Description: A close fight in an abandoned house barely leaves Aislinn and Makoto as the victors against Zero... (Winners: Aislinn and Makoto)
There's one thing to be said for Saturday Night Fight -- sometimes, they can pick the most interesting and unusual locales for fights to take place. Not many organized events hold fights in a two-story, incomplete house, after all. Camera crews had begun setting up at least an hour ago, simply due to the nature of this locale; a set of cameras for each level of the house, as well as a crew of cameramen hovering outside the household grounds, encircling the half-finished home as cool winds whip through Southtown's outskirts. By the time they're finished simply setting /up/ it is nearly time for the fight to begin. Which is probably why at least one of the fighters is here, and likely in a way least expected--
"HAH! Interesting choice of scenery!"
The voice is barked out from a man known simply as 'Zero' -- yet, for one of his opponents, his appearance and even demeanor is likely slightly off than it should be. The man known as Zero is one who values and protects his anonymity at all costs. Such is the case today; rather than grace public television with his true appearance, the man who attends this fight today is relatively light-skinned, with brown hair swept back behind him and a prominent, brown mustache. But likely the most off thing about the NESTS second-in-command is that he is actually /grinning/ today, looking about him with a sense of interest. Cold and lifeless though Zero may be, let it not be said that he isn't a man who can establish a thorough facade of emotion.
So he waits. Hands clasped behind his back, brown eyes sweeping the setting around him, the tall form of Zero stands in wait just outside the actual house itself. His suit has been slightly modified too; there are slight differences in appearance, but most importantly of all, the blades that line the hem of his coat have been noticeably dulled down into something far less than lethal. Vicious weapons like that would exactly suit the jovial appearance he's trying to establish here, after all. Unfortunate as it may be.
Since Makoto has never met Zero before, this seems totally rational to her. Don't people enjoy fighting? They must - or they wouldn't practice so much to get good at it!
She is actually inside the building already. Her head sticks out through one of the windows on the second floor. She needed to investigate the whole building before the battle started, too, so she knew where to go and where things like 'corners' and 'weak floors' were so that she wasn't caught by surprise.
Makoto pulls her head back in, carefully opens the window rather than just smashing through it, and leaps down with her scarf fluttering behind her. She lands about twenty feet from Zero, looking up at the man with a stare that would probably be considered rude most places.
When she saw the SNF card, she actually paled a little (not that anyone could tell.) She is, after all, familiar with the opponent in question--how could she not be? But knowing who she was up against... she can't help but think that this will not go well for her and her teammate for this fight. Makoto is, now, a known quantity--and someone that, Aislinn would never admit, she is pleased to have at her side. The Steamroller Girl has made several good showings recently.
Aislinn herself is just coming up on the house, dressed in her Seijyun uniform... her expression betraying nothing of her relationship to Zero. Her fighting will, by nature, not show any mercy at all, either--nor would she expect any from Zero. Seeing Makoto... leap out of the window and land, Aislinn walks up next to her partner and nods to her... then glances to the house.
"Shall we proceed inside?" she asks of her two fellow SNFers, her voice mild.
So there's one; one that Zero's observed through League Fight footage and SNFs alike. The 'Steamroller Girl,' Makoto. Brown eyes shift to look at her as she makes her appearance; the stare received and return by one considerably more jubilant than rude. Lips split into a wide grin that, while not exactly real, is certainly convincing enough; it squints the older man's eyes shut briefly as his head dips in greeting to both Makoto and the approaching Aislinn.
"So you two are going to be my opponents, eh?" He asks thoughtfully, eyes lingering on Aislinn for a moment before shifting back to the house. "Well, don't go easy on me! I need to push these old bones of mine to the limit." Aislinn, at the very least, he knows by way of practice data. But even so -- this provides an opportunity to test how far she's progressed, and just how strong this Steamroller Girl really is.
Boots lift in a slow stride as Aislinn speaks, the brown-haired man waving a hand. "I guess so! Let's get this started!" Walking past the two young girls, the tall NESTS executive lifts up a single, booted foot... and SLAMS it forward. The heel impacts sharply with the door leading into the house, and with the snap of hinges and the splintering of wood, the door goes flying, allowing the man to walk in easily. He'll pay for it later, perhaps. That just makes things more dramatic.
COMBATSYS: Zero has started a fight here.
