Description: Sakura Kasugano is Shadaloo's newest agent, capable of hucking out Psycho-Powered Hadoukens like it's goin' out of style. But she can see why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch?!
Training... is not something Sakura really =needed= all that much when she first learned a Hadouken. Quite literally, she just made up her mind to throw a Hadouken, and one came out. No thought, no effort, just... 'Hey, that looks cool,' and she went from there.
That was because she'd grown up with her unique talents from day 1. Even though they were never =active=, she still innately "knew" what chi was, could feel it and sense it.
Within the past few days she's been endowed with an altogether different set of abilities. Her sense of chi... distorted. Transformed. She's been exceptionally on-edge the past few days with regard to fighting -- nervous, even, at the thought of it, as if she might explode if she were to try. It's familiar, but she knows =something's= off, and she's actively avoided trying.
Sometimes you just need to get the kid on her bike and push her down the hill, and hope she figures it out the hard way.
"You said you'd make me stronger," states Sakura Kasugano, taking a few steps away from her mentor, and turning to face him. "Such that I'd become a perfect machine." Calm, analytical -- the complete antithesis of what most people would identify as Sakura Kasugano. Not to mention, showing a complete lack of ego: "I am prepared for your instruction." No tonal inflection needed, just an intense, brown-eyed look right back at Kirishima, here in this abandoned part of Bangkok. So much for their 'patrol' duty.
If there's one weakness in Kurow's offer, it's that, honestly, he doesn't know what Psycho Power really is, how to hone it, how to focus it. Like Sakura, he has an intense innate knowledge of chi -- but if he'd been in her shoes, it's likely he'd be just as lost after that stay in the Psycho Drive.
But he's not going to admit that, of course. He can't concede that he doesn't fully know where to begin with her. "I never said I'd make you a /machine,/" Kurow notes to the young woman, walking just ahead of her for another step or two before stopping, turning back to face her. "I said I'd make you perfect. Making you a machine would imply you had hard limits. You and I both know that that isn't the case."
He keeps his steely grey eyes locked on those brown ones, those eyes that still shine with the intensity one would expect from Sakura even when nothing else still carries it. "The first thing you need to do is simply get used to what you can do now. Have you engaged any targets at all yet?" Straight to the point, at least.
Rumors say that if you want to get power in Thailand, you go to Shadaloo. Rumors in Bangkok say that to find Shadaloo, go out where there isn't anyone. They'll find you. Maybe they'll be already there. If you're smart, they say, you can join up.
Some people listen to rumors. One of those was a biker thug, a man who was making his way from China - ganger work just wasn't cutting it. He never made it to Bangkok, though. Someone liked the look of his face - and the last time he was /really/ seen was in a Korean hospital with his face smashed in and his legs broken.
But someone looking exactly like him took his bike and clothes, and followed the rumor. His name was Twelve. His face is now that of the Chinese biker - bald, with a bandana around his head, and a tribal-design tattoo crawling around his face, down his side, along both arms and legs. He's wearing a black leather jacket over a white wifebeater, and a pair of brown pants with many pockets, along with a pair of black, fingerless leather gloves.
The motorcycle, a lovely, illegally-obtained-and-then-later-stolen-by-Twelve machine, pulls up in the abandoned street, easily within both view and hearing of Kurow and Sakura.
The Killer Bee isn't supposed to be here today. After the grueling series of operations on the onset of the invasion, she's been given more downtime to ensure her optimal fighting condition. However, news of the new dolls has her curious... and troubled. Being the poster girl of the Doll program, Doll Zero, she's often unofficially in command of the others. But to be cut out at this time, and for a relative outsider, no less... is troubling, indeed.
Dropped off about a half-mile away by helicopter - the kind that now circle over Bangkok night and day - she makes the rest of the way on foot, the trip only taking several minutes. Springing across a rooftop, Cammy drops down, catching a windowsill with one arm before then landing atop the ruin of a garage, walking over to crouch and peer over at the two. She's not hiding her presence, but she doesn't announce herself, either. Instead, she frowns a little, but doesn't interrupt. Unsure how wise it would be to interfere more directly, she waits patiently, putting her hand to her brow to block out the last remnants of sunlight.
Kurow tells the prettiest lies. Having been through the Psycho Drive, and two intensive Doll reprogramming sessions, Sakura's usual emotional barriers have been all but removed. But she's not -just- a Doll... Kurow's gone and fished out her fragile core emotions, those struggling to regain a voice in the hollow, newly-mechanized depths of her mind. So really, as long as Kurow's words don't get trapped by a basic BS filter, he's as sweet as honey to Sakura.
"... Understood," she replies, the faintest shade of pink slipping across her cheeks as she bows back to him, before curling her fists. She's clearly =ready= to fight... but without a direct order to, she shouldn't be adopting the position yet.
"Negative. Unwise to engage combat until battle capabilities have been decisively proven."
