Description: K' and Maxima come to blows!! Is Maxima actually K''s evil twin from another dimension?! What shocking truths does K' have to reveal about his past?! WILL I MAKE A CHEESEY REFERENCE TO LASER CATS IN THE LOG DESCRIPTION?! Find out all this and more in this shocking log that will leave you shocked... like a laser cat laser!!
About half an hour's walk out of Southtown, on a deserted forest path, a derelict Shinto shrine keeps forlorn court in the midst of an open clearing. It's a pleasant place to be, if one isn't bothered by the vaguely melancholic air the rundown shrine exudes; it's quiet, out of the way, and discourages most people from staying all that long.
All perfect qualities, as far as K' is concerned.
The young man sits, slightly slumped, on the steps leading up to the shrine. His back hunched, elbows rested on his knees, one hand-- the ungloved hand-- angles up to cup his chin. He's staring off into space somewhere, and God knows what he's thinking. But whatever it is, he didn't want the company of Southtown's loud and rowdy population while he mulled it over.
Those that don't know K' would just peg him as tired and somewhat grumpy. Bad day, maybe. But those who know him well-- and this number would be pitifully few, if not a mere one or two-- would recognize in an instant that something's troubling him: though to be honest, this isn't a terribly out-of-the-ordinary state of affairs where K' is concerned.
For being an 'abandoned' shrine, the lone Shinto shrine residing within the heart of Southtown's forest isn't all that abandoned.
It's all a matter of word-choice. The shrine had been abandoned by those who tended to it long ago, letting decay and entropy sneak across solid stone and wood. What they left behind was a decrepit meeting ground for titans of combat, an unexpected side-effect of the shrine's unparalleled solitude. For whatever reason, within these rotten, eroded walls... people found their fists inexplicably drawn to one another's faces. For whatever reason, it is a magnet to the inexplicably violent, such as the young man who now sits on the steps of this abandoned sanctuary. People like K', and also--
"Yo, K'. Something on your mind, partner?"
--people of a slightly more amiable nature.
The voice is deep and one that the NESTS experiment should take note of quickly enough; walking down the beaten path, the massive form of Maxima frames the entrance to the shrine, one large, gloved hand splayed in a greeting wave accompanied by a thoughtful smile. In the other hand? A grocery bag, filled with what seems to be cans of soda and two wrapped up subs. Without much word, the Canadian cyborg lumbers forward, lifting up the bag in offering. "Got something for us to eat. Hungry?" Of course, Maxima doesn't really need any of this. But habits die hard.
It's not hard to hear Maxima coming. K' would have noted his approach far in advance of his actual arrival even if he hadn't been specifically 'tailored' to be so perceptive. Even if he hadn't been custom-made. Such thoughts are evanescent, relatively harmless, but K' seizes them and holds onto them a bit longer: like willfully grabbing a knifeblade and ignoring the slicing pain of it. Manufactured. Tweaked for performance. Like getting poured into a mold and then sanded down to perfection.
Disgusting.
His eyes, hidden away behind those shades, flick over to Maxima as the cyborg approaches. The glance is not accompanied by a turn of the head, so it's easy to miss. The young man doesn't move substantially, merely straightening slightly and lowering his upraised hand to let it drape between his knees. For a time, he doesn't answer Maxima's initial query. Instead, he just lets it hang in the air: the promise of a relatively-substantive answer to come later, when K' is good and ready to phrase it verbally.
Mention of food draws a brief grimace from K', just barely visible as a tightening of the jaw. Apparently he isn't much in the mood. "...Later," he demurs. He's silent a few minutes longer, and then he confesses, "...It's always on my mind. Being free." One would expect a look of happiness in conjunction with that brief statement: but instead, a look of startling and ironic bitterness twists his mouth. Unspoken and implicit in that statement is a question: what the hell do I do with -myself-? K' is a boy who has always been sheltered, always told what to do-- even if the environs were otherwise horrific-- and his sudden freedom has dropped a great many new considerations on his head.
He's not hard to miss, either by sight or by sound. The massive man's footfalls land solidly against the stony grounds, bringing with them the heavy thud of thick boots meeting rough ground. The Canadian stands tall over his would-be partner in crime, blinking down at the white-haired man at his seeming lack of reaction. Of course, Maxima knows better; his smile never fades away, just dims after the initial 'greetings' come and go. His right hand slapping against the back of his head, the former NESTS agent simply 'hmms' aloud as he scratches through fine, dark brown hair.
