Description: Metallica (1983). Katana faces off with Elle for her headhunting of some of his Mad Gear compatriots. What he's searching for is honor and retribution for Elle's wrong doing. What he gets is a beating and a proposition he never expected.
Getting set for a mission means meticulous preparation, and Jinchuu is no exception. Despite not having a specific employer for this sortie, Elle isn't about to lower her mission standards. Loaded up with a rucksack for her sojourn on the Suiryuu, she steps into the parking garage next to her office building to find an appropriate company car to get her to the airport.
Patent leather boots echo through the mostly vacant garage at a metered pace. Elle doesn't seem particularly excited about the trip. Then again, she really never seems particularly excited about anything. It's just another job.
Though she's not getting paid, there's a few reasons she's going. The prize money is, in fact, fairly low on the list. She firmly expects to not see any of it, given the circumstances of the tournament. But the information contained is far more valuable, and the chance to eliminate a growing threat to business is also an opportunity she can't pass up.
It also pays to advertise. People will be watching. Interested parties always need decent mercenaries. Elle's showing is more important. Despite her somewhat illustrious background work in a lot of the shadowy going's on in town, Elle rarely takes the spotlight in anything. This hasn't hurt business... but it never,e ver hurts to have free advertisement.
There'll be a minor interruption in Elle's list of things to do that day. She may have gotten packed, and she may have plans for something, but then, there are also those minor things in plans that just don't work the way they should! And today, that would be the rather large, rather colorful, and rather out of place Semi truck that has parked itself in the way in/out of the parking garage. Even if she got into a car, things wouldn't be easy to get out of.
The woman comes out, and the thugs come out of the woodwork. But mainly, they seem content to stay on cars, by yes, standing on or around them. Pity the expensive cars with fat guys, but praise the expensive ones with skimpy dressed women on them.
And waiting, at almost the exact center, is Katana. "Hahahha! Now you come! Many of my men have told me that you, woman, are the one who is responsible for my ever lessening numbers!" And not his, say, failing hard when he fights in plain sight. "But I did not know you were the leader of a gang as well... but now I do! And you take those skilled who I wish to induct! Your ways must come to an end!" Wait. Where did he get the second part from? In truth he stabbed a boy, and he used a little white lie. And he believed him.
With jitte in his hands this time, he poses. It's a dumb pose, one that comes out of those who know little to nothing involving actual skill. And well, the half samurai half football player outfit doesn't help either. "Do you really think you can steal members, former and future, from underneath my nose? Hahahah!" He stands up straight and laughs.
But this is really, really more of a show and less of anything threatening to Elle. Maybe she'll even ignore him. Chances are, it's possible!
A few things to know about Elle, that Katana may or may not know by virtue of being part of the same society that Elle is in. Despite her relatively low profile, she's very efficient. Her hiring prices are reasonable and fair. She keeps her promises, completes her jobs, and will known for paying her employees on time like clockwork. Everyone is extended the same kind of treatment, whether they like it or not. From conquerors to crooks, Elle doesn't give special dispensation to anyone.
And she never, ever discounts anything as a non-threat.
The woman drops her rucksack to the ground, turning to face Katana. Dull, soulless eyes look him over once, and eyes flick around the parking garage. Most of the gang is seen as window dressing for the moment. Not that they're not a threat, but she suspects they're here as an intimidation tactic.
Katana, however, is well known. NESTS, Shadaloo, and ICPO records all call him a dangerous gangleader not because of his potencey, but because he keeps coming back. In terms of threat, he terrorizes innocent people and causes more property damage than anything else.
"Tell you what," she says, "We'll keep this simple. I'll fight you, one on one. If you win, I stop ganking your troops. If I win... well, I have a proposition for you that you might find interesting." Even as she speaks, electrical energy crackles along her gloved hands, sparking along the wire on her left arm. "What do you say? We have a deal?"