She pauses, glancing to the motorcycle that just pulled up. "Unregistered vehicle sighted. Suspect hostile." She meets the biker's gaze, before inclining her head to Kurow. "... Please advise, sir."
Kurow has always been adept with lying; the lies have just gotten gentler, smoother, more alluring lately. It's certainly helped to have a large number of ways to test such an approach recently, and it's helped even more to have gotten mostly positive feedback for it. "Well..." Kurow says, when Sakura admits to not having tested out her strength since it became so warped, "it's the only way you'll learn."
And, conveniently, the biker provides such a -perfect- target. As far as Kurow knows, Sakura has no emotional investment in the biker specifically (and it'd be a surprise if she did), and he doesn't seem as though he's too much of a difficult target to deal with. A good first test, he thinks, as he watches the man pull up, not knowing the full extent of what he is.
The youth senses something nearby, feels as though -someone's- watching, but isn't careful enough at the moment to check who it is. He focuses, instead, on the biker. "Well, he's a hostile target, isn't he? Destroy him, or at least drive him off. I'll offer you advice and assistance as necessary."
"Yo, you guys are Shadaloo, right?" This is the only sentence that manages to come out of the biker's mouth before Kurow orders Sakura to attack him. His mouth opens wide for a moment, as Twelve feigns surprise. His own personality is entirely submerged as he gets into his role.
"Whoa, whoa! I ain't here to cause problems if you're Shadaloo, an' I recognize the outfit!" He gets off the bike, holding his hands open ahead of him, to show he means no harm. "I came to join up, man!"
Twelve doesn't actually /want/ to fight the two - he's trying to infiltrate, and this just /isn't/ going to help. "I'm not stupid, you guys own this fucking town! I want to /join!/"
Cammy watches and listens. While she doesn't know Sakura directly, she's well aware of her reputation, and Kurow... she knows. Which is to say, she knows enough to distrust him, but not much more. But then, she tends to distrust anybody outside of the Doll Program.
Quietly, she hops off the edge of the roof, coming up on Kurow casually. She remains quiet, observing the situation before then saying, "Please continue as you are.", simply, folding her arms behind herself in a crisp, military stance. The biker is regarded for a moment with a cold glance, and it's clear the Killer Bee isn't going to interfere with the fate of the young man, either way it should be decided.
The biker's offer almost stays Kurow's hand. Almost. It forces him to make a choice -- what's more important, the biker joining Shadaloo or Sakura learning to use her abilities? When Cammy arrives, Kurow feels all the more pressured to make a decision one way or the other -- after all, she's definitely Vega's favorite.
Looking the biker over, Kurow tries to get a sense of his strength. It's significant, he thinks, but not quite worth his while; if Vega has a problem with him having a random Shadaloo-aspirant dispatched in the name of cultivating existing assets, he can deal with that later.
He addresses the biker loudly, "Then prove yourself!" However, to the much closer Sakura and Cammy, he offers a different solution -- one that he says no louder than a whisper, keeping quiet in the name of keeping the biker at ease in spite of the unknown gravity of the situation. "My orders have not changed," Kurow whispers. "Destroy him or beat him badly enough that he runs. It will be a good test."
COMBATSYS: Sakura has started a fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Twelve has joined the fight here.
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Twelve 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sakura
"Affirmative." comes Sakura's quick response. She fully agrees that she =needs= training. But it's beneath her implied station to directly =ask= Kurow to punch her lights out. Luckily, she doesn't have to wait long for a non-Kurow aggressor. "Understood," comes her crisp reply, coupled with an offensive stance... just in time for the guy to beg for mercy.
And then the Zero Doll approaches. If Sakura detected her before, she made no motion betraying that knowledge -- but neither does she express alarm in turning to face Cammy for a brief moment. Kasugano has... memories of Cammy, but her actual opinions are no longer relevant.
Besides, she now has her orders. "Understood," she repeats, in a low whisper. She'd never really changed positions, just stopped lunging forward. Now that she's been given the order... well, she lunges forward again. No particular style, or rhyme, or reason -- she just leaps forward, and snaps her boot at the biker's face as hard as he can.
Shadaloo is not in the business of hiring the weak-willed.
COMBATSYS: Twelve fails to interrupt Medium Kick from Sakura with T.H.R..
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Twelve 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Sakura
The biker scowls. "You want proof? I'll give you proof. I might lose, but I am not fucking running away or dying here. That enough for you?" As Sakura prepares to attack, he enters a defensive stance - but cannot move fast enough, expecting a lower attack. While he makes a grab for her leg, he is too slow, nad goes stumbling back, blood running down his nose.
Let it never be said that Twelve didn't fake virisimilitude well.
Sakura doesn't know what to make of this guy, other than that he talks a lot of trash. Her former self would probably appreciate that. Her current self... well.
It's only rational that her kick socked the guy in the face, as far as she's concerned. It just makes sense, she doesn't see "spirit" as counting for anything at the moment. Blame the conditioning. "Dying is no longer a choice for you to make." she responds dryly, swerving away from the punch that might have been thrown. Seems she won't have to.
