Description: Leave it to an old ninja to find new tricks for getting aboard the floating fortress besieging the Suiryuu. After being launched out of a cannon, Aranha and Katelynn find themselves seperated somewhat from their allies. But a ghost steps out of the shadows to provide them with a little help but not much in the way of hope for the one who happens across the hapless duo is the tyrant of 'R' himself, Rugal Bernstein.
Rugal had tightened up security in the docking bay down at water level after the recent number of unwelcome guests found aboard his boat. Stragglers from strange Jinchuu matches floundering aboard... allies falling back after having taken a beating... and even one pesky investigator who tested his fate in hopes of finding answers. But securing the deck of the Black Noah certainly seemed unnecessary. After all, any aircraft large enough to pose a threat would be torn out of the sky with a deadly array of missles and flak cannons. Thus it is that for the most part, the runways of the carrier are empty when the hapless duo find themselves shot out of Hiretsu's cannon to land aboard the attacking vessel.
Oh, sure, there's security sirens going off now. Someone must've seen the few flailing bodies on an unfortunate trajectory toward 'R' Organization's floating fortress and pulled alarm switch. But trying to figure out where the attackers are coming from has caused the 'R' security patrols to be rather confused in seeking out the new arrivals. "What? People on the deck?" "Cannon. They got shot out of a CANNON." "I didn't catch that. It sounded like you said some fighters got shot out of a cannon at us." The radio chatter is full of confusion and uncertainty as the squads try to make sense of conflicting reports. Katelynn and Aranha find themselves somewhat seperated from their other allies, but perhaps they can reconvene quickly before Rugal's men can fully organize...
The Dancing Spider's body tucks into a roll upon landing. His parkour skill allowing for him to not to take the impact as badly as it could've been. Of course expecting being turned into a human cannonball did help though if he sees a ninja again it'll be too soon.
"Look alive Katelynn and try to keep up," the ex-cat burglar shouts as he reaches into his pouch to snatch a trio of mini manila envelopes out along with a lighter setting them ablaze as he charges forward with quick foot falls before flinging them out through the ranks. While it would do little more than blind a fighter of Rugal's caliber the explosions of the thermite mixtures within the envelopes would provide quite a kick to the rank and file soldiers and Aranha plans on blowing a path further through "R" soldiers as he tries to reunite with the other 'agents.' Aranha just didn't have faith in her ability to keep up with him if he were to take to the air.
Katelynn may be separated, but being mentally prepared meant that as soon as she hit the ground, she was able to roll and prevent from hitting the ground too hard. As a result, she's still standing on both feet and ready for action. Klaxons blaring, security forces swarming, this is what a true fight should always be about in Katelynn's opinion. And when Aranha tells her to look alive, she gives a nod with a big smirk on her face. If she weren't going to be alive, then she wouldn't be here. She's more than ready for this, following behind Aranha as the blaze lights up.
TShadows and ash.
One can only imagine the grandeur the Black Noah once possessed decades ago. A baroque temple dedicated the lord of war, now long since fallen into ruin. Any nation of the world would have called this decrepit leviathan derelict and sent to the bottom of the sea in an honorable burial. No, this hulk of a monstrosity is clearly dead, but unwilling or unable to die. Its destiny forever entwined with that of its master. As long as one survives, so shall the other.
Like ever calls to like yet not all shadows are on the same. Amidst the blackened metal of the deathly ship, it would appear that the ballistically delivered intruders are not alone.
As the cordite-laden ocean mists stir about the vast deck of the wicked carrier, the already chill air seems to drop a degree further. While the tangible menace never fades from this terrible place, A new tension plays at the air. A sobering sensation, the sound of klaxons and groaning, haunted metal fades a fraction.
In the midst of their violent assault, Aranha and Katelynn both then notice a shadow standing near them. Opposite the towering control spire amid-ship, a feminine figure looms. Pale skin enshrouded by solemn black silk, silhouetted against a moon splashed crimson with the dread vessel's smoking engines and flames of Aranha's thermite. This ghostly figure is serene, motionless, even among the unfolding carnage. The edges of her loose kimono and long ebony locks stirring in the breeze not at all. Eyes hidden within the volumes of those inky tresses, but such an inconvenience does nothing to temper the raging aura of the thing that stalks them now.
Violet-painted lips shifting, whispering so lightly the sound has no Earthly right to reach their ears as they take the fight to the scrambling enforcers, yet the oddly echoing words are heard all the same,
"..He comes.."