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Zero 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Aislinn has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Zero 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Makoto has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Zero 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Makoto
Aislinn meets Zero's gaze calmly and confidently. The NESTS exec may be a scary man, but Aislinn won't let that fear surface. She wouldn't be NESTS material if she did. It is true, however, that she doesn't move as Zero busts the door down... but perhaps it's just patience, as the older man walks through the door and into the nearly-empty house.
A few seconds after he goes inside, however, Aislinn jerks her head towards the door and then starts off, her booted feet thumping against the wood of the floor. Naturally, it isn't far before she gets into the house and, no matter what Makoto is doing, Aislinn is taking just a moment or to two get her bearings and try to seek out advantages to ... well ... take advantage of.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Zero 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Makoto
Makoto steps in last, having let the others enter first. She approves of the door-kicking, incidentally, having done it more than once in her own life.
Once inside, she bows, surprisingly formally, to both Aislinn and Zero before bringing her hand up and her opposite foot back, settling into her own combat stance. "I wasn't going to go easy on you!" she says. Being old doesn't always slow people down, as proven in her recent battle royale against Takuma and Saishu. She takes everyone seriously until she knows she doesn't have to.
After a brief pause to allow Zero to turn around and prepare by getting into his own stance, Makoto rushes forward in a quick dashing leap. She actually gets high enough to plant her hands on the ceiling and shove herself downward at Zero as she goes for a strike with the heel of her foot to the back of his head. "Haa!"
COMBATSYS: Zero counters Tsurugi from Makoto with Forcefield.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Zero 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Makoto
Feet sliding softly against old wooden floors as Zero finally comes to a stop, the stance the second-in-command of NESTS takes is a bit unconventional at best; standing at his full, tall height, he rests his left hand against the small of his back, the other resting comfortably at his side. It doesn't seem to be a stance any traditional fighter would take, but it seems to be one that Zero is remarkably comfortable with. It's evidenced as much with the pleasant smile he takes as Makoto crashes through the air towards him, his brown eyes squinting slightly. "Hmm." He muses as she descends towards him.
"Just a little bit too slow!"
He doesn't move. The executive doesn't even do so much as budge as Makoto's strike flies towards the back of his skull. Yet despite his lack of movement, Makoto never hits him; the second that foot strikes, it hits a rippling violet wall of chi that manifests all around him, shimmering from the disturbance of her kick. Before she can even land, the forcefield of energy reacts to the strike, letting out a self-defensive measure of amethyst electricity to overrun Makoto and jolt her backwards and away from the executive.
... indeed, it is probably suicidal to attack Zero at all, much less in a circumstance such as this. But this is SNF and this is what must happen. Aislinn takes measure of her opponent--and ducks as Makoto comes flying backwards from her failed assault. That duck is combined with a long, forward lunging step--and the momentum drawn further into a short leap.
Aislinn is now flying for Zero's chest, intent on using her drawn-back, bent right leg to hammer Zero in the chest with a knee. Her hands are held up for balance; all in all, it looks rather like a Muay Thai-style flying knee.
The forcefield catches Makoto by surprise. She hates fighting people who specialize in chi - half the time there's no warning as to what they're going to do. Like this - all he did is stand there, and now she's flying.
Makoto slides the last few feet along the floor to crash into a wall...headfirst, because sometimes she just can't catch a break. She stays down for only an instant before picking herself up - but this time Makoto keeps her head and attacks more carefully, lunging in for a fingertip-thrust toward Zero's side, sometime after Aislinn tries her flying knee.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn successfully hits Zero with Light Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Zero 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Makoto
COMBATSYS: Zero blocks Makoto's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Zero 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Makoto
Well, it seems that Aislinn is choosing to come in now, and much better prepared than Zero anticipates. Slowly manuevering around to turn and face her as she comes flying in, Zero seems rather unpeturbed by her flying strike. However -- he moves a little bit slowly than he would like, and just a second before he can put up a sturdy defensive, that knee crashes into Zero's chest. Whatever harm it might do is passing, though; a brief throb of pain along his chest before he staggers back a single step -- just in time to intercept Makoto's fingertip thrust with a single palm, flashing a brief grin.
