Description: Out for a walk in the heart of Metro City, Dr. Tran encounters the mentally unbalanced Surge! Talk about getting lucky?
Nighttime in Metro has never been a particularly safe time of day. No matter how peaceful and tranquil it might be on the outside, or in the streets of downtown... there is inevitable something -foul- going on within the depths of the city. Typically, this activity can be found in the slums, within the meager remains of the various gangs Mayor Mike Haggar has shattered. But, lately... things have begun to change. And those that were too cautious to wander beyond the ugly, scarred depths of the slums, have found something to give them the confidence to wander further out: Burn.
For tonight, though, the subway terminal leading to the slums from downtown has been a tranquil, if not dirty and rank, place to be. Aside from the hobo in the leftmost corner of the terminal, sifting through the garbage like a man on a mission, the activity here is low. Subways come to a deafeningly screeching halt, depositing meager groups of strangers that head upwards to the city above. There is nothing amiss; at least, not until the next stop. The train sparks and screeches, sputtering to a stop in front of the terminal. The doors begin to shutter open... before they are simply BLASTED apart in a sudden onrush of electricity and super-heated air.
"Aaaaah..." The voice comes from one man, and one man alone, dangling in one hand a small purse, and secured to his other shoulder, a much larger, woman's bag. The original owners are still in the subway -- smoking, unmoving. Surge smiles, and looks up towards the steps leading outside. A gloved hand lifts, tugging the brim of his hat a little more securely over his features before he pauses to stare at the tiny, purple affair that dangles in his grasp. "This is definitely my color! Thank you, ma'am." Tipping his head to one of the smoking corpses inside the subway, he is quick to step off, intent on making his way outside. After all -- he has so much fun to do.
Sometimes, it's easy to get lucky. On a night when most sensible people should be at home, relatively safe from the goings-on of the upswing of gang life prevalent in the city, one man dares to stand out, dares to walk the streets on his own.
Technically speaking, Dr. Tran's not actually supposed to be alone - there's a certain amount of safety in numbers, which is part of the reason why Elle more or less put several members of Blackjack under his command. It's appreciated, and the doctor intends to use them, but tonight is more a matter of scouting, of trying to feel the city out. Maybe see if these Burn guys are all they're cracked up to be.
In one of the odd twists of fate so prevalent in this world, Dr. Tran descends down the subway steps just as Surge blows the doors out and proves that he's kind of a dick. Tran pauses, watching for a moment. This guy looks like a punk...has a fair bit of power, by the looks of it...yeah, alright.
The doctor raises a hand in greeting, trying to get Surge's attention, and then asks a simple, direct question. "Yo, zaptacular. You one of those Burn guys that's been running around?"
At first, it would appear as if Surge doesn't even notice Tran as he descends. The Hellraiser's gaze is focused forward, that single visible eye trained almost entirely on the wall opposite to him for reasons unknown. The hobo is staring in surprise at the man, yet... quickly goes back to rummaging through the trash. The homeless in all their experience have seen people shooting fireballs out of their eyesockets every other day; seeing it come as electricity is only marginally more interesting than finding anything edible in the garbage.
Still, the oblivious gangster takes a step forward as Tran speaks, tugging open the zipper of the smaller purse as he begins to rummage through, as if looking for something interesting. Slowly, those fingers stop twitching through the bag. And slowly, Surge lifts his gaze to level a blank stare upon Tran, pausing in his movement entirely. "..." He blinks, slowly. And then, he smiles.
"Ooohhh...?" he questions softly, turning fully towards the newcomer. The purse is forgotten in his hand as electricity makes careless, random zigzags across his shoulders and arms. "You know about Burn, huh? What a smart guy you are, for someone so short! I wonder why you're here, though..." His sentence trails just in time for his eye to begin wandering, focusing on the exit from the terminal. "... do you want to be special, too? Or -maybe-," the purse is dropped. He keeps the satchel slung over his shoulder as his wrists snap to either side, long blades snapping out from compartments attached to his gloves, gleaming coldly in the dim lighting.
"Maybe you're here to -have some fun-."
Never underestimate a homeless man. The guy over there is digging through the garbage, but he's probably an undercover ninja or something, capable of wiping out both Tran and Surge with ease. Well, probably not, but you never know. He doesn't seem all that interested at least, so the doctor will just ignore him right back.
Surge, on the other hand, having so kindly deigned to respond, gets another moment of quiet study. Tran leans forward, taking a couple of steps closer to get a better look. That is certainly some chi, right there. It might not be the jackpot, but Dr. Tran's certainly hit something valuable. The realization helps him to cope with the short crack. The corner of his mouth slides upward into a grin, teeth grinding together only a little, and then Tran finally responds.
