NFG Season Two - RTZI Round 4 - The Omega Man

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Description: The captives are found by Ayala, Braun and Homura, and they manage to release John Doe - but before they can release Zack and escape (or just escape), they're confronted by a traitorous foe and the culmination of her ethically bankrupt research...



[LISA HAMILTON]
After following off-road tire tracks through the jungle for some time, the group led by Tom arrived by Jeep at the entrance to the facility at the base of the volcano deep within the jungle. A keycard that was left behind by Lisa, the traitorous scientist who had kidnapped Zack, allowed Ishida and Kenzo to provide access to the facility for all of the NFG fighters, while Tom stayed behind to make sure the Jeep wasn't stolen. Strangely, despite evidence of a complex security system, a computerized voice had greeted them on presentation of the passkey:

"Greetings, Doctor Hamilton. Biometric screening is currently suspended. Please proceed through decontamination."

Like an airlock, a set of doors had opened automatically to allow access to a brightly-lit hexagonal corridor, and all of them had been sprayed with antibacterial mist. Fortunately, no lasers had appeared to slice anyone in half.

Inside, the facility was strangely quiet. There was an unmanned security station behind bulletproof glass as the only form of reception. Within, the walls were strangely unmarked other than a logo of a simple DNA strand framed by a hexagon and lines marking the paths to areas labeled Containment, Laboratories, Security, Offices, and Maintenance.

With their numbers sufficient to merit splitting up, Ishida, Kenzo, Max and Buck were chosen to investigate the Laboratories and Security for signs of Zack or John Doe while Braun, Ayala, and Homura would check in Containment.

Positioned underground in the depths of the PrimoGen Research Facility, the specimen containment area is a long rectangular space. The floor is made of reinforced steel and steel railings run along the centre of the room, dividing it into two sections. The left hand side of the room is dedicated to monitors and screens that seem to be tracking statistics such as changes in movement and temperature. As the room is low in lighting otherwise, their activity is even more visible. The right hand side is reserved for the containment tubes, where subjects of study are held. These cylindrical containers are made from shatterproof glass and filled with a blue liquid, giving a murky view of their occupants.

As the would-be rescuers enter the chamber, it's clear that most of the containers are now empty, but not all. Two familiar humanoid figures float suspended in the liquid, breathing masks affixed to their faces. They are recognisable as John Doe and Zack.

And observing the vital monitors for both is a dark-skinned woman wearing a lab coat over, oddly, a bikini, her attention focused on recording notes on an electronic tablet.
When it comes to these sort of facilities, Braun is probably a little more used to seeing its like then Ayala and so takes everything in with a measured stride and an observant but not particularly stunned or blown away expression. He's some mercenary and paramilitary styled experience and has seen things -like- this before so far as the security measures and the clinical structure of the hidden base go.

But he hasn't seen it all. Far from it. He's some experience, not all experiences, and as they delve deeper into this strange place his brow begins to furrow slightly as his nostrils flare to scent the area and attempt to discern what could very well be waiting for them up ahead.

That cold clean smell of artificially maintained sterilization assaults him, particularly in the aftermath of their own decontamination, but his makai blooded senses work to separate this from that and to try and isolate whatever could be waiting for them .

"Better let me take th'lead. The nose knows..." He grunts . The possibility of ambush is always there after all and there's always that lingering chance of a double betrayal and them becoming lost or otherwise trapped in this facility.

When the containment room is finally breached and entered, Braun quickens his pace and steps forward...taking note of the occupied containment tubes and the woman at the monitoring stations. Another glance is given towards the tubes for a sort of final confirmation and then Braun moves, going into a blurring leaping lunge that carries him from the entrance and towards one of monitoring stations. His large heavy body looking to use its deceptive natural agility and balance to land atop the high tech equipment into another crouch with both of his arms out raised and his claws now visible and crackling with energy.

"Hey darlin'. Don't mean to interrupt yer study session but imma need you to open those tubes for me..."

[AYALA]
Ayala had no concept for this kind of structure--there were no prisons where she was from, and the concept of mega prisons like they had on Earth were alien. If it were not for Braun instructing her what this place was supposed to be for, she might not have known. It gave her bad vibes, especially the strange area they now found themselves in, with all glass vials filled with blue liquid. Nothing in here seemed at all natural.

The decontamination was... unpleasant, and she winds up brushing her long curly blonde hair back as she exits, blinking as she realizes one of the figures in the tubes she recognizes.

"JD! how he here??" Ayala had faced the living dead man in a match before, in the previous tournament, and needless to say, he was hard to miss. As Braun deals with the lady in the labcoat--plus bikini, which Ayala doesn't find as much of a odd thing as the two people floating in the capsules--she quickly moves to try and rock the capsules back and forth to see if they can be toppled over and smashed open. Or if necessary, she'll appropriate a heavy object and begin working on the glass with it to see if JD at least can be freed. She knows if something goes wrong JD is less likely to be physically injured due to his... physiology, perhaps.

[HOMURA]
"Is she the reason why the shop sold mostly bikini tops?"

Homura sounds a bit nettled. Oh, don't mind him. He's easy to have lost track of, being somewhere between a half and a quarter of the size of the king of beasts, depending on what metric you're measuring by. Not to mention the ..other king of beasts. Queen? Chief? "Ano, I've been busted down to the brute team," Homura laments a bit, the now-curiously-blue-eyed boy still relegated to the background. "Oh--um, no offense. I'm not well suited for these things.." Of course, the boy does have his uses -- there doesn't seem to be a security system that the boy can't just slip past. Plus, he's very polite.

"A--ano!"

Look, the shugenja is even raising his hand, leaning out of Braun's silhouette. "I'm sorry, don't we know you? Oooh, we've got a lot of business to get to! Me in particular. Things were bad enough with the bird, but now there's all kinds of frogs and lions and I really am not scoring any points with the Myo'o here with all of this mess, so... can we just agree to disagree and maybe you just give up on kidnapping people? ah--maybe your approach was better, Bee. oh, sorry, sorry, hold on.."