"Being free, huh...?" questioning K''s concerns allowed, Maxima slowly hunches downward. Leather creaks as he places his bad down with a rustle of plastic and the clatter of aluminum cans. "I guess we'll just save those, then," he remarks off-handedly as his dark gaze lifts upwards towards the sky. His arms cross over his chest as Maxima tilts his head to the side, adopting a more thoughtful expression.
"You're worrying about it too much. Be happy; we've managed to live this long, right?" Offering an amused grin in the Beast's general direction, Maxima's shoulders lift in a simple roll, his gaze considering the relatively clear skies above him. "What I would do, if I was experiencing freedom for the first time... is try and see and do as much as I could. You should savor it for as long as you can." A brief pause fills through the space between them, as Maxima looks down towards the sandwiches at his feet. "... We've still got a lot of work to do, after all."
For a moment K' doesn't respond outright; but the fact that he has replied Maxima's query-- honestly, at that-- at all is already impressive enough. Were the man before him anyone -but- Maxima... he wouldn't have said a word. Might even have got pissed off at the intrusion.
Eventually he shakes his head, pushing his ungloved hand through his silver hair and leaving the silky mess hopelessly ruffled. He sits like that for a second, and then finally pushes to his feet: shaking his hair back in place with a sigh and a sardonic curl of his mouth.
"Hard to do much with NESTS breathing down your back." The brief statement is wry, but not cuttingly so. "Though they haven't done much about us yet. Not that I can tell." He lets that hang in the air a while, hands hooked in his pockets and shoulders slightly slumped in thought. Eventually he finally takes off his shades and considers the pair a bit morosely: as if somehow dissatisfied.
In fact, should Maxima have been paying attention... those shades aren't exactly the same ones K' had a couple days ago.
"Did have a couple weird things happen to me out here already, though. People aren't what I expected they'd be like." A long, uncomfortable silence, and then K' admits what he wouldn't to just about anyone else: "...Some girl broke my shades the other day." The bemusement in his voice is almost comical.
NESTS. The word draws a small grimace from the tall Canadian, but little more than that. His arms uncrossing, Maxima looks towards K' at his words, lifting a brow in thought. "Hmmm. Yeah, I guess you're right about that. But that's why we still have work to do." Maxima, at the least, has no intention of leaving them alone -- probably just as much as they'll continue hunting him and K' until they're finally removed.
"Don't get too comfortable about that," Maxima warns. "Even if they haven't made any direct moves against us, they're probably planning something. Those guys don't make a move until they're fully prepared." Despite his own laid back attitude, the cyborg is still unbelievably cautious; given the nature of their opponent and their own limited resources, he can't help but be. "We're going to have to find some new friends."
Dark eyes shift as K' moves, taking into account the shades the white-haired young man now holds in his hands. His brows lift, mouth opening as if to say something -- but is stopped abruptly as the violence-prone rogue agent helpfully explains. "... Hah," easing out a short, amused laugh, Maxima leans in to get a good look at the new sunglasses, squinting closely. "They look better anyway. You should thank that girl." But he's just teasing the other man, grinning as he speaks. Pulling back, the hulking fighter looks towards the shrine, arching a brow. "Southtown is pretty different from most places. A lot of the people who live here are... uh, 'unique,' I guess is the best way to put it. I'm sure that's not the last time this is going to happen." He stops here, silently considering. "Though this is the best place we need to be. The tournaments, and the people... we might be able to find others willing to help us out. And a lot of them respond to requests made with violence." He grins. You should do fine here."
Find new friends. Those words earn a short and mirthless bark of laughter, as K' attempts to picture himself succeeding in any sort of amicable social interaction. Judging by how he's gotten on with the few people he's already run into in Southtown... Yeah. Better leave that stuff to Maxima. It'll be all K' can do to avoid making -enemies-, knowing the silver-haired young man.
He doesn't discount the truth and good sense of all Maxima's saying, though. His head dips in thought and assent alike: recognizing Maxima's experience, at the least, even if he listens to very few other people. "No. I don't plan on getting comfortable anytime soon. Not while they're still around." K''s voice is quiet, but the latent threat of that solid promise lends a certain strength to those words: a strength that does not need volume to make itself known. His voice is heavy, weighted with unremitting, barefaced hatred of the organization that made him what he now is. The look in his eyes is dark with a long-nursed bitterness.