But she =is= just warming up. The very next thing she does is whip out her 45-pound gauntlet out towards the guy's face, with an aim of making his nose bleed even more. No words, no shouts: just cold, solid precision.
COMBATSYS: Twelve blocks Sakura's Medium Punch.
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Twelve 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Sakura
Kurow hangs back rather than assisting Sakura with her battle for now, smirking a little as her boot plows through the man's grip. So far, so good, he thinks -- a little lacking in style, but definitely quite powerful. "Good, good," he says, half to himself and half to Sakura. He then turns to Cammy, and allows himself a little gloating.
"Were you this adept after less than a week?" the young man asks of the Zero Doll. He /reeks/ of smugness as he says it.
"That's what /you/ think, maybe." The man steps back, his arm coming up to block Sakura's blow. The punch slams into it - but leaves only a small bruise. "But trust me - I don't die so easy!" This really is amusing, however, to Twelve. Sakura is normally spirited, but acting utterly mechanical. Twelve, at core without much emotion and self-described as a tool, is pretending to have spirit and anger.
His eyes narrow - and then he snorts - and smoke comes out of his nose. Twelve has always been a versatile warrior, and has never balked at making his chi into whatever aspect he wants. Today, it's exhaust. The smoke billows out - and surrounds his fists. "But I think you have another thing comin'! HAH!" And suddenly the man leaps foward, slamming one fist at Sakura - and then following up with an uppercut surrounded by burning-hot, thick exhaust smoke.
COMBATSYS: Sakura fails to interrupt D.T.Y.P.E. from Twelve with Quick Throw.
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Twelve 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Sakura
COMBATSYS: Kurow has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Twelve 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
With a slight shift of her head, Cammy looks sidelong to the young man. "Irrelevant. Your evaluation?", the Killer Bee asks of Kurow before quickly returning her eyes to the combat. "I have been too busy to look over any pertinent reports." Despite her lack of experience in delivering untruths, the lie is delivered with her usual dispassionate tone. She doesn't even know if there /are/ reports. If there are, she hasn't been getting them.
Her eyes, though, catch every fine nuance of the kick, noticing the marks of an original style bent to fit the needs or the program. Despite their seemingly factory-pressed qualities, each Doll has always added their distinctive strengths and style to the original training program. And observing these traits is one of the few things Cammy finds genuinely interesting.
Sakura is... surprised by the biker's sudden versatility. She certainly hadn't estimated that he'd be capable of that particular usage of chi. ... Then again, her senses are still wonky.
Grimacing, she reaches out with an aim to grab the biker with her gauntlets as he slams his fist down. It should be a simple matter for her to grab his hands, by her estimation.
It isn't. The smoke makes her cough involuntarily, distracting her enough for the fist itself to land, slam into her, and then make way for the uppercut.
Sakura finds herself knocked back, teeth involuntarily gritting from the pain as she maneuvers in midair, landing on her feet. She spares a brief glance to Kurow, and then Cammy. This is =precisely= why she was uncomfortable getting into a fight without proper guidance, she realizes.
But she keeps her eyes on that fighter. "Tactical abilities of subject higher than expected," she states cooly.
"Quite adept," Kurow says to Cammy, with a nod. Unfortunately, as he says this, he has the misfortune of looking to see Sakura catch those burning hot fists. He actually winces as he sees it happen -- it's definitely not the most satisfying thing to see, after getting smug about the abilities of the Doll who's earned a status as his 'favorite'.
It is here that he finally starts to go through his limited knowledge of Psycho Power, what little he's learned from Shadaloo in the name of keeping the new subjects in tip-top shape. The coolness of her response afterward, and that glance that seems to demand assistance, is what reminds him of exactly what her problem may be.
"Sakura," he says, "if you're feeling anything, focus on it, don't suppress it! The power you have now will accent those feelings, make them more intense, and feed off them in turn -- if you let those emotions fuel you, you'll be able to harness your new strength!" Curious -- encouraging a Doll to feel. Perhaps a backward notion -- but then, what he's dealing with isn't quite a typical Doll.
COMBATSYS: Kurow assists Sakura.
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Twelve 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|
"I /told/ you." Twelve grins nastily, his red eyes glinting with (fake) malice and enjoyment. "I ain't easy to kill! Best of the best, babe. The name's Chao - remember it." Twelve, playing up his 'trash-talking biker dude' status, is not about to let himself get interrupted by some little girl. He slips past her grip, using his smoke cloud to obscure his arm's actual location.
"I coulda topped any gang back in Hong Kong - but I wanna roll with the /real/ big dogs." Twelve takes a step back - and then he slams his fists forward - and blows as he does so, sending a cloud of smog at Sakura, made solid by chi powers. Hopefully, he thinks, this will be acceptable as an entrance rite. Twelve has no desire to die - or fail.
They might as well be the same.
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Twelve's N.R.G..
