Description: Twisted Sister (1999). With Burn still cutting into her profits, Elle sends her newest recruit, Birdie, to investigate this chemical menace. However, Elle wants to see for herself how brutal a fighter Birdie can be before she lets him leave on his mission. The answer: Very.
Hinata arrives from the harbor.
After fighting Duke, you usually need to rest a while. Well, Birdie did. A good while. And he probably proved himself to Katana that he wasn't some two bit thug that wanted to join Mad Gear. Don't get him wrong, it's not bad, it's just... Katana's too weird for Birdie. He's got heart though. Even if it's all in some of the wrong places.
Now returning to Elle to tell her the news that everything is A OK, and that Katana and him talked, well, there is a lot to report about including a chain to the already flawless plan. About chaining the boat to the truck, and holding it there. Yeah.
The large figure of Birdie came easily towards the warehouse at the docks, his heavy steps and slumped way he held himself seemingly for him to be an ogre. But a strong ogre, as you might imagine. He lurked around the warehouse, looking for Elle.
"Yo! Where the bloody 'ell you hidin'?" Birdie announced. He wasn't looking. He lugged himself this far. You can't ask for everything from him.
"Here," Elle replies, stepping out from behind a recent shipment with a few workers. Birdie actually coming back is a good thing. Judging from the looks of it, however, he didn't walk away from the visit without a scrap. "What the hell happened with you? Did you piss off Katana's truck or something?"
The question doesn't wait for an answer. "I'm going to guess that you managed to get what you were told to do done," she continues, walking past Birdie to direct the workers to a new area that needs to be tagged, cataloged, and shipped across town to other pick up points. "Because if you haven't, then I'm just going to tell you to go do it again and again until it actually gets done."
That being said, Elle reaches into a box, the lid up already, to withdraw a metal pole. Looks like a microphone stand. She tests it's weight carefully, tossing it from palm to palm. "Hrm." An odd item, to be sure, considering the rest of the crates are chinese knockoff purses.
"Yeah, got it done. Talked to Katana about the plan. We're bloody well set." Birdie answers as he leans up against the warehouse wall, still breathing sort of accelerated. When you fight Duke, Duke stays with you. If only because it hurts so much you couldn't even imagine.
"After he talk Katana wanted me to help him with Metro City. We ran into a guy who could destroy cement and send out huge waves of fire." Yeah. That probably explains him pretty easily. "So. I did it. We got him, I think. And I can ride in Katana's damn truck now." Judging by Birdie's tone, you can't really tell if he wants to or not. Or if he really cares or not.
Birdie just lays back, relaxing for the moment. "The guy probably hits harder than the damn truck." The large black man adds.
Elle furrows her brow slightly. Contrete destruction and fire? Who matches that description? Well, she knows Haggar is out, and none of his cronies has 'fire' as an effect. "Tall guy? Goatee? Wears funny clothes that looks like Pajamas?" She raises her hand up to indicate a six foot height.
"Or was he kinda short, Japanese, and full of himself?"
For all she knows, Kyo was taking a holiday. it's best to cover all her bases.
Birdie cracks his neck as Elle asks who exactly the guy is. He thinks for a moment. It's hard to forget some one who hits like a truck, unless he knocked it out of you of course. And he almost did, let me tell you that.
"Huge. Goatee. Yep, funny clothes. Bloody confident in his abilities too." Birdie adds. That should really synch the deal, there and then. "He ain't no small Japanese guy, he was big." The larger man just continues to enjoy the blissful moment of not having to do anything.
"He was a real tough cookie. Came out of nowhere to stop us. Had no idea who I was though. I think I made him mad."
Hrm. Elle's attention shifts to Birdie fully. "You pissed off Duke, did you? Not so great, really, but it's about time someone showed that arrogant son of a bitch that his shit stinks." Elle taps the microphone stand on the concrete floor experimentally.
"I've done deals with Duke. I sell him Glow. It's an adrenal enhancer, kinda like Burn," Elle says, reerencing the two hot drugs running around out there nowadays. "But right now, Burn is outselling my product. Duke's supposed to be part of the Syndicate detatchment for Metro City."
She twirls the mic stand expertly, like a bo staff or baton. "So that kind of puts me in a weird position. But, I didn;t tell you, so I'm not upset. Next time, however, give him his space. I don't expect Katana to get it, but you don't have to get in his face if you don't want to."
"At the very least, don't dare mention your connection to me. He doesn't need to know that I'm backing up you and Mad Gear right now."