"I am pretty brilliant. You could say I'm already special. A unique and beautiful flake." Tran pauses. That's not...quite right. Well, whatever. He presses on, and hops off the last few subway stairs, sticking his hands in his pockets, facing straight at Surge, and generally looking as cool as he can manage. "Anyway, you call it fun, I call it business. Let's get it started either way, yeah?"
So he is here for that. For fun. The words that escape Tran's lips earn a jerking, awkwardly excited bout of laughter from Surge, whose shoulders shake from the action of it. "You're special... that's good," he notes eagerly, his fingers clenching and unclenching in a rapid, irregular series of twitches. "When I take you apart, piece by piece, I'll get to see just what makes you special. This... this..."
Tran doesn't have to really tell Surge to get started. He's already antsy, already on a complete hairtrigger. As soon as the words 'Anyway, you call it fun, I call it...' begin to slip from Tran, electricity suddenly coils around Surge's body, snapping outward in a violent burst.
"THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!"
Without any introductions or polite greetings, Surge -launches- himself forward in a sudden burst of speed. About midway through, he leaps into the air, spinning almost awkwardly. His tall, gaunt body twists and turns in the space between himself and Tran, before he brings his right, bladed hand SWINGING down with his descent, intent on tearing it forn from the top of Tran's chest to his sternum in a broad swipe, bringing with it an unpleasant -shock- of electricity. "Show me how special you are!!"
COMBATSYS: Surge has started a fight here.
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Surge 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Tran has joined the fight here.
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Tran 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Surge
COMBATSYS: Tran blocks Surge's Medium Strike.
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Tran 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Surge
In the period of time between Surge screaming like a maniac and slashing him like a maniac, Tran tries to remember what he's heard about Burn. Does it make you crazy? Or does you just have to be crazy to take it in the first place? Are all of the addicts like this? Certainly, it is a mystery that the doctor will have to explore later, when some dude isn't trying to carve him like a goddamn turkey.
The doctor interposes his arm in the path of the slash just so - it cuts in to his forearm, the wound relatively shallow, but not in any terribly vital point. Dr. Tran lets out a quick chuckle, flexing briefly to make sure the wound isn't worse than he thought. Spoiler: it's not. "It's too early to get all overexcited like this!" To emphasize his point, Tran takes a step in toward Surge, who has presumably made some form of landing at this point, and lets loose with a light, testing flurry of punches, being careful and observant for counterattack. "Calm the hell down!"
COMBATSYS: Surge blocks Tran's Dr. Tran's Buttle Punch.
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Tran 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Surge
Calm down? CALM DOWN? Surge's response to Tran's request is simple: he laughs. It's a tittering sort of laughter, more like an odd, high-pitched giggle which breaks in and out. He lands just as Tran predicted, feet striking the ground in a flurry of black, tattered clothing. His visible eye snaps -wide- as Tran advances upon him, and the Hellraiser reacts seemingly out of pure instinct. He's quick; in what would seem like a simple, awkward blur of motion to the normal eye, Surge strikes out at -every- punch with his forearms, letting each scrape relatively harmlessly against the forearms of his Hellraiser jacket.
Without even stopping, Surge moves forward again. His hands slap together with an electrical -CRACK- of force, rubbing his palms as he begins to crouch. "That's not -- not not NOT GOOD ENOUGH!! GIVE ME MORE! AREN'TYOUSPECIAL?!" The last shriek comes out in a sudden, speedy jarble of words that are nearly incomprehensible as Surge thrusts both hands out, palms forward. The intent is simple: those palms will slap into Tran's chest before releasing another charge of electricity like a defibrilator burst, carrying with it enough force to knock Tran right off his feet.
COMBATSYS: Tran dodges Surge's Quick Throw.
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Tran 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Surge
Oh, hey, would you look at that. Surge just went crazier. Even if he's not being calm, Dr. Tran is. He watches with a kind of amazed detatchment: he's in the middle of a fight, but it's just so...freakish. Bringing his fists back up toward him in a sort of bastardized boxing stance after the last of his punches is put aside to little effect, Tran cocks his head. It's only a little mocking as Surge continues to freak out.
It seems like the doctor is all set to take Surge's attack - he's standing his ground, just waiting for it to come in. However, at the last possible second, Tran kicks off with one foot, skidding backward on the other, just barely out of reach of the Hellraiser's questionable medical procedure. He can still feel the tingle of electricity on chest, but it's not enough to make any real difference. Tran is a manlier man than that.
Taking another step or two back, Tran reachs up and adjusts his coat, still acting as cool as he can. "More special than you, that much is easy to see. I'd tell you to just give up, but I'm not even sure you can understand what I'm saying already." Tran lets his arms drop down to his sides, and grins again. The air around him starts to ripple, the only indication of the power swirling around and within the doctor. "Let's see how much you can handle, anyway."
