Description: Vega is just being his normal ol' self, and here comes Alex, trying to harsh his mellow...!
So, how does one find the Lord of Shadaloo? Well, a week ago, it would have involved pieceing together where and what his secret bases were like, finding a way to infiltrate, and praying that you'd gotten the right one and not just one that was inhabited by one of his lesser minions. Now, though - things are much easier, what with the 'eyes of the world' upon him for all the things he and his minions have done. Subjugating a country beneath an iron rule and all that.
Intel reports from several different countries would report that Vega was seen moving into the jungle, to a hastily-constructed small base. With limited, seemingly casual support and protection, Vega may as well be alone. He's not, but the minions and flunkies about and around him would fare poorly against any stealth or 'army of one' attack. They're designed and trained to be cannon fodder against armies, to hold them off until Vega can step into play. So here, he's as close to alone as he ever gets, pouring over maps and strategies, plans and making decisions on what the next step is going to be.
This is the pits.
First, Alex gets into Thailand. Great. Then, he gets /made/ on the way in, and becomes a wanted man. Not so great. Now, Kasugano's missing in the country somewhere. Not only that, but these Seven Days jokers were after him even /before/ he got here. The Ikari Warriors didn't return his phonecalls, and he hasn't managed to find Ryu yet. Nothing, really, is working out. But he knows one thing: He can make a difference. He just has to pick one mission at a time.
Alex has been crawling through the jungle near Bangkok, as a result. He's been combining laying low and trying to get onto Sakura's trail. He didn't expect to find a secret military base, nor did he expect to spy Vega through the lens of his cheap binoculars. "Shit," he mutters, looking straight through and at the base. He's wearing his fatigues and boots, and is shirtless. It's times like this he wished he knew something about being in the Army, instead of just shopping at Army surplus. Okay; he's got to figure out where this place is, and report it to -- somebody. But where the hell is it? 'In the jungle, somewhere?'
Crouching and approaching the base, Alex looks straight up. He'll borrow a radio. Otherwise, there's no way in Hell he'll be able to pick this place out on a map.
So, how does one find the Lord of Shadaloo? Well, a week ago, it would have involved pieceing together where and what his secret bases were like, finding a way to infiltrate, and praying that you'd gotten the right one and not just one that was inhabited by one of his lesser minions. Now, though - things are much easier, what with the 'eyes of the world' upon him for all the things he and his minions have done. Subjugating a country beneath an iron rule and all that.
Intel reports from several different countries would report that Vega was seen moving into the jungle, to a hastily-constructed small base. With limited, seemingly casual support and protection, Vega may as well be alone. He's not, but the minions and flunkies about and around him would fare poorly against any stealth or 'army of one' attack. They're designed and trained to be cannon fodder against armies, to hold them off until Vega can step into play. So here, he's as close to alone as he ever gets, pouring over maps and strategies, plans and making decisions on what the next step is going to be.
This is the pits.
First, Alex gets into Thailand. Great. Then, he gets /made/ on the way in, and becomes a wanted man. Not so great. Now, Kasugano's missing in the country somewhere. Not only that, but these Seven Days jokers were after him even /before/ he got here. The Ikari Warriors didn't return his phonecalls, and he hasn't managed to find Ryu yet. Nothing, really, is working out. But he knows one thing: He can make a difference. He just has to pick one mission at a time.
Alex has been crawling through the jungle near Bangkok, as a result. He's been combining laying low and trying to get onto Sakura's trail. He didn't expect to find a secret military base, nor did he expect to spy Vega through the lens of his cheap binoculars. "Shit," he mutters, looking straight through and at the base. He's wearing his fatigues and boots, and is shirtless. It's times like this he wished he knew something about being in the Army, instead of just shopping at Army surplus. Okay; he's got to figure out where this place is, and report it to -- somebody. But where the hell is it? 'In the jungle, somewhere?'
Crouching and approaching the base, Alex looks straight up. He'll borrow a radio. Otherwise, there's no way in Hell he'll be able to pick this place out on a map.
If Alex had been in the Army, he may have learned something about binoculars. They reflect light. It's in all the movies, all those times where the lone warrior finds his way blocked and caught by the tell-tale gleam of binoculars off their face whilst scoping out the enemy encampment. It's dangerous..
But at least for now, he's lucky. Those patrolling haven't seen anything, their own traning having taken place in a dark base, set for more urban approaches, instead of the humidity and overgrowth of a jungle. It's possible for Alex to get what he needs and get away again - but it certainly won't be easy. As for Vega, he's still where he stands, working with a deliberate manner, trying o determine the final important pieces of his plan.
Would Sakura's new outfit have a leotard, or the skirt and panty shots she was so well known for?
"Shit, shit." Alex thinks back. As far as he's learned, Sakura was taken right from the Airport, and by these Seven Days jokers. That means she's been taken. And he knows that Vega is interested in brainwashing. He's just got to find a radio and escape. That's all. Edging down the side of the hill he's upon, Alex tries to move quietly into the base itself, looking for a vehicle with a radio in it, a loose radio, a cellphone. Anything he can use!