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Twelve 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|
"I did not undergo the current process that is used to create later Dolls, so any comparison is flawed.", the Killer Bee notes softly as her blue eyes shift with the motion of the fight, her head still. While she's mildly surprised by the biker's sudden demonstration of genuine fighting talent, it only barly registers in her expression.
Then, as her eyes flick to Kurow for a moment, she echoes, "Anything...?", questioningly. It will be interesting to see what he evokes... as it will say as much about his training program as it will Sakura's own mental state. After all, Psycho Power draws upon negative emotions for its ultimate power... or, at least, so says official propaganda.
This 'asphalt' power is fascinating. Sakura has no recollection of seeing anything like this before. But... perhaps she was getting too headstrong before. Too confident, even for a Doll candidate.
"Fascinating," Kasugano notes, before adding abruptly, "Also irrelevant." Narrowing her eyes, she curls her hands back to one side. She hasn't been able to throw a Hadouken since she got dipped in the Psycho Drive receptacles. But there's a definite need to =adapt=. And she's got more than enough ill-will, perceived or otherwise.
Energy floods into her fingers, adopting a dense violet hue, the aura littered with black veins. It's far from her usual blue. But she's also drawing from a different source. Regardless, the motion is the same as she remembers it: a thrust of both palms forward is enough to loose the pulsing, black and purple ball of energy at the biker. "Hadouken." she states, coldly.
COMBATSYS: Twelve slows Medium Psydouken from Sakura with P.R.O.J..
Glancing Hit
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Twelve 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 1/-------/=======|
It's exhaust, not asphalt. Asphalt is /another/ disguise completely. Twelve has noted that chi is often in the form of 'natural' elements - fire, wood, electricity - and has adapted that for disguises in the form of /modern/ elements, when fitting. In this case, the smoke and smog of bike exhaust.
"I am, ain't I? You know you want me." Yes, Twelve - play up the biker thug. He's a pig. But his power's been shown - he won't die, he'll be recruited. Of that he is sure. He blows out at Sakura's psydoken again, creating a wall of smog - that does not /nearly/ absorb enough energy. The blast slams into the biker, sending him skidding back. "...ow."
'You know you want me.' Sakura narrows her eyes. "Affirmative. I want you... out of my way," she responds, curling her hands back into fists. It seems she's hitting him quite a bit harder =now=... much like she's been hit harder than =she= expected. Bothersome.
There's... an urge of Sakura's to get this over with as soon as she can, however. She has an audience. And Kurow's =asking= her to do her best.
That means something, now.
Blinking quietly, she takes another step forward. Mechanical, lockstep... she's fairly sure of what she wants, but there's no need to betray her intention until she's right up on the young man.
At which point she leaps forward into a whirling roundhouse kick at the biker's midsection, before dropping lower to the ground and spinning three more lower kicks. She grunts with each kick -- the reason being the dense mass of purple and black energy sheathing her foot with each blow. It takes a bit of energy, after all. Should she land all four, she'd rise and deliver a powerful thrust kick to the stomach to finish the maneuver, her mouth open from exertion -- but no voice coming out.
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Twelve with Satori Ichiban.
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Twelve 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
As the makeshift psionic Hadouken strikes the biker dead-on and she continues to aggress with those kicks, not seconds after Kurow's words of encouragement, he can't help but smile. It's an obvious one, too -- probably very encouraging for the new Doll. "Yes, that's it!" the youth yells into the fight. "That energy -- you're learning. I'm pleased."
He examines the biker carefully. Something feels off about him, but when he thinks about it, it might actually be best to step in before she kills him, at this rate. This 'Chao' definitely has something to him, some strength that might indeed be useful to Shadaloo in the future. And, he thinks to himself, there's certainly precedent for this -- after all, Shadaloo /does/ have Birdie.
Twelve barks out a laugh, despite his predicament. Arrogance springs eternal, right? He prepares to defend against Sakura's strikes - but is not fast enough as she gets close, misjudging all her attacks, grunting in pain at each blow - until the final one, which sends him flying, his bandana sliding off his head thanks to Comedic Inertia, leaving him bald, bruised and...coughing up blood?
Getting to his feet, Twelve spits out a quantity of blood, yes. That /hurt/, and Twelve sells that - he has to keep up the disguise. Breathing out heavily, he is no longer grinning or smirking. He closes his eyes, blowing out more exhaust - which gathers about him like armor, to help empower him. "You're good, babe. But I'm gettin' into Shadaloo, so I ain't givin' up just 'cause of that."
COMBATSYS: Twelve gains composure.
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Twelve 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
Naerose leaves the city.
Naerose arrives from Bangkok.
Sakura rises back to her full height, relaxing somewhat as the man pulls back and... laughs at himself. Curious.
She'd glance back to Kurow, but it's quite obvious to her that she needs to be devoting her full attention to this guy. He's still a threat.
"Again, the decision is not yours to make," comes Sakura's emotionless reply, as he blows out exhaust. Despicable.
