Description: The Chiang Dao mountains represent the very next territory for Shadaloo to lay claim to. The resistance forces have an unexpected ally in wait though! Military intrigue, Tiger Crushes, and Psycho Hadoukens, oh my!
The Ping River, one of the tributaries of the Chao Phraya River, starts off in the Chiang Dao mountains. It's been rather difficult for Shadaloo to obtain a complete and masterful grip upon this region because of all the mountains -- too many places for the resistance forces to hide rocket launchers and guerilla forces. Indeed, the advent of vehicular assault has made the game of war much, much more complicated.
But there are some times in which technology just isn't the right answer. Traditional machines are unable to make leaps of reason or judgment, incapable of correctly predicting =human= behavior. In these cases... you've got to send a human to catch a human.
And that's why Sakura's been brought in. Fresh from her unveiling as Shadaloo's newest agent, at her hometown Taiyo High auditorium, the girl could use a brief jog through the mountains as exercise. She's survived a confrontation with her parents, and her best friend, without suffering catastrophic loss of her Doll programming. She's also had a nice, long dip in the revitalization chambers. It's a good day.
An AgustaWestland EH101 hovers not far from one encampment that's been particularly tricky to knock out. It's in a valley, nestled within a city filled with civilians who refuse to evacuate. Rocket launchers are everywhere... but the medium-lift helicopter has another mission entirely. They'll be dropping a mobile rocket bay at the mouth of the city. Right now, Sakura descending from a zipline to the ground, will be the forward attacker.
Boots hitting the ground hard, the Shadaloo agent hits the ground running. She's armed with only a light MP5 submachine gun... really, she's got more firepower available if she needs it.
These rebel strong holds are where Sagat finds himself going to most of these days. Sure, he has had ample time to flee his country... but he chooses not to. He is a hero to his people and has determined that it be best if he remains within its borders. The people need an inspirational individual to keep them rebelling. To keep them fighting. That individual might as well be the former Emperor of Muay Thai. Sagat had come to this settlement the previous night and is presently meeting with the leadership in a small hut nestled next to a foothill. The meeting ends suddenly when the sounds of helicoptors reaches their ears. Shadaloo is attempting once again to rip control away from the locals and install itself as the power. Sagat stands from his seat inside the hut and begins to tighten his forearm wrappings.
Locals, understandably so, have twitchy trigger fingers. Even when an eighteen-year-old girl armed with only a submachine gun -- one holstered to her back, with the safety on -- is casually walking into the city.
Not that she doesn't play the part -- her usual Shadaloo uniform has been complemented with light kevlar plating for the small arms fire. The girl is not perturbed in the least as the trigger-happy locals open fire. Bullets fly, many of which hit her -- but a slight twist to the side, a small stutter-step to the left, is all it takes for the schoolgirl to make her way towards the hut.
No doubt shouting would have been heard along the way, as Sakura casually slams her palm into anyone blocking the door with their lives. "Bothersome."
And it's not long before she opens the door, unopposed. She opens it, pausing for a moment to adjust to the dim lighting, and assess the major players inside.
"... An unanticipated, but not unwelcome surprise," she notes upon recognizing the one-eyed man. "Section command requests all concerned parties evacuate immediately. More assertive measures will commence shortly."
The Thai Legend is greeted by an unexpected person. His rival's student? All the hubbub was for Sakura? However she looks different and she's carrying a submachine gun. Sagat grunts at the girl, "What on Earth are you doing here?" Perhaps Sagat didn't get the news of Sakura's new affiliation? The Muay Thai Tiger points towards the girl, "This is no place for you!" He says loudly.
The schoolgirl may have made no mention of her affiliation prior to last night... but the Shadaloo death's head on her armbands is rather unmistakeable. That, and her language, her diction... totally foreign. As if she were an entirely new person.
That presumption would be perhaps half right.
"Correction: This is Shadaloo's place now. You would be doing yourself and these men a disservice by continuing resistance."
She looks up at the towering Muay Thai legend. "Lord Vega wishes to handle you himself." There's a harsh coldness in her eyes, a military precision... far from the youthful determination the teenage is world-reknowned for. She's convinced... that this is the proper course of action.
The Thai Mountain mutters out loud to himself, "What has Vega done to you?" Sagat clears his throat after the mutter and closes his pointing hand into a fist. He slowly twists his arm and brings it closer to him. Sagat shakes his head, "No, Sakura. I am finally providing a great service to my country by finally resisting Vega. I have stood idly by for too long. I have watched Vega enslave my people, use my people, and take from my people long enough. This is the final straw. It is unfortunate that Vega has brought you over to his side. It truly is." His feet slide underneath him, "Because; Now you are in my way. When I bring Vega down, I hope whatever hold he has over you is relinquished."
Sakura listens attentively to Sagat's words. But not like she normally does -- more like a bird, blinking and unemotional.
"That is, indeed, unfortunate," she concludes, raising her hand, checking the fit of the gauntlet upon it. "Operational necessities dictate that you, as well, are in -my- way."