As Alex rummages about, Vega pauses. There's something tickling on the back of his brain, that empathic power that the world calls 'PsychoPower' twinging him into realization that there's a sensation there that wasn't before, something 'new' in the mix. And it makes him set his papers down, still very deliberate in his motions. A minion moves towards him, asking him for orders, or if they have changed. Alex may be able to hear, depending on how close he is, Vega saying 'No. Standard patrols. I'm going for a walk.'
And with that, the Lord of Shadaloo is in play, out of pocket, and on the move. Whether he will find Alex before he finds the small cache of vehicles they used to transport people in or not is anyone's guess. For what it's worth - the keys are in the ignition of all of them.
Standard patrols are good. Those are fine. Alex jogs, keeping his head down, and crouches beside the driver's seat of a parked Jeep. Looking to the left and to the right to confirm that he's basically safe, Alex reaches out for the radio with one hand, turning the dial to a frequency he remembers as being 'okay' for SOS's of this nature, and begins to reach for the keys. It occurs to him that he may need to drive away in this thing, very fast, but if he can keep it quiet, he will.
There's a buzz as the battery turns on, and a bit of static over the radio. "May-day! May-day!" He doesn't know. What the hell are you supposed to say? That's what they say in the movies. "This is Alex. I've found Vega's secret base -- and he's here! Vega! Hello? You've gotta--" Think! Right! He saw that, once. "--you've gotta triangulate my position, or something. Last time I checked I was at 15.23 N, 150.01 E."
Whilst Alex is busy betraying Vega's location to the world, Vega is idly going on and examining the surrounding jungle, staring out into it. Nothing outside - so that certainly means that whatever it is that's bothering him is more than likely /inside/. Vega turns towards the base again, and ... odd. His minions all wear shirts. And don't wear camoflauge. He starts towards the man, moving.. er, remarkably stealthy for a large giantchinned dictator. He'll even wait until Alex has gotten through with the first request for help. Then, Vega's dark voice can be heard nearby.
"You're a small bit off on your coordinates. Not enough to matter, but I do think most prefer to be accurate. I am not particularly trying to hide from anyone." There's a grin growing on his face, and that dark aura that normally hovers around his hands and feet seems to grow and crawl along his body like a aura - as if he'd lost control of those emotions that allow him to use the energy.
COMBATSYS: Vega has started a fight here.
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Vega 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Alex has joined the fight here.
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Vega 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alex
"--Crap," Alex says to himself. This is echoed in the radio. Alex slowly turns around, as though having been caught with a hand in the cookie jar. "This was a really bad idea, wasn't it?" he asks Vega, straight-faced, before putting the radio-receiver down onto the seat. Nevermind. He's gotta deal with what he's got. That's what Ryu'd do. Fighters don't become great by avoiding the tough fights.
"Hey," he says, standing up. "I'm looking for a friend of mine. Young girl, short hair. High-pitched, shrill voice. You seen her anywhere? If you do, let her know I was around. Her Mom's looking for her," Alex says. As he stands up, he takes his headband out of his pocket and starts tying it around his head. Once its taught, Alex looks down at his bare hands, before adding, "By the way--"
And then he reaches out for Vega's lapels and tries to less-than-elegantly throw him into and through the next adjacent vehicle.
COMBATSYS: Vega just-defends Alex's Strong Throw!
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Vega 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alex
"Not a bad idea, if you amuse me. You showed yourself well before - this will be an.. interesting challenge."
Vega is being generous - at least for now. He knows he's more powerful than the man before him, and in the darkest part of his mind, he's certain he will crush the other man well before 'help' can arrive. He /wants/ help to arrive - after all, he's even more powerful than ever before, and he's gone out of his way to raise the ire of the rest of the world. It's not like he's trying to hide and say 'don't notice me'!"
He barks out a laugh, grin going wolfish as Alex describes the girl he is looking for - Vega having just come from a meeting with her - and more than willing to talk about it. As Alex reaches for him, he starts to speak. "I'll be certain to pass it on - though I don't think she'll truly care. She's found a higher cause." As Alex tries to throw him, Vega simply sinks his feet downwards, and seemingly becomes immobile - the effort of the throw not even lifting him off the earth. His own hands go for Alex's, to push him away - and his foot finally comes free from the earth. Up and high, then back down hard and fast in an axe kick for the other man's shoulder.
COMBATSYS: Alex blocks Vega's Medium Kick.
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Vega 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Alex
Alex grits his teeth as his hands are useless. What the hell? Despite his brave face, Alex's eyes go wide. He should be able to throw a man this size, no proble--Fast!!!