Rather than break off the attack, though, she nods. It's a nod to Kurow, of course, not the biker -- tacit acknowledgement of his compliment. But once the man recovers, Sakura wordlessly approaches yet again, balling both gauntlets together in a rather painful axehandle blow to the biker's chin. Painful... if it hits, of course. "Hah." She... can sound rather creepy, saying that without emotion as she has.
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Twelve with Medium Punch.
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Twelve 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/------=|
The smog does not, in fact, protect Twelve so much. Sakura's punch flies straight through it, slamming into Twelve's jaw and sending him stumbling back, more blood spilling out of his mouth. "Ugh...you /really/ think I'm dying here?" He stumbles back again, continuing to gather his chi around himself.
Despicable, maybe. But he needs to /survive/.
COMBATSYS: Twelve gains composure.
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Twelve 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/------=|
Loosening her arms, the Killer Bee puts a hand on her hip as she watches. "Interesting data.", the Killer Bee says. "The man could be useful in replacing Master Vega's traitors." Mind, she's never understood her Lord's interest in having self-aggrandizing thugs around all the time, but if it's what he wants, that's good enough. "But she will not often have your encouragement while on assignment.", Cammy remarks to Kurow. "She should not come to rely on it."
She looks between the two fighters. The biker is the sort of fighter that's seemingly learned one trick and tried to drive it home... but Sakura, at least, seems to be more well-rounded. Good. The Doll squad has more than enough specialists at the moment. And if Sakura should try and kill him... well, that'd be a good indicator of how well the program progressed, if something of a waste.
"..." Sakura has no verbal reply for Twelve. It's not a statement that requires a reply. The fact that he's standing there taking it, though, without attacking... well, that requires a reply.
Just not a painless one. She senses hesitation, the man holding back for some reason. She's unwilling to yield the upper hand again.
The former schoolgirl mildly curls her hands back, narrowing her eyes for the telltale 'tug' of psychic energy pulled into the space between her palms. The wispy, purple-and-black certainly feels different... yet familiar. She shakes off the sensation, thrusting her hands forward, loosing a second fireball at the man calling himself Chao. "Hadouken." The Doll candidate is taking no chances.
COMBATSYS: Twelve blocks Sakura's Medium Psydouken.
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Twelve 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/-----==|
Twelve throws his arms up - he's no idiot. That /hurts/. He remembers. The psydouken slams into his crossed arms, sending him skidding back. While he is still hurt by it, at least he remains standing, pulling together his will again. No more chi, but he still manages to get himself into a better position. "Okay, what else can you do? Kick high?"
Cammy would be surprised to learn how versatile Twelve can /be/ in this form - and how right she is, in that he only has one trick: mimicry. Fortunately for Twelve, on trick is all he /needs/.
COMBATSYS: Twelve gains composure.
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Twelve 1/-======/=======|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/-----==|
The biker is mocking her. Her emotional responses may be stifled, but she can still =read= emotional responses.
Narrowing her eyes, the trademark Kasugano impulsiveness begins to surface again as she steps forward.
... Almost. She walks right up to the biker, aims to grab him by the lapels and =SLAM= her head right into his. She's... anxious, but intending to finish this decisively just the same.
COMBATSYS: Twelve fails to counter Medium Kick from Sakura with T.H.R..
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Twelve 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Kurow
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Sakura 0/-------/-----==|
Twelve moves quickly, trying to capitalize on all the time he's bought himself - but ultimately it fails. As Sakura grabs his jacket, he is unable to reverse the grab, as he does not expect a /headbutt/. He stumbles back several stops and drops to one knee, a huge bruise on his bald forehead.
"Urgh..." No quips, no taunts.
"But she needs it at this critical moment," Kurow replies to Cammy, all too dismissive. "She's still feeling out what she can do. If she has no guidance and no encouragement, she's unlikely to learn the full extent of what her body can do now." He says this as the young woman's opponent simply continues to sit there and take the blows, and then the new Doll comes in and --
/That's/ what he wanted. It's fast, decisive, not a calculated maneuver but a gut feeling, and one which plows through 'Chao' as if he was nothing. The only thing he has to do at this point, then, is gauge one last part of Sakura's conditioning -- the most difficult part of all.
His voice is authoritative and firm. He moves closer in toward the pair, ready to intervene if she actually follows his orders; after all, he doesn't really /want/ them to be carried out. He just wants to see if she'll follow them, or if she needs some further -- /guidance/. "Finish him."
Sakura is pretty much done playing around. She can tell this guy is holding back, preparing for something. If he were simply weak and stupid, he'd have fallen long ago. It's more than that, she feels.
But part of her still wants to express her battle capabilities to Kurow. All the more when he =tells= her to.
She continues marching forward, without missing a beat -- the man's still reeling back at this point. She'd try to grab onto those lapels again, and she'd rear back for another headb-- no, wait. She'd just twist to the side and toss the man into his motorcycle.
More would be forthcoming if she manages to actually =keep= the guy off his feet.