To his credit, the shugenja is now less trying to talk his way into a mindful solution and more looking towards Ayala trying to break into the tube of glass containing JD. "Itte... cha--ta..." the boy mutters to himself, hopping on one sneaker towards the two, unbinding and drawing his sword in a reverse grip so that the mune slides across and over the back of his other hand, loosening the beads wrapped around it. "I guess it's not really mindful of me, huh..."

he boy hefts the blade into the air like a spear super-dramatically, with little motes of silver light swirling around it. "I'm sure Michael Frank will have some choice words for her too..!"

And then --zoom! Just like a dart, the boy throws his charged sword right into the glass! Right where it -thunks- in, sticking somewhat unnervingly dead center over JD's center of mass, leaving a nice nail for Ayala to pound in with that suspiciously large-looking piece of equipment over there. If she isn't just lifting and carrying off the whole thing or whatever.

Really, between Ayala and Homura, there should be some nice spiderwebbed cracks going on. Even if Homura probably almost killed him. Again. A third time? Those toads were SO tough!

Ahem. Anyway, it's fine. JD will be fine.

[LISA HAMILTON]
There is a strange scent in the air, undetectable to normal senses, behind the chemically-sterilized odorless air - but it seems to be less pronounced as the group delves deeper into the containment area of the underground research station.

The doctor turns around from her monitoring stations and curses. "Dammit. You guys would have had better timing if you'd got here, like, ten minutes later. I don't suppose that one of you happens to be the one with my keycard?"

A speaker crackles to life from overhead as a masculine voice speaks. << I'm afraid they're not, Doctor Hamilton. That group is currently isolated in Main Lab. >>

Lisa screws her face up at that revelation. "Main Lab? What are they doing in there? Actually, why are /they/ in here? Shouldn't we have gone into full lockdown by now? Hey -- stop that! That equipment is --"

But it's too late - the sword has already been stabbed into the tank, and with Ayala applying her brute strength to the cracking glass, a leak springs - then another - and another - until finally the tank explodes outward with the weight of the cycling fluid gushing out of it, emptying it rapidly. Without the blue chemicals to float in, John Doe will be left to his own devices to support himself or tip forward, aside from the breathing mask on his face. Perhaps surprisingly for the shugenja, J.D. looks... better than ever, really. Not even scarred for the frogsharks' violence.

"-- fixing him," Lisa finishes with a grumble. "Atticus! What the hell is going on?"

<< The New Generation Fighters have used their expertise to hack their way in. They have an Ultratech-sponsored ninja, after all. It's bad, Lisa -- they've gone berserk. Attacked the rest of the research team. They were out for blood. >>

"What? No way," the tanned researcher says, doing a double-take. "Imogen, confirm status of the personnel in Main Lab."

A feminine, artificial voice speaks over the sound system.

<< Confirming vital readings. All science personnel in Main Lab are deceased. >>

Lisa turns to Braun, Ayala and Homura. "What the hell have your friends done?"

The male voice cuts in. << Doctor Hamilton, I recommend for your own safety that you activate Project Omega and move to subdue all intruders immediately. >>

Lisa looks hesitant, but after a moment resolve hits her features. She turns and presses a few keys on her station, causing the fluid to start to drain from the other filled specimen container. As it does, the shape of a muscular, dark-skinned Adonis starts to appear. Somehow, it looks familiar - like someone that the group should know well, but cooler. Stronger. Faster.

Funkier.

The containment vessel opens, the mask lifting off of the man's face. Despite the fact that he was just submerged for an unknown amount of time, he's got a pair of sunglasses on. He cracks his neck as he steps down from his containment unit, rolling his shoulders and sweeping his visored gaze across the gathered group.

"Funky," he breathes out in a deep bass as he presses his palms together and flexes his bulging biceps.

"Oz," Lisa says as she whips off her labcoat and tosses it aside, "Get ready to rumble."

A slow smirk spreads across the lips of O.Z. as the instruction is given. "Sounds sexy."

He drops into a Muay Thai stance. "Let's do this, baby."

COMBATSYS: Omega Zack has started a fight here as a boss!

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                



COMBATSYS: Lisa Hamilton has joined the fight here on the top side.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


                 [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|------=


COMBATSYS: Ayala has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


                 [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|------=
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Ayala


COMBATSYS: Braun has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


                 [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|------=
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Ayala
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Homura has joined the fight here.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


                 [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|------=
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Homura           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayala
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Braun


[BRAUN]
That was a whole lot of talking and back and forth there while Braun just sort of looms overhead, looking both confused and agitated.

"Hey, lady! Eyes up here!" he insists...but the sound of glass cracking and equipment groaning draws his attention towards the tube and the work of Homura and Ayala. In short, it doesn't look like she's going to need to comply at all in regards to his request for her to just open the tubes up for them.

But he -does- catch that little note about how the tubes were healing JD...not simply restraining him.

Before he can comment to that, the rest of the conversation perks his ears and Braun frowns abit. He's been distant, granted, and it's been a life or death situation to be certain...but this painting of the New Generation Fighters as berserk killers? Something's not adding up here.

"Now wait just a damn minute, lady. We're stranded here and trying to survive and get rescued but we aint mindless killers. You folk got something going on down here that's putting us at risk and who knows what else--!"

But the time for talk seems to be over with. Braun turns, witnessing the approach of the one with the one true funk. The Omega Zack has come.

"You gotta be kidding me.." he grumbles "You know what? Fine then!". His massive legs bend, sinew bulging and frame coiling...and he suddenly leaps, vaulting upwards into a high arc that then sends him spiraling into a spinning wild attack for the approaching Zack as he bellows out, 'Fine! Fight frst, then we talk!"

His leg whips around, scytching through the air in a lightning fast kick that lunges out for the other, seemingly enhanced, fighter.