The rucksack is dropped. That means.. it's on. And as she faces him, Katana's empty, dark holes in the mask respond to Elle's soulless eyes. Really? That sort of gets to Katana. But really, it's not too bad. It's still pretty creepy. And Elle would be completely right in the fact that they were just there as an intimidation tactic.
Katana .. has been coming back whenever he was able to. Solely because, in order to make the gang strong, they would need a strong leader as well as a presence. One that he will give to them! With all that he could muster!
"Simple.. that's all that it would need to be! Why make things complicated for when a battle, honorable, with suffice! A one on one.. the gang members will stay back then. You'll have no more of then, when I'm through here.. but in case you do some how end up the winner," He toys with the idea. He believes he's got a good chance. He really does.
"Then I'll listen to your proposition! Hahaha.. but for now, we'll see what really matters in the end!" Spinning his jitte, first, Katana advances towards Elle, his armor and his weaponry ready to deal with such problems that Elle may provide! .. Or perhaps help her with victory. "I think I'll start us off then. KAAAIIII! NOOO! Tuki!" Whatever that means, it's not too important, and he charges forwards, body heavily moving against the ground as he brings a single jitte up, to stab into Elle, a simple stab with little behind it, except for speed.
To test the woman, if anything!
COMBATSYS: Katana has started a fight here.
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Katana 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Elle has joined the fight here.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katana
COMBATSYS: Elle endures Katana's Weapon Jab.
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Elle 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Katana
What is this clown doing now? Elle's eyes watch as Katana comes charging in with his rapid attack, and she weighs her options. While her attitudes never change in the way she treats people, the way she fights is completely different. The woman has no trouble changing up tactics in battle.
The attack comes in way too fast for her to do anything but mitigate the effects of the assault. So as the tip of the weapon stabs at her, she doesn't get out of the way. Instead, she swings herself into it, the sharp tip slicing a neat line down her shoulder.
Eyes remain expressionless as she whips her other arm around to place her hand inches from the taller man's face. The hand seems to blur for a moment, and then the air around it bursts as she unleases a sonic blast. The high frequency sound and chi explodes towards Katana, seeking to rupture eardums and shatter blood vessels as nearby cars lose their windsheilds and mirrors to the attack which sounds like a screeching guitar.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Katana with Metal Health.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Elle 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Katana
Apparently the helmet ricochets the assault, so even when his body is ready, his mind is not, and the sonic blast, high frequency and everything begins to rattle Katana, it's worse than he would ever expect, causing him to be rather brutally crushed by the sound chi. It was bad enough that it was chi. But it had to get louder due to the helmet. Such things he can't help.
And when it happens, Katana collapses to the ground. The pain is rather bad. And he can do little except wallow in it for a moment, before pulling himself up, breathing hard. "The ... That music is horrible... how could you ever listen to it!" Katana asks of Elle. His ears may very well be bleeding, but the mask covers it. If this interferes later, that might be bad. But it isn't just yet. If it continues, it just might.
But as he gets to his feet, he is still defiant, and rushes towards Elle, attempting to stab the jitte against the woman's form, before taking her, and the jitte, and slamming her against the cement in the garage.
And then drag her onto the ground, friction causing her to perhaps grow a bit too warm if it works, and if she's staying for the entire ride, dragging her upwards and then launching her to the sky, leaping up after to toss her to the ground.
And screaming, "DAIKYOU BURNING, HAAAAI!"
COMBATSYS: Elle blocks Katana's Daikyou Burning.
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Elle 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Katana
Elle raises her left arm, and leans into her defense, the two stabbing weapons slamming against her. The metal wire around her arm absorbs a good deal of the blow, keeping the sharp tips from sinking in, but the impact alone causes damage, pushing Elle backwards. Boots slide along the ground, tossing up sparks as the hobnails scratch along the concrete floor.
It takes a moment, but Elle shakes off the strain of defense, recomposing her stance to get a better look at the situation.
And then she runs away. Elle moves at full speed behind her, straight towards a wall. Boots make purchase as she clambers up the side of the wall. Her momentum is such that she seems to cling to it before flipping over Katana in a tight jump pattern.