"That was Duke?" Birdie goes silent for a couple of seconds. Did... they really fight Duke? And then... win? And then he just breaks out with a hard laugh. "Hah hah hah!" He bellows, "So we beat him. But he kicked my ass first. It was a draw. Katana helped." Birdie just goes on. Katana's probably in so much worse a condition.
"So you have history. Yeah. Don't ask don't tell, I got it." Birdie was a simple sort. A stupid thug, or at least, pretended to be one on TV. Here he just went along with things. Elle's business takes him to new and interesting places. It's pretty fun. Fightin' round the world.
"Heh. No bloody man can scare me. Even if he's hoped up on something nasty." Even if Duke can burn you to ash and then burn that ash to ash. It's complicated.
"Can do, boss." He just ends. Heck, Duke didn't even know who Birdie was. His 'Thug' routine works well. Because, well, that's what he is.
Just a simple thug.
"Good." Elle likes simple. Not /stupid/ mind you, Just simple. It makes life easy when someone listens, understands, and just says yes. If they reply 'no', then they had better have a good reason. Elle spends a lot of time thinking about the possible 'no' variables so that nobody else on her team of merry misfits has to.
"And yeah, that was Duke. I dunno who he pissed off to get sent down to Metro City, but there he is. He probably rubbed Big and Billy the wrong way. The guy's got more on his mind than being a simple foot soldier for Geese," Elle expands. She knows a lot about people. Comes with having messed with Shadaloo and NESTS's databases.
"So if you've gotten that done, I have more work for you," she says, tapping the stand along the ground like a walking stick. Heading to the warehouse office, she pops the safe to pay the promised amount for a successful mission, tossing the rolled up wad into his hands. "Count it. It's all there. Anyway, this is what I need you to do."
"Remember that 'Burn' stuff we just talked about? I want you to find a dealer, scope him out. See if you can't get some information out of one. Anything that you can get would be great. I sent out one op, and the kid just... never came back." Her dead eyes doen't display any emotion that she cares that he's gone, but the statement stands.
Someone she sent out very well may have died.
Birdie's listening all right. He's not saying much, but that's because he's letting Elle do all the talking. It's for the best, really. Elle likes to talk. Birdie has to listen. It works out.
Elle talks about things. Like Duke. He listens to that. About Duke and Big and why he's there. About Geese and Metro City.
And then comes pay day. As she leads him into the warehouse, he follows, slowly but surely, towards the vault. The wad of money is his, and he caresses it. Oh, it's lovely. "Heh heh heh... now this is what I'm talkin' about." The thug says simply as he pockets it would a problem.
"Yeah, Burn stuff. You want me to go find a dealer? Where would I find a bloke like that?" He pays attention to her last words. Didn't come back?
Must have been a weakling. Whatever.
"Burn. Word on the street is that it takes your average everyday joe schmoe, and turns them into a raving lunatic powerhouse. I've never seen it myself, but I've heard rumors," Elle says, stepping further into the office and picking up a scrapbook. She places it on a crate, opening up the book to show him the recent clippings on Burn. "Now, I sell Glow. It just burns out out like a light bulb." She makes a 'poof' gesture with her hand. "This stuff /mutates/ you."
"Apparently, it only works on people that aren't already mutants, like you and me," she says, without missing a beat. If she's joking, it's decidedly hard to tell. "Boosts people with no potential otherwise."
"What I want, Beef, is samples. Get me samples of the drug. Bonuses if you can get the name of the manufacturer, or any other info on who's distributing it and why. Feel free to take Aislinn or Katana, or any help you need with you on the trip."
"Burn. Hah. What a name for a drug. What, sizzle and crackle taken?" Birdie jokes, and he laughs at his own jokes because that's the kind of guy he is. See? It was funny. To him. You don't have to laugh.
"Well, that sucks. I wouldn't take that. Sounds like a cheat." Which it really does. Just take some pill, and bamf, you lost your sanity but now your suddenly a fighting machine? No thanks. "Yeah. Crazy."
"Samples? Fine the blood b*stards and steal some of their stash? Okay. Easy." Birdie says, thinking about who to bring. Well. Maybe Katana. He has a lot of men. But Aislinn has a lot of brains.
Tricky, tricky.
"Yeah. I've got most everyone else working on other projects," Elle admits. She likes to keep her people busy. Certainly, they work hard, but they earn every dime they get. For her most loyal and diligent employees, good pay and reliable support. For the ones that fail constantly and disappoint?
Well... let's just say Yamazaki's whipping boy isn't where anyone wants to be.
