Description: Rock, abducted by NESTS during an attempt to free Shadaloo prisoners, is about to be shipped off to labs unknown to become the subject of a number of unpleasant experiments. BUT -- /AMERICA/ has something to say about it?! DUN DUN DUNNN.
Thailand's beautiful sunsets serve as a stark contrast to the chaos and bloodshed that are wreaking havoc throughout the country. Here, in this particular suburb of Bangkok -- capitol of Vega's swiftly expanding 'empire,' if it could be labeled as such -- things are oddly peaceful. It is away from the all-out war that seems to now be erupting in Shadaloo's capitol, giving it an almost unsettlingly serene quality as the low rumble of bombs and gunfire echo in the distant background. Peaceful, but here?
The intentions and workings are just as impure and terrible as those nestled in the very heart of the battle.
The airport is largely vacant, save for the presence of NESTS troops and their two commanders today. Shadaloo troops are busy dealing with uprisings, or were easily convinced to deal with some other, more -important- duties. It's left only the darkly-clad NESTS operatives to load a single individual into a lone jet on the landing strip -- the recently acquired subject known as Rock Howard. Heir of the Howard lineage, sharing the blood of Kain Heinlein -- a prize if there ever was one. And a prize that demanded research and experimentation--
--Which leads everything to here. Zero enters the CEO's area of the jet only a moment after Igniz himself has settled in, dressed in that unassumingly impeccable black business attire. Cold gray eyes look towards the front, before the NESTS president is given a brief nod of confrimation. "The subject has been loaded in -- we will be ready to depart in a few moments." It is a good day, indeed.
And likely, it will only get better.
Rock Howard's seen better days. Brutally beaten by the NESTS Vice President, Zero, on an ill-fated mission to free a cluster of Thailand POW's from a Shadaloo Prison Complex -- Rock only recently regained consciousness. He found himself strapped to a rack, hard leather bindings keeping every part of his body restrained. Disorientation brought confusion, aided by the battle fatigue weighing down Rock's mind. Uncertain of where he was -- with his mouth gagged and ominous men in black guarding every doorway -- Rock didn't know what to do. His muffled grunts and cries didn't work. Twisting and pulling at the restraints didn't work either.
Left with no other options, Rock's red eyes swivel to the small porthole window. He can see that the light is fading -- signaling sunset -- and he knows he's on some sort of aircraft from the cargo area's bulkhead markings. They have a distinct serial number and there's a familiar logo in the metalwork that shows the manufacturers. But what, where, and why? Howard's got no clue. And that's a scary thing.
Roy has officially gone crazy. There is no doubt in his mind now that he has lost his mind. And that's okay, because now he's living the American Dream on his own terms.
There's an airport in Thailand, and in that airport is Rock Howard on a plane. Snakes may or may not be involved. Roy only found out about Rock being captured from a blog being forwarded to his Blackberry. Totally unfamiliar with how to handle these sorts of situations, Roy went for the long shot and managed to get the attention of Terry Bogard.
Roy now finds himself soaring through the air on an ATV with an American flag cape on his shoulders and the Team America soundtrack (with America: Fuck Yeah on repeat) blaring from a boombox duct taped to the back. He'd propelled himself up in the air with a Touchdown Wave, and now he's about to come back to Earth through the plane he was told to assault. He hopes that Terry Bogard is actually still with him.
The buzz of Roy's ATV is heard moments before it slams through the cockpit, getting stuck halfway inside. Roy has no such problem, flying through the window and crashing through anything in his path. His American flag cape flutters wildly behind him as he careens back through the main compartment, smacking against the back wall of the cockpit hard enough to burst right through. Roy is still moving, but now he's dazed, confused, and probably about to get owned by two of the hardest men in the world. But just enough of his brain is still functioning for him to yell out something that you should always yell when you break through somebody's wall:
"OH YEAH!"
Terry Bogard will be the first person to admit that this is the last way he would ever think to mount a rescue mission. He's not exactly sure how Rock Howard ended up a captive in a Thailand airplane, and he's not exactly sure how one of Rock's friends managed to track him down amidst the jungles and phad thai stands, but upon knowledge that the tormented son of Geese Howard was involved, curiousity got the better of him.
It's best to not know how the Legendary Wolf got dragged into this particular plan. Roy certainly sounded solid on it, though; ATVs, American flags, and one of the oddest soundtracks he's ever heard accompanying them into the airplane. Clad in an American flag cape, it would flutter majestically as the two blondes went airborne. "This cannot end well." is the only thing that passes Terry's lips as Roy goes airborne. The ponytailed blonde just leaps off the back of the ATV seconds before it goes smashing through the cockpit, and Roy precedes him into the airplane. As the wall comes down, Bogard tucks into a forward roll, tumbling right into the palatial CEO section of the plane before hopping back up to his feet once again. And right as he stands up, the boombox hits its crecendo.
"AMERRRICAAAAA! FUCK YEAH!"
NESTS doesn't come cheap: This is one of those really nice planes with the sound dampening. As a result, the only warning Igniz has of imminent Americanism is the faint sound of 'america, fuck yeah' faintly being heard, regardless of the fact that it's going on 11 outside. He is about to reply to Zero, his mouth opening to speak, probably to congratulate him on a job well done and to plan what experiments to undertake on Howard before using him to buy some credit with one of the major players, when the ATV hits. It's probably best that the pilots were outside on pre-flight checks, but the cockpit itself is smashed, the plane certainly rendered unable to fly anywhere without extensive repairs.
But Igniz doesn't care about that. What Igniz cares about is that he just dropped his fricking wineglass when Roy Bromwell and Terry Bogard slammed in uninvited, yelling various fitting, but inane phrases. Igniz stands, radiating menace as he fixes upon Terry. His voice is quiet, pleasant, even, but the air whipping about him as he releases his chi is a sure sign of his displeasure. It's fairly obvious to Zero what's going to come next. "I'm sorry, but America is a long way from here. Perhaps I can help you get there?" A moment later, Igniz drives his hand toward Terry's ribcage in a brutal thrust-punch, likely intending to send him right back out of the airplane the way he came. The fact that the ATV is in the way is just a bonus to him.
COMBATSYS: Igniz has started a fight here.
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Igniz 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Terry has joined the fight here.
