showing a student with inhuman features disappearing into the night sky in the clutches of what would appear to be a robot not unlike the one standing before her. However, it isn't, so you'll just have to guess what she's picturing in her head.
As she thinks whatever she's thinking, the air around Raiza seems to get heavier somehow, and chunks of ceiling panel start to crumble from above, collapsing on and around her, though she seems unfazed, probably because she's picturing something that's making her angry, I guess.
"Raijin-sama... show this robot no mercy...!"
Thunder can be heard overhead through the ceiling as Raiza lets fly with her kusarigama with sudden speed, the chain extending as space seems to contract impossibly between ninja and robot.
Should her kusarigama manage to hook into Fulgore's chassis as intended, the kunoichi will tug mightily on the chain, reeling the robot in with the aid of some unseen force as the weight of the deadly machine seems to warp in her favour. She would dart past and up onto the Fulgore unit's back as if looking for a piggyback ride.
"Domo arigato, Mr. Robot-o," she'd whisper in the android's presumed auditory receptor, reaching behind herself and producing a black umbrella from parts unknown, then opening it, brazenly inviting misfortune -
"ROMANSU NO HIBANA!"
The lights in the building would flicker suddenly as a mighty bolt from above would strike through the hole in the ceiling, hitting Raiza, her umbrella, and hopefully the robot! The former would take the impact relatively well, simply sent flying without visible signs of injury, while the second would be destroyed and the third...
Well, we'll just have to find out next time on Call Me Raiza! Dead Or Alive Crossover OVA Episode 2.
COMBATSYS: Lucky Chloe blocks Tsinghua's Dong Gen (Hu Qi).
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Tsinghua
[LUCKY CHLOE]
If Lucky Chloe knew that Tsinghua was unfamiliar with her fighting style, she would be a tad dissapointed. Why isn't he a fan? On the other hand, it could work to her advantage, so she'd find a way to live with it.
Her eyes light up at the invitation to dance. "Alright, let's see what you've got" she challenges. "I already started the party."
She's bouncing on the balls of her feet and truth be told, it's a lot less comfortable than her usual padded sneakers. Her soles are probably gonna suffer later.
As her swing wins, she lets out a gleeful sounding cry of gloating and allows herself to look smug, before bracing herself for what the green haired boy is going to throw her way. As he stares in her direction, it seems as though he detests the dance diva. It's perhaps even a little scary! Ironically his weapon of choice is a sandal.
"Did you feel sorry for me having no shoes?" she jests, whilst instinctively throwing her hands up in front of her frame for protection.
The soaring sandal smacks straight in to them, causing her to swear under breath. Something that's definitely off brand.
She looks sideways towards her teammate and sees that she seems to be suffering with some injuries. Now is not the time to play nurse though, she has a job to do!
She rushes towards Tsinghua at full speed, aiming to slam her elbow into him so hard, that it will knock him to the floor. The lights start to flicker as she's in motion, providing some cool looking special effects that wouldn't be out of place in one of her stage shows.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua dodges Lucky Chloe's Elbow Beat.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Tsinghua
COMBATSYS: Raiza successfully hits FulgoreMkI with Empowered Spark of Romance.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Tsinghua
[TSINGHUA]
Get ready for the SHOCKING conclusion of Raiza's special technique! Who will come out on top in: Call me Raiza! Dead Or Alive Crossover OVA Episode 2!!
The kunoichi's kama strikes true, a freakishly powerful tug launching her and the massive metal machine close- Fulgore tried to bat her away with its arm, but it was no use, for she was as fast as as a current!
"ROMANSU NO HIBANA!"
KA-BLAM! The lightning bolt surged through Fulgore's metal- And flew backwards, like Raiza. Though it's flight was notably absent of Kunoichi gracefulness, instead -slamming- into the metal wall to dent it with a massive -CLUNK-
And it shook and trembled, as the lightning surged through and finally left it's chassis.
It looked inactive, but it's systems were restarting itself frighteningly fast. The boy in beige glanced it's way, right as he swayed past her elbow to have it catch only air. "Wuyong! (Useless)" The messenger skipped backwards, his trained brown eyes scouting the battlefield- Fulgore is getting up, Raiza and Chloe look ready to do more harm. He made a decision, and began a low dash toward the Idol.
Before swerving for the wall, and jumping!