COMBATSYS: John Doe has joined the fight here on the left meter side.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


                 [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|------=
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Homura           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
John Doe         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Braun


[JOHN DOE]
One could be forgiven for thinking the ominous science tube housing John Doe were up to no good. After all, while various touch screens and monitors pulse and boop around OZ's fluid-filled cocoon, JD's is oddly dark and silent. Where flashing lights should pulse and wiggle there are only flat, emotionless lines. Where bubbles should rise hauntingly around his pale, submerged torso, there is stillness and peace.
The final peace.
The ultimate mindfulness.
That last curtain call on a life lived beau--.
THUNK!
The sudden arrival of a sword blade causes JD to stir within the liquid, languid motions of his hands and feet wafting him away from the tip as it is driven closer and closer to his handsome chest. For every inch he retreats, the sword follows, edging right up against his skin before finally, with a loud crash of shattering glass, the entire capsule bursts apart.
With mysterious green liquid flooding out in all directions, JD snags the sword by the blade to keep it from escaping into the lab and sloshes down to his feet, shrugging out of his face mask with a blink of soulful grey eyes. With his closest savior being the wild woman Ayala, he offers her a wide, beaming grin of perfectly white teeth and a happy little wave of the hand that isn't occupied with holding Homura's sword.
Stepping carelessly out onto the broken plates of safety glass with bare feet., JD shakes his sodden hair back from his face, glossy locks hanging heavily across his shoulders, then adjusts his flowery orange and black trunks. Tossing the sword underhanded toward his official team partner, he beams around at all the familiar faces, including a very jacked looking Zack.
"Hhmmh..." he grumbles chilly toward the giant Zack just moments before Braun comes plummeting from above.
Well that seems to be handled.
Looking past OZ, JD locks eyes with Lisa, gives an appreciative gesture toward her as if to say, 'Daaaymn girl, look at you.' and wanders in that direction, and is about to turn away, when he notices the lab coat lying crumpled behind her.
He pauses.
He frowns.
He looks back at the pod he just escaped from, then around at all the crazy mad science stuff.
He scratches his head...
"Huh..."
Reaching down, he grabs the first thing that comes to hand, which just so happens to be a sparking chunk of broken medical pod about the size of his chest. Heaving it in both hands, he turns, gauges the distance, then hucks it tumbling end over end toward the bikini clad scientist!
But even if the chunk of grade A science doesn't actually manage to hit or wound her, the accusatory finger he jabs in her direction might, his handsome face a picture of hurt. After all, mutant frog-based kidnapping is not cool!

[AYALA]
While it wouldn't be the act of any normal person, Ayala actually gives a wide grin right back to JD, jaw dropping a little in awe. Ayala isn't close to what one would call 'normal'. All the NFG people she recalls are familiar to her--and familiar is a good thing right now--especially after the previous two encounters with monsters on the island.

"JD! People making monsters, try to kill us--" Ayala's explanation of things is usually fairly succinct, even in this sort of strange situation. She was distracted however by the sudden emergence of OMEGA ZACK. While she was aware Lisa was in on this, she seemed to be alright with leaving the apparently researcher in bikini who had been keeping John captive to him, at least for the moment. Her attention now was on the 'big guy' so to speak.

"They make a new Zack??" and apparently Braun had already engaged them. Well, for her, that was all the information she really needed.

Wrenching up a piece of the broken tube, she attempts to get a clear shot on Zack, holding the broken shard of metal and glass aloft over her head before hefting it with both hands towards the apparently newly created person.

[HOMURA]
"Ano! Excuse me?" Homura interrupts the transmission politely. "Berserk? Wanton mayhem doesn't sound like ..."

At this point, Homura looks around. To the giant trying to torpedo kick Zack, to the feral woman wielding the equipment they just broke into a million pieces, to even his (questionably) living teammate, who just emerged from said equipment fresh and brutally flirty.

Let's not even get into ZACK, who is now -- wasn't he the boss??
"...a-ah, nevermind. I see what you mean."
The shugenja quickly raises a hand, catching the thrown katana out of the air with a snap of motion and the ominous hum of reverberating steel. No matter how cool it might sound though, the shugenja is hellbent on ruining the moment. "Wow!" He's staring. "You look like a million bucks too! I thought you were gonna be parted out and sold on the black market!" He can tell his teammate, at least, hasn't gone overtly evil. But it does beg the notion. "Wait. Do you feel any extra funk too? Did they put in a turbo charging funk button?? I don't know if artificial funk is very mindful..."

It takes him a minute to really decide anything, the spine of the katana slung over his shoulder as a piece of specimen tank flies over his head and their contemporaries flock around someone who would almost certainly describe himself as The Main Event. Well, JD seems to have made his decision.
"I guess he's right," Homura supposes, lowering his stance. "Let's see if we can squeeze some information out of you..."

And just like that, the boy is off like a thrown dart, leaping forward after the rumble rose with a loong looooong shot stab from his sword, the blade flickering silver as he tries to outrange the scientist right into some debris. Failing that, maybe he can make her stumble into the frank, who is known to cuddle on a dime.

COMBATSYS: Omega Zack blocks Braun's Light Kick.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


                 [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
John Doe         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Omega Zack dodges Ayala's Beast Toss.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


                 [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
John Doe         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Lisa Hamilton blocks John Doe's Thrown Object.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
John Doe         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Lisa Hamilton dodges Homura's Tsukijin Stream.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
John Doe         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Braun


[LISA HAMILTON]
The afro-sporting masterpiece of humanity gleams in the faint light of the containment lab as he raises his fists in guard. A simple twist of his forearm brings it up to catch the beast-man's kick. The mass and sheer tension of muscle makes it almost like kicking a tree trunk - although most tree trunks would probably fare worse. Omega Zack is displaced by mere inches as his hidden gaze turns to meet the man who is most closely his physical match. "We can go ahead and ask questions while we fight," he says in a strangely sultry voice, before jerking his head casually to one side to avoid the mass of broken tube being hurled at it. His head cranes toward Ayala. "I'll start. What's your sign, baby?" he asks in that same velvety bass.

Then, with sudden violence, the clone whirls its muscular frame around, aiming a devastating spinning kick toward the midsection of Braun with incredible precision!

Meanwhile, Lisa throws her hands up to fend off the machinery that's been hurled her way. "Hey, come on! Can't we leave the equipment alone? That stuff's expensive!" she shouts, before glancing sidelong at Zack. "Actually, this guy's probably the most expensive thing in here..."