As she arcs through the air, just scraping the ceiling, her body bursts into a corona of electricty, sparking brightly as she lands behind him. Elle raises her hand, and that crackling power surges forth from her hand, blasting at Katana's head like a bolt of lightning.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Katana with High Voltage.
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Elle 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Katana
As Elle shakes off the strain, running away, Katana follows. Charging forwards, he's at a loss to do anything beyond run straight into the blast of energy that crashes into him. The helmet's struck, conducting it, but Katana doesn't seem to really mind. Even if he's slowed by the assault, his head now incredibly pained, his ears must be bleeding now. Electricity after the cry of a sonic blast does not bode well for Katana. But he charges anyways.
Both Jitte are still wielded, and with then, he intends to try and carve into the woman. It's a simple dual slash, although, with the projectile, things will be a bit slower. There's not too much that he can really do in such time!
Except, really, not give up. His body aches again, and with the strike after strike of chi, he's being worn down. But he doesn't seem to let it bother him.
"KAAAAAAAA NOOOO CHAAIIIII!"
Just slashes, and charging at Elle. Skill less but still full of power!
COMBATSYS: Elle dodges Katana's Medium Strike.
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Elle 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Katana
Here he comes.
Elle drops to the floor, splaying her legs so that the initial strike shoots over her head by over a foot. When she's clear, she lurches to the side, rolling across the dusty concrete floor before whipping back up to her feet. Although her training is hard to pin down, it's clear she has some kind of training from somehere.
So far, so good. Elle's not going to count her chickens yet, however. Bolting forward, she charges the man, keeping herself low. Her low charge isn't exactly swift, but as she approaches him, she dives down to the ground, arm shooting out to grab the giant assailant by the leg and lift, hurling the ganglord to the ground as she continues on past, should she succeed.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Katana with Quick Throw.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Elle 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Katana
When Elle rushes towards, grabbing Katana by the leg and hurling him to the ground, he's tossed down, and he doesn't immediately give up. Especially when he happens to strike his head against the side of one of the concrete blocks. He stays down for a bit, but then slowly rises. Looking over to Elle afterwards, there is certainly blood now. Rising, it's painful, but he'll continue yet. Things are really looking down for him. Really. Really down.
But bringing his weaponry up once again, Katana charges towards Elle, jitte slashing against the ground before he brings them upwards in his charge. This one is faster than it has any right to be, but all the same, it is.
The large man, bleeding, slides across the room, the Shogun of Mad Gear still being shown up in every sense of the word. It's not the first time though.
COMBATSYS: Katana successfully hits Elle with Jigoku Scrape.
- Power hit! -
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Elle 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Katana
This time, Elle's not quick enough to escape the attack. The two stabbing weapons come for her and meet their mark. She's going to need a new outfit, it would seem, as she's pounded against the wall. The jarring impact plus the stab wounds are a little more than she expected, causing a sharp exhalation of breath.
This was a little more like what she was expecting, although the fight is far from over, and Elle has more than a few tricks up her sleeve yet.
Curling up into a ball, Elle lifts her legs so that they're braced against Katana's neck. Ankles lock around the back of his head tightly, and she twists her body violently, grunting with exertion as she tries to bring down Katana with a powerful frankensteiner move.
COMBATSYS: Katana interrupts Medium Throw from Elle with Meido no Miyage.
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Elle 1/=======/=======|===----\-------\0 Katana
As Elle wasn't quick enough, the reason why Katana never gives up, continues to go on. That's why Katana is such a threat, and even if he has a problem with such acts, there are things that Katana has done that for some reason.. works. The current happening is such an example.
As Elle curls into a ball, lifts her legs against his neck and then locking around the back of his head, she twists his head, trying to bring him down to the ground. But such a thing doesn't happen. Instead, when she twists, he forces her off, taking a jitte and scraping her off his armored head, the blades enough to hopefully pry her off through force, and then follow her up, juggling her with each strike.