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Terry 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Igniz
COMBATSYS: Zero has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Igniz 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Terry has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Igniz 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Roy has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Roy 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Igniz
The noise alone is enough. However faint, it is a disruption from the quiet peace achieved in the sound-dampening chambers of the plane. It's in that instant that the dull echo of the Team America soundtrack can be heard, the NESTS VP knows that something -- whatever it may be -- is amiss. Whatever Igniz response to his subordinate is, however -- whatever Zero's plan of action as to that strange noise -- both things go to the wayside, because, only a few moments after Igniz opens his mouth...
... whatever he is about to say is overpowered by the heavy crash and shatter of metal and glass.
"..." Unspeaking, Zero's cold gaze turns towards the area of the cockpit. Without so much of a second's thought, he twists back, his outfit melting seamlessly into the tell-tale battlesuit he wears into battle. Metal teeth at the hem of his skirt strike together in a harmonic ring the very moment that their uninvited guests crash into the CEO chambers. He looks down, first to Terry, and then to Roy. He pauses, and for a moment, he frowns.
But only for a moment. Soon enough, cold neutrality overtakes Zero. Unlike Igniz, he remains silent as he takes a single step backwards. Only a moment afterwards, dark violet chi -seeps- out of his body in an unnerving display, tongues of amethyst fire seeking to grab onto Roy just as Igniz lashes out at Terry. If those tendrils of dark power connect, they'll hold the man with Zero's unnaturally imposing aura... just long enough for Zero to surge outward with a sudden burst of invisible, concussive chi, blazing forward to SLAM into Roy and send him rocketing back just as Igniz intends to do with the Legendary Wolf.
Rock can feel the entire aircraft tremble when the twin ATV's Buster Wolf themselves through the nosecone of the jet. Feeling the metallic rack he's strapped to rattle from the contusions, Howard closes his eyes and prays for one of the straps to come loose. With just one hand free, he could rip this apparatus apart. He could get out of this mess, disappear from Thailand, and forget the face of the man with the mustache. He never did get his name.
"Hhhlghloo?!" Howard tries, behind his mouth gag, with little avail. He twists his hands, his wrist bindings groaning in protest. "Hhhuuuuhhlppp mrrghhe!"
Holy crap, Roy thinks. His surprise is not at the morphing into a battle outfit. Nor is it of these guys actually trying to fight them. Everyone tries to fight them. It isn't Zero's crazy chi since he's seen nastier visual effects before.
That dude, Roy thinks, is wearing a bondage skirt.
"ROCK!" Roy yells, still not seeing his running buddy. "WE'RE GOING TO SAVE YOU FROM THE BONDAGE CLuuaagghhh!!!"
Here comes that chi. This is going to suck. Roy doesn't have time to block, so grits his teeth and prepares for the worst. Maybe he can /distract/ this guy and sneak around to get further into the plane. Rock and him together should be able to deal with this, right?
...right? Vote of confidence here, please.
COMBATSYS: Roy endures Zero's Shikka Koujin.
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Roy 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Igniz
COMBATSYS: Igniz successfully hits Terry with Fierce Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Roy 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Igniz
You know, it was fairly obvious that Igniz was going to try and punch him. Terry's hands were already coming up to prepare himself for the incoming strike, but Igniz's fist manages to find a hole in the defenses, and Bogard is send ass over teakettle, toppling backwards over the ATV behind him and slamming his head fairly harshly on the ground as he finally hits. It's there that he just rests for a moment before he climbs back up to his feet. "Hmph." He brushes himself off, then he hops over the ATV once again. "We'll leave once we've got who we came here for." The left glove is pulled tight again, then the right before Terry suddenly darts forward. His hand reaches for the front of Igniz's shirt. Should he manage a good grasp, he'll whip around a full 180 degrees, then tilt forward before bringing the NESTS CEO over his shoulder, back first, right into the ATV.
Roy gets clobbered. The chi does the most damage, as he's already taken out the wall that he came through. He crashes against the console of the plane, dislodging his ATV and sending it spiraling down to crash onto its side on the runway below. There's a big red welt on his chest from the impact, but he's not completely demolished yet. Not yet.
"HEY!" Roy calls out, pulling himself up. He's got instrument glass stuck in his back now. It hurts a little, which only incites him further. He explodes out from the cockpit with a war whoop, lunging at Zero and attempting to punch him right in the head with a haymaker. It's not a jab punch, which may doom it, but Roy didn't find that chi burst cool. No sir, he didn't like it.
COMBATSYS: Terry successfully hits Igniz with Buster Throw.
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Roy 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Igniz
"What, you're here to rescue the Howard?" Igniz replies. "I didn't think you cared." The CEO tries to interpose his arm to prevent the grip, but Terry proves himself quicker, and tosses him over into the ATV as well, crashing into it and further ruining the upholstery. Hope you guys didn't get this from Hertz. He grunts in pain, feeling the tiny cuts from the shards of glass scattered around ther area liberally, and stands, before turning to detonate the boombox in the back of the vehicle that was STILL playing that crazy music with a flare of white chi. There. Music gone. BUT THE SOUL OF AMERICA STILL BURNS, Igniz is sure. Hands outstretched, the robe flares around him, revealing his own battlearmor under the robe. "But we're not finished with him yet! I'm sure you'd get to see him again... eventually..." He laughs as he rushes for Terry, striking out with his cape to lash out at him and slam him into the side of the cockpit. Oh, look! More glass!
COMBATSYS: Zero blocks Roy's Strong Punch.
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Roy 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Igniz
Quick to recover, Roy is; sadly, even using the bulk of Zero's chi as a means to put himself in a more offensively favorable position, it still doesn't aid him much in the long run. Zero is prepared, watchful. Gray eyes focus in on the cockpit as Roy crashes through it, and Zero's legs spread in a certain sort of expectance for what is to come. Bromwell swings, in a singularly powerful haymaker--
--And Zero intercepts it with a single fist. The motion in and of itself stops Roy's momentum -flat- as Zero takes a single step backwards from the force of the blow, a momentary feeling of numbness spreading through his arm. But he does not flinch, and does not even hesitate; gripping onto Roy's hand, he seeks to follow up his strike with another; he lashes out with his right foot, twisting back in order to slam the heel of his foot straight into Roy's chest with blurring, titanic force. "If you do not leave now... you will be killed." Zero says little more than this.