She's distracted from her fiscal concerns by the youth with the sword lunging at her. She cartwheels to the side to avoid it. "New Fighting Generation, taking children with violent tendencies and arming them with swords since twenty twenty-three," she mutters as she continues her flips and maneuvers to the other side of Homura as if going after John Doe, only to flip backward toward the shugenja. From there, she'll aim to lock her legs around his waist and flip-slam him down to the floor on his stomach, grab hold of his arms and wrench them backward!

"Hey, aren't you that kid that disappeared on us??"

COMBATSYS: Braun blocks Omega Zack's Zack Hurricane.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [    |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------------==                


                 [   ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
John Doe         0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0            Braun


[BRAUN]
Slamming ineffectively into an immovable wall of muscle? Check. It seems like ages ago now, Metro City that is, but the man that is arguably the largest and brawnyiest of the NFG Athletes has experienced such frustrations before. Bouncing wildly off of Kongou back or rebounding from the rippling backlash caused by tackling into Zog's immense gut...the sensation isn't new.

It doesn't mean he's fond of it and as he fails to even press the towering clone backwards by any distance of signifigant value, he grits his teeth as the shockwave ripples back through him and grunts out a simple: "Crud."

He rides that pushback, vaulting backwards as Ayala's errant attack comes sailing past him and Omega Zack easily dodges it and then lashes out with a violent tree shredding kick of his own while Braun is yet in the air and the large makai blooded warrior manages to twist just in enough time to turn his shoulders and arms against the kick and away from his gut.

The impact is thunderous. Braun squints his eyes, gritting his fanged teeth as the force sends him sailing backwards in this coiled defensive and then skidding along the lab floor. His own arms bulge, chi wrapping about them and billowing in crackling as he stretches one of the limbs backwards. "Sorry bro! Asking for our signs already? I can't speak fer the lady but yer moving too fast fer me! - Ayala! Close in!" he thunders before switching things up and instead of re-engaging in melee himself he swings and a massive scything wave of energy crackles along his arm and goes ripping across the distance towards OZ.!

[JOHN DOE]
Smiles brilliantly back at Homura as the Not-A-Crow boy gives him the sort of self esteem boost that only a true friend can. Giving a little flex of his biceps, which are definitely a contender for third best in the room, he poses for the security cameras that are no doubt catching this whole thing. Hell, even his recently acquired sword scars have been buffed away by the Scientific Power of mysterious green liquid.
But then, amidst the clash of limbs and beneath the shadow of a hulking mercenary sent flying over his head, JD is forced to ask the question.
Has he been artificially funked?
Lifting his hands, the glistening actor brings his fingers together, hesitating for only the barest moment before...
SNAP.
Clicking his thumbs, he considers...That felt sort of funky.
Watching as Homura dives toward Lisa with his sword leading the way, JD snaps his fingers in rhythmic time. Witnessing the expert cartwheel dodge, he slides his feet across the slippery floor and shuffles left to right.
His hips swing.
Pretty funky.
Jiving forward, head bobbing, he funky shuffles toward where Lisa is attempting to flip his friend to the floor, toes kicking aside bits of shattered safety glass and loose wire. Bobbing up to the pair, he turns 180 degrees, freezes, and poses, exuding an aura of absolute cool.
"Hmm." He considers introspectively.
"Nah." he decides.
There is nothing artificial about his funk.
Flopping backward, he attempts to loop his right arm around Lisa's head and drag her down into the sloppiest of stationary DDTs. Rather than rolling away, however, he does exactly as his team mate would want and attempts to put the squeeze on her, transitioning it into a sit-out headlock as his free arm reaches across his body to try and grip his slippery wrist, locking her head in against his pleasantly cool ribs.

John Doe smiles brilliantly back at Homura as the Not-A-Crow boy gives him the sort of self esteem boost that only a true friend can. Giving a little flex of his biceps, which are definitely a contender for third best in the room, he poses for the security cameras that are no doubt catching this whole thing. Hell, even his recently acquired sword scars have been buffed away by the Scientific Power of mysterious green liquid.
But then, amidst the clash of limbs and beneath the shadow of a hulking mercenary sent flying over his head, JD is forced to ask the question.
Has he been artificially funked?
Lifting his hands, the glistening actor brings his fingers together, hesitating for only the barest moment before...
SNAP.
Clicking his thumbs, he considers...That felt sort of funky.
Watching as Homura dives toward Lisa with his sword leading the way, JD snaps his fingers in rhythmic time. Witnessing the expert cartwheel dodge, he slides his feet across the slippery floor and shuffles left to right.
His hips swing.
Pretty funky.
Jiving forward, head bobbing, he funky shuffles toward where Lisa is attempting to flip his friend to the floor, toes kicking aside bits of shattered safety glass and loose wire. Bobbing up to the pair, he turns 180 degrees, freezes, and poses, exuding an aura of absolute cool.
"Hmm." He considers introspectively.
"Nah." he decides.
There is nothing artificial about his funk.
Flopping backward, he attempts to loop his right arm around Lisa's head and drag her down into the sloppiest of stationary DDTs. Rather than rolling away, however, he does exactly as his team mate would want and attempts to put the squeeze on her, transitioning it into a sit-out headlock as his free arm reaches across his body to try and grip his slippery wrist, locking her head in against his pleasantly cool ribs.

[AYALA]
The afro-decked superman ducking quickly out the way and the subsequent come-on made Ayala bare teeth and growl just a bit, in frustration with both, amusedly. Cavewoman she was, but she'd been out of the cave for a bit, so to speak, she knew when someone was tryying to shine her on. Omega Zack was /fast/, too, he slipped out of the way of that like it was nothing. Crap. Were a few NFG contestants enough for something like this??

Picking up on Braun's direction, however, the cavelady darts in close, broken glass and debris crunching under her boots--moving toward to clasp both her hands together and bring them up and around at Omega Zack's side or head, whichever she could land a hit on with her fast and quick two-handed hammerblow!