The boy's one sandal, and other bare foot, touched the wall briefly, legs contracting and then extending to boost himself further- Not toward Chloe, but toward the Kunoichi! "Fulgore, Switch targets!" He wasn't sure if that would work, his lesson in commanding the bot did not reach this deep into combat strategies.
But he was fortunate, for when he came into Raiza's range with an overhead slam from the air "Qi!", Fulgore turned its helmet toward the cat-cosplayer, and began lumbering her way with it's loud steps. Behind it, Tsinghua's overhead slam turned into a spinning diagonal low to the ground, for her shins. "Wu!" From there, he spun and rose- His body leaning backward with his free hand facing outward, serving as a counterweight for Tsinghua to sweep his cane in a full circle, raising one leg in the process! "Liu!"
But the robot had not made it's move yet.
It surged forward with an unexpected speed, one of it's claw-arms igniting with crackling blue energy, to broadly sweep the claw upward with a jump- Hoping to rake it across the Idol's body!
COMBATSYS: Raiza dodges Tsinghua's Teshi Baji.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-<<<<<<|===----\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
[RAIZA]
In the aftermath of the improbable heavenly lightning bolt crashing down onto her position, Raiza is sent flying - only to land in a ninja crouch, legs apart and one hand to the floor to arrest her slide across its smooth surface, echoing sparks of electricity arcing around her. Normally, you'd expect a certain degree of impairment in someone who's just been struck by lightning, but not Raiza - if anything, she looks even more alert and energized than before.
Let's just hope for her sake that no birds end up coming through that hole in the ceiling.
"That was... weird," the kunoichi says softly in what seems like an unusual moment of self-awareness, even though she's done pretty much the same thing at least a couple of times before. "I think I'm gonna barf."
The revelation is chilling when one realises that Raiza is wearing a surgical mask and can't take it off.
There's no time to worry about that, though, because Tao Tsinghua is tagging in!
"Erp!"
She throws herself sideways into a cartwheel as Tsinghua's weapon smashes past her into the ground, pushing off of the floor with her kama to narrowly evade the spinning follow-up. She ends up half-flipping, half-flopping under the final sweep, landing in a bridge before kipping up and leaping away, over the Fulgore unit's head, her agility seemingly enhanced by the electrified state of her body. As she flies, she reaches into the front of her dress.
"Kunai no Shuchu Gou!"
As she calls the name of her secret ninjutsu technique, she sweeps her arm forward, unleashing a peppering of kunai customized to look like scalpels on the robot despite its shift of aggression in a clear demonstration of deep-seated anti-robot sentiments.
If and when she lands, she'll do so with her hands held out at her sides with middle and forefingers extended - and a moment later, arcs of electricity will leap from those fingers to the kunai she's released, potentially shocking the heck out of the robot!
COMBATSYS: Lucky Chloe interrupts Plasmaslice from FulgoreMkI with Aerial Arc EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/------</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
[LUCKY CHLOE]
Lucky fails to give Tsinghua the elbow, finding it's left hovering in the air. She retracts it rapidly and then glances towards him, watching as he takes his leap towards the lightning ninja.
"Look out!" she warns Raiza, planning to pounce upon her predator.
Before she has chance, she finds Fulgore is coming towards her and she has to prepare herself for that threat. She stands her ground, enduring the excruciating echoing sounds he is causing in the combative corridor.
When he makes his suprisingly speedy move, she rocks on to her back foot, claps her hands together and then rears backwards out of his reach. Stepping back towards him, she starts to twirl as she forms her hands into a double-axe handle and uses them to smash the robot in to the air.
As he comes down to land, Raiza adds her attack to the mix, making the machine the focus of both female fighters.
"You still gonna barf?" she checks with her backing dancer. "Because if you are, grab a bucket. I'm barefoot here and I don't wanna be sliding in the contents of your stomach!"
COMBATSYS: Raiza successfully hits FulgoreMkI with Cloudburst Kunai EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/------</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Tsinghua
[TSINGHUA]
Sometimes, a prediction isn't enough.
The boy grimaced, he really thought he accounted for her evading, with his sweeping strike angled for where he -thought- she'd go. But she didn't go over, she went under.