COMBATSYS: Tran gathers his will.
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Tran 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Surge
There's a somewhat confused look on Surge's face as his hands strike out against... nothing. Complete air, for his troubles. Blinking once, the Hellraiser elite's lips contort into a thoughtful frown. "Fast, huh..." he muses quietly as that visible eye slowly, oh so slowly, wanders up towards where Tran lands. A smile creeps across his thin lips. "Heheheh."
And then -- Tran does, and says things he really shouldn't. As Tran makes that particular insult, that remark about being special, Surge goes completely silent. Unmoving save for brief twitches and the uncontrollable crackles of electricity around his form, he says nothing... only -frowns- sharply. "-More- special? No. No, you're not. Don't you get it...?!" His voice quivers, growing both upset and excited at once as he sees the ripple of air, -feels- the concentration of chi in the haze of his madness. His hands twitch, the electricity generated by them beginning to rise at an unhealthy rate.
"NO ONE IS MORE SPECIAL THAN ME!! Not anymore!!!" In a sudden, dizzyingly fast motion, Surge strikes -out-, his hands snapping forward and sweeping into wide arcs to either side of him. In that same motion, his hands release a volley of small, electrical orbs of chi, slicing through the air in a wide radius towards Tran -- intending on peppering him with an innumerable amount of shocking spheres. "You're -NOTHING-!!"
COMBATSYS: Tran slows Crazed from Surge with Large Thrown Object.
Glancing Hit
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Tran 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Surge
Dr. Tran, as always, is a Man with a Plan. Today, that plan happens to involve a nearby garbage can. There is always a nearby garbage can. /Always/. As Surge continues to slide even further down the slope of being completely bugnuts, Tran stands there, the grin on his face undoubtedly one that could be described as 'shit-eating', were one inclined to. However, even prepared as he is, Tran is unable to completely cope for the degree of insanity breaking out in front of him. Also, he was kind of only expecting one electricy thing, not a goddamn dozen of them.
While he makes a valiant grab at said garbage can, the fact of the matter is that there's just too many to cope with. Crap flies everywhere upon the impact, and most of it goes Tran's way - his only consolation is that there aren't quite so many actual painful electric orbs as there might have been.
The doctor still puts on a brave face about it, trying to push the pain out of his mind. He's a little slower to speak, trying to collect himself. "Heh...you call that an attack? My grandmother could probably hit harder than that."
There. -There-. That should show him. Surge looks well-pleased with this sudden development, a grin rapidly spreading across his lips, revealing rows of pearly white teeth as Tran makes his improvised attempt to counter the Hellraiser's attack -- but to no avail. Those bursts of electricity are largely diminished, but still, some get through, striking Tran with shocking, tiny explosions of chi. And throughout the entire debacle, Surge remains standing perfectly still, his arms wrapping around him as convulsive giggling takes hold. "Heheh...heh! Hehehee-- howpathetic. You're such a sad, tiny man..."
Yet -- Tran isn't down, proving that he is, at the very least, able to fend against Surge's more specialized techniques. That single, blue eye blinks, and squints at Tran. "You think so...?" he wonders, gaze drifting. "I think... I think you're bluffing. And I think--"
As Tran collects himself, Surge pushes -forward-, his arms pulling -backwards- and tensing. What comes next is fairly straightforward; both of his arms will swing -forward-, coming down in archs that would be hard to avoid completely -- intending to rake those blades across Tran's stomach. If he does? He's going to keep going from there, and just continuously STAB Tran in the gut with those knives, delivering burst after burst of painful electricity. "--I'mgoingtokillyouNOW."
COMBATSYS: Tran dodges Surge's Fierce Strike.
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Tran 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Surge
"Yeah, because you're doing such a great job already." Tran forces a chuckle, and then more or less flings himself to one side. The electrified blades find nothing but his coat, trailing behind him. He hits the ground and rolls, coming up on one knee. "Come on, sparks, it looks like you're moving in slow motion from over here. Try to keep up."
Tugging off a bit of banana peel that was particularly attached after the garbage debacle, Tran pushes himself fully up to his feet. His grin gets a bit stronger, and Tran tenses, hopping up and down on his feet once or twice. "I think...I think..." He starts to mimic, before springing forward at Surge, fist raised overhead. "I think your brain must be made of oatmeal!"
COMBATSYS: Surge parries Tran's Strong Punch!
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Tran 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Surge
If he weren't so lost in his own world, Surge would probably be more prone to being angry. As it is, when Tran speaks and he finds nothing but open air and the fabric of a coat, the expression in his eye and lips is an odd mixture of anger and amusement, the conflicting emotinos battling for supremecy as his gaze darts down to the retreating form of Dr. Tran.