COMBATSYS: Twelve fails to counter Quick Throw from Sakura with P.H.Y.S..
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Sakura 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Kurow
COMBATSYS: Twelve can no longer fight.
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Sakura 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Kurow
As Sakura gets close, the big man winds up for a powerful punch - but no, he is too weakened. He flies for his motorcycle, knocking it over...and, amazingly, does not /die/. While blood flows down his face, and his jacket is ripped by the impact...and the bike is dented, and will need som repair...he is still alive.
And conscious.
"Hngh...fine. You win. But I'm not...gonna die."
Sakura was ordered to finish him. Kurow's getting in close though... =why?= It shouldn't matter, really, she was given a direct order, despite it being from someone not in her chain of command. ... Kurow's been over this with her though. She is to become perfect, and as such, she is to follow his instructions.
It wouldn't be the first time the Taiyo graduate has killed someone.
"Negative," states the Doll Candidate coldly, she reaches down to the man. She's not reaching for the lapels. She's reaching for his =neck=, squeezing as hard as she can to choke the very life out of him. Presuming she isn't stopped, it wouldn't take long to kill an average human. And she wouldn't think twice about it, blindly following the order she was given.
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
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Sakura 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Kurow
"Yes.", Cammy replies, not objecting to Kurow for a change. "Make sure she does not need /you/, however.", she adds more coldly, watching the finish. She then finally turns to Kurow. "You have done well.", she says, ignoring his arrogance. Having to ignore that sort of thing was de rigeur for her in Shadaloo, sadly.
But she watches on impassively as Sakura goes to terminate the man. This decision is in Kurow's hands. This time, she probably won't even file any report on the incident. After all, she's... not supposed to be here.
When Cammy makes that pointed comment, Kurow has to bite his tongue somewhat; he thinks she's wrong. More accurately, he thinks her advice isn't beneficial in the least -- for things to work out, he thinks, Sakura /needs/ to need him. That's what he wants, even if it may be just faintly counter to Shadaloo's goals as a whole.
As Sakura begins to squeeze the life out of 'Chao's' body, Kurow watches dispassionately; he taps gently at his thigh with a finger, counting the seconds as she applies that killing pressure. After he's satisfied that she's really and truly committed to it, he says, "Stop. Let him go -- that was a test for both of you, one which you both passed with flying colors." If he's miscalculated and the man's dead, Kirishima might be disappointed... but only somewhat. After all, the man was a bonus -- the actual conditions of the mission were met long ago.
As Sakura reaches for his neck, Twelve internally reconfigures himself - his air intake now coming from a small hole he has just created in his armpit. Somewhere /no one/ will check, easily closed and reconfigured after. Only a mild airflow comes out his mouth and nose, to allow speech.
He makes vague choking noises for effect, however, but is in little danger of /death/. His smoky chi is completely faded. He does, however, grin at Kurow's words, despite the choking, and spits out two words - with effort.
"Told. You."
... And Sakura withdraws pressure, just as suddenly as she had attacked mere moments earlier. Some small part of her is probably wondering 'why?' but that part is nowhere near the voicebox. She simply pulls back, rising back to her full height, and announces, "Understood." The guy can jump up and punch her if he likes, the girl wouldn't budge at all. She's completed her mission.
Taking a deep breath, she folds her hands behind her back. Her Shadaloo uniform looks mahvelous -- the black soot is barely even noticeable on the dark grey fibers -- but there's a few blemishes, scars upon her dark skin. "Initial analysis confirmed." she states, glancing back down to 'Chao'. "The choice was never yours to make." So says the agent who didn't notice an armpit hole. (Gross!) Nevertheless, she adds, to Kurow (and Cammy?) this time, "Battle assessment report prepared and ready for review."
"I'll complete your analysis in a moment. As for you, Mr. Chao..." Kurow pulls something from his pocket -- a slip of paper, to be precise, with a number written on it. He hands it to Chao, saying, "I can't guarantee you official employment with Shadaloo, but until I can, I can at least offer you some contract work. Your performance really was quite impressive today -- you managed to visit real bodily harm on the greatest soldier ever to be under my command." This is at least -technically- true -- Shadaloo certainly has stronger, but not that Kurow has had any authority over.
Then, and only then, does he turn back to Sakura and Cammy. When she says she has a report prepared already, it's almost a surprise. Before, from what he knew about the girl, she would've had trouble with a -book- report. "Tell me how you thought you performed. Tell me what you did well and what you can improve on."
Cammy stares at Kurow for a long moment, as if about to do or say something, but... it never comes. Instead, her gaze shifts to the fallen man, tilting her head a little as if examining him... but she relaxes, focusing back on Kurow, finally. "What is her...", she asks, idly, before being interrupted by the announcement.
With her attention on Sakura, she asks, "What is her designation?", simply. After all, she hasn't precisely been given a name. Or number. She shows some interest in the report in question, though - well, with as much interest as the Killer Bee shows in /anything/.