After all, there's little more that needs to be said.
The chisplosions and supersonic fists are doing a good job of jarring Rock around back in the cargo hold. His two guards have disappeared, moving forward in the aircraft to try see what the commotion is. This leaves Rock there, strapped to a metal slab, unable to move -- with the forty million dollar aircraft falling apart all around him. He bites at the strap of cloth holding his mouth shut, starting to get it free.
COMBATSYS: Zero successfully hits Roy with Light Kick.
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Roy 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Igniz
Roy made his arm kind of wobble a bit. That's progress. Roy is finding himself growing accustomed to feeling like a mortal man fighting people like this rather than the incarnate god he is among high schoolers. Most people would be discouraged. Rock is invigorated by it. Finally, somebody he can really unload on!
Roy's back into his standard fighting mindset after that refreshing jolt of agony. He raises up his forearm and tilts into a football rush position to stop the kick. His sneakers leave a trench in the floor of the executive suite, the carpet giving up before Roy does. He destroys more sneakers this way. Wow, Roy thinks, this guy hits like a bus.
"The music!!" Roy yells, as the Team America soundtrack is cut off. "I call shenanigans! Hooahhh!!"
Roy bursts forward at Zero with terrified glee. He snaps his leg up in an effort to knock Zero back deeper into the plane, trying to get to the cargo compartment. This is the beginning of a series of high risk aerial maneuvers that usually ends up with Roy in a hospital room.
COMBATSYS: Igniz successfully hits Terry with Blue Noah.
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Roy 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Igniz
The soul of America still burns, but the inability of Terry Bogard to mount a proper defense burns brighter than the soul of even Roy for his homeland. When Igniz strikes, the force of the cape shoves against his arms, slamming his back right into the side of the cockpit. He's held there for a moment before he reaches his right hand around to swat the cape off and away from him. That motion, however, serves as a brief cover; when his hand pushes the cape away, it lifts up even higher than that, balling his fingers into a fist while it rises over his head, only to quickly descend right back down again. He slams his knuckles into the ground right in front of Igniz, and at the point of impact, a sudden explosion of bright golden chi erupts right in Igniz's face. The wave of energy doesn't even leave that spot, sacrificing mobility for a little extra oomph when it goes off in the CEO's face.
"ROUND WAVE!"
COMBATSYS: Igniz fails to reflect Round Wave from Terry with Nega Genesis.
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Roy 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Igniz
Terry doesn't seem interested in talking. No, instead he seems to be proving that America is here to stay, kick ass, leave no man behind, and look good doing it. Igniz sees what Terry is up to, when the knuckes come down, and he slams his hands together, reweaving the chi flows around him and preparing to use the chi blast against him... But the Round Wave slams into the defensive barrier, shattering through it like so much glass and throwing Igniz back into and slamming into the expensive leather seating, breaking it with a crash into the ground as he trails golden light. "ARGH! Damn you!"
COMBATSYS: Zero endures Roy's Leg Launcher.
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Roy 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Igniz
For a moment, Zero takes time to observe the exchange between his superior and Terry Bogard, cold eyes slanting a touch thoughtful at what he perceives to be an even battle between the two thus far. Perhaps later, he'll come to Igniz's assistance. For now, he has other problems to deal with -- that being, Roy Bromwell. While in Zero's mind a minimal threat in comparison to Bogard, he nonetheless threatens to advance into the cargo room -- something Zero cannot allow.
As such, when Roy rushes forward, seeking to slam into Zero's body with those mighty legs, the NESTS VP is prepared. Legs brace, tense in preparation. The Pacific student's leg lances out and knocks -firmly- into Zero, causing the white-haired man to falter backwards several steps... but is not nearly launched as far backwards as Roy might hope. And even as he stumbles, Roy may find something impeding him from progressing further towards the cargo room:
The shadows themselves.
Tendrils of shadow stanke out from the ground around Roy, glowing a faint violet-blue as tiny little hands of power seek to make a secure hold on his legs, holding him in place. Those tendrils carry with them an unnervingly otherworldly feel, burning and chilling at the same tim. Roy won't have much time to ponder over it, however; soon after those arms of shadow latch on, Zero tears down the short distance between himself and his enemy, seeking to launch into a tremendous series of bodyblows into the young Roy; punches and kicks to his torso and face, finishes off with one mighty uppercut to launch him closer to the cockpit than before.
"...You have other things to worry about then music."
COMBATSYS: Zero successfully hits Roy with Mabukousou.
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Roy 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Igniz
Roy kicks out at Zero, but Zero doesn't get air. This is the first indication that things have gone wrong. He drops back down, continuing his run, when he sees the darkness itself thickening ahead of him. Oh crap.
This is going to be unpleasant. Roy gets stuck to a stop by the tendrils, and then, before he can do much else than raise his arms in front of him to stop the onslaught, he reaps the whirlwind.
Roy gets hammered again and again by Zero. He doesn't go back much at first, even as the impacts slam into his arms and chest over and over again. His right leg shakes as the cumulative effect of the withering blows start to add up. He's seeing stars.
The uppercut slams into his head. Roy is blasted across the top of the fuselage, sailing along it. He flies over the battle between Terry and Igniz, slams down into the floor just inside the cockpit. This is almost the same place he found himself before.
Roy spits some blood out of his mouth. "This sucks," he says to himself, having to struggle more to pull himself back up to his feet. "But I won't stop until I've busted out Rock!"
Roy throws his left fist back, chi fire rushing around his knuckles as he powers it down into the floor. The metal plates on the ground bend and break as he unloads with the fan-favorite Touchdown Wave. It slams through the plane, roaring by Terry and Igniz on its way to Zero.
If he can't get to that door, he'll blow it off its damn hinges.
"You don't hand him over, that's your choice. But you're not gonna like the result." A slow grin starts to pull at Terry's lips as Igniz goes flying backwards through the seating. He's not about to let the boss get away quite that easily, though. The older of the two Americans comes rishing afterwards, following the trail of golden light over that once-fine leather seating, now nothing more than a pile of rubbish. As he hops over, the right hand lifts high once again while still in mid-air, and as gravity brings Terry back to the ground, his hand comes with it.