"... Too slow, eeeeh...?" As he speaks, Surge's body tenses, electricity beginning to crackle far more prominently across his body. "How can you call ME slow--" As he speaks, Tran swings that fist towards him, promising only pain. Surge's response? He moves far faster than any normal eye could follow, and even a trained one would have difficulty comprehending. In an awkwardly acrobatic twist, he is suddenly airborne, his hands clamped on Tran's, long, dirtied fingernails scraping across his fist before Surge simply pushes -off-, springboarding backwards and landing, feet-first, against one of the walls.
"WHENYOUCAN'TEVENTOUCHME?!"
At this point, Surge is operating at a sudden, irregular BURST of speed in both talk and action, words jumbling together as he simultaneously pushes off that wall the instant he connects, beginning to spin like a corkscrew, bladed hands -thrust- out towards Tran. Like a human torpedo, he'll slam into Tran, cutting him repeatedly across the chest and shoulders with those blades as electricity -shunts- from his body and into the real doctor from America, intending to juke Tran up with a -painful- amount of chi-electricity. "DIEDIEdiediedieDIE!!"
COMBATSYS: Surge successfully hits Tran with Phobia EX.
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Tran 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
As much as Dr. Tran may hate to admit it, Surge kind of has a point - Tran's barely managed to touch him so far. That's kind of what the idea behind punching the dude in the face was, but, well. That didn't turn out too well. The moment his feet hit the ground, the doctor whirls about to face Surge once again, trying to cope with the attack that he knows has to be coming.
Tran just barely catches a glimpse, having been given just enough time to see Surge surging toward him. In that instant, Tran tries - he really does - to stand his ground, to get some benefit out of the strike. It doesn't work, and the blades dig into him, eliciting a gasp of pain. Unable to help himself, Dr. Tran is finally pushed back by the assault, staggering away woozily, chest bleeding quite a bit. "Erg..." A hand dips into a pocket, yanking out a tube of antibacterial salve. Tran pops the top off, squirts a big glob into one hand, and then reach up under the tattered remains of the front of his shirt. "I guess you're not as worthless as you look after all."
Sputtering laughter is really all that remains towards the very end of that spiralling assault. Pushing -off- the doctor, Surge lands in a simple crouch a small distance away from his enemy, head shaking as if trying to work away some headache. Electricity quakes around him for a moment longer before dying down into those uncontrollable, minor lances around his arms. He comes to a stand, head cocking to the side and a grin plastered across his sickly lips. "You're a silly little man, aren't you...? Whatdidyouthink was going to happ--... what?"
Whatever more Surge was going to say comes to an abrupt stop as soon as he sees that salve that Tran administers on himself. He blinks and squints, attempting to get a better look. Yet, it's clear in his gaze -- he doesn't understand what's going on. And that, well -- that frustrates him.
"What are you doing," he intones almost thoughtfully, a dangerous edge apparant on his voice. His hands clench into fists as he begins to walk forward in a calm, slow gait. "What is that? What silly little thing are you doing now, little man? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Of course, all these rapid-fire questions -might- be a little difficult to answer... considering that, as Surge speaks, he suddenly twists in the flutter of black fabric, seeking to lance his right foot -straight- into Tran's throat. The strike alone would sap Tran's air supply, his strength... but it's coupled by a sudden, lancing -bolt- of electrical chi meant to knock him even further back.
COMBATSYS: Tran successfully hits Tran with Dr. Tran - Cool Lovin.
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Tran 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Surge
COMBATSYS: Tran blocks Surge's Light Kick.
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Tran 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
More or less unmindful of Surge's twisted curiousity, Tran continues with his business. He rubs the salve in, make sure it gets in all the really big wounds. At the very least, it helps stem the bleeding. Tran has a feeling he's going to be needing his blood to keep on living, you see.
Of note, however, is the fact that he is doing this one-handed. What's the other hand doing? It's making sure Dr. Tran doesn't get his throat kicked in. It rises up, catching the kick on the back. The impact barely budges it, the electric aftertaste equally stuffed. "I'm working, toothpick." Tran shoves the offending foot to one side lightly, not even an attack on its own. Mostly it's just to get it out of his face. His other hand emerges, its task completed. Still a little gooey, though, tinged pink.
"Don't blink." Tran flicks it forward in Surge's face, and then, regardless of whether or not the man is sufficiently distracted, whirls about 180 degrees. His foot extends partway, at the end shooting out the rest of the way toward the Hellraiser's crotchal region. He'd try to aim higher, but the jabs at his height are starting to get to him.
COMBATSYS: Surge dodges Tran's Heavy Kick.