Ostensibly, she'd be trying to help Big Cat--not just because of the wounds he'd suffered from the frogs, Ayala could sense those probably hadn't totally healed yet--but also out of concern for this new combatant--they had made the frogs, too, she suspected? And also this man? What was he even capable of--she did not know.

COMBATSYS: Lisa Hamilton successfully hits Homura with Butterfly Clutch.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [    |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------------==                


                 [   ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|---====
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
John Doe         0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Braun


[HOMURA]
"Buddy! Kakkoii!" Homura always finds a way to gas his teammate up as he tests his funk out. Even while in the midst of tussling with the scientist. Mid-stabbing even! The beautiful beast in the background seems to be An Official Lot, lobbing feet and pickup lines with equal precision, so that makes getting at the buxom bikini dotted outline before she can summon more funk dragons or t-rexes or phoenixes or robots kind of important. Wait, wait?

Homura glances back from the fight, noticing his sword is lodged in a whole lot of nothing. "--hey wait, what just hap--WAH! I'm not trained to go there~---!!"

The shugenja is not really well equipped to get womanhandled like that, spidered onto and flipped flat on his face with a lab-rocking impact. Or maybe that's just because the boy lands like a cat thrown into the pond. "AIE!" He even has a pretty good bounce, smashed into the ground like an india rubber ball. "I-- ungh!" the boy objects, slowly rolling into the air mid-impact, trying to talk while getting his feet under him. Honestly, it really feels like physics is giving him a second or two too long for that, especially as he scrabbles at the ground, carrying the scientist's discarded labcoat with him. He's trying to search it -as- he lands, stumbling with one foot on the ground, a hand in a pocket and a collar in his teeth. "Whmm--!" the boy complains, head swirling as he tries to figure out how to fend off further attacks with a few half-hearted swipes of his sword.

Ptoo! "Hey! I did not DISAPPEAR!" he complains. "I just had other stuff to attend to! You can't just kidnap everyone with your toadmonglers and make them all funky!" He's trying to shake the coat upside down now, winging it around like a pom-pom. Maybe there's some kind of funk control in here. Or bikini suppression switch. "You're a terrible scientist!"

Somewhere along the way, the boy manages to turn his back on Lisa as she's got bigger franks to fry, trying to help his teammate clinch his grab with a moonlight blast wave, radiated point-blank from the tip of his sword, jammed into the ground behind him. He still has yet to fully catch his balance.
Shugendo is really more about the feel of things, really.

COMBATSYS: Lisa Hamilton blocks Homura's Moonsent Matsuri.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [    |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------------==                


                 [     ||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|-======
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
John Doe         0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Lisa Hamilton interrupts Burial Ground from John Doe with Butt Slam.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [    |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------------==                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|=======
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Omega Zack blocks Braun's Shockwave Claw.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [       ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|----------=====                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|=======
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Omega Zack dodges Ayala's Quick Smash.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [       ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|----------=====                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    0|-------|=======
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Braun


[LISA HAMILTON]
Omega Zack maintains that self-confident smile, even as Braun's surging chi reflects in his shades (why is he wearing those underground??) and Ayala darts in from the other side of the several-million-dollar man. Somehow, that expression that teeters on the edge of a smug smirk may just be more annoying than the thousand-megawatt gleam once can normally expect from the standard issue Zack. Perhaps the key to Actual Zack's charm is that he doesn't look like he knows any better.

"Sorry," Omega Zack rumbles in melodious apology as he angles his wrist to redirect the scything energy to collide with a monitor of some kind, light score marks marring his previously-unblemished skin more effectively than the opening salvo.

"I'll slow it down..." he says as he slides himself to one side somehow, bringing his arms and leg up in a Muay Thai pose while simultaneously running his fingers through his afro as he manages to elude Ayala's second attempt with some effort, turning his head toward her. His mouth curls as his face comes within inches of hers, definitely crossing into 'smirk' territory.

"For him."

Suddenly, Omega Zack is pivoting into a high kick aimed to slam Ayala back against the wall! His intent is that she'll rebound off, opening her to an impressive axe kick to bash her against the ground and another spinning kick as she bounces off of it. He'll then hop forward, pumping a straight kick at her while declaring, "This soul train ain't got no brakes, BAY-BEE! COME GET FUNKED UP!"

The violence wouldn't end there, either - he'd follow up by rushing toward her before winding up into a hard right-handed punch!

At the same time, Lisa has managed to get Homura into her Mariposa clutches, looking slightly bemused by what's going on. "Seems pretty tangible to me," she murmurs analytically, "and yet... HEY! I am NOT a bad scientist!" Feeling suddenly self-conscious that she's trying to gather data from a teenage boy luchadora-style, she lets him go, just in time for John Doe to join the cuddle pile. Fortunately for her, she's more familiar with the stationary DDT than your average genetic engineer.

"Hmph..." she declares as she feels John Doe's arm locking around her head. Instinctively, she throws her legs backward, somehow causing the blast of moonlight to glance off of her hips as she locks her legs around J.D.'s neck and wrests control from him. She ends up shoving backwards with her hands, landing butt-first on top of the actor. Not that there's anything weird about that! She's an accredited professional wrestler!

"Will you stop making out like I've done something /wrong/ here somehow?" she chides the NFG fighter before rolling off of him to her feet!

COMBATSYS: Omega Zack blitzes into action and acts again!

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [           ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------------==                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    1|-------|=======
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Omega Zack issues a challenge!!

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [           ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------------==                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    1|-------|=======
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Homura           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0            Ayala
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0            Braun


[BRAUN]
"Hey, hey, hey! That don't mean you get permission to move in on my girl tho'!"

Braun's sardonic response rumbles through the air in the space of seconds between the beginning of Zack's counter offensive against Ayala. In in the chaotic flurry of these moments, his hyper senses likewise peg the challenges that the bikini clad wrestler-scientist is posing to their teammates. Things don't seem to be looking good so far. While he and Ayala are momentarily in better shape physically - Omega Zack is either weathering or funking his way in and around their offensive moves with coordination that belies his staggering size.

"Ayala...damn!"