He is quiet then, considering other matters: like the strange population of Southtown. Maxima clarifies several things about the city as well, and K' takes it all in with a certain silence the cyborg might recognize as connoting interest. "Yeah, I've done a couple fights in the city. People looking to keep in shape for the next tournament, I guess. Not like I couldn't use a couple spars to keep in practice-- but it's been hard to dig up a decent challenge so far." As for making connections-- well, K''s lack of reference to that should make it pretty clear that while the boy can help ferret out people who might be useful in a fight... he's going to let the cyborg do the actual social networking.
As for what Maxima has to say about his shades? K''s eyes narrow dangerously, all bemusement gone from his expression as quickly as a bit of paper in a lick of fire, and he shoves the shades into his jacket's inside pocket with an almost-defensive force. "There's nothing to thank," he bites out, irritation printed clear in the way his brows lower unimpressedly. "She was being incredibly annoying. I told her to piss off and she wouldn't have any of it." He pauses, and then grants, "Did have some kind of weird power though. 'Unique.' Like you said."
And Maxima's last statement? It actually elicits some real amusement from K'. He's seen this firsthand. From the scrappiest fighters in the street even down to the girl he met in the park... he's had a lot of people respond to him simply by trying to pick a fight. His opinion on it all? "Best way to do business," K' says coolly, a feral sort of grin cutting briefly across his face.
Of course, this is the way things are likely always going to be; a person's nature can't be changed, and K' is, both by nature and by nurture, a hateful person not prone to socializing. Maxima as always, just accepts it all with a smile. It's just the way K' is, and -- after all -- it's the reason why they work so well together.
"We're going to have to start moving soon. Hit them before they can hit us -- or at least find people who can provide a safe haven for us while we decide what our next move is going to be," saying this all smoothly, Maxima moves past K', moving up to the steps just beyond the shrine itself. "I'll take care of that. I doubt we're the only people in the world that don't like NESTS."
K''s bitterness at his fight and subsequent loss of shades is met with a curious glance, but one accompanied by an entertained sort of grin. "So I guess the two of you didn't become fast friends, eh? That's a shame. She sounds like a nice girl." He leaves it at that, though the mentioning of that 'different' power piques his interest for a second -- if it's not -chi-, then what...?
It's the rogue NESTS agent's earlier words that grasp Maxima's attention firmly for now. The talk of fighters brings the man to turn, hands crossing over the back of his head in a more relaxed position. "No one worth your time so far, huh? This place has a lot of tough people. I'm sure you'll meet some good challenges soon -- maybe you'll even meet some people stronger than you." Maxima mulls over this for a moment, before continuing on easily, "But if you're looking for a challenge... maybe we can throw down. It's been a while since I've had a chance to spar." The cyborg grins, bringing his arms forward to grip his left by the wrist, giving a sidelong glance towards K'. "What do you say? I'll try to go easy on you."
Maxima's good-natured and laid-back attitude is possibly the only thing that makes him capable of standing K'. That, and the fact that K' himself is rather less caustic around Maxima than around other people. The cyborg is right about at least one thing, though; there's no changing the nature of K'. Even if he stays free and unfettered the rest of his life, he'll always carry the mark of having been a lab experiment for nearly fifteen years.
K''s head turns slightly, one eye following Maxima lazily as the man passes by his shoulder. Maxima's teasing speculation about Miu being a 'nice girl' earns a derisive snort from the boy. "Nice? Pff... waste of my time," he declares darkly. Not like he has much else to be occupying his time -with-, but that's a detail he can conveniently leave out.
Like Maxima, he's rather more interested in talk of fighting: real, serious fighting. K' still doesn't turn to face Maxima, but the glance over his shoulder becomes more of a direct look. "So I heard," is his reply. "Probably not known enough in this city to get to any of the tough people yet." A shrug. That is something that can be solved.
In the meantime, however, he can't let himself get rusty: which is why Maxima's offer is a welcome one. The boy's dour look finally cracks at that, the feral grin of a wolf sneaking across his features, and he turns fully around to face the cyborg. He's still slouched in a deceptively relaxed attitude, hands hooked in his pockets, but in truth he's already ready to go. "-Don't- go easy on me," he warns lowly, that grin fading slightly to a more moderated, level smirk. "If you do I'll rip you up just for the insult."