And like the Jananophile he is, cries out his attack names. "MEIDO NO MIYAGE!" At the end, he leaps up, following the juggled woman, before slamming both blades into her to send her towards the concrete. He doesn't have much fight left in him, and when he lands, he gasps for breathe.
But then, he did something. He wouldn't be shown up infront of his gang.. even if he already has been mangled pretty badly by Elle.
Stabbed repeatedly and pummeled about. Elle's suffered worse, but she usually doesn't like to. The sheer amount of damage inflicted is going to take some adjusting to. At the very least, there's some stitches to be had. She isn't bleeding overmuch, however. For some reason, the blood seeps like molasses instead of running out of her like a river.
Pinned to the ground, Elle only has one real recourse.
Normally, she takes a lot of time to build up to the attack, but right now she doesn't have the time. Eyes flash with a disturbing clarity as her body vibrates. It's not a shudder, but a full out shaking that leaves her entire form blurry.
Her expression doesn't change, eyes deadlocked on Katana as her power wells up, and then detonates.
The resulting action is devestating.
Like a wall of force, Elle projects a massive burst of shimmering sound shi. The deafaning single note rolls forth from her, blasting apart cars, ripping through his ranks of troops like a reaper through wheat. And dead center is Katana. Perhaps he'll be able to survive the attack.
Elle couldn't care less if he lived or died right about now.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Katana with Black Sabbath.
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Elle 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Katana
As Elle's eyes flash, Katana already knows things are going to be bad. And as her body vibrates, Katana gets himself ready. Body poising, ready to leap out at any second! And he does leap. AND THEN HE LEAPS INTO THE WALL OF FORCE.
It's rather painful.
The massive burst of shimmering sound chi slam into Katana, ripping through the gang members, and finally, Katana. He's rather .. rather beaten badly. There's nothing that he can do against it, and his body begins to fail. It's strong, but Rugal nearly darn well ended him. Such a strike... shakes him up horribly, and it leaves Katana on the ground, bleeding. But Katana pulls himself up. Eyes determined. "You .. SAID... ONE.. VS... ONE!" His anger is currently traveling to his weakened body, and it gives him the strength to push forwards, arms and body slamming forth, attempting to again slam the jitte into her body with his speed, slam her against the ground, drag her along for the ride before tossing her up, jitte spinning.. before finally slamming the body back into the cement, if possible. "So leave the gang.. OUT OF IT!
If she evades, or not, he lies at the end of it. Unable to continue on. Even if he's serious, there was only so much.
Even Shogun's do not do well for Heavy Metal Bands. It's like poison.
It's just ... anti Japanese!
COMBATSYS: Katana can no longer fight.
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Elle 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Elle blocks Katana's Ten Chuu Satsu.
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Elle 0/-------/-======|
"They're called," Elle responds, grunting as the points stab at her one more time into her defensive arm, "acceptible losses." The arm is flung wide, deflecting the rest of the attack. "As it is, this gang you have is just a disorganized mob."
She steps back, holding her shoulder, her face set in a grim mask. "Do you know what I do to the members of your gang I hire?"
"I train them how to fight. But that's only the half of it. I erase their criminal past. I put them on rehab programs. I train them in clerical work, money management." She reaches for her belt, and hits a speed dial button. "I give them their life back so they can walk out on the streets again without worrying if Haggar is going to hurl them through a wall. Sure, they're still punching people in the face for money... but only when I tell them to, and when I'm sure the risks are low. I make sure that each day their stomachs are full and their babies are taken care of."
The woman's voice is dead even, and cold as dry ice. "So how's this gonna be? Did I cheat? Yeah, sure. Maybe. Do I have honor? Hell no. So I'm giving you twenty seconds to descide the next question I ask you, before my people get here."
"You work for me now. I don't care what you do when I'm not dealing with you, but you push the drugs I tell you to push, and you beat the people I tell you to beat. In return, I pay you a reasonable sum of money and give you the support system you clearly lack."