To make matters worse, behind him, Fulgore was getting pummeled by Chloe's counter-attack, her hands finding their target to blast the bot upward- And it had barely even landed before it was pelted with Raiza's projectiles! Its attempt at putting up a sturdy barrier with its arms failed, the Kunai slipping past into it's unprotected chassis- Lightning coursing deeply through its mechanics, as it flailed and twitched.
"No!"
Tsinghua was seeing his metal ally get dissassembled slowly, should it reach its breaking point, he will not last as both their targets- He is barely holding on with just one at a time.
'Trust in your own strength'
He felt that wooden trinket shuffling about deep in his robes- The reminder and reward of his brutal time in the Springtide Rosalia. It was engraved with those words, he had always sensed a power coming from it, to be used in a time of need.
And this feels like such a time.
In a sort of frenzy, he dug into his robe and pulled it out, breathing heavily as he held the artifact in his palm. It was a small shrunken-down stick with an engraved surface. It hummed, and trembled softly. "Just you wait.." He mumbled, clutching it tightly!
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua brandishes a wooden staff with a rounded weight at one end.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/------</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
And as he did, it grew- Grew, back to it's original weapon-shaped size! It's wooden surface covered in runes glowing a bright green, enveloping the boy- It clung to his body, then solidifying into plates of a wooden armor covering most parts of his body! The wood sprouted leafs, and furthermore, Tsinghua felt -all- of him get more powerful. His chi flared around him, and he picked up sounds from even past the metal walls.
"On this day, the immortals bless me."
He -smiled- at his opponents, letting his regular cane drop by his side, clattering across the floor. "Prepare yourselves, Intruders!" He announced, leaping on the wall and running over it toward the Kunoichi, tranluscent vines binding him to the vertical surface!
In the meanwhile, Fulgore had stabilized itself enough to stand up- Its head still twitching by residue electricity. Once again facing Chloe "Assault mode: Engaged." Was the warning the idol would get, before the unit's mechanics began to shift: It's otherwise short claws folding further outward into a pair of massive arm-blades, which it savagely used to erupt in a flurry toward a very unlucky lucky!
Then, Tsinghua dropped down, landing very close by Raiza- He pointed the back of the unbent staff at Raiza, only for it to expand -rapidly-. The blunt end tried to slam deep into her stomach, before retracting.
COMBATSYS: Raiza dodges Tsinghua's Shou Tui.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/------</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[RAIZA]
A faint smell of ozone wafts through the air as the sparks fizzle out from Raiza's fingertips, and she straightens only slightly out of the crouch into a hunched ninja stance, stretching her kusarigama back out between her hands. She's still doing okay, actually, if you choose (as she does) to ignore the multitude of minor leaks that have sprung up from her skin where splinters and claws have pierced her arms and hand.
If you don't ignore them, then there might be cause for concern regarding her continued well-being. Ironic that medical treatment is likely to prove hard to come by, considering the situation.
As the wooden armor begins to form around Tsinghua, Raiza is quick to recognize the danger.
"Chloe-chan! Look out, he's powering up!"
She quickly takes stock of her own response - if the Immortals have blessed Tsinghua with some kind of wood transformation jutsu, does that mean that Raiden has given her an equivalent? She looks deep inside herself. What emotion could unlock her own God Blessing Jutsu? Something primal, elemental...
"Piii....kaa...."
Thunder rumbles overhead, the lights flickering as Raiza's eyes narrow with determination.
"...CHUUUU!"
Electricity sparks through Raiza's body for a moment as she seems to undergo a transformation of her own...
...Which causes her shock of ponytail to pop out of her nurse's hat with a *poof* as her hair stands on end.
Nothing else happens.
"Darn."
Raiza's eyes widen as she witnesses the sudden growth of Tsinghua's shaft, the size of his wood convincing her to renegotiate her invitation to put his weapon 'whereever he wants.'
"I changed my mind!" she shouts seemingly at random as the Unbent Staff aims for her vitals, hopping up out of her shoes over the attack and planting her feet against the walls in a split-legged pose to scarcely evade the strike. She then hops her feet onto the stick and uses it to vault behind Fulgore once more.
"Chloe!"
Raiza calls out as she turns to the robot.
"Let's short this robot's circuits!"