"AHA!" He bellows as his hand snaps down, and his body pulls backward; before Aislinn can actually fall down from her sudden Muay Thai-esque strike, Zero intends to intercept her with a kick of his own: the toes of his right foot lash out like a lance, intent on spearing Aislinn in the gut with sudden, lightning-fast force. "Much better, much better!"
COMBATSYS: Aislinn blocks Zero's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Makoto
*THUMP* That is the sound of Aislinn getting thrust-kicked. Fortunately for her, she was able to draw in her arms and legs just after her impact and thus take the blow where it was meant to be taken--on her limbs, not her torso. Still, being in midair, she's flung backwards several feet and has to drop her legs early to keep from being made to roll right into the wall.
Now, she could rush right back in--she did just get a decent hit on Zero--but instead she rummages around the half-finished house and finds... a 2x4. That'll do. Two short steps and she's practically cabertossing a six foot length of 2x4 at Zero--aiming for the chest. Even if she is pretending not to know him, she doesn't want to hit him in the face.
Makoto is not dissuaded by Zero blocking her strike. That's fine. It lets her finish circling around him, keeping him between her and Aislinn.
She sees her opening when Aislinn picks up the 2x4. Makoto reaches out with both hands for Zero's neck from behind, attempting to wrap them around it and literally pick him up by the throat while she squeezes. If she's lucky, this means he will be held in place for the board to hit him; even if she isn't, it keeps her close enough to react in a hurry if she has to. "Hah!"
COMBATSYS: Zero dodges Aislinn's Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Aislinn
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Makoto
COMBATSYS: Makoto successfully hits Zero with Karakusa.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Aislinn
> ////////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Makoto
While a good use of the surrounding environment, the chunk of wood that Aislinn sends at Zero comes from too far a distance for him not to notice. As such, as soon as the 2x4 comes in, he deftly twists to the side, letting it soar harmlessly to the side of him and crash into the wall he is just behind. While he manages to deftly evade the board, though, he is still gripped -- albeit too late to hold him securely in place. The throathold keeps true, and Makoto lifts the considerably larger man off the ground from the sheer force. However...
... Only a few seconds after he is grabbed, Zero's hand thrusts /forward/. The entire base level of the house rumbles briefly before a massive wave of invisible force comes crashing from Zero, intent on blasting Makoto straight off her feet and likely out of the house if it should connect cleanly, shattering windows and crushing wood from the power of that force alone. "HO!"
Hmm. Well, that was somewhat less effective than she had hoped it would be--but that's alright. At least he didn't catch the attack and throw it back at her or something crazy-scary like that. Time, perhaps, to switch tactics. Aislinn comes in again, but rather than attack with a sweep or a thrust kick as she might... she manuevers to get behind Zero.
Her intent? To leap up and wrap one arm around Zero's neck; should she be successful, a flare of red-white electric chi would flare through his body and she would then bring him down with a 'bulldog' takedown, aiming largely to land with her arm across his throat.
COMBATSYS: Makoto fails to interrupt Shikka Koujin from Zero with Hayate.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Makoto
Makoto only has one chance against the blast - she immediately drops the grab and goes for a straight punch, trying to hit Zero so hard that the force dissipates, or at least doesn't go where he wants it to.
It doesn't work. She is knocked away, into a half-finished wall with a boarded-up hole for a window; the boards shatter as she plows through them and lands outside in a stack of lumber and roof tiling.
She'll be a moment.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn successfully hits Zero with Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Makoto
Hmm. That didn't work quite as planned. And while Aislinn's throat grab, and the chi that accompanies it, is more annoying than anything else, it still is enough to take him down -- mainly because the the extraordinairy lack of guard at the attack. Thrust into the ground with a sudden slam, Zero lets out a simple 'oof.' But he's not nearly out of the count quite yet, and as Aislinn's bodyslam completes itself...
... She might find a single, strong hand gripping onto the front of her shirt.
He says nothing. Just offers a smile behind that mustache before he seeks to move into a roll and /chuck/ Aislinn like a ragdoll right through the wall in a similar manner to Makoto, to send her crashing outside. All with but a simple, quick thrust backwards.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn endures Zero's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Makoto
Aislinn may realize her tactical mistake, but it's almost too late. In fact, it practically is; there's no defense to be had against Zero's ability to grab and throw. And while it is ultimately detrimental to her health and ability to fight, Aislinn has a different plan in mind; even as she's being flung, she hurls her weight -downward-. The impact is just as bad, but she's not flung away--
--and she has a grip on Zero's hand. She lands hard, but before she lets herself gasp with pain and the loss of wind, she uses her grip to find Zero's position and, hopefully, just kick him right in the side.