"If you say no, that's fine. I'll just see about making your life a complete and utter living hell. Capisch?"
As Elle steps forwards, Katana does not enjoy what he thinks he's hearing. Is that what she's saying? It could be the fact his head is just plain ringing, but that might not really be it. But it just might, on the other hand. "Haggar .. I've become what I am because of Haggar! And my men are the best because of their courage.. women too. And the deal was a One .. against one ... But as an Honorable Samurai.. I cannot just go back on such a word... The Mad Gear Gang is not an acceptable loss. They are all of my family, and their lives are in my hands. I owe them for their loyalty... and they will have it forever."
He forces himself to at least sit. "I will fight.. as I had promised, but the Mad Gear Gang is controlled by no one other than the Mad Gear Gang! Those that choose will choose. Those that do not, do not. The Ancestors are not to be angered with such ownership... so Mad Gear will never be owned by a single man or woman. But by the group itself."
He's weak, he's honorable, but the Shogun couldn't really do much. He was trained hard.. but not through chi! And as such, the armor is distinctively lacking such a thing. He could barely deal with it.
"So you will have my blades, my muscles, and my courage, but you will never have the Gang through such actions. Except by their own will." Katana finally finishes, the Shogun seeming to be a bit over the top with his interest in the Mad Gear Gang and this honor thing, and spirits.
"I will not disgrace those who came before me."
Elle seems unmoved, although she respects what she's fairly sure the man is saying. "Did I say I wanted this?" She waves her hand at the assembled rabble. "No, I said I wanted you. If they come along for the ride with you, that's just extra," Elle replies. "And the ones that I've hired came of their own free will. Apparently not everyone likes getting punched in the face by the Travers clan."
Elle's already tending to her wounds, popping pain killers and wrapping her arms with gauze she removes from her rucksack. If anyone was well prepared, it's Elle. "Whatever your deal is, I should have work for you soon. I have an operative. A Japanese woman who is looking for some elusive ninja. When she finds them, she may need additional help dealing with them. That's where you come in."
"You'll be defending her from attack while she does her duty. The job pays fifteen thousand dollars on completion. Simple, easy escort duty. Interested?"
As Elle mentions it, then, well.. Katana will have no problem agreeing to such. Especially when she says she only wants Katana. The Mad Gear Gang will stay the Mad Gear Gang, but Katana will work now beyond just the Mad Gear Gang's acts in Metro.. perhaps even spread out! Although he will be following orders when called upon. Such a happening is rather unexpected, to see himself so thoroughly beaten, but he believes little else would have changed! So eshe, for now, is clearly his better.
"I will admit the Travers are Wily foes. And not all of the Gang are capable of defending themselves. But we are all kindred spirits and I will not blame them if they go! For not all are truly strong." Or built like a brick wall like Katana is, barring large amounts of chi or Psi.
"I will accept the deal.. and you say a Japanese woman?! I will protect her, the Japanese flower, with all of my might! And that ninja will see the strength of a Shogun first hand! I will not fail, for it is on my honor!"
Although while Katana wishes this to be, there are few chances that he will do very well.. but if the Ninja is .. well, just a ninja .. things may work out well.
"A hair on her Japanese head will not come to harm." If he has his way. He probably won't, but the Mad Gear Shogun never says die! Except when he passes out.
Yeah, she hit hard. And that flood of chi... ow.
"Oh, just one thing," Elle adds as she picks up her bag and starts to load the car.
"Don't touch her. You'll regret it for the rest of your life."
She'll have to visit a hospital to get these patched up, but she heals demonically fast when she's at rest. "I'll get in contact with you when I have more details. I'm sure one of your old boys knows how to get in contact with you. If you need me, I'll meet you here. Just have your people call my people."
And with that, Elle opens up the door to a nondescript sedan, and pulls out of the lot on her way to the airport.
Log created on 13:34:05 09/02/2007 by Elle, and last modified on 20:49:21 09/02/2007.