As OZ turns to attempt to tear into Ayala and calls out to the fighters with that aggravating overconfidence, Braun grits his teeth and leans forward while bracing his body against the ground with a single arm. A blazing corona of makai gifted energy begins crackling about him , working its way up and down his body as his metamorphic abilities begin to rush in. His physique enlarges, bulking up larger and larger. His hair shifts color towards a blazing glowing red and a lions tail extends out from his back. Even his tattered garments begin adjusting, worked by his bodies sorcery to keep pace with his enhancing size and proportions and drapping across his waist and torso like some barbarians accountments complete with heavy bracers around his tree trunk thick wrists.

And then he launches, shooting forward like a shell fired from a battleship. His 'Battle-Cat' form (so named by the oh-so-creative Buford...) comes barreling through the air, tearing across and through equipment in its way as he lunges for OZ with earthshaking ramming attempt!

COMBATSYS: Omega Zack successfully hits Ayala with Mephisto Rush.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [           ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------========                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    1|-------|=======
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Homura           1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0            Ayala
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Omega Zack successfully hits Ayala with Bazooka.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [           ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--=============                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    1|-------|=======
[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Homura           1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1            Ayala
[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0            Braun


"He very strong--very fast," Ayala's voice is a bit concerned as she calls out to Braun, her teammate, as they're currently fighting the same foe. Well, Braun is--Ayala is still trying to actually land a blow on the big beautiful bastard. "Wait, Ayala is Braun's--" the Cavewoman blinks a little in confusion at the banter between Braun and Omega Zack, not quite sure what she heard or has the time to process such things--Braun was already hurt once and she doesn't want it to happen again. She felt bad enough about it already, it would appear, as she redoubles her efforts and bares her teeth again.

Ayala is caught off guard as she is lifted right off the floor by Zack's strength and slammed into the wall--falling back to the floor as she's roundhoused again in the stomach--her eyes wide and mouth agape at the sheer overload of pain and anguish from the trauma she's experiencing right now. She lands on the floor finally coughing, her face red and her mouth bleeding from where she cut her own bottom lip on her teeth, teeth bared.

"Zack want Ayala--here she come!" she manuevers around the broken laboratory space, trying to avoid getting into Braun's way as he Beast Cannons his way around and into Zack, attempting to do a gainer off one of the pieces of machinery and leap onto Zack for a good bit of the old ULTRAVIOLENCE, that is, her scratching and biting mauling action!

[JOHN DOE]
With his pale skin currently lubed by the lingering residue of Mysterious Green Science Stuff, and his opponent surprisingly good at wrestling on a technical level, John Doe finds his arm tightening around empty air. However, worse than that, there are legs around his throat, he is falling, and...
Yep, a girl is sitting on his head again. Well, more woman than girl, but that's just semantics.
Flailing about beneath Lisa, JD rolls left when she rolls right, the two of them coming to their feet at roughly the same time. In response to her complaint he merely lifts a hand, fingers curled, and points toward the Wrecking Ball Formerly Known As Zack that is pounding the snot out of jungle girl.
His dark brows rise.
Behind him, a reddish blur of powered up angry catboy...Cat Man...goes roaring bye, and he shrugs, as if to say, 'and here we are now.'
Glancing past Lisa's shoulder to where Homura is likely concocting the Other half of a brilliant, near instinctual flanking maneuver between the pair of them, JD darts forward to try and keep Lisa's attention, reaching out to snag at her neck with both hands. If he can secure the grip he will drag her close so that they are suddenly face to face, look her right in those beautifully intelligent eyes, let her know that she is seen...
Then headbutt the snot out of her hard enough that they are both sent rebounding away in opposite directions.

[HOMURA]
"Ano....he's so funky.."

Even Homura is in awe for like a half second at the intense pulse-pounding beats that OZ is unloading in the background, having a second to get an eye on their other teammates and their scrappy bravery in handling that entire train of soul-related problems. Ugh. Come on. There has to be something in this coat -- "Were you just wearing this for the style?!" Homura accuses, going right back to his original point that Lisa is a Bad Scientist. His sword is still stuck in the ground as he splits his time between searching and checking himself for Mariposa crumple points. "Isn't there supposed to be science stuff in these? -- o-oh, a pen. Oh, it clicks too. I'm keeping it for all the trouble you're causing."

Really in fact, Homura decides he's just going to wear the labcoat entirely, slipping it on as he turns back to see -- "Buddy!" He's mortified now, blushing from chin to shades. "Watch out for those!" he warns, without specifying what THOSE he's referring to. "The science thing is just a distraction! She's trying to date you! It's a classic NFG move!" He knows a dating attempt when he sees it. She's just like that Texan.

Ugh. Did she just..

"Ano.. if she's just going to deflect stuff with her butt," Homura complains, raising his hands and clapping them together. "I'm going to have to w~~w--~wh--wish for a boon from Myo'o."

It just takes a single step forward. A single step, and the labcoat jumps into the air around him. Homura wearing it is rather short-lived, because the boy noticeably jumps three steps forward in that one step, causing the coat to float off of -- arguably through -- his shoulders, drifting to the ground. The leap doesn't seem intentional, as the boy snaps back into his own silhouette by the next step, turning his head in agonizingly slow time. By the time he's focused, the boy is already in the air. "Instrumentality prayer request complete."

The only sound the boy leaves is the crack of stirring wind. It takes him all of an instant to kick his blade out of the ground -- landing on the handguard of the katana in an eerie mimickry of Ayala's own perch -- then kicking the blade first up out of the ground, then straight forward, matching the tempo exactly with Zack's own prior beats. Forms, timing, and speed snap together modularly, letting the boy roll into the air, and both launch off of -and- launch his sword with the same motion, while catching up to JD just in time.

His teammate attacks the buxom scientist, at just about the same time the boy's sword arrives, threatening to pin Lisa square through the shoulder if she's knocked off balance even for a second. The thrown sword is almost immediately followed by the rush of wind, and the boy arrowing straight after it in a silver wave, to catch the blade by the hilt and lock the wrestlentist in place while perching on HER. For once!!