There is one not fooled by the confusion over the radio channels. One not confused by the strange turn of tactics utilized to invade his boat with the fighters willing to take a stand for the sake of the Suiryuu. For the sake of the Ryouhara. For Jinchuu. What sounds like random shouting over the comm system was synthesized by the tyrant of 'R', his mind putting together the relevant information, discarding the rest of the audible detritus.
The deck. They've launched themselves against the deck. Flies may as well seek to hault the passing semi truck for all the good this foolhardy mission is going to do them, the man muses with scowl as he storms out of the parlor high atop the control structure. An elevator serves as the stage from which he exits, dressed in his fine, nigh garish suit of red. A thin black scarf hanging around his neck, complimenting the black rope tie at his neck.
Aranha sends the squad that happened across him packing, the men stumbling over each other in the confusion, fumbling out of the way and creating a path for him. But another comes from the opposite direction. One he will recognize well. Already his body eminates an aura of menace. Invisible in the darkness, a black presence looms with him as his mind tries to make sense of the senseless. His own men scatter before him, leaving a path directly toward the odd trio.
A young man he had already met. Looks like he decided to forgo neutrality? A young woman. He remembers her from the jungles of Thailand where she interferred with him once before. And a third... the shadowy enigma. So very much unlike the other two, but perhaps alliances and fate have brought the long lived ninja out of the darkness to haunt his boat with a purpose tonight.
"There must be more than just you three," growls the German. "Though, dealing with you before you unite suits me just fine..." He starts to take a step forward as if intending to strike out at Aranha, teaching him a harsh lesson about coming back to the Black Noah a second time, but he pauses then, his clench fist held at bay. "Of course... it need not end this way for you... Abandon your defense of the Suiryuu and you will be taken home in one piece. Insist on fighting for the Ryouhara and suffer the same fate that they will."
Aranha's radio crackles. "I'd advise you take care. In case you didn't know, that is Rugal Bernstein. It would seem response time is a little more brutal than we anticipated. You'd probably do well to take his bargain. Of course, then you'd be killed. Maybe. Is there someone beside you?"
Aranha pulls the handset out of his pouch and raises his eyebrow a sour expression appearing on his face. He's caught in a Catch 22, he hates Catch 22. If he fights Rugal he'll die if he doesn't he'll probably die... Not exactly the most appealing of prospects if you were to ask him. "I've had the pleasure of meeting him," his voice taking on a bitter tone, "And yes there's someone else."
Aranha's completely creeped out by the vibes this shadowy enigma is putting out and he doesn't like it though he's going to keep quiet and figure out what else the voice on the radio has to say before he acts. As much as he doesn't like it he has to admit it's their show.
Aranha may be in a Catch-22, but for Katelynn, this is no time for situations like this. She can't worry about what will happen whether or not she succeeds or fails. Now is the time for focusing on the task at hand and for accomplishing it, no matter how difficult it may be.
The Devil of Koga need not unveil her eyes to see that which approaches them now.
No, point of fact, the Devil is reluctant to do so. To stare directly at the heart of the august personage whom treads towards them with a tyrant's weight invites only madness. Even for those who are, already, quite mad. The taint that touches this spirit even the Devil herself is reluctant to court. The unholy power this man possesses even ghosts draw away from warily.
In another time.. the wicked creature would call this man a brother in arms. There was once a union between their peoples, a mighty Axis that had nearly ensnared the world in their just hand. Marise had long since considered the great bloodlines of the Germanic people had long since been spent and cowed beneath the lash of so-called liberty and equality both with their nation as divided and shattered as her own.
Clearly, they are not all extinguished, as the mighty proof stands before them now.
The ghoulish maiden's stillness remains unbroken. Stirred not a fraction in the aftermath of her prophecy, which came to fulfillment mere moments after the words were spoken. The Lord of War has history with this boy, hmmm? Marise herself recalls this youth, as Elle once offered a chance at her brotherhood to him. Her opinion is neutral upon him, which may be the best news Aranha could have hoped for considering the death sentence that looms before him now. The voice upon the crackling radio earns a secretive smile upon the creature's purple lips, but nothing further.
The Devil simply remains on the opposite side of the other two from Rugal. His magnanimous offer appears to go unacknowledged in what is unquestionably a grave insult. No further words need be spoken.. do they?
That's the problem with opportunity when it knocks. It doesn't like to be kept waiting. The crackling voice from the radio brings an unpleasant frown to the stern features of the towering German. "Ah, I see. Not so neutral after all." he remarks as he eyes Aranha. He looked into the boy's face when he caught him aboard this very ship earlier. He had not expected the young martial artist to champion any cause but his own. It looks like even Bernstein can be surprised at human nature at times.