That's the spark that Maxima recognizes. Despite the relatively dour attitude that K' adopts most of the time, behind those shades, within the young man's eyes, there's a spark the cyborg recognized the moment he saw it. That feral spark of defiance. Of pure willpower. Something that'll take him even further than Maxima himself, likely. And seeing it accompanied by that feral grin at the prospect of a fight, Maxima's expression eases into a simple smile. "Heh," he offers in a short chuckle. That's exactly what he needs to see.
"The Saturday Night Fight events. You should try entering the one coming up -- I bet you'll find some people worth your time there." As well as people potentially interested in working with them. Maxima leaves that much unsaid as he adjusts, adopting an almost casual sort of fighting stance. His battle systems power on with the mute hum of machinery inside his body, his gaze on the world changing into one primarily based on numbers and data. It's an odd sensation, but over the many years he's been in NESTS... he's gotten used to it.
"Alright, partner," he begins, hands moving up to his sides and clenching into fists. "Let's see how you can keep up, huh? I'm not going to relent..." And there, Maxima pushes off his right foot, leading a straightforward charge towards K'.
"... for a -second-!!"
His massive bulk moving with surprising speed, Maxima's upper torso twists as he moves, his right hand rearing back. In one solid swing, he brings that massive fist DOWN in a whooosh of air, intent on punching K' straight in the chest like a battering ram. "HMPH!!"
COMBATSYS: Maxima has started a fight here.
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Maxima 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: K' has joined the fight here.
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Maxima 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 K'
COMBATSYS: K' dodges Maxima's Strong Punch.
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Maxima 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 K'
In truth, K' doesn't ever really come alive except in the midst of a fight. It's what he was made to do, what he was raised to do... and to him, just standing around is a stupid waste of time anyway. Why blow so much effort on useless talking when you can just solve things and shut people up with a swift punch to the face?
Right now K' is high-strung and alert despite the slackness of his form, his bared eyes watchful and keen. "I'll remember that," he replies easily, his hands coming out of his pockets. They fist absently, fingers shutting with a crack of knuckles, and then open again into loose claws. "And I'll keep an eye out." The coiling smile that unfolds across his face is arrogant, willful: the sudden change in his demeanor a sure sign that the fire is coming alive within him: stirring at command to be wielded at a moment's notice.
He recognizes Maxima's plunging, powerful first blow as one he emphatically shouldn't stay in the path of in any way or form. He's seen what the man can do. As such he leaps into motion the instant Maxima's fist fires forward, turning his left shoulder towards the cyborg and streaking backwards in a blur of black shadow. Coming to a precise stop off to Maxima's right, he doesn't hesitate an instant before he leaps back forward in a direct and swift kick straight at the cyborg's shoulder.
COMBATSYS: Maxima endures K''s Medium Kick.
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Maxima 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 K'
Oh, that. Maxima had almost forgotten how spry K' could be, how he could create those bursts of speed like a sudden shift of shadows. Almost. As his fist swipes through nothing more than air, the hulking Canadian finds himself having a slightly hard time to recover. The power put forth in the assault brings his fist forward in a complete carry through, forcing him to take another step forward. "Hah!" he exlaims in a short, boisterous bark of laughter. "Just as fast as always."
But he doesn't have too much time for talking, and he knows that. As soon as he turns, K' is already at his side, leaping forward with one booted foot extended. Maxima judges the incoming speed and strength of the attack, and within a simple instant he reacts; jutting -forward-, Maxima actually moves into K''s attack to meet him head on and preempt the attack. The white-haired flame user's foot impacts sharply against Maxima's shoulder, causing him to shift to the side...
... yet his forward charge doesn't stop. Instead, he subconsciously diverts power through his largely mechanical body into his right leg, sending the mass of leather-encased cybernetic metal flying forward in a blur. The intent is simple: to ram his knee right into K''s gut, with force enough to launch the man right off and away from him.
COMBATSYS: K' blocks Maxima's Light Kick.
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Maxima 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 K'
K''s immense potential for bursts of speed is something he has long since incorporated into his fighting style, a style which calls to mind the way in which big cats will almost literally dance around their prey, springing in to deliver quick and punishing blows before leaping back out. Maxima's acknowledgement isn't verbally replied, but the boy does grin ferally as he skids back. He's already preparing the followup.