For a second time, his knuckles slam into the ground right in front of Igniz. Where the previous attack was large, this is overwhelming in comparison. A sudden torrent of energy focuses at Terry's knuckles in a brief, fierce outpouring, golden chi assaulting Igniz with all the force of a Mack truck trying to slam into him at 60 miles an hour. The entire room is filled with the brief flare-up of energy, illuminating the entire place as Bogard makes an attempt at using Igniz's prone form as a device to open the door to the cargo hold by blowing him right through it.
"POWAH... GEYSAH!"
COMBATSYS: Igniz reflects Power Geyser from Terry with Nega Genesis.
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Roy 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
Assuming Igniz is vulnerable just because he is prone can be a mistake. The CEO of NESTS looks up from his position, lifting himself up by force of will (and boatloads of chi) upright once more. He begins to float again just as Terry slams down, the flar of golden light smashing through the room and wrecking a good deal of very expensive wood paneling, wine, and integrated entertainment systems. Dammit, how's he going to watch the in-flight movie now? However, the chi blast stops cold before Igniz, this time the golden light crackling and popping as it is caught in a black void of roiling chi. Where he tried once and failed, this time Igniz has succeeded. Igniz's eyes narrow upon Terry, and he chuckles. "You seem rather sure of yourself. But then, Americans always are. Oh, but I believe this belongs to you." His hands twist, and the ambient chi flows suicide, detonating in a burst of energy and causing the golden light to recoil back towards Terry, mingled with the white-gray of his own.
Meanwhile, the guards are totally not getting involved in this shiz. They know a serious fight when they hear one.
COMBATSYS: Roy successfully hits Zero with Touchdown Wave.
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Roy 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
Speedy recovery time, the young Roy has, and it seems that recovery time has -finally- managed to catch Zero off-guard. Gray eyes watch impassively as Roy is knocked straight through the air, his left hand clasping against the small of his back as he awaits whatever should come next. He expects another attempt at a physical blow from Roy, another sudden burst of physical power --
And that sets him off-balance for the actual attack that comes. Chi screeches across the ground, flying free on a path that lances -straight- for Zero. A single hand lifts, in order to intercept the blow that flies his way. But... he's just a second too slow. That hand comes up a split second -after- that wave of chi crashes through his defenses, burning mildly at his chest and face as it whips bodily into him. Though he can't fully guard the attack, he still serves as a sufficient blocker for the door to the cargo room: chi blazes into him, but goes no further.
Pushed back only a single step by Roy's attack, Zero considers the assault silently for a moment, before he comments, simply: "Inefficient." As soon as the statement is made, Zero sweeps downward, clutching a simple piece of metal debris that had rained down from Terry and Roy's impact. And in one, ultimately -simple- gesture... he hurls it -forward-, aiming to strike Roy across the head with that small, deadly chunk of metal.
The entire plane is being battered like a tank through a minefield. Rock Howard knows that this has to either be a result of someone trying to rescue him (yay!) or Shadaloo for some reason starting a war outside the airstrip (boo!). Either way, with the explosion of the Power Geyser through the front half of the aircraft, Rock is jarred loose enough that he gets his mouth free of the bondings. He can see the warping of the cargo hold wall as the chi power spills into it. The overhead flourescent lights have started to flicker.
Rock swallows a huge gulp of air. He exhales and stares straight up at the ceiling. "HELLO!?" he yells, willing his voice to be as loud as possible. He doesn't care who comes through the door so long as they're willing to unstrap him from the bondings. He's starting to feel like the guy at the end of Pulp Fiction. "HELLO!? CAN ANYONE HEAR ME! I'M IN THE CARGO HOLD!" He starts shaking his body against the bondings, metal rack scraping some on the metallic floor with those metallic whistle scrapes. "HEEEELLLLOOO!"
COMBATSYS: Zero successfully hits Roy with Thrown Object.
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Roy 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
This genuinely sucks, Roy thinks. Why does he always go up against these guys? Why can't /he/ be the guy who smashes through everyone in his path without getting more than a couple bad contact burns? Alas, this is not Roy's life. He's starting to worry that he's not going to be able to get to Rock in time to be of much help.
"ROCK!" Roy yells, as the piece of metal flies through the air. He swings his fist out and punches it to stop it from striking him in the face, the banging noise indicating just how hard it was tossed at him. He stumbles back again. This hurts like hell.
"STAY THERE!" Roy helpfully shouts. Instead of running at Zero again, Roy dives out of the side of the cockpit through the windows they smashed in, scrambling up onto the top of the plane. He starts running back over the roof, trying to figure out how far back the cargo hold would be.
If he's going to do something /stupid/, he may as well be stupid with Rock.
COMBATSYS: Igniz successfully hits Terry with Reflected Power Geyser.
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Roy 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
This is turning into a theme with NESTS. He wields the Power Geyser, and it gets reflected right back at him. For the second time in two fights with one of their personnel, Terry is sent staggering backwards from the force of his own energy being thrown right back at him. He manages to keep his balance, only skittering backwards a couple steps before he's steady again. His brow furrows for a moment, and the grin fades to a neutral look. "Hm." .. then Roy goes off on his own direction. Whether he's going to help Rock, who knows. But with Zero blocking the door, he'll just have to make his own goddamn entryway. A sudden turn and pivot results in Terry charging at the wall, and a hard straight kick results in the elder Bogard punching a hole right through the wall, creating a second portal into the area where Rock is being kept.
COMBATSYS: Terry takes no action.
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Roy 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
COMBATSYS: Roy takes no action.
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Roy 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Zero
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Terry 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
The NESTS leader prepares himself for another exchange of blows, but it seems that Terry has other plans in mind as he kicks down the wall next to the door, punching a hole into it. It's not like that was unexpected, Igniz could do such a thing himself, and Terry is certainly powerful enough to be a reasonable challenge to him. However, if Rock is freed, that could... complicate matters. With a glance to Zero, Igniz launches after Terry, trying to slow him down with a quick flick of the hand. This wouldn't normally be a problem, except that the cape moves to pick up a broken chair and hucks it after the American. "So you care about him after all. Well, I can't let it be /easy/, can I?" He chuckles.