"Very well." He regards Katelynn secondly, the young woman studied with weighted intensity. She doesn't seem the sort to throw in the towel so easily. Whatever Hiretsu said before sending her over here seems to have at least inspired her to be resolute with their mission. "But perhaps a taste of what is in store for you might encourage you to reconsider!" Of Marise? Well... will the ghost wish to see the cause through when her allies drop like burning timber before Rugal's wrath?
And with that, the man tears off toward the fighter in the karate gi, aiming to plant a solid punch into her stomach with his right fist before following up with a sharp uppercut into her chin with his left. "HAH!" He moves with speed that defies comprehension and strikes with power that can crush rocks. Right now, it's up to Katelynn to wrestle with her own future here aboard the Black Noah.
COMBATSYS: Rugal has started a fight here on the right meter side.
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Rugal
COMBATSYS: Aranha has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Aranha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
COMBATSYS: Katelynn has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Aranha 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Marise has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Marise 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/-------|
If you were to ask Aranha if he gave a damn about the cause of the Suiryuu, he'd give a resounding, 'Oh, hell naw.' If anything Aranha joined up with them because he doesn't take too kindly to threats and Rugal didn't win any points by destroying his sunglasses either. He had weigh his reasons for disliking them. Threatened with death vs being fired from a cannon. The Ryouhara ninjas came out a bit more likable as far as he was concerned. Basically Aranha is only motivated by spite right now.
Aranha suddenly hears a sound on the radio of Hiretsu. "Krrstch. "Good, then I don't need to tell you he is a kind of walking death. It is paramount that all agents of Jinchuu survive into the new age. I'd strongly recommend using whatever resources you have available to survive and remove yourself from the situation with as little maiming as possible. That one next to you is rather powerful, for example... be careful!"
Well Aranha has his orders. Aranha is at this point playing for times as he closes his pouch and goes into a running jump leaping up and over Rugal hoping to get behind him while he's occupied by the walking death attempting to crouch down and drive his heel into Rugal's back.
Now he just has to see what the ghostly woman will bring to bear. Then he can really make some combat decisions.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Katelynn with Medium Punch.
- Power hit! -
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Marise 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/-======|
Even though the punch hit hard, despite Katelynn's best efforts to block it, it does little to deter her. Instead, it helps get the fighting spirit inside of her flowing faster. She recovers from the impact quickly and turns to face Rugal. Without wasting a beat she brings her right fist back and focuses intently on it, summoning her chi into it, and then sends it flying at Rugal in the form of a bluish sphere.
And so, battle is joined.
The spurned warlord looses his wrath upon the first of their number, striking her down with an inexorable force rivaling nature itself. The acrobatic youth tumbles into battle, enjoining the fray with little fear, against virtually all sanity.
The Devil? ... Stirs very softly. Her head beginning to tilt back as her bangs begin to part of their own accord,
"..I see little hearts beating.."
Haunting voice whispers to herself as inhuman, golden eyes reveal themselves. Faintly luminous in the near-morning twilight. Her attentions still turned mostly to the ruinous black steel beneath their feet. Arms hanging at her sides as her fingers uncurl.. Nails extending slowly like unsheathing swords.
COMBATSYS: Marise focuses on her next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Marise 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Katelynn's Energy Fist.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Rugal interrupts Medium Kick from Aranha with Genocide Cutter.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 1/--=====/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/--=====|
That Katelynn has the guts to come back after him after that punishing two hit combo of his means she's either recklessly insane, addicted to pain, or just hella tough. Rugal will have to take another swing at her to see if he can determine precisely which category she falls into.
For now, a raised, suit covered arm will suffice for stopping the energy blast she sends his way, doing little more than ruffling the red fabric the jacket is made from... He would have reacted more forecfully toward her but he has a young man who fancies himself a dancing spider leaping over to try and catch Bernstein from behind. "Haha, you should have taken the offer while it was good!"
As if anticipating the strike from behind, Rugal spins around, lashing out with his right leg with an arching kick, a trail of piercing, slashing chi following behind his leg. "Genocide-..." The dreaded move, bane of fighters who have suffered beneath the devestating strike. The first kick is just the beginning as Rugal follows up with a second one, following the young man into the air, finishing with a third brutal axe kick to drive him back down toward the deck. "Cutter!"