As the grip slackens, Twelve quickly fixes his body before it can be really noticed. He rubs his neck, and takes the paper, standing a bit unsteadily as Twelve reinforces himself, beginning to repair the damage done. He croaks for the first few words. "Thanks...like I said, big dogs..."
He looks over at Cammy - and listens. He's been silently recording everything in his mind. His only regret - is that he couldn't get any Sakura blood, because Psi is strange and wonderful. But he'll be in Shadaloo...he can easily steal some interesting research, right?
Designation. Recently, Sakura's been using big words like that a lot, when simpler words like 'Name' will do. She'd think it be kind of lame, if her ego had a say in Saku-brain's operation center.
It doesn't, naturally.
Kasugano watches over the man as he's handed his piece of paper. She doesn't see a need to interrupt; simply stands there with her arms behind her back until he's done.
She'd answer Cammy, but the pronoun was clear: 'she'. So she'll let Kurow do that.
"My assessment is simple. Tactical errors were made in the beginning of the fight, underestimating opponent's abilities. Designate 'Sa-- Correction, I -- am weaker to the peculiar form of energy possessed by opponent. Strategy was adjusted to maximal assertiveness to compensate. Determined that subject possesses moderate defenses to impact damage, yet is significantly weak to Psycho Power. Further adjusted strategy to compensate."
Taking a breath, she glances back to Cammy for a moment, and then Kurow. "Report complete. Awaiting further direction."
"Her name is Sakura," Kurow says firmly; as much as he'd like to rename her, to turn her into something else, he has to keep reminding himself that he can't, that he has to work with what's there first. The question actually puts him strangely on-edge, for reasons he doesn't quite understand; he moves an inch or two away from Cammy once he's answered.
"You've learned how to analyze someone's tactics and weaknesses effectively, I'll admit -- I was impressed at how vicious you became, once you truly harnessed your power." He wouldn't have expected that from her, really -- after all, he knows that sometimes she just picks a tactic and keeps trying it. "In any event, your assessment is mostly accurate."
More questions come, however -- they always do. Careful to keep his tone level and even, he inquires, "And when you were ordered to finish him -- did you feel anything, or did you notice anything change about yourself? Remember... you can trust me."
"...." Cammy doesn't say anything, but it's clear she isn't happy with the reply, frowning as she stares at him. Rebuking him in front of Sakura, though, showing true division... would be counterproductive. Still, it's something to bring up to Kurow at a later time.
Listening to Kurow's reply, Cammy turns with his question, quietly listening. She's trying not to interfere too much, as that might trouble Lord Vega, but... she sees the Dolls as her sisters. She is uncertain how to feel about Sakura yet, though. She may have proven herself to Kurow admirably, but the Killer Bee knows through experience that the programming can be surprisingly fragile.
Ego is unnecessary. What's necessary, Twelve knows, is intelligence - and he is quietly watching the exchanges, noting the friction between Cammy and Kurow. Useful to know, that. Now - which side to support? Harder. Twelve kneels, picking his bike up and making some quick examinations of it as cover for his watching.
He has noted for himself what he needs to improve - psycho power is /obviously/ something he needs to avoid. Urien never taught him how to deal with it...and some things can't be mimicked well. "Damn - why'd you gotta go an' dent my ride? Now I gotta fix this."
Sakura nods tacitly in reply to both. She does glance over at Cammy for a moment, but as there's nothing to respond to, she simply states, "I am willing to improve on any shortcomings in my technique that the Killer Bee may wish to point out." That's Sakura's smugness talking there -- it's buried, submerged beneath layers of deprogramming, but it's there.
But Kurow, well... he's actually talking to her still. And he gives a positive response to her self-appraisal. At least he sees room for improvement. She nods to his assessment.
But the question... did Sakura =feel= anything? "... I was given an order and executed it without delay." She glances over to Kurow, impassive as ever: "I felt loyalty. Warmth." She pauses here a moment, before adding, "... Satisfaction."
Once again, her cheeks turn a faint shade of pink. "I am pleased to carry out orders."
If she's faking, she's doing a damn good job of it.
But then Chao catches her attention. "... Such is the price for 'riding with the Big Boys', Mr. Chao."
"The motorcycle won't be a problem, Chao. If you perform adequately, you'll have enough money to buy a /new/ vehicle whenever you need one." Bikers are easy, he thinks -- just appeal to their greed and they're hardly a problem. It's a simple, thuggish existence -- it makes them easy to manipulate.
Cammy's unhappiness with the statement does put Kurow off a little, prompting him to subconsciously shut her out a little more. Cammy has always made him a little uneasy, perhaps due to her closeness to Vega himself. "That's good. That's exactly how you should feel... and that's why I wanted /you/ to be the one to keep the others in check. You're enthusiastic -- you've truly committed to everything. I want you to keep that with you. I want you to focus on that feeling whenever you use your power. Conjure up that exact feeling, and use it."