So... they're both retreating? There's only a brief moment of curiosity that flashes across Zero's mind as he watches first Roy, who instead of re-engaging Zero, sees fit to make a run towards the roof of the plane. Zero's strategy shifts, then; he does not attempt to -pursue- Roy, mainly due to the fact that he is not as great a threat... even if he were to manage to release Rock Howard from their grasp. So, instead of going after Roy, Zero shifts to the larger threat: Terry Bogard.
While Igniz seems to be developing the upperhand between himself and the Legendary Wolf, Zero knows that with such a man, it is best to take him out as swiftly as possible. With the jingle of those sharp metal teeth that line his skirt, Zero twists... just in time to see Terry be struck with that sudden surge of his own energy. He grips the edge of his cape, preparing to launch an assault on Bogard --
--Except he is fleeing, too. White brows furrow, watching as Terry runs forward in an attempt to puncture another opening to the cargo hold. Much like Igniz, though, Zero has no real interest in seeing Terry reunite with Rock Howard -- Roy is an entirely different story. Rather than let the man get away, however, Zero reciprocates as quickly as Igniz does; in a simple motion, the NESTS VP flicks his wrist outward, making a simple leap at the same time. His cape flows outward, expanding to impossible lengths as those metallic teeth seek to sink -into- Terry, and drag in an unpleasant sweep across his back.
Rock and Roy have been stupid many times. They've had great luck in the adventure column being stupid. They've had experiences they'll be able to tell their grandchildren's grandchildren. It's the stuff of legends being built. It's the stuff dreams are made of. But for Rock to have any grandchildren's grandchildren to tell the tale of the time Roy Bromwell drove an ATV into a multimillion dollar private aircraft, he needs to meet a girl. NESTS doesn't have any.
Kula Diamond does not count as a girl.
"ROY?!" Rock yells, having barely heard his friends voice calling for him. He yanks on his straps again, forcing the metal rack to grind another half an inch forward from the cargo hold wall. He doesn't let himself think about type of completely batshit insane stuff Roy had to do to track him down to an unmarked landing field somewhere in Thailand. That's worth at least another twelve trips to Johnny Rockets. "I'M IN HERE!"
Two seconds later, the wall warps and then cleaves open -- chunks of metal slinking off it after the tremendous bellow of Terry Bogard's legendary fists. Laid bare to the mayhem in the other half of the plane, Rock's eyes widen. Is that Terry Bogard? Roy got /Terry Bogard/ to come rescue him!? There is only one thing Howard can do: yell with suitable awe. "...Terry!"
At this point, Rock has a level of Johnny Rocket's debt to Roy that will be paid off a couple years after his death. The debt will move down through generations until, at some point in the future, a Howard will finally be out of the Johnny Rocket's hole with a Bromwell. Maybe. If Roy gets Rock a girl, forget it. Johnny Rocket's forever.
"I'M COMING ROCK!" Roy yells. He barrels across the top of the plane, trying to estimate where Rock is located. Less of a threat? LESS OF A THREAT?! He'll show /you/ less of a threat Mister Zero sir. He'll show you way less of a threat.
American flag cape still flapping behind him, Roy leaps up high into the air, flying over the back of the plane. He somersaults as he starts charging up a burst of chi, dropping back down toward the plane fists first like Superman. Roy roars as he zooms downward, almost hitting terminal velocity as he slams through the top of the plane, exploding down into the cargo bay...
... and embedding himself about halfway into the floor five feet away from Rock, shoulders just above the floor.
"Ow."
COMBATSYS: Terry endures Igniz's Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Roy 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Terry 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
COMBATSYS: Terry endures Zero's Ouga.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Roy 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Terry 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
While Terry is busy punching the living hell out of the wall, both of the NESTS executives have turned their attentions to him. And fists continue to rain against the wall until he looks over his shoulder to see both of them coming right at him. "I'll cover you, Roy, GET HIM OUT OF THERE!" And, with that, the ponytailed American turns to focus his attention behind him once more. Roy can deal with things in there just fine.
The chair comes hurtling at him from one side, and the teeth from Zero's cape come lashing out at him from the other. One shoulder drops down, and he simply charges right into both. The chair breaks further against his side, and the teeth bite right into him, but he continues to push right into the middle of the two cape-wearers. And with the relative location to both Igniz and Zero, only one thing comes to mind. Both hands suddenly flare brightly, illuminating the passenger cabin once more as they raise towards the ceiling. "I'll buy you some time!" And just as quickly, both hands descend quickly, slamming into the floor for a third time. As compared to before, though, the energy is more distributed across the cabin, filling the entire room with a vicious, abrupt explosion of pure Bogard chi.
"POOOWAAAAAH GEEEYYYYYSAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Igniz endures Terry's Power Geyser.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Roy 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Terry 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Igniz
Roy jackknifes back to his feet, pulling himself out of the floor. He's gotten mangled up pretty good from the earlier exchanges, but he's still mobile. That's all he needs.
Roy moves up and busts up Rock's restraints, bashing the apparatus up so that Rock can pull himself free. "We gotta get out of here!" Roy says, as he gets the restraints free.
Zero has it right. Terry Bogard is not a man to be underestimated. The leader of NESTS has always known this, and has had the lesson repeatedly driven into him through the course of this sudden, rampant battle. Terry believes that he is going to buy Roy some time, however, and in the face of the NESTS leader, a dark, cruel fury can be seen awakening.
Igniz approaches, treading forward with the inevitable stride of an angry god. Terry expedites this by charging into the pair and unleashing that Bogard chi. The Power Geyser flares, filling the cabin with yet another detonation and rendering expensive furnishings into waste. Igniz is enveloped in the brilliant light, fading from view against the surge of power.
But Igniz no longer cares about the furnishings, the plane, or even Rock. He cares about only one thing: Making Terry Bogard pay. A scorched, torn, white-gloved hand reaches out, grabbing Terry and hoisting him upwards. Flashing eyes stare into Terry's face as the NESTS CEO brings him close, even as the chi lashing around him cuts into his body, and he hisses, his voice as clear as death throughout the cabin and beyond. "Time...? Your time, I'm afraid, has run out, Terry Bogard... Idion Blade."
The wind whips up around Igniz, and with a detonation of gray-white, purifying light, the space before Igniz erupts into a wall of destruction, pulsing outwards in countless spires of coruscating, obliterating force. The wall between the cabin and storage area is shattered, and if Terry is unlucky, Roy and Rock might just get to see Terry traveling down and through the length of the plane... The hard way.