Rugal drops back down to the deck, landing calmly on his two feet, turning toward the third he has yet to inflict his style of crushing pain upon just yet. Marise. The shadow that doesn't belong. "Well, well..." His right eye, the cybernetic replacement for that which was stolen decades ago, lights up with a pin thin red light. He has not had the chance to study one such as she for a long, long time.
Katelynn's not insane, she's courageous and full of guts. She's not going to back down just because some big giant is going to try to knock the daylights out of her. She's going to keep fighting untill one of them falls. Probably Katelynn, but even then she's not going to go down without a fight. She brings her left foot up and aims it directly at Rugal's stomach.
Aranha's body goes flying into the air. His close proximity to the ground only making things worse as well as the fact that his lack of experience with chi comes back to bite him in the ass. when he's driven back to the ground his body actually bounces off the ground before coming to a complete stop.
He slowly rises back to his feet and shakes the cobwebs as he looks at the German. "Kiss my caramel colored kiester." At this point it's safe to assume he doesn't give a damn but he's still studying the war lord carefully trying to wait for the perfect moment as he sways in ginga.
COMBATSYS: Aranha focuses on his next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 1/--=====/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/--=====|
The battle does not seem to go well for her 'comrades'. Katelynn's assault proving to do little more than scuff this daper fellow's sleeves. The agile spider's brave leap into the fray earns himself a vicious series of energized blows that forces even the Devil's wicked gaze to flinch upon witnessing.
"..Yesss... Faster now.." The Devil whispers to herself. Only then do her eyes move upwards to meet the lord of war's own vision.
His cyclopean gaze much as his mighty vessel.. Eyes that are both living and dead.
For a long moment, their eyes simply meet. And the ghost... Remains perfectly still. The hem of her kimono stirring just a fraction as her allies leap back into the attack. She offers the Dancing Spider a quiet whisper, "...Perhaps, boy. You should be more appreciative of offers.. when they are given.. Hrmn?" Her clawed had gesturing a moment towards the monster's cyborg eye, "The left.. He may rely overly on ..that darkness.." To the Devil's senses, it is a blot. A hole in his spirit that her gaze cannot pierce.
COMBATSYS: Marise assists Aranha.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 1/--=====/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Rugal fails to interrupt Heavy Kick from Katelynn with Kaiser Wave.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 1/--=====/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Katelynn 0/-------/--=====|
Taking a step back as Aranha gathers himself, the man's scrutiny of Marise is cut short as Katelynn comes charging back in toward him. "You need to learn when you're vastly in over your head... this is the second time..." Leaning back, his arms stretched behind him, Rugal begins charge up a distressingly powerful amount of chi in his palms. "But I'll be through with you shortly..."
But not yet, it would seem, as Katelynn's foot strikes him in the chest at the same time he was bringing forward his arms to crush her with a wall of deadly chi. Power like that takes a certain amount of fel concentration to maintain and unfortunately for the tyrant, that ended up just enough to shatter his focus, fizzling the disasterous wave of chi before it could even be made manifest.
"Feh," he grunts, pausing for only an instant. He needs to reconsider how seriously he takes the Shotokan practioner.
Oddly enough Aranha thinks back to what Elle once said after handing him his ass on silver platter. 'They think that all they need to do is toss their name around and that it'll get results. Nobody second guesses them anymore. That's how they win' Aranha chose this moment to second guess Rugal.
Aranha performs an outside crescent kick from his front leg which then drops to his rear leg. He shifts back and swings his leg around in a rear leg outside crescent kick which is quickly followed up by a trio of kick where he touches the ground as he swings the heel of his rear leg towards his opponent's head and in particular the cybernetic eye. On the third of those particular kicks he cuts short and turns his foot as he drops it down on the ground before swinging his other foot at the head in a roundhouse kick-like motion though it's also done with both hands on the ground. Keith then shifts his weight over to the side swinging the unplanted foot up and over which though it doesn't hit, it generates momentum for the other foot to come back across. He performs a handstand and performs a series of rapid spinning handstand kicks. All kicks in this sequence are engulfed in blue chi as he attempts to batter Rugal and make use of that advice that Marise gave him.
Katelynn's kick hit where it should've, but at what price? Katelynn suddenly pulls back holding her leg in pain. She thinks she might have kicked too hard... what will happen to her now?
COMBATSYS: Katelynn has left the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/-----==|
[OOC] Hiretsu says, "Did she just kick Rugal .. and break her /own leg?/"
As Katelynn falls, her violent attack coming to naught against this powerhouse Aranha continues to fight on. An inspirational burst of bravery against an opponent the Dancing Spider holds no hope of conquering. Only then is the Devil finally spurred to motion.