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Tran 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
Whatever lasting after-effects Surge's kick might have had go to the wayside the moment that it impacts that hand instead of throat. It's clear from the strike alone, though, that it wasn't really one intended for power. The electricity and physical strike dulled to a complete inneffectual smack against Tran's palm, Surge is remarkably quick to snap that leg -backwards- in time with the shove, his posture realigning into something straight and -ready- for the next attack. His eyes focus on those healed wounds... and he frowns.
"You think that's going to work? Oh no no no," the Hellraiser hisses out even as Tran flicks those gooey remnants towards him. He is quick to duck -down-, blinking at the perceived attack. What was -that- supposed to be? The answer comes as soon as Tran begins to twist. A distraction. That visible eye widening dangerously, Surge swings -out- of the way, that foot swiping harmlessly through the air as Surge spins like a human twister.
"You don't have a chance in hell!! Burn makes me so much better!! BETTER THAN ANYONE!" The words are roared out in a shrill cry as soon as Surge comes to a stop. Simultaneously, his arms swing down in a sudden, X-shaped swipe, bringing to bear his full effort into it in an attempt to slash at Tran's chest, and likely reopen some of those recently healed wounds in the process with a burning discharge of electricity.
COMBATSYS: Tran dodges Surge's Medium Strike.
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Tran 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
"I think it already did work." Tran's reply is simple as he sways slightly, then falls onto his back like a crab, just as Surge's blades come whistling in toward him. It's then that the doctor does the unthinkable: he scuttles. The blades go whistling past Tran's trousers, just missing. It may be undignified, but in this case, it works. Once he's sure he hasn't been stabbed in the crotch or anything, Tran pushes up with his hands, coming back up to a standing position somewhat unsteadily.
"If you're so much better, how come I'm still standing? Just give it up before you give yourself a stroke." He may be saying it, but Dr. Tran is none too confident so far. Really, he's getting a little desperate - clearly, it's time to crank it up a notch!
...by trying to punch Surge in the head, just like before. Shut up!
COMBATSYS: Surge dodges Tran's Strong Punch.
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Tran 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
If Tran is getting desperate, Surge is growing endlessly frustrated. His visible eye is swelling with incomprehensible, illogical rage as his blades swing and miss once more. He's clearly growing tired of Tran, bored of the game he has imposed here. And now that he's getting -bored-, well... he doesn't much feel like playing any more.
Still, it's not as if he's going to concede to someone as short and disgusting as Tran here. As the doctor crabwalks away and then comes at him once more, Surge... "SHYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" ... starts to scream. Loudly. Ear-piercingly loudly, in fact. And as that punch swings in towards him, he is simply -not there-, ducking unbelievably low to the ground to let it swing harmlessly over him. At that moment, he does one, simply thing. He grabs the woman's satchel around his shoulder by the strap. -Rips- it off. And then...
... He's just going to start swinging it into Tran over and over with unholy force until the other man can pry himself away. The intent is pretty clear, if not sloppy:
Surge is going to try to beat him to death with a purse.
COMBATSYS: Tran fails to interrupt Random Weapon from Surge with Dr. Tran Bites the Bullet.
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Tran 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
Damn it, Surge. Stop being so crazy. Tran's fist goes wide, hitting nothing but air. The doctor himself stays mostly on-balance, trying to recover quickly. The shrieking doesn't help, just one more think that throws off his concentration a little bit. Then, almost before he can blink, Dr. Tran gets assaulted by a goddamn purse of all things. "I, hey, what? Ow!" He was expecting, you know, more of the claw action, he could have dealt with that. But this? This is bewildering.
Tran was going to try to power through it, but...seriously, this is just too much. Turning around, ducking slightly and covering his arms with his head, Dr. Tran runs. "Cut it out, seriously, jesus, what's wrong with you? Hickory what?"
Tran's plans go out the door thge moment Surge starts swinging that purse. Likely the hits alone don't hurt -much-, but inevitably, they begin to add up. Somewhere in his mind, the Hellraiser lieutenant is aware this isn't the most effective way to deal with his problem. But reason only plays a miniscule amount in the things he does. The purse -thwacks- into Tran, over and over, until finally he pulls away, runs back. Surge -yanks- his arm backward for another strike, but mid-twist notes the lack of a body to hit. Instantly, he releases hold of the large purse. It goes flying, smacking into the wall behind him with the scattering of its contents.
In the background, the hobo is most pleased with this event.
Vacant gaze twists upon Tran the moment that he speaks, but it's clear that the words are barely registering. "The game is boring now -- you're boring. I'm going to... to... toendit. -NOW-." Another manic shout rips from Surge's throat as he suddenly -leaps- into the air towards Tran, inverting himself as he flies with unnatural, unnerving grace. Thin limbs bend at the elbows and knees, his arms crossing over each other. He descends rapidly, and, at the same time... SLICES forward for Tran's torso with those blades, seeking to carve into his chest as a wide arch of electricity follows after the strikes, conducting through the metals of his blades to just -fry- Tran as the madman shouts inane gibberish.