COMBATSYS: Terry successfully hits Zero with Power Geyser.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Roy 1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Terry 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Igniz
And here is where the reasoning for Zero's judgement comes into play; the white-haired NESTS executive does not make -foolish- or -stupid- judgments, after all. The raw power that rips out from all around Terry in the form of that painfully golden light. The explosion comes fast, but it's not an unexpected tactic. Expectance cannot equal to the strength and speed of the incoming attack, however, and as it speeds towards Zero, his arms lift up to defend against the torrential storm...
... only to find himself swiftly -overpowered- by it. That burst of golden energy overcomes his guard with relative ease and consumes him in the wake of a fiery storm of power, sending him launching straight through the air and landing HARSHLY against the wall leading to the cockpit. Metal dents in further from his impact, the wall threatening to give in; it manages to hold, somehow, and a smoking Zero eventually detaches from his Zero Indentation in the wall, coming to a landing on his knees. The man takes in a deep breath, and looks up to see Igniz's sudden, brutal assault.
"... Divert power to recuperative functions," Zero speaks aloud, seemingly to no one; yet unseen by the naked eye, his own battlesuit begins to work on repairing his injuries, nanomachines injected in the bloodstream to help gather reserves of power in preparation. It'll soon be time to deal with the two intruders on this plane -- if Terry is even standing after Igniz's purifying power is through with him. The NESTS second-in-command, for now, simply takes a small moment of his time... to heal.
COMBATSYS: Zero gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Roy 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Terry 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Igniz
Rock breaks his Terry reverie when suddenly Roy is embedded in the floor to Rock's side. Howard stares at Bromwell for a few seconds. He blinks once and then twice. He opens his mouth. He closes it. He opens it. "Damn good rescue, sir," he finally says, with a wry grin and a struggled nod considering the binding straps.
A moment later, Rock's blinded by the burst of the Power Geyser. The light spills through the plane, exploding out the small round windows lining the hull. Through it, Rock clenches his jaw, trying to make Roy near his side out. He yanks at his bindings again, shaking the metal gurney. "I think this is where you get these gimp straps off me, man!"
The second wash of energy spawned from Igniz sweeps across the chamber. "Terr--" Rock's voice is swallowed by the sounds of the Idion Blade.
The Guards? Oh yeah. They're totally nowhere near the plane anymore. Don't need to worry about them.
COMBATSYS: Terry just-defends Igniz's Idion Blade!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Roy 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Terry 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Igniz
COMBATSYS: Rock has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Roy 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Igniz
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/------=|
"My time is up?"
Terry's hands are still glowing as he starts to straighten up, wisps of chi flickering off the tips of his fingers. With Zero off to one side, his attention is on Igniz, just in time to hear the words 'Idion Blade'. Both hands snap up in front of him, and the chi starts to gather once again. At what would be the precise initial moment of impact, what almost appears to be a half-dome of pure golden energy surrounds him, flaring brighter with each pulse of what would almost be overwhelming energy. And as the Idion Blade fades off, Terry is left standing there, with the entire wall behind him destroyed save for that small area that was protected by the dome. And then? Terry just grins. "Nah. I think I've got a couple minutes left, at least. Rock! Roy! Let's send 'em packing!"
From the doorway to the cabin, Terry breaks into a sudden run towards Igniz, charging straight for him. He lowers one shoulder down, trying to barrel past arm's reach and slam right into the battle-caped executive. Should he make contact, he'll squat down just a little, shoving Igniz up off the ground as he pushes up into a short hop, as high as the plane's ceiling will allow. He'll throw his body around in a quick circle, then, and drive a blue-glowing fist right down into the chest of the battle suit.
COMBATSYS: Igniz fails to reflect Power Dunk from Terry with Nega Genesis.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Roy 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/----===|
The sight of Terry negating the incomprehensible chi power of an angry Igniz is a sight to behold. There probably isn't going to be a plane left by the end of this. As Terry charges him, the NESTS CEO prepares to turn the assault aside, but Terry's clearly America-infused attack plows into Igniz, shattering his battlearmor as he is plowed into, lifted, and slammed into the ground. The subsequent fist impact shatters the floor, leaving Igniz cratered into the runway below the creaking, increasingly-unstable plane. The CEO gasps from the pain, looking up at Terry with anger in his eyes. "Do not... expect this to be the end."
// Recuperation process... complete. //
The mechanical humming voice feeding information directly to Zero's brain ushers in the completion of his restoration cycle. This is just in time for Zero to see the sudden expulsion of chi that rends into Igniz so violently -- the way Terry so easily deals with Igniz's massive assault. He frowns. Slowly, Zero stands, making a slow walk towards Roy, Terry and Rock. His gray eyes narrow, looking between the two 'American Fighters.'
"This has become more complex than intended. We may jeapordize other plans if we linger here any longer." And Howard's value, to Zero, is not worth that of their plans. Zero comes to a stop just beside the floored Igniz as he speaks, taking a firm grip onto his cape as he stares at Terry thoughtfully.
"I would suggest we prepare to depart."
As Zero speaks, he launches himself forward, seeking to SLAM his fist into Terry's stomach in a simple body-blow. Direct, but fast; meant to undo his footing, unbalance Terry -- and give Igniz room to recuperate. "Hmph!"
Roy winces as the explosive Power Geyser roars perilously close to him. "CRAP IN A HAT," he declares, pulling at the straps to break Rock out of the restraints. Once Rock is freed, Roy's next instinct is to make a break for it. But ...
The voice in the back of his head stops him cold. He reflects on what he has learned to this point. Sure, he could run off. Rock and Roy could escape. But Terry Bogard is there, still fighting two of the baddest dudes Roy has had the displeasure of meeting. Terry could be captured or worse if he just leaves.
The flag on his back floats around him, brushing his arm. Roy looks down to it, then back at Zero. "These colors ... /don't run/!" Roy booms, balling his fists. "ROCK! LET'S DO THIS!"
Roy reflects on what they did to Rock to rally his fighting spirit. They beat him up and chained him to a bondage rack. (Why doesn't this stuff happen to Tiffany? Huh? Huh? You have no answers.) They might have done some sort of horrible thing to him. For that matter, who are these guys? Why are they doing this?