The ghoulish maiden's head tilts forwards, her dark symmetry briefly illuminated in flashes of the incredible display of finesse and martial prowess before her as David engages Goliath in full. Her soft whisper issues from her lips...
"..Soon the little hearts.. will stop.."
Golden gaze quietly veiling behind her bangs. Folding her hands within her sleeves as she simply, quietly steps back. The corners of her previously neutral lips twisting upwards in a slow, secretive smile. Gentle, breathless giggle playing behind her satisfied grin.
At once.. The Devil vanishes into shadows from whence she came.. leaving her allies to face an all but certain fate at the hands of the lord of war.
... Is that craven creature that much of a coward? ... Or...?
COMBATSYS: Marise takes no action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Aranha successfully hits Rugal with Royal Flush EX.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/-----==|
Truth be told? It's good advice. Rugal hadn't intended to let the young man get his hits in. The fancy display of chi laden kicks does catch him off guard in the end. Sure, he's used to that sudden burst of strength some fighters get after he delivers a punishing strike against them, but Aranha's retaliation comes swift when he finally choses to act.
Kick after kick, to Rugal's head, chest, sides, legs. The man takes each of them clean on, even the strike toward his cybernetic eye that knocks his head back from the blow. But when it's all said and done? He's still standing. A faint trickle of blood from his lip is the only indication that he's taken a hit at all. His arms lower, his mouth curling into an arrogant smirk born of excessive power over his unfortunate opponents.
In a single step he walks forward, shoving Katelynn off to the side, leaving her unable to continue with the leg injury inflicted by her daring kick moments before. Marise is focused on next for the fleeting moments she remains. "Heh," comes the grunt. As her allies fell, it comes as no surprise that she wouldn't be there to back them up. Pick your companions carefully as the warnings go.
With two steps, the monster seeks to grab hold of Aranha by the neck before the young man can recover from the highly accrobatic attack...
COMBATSYS: Aranha blocks Rugal's Quick Throw.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Marise 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/---====|
The moment Aranha twists into a standing position from those glowing handstand kicks he turns to the side. Aranha is quite familiar with how fast Rugal can move. He knows how much pain Rugal can dish out and he wants no part of it. So he leans away from Rugal with his arm up which then becomes the recipient of the clutch.
While Aranha's arm is grabbed, the ex-cat burglar reaches into his pouch and pulls out a mini canister of shaving cream. While Rugal has one hand occupied he sprays Rugal in the face with shaving cream, hoping to both obscure his vision and stun him long enough to make his getaway. As far as Katelynn's concerned, he has to leave her behind. She'd slow him down, and besides Aranha was no hero.
That's when the radio comes back on again. Ksstch. "As you've no doubt found out, clever and edgy insults will only get you beaten savagely. At this point, further strategic advance to disable him isn't feasible for you. Remain in a defensive position. At this point, it's highly likely there are guards mobilized to prevent a tactical retreat, especially with the Shotokan.. I'm going to -- *BOOM* -- Pl---e sta-d by."
"Thanks for the warning old head," Aranha says as he runs off as he makes his retreat, leaving soldiers either singed, covered with shaving cream, or both in his wake.
COMBATSYS: Marise has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Aranha 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Rugal
COMBATSYS: Aranha takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Aranha 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Rugal
The tyrant of 'R' is satisfied getting a grip on Aranha's arm. It isn't the neck. He really wanted to strangle the life from the boy by now. Not because he's a threat. But because perhaps more than anyone Bernstein has dealt with recently, he didn't /seem/ to realize what he was up against. Having the sheer disregard for life it takes to attack a man like him... Aranha is either braver than he gives himself credit for or he has simply gone mad at a young age.
Dangling the young fighter in his grip, he lifts him up before his face, his mouth curling into an unpleasant smirk. What he wants is that radio. He wants to talk to that Operator. To gloat at the foolishness of his attempt an offense. All he needs is to...
Pay more attention to what the young man is doing, it seems. Fixated on stealing the radio right off of him the eager, proud crimelord neglected to consider the bag of tricks Aranha seems to always be packing. Caught off guard with the spray to the face, the young man is released as Rugal brings both of his hands to wipe the substance from his eyes. His human eye can remain blurry, pained. It doesn't matter. His cybernetic eye, managed to remain undamaged in spite the attacks Aranha aimed at it earlier, can see just perfectly fine the moment it is cleared off.