His expression is warm and caring as he says this -- at least, until he looks away from Sakura and back to Cammy when finished, giving her a look that almost seems to ask, 'Do you have a problem with that?'
"Your technique is excellent, and your usage of Psycho Power is developing well.", the Killer Bee comments, thinking on that. Really, while Kurow works on the emotional angle, Cammy is more... purely rational. "But it is straightforward, which rewarded you in this offensively-oriented battle. However, you will need to develop more sophisticated uses of your new power, and new angles to assault your enemy from. When we fight together, we assault from multiple vectors, in order to render conventional defensive techniques limited or unapplicable. If permitted, I would like to ensure you recieve squad training as well."
With a slight sigh, she looks over to Chao, and nods in agreement with Kurow. "You will be more than compensated, given results." Indeed, thugs are easily manipulated... but fickle, too. She's just content for that not to be her deparment.
Then, her attention flicks back to Kurow. There's a slight, enigmatic nod before she turns back to Sakura. "Our strength comes from certainty and loyalty. It is important to focus on that, and remember all that you have gained since you joined us."
Twelve grunts, examining the bike some more. "Sounds good to me, man. I ain't got no complaints 'bout rewards." 'Chao' is an excellent disguise, Twelve reflects. No one expects a thug to be intelligent - and no one expects someone to be able to modify their chi so much as Twelve has, in assuming his form.
Twelve is really quite good at that - it comes, partially, from /never/ using the chi in his natural form - it remains malleable, used only in disguises. He also considers the information revealed. /Very/ useful, that...and it tells much about Kurow and Cammy. Kurow is eager for advancement - hence the favorable treatment of 'Chao,' who is obviously a good tool to have under his thumb. Cammy, on the other hand, couldn't care less - she didn't pay much attention to him at all beyond to confirm Kurow...and they are having divisions. That much is easy to read, for an experienced watcher...though why they are, Twelve would not yet hazard a guess.
So... Kurow's pretty happy with Sakura's performance, it sounds. Encouraging, welcoming... and caring. The exact opposite of Sakura's opinion of him a week and a half ago, in other words. Amazing what a little soak in a tub can do.
On cue, she glances to Cammy as well. Her assessment is... critical, but useful. And welcomed! She'd hit every nail right on the head, illustrating some excellent points for Sakura to follow up on. "Understood. I welcome the opportunity to fight alongside you." Kasugano fires that off without a second thought -- it's pure programming, plain and simple.
Nodding quietly at the assessment, she glances back over to 'Chao'. Mission... complete? ... Oh, right, that thing. "Commander, with training tangent completed, respectfully request that we continue our patrol." Is Kurow really a =commander?= Who knows... But Sakura might just have =some= of her impatience, as well.
"Excellent to hear, Chao. I really look forward to having you as an associate -- you're quite the fighter. You seem very... adaptable." Kurow really is trying to forward his own power -- if he can build up his own assets /now/, while Shadaloo is so desperate for fighters, perhaps he can seize a few choice opportunities.
"I see no problem with ensuring she receives squad training, but I'd like either Akira or Kyoko -- one of my own assets -- to be there for the training as well." The motivation for this is simple -- get them to bond, get them to start to think and feel as a unit. "... those are all my recommendations at this time, however. We'll be continuing our patrol."
Turning to Sakura now that he's (indirectly) answered her question, he says, "Shall we move along, then?"
At the suggestion of the other dolls joining in, the Killer Bee nods. "We are in agreement, then. When they are available, I will arrange for drills and exercises." Really, she doesn't have to do that much - Dr. Senoh arranges most of the actual practice programs - but it's important that she, at least, appear a leader to the other Dolls... even if she her rank in that regard is largely honorary. Vega, after all, will remain their ultimate leader in her eyes.
"Extraction at point 4af.", she says, putting her finger to her ear for a moment, and takes a step away. "You have been quite cooperative, Kurow... when you are available, I would speak with you later." After a pause as if to try and think of the proper response, she says, "I will report your efforts." It's about as close to a 'thank you' as she's likely to give at the moment.
"Hong Kong streets, man. You learn all /sorts/ o' shit there. Smoke?" Twelve pulls a cigarette from a pocket, along with a lighter, and lights up. The benefit of being made of stem cells is never worrying about, say, cancer. You just fix it.
He also notes that Kurow's ambition will make /him/ easy to manipulate. It's always easy to do that when someone thinks you're under their thumb. For now - perhaps it's wisest to side with Kurow. Ambition is much easier, Twelve thinks, to get to do things than loyalty is.
Sakura nods back to Cammy, "Thank you. If you'll excuse us." And then she nods to Kurow. In fact... as soon as she receives the indirectly-answered order, she begins walking in the direction she had been originally.
She =hears= the question about smoking, and simply frowns. Despicable stuff, really, and she's hoping that Kurow declines. But... it's not really her place to say. So she doesn't.
Just another day in the life...
Log created on 18:44:25 06/13/2007 by Sakura, and last modified on 11:09:01 06/30/2007.