COMBATSYS: Tran blocks Surge's Insanity.
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Tran 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
"For the love of god, what is WRONG with you!?" Burn, maybe, Tran? No, that would be too obvious, of course. Tran turns around, now that he's not being bombarded with a purse, and...well, he's getting pretty pissed off here. Maybe if he could TOUCH this jackass...but no. No, he has to be all goddamn CRAZY and...and...okay. OK.
Tran calms down just enough to let his arms take a beating instead of him, the twin slashes running down along them. It's painful, but bizzarely less so than the purse. What do women even keep in those things? Regardless of this mystery, one of many, Tran continues his strategic retreat, trying to keep some distance in between himself and Surge. Then he lets it all out.
Which is to say, chi. Steam. It starts pouring out of him, covering him in a thin, insubstantial haze. "THAT'S IT, GODDAMIT." Tran points at Surge, and a tiny, harmless jet of steam shoots out the tip. "You...your father is a radish farmer! Your mother sleeps with thin blankets!" Dire insults, indeed.
COMBATSYS: Tran takes no action.
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Tran 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
What is wrong with him, indeed. For Surge, nothing is really -wrong- with him. Tran's probably asking the wrong person. The Burn in his system, though, the electricity that courses through him -non-stop-, lends to the young man's unusual... quirks. Like his laughter at Tran's apt defenses, when only moments ago he was filled with rage. As those blades strike nothing but powerful forearms, Surge pushes -back- and lands a fair distance away. ... just in time to see the Terminal suddenly fill up with steam.
"... What?" Considering this is the first he's seen of Tran's own chi, confusion strikes Surge solidly as he looks all around him. "Is this somesortof -trick-? It's not going to work, I--" And then the insults come. Surge stares forward as Tran begins to belt out insult after insult in an almost incomprehensibly blank expression. His father is a...? His mother...? His lips part, thin eyebrow twitching.
"... Heheheh."
It begins with a slight giggle. And then, it erupts into that full-blown, unstable -laughter- that quakes Surge's skinny body. "AHAHeeheeheehaa!! You're a funny little twerp, aren'tyou?" he wonders aloud. Even as he does, he takes a single step backwards, his hands falling at his sides. "Hmmmhmmmm, very funny... I think I'llletyou live tonight." The decision goes unexplained, but sure enough, as steam still permeates through the terminal... Surge turns and begins to walk towards the steps, intent on exiting unless stopped, erupting into random fits of giggles the entire way. "HAHAH! Radish farmer...!!"
Apparently, Surge feels it would be a travesty to waste such comedic wit.
COMBATSYS: Surge takes no action.
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Tran 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
"I'll trick your ear!" Tran retracts his finger in anger and then bunches the hand up into a fist. It quivers. And then...then...Surge is laughing at him, now!? If Tran were still calm at this point, he would probably just shrug it off, but he's lost any and all traces of composure he once held. If, y'know, that wasn't fairly obvious already.
With a roar of "YOU HAVE THREE SISTERS!" Tran charges. Steam writhes around his fist, and he raises it back...only to shift right before impact, trying to drive his shoulder into Surge's torso. If the Hellraiser had a frame to match his height, it would probably end there, but Dr. Tran is going to go /all the way/. Pushing off with all of his strength, the doctor tries to run Surge all the way into the nearest wall, steaming all the while. If he makes it there...well, as they say...boom. Chisplosion.
COMBATSYS: Surge parries Tran's Quick Throw!
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Tran 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Surge
Well. Surge gave him a chance. Gave him a choice. It's probably far more lenient than the crazed man would be with anyone else; even if it was motivated by little more than the complete madness that drives him. But, the Hellraiser is still walking, back presented to Tran. Still stammering out laughter in waves of convulsions across his entire, lithe frame. As Tran hollars out that final insult? He pauses. Stops, his back still turned to the doctor.
"I SAID I'd let you live tonight..."
It would almost be a lucid statement if not for the spark in Surge's eye as he turns his head to regard Tran. The laughter is gone. He's -frowning-, almost disappointed. The shoulder rush comes, and suddenly Surge is simply to the -side- of Tran in a disorienting flurry of movement, a gloved hand SLAPPING against his rear shoulder to push his momentum, guide it... just as Surge begins to spin in a twister of motion. "DON'TSPITONMYGIFT!!!"
If the poor doctor is caught in the wake of the spin, vicious winds are going to send him twisting through the air as if in orbit around Surge. The Hellraiser's arms -snap- out to either side of him, to carve into Tran over, and over, and over, every time he is unfortunate enough to rotate around them. Lightning CRACKS around his gaunt body, ionizing the air and striking Tran at random intervals. Yet, as soon as it begins, it will end. Surge's spin will come to an abrupt halt, and Tran will be sent FLYING away -- likely to crash into a nearby wall, if he's unlucky.