Dropping to a knee, Alex barely blocks the falling axe-kick, turning it aside off of one forearm. He needs to give himself enough of a smokescreen to get a move on. Nothing else matters. "You're fast--and you hit hard--but I can see it in your eyes. You're empty, pal, even more empty than your thug with the pigtails. At least she looked like she had a fighting spirit behind her. You? You're just power! Just the kind of guy I hate!"
Alex reaches out to snare Vega by the waist as he leans forward before lurching backwards, trying to defy definition once again and carry Vega headfirst into the hood of the car next to him, pulling no punches in trying to survive.
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Alex's Powerbomb.
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Vega 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Alex
"Empty?!"
Vega is vast, and contains multitudes! Er, wait - no, that's not right. The Shadaloo Leader throws his head back and laughs as Alex tries to smack-talk him, though he has to admit, he has the first part right. And the last. He /is/ power. Power... extreme. Power that just won't stop coming and quite possibly out of his control. Vega allows himself to be caught around the waist - but as Alex tries to slam him against the hood, something seems to happen. Vega seems to almost /vanish/, fading out for a split second and leaving Alex's hands empty and open. He reappears quite close, and he leans in towards the other man.
"Empty? I'm more alive than any person in existance, and your pitiful efforts are not going to affect me in any way, shape, or form. This attempt of yours is ill-thought, and poorly executed - just like you will be." He whips his hands around and tries to catch Alex around the middle - if he's able to do so, that aura will flare up again, and he'll hurl the bandanna'd warrior down to the ground, almost as if trying to bury him through sheer force.
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Alex with Psycho Fall.
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Vega 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Alex
"Urgh--" Alex is hit harder than he's ever been hit before. Period.
The ground shatters and splinters underneath the crushing pressure put upon him, and every bone in his body seems on the brink of shattering. That's not possible--not even Ryu could pull a thing like that, right? Tensing where he is, Alex, then, seems to defy reason for a moment -- and brings his boots up into Vega's gut, trying to roll backwards and bring him face-first into the ground behind him. It hurt, but Alex is good at dealing with that. It's the difference between the two, maybe.
There's a lot of force behind his leg-drop, and right after it, Alex's goal is to get himself up onto his feet and mobile again, trying to slide into the seat of the car that he's already got started.
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Alex's Powerbomb.
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Vega 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Alex
There! This is what needed to be done. Vega is going to triumph, crush Alex beneath his heel, and throw him to whatever the jungle has in store. Hopefully some sort of anaconda. Because anacondas rule. Vega is a little pleased with himself, and he slips, letting his guard /almost/ drop as Alex comes back and catches him, knocking him into the Jeep and setting it rocking madly. Vega's body hits it with a fierce impact, bending the metal but not damaging his spirit. At least, as far as he will let on. Rubbing his hands together, he lifts himself back up, and grins fiercely.
"Your friend.. After I detroy her mind, make her 'empty'.. Will her mother still want her?" He tries to goad Alex on, simply taking his time in trying to demolish the man. It's a calculate tactic - and one that Vega isn't really very good at, normally quite easy to goad himself. Nowadays, more than ever. His new quest having given him power, but having cost him so much in the way of sanity and control. He brings his hands up and around as a feint, instead aiming to miss with them. This doesn't mean that the gigantic wave of psychic power that /explodes/ behind their passage isn't damaging, though!
COMBATSYS: Alex endures Vega's Psycho Wave.
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Vega 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alex
Alex is hit by the blow and swept straight /through/ it, crashing through one door and right down onto the other. This guy... this guy's not human. Alex hits the ground and slides several meters. He remains still, limp, and thoroughly defeated.
And then, slowly, impossibly, Alex begins to stand up. "You just try. You think I'm the hero, pal? Maybe one day, but right now? Right now I'm the tip of the iceberg!" Alex screams, before launching himself with a single leap back /through/ the wrecked Jeep to grab Vega by the face, squeezing his skull as tightly as he can, before looking to pick his foe up and drive , one after the other, in all of the nearby parked vehicles, shattering them -- and him -- with a display of rage and fury.
COMBATSYS: Alex can no longer fight.
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Vega 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Alex's Hyper Bomb.
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Vega 0/-------/---====|
"Hnn. Good. Let them come - let them /all/ come. It's what I want. It's what I /need/."
Vega would say more, but he's suddenly found himself lectured and grabbed by the back of the head. Each car is dealt devestation in the hands of Alex, Vega's face given new shape by the joys of rapid impact with metal. Swift use of psychopower to destroy the cars in the way of his nose saves most of the damage, and at the end, Vega is still standing tall. If he can /find/ Alex, he'll be thrown to the jungle, to think about what happend. If he can't, well.. The Jungle can have what's left.
Alex is limp not far from where the impact was, battered and bruised and entirely unconscious. The jungle will almost certainly kill him.
COMBATSYS: Vega has ended the fight here.
Log created on 23:05:24 06/07/2007 by Vega, and last modified on 23:08:50 06/08/2007.