Makoto does, with a lot of pain and being beaten on, eventually learn.
She does not charge Zero again. Instead, she disentangles herself from the pile of debris and looks up toward the window she left open to jump out of. Hmm...
Makoto leaps for it, manages to at least get her hands and upper arms through it, and chins herself the rest of the way up. Now on the top floor, she walks around for a time, listening to the fight underneath, focusing on what she hears and what she remembers of the positioning.
The ceiling quakes and bounces, showering part of the lower floor with debris and dust. It does this twice more - and then a hole breaks through it from Makoto's jumping; she stands on a chunk of floor and supports several feet across as she falls straight toward Zero's head, face red from the exertion. "HAAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Zero blocks Makoto's Tanden Renki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Aislinn
> ////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Makoto
COMBATSYS: Zero blocks Aislinn's Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Aislinn
> ////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Makoto
An attack from multiple fronts. But it seems that Zero is a bit too prepared for it this time around. The fact that Aislinn actually decides to go /with/ the full brunt of his throw is impressive, in its own right. But despite the advantage it gives her, its not enough to catch Zero unawares. The kick flings in, and almost immediately after Zero lifts his free hand, to grasp the booted toes with his palm. There is only mild numbness in the wake of the powerful strike, but Zero says nothing of it. Mainly because...
... The ceiling is starting to cave in.
"... oho!"
Tearing himself away from Aislinn as he sees a literal chunk of ceiling come crashing down at him, Zero brings both hands above his head. In a perhaps suicidal movement, he blocks the entirety of the assault with the full brunt of his arms... and then he begins to twist. His whole body whipping around, the cape that composes the lower half of his body suddenly extends; he grips the edges, guiding it as it expands outward in an unnatural display. The series of metal, tiny weapons on the hem suddenly /saw/ forward, crushing concrete, plaster and even the solid supports as that circular wave of metal comes right for Makoto. Luckily, the edges of those weapons have been dulled so she won't be carved in twain if it connects. But it will send her flying and very likely brutalized if it should happen to connect.
Aislinn will take this moment to.. well... vacate. She doesn't want to be alone with Zero any more than anyone else in her position would; so, when Zero doesn't attack her she simply vacates. Like Makoto, she rushes up to the second level; unlike Makoto she doesn't try to smash the ceiling in on him. Though it certainly looked like a lot of fun to try.
With Zero flinging his cape up at Makoto, Aislinn has to circle around--but then she kneels at the edge of the hole Makoto created... and concentrates. Suddenly, a man-sized, double-edged blade of her chi erupts out of the ground--right underneath yon Mr. Zero down there, if he's not alert enough.
COMBATSYS: Makoto blocks Zero's Satsuma.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Zero 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Aislinn
> //////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Makoto
Makoto was not expecting Super Cape.
The blunted edges don't saw, but they /do/ batter; Makoto manages to take most of it on her arms and turn it into backward momentum. Unlike last time, though, this time she lands properly, rolling into the room that will one day be a kitchen . She can tell because the spot for the stove is there, and suddenly, she hopes that either the gas is not on yet or Zero doesn't have any /flaming/ chi.
She stays down, behind a counter from Zero's point of view, to try to catch her breath. She was breathing very hard after that last one and needs a moment before she's back in the fight.
COMBATSYS: Makoto gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Zero 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Makoto
COMBATSYS: Aislinn successfully hits Zero with Shining Edge.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Zero 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Makoto
Makoto gets a small break, all things considered; from dealing with Aislinn's assault to recovering from the massive, wide-sweeping cape swipe he just performed, there's really little time to consider the other girl into his equations. As it stands, while the NESTS executive sees the sudden blade of chi erupting, he's just a second too slow to get out of the way in time; the burst of power that erupts shocks, though it does not manage to cut, sending the brown-haired man staggering back with something of a grin.
Rather than attack, Zero lands solidly on his feet. His suit reconfigures operations, instead working on helping him to cope with the injuries he's sustained in the course of the battle. Tilting his head, he considers Aislinn, and the hiding Makoto, and considers his next course of action. There are so many choices, after all.