COMBATSYS: Surge successfully hits Tran with Dementia EX.
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Tran 1/=======/=======|====---\-------\0 Surge
What kind of shitty choice is that? Be a pussy or die?! Unthinkable! You know who bothers with choices like that? That's right. Commies. Filthy, unamerican, god-hating communist sons-of-bitches. Dr. Tran is the cleanest American god-loving capitalist superstar to ever walk the earth. EVER.
And that's why, when Surge freaks out once more and goes crazy with the tapping and the whirling and the slashing, Dr. Tran /takes it/. Or, to be more accurate, he /tries to take it/. It doesn't really work out too terribly well - seriously, he's not thinking clearly, and pure bull-headedness can only take you so far. The only think Dr. Tran is taken on is a trip, courtesy of the worst whirlwind to ever whack him.
He lands roughly, bleeding out of a dozen different places. Slowly, the doctor picks himself back up, swaying with the effort. "Your gift sucks..." Tran staggers forward, off-kilter, uneasy steps. Steam builds up on his hands, pulled away from the rest of him, slowly obscuring them from view. They form twin balls of white energy. The /roil./
Then Tran lurches forward once more, swinging back and then driving upward, his fist looking to collide with Surge's jaw. It ought to be explosive.
COMBATSYS: Surge blocks Tran's Here Comes Dr. Tran!.
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Tran 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Surge
The force should, under normal circumstances, be enough to fling Surge straight up in the air. Even if it doesn't, Tran will pause, and then state plainly, "And you suck." Then he'll bring his other fist screaming straight forward to clock the taller man right in the goddamn chest.
Doesn't Tran know? Metro City is infested with filthy communist sympathizing bastards. Which is exactly the reason why Surge is both surprised and disappointed by Tran's unerring desire to get absolutely butchered. After the assault is over, Surge comes to stand at his full height, his lack of any real muscle mass just making it all the more unnerving. He takes a grip onto his hat and peels it off, letting it fall to the ground without care or concern. "Silly little midget. Now you're going to die. I'm going to rip out that ugly tongue of yours and cut you into pieces and youmademedoit--"
He never finishes the thought. Soon enoughg, Tran is erupting forward and SLAMMING Surge in the jaw with one helluva hard punch. There is a distinct crackle of electricity and sound of crunching bone as Surge goes -flying- into the air. Blood spews from his mouth in a spray of dark red through the air, and his head nearly threatens to scrape the ceiling before he begins to descend, rapidly, straight back for Tran. The doctor reels back, prepares another punch...
... And BOTH Surge's palms are there to greet him when he does. The force is great; electricity crackles, conflicting with the explosion of Tran's own chi. It's certainly -painful-. Surge hasn't ever felt anything like it. It's different. It's... invigorating. His visible eye IGNITES with life as he holds his ground, and his grip onto Tran's hand, and a massive grin splits across those thin lips. "HOW STRONG YOU ARE!!"
Tran will get all of a second to rip away before Surge intends to funnel a MASSIVE shock of electricity from his body, through his arms, into Tran's, the drug-induced chi set to fry the doctor most painfully.
COMBATSYS: Tran blocks Surge's Madness.
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Tran 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Surge
That feels good. His fist smashing home, driving Surge upward. It's gratifying, really it is. Less so when Surge makes his descent, stopping Tran's second strike cold. It explodes anyway, the steam washing backward over the doctor, a warm flow of power, electricity arcing through it.
At the very least, it looks completely badass. It's a shame this isn't a televised fight - maybe then it would actually be worth a damn.
Still, Tran at least has the presence of mind to stay focused. When Surge keeps pouring on the chi, even when the doctor's attack is spent, his inner reserves are there to battle it. The electricity visibly travels down Tran's arm, and then slowly, painfully, is brought to a halt. With one last crackle, it vanishes.
Panting, Tran really doesn't have much left - he's on his last legs. No energy to waste on words anymore. Therefore, it's time for him to put it all on the line. Pulling his arm back, Tran tilts backward, and then falls. It's not as easy as that, though. Twisting in midair, he catches himself on his hands and the tips of his feet. The doctor hops and pushes off all at once, essentially turning himself into a large, steamy missile, aimed directly at Surge.
COMBATSYS: Surge parries Tran's Strong Kick!
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Tran 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Surge
It hurts to talk. Even just the slight movement of his jaw -burns- Surge with lingering pain... and he loves it. His interest in this little game of his has been reinvigorated, enough so that his once bland gaze is now alight with that crazed enthusiasm of his. His fingers twitch against Tran's fist as that wellspring of electricity gushes out to assault him... only to come to a halt. He blinks, stares, and then -- he laughs.