And then, in beginner Japanese, she tries to signal a tactic to her opponent while gathering energy in her kama and charging forward:
"SAIKOOO-"
COMBATSYS: Lucky Chloe dodges FulgoreMkI's Transform - Assault Mode.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/------</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[LUCKY CHLOE]
The singer simply stares at Tsinghua as his weapon grows and he glows.
"I think he's having a moment" she muses.
Tilting her head to the side, she smiles back at him but it doesn't meet her eyes, making it seem less than sincere.
As the abandoned cane clatters, Chloe the cat girl (albeit one currently without any of her feline features) watches its progress across the floor, before finding herself giggling at the boy's fierce outburst.
"Sounds like you better get ready, Raiza" she sarcastically suggests. "Me though, I was born ready!"
She turns to face the robot. Assault mode didn't sound good! She plans to get out of its way ASAP!
Using her dance abilities, she attempts some fancy footwork to escape the robot's reach. Years of training in her bedroom, missing school sleepovers and birthday bashes pays off, as she gracefully glides to safety.
Crinkling her pert nose at the scent coming from Raiza, she looks towards the brave brunette. Her teammate doesn't seem to be in good shape, but she's fighting on regardless. This will be a definite plus in her monthly employee review. As will the fact that the Taiyo teen is looking out for her. She heeds her warning, getting ready to defend herself again if needed and then...
"Pokemon?" she questions. "At a time like this?"
As the Pikachu fan's perky ponytail pops up, she rolls her eyes but is quick to spring into action as her cohort calls her name.
The feline fan is fluent in Japanese, having lived here since the age of two. She knows exactly what "SAIKOOO-" signals.
Echoing Raiza with the English translation, she yells out "Here we go!" before turning around and dropping down onto her hands. She starts to breakdance at breakneck speed, positioning her pose so she can kick out at the robot repeatedley with her outstretched legs. Should all go to plan she will send him flying into the air with her frantic feet.
[RAIZA]
From there is where Raiza would join in - kusarigama crackling as she'd launch up from below the Fulgore unit, attempting to hook the kama into the robot's chassis as electrical energy rages through her. If successful, she'd position herself on top of the robot before surging with electricity, using her bottom to drive the metal demon back down toward Chloe as a violent shock would rock the robot.
"DENKI SAJI!"
Her own technique - which seems to translate as 'Electric Surge!' - coordinates with Chloe's assault -
[LUCKY CHLOE]
Coordination is key with dance routines and so it is with fighting too. If it works out for Raiza and the robot comes plummeting back down, she will position herself to give it a grizzly greeting, punching out her fist into its breaking body, whilst carefully staying clear of her combat companion.
Should victory be theirs, she would celebrate with a triumphant cry of "Oh yeah!" befitting of the idol's enthusiastic image. For her encore, she would engage her legendary pose of lifting her hand up to her ear. This would be considerably less cute minus the pussycat paws.
COMBATSYS: FulgoreMkI dodges Raiza and Lucky Chloe's Here We Go! Electric Surge!.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/----<<<|=------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[TSINGHUA]
The 'immortals' Tsinghua referenced had, in fact, nothing to do with this. Way to go attributing Rachel's boon to the Estate's patron deities, who themselves are of dubious existence.
The messenger looked nervous at Raiza's tandem display of Chi.
..Only to look at her annoyed as it turned out a fizzle. "Take this more seriously!"
The green-haired envoy grimaced as Raiza avoided the persistence advances of his unbent staff. "How Pathetic- You cannot even hold onto your own beliefs!" He responded harshly to her mostly random remark.
And then, the robot missed.
"Aiii-" The grunt came from a frustration, at the Robot's general failure at knocking Chloe off of her stride. Out of everyone, the no-cat catgirl was in the best shape.. Should he attack her?
No. He would finish off the Ninja.
Yet, when he tried rushing in, both of them had turned to Fulgore- And their subsequent attempted combined attack was one the boy had no desire of being near. He had no desire to be clipped by Chloe's powerful legs. So just for now, he waited- And looked at what should be the machine's swift dissasembly.
Only, it wasn't.
Against all expectations, the model surged with newfound energy, it's damaged actuators twitching and vibrating as it sensed the incoming threat, all of it's reserve energy being allocated for one thing. Survival. With twitching, disturbing jolts of movement, it managed to weave past Chloe's initial barrage of kicks. Another jolt as Raiza jumped, the sparks of electricty emerging from her chained kama -narrowly- missing its chassis.