Maxima tanks right through the blow. It's something K' might have expected. The unexpected jar that is produced by Maxima's motion -into- the blow offbalances K' somewhat, and when he drops lightly back to the ground it's in a way that makes it hard to simply dodge the cyborg's next blow.
K' coils, arms crossing before him and stance strengthening, intending to block the blow. He manages to take the edge off the strike and avoid having the wind knocked right out of him, but the power behind it is too considerable for him to stay on his feet. He flies backwards as anticipated, but the fact he was prepared for such an eventuality renders him able to twist agilely in the air: flipping to land on his feet.
He's not still long before he goes on the offensive again. He pounces forward again in a powerful leap, seemingly intent on keeping his partner on his toes: at the very end of his lunge, he lashes a harsh snapkick at Maxima's chest.
COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Maxima with Minutes Spike.
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Maxima 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 K'
K' has always been the fast one. Even with his cybernetic enhancements, Maxima finds himself hardpressed to keep up with the younger fighter. Not that it keeps him from fighting, or even truly hinders him... but it does set up the cyborg rather poorly for K''s stronger, faster techniques.
Feeling his own surge of motion and force deftly blocked, Maxima pulls forward, intent on pressing his offensive. K', however, has different plans, and in a blur of motion the white-haired fugitive is lunging forward once more. He moves too fast for Maxima to properly respond to in time, and while he attempts to muster a guard to the flame-user's assault, he finds himself slammed quite thoroughly in the chest by that sudden snapping kick. It strikes clean, though the effect is much like kicking a wall of steel -- not that it doesn't still affect Maxima. "Hngh--!"
Struck with enough force that he finds himself staggering back two or three steps, Maxima merely smiles mutely in the aftermath of the blow. Before long, he is moving again. His massive frame surging forward in an onrush of dark blue leather, Maxima swings his right fist forward in what would appear for all intents and purposes to be a vicious hook punch. Yet, as that fist descends upon K', there is a distinct, mechanical clicking sound -- a whirl of motors as Maxima's wrist literally EXPANDS, revealing a series of wrist cannons.
It's only a second before Maxima's fist should connect that K' will find himself blasted by a surge of highly pressurized steam, carrying with it far more force than any punch ever could.
COMBATSYS: K' interrupts Vapour Cannon from Maxima with Claw Bites.
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Maxima 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 K'
K' lands deftly from his snapkick, his entire ankle and leg stinging from the sheer effect of kicking a man like Maxima quite that hard. The young clone bites back a wince as his weight falls on the leg in question, but he pushes the pain out of his mind for the time being. There are more important things that require his immediate attention.
Such as the fist heading right for his face.
K' braces, preparing to leap out of the way-- but then the sudden *click* alerts him to the fact that something else is going on. The instant's hesitation is long enough for the blast of steam to catch him right in the face and shoulders, knocking him back a pace and giving him exactly one second in which to react before Maxima's real blow connects.
Unable to see, half-stunned by the impact of that compressed steam, K' reacts on pure instinct. Fire lights in his hands, surging about his wrists in a sudden burst of intense flame, and K' claws brutally forward in an upwards lunge: both hands seeking to impact searing fire against the cyborg and knock aside his attack.
Oh, that technique.
Ow.
Maxima sees the attack coming before it can actually connect, but he fails to manage to -deal- with it. Already in mid-swing, there is no way to halt himself and muster a defense. And so, K' strikes into him roughly, halting the Vapour Cannon prematurely and giving the massive cyborg a faceful of fire. So, so much fire.
The force of the attack is such that it actually manages to launch Maxima's entire body into the air, all five hundred pounds of steel and flesh going airborne for a few short feet before he lands in a stagger. His flesh around his face is singed, though his outfit still seems to be as pristine as it ever was. Still, despite the brutality of the last assault? Maxima grins, wiping away a small trail of blood before he rolls his neck. "... ow."
This time, though? This time, Maxima doesn't come directly at K'. He waits, his eyes seeing what others do not; analyzing the environment all around them, looking for anything to use to his advantage... and preparing for his next move. "Lucky shot," he banters. "Next one... I'm going to come at you hard."
COMBATSYS: Maxima focuses on his next action.