"Yeah. It's a cheap job. Three thousand per ounce is what I'm asking for, plus hazard, transportation stipend, the usual. It's stashed out in Metro City, so you'll be heading back there in a bit. I just wanted you to come back to see some of this shipment off to Metro City on your way back," she says, gesturing to the Chinese knockoffs.
"Anything else you need or want to tell me?"
"Alright. Works for me." Birdie says as he begins to back off. He's got what he came for, and now that he's got a job, he'll probably go up and do it. Just because he got money. And money makes the world go round. For punching people, he'll get more. It's very simple.
"Oh. That's all. You wanted me to play body guard for your bloody merchandise? Hah! Easy money." Birdie begins as he moves towards the truck, each step rather heavy. "Sure. I'll get you lots. Just wait." He answers.
"Anything else? Yeah. That Katana guy's a real preacher."
A preacher? Elle shrugs. "Yeah, he runs off at the mouth a little. Something about honor and all that nonsense. Just nod and smile. That should take care of most of his rantings. I'm used to dealing with crazy people," Elle admits. Most of the people on her team are insane at some level.
That being done, Elle twirls the mic stand again. "That fight with Aislinn looked nasty. She's one hell of a tough kid, though. I've gone toe to toe with her, and I know it ain't easy."
"still, I'm curious to see what you got firsthand. Think you're up for another scrap? I know Duke just beat the shit out of you, so if you need a breather, I'm down with that," Elle says, not wanting to put the pressure on Birdie if he's not up to snuff. last thing she wants to do is injure a good operative irrepairably.
Pressure Birdie? Hah. You gotta be kidding me. He's Mister T here. He goes strong for long.
As he looks towards towards Elle, he finds that is the best thought. It's true. That's the easiest way to actually get that done. Especially with Katana. Birdie's a thug, and partially crazy, but calculating. Some of his crazy moments are calculated.
Then Elle mentions the fight. Birdie looks up towards her and nods. "Yeah. She kept throwing shit at me. Slowed me down." Birdie answers as he turns towards as she leads it into a spar. Another scrap? Birdie smiles.
"You bloody well bet I am." He answers, getting into position. He never goes first. At least, against his own people. "What don't kill me makes me stronger, right?"
COMBATSYS: Birdie has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Birdie 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Elle has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Birdie
The rocker mercenary bangs the mic stand on the ground once. Good weight.
Energy starts to course through the weapon, and she eyes Birdie. She saw what the man can do, and definitely knows that Aislinn didn't walk away from the battle minty fresh. That means that she's going to have to take the initiative.
Her hands flare with crackling blue lightning. No. Not pansy-ass 'electricity'. We're talking lightning. The energy rips across her form, building up to a nearly obscene degree as it charges her body up.
"Alright, Bebop. Show me what you're made of."
COMBATSYS: Elle gathers her will.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Elle 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Birdie
Birdie watches as electricity moves and curves all over Elle's figure. Oh, this is going to be a hoot. He can already tell. But that's never stopped Birdie before, has it? No. Not even Duke stopped Birdie before he left some lasting damage. So now, Birdie's going to start things off then.
Instead of going at Elle with a monster of a hit, or a throw, or really anything, Birdie just makes his way right on up to Elle, and throws a single punch toward towards the woman's body.
But don't think it's nothing to worry about. Any hit Birdie makes is a powerful hit. As Elle might find out.
"You got it, Shredder." The man grins a big, toothy grin.
COMBATSYS: Elle blocks Birdie's Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Elle 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Birdie
Unless the hit never lands. Elle's really good about defending herself, and the mercenary's defended herself against nastier opponents than Birdie. None quite as grotesque witht he capacity for visceral destruction, mind you, but Elle's not at all a stranger to destructive force.
Swift hands move the mic stand to defelct most of the blow. First time she's ever used one as a weapon, really, but Elle's got plans for this little steel bar.
Although it bends slightly under the impact, Elle's feet hold steady, and she's already pushing back as she retaliates. Boots slam across the floor as she jams the pole against the ground and she vaults herself into the air. As she flips over the man, she'll use the metal pole as a conductor, bridging the gap between herself and the mountainous man to deliver a powerful bolt of lightning at the back of the man's neck before she lands on her feet behind him.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Birdie with High Voltage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Elle 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Birdie
So this is what he already has to deal with, huh? Birdie hates electricity. And trying to endure it, he finds he put himself too far after enduring Duke's strike. So instead of finding himself in position, he slipped. As Elle leaps over him, he loses sight of her.