Sakura breaks her gaze from Sagat, levelling it upon the local leadership.
At which point she mildly unholsters her MP5. If allowed... she'd mow down every one of them without a second thought.
COMBATSYS: Sakura has started a fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sagat has joined the fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sagat
And this all stops right there. Sakura says that Sagat is in her way? She is unholstering her gun. Though it almost pains the Thai Tiger, Sakura is now a threat to him and what he's trying to do. Were she able to take down his colleagues here in their mountain retreat, that would be a serious blow to this area's resistance movement. So Sagat acts! The Thai Tiger grunts and rushes for the girl, "You will do no harm here today, girl!" is said as he lashes out with a closed fist strike. He is aiming to hit her arm, in an attempt to knock the submachine gun out of her grasp!
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Sagat's Jab Punch.
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Sakura 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Sagat
A flicker of a smile creeps across the girl's lips -- =some= fragments of her personality have survived the Doll personality transplant.
Just very few of the good fragments.
The girl twists to the side, raising a heavily-fortified gauntlet up to deflect Sagat's fist. He should probably recognize the Doll's standard equipment, there. But she'd pulled the submachinegun back with her other hand -- and indeed, twisting about, she's able to squeeze off two shots before the village leaders finally realize that, y'know, maybe they ought to be FLEEING. The bullets sink into one leader's shoulder, as he slumps to the floor -- fairly severely wounded, at the very least.
Sakura narrows her eyes back to Sagat. "It's regrettable that we must be on opposing sides of this conflict," she states, holstering the submachine gun again. It's of limited use now -- the elders have left. "But you're not invincible."
The girl slams forward sharply, aiming to nail Sagat in the solar plexus with her elbow. If she manages to land true, she'd try to sweep forward with her foot, knocking him off balance -- and with any luck, a sour landing upon the war-room table. "HNNNNGH!"
COMBATSYS: Sagat endures Sakura's Medium Throw.
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Sakura 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Sagat
The Muay Thai Legend is swept up by his rival's student. Sakura managed to get the mountain of a man down with that manuever, though it seems that he made no effort to block or evade the attempt. Sagat uses the momentum of going down to transition into a roll. Sagat is immediately on his feet in a kneeling position. Sagat rises up with surprising swiftness, "TIGER-" He shouts as he goes airborne. Sagat thrusts his knee forward as he flies towards Sakura, "-CRUSH!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura endures Sagat's Tiger Crush!!
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Sagat
Sakura is... fairly plainly ambivalent towards the notion of taking a rushing knee to the upper torso. All the preparation she needs is, rather simply, bracing herself.
It'd be foolish to presume she could take the attack head-on without even budging -- but that wasn't the intention. No, even as she flies back a good four feet from the fearsome Tiger Crush, blood welling from her nose, she lands on her feet.
And she's =running= towards the man, to boot. For she's also glowing with a brilliant purple aura -- hardly the one known for Ansatsuken fighters. No, this is violet... and lined with ink-black veins.
Sagat's about to get an up-close view of that, as the girl slams her hands forward, presenting the Muay Thai legend with a massive surge of chi more than large enough to blot out his entire vision with that hideous Psycho Power. "HADOOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Sagat blocks Sakura's Large Psydouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Sagat
The Muay Thai God's eye widens as Sakura goes into her Hadouken technique. He wanted to avoid using such chi techniques, as he didn't want to begin leveling the settlement. So instead of dodging the incoming ball of power, he raises his arms to form a wall of defense infront of his body! The psycho powered hadouken slams into his defenses and a wave of disorientation washes over him. He wasn't expecting that result... it's different from the last time Sakura and he sparred. Sagat tries to center himself and push the disorientation away. The veteran warrior is quite capable of doing this, as he's had decades to train his mind and body. After the hesitation from blocking the wave of power, Sagat is on the move again. The Thai Legend rushes Sakura again. When he's in his considerable striking range once again, he lashes out with a powerful roundhouse-style kick. He means to aim his wrapped foot and shin into Sakura's side.
COMBATSYS: Sakura fails to interrupt Medium Kick from Sagat with Shou'ou Ken.
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Sakura 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sagat
Sakura has fought Sagat before. She knows his capabilities, she knows some of his weaknesses... it's just a matter of knowing when to capitalize on an opening.
In the midst of a furious roundhouse kick is =not= that time. It's practically hardwired for the girl to try slamming her fist into an opponent as they come flying towards her, but it's usually the wrong thing to do! Not even intensive Doll reprogramming can get that out of her system!
Regardless, the girl flies to the side, colliding with a chair before dropping into a low crouch. "I do not understand, Sagat. Fighting only leads to more fighting. Fighting should be left to us... glorious, one-on-one combat, between people who =enjoy= it." She rises to her feet, rubbing her bloodied nose against her bicep -- the metal, elbow-length gauntlet just doesn't serve the purpose. "These people don't enjoy the life at all. Explain to me... how resistance can possibly be beneficial."