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Maxima 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 K'
Grinning savagely despite the pain radiating through his leg and his jaw, K' shakes hair out of his eyes and stays standing right where he is. The fire sheathing his forearms roars loudly, blazing high, and then quenches as K' opens and loosens his hands from their tense and clawlike curl. His arms are trembling slightly from the sheer power necessary to put the cyborg into the air: K' rolls his shoulders, cracking his neck, and stills their shaking after a second.
"Come then," K' replies promptly, his eyes fixed on Maxima. A crooked smirk flickers across his face. "You owe me for that one..."
The young clone does not stir. He simply watches closely, perhaps curious as to the full range of Maxima's abilities: all of which he has yet to quite see.
COMBATSYS: K' focuses on his next action.
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Maxima 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 K'
The reaction is probably a bit unexpected, but it still causes Maxima to smile. K' is being more cautious, he sees; a fact evident in how he waits now instead of charging blindly forward. It's good. In Maxima's head, he takes note of how the young man is growing now. Adopting his fighting stance once more, Maxima gathers all the necessary data that he needs. Eyes closing, he gives a short nod. "You want to see it? Alright, but don't complain if it's too much for you...!"
Of course, K''s growth is no reason for Maxima to even halt -briefly- in his ongoing assault of the young man. Within minutes, something happens; compartments open up in his boots, expand. Revealing a series of rocket boosters, Maxima says nothing as artificial chi suddenly streams into the launchers, igniting them with life. Flares of chi and power ERUPT from beneath his feet, -launching- the massive cyborg so high into the air he becomes nothing more than a vague dot. It may seem like Maxima has simply blasted off. Run away, perhaps. But K' knows better. And soon enough..
"... BuuuustaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
Maxima is propelling straight down towards K' like a steel meteor, artificially generated chi burning all around him as he seeks one target: K'. To land into him like a cyborg missile, with such strength and power that no matter WHERE he connects... the entire area -explodes- in a rain of chi and debris, depressing the ground inward in an immense crater.
BOOM.
COMBATSYS: K' dodges Maxima's Bunker Buster.
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Maxima 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 K'
A bit unexpected. But not out of the realm of possibility. K' has his moments where he seems utterly berserk: completely devoid of reason or logic. Most often, those are the times when his short and violent temper has been set off somehow, and he's not thinking about anything but blood. Maxima would be disappointed to find this is actually still a regular occurrence. But when K' has got the presence of mind for it, he can fight with the craftiness of a snake: weaving through blows, circling his opponent, possessed of the brutal patience of an animal.
Besides, it's not as if he hasn't learned a couple things from Maxima himself.
As for the attack-- K' -hasn't- seen this before. And he's perhaps a little overly jumpy because of it. The instant Maxima goes up, K' -knows- he's coming down one way or another. And he can venture a guess as to where he'll be pointed when he eventually does.
K' moves immediately, backpedaling and then blurring rapidly to one side in a narrow dodge. He's almost too late to avoid the brunt of the attack: the cyborg impacts mere feet away, and the resultant explosion pitches K' right off his feet again. The kid takes a tumble off to the left, eventually skidding to a stop on his back some distance away. And for a few moments, he just lies there.
"...Damn." The comment comes eventually, the word tailed by a cough as K' gets up and shakes off dust like a dog. He closes back in, somewhat warily, before attacking quickly with an aerial kick and another remark: "Remind me never to -ask- for that again."
COMBATSYS: Maxima endures K''s Light Kick.
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Maxima 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 K'
Well, shucks.
That didn't go to plan at all.
Maxima recognizes whe his planned method of attack doesn't quite blow over as he expected it too. Instead, he slams into ground instead of K', thge explosoin digging up a thick wall of dust and dirt. Coughing, The Canadian comes to a stand in the aftermath, uprighting himself in the dead-center of the massive crater now made just beyond the entrance to the shrine.
He only has a moment to mull over how this gigantic furrow in the dirt probably magically wouldn't exist much longer than a day before K' is coming at him again.
It's a bad situation. For whatever reason, Maxima can't land a single hit on K', while the man, while somwhat effected by Maxima's exertions of strength, is no less deterred or injured. Troubling though it may be, the hulking Canadian keeps his mind focused, his body prepared. As such, when K' comes at him again, flying off at him with that swift aerial kick... Maxima doesn't even move. Perhaps stupid to some, but it is clear what his intentions are; that foot strikes cleanly, but Maxima hardly even budges an inch, taking only one step backwards before allowing himself a grin.