He feels where she is as the stand is used to hurl a nice, big shock of energy though, rippling into the back of Birdie as he gets a little jolt. Smoke rises out of his ears, but he's mostly well enough still.
Instead of going right for Elle, Birdie instead backs up a little, preparing himself instead of allowing Elle to get the best of him. "Hah. You've got some tricks."
COMBATSYS: Birdie focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Elle 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Birdie
Elle lands on her feet with a thud, and she turns around, the energy still snapping across her fingers. The Blackjack leader's eyes watch the man carefully. He's definitely up to something... but what? It's hard to tell. He doesn't fight like a normal person, which is part of what makes Elle so upredictable herself.
The woman steadies herself. It's so easy to want to jump the gun. Instead, she circles the man carefully, allowing some time to analyze his combat tactics. No, she doesn't have the same level of skill that some people do in weighing an opponent's abilities, but she's got lots of experience.
That helps a lot, too.
She has two options. It's time to take one. And she does.
Power courses along her arms once again, and Elle looks at Birdie critically. Lighting, they say, never strikes twice.
Elle on the other hand, most certainly does.
The woman launches another volley of blue energy at the man, the power cascading down her fingertips this time as she drops the mic stand, the stench of zone fillign the air as she seeks to fry Birdie to a crisp.
COMBATSYS: Birdie overcomes High Voltage from Elle with Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Elle 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Birdie
Birdie has only one real weakness. He's got no projectiles whatsoever. None. Nadda. Zippo. Well, when you first look at him, anyways. Then you notice something else.
Still, Elle moves skillfully, but Birdie's watching closely for how she moves. Whatever she's going to, she's going to do it. She's circling. Birdie feels like an elephant surrounded by a pack of lions. He's waiting.
And then more electricity courses through Elle's figure. That alerts Birdie right away it's happening again. The blue energy rippling through the air, aiming to zap Birdie. Birdie, in turn, lashes back his left arm, and throws it forward.
The chain coils off of it quickly, barreling through the volley of blue energy, and zipping right towards Elle. Birdie sure does love his chains.
COMBATSYS: Elle endures Birdie's Large Thrown Object!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Elle 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Birdie
Birdie may not like electrical power. Unfortunately, Elle's got it, and she's got it in spades. Nevertheless, it's not unstoppable, as Birdie demonstrates. The power breaks under the chains. That just means Elle's going to have to amp up the voltage.
But first, the chains.
Heavy metal links impact Elle's smaller frame, but they don't seem to stop her too much. Instead, her body rattles under the blow. She remains standing, nevertheless, and a short grunt is all he gets in reply. The damage largely mitigated by a heavy defense, Elle's retaliation is sudden and swift.
Shooting along the ground in a low run, she ships by Birdie in an attempt to grab him by the shoulder, and slam him face first into the ground as she passes by.
COMBATSYS: Birdie interrupts Quick Throw from Elle with Bull Spike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Elle 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Birdie
It's not unstoppable because, when you put your mind to something, you can overcome anything. Or head to something, but we'll get to that later.
First, Birdie pulls back the chain when it strikes, quickly grasping it with his right arm. He licks the center of it, for good measure, before wrapping it back around the left arm. He grins. He would say something here, but Elle's his boss. He's trying to play stupid. Not suicidal.
But even after the strike, Elle comes right back at him, trying to grapple him suddenly, to flip him face first into the ground as she goes by.
But that's not what happens. Instead, as she grabs him, he grabs back, holding her in place as he lowers his head and attempts to gore Elle with the bull spike on his head. He's equal opportunity, so no matter what sex you might get gored. In the end, he fires his head back, pulling Elle up before delivering a spike to Elle to send her towards the ground.
Birdie's got no pretty or complicated attacks. He goes with what works. Brutality. "Heeeyahhhhhh!" He explodes with a darner, bass voice.
With a bone rattling slam, Elle kisses the floor. That was unpleasant, but not completely insurmountable. Apparently, this is going to play out like Birdie's fight with Aislinn, although perhaps less impressive on her end.
In other words, Elle's not expecting to walk away healthy from this one.
But the fight's not done yet, and Elle's known for being able to pull off strange victories. It takes a moment for her to recover from the slam, but recover she does, the blood speeing from her nose already coagulating. That's not particularly normal, but what is around here?
The next thing she does is exceedingly abnormal.
She pulls the guitar from the holster on her back, and with the sound of feedback in the air, she slams her hand down the front of it. The riptide of chords she plays immediately build up like a wall, the air in front of her shimmering in place, like a barely transparent sheild.