"Ohohohoho!"
Tsinghua cackled from a few paces back, now finally having found the opportunity to make his dash for Raiza! "It seems this heap of scrap has its use apart from a shield after all! How utterly pathetic. All of that effort, and where has it brought you? Accept your fate, and fall!" Musing another taunt, he held the staff with two hands: And swung it wide toward Raiza at a range. The shaft lengthened and curved as if it was made of rope, the large wooden head seeking to whip and bash into the Kunoichi's back! Then, Fulgore's jittery yet swift movement brought it behind Chloe in a flash, slashing past her with an energy-empowered slash of it's claws!
COMBATSYS: Raiza blocks Tsinghua's Crushing Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/----<<<|=------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[RAIZA]
When the intended target of her tag-in slam eludes her, Raiza ends up free falling bottom-first onto the floor. With a grimace, she realizes that, contrary to what video games have taught her, ground pounding tends to be worse for the pounder than the ground. She's still in this position as Tsinghua's ojou laughter reaches her ears.
"Nngh..."
The Japanophiliac kunoichi's expression sinks behind her mask as she's subjected to the increasingly villainous mockery, and she pushes up onto her bare feet with a grunt, turning to face Tsinghua.
"Can't you hear how you sound? You're acting even meaner than Chloe-chan during rehearsal..."
She draws her kama apart and lowers into her ninjutsu stance once more as she focuses on her wooden-armoured enemy.
"...but I know she's a good person on the inside! Are you really this mean, or are you just stressed out because you're worried that if you don't perform, the people you answer to will be disappointed?"
Tsinghua's weapon extends toward her again, and she readies herself to defend - only to realise that the weapon is slipping past her to attack from behind. She quickly stretches her arms behind her back, barely managing to deflect the attack with her kama, but the effort of the desperate defense causes her to flinch in pain as tendons are strained to their limit.
"I know it's worth it for Chloe-chan, because she's at least following her dreams..." she groans, taking a moment to huff air and straighten her limbs as electricity arcs from the lights overhead into her kama as she slowly begins to spin them at either side, holding the chain loosely in each hand. "I hope you're following your dreams, too."
The electrical energy continues to build as Raiza's eyes glint in the flashing blue glow.
"Sorry... I'm ready for your weapon now! I just needed to warm up!"
COMBATSYS: Raiza crackles with electricity!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/----<<<|=------\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
COMBATSYS: Lucky Chloe interrupts Cyberdash from FulgoreMkI with Air Tracks.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 FulgoreMkI
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Raiza 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[LUCKY CHLOE]
It was wise of Tsinghua to stay clear of the imminent double danger, unless he too would have managed to dodge as well as the robot!
Chloe is stunned into silence, as he avoids their teen team up. She was sure they'd be able to mess up the machine so they could focus on the greater threat of the green haired boy.
As he gleefully cackles at their misfortune, he's rewarded with one of the dance diva's death stares. It's a look familar to her employees and fighting foes, but very rarely seen by her adoring fans. As Raiza comments on her rehearsal conduct and the fact she's following her dreams, she simply smiles, seeming to take the words as more of a compliment than an insult.
Finding her voice again, she places a hand on her hip and waggles her finger towards their human opponent. "Gloating doesn't look good on you. But then neither does that outfit."
Before she can continue her bitching, the robot is seeking revenge, lashing out at her with his cruel claws. She decides to drop down again to get back to her breakdancing, this time starting to spin at speed. She uses her lithe legs on the mean machine once more and as she works her super fit frame, she calls out "Lucky!" in celebration of her own efforts.
The blonde idol athletically flips up into a handstand, before following through with a double vertical spin kick, smashing into the robot's head and bashing it with her bare feet. For her finale she finishes upside down, balancing on her hands, bending her knees and holding the pose for a few seconds before flipping back to her feet with a flick of her hair. The only trouble is, she forgot she was wearing a wig and it falls off to go flying through the air. Her own super long, silken tresses spill out from their polyester prison and make her more closely resemble the pink loving pussycat performer she's best known as.
[TSINGHUA]
Raiza had struck a nerve.
"Silence!"
When did he become so mean?
He's always avoided being mean, he thought he hated being mean. Then why does it suddenly come so naturally?
Is this just how powerful people feel?