"Nice speed there."
It's about the only words the white-haired boy will get before Maxima seeks to grip him by that leg while he's still in mid-air, and then swing him DOWNWARDS to smack him face-first into the scorched, debris-ridden earth. "-HMPH!-"
COMBATSYS: K' endures Maxima's Quick Throw.
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Maxima 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 K'
It's probably not the best idea to be airborne at any time while around a guy like Maxima; the reason being situations like this. Maxima has hold of his ankle, and is just about ready to introduce K' to the ground. Hard. There's no real way to block or mitigate the damage something like this is sure to cause-- no way to get out of that grasp.
K' does about the only thing he can do. He takes the hit with a snarl of pain, one quickly cut off by the plume of debris that goes off at his impact. But once he's done reeling from the blow-- once, he can actually see straight again-- he's twisted around like a snake with a surprising flexibility.
Taking the blow has put him in a position to attack from an angle not easily defensible. And he lashes out now, rapidly and quickly, his gloved hand swiping an arc of fire upwards, straight at the cyborg's legs.
COMBATSYS: Maxima endures K''s Eins Trigger.
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Maxima 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 K'
At a disadvantage at this point, Maxima is nonetheless refusing to go down without a fight. He shifts, left fist clenching as he notices the amount of give in his downward swing of the white-haired flame-user. His eyes narrow thoughtfully, cybernetic gaze analyzing the ground beneath him, taking in the sudden spike of power. Not chi, necessarily, but something else entirely. Those flames. Those ungodly painful flames. So, what does Maxima do?
He moves INTO said flames as they sweep out in a blaze of pain, crashing into his legs. He winces visibly as the crimson fire crashes against his leather-clad legs, yet nonetheless does not stop nor falter. Instead, he lurches -forward-, his right hand sweeping upwards as he does so.
"HAAAH!!" Letting out a mighty, bellowing roar, Maxima sweeps downwards with his right arm, his massive hand coming down in a chop aimed for the base of K''s neck -- right where it meets shoulder with such force that it will likely just drive the younger man into the dirt, should it connect.
COMBATSYS: K' blocks Maxima's Mongolian Chop.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Maxima 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 K'
Released abruptly, K' twists and gathers his legs beneath him, coiling into a crouch. He's seen Maxima moving -into- his attack rather than away from it, and as such is prepared to strengthen his stance, brace, and block that blow as best he can. He doesn't even bother trying to stand up-- he knows he's going to get smashed down again anyway, his meagre defense notwithstanding.
Sore and aching-- the blows Maxima lands are no laughing matter-- K' forces himself upright again with a slight weave. He steadies his stance, and then braces. His eyes, when they flick up, spark with the kind of intensity that usually precedes the appearance of his stolen Kusanagi fire.
"Get ready," he warns lowly-- the words a courtesy he gives only to Maxima-- before his lean frame coils and his right arm lights in flame. There is only a few moments of hesitation afterwards before he surges forwards, fire-first, in a rushing blow that streaks a virtual line of fire across the ground.
In some things, it seems, K' is still somewhat hotheaded.
COMBATSYS: Maxima endures K''s Heat Drive.
[ \\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Maxima 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 K'
He knows that look. He knows it well enough to know what is going to come next; he knows it well enough that a whole heaping helping of pain is coming his way. At this point, Maxima just needs to discern as quickly as possible what K' is going to favor -- speed, or power. And what what he should try to defend against it.
Hunkering down, the mountain of a machine-man prepares as best as he can as soon as he sees that spark. What comes, is -fast-. Far faster than Maxima would have anticipated. A burst of flame -explodes- outward propelling himself and his gloved fist forward. Maxima's response is simple, and it's one that even K' might not have planned for. As he races across the distance, Maxima leans back. He grips the front of his dark blue leather jacket, and in an odd move... tugs it -open-. And as he does? K' might notice something off.
"... let's do this."
Maxima's chest is opening.
Segments of Maxima's blue-clad chest begin to literally rotate out of the way, pectorals sliding back like compartments to reveal something wholly unnatural beneath. A massive cannon, glowing bright with artificial, sapphire chi, crackling like electricity along the barrel. And as soon as those flames strike, accompanied by the solid blow of K''s fist --
--Maxima unleashes a giant BEAM of energy at point-blank range on poor K', seeking to engulf him entirely in a massive column of unnaturally-born chi energy just before the impact of those crimson flames send him reeling back.