"This fight will be your LAST!" roars the man as he pursues Aranha, leaning forward, propelling himself forward not by war muscle power alone but by drawing upon that deep well of sickly, overwhlemingly powerful chi he can control. His arms out at his sides, he barrels toward the teen, intending to crash into him with enough force to carry him onward and crush him against a wall. That will just be the beginning. Oh yes... he should be checking on the rest of his boat, but he is going to take a moment to enjoy this moment.
COMBATSYS: Hiretsu has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Hiretsu 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Hiretsu fails to interrupt God Press from Rugal with Thrown Object EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Hiretsu 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Rugal's God Press.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Hiretsu 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aranha 0/-------/---====|
Just then, the Suiryuu speaks. The Hiryuu Taihou is a long range projector cannon, firing multi-stage payloads over long artillery distances. Mostly it's been employed as a generic standoff weapon in the fight, bombarding the Blacknoah with exploding cannonballs of mixed effectiveness. This is partially due to her crew--though they have all been trained in the use of the weapons, these are still very arcane ninja devices and difficult to operate.
A flash in the sky appears over the Blacknoah. And then the rain begins.
Black rods with wicked points on the ends rain from the sky, littering a very constricted portion of the deck roughly in the area of this battle. Each rod.. has ancient sigils marked across it. Each sigil gloes. Each spear splits.
And each bursts into flame and smoke, creating an expansive web--a corn field of gases, carbons and flame. The Suiryuu's version of an EMP. A rebuttal, if you will.
With the Director on the nearest cannon to the security office, a small wireless monitor taped to his wrist, arcane ninja devices are largely a different story entirely compared to most of the crew.
"Unfortunately, my aim was very, very off," the Director remarks direly over the handset. "It won't slow him down in the slightest! I suggest you use the cover to isolate a section of the ship and regroup with your comrades. Two is being worked over by one of the organization's elite as we speak."
As an aside, Hiretsu mutters, ".. I /was/ aiming for his eye .."
Insanity? No Aranha's quite sane. Bravery, possible. But it's a spite induced bravery. The type of bravery that's only there because it serves to piss Rugal off. The knowledge that his existance pisses Rugal off for some odd reason gives him confort even though Rugal is such a dangerous enemy to have.
Aranha the Dancing Spider manages to outrun Rugal for awhile but eventually he does get to that wall that Rugal had intended to smash him into. Something unexpected happens though... Atleast unexpected for those that haven't watched his fights. Aranha hops up and kicks off the wall and he clears Rugal. Breaking into yet another run in the opposite direction this time he takes advantage of the "R" soldiers using them and the smoke from Hiretsu's missed attack to cover his escape.
"Hey, old head! Give me their general distance from me. I think I can find my way in this place." After all, Aranha has been shot here before.
He doesn't even notice the spears dotting the deck nearby, unleashing their own mystic ninja driven attack. All he sees is the form retreating from him. The young man hoping to get away from the monster that will show no quarter if he gets a grip on him has no support now. No one to back him up. His group dismantaled or abandoned, and not even Hiretsu's interference can save him now...
But there is one thing that does not fail him in this most critical of moments. His speed and agility. Himself. He makes it over Rugal's heads just as the tyrant's arms hug in on himself, missing the youth by a split second. There is a force unseen that washes in around him - that invisible chi that augmented his crushing force flowing in his wake as Aranha lands on the other side of him.
And then he's off, using the heads of Rugal's soldiers as a means of escape. That in and of itself doesn't quite secure safety, as the tyrant wades right back into his men, knocking the black suited grunts aside before they start to learn to scramble out of his way. But in the end it slowed him enough and by the time Bernstein gets through his own troops, the boy has slipped out of sight.
Clenching his hand tightly, Rugal would nearly tear the ship apart to find him right now. It would be worth it in the end. Who cares about his other objectives. The boat, uncovering the secrets and power it conceals... Rugal breaths in deeply then exhales slowly, lowering his arm against his side. One boy slipped away. That can be accounted for. The plans set in motion this night are no so easily derailed by one mishap. "Until later, my little spider..." the man growls, turning to storm off back toward the control structure. If he is to succeed, he can't be bothered to fight out on the deck.
He pauses, turning toward his men, gesturing toward Katelynn, "Take her and lock her up." That's one less defender to worry about at least. She and Arika Fade can enjoy a nice cell next to each other. More will be joining them soon enough anyway...
Log created on 22:50:08 10/17/2007 by Rugal, and last modified on 06:10:44 10/20/2007.