"HEH! You can still keep going?? Goodgood!! Keep fighting! You're a very amusing guy!" While Tran is on his last legs, it seems that Surge is still viewing this as some sort of twisted game which, in the end, is both good and bad for Tran. Good, because it means Surge might not kill him after all, but bad... because it means he's still got more than enough within him to simply -continue stabbing Tran-.
Sweeping -backwards- and placing the brunt of his weight upon his left leg, the Hellraiser's gaze shoots UPWARDS as Tran turns himself into some bizarre human missile, aimed feet first at Surge. His reaction is equally absurd: he LEAPS at Tran. Body twisting through the air, he seems to have every intention of intercepting the Blackjack agent... except that he's ascending -higher-. Gloved hands slam -down- as he begins to invert, pressing shortly against Tran's abdomen to set him off balance and give Surge something to push off of and boost his speed all the more, zooming -straight- past Tran... before lashing out with a broad sweeping of his hands, seeking to bite those weapons into Tran's uppertorso as he goes along, followed by that distinct surge of electrical chi.
COMBATSYS: Surge successfully hits Tran with Insanity EX.
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Tran 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Surge
Let's be honest here - in this sort of position, what the hell is Dr. Tran even supposed to do? The kick was a gamble, which failed miserably. It actually helped the man, /somehow./ Tran can't even follow it anymore, honestly - he's near defenseless against the Hellraiser's latest set of slashes. Twin trails of blood flow upward, and Tran collapses.
The subway floor feels pretty cool. It's a little grody, but let's be honest here. Tran is bleeding all over the place, he's making the grody factor skyrocket. Even so...
Tran rolls over a couple of times, tearing himself away from the floor, and then slams a palm down onto the ground. His legs bunch up underneath him, and he drags himself forward, leaving a bloody trail behind him. The steam around him starts to gather again, thick as ever, essentially being forcibly yanked out of Tran's inner workings just for this. He pushes himself up, rasping, and stops. Gathering the last of his energy, the last vestiges of concentration left to him.
Dr. Tran lunges forward, bringing one fist in low and slow, trying to drive it upward into Surge's gut. The other one waits, waits for the instant Tran feels it hit something, anything. In that instant, it rockets forward, essentially pulling Tran along with it, causing him to stumble, trip, and fall flat on his face.
Goodnight, Gracie.
COMBATSYS: Tran can no longer fight.
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Surge 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Surge interrupts Here Comes Dr. Tran! from Tran with Dementia EX.
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Surge 0/-------/-======|
An interesting man. For being so short, he's certainly full of a fiery sort of determination that some might find annoying. Surge, in good spirits as he is and in such control of the situation as he is, just finds it -funny-. Entertaining. Tran is, after all... a funny little man.
Leaping through the air in the aftermath of that last strike, Surge lands in a crouch several feet from Tran, the jagged tatters of cloth attached to his jacket falling around him in clusters. He figures that this is the end of it, and he gives off that appearance as well, slowly coming to a stand -- taking his sweet time to do so, adjusting his jacket and wiping away blood from his mouth. He says nothing, for once. For now. He just slowly turns, expecting to see Tran's broken body lying unmoving on the floor.
What he gets, however... is something entirely different.
Surge is treated to Doctor Tran rather defiantly getting back on his feet. For a moment he stares, uncomprehending of what is happening. And then his mood shifts entirely, from amusement to a mild fear and frustration. "N-no!!" he shouts, taking a single step back. "I beat -- I beat you! Thegameisover!! Yo--you're done, you stupid... STUPIDLITTLEMAN!!"
Yet, Tran doesn't seem to done, and fear and paranoia quickly give way to outright anger that devours Surge's entire train of thought. A single, driving motivation: stop Tran. Prove he's better. That first fist swings, SLAMMING into Surge's gut with enough force that blood splatters all over Tran's chest with the expulsion of air. Yet, as the momentum drives in, Surge -uses- it. Somehow, he maintains his footing, beginning that signature spin of his that catches Tran up in the violent winds it generates. Before he can unleash that second punch, Surge is assaulting him, over and over again with those slices and stabs into his body, electricity pummeling the doctor before, once more, they come to a -stop-... and Tran will be flung right through the window of the nearby subway train.
"S-see??!," he rasps, "DOYOUSEE?! I make the rules of the game NOT YOU." Yet... Surge is talking to no one. And after a long moment of similar ranting, he begins to calm. Slowly, he moves to pick up his hat, put it on. Without another word, he'll start to leave towards downtown, his expression oddly unnerved. "-I- make the rules... nooneelse."
COMBATSYS: Surge has ended the fight here.
Log created on 21:51:05 10/11/2007 by Tran, and last modified on 15:08:33 10/12/2007.