Sagat continues to advance on Sakura, not letting up against the 'Doll'. After the kick he takes a moment to step back and reorient his body so he's in a better position to attack Sakura. As she speaks he grits his teeth. His reply is simply, "I've been a slave to the whims of Vega. I will not allow my country to have that displeasure! Your Master would be ashamed of your actions right now!" Sagat advances on Sakura once again. This time he feigns a strike with his leg towards one of her legs. His true technique comes in the form of a powerful forearm and elbow combination meant to knock her airborne and backwards!
COMBATSYS: Sagat successfully hits Sakura with Medium Punch.
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Sakura 1/=======/=======|======-\-------\0 Sagat
He already is, Sagat. He already is.
The Doll candidate seems unaffected by the appeal to emotion, however. "Fascinating."
But the girl is unable to drop to her knees like she'd planned to, to evade that particular forearm attack. Cr-crack -- that would be a rib or two splintering. And the sharp sound is followed by another, more destructive effect -- Sakura breaking =through= the flimsy walls of the hut, landing in the street outside. Bloodied, bruised, leaning to one side from her busted ribs... and yet the girl seems... much less human than machine.
But then she looks to the side room, where many of the leaders had gathered to avoid the fighting. They couldn't have just =run=, could they?
"Lord Vega can make Thailand into the next world superpower, Sagat. Your mother country... is destined for greatness." She smiles. Her aura lights with a brilliant purple, much like the one seen before... but much, much larger.
Primary objective: eliminate the leaders. She handles this by slinging a terrifying Psycho-Powered Shinkuu Hadouken at the hut, aiming to collapse its primary foundation, bringing the ceiling down and crushing all those inside it. Though it could just as easily hit Sagat, if he were to intercept the blast somehow, and save the people.
Secondary consideration: Escape. The thudda-thudda-thudda-thudda of helicopter rotors. The rumbling of a mechanized assault vehicle can be heard in the distance. Massive amounts of gunfire. The confusion outside is about to reach a fever pitch.
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Sagat with Psycho Hadouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Sagat
This isn't a regular street fight. Oh no. If that were the case that Psycho Hadouken could have been easily deflected or avoided. However there are far greater stakes here than a simple street fight. sagat must defend these people from the brainwashed Sakura. And that means he has to deal with the Hadoukens. Sagat grits his teeth and leaps towards the projectile. The psycho power washes over him and sends him to the ground hard. He lands prone on his back, washed in unnatural disorientation. Sagat will close his eye tightly and roll backwards and return to his feet... because he is simply not down for the count. His single eye opens up and there's a glare directed towards Sakura when he realizes that there's gunfire occuring beyond the walls of this hut. He stands up and starts off running in a blur of motion. He careens across the ground towards Sakura. With his long legs he begins to perform a series of kicks when he's within his considerable striking range. First a low sweeping kick towards her legs, followed by a roundhouse strike towards her midsection, quickly followed by a strike that would make her feel like Sagat was capable of relieving her head of their perch on her shoulders. This third kick is followed up by yet another roundhouse kick. Sagat's leg during this final kick erupts into chi flames as he spins and lunges for the Psycho-powered Girl, "TI-GER RAID!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Sagat's Tiger Raid.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Sagat
Sakura shakes her head as Sagat endures her attack, to save the people. "Why injure yourself for these people, Sagat? They've done nothing for you -- they sit crying, waiting for a hero." Sakura even... chuckles a bit after that. "Perhaps you were wise to leave... Lord Vega has no use for anyone with convictions as flawed as yours."
She's already scampering back, =retreating= as she says this though. When Sagat blurrs forward... Sakura =somehow= already had the preternatural sense to spring to one side, leaping just out of his way as the war-ravaged soil where she =was= standing gets churned up by the shockwave of Sagat's approach!
Sakura lands a good dozen or so feet away, in a crouch, as Sagat follows through with his maneuver. But she's already leaping backwards again, onto the back of a flatbed truck adorned with the Shadaloo logo. It's being shot at, quite heavily, but Sakura... leans down to avoid it.
"The forces will be moving in soon. If you care for these leaders, get them out now. But you won't be able to save this town."
... Considering that the leaders have been saved, it's quite probable that Sakura is wrong on this count. But she isn't about to stick around, in her condition -- Sagat has proven =most= terrifying to the Shadaloo agent.
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
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Sakura 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Sagat
COMBATSYS: Sakura has left the fight here.
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Sagat 0/-------/-----==|
Sagat lands in a crouch. His eye narrowed and a little disappointed that Sakura was able to avoid the pummeling that he was going to provide for her. Sagat grunts and shouts after Sakura, "I become injured, because I have trained to endure such pain. These people are innocents... fighting to preserve their way of life. A way of life Vega has NO business interrupting or encroaching upon." Sagat stands and points a meaty finger at the retreating girl, "Towns can always be rebuilt, Girl. People on the other hand, they stay dead." Sagat will look over his shoulder... to observe what has become of the village.
COMBATSYS: Sagat has ended the fight here.
Log created on 10:41:41 06/17/2007 by Sakura, and last modified on 07:57:09 06/19/2007.