COMBATSYS: Omega Zack endures Braun's Raging Thunder Roar.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                     ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|--=============|===============                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    1|-------|=======
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Omega Zack blocks Ayala's Tooth & Nail.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 2|<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<                


                 [        |||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    1|-------|=======
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
John Doe         0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: John Doe successfully hits Lisa Hamilton with Brain Dead.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 2|<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<                


                 [            |||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    1|-----==|=======
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
John Doe         0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Homura successfully hits Lisa Hamilton with Instrumentality Phase "Hashira" ES.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 2|<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<                


                 [                 ||||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    1|-======|=======
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
John Doe         0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0            Braun


[LISA HAMILTON]
Omega Zack turns his facing toward Ayala as she announces her intentions, grinning as he brings his arms up to shield his chiselled face and sculpted chest from the onslaught of claws and teeth. "Oooh... I bet I can guess. You're a fire sign --"

At that moment, Braun slams into Zack's side, causing him to slide along the smooth surface of the laboratory floor and smash into the wall hard enough to cause cracks to spiderweb out from the impact, one running all the way up to the ceiling as plaster rains down. "And you're a Leo," Omega Zack says, wrenching his bloodied elbow out of the crumpled wall to retaliate against the leonine brawler with a heavy, staggering overhead punch!

From there, he'll follow up by pressing in with three swinging body blows, before winding up into a massive haymaker to blast Braun across the chamber!

"What?!" Lisa blurts out as Homura yells his warnings to John Doe, relenting her position a little more hastily than she might have at the suggestion. "I am /not/ trying to date him! I'm technically a medical professional, and he's technically a patient!" Apparently there are at least some ethical guidelines that PrimoGen employees aspire to. She then adds, "Also, technically dead! It would never work out!"

She turns her eyes back to John Doe just in time to meet his gaze much closer than expected - perhaps momentarily tempted by the forbidden, as her hands against his shoulders to hold him off falter for a moment - before his skull slams against hers, sending her staggering backward with a bloodied nose. To make matters worse, Homura's sword penetrates her through her bare shoulder, pinning her down as he ends up on top of her. "Hey! Get off!" she warns the youth. After all, Bond Girls are just as dangerous in such a position. Even if they normally don't have busted noses. To prove the point, she makes a grab for his sword arm in an attempt to push the weapon out via his grip, then tries to flip up onto his shoulders before throwing him away with a hurricanrana!

COMBATSYS: Omega Zack successfully hits Braun with Funky Paradise.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------<<<<<<<<                


                 [                  |||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
John Doe         0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1            Braun


[BRAUN]
Well John Doe is certainly a front row seat to The Great Flying Cat show - because just as he saw Braun go sailing overhead to land such a thunderous blow against the final funkmaster, he now might notice Braun sailing overhead yet -again-, though this time in a far less controlled manner. He spirals chaotically from the resounding thundering impact of Omega Zack's final strike, crashing into and through a host of scientific equipment and sending glass shattering in every direction as containment tubes rupture from his impact and the walls themselves shake and crack violently to arrest his moments.

His enlarged form goes crashing back down to the ground, leaving a Braun shaped crater in the wall behind him and splintering another one into the surface of the lab from the force of his final collapse.

Grimacing, he pushes up with one arm, using the other to cradle the damaged and battered wounds and bruises on his torso from where Omega Zack's fists had pummeled him...and then the grimace turns into a massive fanged grin as his eyes flare with a sudden new bonfire of chi and mystic force.

"If I didn't know any better....I'd say we're rufflin' yer feathers and disturbin' yer funk abit there, bro..."

Braun looms back up to his full enhanced height, brings both of his arms up over his head and then yanks them back down again as he thrusts his chest out and opens his bestial maw to emit a room shaking roar that bellows through the air like a primordial version of the great cats he's emulating. A sudden bonfire of energy wraps about him, further bulking his body up even more as if he's entering a nigh berserker state.

"Let's see if we can completely knock you off beat!"

There's a flash of movement and then al oud *BOOM* that resounds as Braun suddenly re-appears within arms reach of Omega Zack. His immense arm comes hurtling around, bringing in a titanic claw swipe for the clone while dragging contrails of energy behind it that cuts through the air. This is followed by another from another direction and then another and then more in a rapid series of successive strikes that all leave an after image of energy in the trail of their movements.

At the end, Braun lunges forward seeking to cross OZ up as an 'X' shaped scythe of energy cuts into the air behind him from the final swipe of both of his arms as they cross over each other.

[AYALA]
The site is not a particularlly pretty one, though it might be slightly comical with Ayala hanging off one of Zack's huge biceps by her teeth before she's thrown off--skidding to her feet and wiping off the front of her face wit the back of forearm. A combination of hers and the other mans blood is collected in a smear against her lips and cheek, making her look like something from a gothic horror movie. Maybe Zombie Demons from Outer Space.

"Ayala is fire sign--urgh--" she cringes at the feeling of what might be some serious bruising to her chest and rib area, nothing is cracked however that she can feel... yet. While Braun had Zack busy however, she takes a moment to suck in a lungful of air and unfrazzle her nerves. The sudden trauma was enough to even make her a little worried. Worried, not scared--she might have a big mouth at times, but she's still fairly confident in herself and her teammates--she just doesn't want Braun to get anymore injured than he already was, mostly. Pack Alpha mentality kicking in a bit.

And after that she prepared to psych herself up--Braun had just taken a heavy hit, but he was still goin', and she knew that had taken a bit out of Zack to perform--he still had to deal with the Cavewoman.

COMBATSYS: Ayala focuses on her next action.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-------<<<<<<<<                


                 [                  |||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
John Doe         0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Omega Zack Toughs Out Braun's Monarch's Relentless Fury!

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                                  |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|-------------<<|<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<                


                 [                  |||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
John Doe         0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0            Braun


[LISA HAMILTON]
After the blow that sent Braun smashing across the room, Omega Zack remains in Herculean pose, presenting an overhand flex of his bicep as his body reverberates with the power of funk. After a moment, he twists his head around to regard the beastman and his partner through his shades, teeth flashing with pearly pride at his handiwork. Until -

"Would you guys PLEASE stop smashing my RESEARCH?!"