COMBATSYS: Zero gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Zero 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Aislinn
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Makoto
Aislinn backs away from the hole in the floor; surely, she could continue to toss things down at him, but the idea is to entice him up here... and while he's taking his rest, Aislinn will prepare herself; she has a myriad of ways to do this. One of the favored ones involves building energy--a common ability, to be sure. But there's a reason so many have learned to use it. Aislinn sets herself in a horse stance--imitating Ryu, perhaps--a dim red-white aura flowing up from her feet around her, limning her in light, power being drawn in and stored up...
COMBATSYS: Aislinn gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Makoto
Makoto is absolutely not hiding. Seriously, would someone like Makoto hide?
Once she's caught her breath, Makoto looks over the counter and into the next room again. This looks like an excellent opening! Makoto vaults the counter, charging despite the fact that she has already learned that this is not a great idea; this is why she slows as she gets closer. As Zero is just standing there, Makoto takes this opportunity to attempt to deliver a wide, sweeping kick to his shins, possibly sweeping him off his feet. "Enjoying yourself?" she asks, rather suddenly, mid-sweep.
COMBATSYS: Zero blocks Makoto's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
> /////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Makoto
Unfortunately -- this is not quite the opening that Makoto might hope it to be. As she slides in, the NESTS executive is quick to react. It's a swirl of motion and cloth that brings his own leg slamming forward to meet her own with a sudden, forward thrust. It stops her flat, with only momentary numbness on Zero's part, as a wide grin slips across his lips. Is he having fun? No.
"Of COURSE!"
But that's the last thing he says. Gripping the sides of his coat, the large man pauses only for a brief moment... before he leaps. /Fast./ So fast, in fact, that he begins to leave afterimages of himself from the sheer speed at which he moves, spinning once, twice, over and over again; his skirt, similarly, expands outward, further and further, sawing through the ground in a series of sparks as it seeks to catch Makoto up in his wake. The series of blunted edges strike repeatedly, to push her further and further out, until the cape expands so far that it is literally carving through the roof of the first floor, delivering with it not only potent speed, but unholy power. If Makoto doesn't get out of the way or defend herself, well... she's about to get crushed quite painfully.
Not good. Aislinn's eyes widen briefly as she sees Zero attempting what can only be considered to be a Very Bad Thing(tm) for Makoto. There is absolutely no way Aislinn will get in the way of that thing. Absolutely not. She waits just a moment--waiting for Zero's attack to end. And then...
...then she's darting forward, lunging towards Zero's left side--the side she kicked at earlier (even if she didn't specify)--and attempting a simple thrusting kick to that side. Actually, it's really two kicks; a single first kick that leads into a back-turned mule kick type of deal.
COMBATSYS: Zero successfully hits Makoto with Gokusa Zanjin.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
> / ]
|=======\==-----\1 Makoto
Sometimes you don't have a choice about getting in the way.
Makoto tries to grab onto the spinning cape and get dragged along relatively harmlessly; unfortunately, this is not to be, and not only is Makoto struck by the rapidly moving weapons, she's thrown into the remnants of the rather beaten-up ceiling with a crunch.
She falls back down, fist-first, toward Zero. She doesn't even have enough strength to finish the blows; it goes from a series of five to one mighty punch out with the last of her strength, a last-ditch attempt to knock Zero away.
Not that it matters, because Makoto can't get up once she actually lands face-first on the floor.
COMBATSYS: Makoto can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Zero blocks Makoto's Seichuusen Godanzuki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Zero dodges Aislinn's Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
Despite being a last ditch effort, Makoto is still relatively fast. As such, Zero finds himself rerouting all his battlesuit's focus into a pure defensive, pushing him further than he can typically go. The result being, a super-speeded hand slashes upwards in barely an eyeblink; it seems to fast to be real, one second Zero is landing from his massive attack, and the next? His hand is crashing through the air, gripping solidly onto Makoto's fist, diffusing the pressure of that single blow throughout most of his body and dulling the pain considerably.
He lets go only a moment later, to let Makoto fall to the ground. It's about that time that Aislinn comes flinging forward, attempting to launch a kick into the tall man. She swings the first kick, and the moment she does... Zero is no longer there. It is more than a simple blur of natural, human movement. The suit pushes him to unnatural levels, to the point that when she swings he seems to simply /disappear/ into thin air. Where to?