COMBATSYS: K' endures Maxima's MX-II Final Cannon.
[ \\\\ < > //// ]
Maxima 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 K'
Let's do this, Maxima says. And, suddenly recognizing in a flash of understanding just what Maxima plans to do... K' simply laughs as if taken leave of his senses. And keeps right on going, straight for that foreboding cannon.
Nobody ever said the kid was smart.
K' hits like the impact of a star, fire roaring high in a spectacular blaze. And at the same time, Maxima unleashes that column of energy. The beam slams into K' with crushing force, but to his credit the boy isn't blown completely back. Part of the reason is that he's hooked his clawlike fingers into Maxima's jacket and braced his stance: he weathers the storm of energy, just barely, and comes out the other end with a snarling and bloody grin.
"Heh... pretty good." K''s hands unlatch from Maxima and he slumps before the cyborg, leaning forward slightly in a sway: as if on the verge of passing out right on the ground. His still-blazing hands are coiled before him, mere inches from Maxima, but as his fingers slacken the fires quench. He seems spent.
Then, one hand snaps shut into a fist and slams forward. "Still paying attention?"
COMBATSYS: K' can no longer fight.
[ \\\\ <
Maxima 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Maxima dodges K''s One Inch.
[ \\\\ <
Maxima 0/-------/------=|
Not smart, maybe -- but definitely daring. Maxima respects that about K'. He pushes himself to the limit and does things others might find to be absurd or, oftentimes, -dangerous-.
Like jump in front of a massive beam cannon, for instance.
Maxima's eyes actually snap wide at the moment he sees K' actually managing to power -through- the entire thing. His body tenses in preparation, even as the metal platework that is his chest slide back into place across his torso with a locking -clack-. K' is out, by not by much, and he wouldn't rush through Maxima's own attack without reason.
A reason that come a mere inch from Maxima's own person.
The Canadian fighter reacts purely out of instinct. His hulking body shifts just as that fist lashes out, and in a split second he finds that fist -just- whizzing by his side, barely brushing up against him before he stumbles -completely- out of the way.
Still paying attention?
"Yeah ... I'd say so."
Stumbling off to the side, Maxima takes a grip onto the stone siding of the shrine stairway, taking a gasping pant for breath (more out of habit than actual need). His body begins the recuperative process, his battle systems shutting down as it shifts entirely into reparation. "Hah... you still hit pretty hard, don't you?" Grinning a little weakly, Maxima forces himself back into a straighter position, running a hand through dark brown hair. He ambles to the steps, falling down into a sitting position to simply -relax- from the strain of the battle. Giving a glance towards that grocery bag, pristinely unharmed even in the midst of all those explosions, the Canadian squints.
"...Hungry now?"
COMBATSYS: Maxima takes no action.
[ \\\\\ <
Maxima 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Maxima has ended the fight here.
A bloody snarl of a grin rips K''s face open, baring white teeth in an expression of pure mad fervor. Whatever calculation he might have been capable of earlier on in the fight is gone now, replaced by the high of a good challenge and more than a little pain.
He's right in Maxima's face within instants, capitalizing the best he can on the sheer surprise engendered by his foolhardiness. But by either sheer luck or premeditation, Maxima manages to get out of the way. K' cuts air, and then hits the ground on his knees.
Yeah, he -was- paying attention.
"Good..." is K''s opinion on the matter. K', in contrast to his partner, still has to breathe, and he's doing a lot of it right now. Panting-- and a little worse off than his companion, all told-- he ends up flopping onto his back on the ground. And he stays right there, not keen on moving anytime soon: though he's certainly not done talking. It's something of a change from his usual cold, caustic demeanor. "...'cause if you weren't... you would have -deserved- that hit..."
Or maybe not.
He's quiet a few moments longer, seemingly wiped out. As to Maxima's comment on his performance... well. "I'd like to be hitting harder," is his dour, self-mocking reply. "Just this won't be enough." But whatever morose thoughts he might have been having about NESTS are quickly enough interrupted when Maxima brings up a point of even greater importance. That forgotten bag.
"...Yeah." Though he's not about to get up for it now.
Log created on 00:49:41 08/28/2007 by Maxima, and last modified on 21:22:03 08/28/2007.