You know what? Screw that. Roy doesn't need to know who they are. The only thing he needs to know is that this plane, and everything on it, is history.
"AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!" Roy yells, using a rare f-bomb to set up his outburst of power. That's all the warning Terry gets to get out of the way. Roy slams his fists down onto the ground and unloads with a Super Touchdown. Three waves of chi, each one stronger than the last, roar out of Roy in a crash course toward the NESTS leaders. The chi rips through the plane, leaving devastation and ruin in its wake. The windows blow out, the lights explode, and all the apolstery gets throughly owned. There can only be one! Except for all the other techniques on this plane that look just like it. Details!
Rock tears himself free of the restraints with a satisfying series of ripping noises. Setting a foot down, the blood suddenly shoots through Rock's extremities, causing him to stumble. He braces a hand against one of the cargo hold's still standing walls until his equilibrium restores. Being a professional fighter, it only takes a few seconds. "Yeah," Rock says, eyeing Roy sidelong through his blond hair. "I..." Rock's eyes harden and his jaw sets. His mind flashes with the white hot memory of his captivity. "I will make them pay!"
Roy leads the path. He cuts the path through the plane. He's the ambulance and Rock is the crazy cab driver drafting behind it through New York City. He's not going to be stopped. His feet glide across the debris; the rent steel, the overturned metal chunks, and the shattered glass of the somehow still standing aircraft. He doesn't know who Igniz is but he knows the other man. As Zero turns on his mentor, Rock Howard can only think of one thing.
His anger.
Blitzing through the threshold to the CEO Chambers a half a second behind the last of the Touchdown waves, Rock slams a toe down into the floor and leaps into the air. He comes at the Vice President from the side, his right hand curled back into a swirling fist. Chi swallows it in a golden glow, one that ratchets outward as Howard enters Zero's airspace and sends his knuckles forward in full extension; promise of pain meant for the dead center of the Mustached Man's never yielding face.
COMBATSYS: Terry just-defends Zero's Jagai Kusetsu!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Roy 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Igniz
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/----===|
With Roy bringing the harshness from the cargo bin, and then Rock's following charge, Terry only has a scant moment to get the hell out of the way. He can feel the sudden increase of chi in the air, just before the devestation of the Super Touchdown starts to obliterate things. Then, in comes Zero, just as quickly. That sudden strike for his stomach is answered only scant inches from his stomach, left hand coming down to deflect the blow at the wrist and send it breezing right by his side. "Leaving already?" A grin pulls at his lips now as he uses the momentum of pushing Zero's fist away to skitter off to one side, away from the assaults of the two coming from the cargo hold. As the Super Touchdown fades, then, Terry pushes forward once more, literally vaulting right /over/ Rock's charge, leaping over him on a path to bring himself back over to Igniz. "Then accept a parting gift!" As the leap arcs, Terry starts to lower his shoulder down, spinning around 180 degrees in mid-air to bring his legs over his head. His leading foot flares up with a blue glow, matching the Power Dunk from before as he tries to just roll into the kick and slam the side of his foot into Igniz's face.
"CRACK SHOT!"
COMBATSYS: Igniz endures Roy's Super Touchdown.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Roy 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Igniz
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Igniz endures Terry's Crack Shoot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Roy 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Igniz
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
Rock has been freed, which changes the dynamics of the battle considerably. Roy's Super Touchdown waves (where has he seen that before?) are bad enough, but Terry sees the need to make a point.
Very well, they seem to have earned it. The Touchdown Waves slam into Igniz, bashing him backwards and using the NESTS leader to batter the hole in the floow wider, dragging it back with him as he is blasted farther to the front of the plane. Terry's followup is the icing on the cake, as the NESTS leader, unable to do much more than what he has, is blasted out through the front of the plane, to collapse in a rent, tattered heap of black robes and shattered armor. Upon one knee on the tarmac he glared, chi roiling around him.
He will not be mocked.
"Your colors may not run, but THEY CAN BURN! CHAOS..." Igniz summons up his power, and with a shattering crash of thunder, a tidal wave of crackling beams of energy rise up, carving into the plane and methodically slicing the trashed vehicle in half lengthwise. There is one small problem, though.
Terry happens to be in the way.
His anger, and energy spent, Igniz finally slumps over. Maybe, just maybe, today is not such a good day, Igniz reflects.
COMBATSYS: Igniz can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/-----==|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Zero just-defends Roy's Super Touchdown!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/-----==|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Zero with Rage Run Dunk.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Zero
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/-----==|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
Leaving already?
"We are not ones to work against the furthering of our goals, Mr. Bogard."
A calm, unnerving statement delivered with a tone as lifeless as Zero's expression, the mysterious NESTS Vice-President leaves it at that, seeing content to make their leave. Terry, Rock and Roy seem to have other ideas, however. His own blow deftly brushed aside by the Bogard, Zero watches impassively as Terry... moves -past- him towards Igniz. He does not attempt to pursue, knowing that his superior can take care of himself. Now, however, is time for measures for retreat...
... but Roy seems to wish to make that all the more difficult. Watching as the young man's attack comes bursting in, in a manner most similar to one of the others here today, Zero's response is simple. Much like before, he lifts a single hand, presenting it towards the oncoming, surging wave of power.
"It is clear you are still unrefined in this technique. Am I mistaken?"
As soon as Zero says this, the Super Touchdown strikes... something invisible, something scant feet from Zero's hand. The wave that strikes him begins to disperse across this invisible barrier of artificially produced chi like waves against the shoreline, fading harmlessly from all around the white-haired man. He says nothing more afterwards--
--Perhaps, because he doesn't have time. Not a second afterward, Rock is flinging himself -forward-, propelled by rage and power. The blow strikes -cleanly- and -unpleasantly-, SLAMMING into the center of Zero's chest with more force than he would have anticipated. It launches him backwards in a short jump, landing on his feet in a stumble only a scant few feet behind Igniz, just as the man releases that tidal wave of fury. Zero's response? Is simple. And one Rock should recognize.
He seeps the heat straight out of the air.