"Just a little too slow!"
Right behind Aislinn.
It's more like several feet away, really, towards the edge of the stairs. Zero doesn't seem intent to push the offensive quite yet; instead, he stands there, letting the recuperative factors of the suit finish running their course.
"And then there was one, eh? Hah!"
COMBATSYS: Zero focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
... and there was one, indeed. Well, two, still. Aislinn doesn't have time to check on Makoto and she wouldn't even if she did; just not her thing. Instead, Aislinn's mind is working in overdrive--working through decision branches, trying to find a way she might be able to win this.
It's hopeless, says a voice in the back of her head. That's -Zero-. Igniz's right hand man. A terrifying warrior.
The other voice in her head? Is saying 'who cares'. Do your best. That's all you have.
Aislinn turns to follow Zero's mocking voice, and as she does she's pulling something from her sleeve--a kunai, a dagger... with a pandahead on the pommel. Thank you, Nagase. The blade is flung through the air at Zero's shoulder... no reason to go for anything else.
COMBATSYS: Zero overcomes Thrown Object from Aislinn with Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
Do your best. Smart words. However, a dagger is not nearly Aislinn's best and Zero is well aware of that fact. Whoever it might have originally belonged to, the assault is rather predictable for a man like Zero. So what does he do? The decision is relatively simple. As the kunai goes flying, Zero ducts /down/, as if to dodge. At the last moment, however... he whips upward. The moment that Kunai is about to hit--
--it imbeds in a rather large slab of concrete and plaster rather than Zero himself.
Hefting up the remnants of the roof that Makoto brought crashing down on them, Zero blocks the kunai strike with the giant mass, letting the blade sink harmlessly into it. That's not where it ends, however -- the moment that the blade strikes, the right hand of Igniz HURLS the thing straight at the cybernetic assassin, with enough force to knock her right off her feet.
COMBATSYS: Zero successfully hits Aislinn with Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/-----==|=======\=======\1 Aislinn
*WHAM* Aislinn barely avoids being totally -crushed- by the slab of concrete... but she still took a hit. Oh wow. She staggers back, gasping inadvertently... but then her breathing calms. Yes, that hurt--but pain can be dealt with, and in this case, is already -being- dealt with.
Aislinn climbs up atop the slab of concrete and stands tall; her arms raise and she beckons to Zero, silently, flipping the fingers of one hand towards herself, in an ancient message. That message is:
'Bring it.' Win or lose, this battle isn't going on much longer...
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/-----==|=======\=======\1 Aislinn
There, see. But still, Aislinn is reacting in accordance with Zero's wishes. Behind a fake smile and a fake face, his calculating mind works, considering the best strategy to use to simply pummel poor Aislinn straight into the ground. Knowing her capacities just makes her all the easier to work around. And with Makoto out of the picture, well... Zero is more than prepared to end this.
As soon as Aislinn makes that beckoning motion rather than attacking, Zero, grins. Suddenly, winds burst from all around them as the area fills with the unease of the man's aura. It's just a herald, before -- "OHO!" His right hand /thrusts/ forward, and from it ushers forth another invisible wave of pure chi, cracking the floor beneath them and crushing and stray objects that get in the way -- one of them being one of those poor expensive cameras, crunched and shattered in the wave of that mass of power flying straight for the NESTS assassin.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn interrupts Shikka Koujin from Zero with Shining Rondo.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Aislinn
Aislinn already understands that Zero will, likely, crush her. But she can't allow herself to simply 'be crushed', no matter how overbearing Zero's power is. She stares fearlessly into the void, and as that power flares... so does hers. She can't avoid being battered about by Zero's power--but she can, at least in this case, move close enough to return some damage to him as well.
As she closes in, she brings her hands up--and her own energy responds in kind, flaring up into chi-blades. Despite the tearing that Zero's power does at her, she manages to complete several slashes across Zero's body, her final attack in the series another one of those ground-originated blades of chi that Zero experienced earlier.
An unexpected twist, to be certain. If Zero were to say he was actually /expecting/ her to attack through his wall of power, than that would be something of a lie. However, despite that gambit, it's not quite enough to beat out Zero. The wave of power crashes in almost the same time that Aislinn's blades of power slash through him, cutting from above and below and sending him staggering backward... but not down. Not quite.