"Dissapointed? If only they'd be just that!" He grimaces, as his weapon contracted close once again. "They would be angry." A small bit of his underlying woes peeked through, though this did not halt him- He jumped forward, a trunk of wood sprouting from the metal floor to launch him over Raiza- In the middle of his flight he flipped over, attempting to knock Raiza over the head with the enchanted wooden weapon. "I will not let you!" He shouted, though as she made her point about dreams, he was reminded of a conversation.
'You seem to be tugged in everywhich way, except the path you might want to take in life.'
In his own grey-scale anime-style flashback, Velvet Blue's words popped into his head. "Y-You don't know anything!" He landed lightly a few paces behind Raiza, crouched low.
Rolling a few seconds back, Chloe once again managed to nail the bot in the middle of its own move, spinning kicks colliding and denting its head- To such a point that sparks emerged from under the metal, its frame jolting aggressively and collapsing to the ground- Scraping across the floor with jittery movements. "Error- Error- Error-" Fulgore's speakers rang out, its systems shutting down- Though in a final, ruthless attempt at subduing it's target, the robot's visor glowed- Head jolting to point toward Chloe as she made her, admittedly, fabulous pose. A first red beam of eye-laser surged her way, and two more followed! With the robot spasming violently, it's aim was off.
COMBATSYS: FulgoreMkI has suffered catastrophic damage and fallen offline.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Raiza 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Raiza fails to interrupt Evasive Strike from Tsinghua with Empowered Supercell EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
COMBATSYS: Raiza can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[RAIZA]
As Tsinghua comes leaping over Raiza, attempting to strike her with his shaft, Raiza springs into action, the potential energy that she's been accumulating unleashing as she starts to spin like a cyclone, kama flying loosely around her as she sparks and whirls. Once again, there's a strange shift in the air, as if the very gravity around the two has entered a state of flux that draws both fighters inexorably toward each other.
"SUPASERU --!!"
The storm of energy builds to a head as the kunoichi swings her weapons swiftly toward her armoured opponent -
*CRACK*
- but the wooden shaft manages to penetrate between her outstretched, flailing limbs, striking the ninja nurse in the head and driving her back into the floor. Oddly, her descent seems to take seconds longer than it ought to, as if filmed in slow motion, before she crashes into the ground.
The teenage ninja's brown eyes lose focus as her head lolls to one side, her skin growing paler and her gaze turning toward Lucky Chloe as she battles the robot.
"Ch-Chloe-chan... I'm sorry..."
The kunoichi seems about to fall unconscious before suddenly making a gagging sound behind her mask, rolling onto her side and holding her arms against her stomach as she shudders.
It seems that Raiza is out of the fight.
COMBATSYS: Lucky Chloe blocks FulgoreMkI's Tri Laser Storm.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[LUCKY CHLOE]
"Who is they?" Chloe wonders at Tsinghua's words.
It's obvious he is rattled, despite the show of bold bravado.
"She does know some things" she counters, as he accuses Raiza of ignorance. "Like the dance routines to all of my songs, where to get good sushi and lots about Pokemon."
Chloe is currently in quite a bit of discomfort, not that she'd willingly let it show. It turns out that hitting a badass robot with bare feet is not a good life choice and there's a trickle of blood trickling from one of her toes. There's probably also going to be some bruising there, but that's a problem for tomorrow. For now she will power through the pain! Besides, there's celebrating to be done!
At the sight of the sparks coming from the robot, she jumps up and down on the spot, ignoring the trickle turning into a rush of red.
"You made an error to mess with me!" she taunts the robot, though it's probably no longer listening. As it sends its swansong her way, she is helped by the spasming, meaning she is only skimmed by the final laser. It still stings though!
Sparing a moment for the fate of her fellow 'nurse' she grimaces as the shaft strikes her hard in the head. "Don't worry about it" she assures Raiza, in a rare display of compassion. "I'll finish him off."
She turns her attention back to Tsinghua and starts stalking towards him with a slightly sinister smile on her face. It's made all the more creepy by the fact she's leaving bloody footprints in her wake. Letting out a fierce cry, she attempts to cuff the boy with her hand in an attempt to knock him off balance.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua blocks Lucky Chloe's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[TSINGHUA]
"I don't have the luxury to dream.."