<< Technically, that data belongs contractually to PrimoGen Biotech, so it's actually /my/ research. Please, do be more careful. >>

"Shut up, Atticus!"

The smile disappears as Omega Zack is chastised by his medical mistress, and his expression turns severe, his gaze remaining stoically on Braun and Ayala even as the beastman slashes into him, flaying flesh from muscle, pressing Zack to slide back across the floor toward Ayala and finally splattering blood across the wall next to Zack in an X pattern. Despite the evident physical damage, the Omega Man remains somehow unflappable.

"You heard the lady," he says, turning his palms to the ceiling.

Then, suddenly, he spins around, aiming to blast into Ayala's guard with the power and fury of a demigod - driving his fist to smash right through the X on the wall behind her, potentially bringing the tribal warrior with it if she doesn't manage to adequately defend herself! With that, he'll leave Containment Chamber A behind, leaping through to the next room - a suspiciously similar looking one, occupied by a set of similar but empty tanks and presently unmanned except for the new arrival.

So, very much manned, really.

"Groovy. We'll settle this in here instead."

[BRAUN]
Correction: Despite the similarities in the physical immovability, size, and tank like weathering of their strongest blows - this is not at all like fighting Kongou or Zog in a sparring match.

This is far more infuriating.

For all their habits of throwing The Blaze Brawlers all over the community center, and shrugging off devastating counter hits like nothing, the bravado, confidence and swagger exude by them seemed to exitst to egg the Blaze fighters on towards higher heights and not to make them feel small or inadequate. A self confidence to inspire others self confidence and not put them down.

This? This is 'Funk' being used as an aggravating weapon. A misuse of it! That, more then anything, seems to be what infuriates Braun as Omega Zack weathers his strongest blow and then pushes violently into another arena while attempting to use Ayala as a battering ram.

"Mother--" he grumbles under his breath, his own surge of power whirling around him and sitll keeping him in his enhanced nigh berserking state. His internal organs are on fire and not just from Omega Zack's damage.. He's pushing himself to sustain his Battle-Form for longer then usual just to try and put this monster down.

"You think I gave a damn about your research!?" he bellows in eventual response to the voices from overhead before vaulting forward and then lunging right after OMega Zack, attempting to bring both of his massive arms back and then forward again in a double fisted piston like punch, still trailing chi behind him, and going right for Zack's face and those damn shades of his!

"You folk are next!" he bellows, mid leap, as his body bears down on the cloned giant.

[AYALA]
"Argh--damnit," even Ayala is a little frustrated that OZ was able to weather that blow from Braun like that and keep coming back for more. She knows Braun can't keep this up for long, either--so she has to do something. She balls both her fist and tightens them until they can be heard audibly cracking, her chi and aura flaring as she worked on releasing some of that strength she'd been saving.

Springing herself up, she climbed up a half-broken piece of research machinery--cutting one of her legs on broken metal in the process. She does a gainer off the top of the broken console and flies toward OZ with both her fists out, by this point she is SCREAMING and her aura is flaring around her like she's ignited--trying to blindside the hulking perfect male figure!

COMBATSYS: Omega Zack successfully hits Ayala with Fierce Punch.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|---------======|===============                


                 [                  |||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
John Doe         0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Omega Zack blocks Braun's Aggressive Strike.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                                    |||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|-------========|===============                


                 [                  |||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|>>>>---\-------\0            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
John Doe         0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Braun


COMBATSYS: Ayala successfully hits Omega Zack with Falcon Hit EX.

                             OMEGA ZACK                            
  [                                               ||||||||||||| ]
                 1|===============|===============                


                 [                  |||||||||||| ]
                 Lisa Hamilton    2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Homura           0/-------/---====|>>>>---\-------\0            Ayala
[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
John Doe         0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Braun


[LISA HAMILTON]
After plowing through the wall, Omega Zack finds himself leapt upon by Braun. He meets the punches with his own mighty forearms, his guard finally blasting open with the second strike. Then, Ayala comes flying at him, crashing into him Superwoman style and sending him staggering back against an empty specimen tank. The glass of the tank spiderwebs before crackling open and gushing the preservative blue fluid onto his back. The sunglasses fall from Omega Zack's face as he's rocked by the impact. Slowly, he starts to lift his concealed eyes up toward the other two fighters -

*BANG*

The world suddenly goes white for those in Containment Chamber B as a deafening sound erupts in their midst. The effects of the flashbang are debilitating for at least the span of time it takes for the person who deployed it to enter the room - a tall, tanned figure wearing a gas mask and brandishing a shotgun.

<< Domingo. Just in time. >>

"Buenos dias," the armed security trooper says, voice muffled by the mask. "Now, all of you - up against the wall."

"Domingo! What happened to your team?" Lisa calls out.

"Had a little problem in main lab. Luckily, I was able to get my mask on. Rest of my team? Not so lucky," Domingo says.

"What? I thought that the intruders -"

<< Don't worry about that, now, Doctor Hamilton. Domingo, escort Doctor Hamilton and our guests to the secondary exit and wait for me. Our other visitors will be arriving at my office shortly. >>

"What are you going to do about them?" Lisa asks warily.

<< I've been debating that. I think I have a solution - thanks to your work, Doctor. >>

Lisa's expression turns grim.

Soon, the group find themselves being escorted down the white-walled corridors of the PrimoGen facility, past the Main Laboratory, and down a hall toward a junction. A stripe on the floor guides those looking for the Executive Office to turn one way while an unmarked path lies in the other direction. Domingo starts to usher the group at gunpoint toward that end.

As Domingo is presenting a keycard at a gate, Lisa gives a discreet signal. Suddenly, Omega Zack delivers a punishing rabbit punch to the back of the security trooper's head.

"Augh!"

As the gas-masked mercenary whirls around, Lisa shouts at the others, "Run! You've got to stop Atticus - whatever he has planned!"

The choices are clear: pursue the mysterious overlord of the underground laboratory, assist in the fracas with Domingo, or escape the facility altogether. However, time is of the essence...!

Log created on 12:06:16 09/12/2024 by Lisa Hamilton, and last modified on 08:20:15 10/08/2024.