Breathing a little heavily, Zero once more reroutes the functions of his battlesuit to more recuperative measures, taking into consideration Aislinn's desperate measure. "Hmm... quite a good show!" One barely managed, perhaps, but one she still succeeded nonetheless. Regardless, this time now is meant for recovering himself; standing up at his full height, he presses a single hand against his chest, the places where she struck, and the other hand against his back. He's ready once more, offering a faint smirk to Aislinn... but not yet attacking.
COMBATSYS: Zero gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Aislinn
Hmmmph. Aislinn eyes Zero with something very close but not -quite- disdain; if the old man thinks he needs a rest then who is Aislinn to deny him? However, that said... if he's going to rest then she'll be taking her time as well. Once again she draws energy from the air, her body glowing as she takes up that deep squatting stance... she doesn't really -need- to do it like this, but it's kind of picturesque. Still, she wonders... why doesn't Zero just end this? Is he toying with his subordinate? The minute confusion doesn't really go anywhere, though... it's just something she's thinking about.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/---====|=======\=====--\1 Aislinn
Of course, Zero is no fool. When he learns the capacities of his subordinates, he learns the thoroughly. One most know their allies as well as possible should the case ever come that they turn on you, after all. But if Aislinn is trying to goad Zero into striking, than she'll find nothing but an old man waiting for his suit to finish repairing what minimal damages it can. And once it's accomplished /that/, well... Zero stretches briefly, and then allows his lips to part into something of a grin, pulling out his right hand to the side as muscles tense. "Ah, that's better!" He says, mainly to himself. Better enough--
To attack. Lurching forward almost /slowly/ at first, Zero proceeds to /burst/ across the distance between himself and Aislinn, his right hand pulling back before /launching/ forward with piston-speed, intent on a simple bodyblow that carries with it enough force to send Aislinn flying brutally across the floor and through a wall.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn counters Jagai Kusetsu from Zero with Banishing Hammer.
[ \\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Zero 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Aislinn
Indeed--this is the very moment of truth. This single moment... is the brink, where Aislinn may very well lose her life if Zero so desires. The man's speed is incredible; it is that kind of movement to which Aislinn aspires. Truly, she will have to thank him later, for allowing her this opportunity.
But that aside... she still has an attack to deal with. The bodyblow is detected, just in time, and somehow her hands are in the way to intercept it; she pushes the bodyblow to her right, then her hands snap up and she grabs Zero by the head, around the ears. And then her forehead is bashing into his face--once, twice, three times, in rapid succession. Aislinn releases her boss--or one of them--and finishes off the counterattack with a swift right knee to the abdomen that gets followed up with a twist of the hips and a right side kick to knock him back.
The blows hit; they all more sting than anything else, but together they combine just the right amount of power to /barely/ do in the tall man. But this isn't quite over. As the headbutts come in, thrice, and the knee hits him, he staggers backwards from the force of the blows... and then he tenses /distinctly/, a small bit of blood dribbling down from the corner of his mouth.
What comes next is a single, leaping spin. The hem of Zero's skirt expands outward brutally, a swirl of black cloth flinging itself through the air in an attempt to intercept Aislinn just as Zero staggers, to catch her unaware and brutalize her with a series of hard, metal edges. In the end? Zero will land on his feet, before simply falling onto his knee with a grin.
COMBATSYS: Zero can no longer fight.
> ////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Aislinn dodges Zero's Satsuma.
> ////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Aislinn
The margin of victory isn't what's at issue here; the issue in the here and now is making sure Zero doesn't brutalize her in his last attempt. To that end... she throws herself backwards, hard and fast. It's actually rather picturesque; she busts through an old window that convieniently leads to the courtyard, arcing through it in a tight ball, then unfolds and performs a neat three-point landing. When the officials come in to announce the victors, Aislinn merely points the medics into the house.
She, herself... is already walking off. She has other things to do... and she doesn't really want to be around when Zero's awake. Not yet. She's not sure how stable he is.
Makoto is already up by this point. She hasn't gone far, but she is up, and being Makoto, she is ignoring the medics and getting off on her own.
She actually cleared out before the fight ended so nobody would step on her, and is vague on who won until Aislinn walks out on her own. Makoto looks pleased.
Log created by Aislinn, and last modified on 16:31:11 04/22/2007.