He mumbled, as he watched the Kunoichi crumple to the ground, a slight Twang of guilt pulling at him following the action.
"She knows nothing of value, in other words."
He retorted, slowly turning the idol's way. "My deepest apologies for ignoring you for so long, let us finish this." He commented, flourishing the unbent staff, and holding it up above his head with it's front pointing toward the fast approaching Lucky. Her straight punch was caught by Tsinghua's staff whirling down, deflecting the staff. One of his eyes closed, a subtle sign of the strain that's being put onto him.
With the aid of a conjured vine, he pulled himself backwards- And retook his stance, letting his light brown eyes fall on the girl, absorbing all he could from her how she fights.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua calculates his next move.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 [E] Tsinghua
[LUCKY CHLOE]
"Luxury needs to be earned not given" the dancer declares.
"As for what's valuable in life, it's a matter of opinion for the most part."
"And you ignoring me? I don't take it personally. I get plenty of idolation in my career. This is just a side project."
As his staff strikes her hand, she lets out a yelp, before backing up and starting to dance rhythmically from one foot to the other. She then jumps forwards attempting to deliver three low shin kicks interspersed with three feinting ankle twists. With each movement she counts "One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six!"
It seemes like she knows basic math at least.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua interrupts Triple Twist from Lucky Chloe with Zhongzi Mucai.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/-======/=======|=======\===----\1 [E] Tsinghua
[TSINGHUA]
"So I do not deserve it, then?"
Tsinghua said, coldly. "I suppose I'm not as lucky as you or your friend to have 'earned' it. I am almost envious of your lax standards." With a wry chuckle, he shifted the unbent staff to a lower position, behind his waist.
"And I don't think I ever will- But this is the best I can do!"
The idol jumped in at that stage, and the first three of there kicks managed to hit her target! "Hnngh-!" Yet, the boy's staff swung up just before Chloe's fourth blow could make contact, the rounded head -smashing- against her chin. From there, the staff extended again- The wood curling and pushing up to launch the idol further upwards, swirling around like a rope!
"One."
[LUCKY CHLOE]
"I didn't say you don't deserve it. I'm not your judge and jury. The question is, do YOU believe you deserve it, Tsinghua? I know that I do, because I work very hard for all I've got. Do you think it's easy being an idol to kids all over the world? I have urges, desires, dark moods, but I have to be careful not to let them become too visible or it will harm my ratings. Thankfully I have fighting, where I can let off steam and everyone thinks I'm just getting in the spirit of things!"
As her dance steps are stopped by the swing of Tsinghua's staff, her lips twitch at the corners, hinting at the displeasure she feels.
His cold delivery of "One" impresses and amuses her and she gives him a slow hand clap for his timing.
"Good. It seems you have some balls to go with that shaft of yours."
The battling boy will recognise the call of "Here We Go!" as her greatest hit makes a reappearance. This time though, it's a solo performance!
She again drops down on her hands, breakdancing beautifully as if her life depended on it. The kicking commences, though this time her target is made of flesh and is a lot less damaging on the delicate state of her feet. As she aims to launch her enemy in to the air with her legs, a spurt of blood shoots upwards like a frightful fountain from her right foot. This doesn't stop the action though. If she manages to make good on her move and he drops back down towards the dedicated dancer, she will leap into the air again, her hand shooting up in triumph to the sound of "Oh yeah" echoing around the corridor, as her fist smashes into the unlucky boy. Success will mean another striking of her most iconic pose, holding her hand up to her ear and trying her best to look as cute as she possibly can without the aid of cat ears, tail and paws!
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua blocks Lucky Chloe's Here We Go!.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 [E] Tsinghua
[TSINGHUA]
Taking in her words, the boy stays silent, but his breathing quickened slightly- Perhaps betraying some of the emotions bubbling under the surface. His mouth opened briefly, wanting to say something-
tBut he has shown enough weakness already.
"Let us finish our dance." Was his only comment, before Chloe's downright deadly assault began- The launching kick was barely absorbed by the green-haired boy raising his knee, Lucky's foot clashing with the hard wooden plate. It did not quite launch him upward- Though it did manage to stain his beige robes with her blood. "Tsch-" Much to the dismay of the Envoy.