Heat, warmth, everything is sucked out of the summer air from all around them in an instant, leaving only bone-chilling cold to such a degree that one could see the very vapors of their breathing. The reason why comes in a single white shard, nursed in the palm of Zero's hand. In a simple gesture, the man lifts his hand into the air, palm facing him... and then CLENCHES his hand into a fist, shattering that eerie white shard. What occurs next is an eruption of power, creating a swirling black vortex of otherworldly might in the palm of Zero's hand, crackling with violet electricity. From all around Terry, Roy and Rock, a series of dark orbs of blistering black and white chi appear, and begin a sudden, swirling RUSH towards the portal created by Zero. Those orbs of chilling power seek to crash into all of the three gathered here over and over, slamming into them repeatedly with a sickeningly alien sensation.
And as all this occurs? Zero simply swoops down, to help Igniz onto his feet and begin a path -away- from Terry, Rock and Roy. A cadre of guards in a large black van wait just beyond. Their destination is there, to make a simple escape.
This battle is over.
COMBATSYS: Roy endures Zero's Hakura Messhou.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Zero
[ \\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
Roy's power blasts out across the plane. He burns through most of his immediately accessible chi that way, finding himself all but spent afterward. He's taken a lot of direct hits in this short battle, but the important thing is that he managed to get Rock out of the bondage rack and back in action.
Zero talks or something. Roy doesn't really understand what he says, as his ears are ringing from the echo of his Super Touchdown. It's likely something like 'your kung fu is not strong'. Roy inserts that whenever he can't figure out what the heck somebody's telling him. His answer in that case can be an assertive 'NO U' and life can go on as normal. Roy doesn't think it's going to matter anyway, because Rock's in action. Zero gets knocked around. Yeah, baby, yeah!
Roy suddenly feels the room go cold. Oh crap, he thinks, am I going into shock? But it isn't shock. It's worse. It's some sort of attack. Zero unloads with the mouth of Hell itself. Roy's eyes widen, teeth locking together automatically. Oh man, there's no way to get out of the way of that!
Roy crosses his arms in front of him and squats down as the darkness hammers into him. The orbs beat against him again and again, exploding across his body with these horrible feelings of cold and darkness. He screws his eyes shut and focuses on all the goodness he can think of. America. His mom. His family. His home. His friends -- Boman, Tiffany, Rock. The need for him to survive. The look in Mike Haggar's eyes as he won that battle in Metro City.
"I won't stop!" Roy yells, as the spheres keep hitting him. "I won't ever give up on -- on my friends!"
Inner strength wells up in Roy as the attack reaches its crescendo. Roy starts to advance, leaving deep footprints in the floor as he takes one step forward, then another, pushing away from the swirling vortex. "Rock! Terry! WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS! BELIEVE IN YOURSELVES!"
Roy pushes through the last of the orbs. He staggers through them, stumbling down to his knees afterward. Roy slams his hands down on the wrecked floor of the plane, not able to continue his pursuit of Zero and Igniz. They'll get away if he's the only one who can chase them.
COMBATSYS: Rock endures Zero's Hakura Messhou!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Zero
[ \\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
Rock has experienced this before. It's the manuever that put him in this situation before. There is really no way to escape the creeping darkness. There is only the pain it will bring. Rock looks to the side. Half of the plane is gutted and missing. The floor is bending dangerously towards the runway below, torn open by their Power Dunks and Touchdown Waves. There is no nosecone left and the cargo hold behind them is ripped apart courtesy of Roy.
It's a miracle the wheels are still supporting it. But as the cold creeps back into Rock's heart, he locks his attention on Terry Bogard. He finds his solution. The only way to can deal with the promise of pain is to take it and be a tough enough son of a bitch that you're still standing when it goes away. Because, as Rock learned so many years ago, training with Geese Howard... Pain is temporary.
The sensation is familiar. The dark power burns through every fiber of his being. Just when he wants to succumb to it, falling down to a knee as more and more dark power pounds against him, Roy's cry reaches his ears. Resolution flows into Rock's chest. It feels like a spicy Thai dinner -- one of those dinners he'll owe the Bromwell family for the next twenty years.
Rock thrusts himself forward. He slams into the next barrage of power. It tears at his clothes; still bloody from his last fight with this man. He comes to the lip of the cloven airplace, his red eyes locked with promise and power onto Zero's retreating form. "Run away," he says with familiar words, chi visibly coiling around his body, his aura flushing with more strength. "Or I'll kill you."
COMBATSYS: Rock takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Zero
[ \\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Roy takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Zero
[ \\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
Yeah, there's not going to be much of a plane left after this. the NESTS leader has already written it off. He'll figure out a way to use this to his advantage some other time. Terry and Roy, as well, will bear further... investigations.
Igniz says nothing. Anything that needs to be said has been said. Zero's assistance is timely, Igniz standing and nodding in quiet thanks to his second in command, and he hurries as best he can to the black van. Rock's warning is unnecessary, Igniz knows when they're in an unrecoverable position (To him, that began about when he was plowed into the pavement through the bottom of the plane). Time to vanish... For now.
Run away, or they'll be killed?
Zero does not pause as he retreats, moving just behind Igniz to act as a defense if any of them gain the foolish notion to follow after. Yet, even as he does, even as his battlesuit shimmers away back into those elegant business clothes, Zero carries a parting farewell; not even deigning to look over his shoulder as he speaks the words: "Do not grow to overconfident in your capacities. You have much room to grow yet... and you are not on any level to be able to kill either of us, Rock Howard."
His voice calm and just as matter-of-fact as it always is, Zero ensures that Igniz makes his way to the black van before following after. No doubt that he and his superior would have lost here due to Rock's interference. But Zero has no doubt in his mind Rock wouldn't -- couldn't -- kill either of them, even if given the means and opportunity. 'Any level' includes all, physical and mental alike.
"Howard is not important to our goals," Zero speaks simply as he and Igniz board the van, driving off from the largely abandoned airstrip and the ruined plane. "However, his potential and his rage make him out to be a potential problem. We can afford to leave him here. His rage will doubtlessly make him a non-issue for some time to come." A simple analysis made as they drive off. Today was not a good day.
But it certainly was an -informative- one.
COMBATSYS: Zero takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Zero
[ \\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Zero has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rock 1/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Rock has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\ <
Roy 0/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Roy has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Terry 0/-------/---====|
Log created on 19:35:48 07/01/2007 by Zero, and last modified on 23:55:28 07/07/2007.