Then, on the downbeat, she releases it. The sonic chi rumbles towards Birdie like a sonic tsunami, devouring nearly everythign in it's path.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Birdie with Black Sabbath.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Elle 0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1 Birdie
Well... Birdie hates walls of energy. He hates them with a flippin' passion. "Bloody 'ell..." He says as he watches Elle slam on her guitar, shockwave after shockwave of sonic energy cascading towards him with no regards as to stop or go. It's all just a mess, either ways. A mess of sonic energy that ripples out after Birdie. It ain't fun.
When caught in it, Birdie can't really chain t to death. Nor can he really endure his way out of this one. He tries, but to no avail. As it pushes him back, he fights into it, moving towards Elle without moment to lose. His focus is somewhat distraught, but he's continuing to push against a wall of unavoidable tunes.
It washes over him, beating and battering him without a try. It hurts, it stings, and it really takes no prisoners. The already beaten Birdie once more finds out how he hates blasts of chi in his direction.
But as it fades away, he doesn't. His first line of business is to rocket out of cascade that originally put him there, moving quickly to intercept Elle. If he catches her, he beats the horn against her with headbutt after headbutt, finally ending with a cascade of brutal punches, and a quick shove in the right direction. Which to say, away from him.
It what Birdie still had to serve up.
COMBATSYS: Birdie successfully hits Elle with The Birdie MAX.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Elle 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Birdie
Birdie smushes Elle.
You can say it fancy ways, but that's what the man does. Smushes her. Flat. Like a pancake. The woman takes hit after hit, and she's actually fairly /resistant/ this this sort of thing. Nevertheless, the woman is turned into a nearly mangled heap and bashed away, rolling ass over end as she crashes into a heap of crates.
Ow.
But yet... she still functions. Stirring, she stands slowly, bracing herself against the crates. Short of Zero, that's the nastiest hit she's ever taken that didn't involve Psycho Power. Power courses through her body again, however, and Elle's forced to take a moment to check her power levels.
Yup. Just enough.
She raises her hand slowly, shakily as she braces herself against the boxes and crates, and simply lets loose a torrent of while lightning, the power issuing forth from her left hand like a snarling snake, shooting for Birdie's body.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Birdie with Whitesnake.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Elle 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Birdie
The snarling snake strikes Birdie clear on, pushing him back once more. He goes to block it, but he can't even do that. It's lost on him. He just isn't able to do it. Instead, he once more weathers the oncoming blow. The snake devours him, ripping up his vest and chest, leaving the man bleeding and beaten and feeling a lot like when he fought Duke.
But, like Duke's fight, Birdie's not really
done yet. No, even if the snake destroyed him utterly, and even if it was an incarnation of Chi, he's still coming at Elle with all he's got.
Reaching out for Elle, he simply tries to grasp her tightly, bear hug her, and land on top of her as his finally attack.
It's like a tree falling in the woods, but Elle's been attacking that tree, and now it tries to get the best of her by falling on her. That's pretty much what is happening here.
Yeah. And Birdie was so close. He'll win a fight standing, some time.
But this time, he just falls. Hitting Elle or not, he makes a THUD, sputtering dust and debris all around him.
COMBATSYS: Birdie can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Elle 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Elle blocks Birdie's Bad Scrap.
[ \\\\\\\ <
Elle 0/-------/-----==|
Birdie is a big, big man. Getting crushed underneath such a giant weight would likely take Elle out in an instant. Bracing herself for impact, the woman raises her arms. Birdie's massive girl smashes into her like a compact car, causing her to skid backward.
The mercenary lets out a grunt, but she's capable of supporting Birdie. Just barely, though. Moving him aside to set him onto a crate, she relaxes, her bruised, battered, and bleeding body screaming to be able to sit down.
Still, it's important to show her employees exactly who their boss is: a destructive firecracker, who, despite not looking like much, has a lot of power ro bring to bear. "You hit like a freight train," she says finally, dabbing the blood from her nose.
COMBATSYS: Elle has ended the fight here.
After taking huge blow after huge blow, well, Birdie's out cold. The power that Elle infused into her strikes just destroyed him. Oh, Birdie can sure take a punch, but he just falls like a house of cards if that punch seems to be like a gigantic electric shock or a fire wave or something equally destructive.
He mumbles something, probably saying about the same. Hell, Duke hit harder, but he's Duke. And he endured Duke's onslaught. It was all complicated. Either way, Birdie's still out cold, this doesn't change a thing.
Well. As long as the money is A-OK.
Log created on 23:00:50 09/07/2007 by Elle, and last modified on 04:00:04 09/08/2007.