Due to the kick's sheer power, he did stagger backwards- only barely managing to hold the unbent staff out in front- Supporting it with both hands as Lucky's -mighty- punch clashed with the wood. He had to really, really push back against it's force.
But as they were locked into that moment, his armor expanded.
Vines shot out of the wooden plates, encircling the boy entirely as they molded with a shimmering green barrier, he groaned and grunted in pain. Though, should the Cat-Idol not get out of the way in time, she would find herself enwrapped in the vines.
"Guding.."
And if he could, he would finally shift the guard he had been locked into, clapping his palms together- And with that motion, the vines -froze-, in the sense that they were unmoving, yet unmovable. A moment of relative silence would fall, as he breathed in deep.
"GEEEEEEEEN!"
His soft voice shouting loudly, he pushed his palms forward. And the locked barrier of vines imploded with it, pulling the Idol close before all of that energy was pushed away rapidly! A truly fearsome blast of Chi trying to knock her into the wall, and outside of the capacity to keep fighting!
COMBATSYS: Lucky Chloe blocks Tsinghua's Dong Gen (Xiru).
[ \\\\ < > /////// ]
Lucky Chloe 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 [E] Tsinghua
[LUCKY CHLOE]
"Oops, did I get red on you?" Chloe the currently not a cat girl remarks.
She's actually reeling from the fact the boy has brushed off her most dangerous and deadly dance move for the second time but she's trying to keep her cool.
She stares into his eyes as the fighting foes face off before flipping backwards to escape the violent vines. It's not far enough though and as they seek out the singing star she finds herself struggling in their suffocating grasp. A panicked look appears on her youthful face, a peek at the terrified teen behind the polished pussycat pop idol.
As the vines implode she is thrust forward towards Tsinghua before flying through the air to meet her fate.
From somewhere deep inside her she finds some strength to resist and she manages to roll sideways, her acrobatic dance moves aiding her attempt. She still hits the ground hard, causing her to groan, but it spares her the more brutal impact of the wall.
Starting to pant, she pushes herself forwards on to her hands and knees, looking up at the perpetrator of her pain. From this position she gathers her energy before spinning in the air with an explosion of sparkling purple chi. As she lands, she will launch her leg towards Tsinghua to try and smash it into his head.
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua fails to reflect Lucky Corkscrew EX from Lucky Chloe with Guding Gen (Xiru).
[ \\\\ <
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Tsinghua can no longer fight.
[ \\\\ <
Lucky Chloe 0/-------/-----==|
[TSINGHUA]
"No.... No!"
He protested, as he saw her manage to recover after that strike. "It's not fair!" After all he did, after pulling out -everything- he could, will it still not be enough? "You shouldn't be standing-!"
tHad he really become the bad guy? "Is that why I can't..?"
That thought crossed his mind. As Lucky dashes his way with such continued energy once again, Tsinghua did sense how she was gathering her Chi- As such, he employed his own technique against it, as he had been taught. It was similair to his earlier blast, a shimmering bubble encircling him as he focused. When Lucky's leg touched the energy, she would experience the brief sensation of her movement slowing down, the kinetic barrier flickering as it struggled to keep her back.
But Tsinghua was too distracted, and the barrier did not hold. It shattered, her foot breaking through to -slam- against his cheek. The purple chi exploded against him, the sheer force of it all blasting him backwards. His head hitting the metal wall with a loud, disturbing bang.
And with that, his staff shrunk, and the armor dissipated.
"Why do... your words have to make so much sense.." he muttered out through his dazed mind. "Just.. get out of here.. fast.." At that, his head fell limp against his shoulder, his battered body crumpled up against the wall- Ready to be found by a likely dissapointed DOATEC employee.
[LUCKY CHLOE]
"It's not fair? How old are you? Seven?" she scoffs.
As she switches to slow mo mode mid attack, she fights against the feeling until finally it ceases and she feels the freedom of her full speed again.
When her foot meets his face and then his face meets the force of the wall she feels sympathy for the boy, albeit it very briefly.
Standing over him as she surveys the damage, she shrugs in response to his words.
"I'm just wise beyond my years I guess."
She lingers a moment to savour the sweet taste of success and then rushes over to Raiza to aid the ailing ninja nurse.
"Come on Pikachu. Let's go get what we came for."
Log created on 10:59:32 04/08/2022 by Raiza, and last modified on 10:20:50 05/06/2022.