Description: The Agents of Jinchuu have boarded the Black Noah. It's not been a smooth landing for all of 'em - but any landing you can walk away from, right? Right. From the main deck of the aircraft carrier, our brave heroes (and heroines) split up into different teams. One group stays behind to wreck Rugal's fighter jets and other weapons that could be used against the Suiryuu. Another goes to find Arika, taken captive by "R", and others that have gone missing. While the final team, Riko, Aislinn, and Marise ... proceeds deep into the belly of the beast, to find and cripple one of the warship's engines. Unfortunately, it would seem Rugal was expecting the sabotage. He's there, himself, ready, waiting. And that isn't the only nasty surprise...
Naval warfare's changed greatly over the years. Really, it is. It's grown, evolved, passed through endless permutations. Back in the day, all people had were sails, oars, and arrows. Then came gunpower, cannons, and the evolution of the broadside. Fast-forward a century or two - turrets, torpedoes, submarines and depth charges...radar and missiles.
And tonight, well, the art of seaborne combat has gained a new dimension.
Or maybe it's just been set back by a few decades. Hard to tell, really.
The contrast couldn't be greater. A slim ninja-designed vessel, resting low in the water. A massive slab-sided aircraft carrier, looming over the surface of the ocean. Two ships facing off against each other...
...with not many shots being exchanged.
No, they've /boarded/ each other. And now the tournament participants of Jinchuu have taken the battle back into their hands. In a concerted effort, one big united push, a great number of those fighters have swarmed aboard the Black Noah... many of them literally fired from a massive cannon onto the Noah's deck. A beachhead of sorts, an opportunity for others to get on the aircraft carrier by boat, swimming, grappling hook, or any dramatic means in their own unique milieu. A full-blown counter-invasion, this - an assault that's left the Noah's crew reeling.
Riko Koganei stands atop the landing strip of the old aircraft carrier, looking down the length of the Noah. She arches a slender eyebrow, studying the scene, the fallen bodies of "R" troopers, the moving shapes of more in the distance ... sporadic fights waging across the deck, the sound of battle and smoke filling the air. Pure chaos, utter chaos.
She snorts. The ninja girl turns, raising her voice. She shouts, in a high piercing soprano. Not, perhaps, the most efficient or secure way of communication, but there's hardly been time to equip everyone with radio gear. Especially since most electronics were fried when the Suiryuu was EMP'd.
So. Lung power it is.
"OKAY! Everyone LISTEN UP! We've got THREE main objectives! We'll have to split up!"
Riko raises a fist, gesturing to the deck.
"ONE! Take out weapons! The planes on deck! Anything that can hurt our ship!"
"TWO! Head below decks, damage the Noah's engines! If you can!"
She pauses.
"And, well, THREE! Some of us were stupid enough to get caught by "R", so if you see 'em...well, let 'em know I said hi!"
Riko nods sagely.
Arika was kidnapped. And who knows where Himeko is, but chances are, she's here as well.
That was what Eva heard from Hotaru. That, and 'notify him'. .... She's not going to do that. To notify a man that someone he truly cares about was kidnapped by a terrorist organization while you dilly-dallied to assure your father on the phone that you were alright now that your cell phone recieved a signal? No, Eva has to do something about this. Thankfully, there's a few others who think the same, including a certain red witch named Naerose. While they all have their reasons for coming aboard and has their own agenda to follow and care about, Eva's not going aboard by herself. And that's a *good* thing, you see.
Because she's scared stiff. If her dad heard about this.... She's certain that he'd be no match for Rugal, but the power of an enraged father always brings the worst in a person. ".... stupid enough to get...." Eva frowns, mumbling to herself admist the sounds of combat. "... Not everyone can help it..." Coughing into her fist, she clears her throat. "... O-okay. Let's just try to find Himeko and Arika, and we can work from there. Is that okay?" She nervously looks back at Naerose.
This is 'it'. The counterattack on the Suiryuu. Though in truth Aislinn had been well-rested from her DKO match with Tiffany, she'd declined participation in the other anti-Black Noah activities--cutting the net, or going along with the initial assault on the ship. She had other business, she said--orders from Elle. Aislinn is now a known associate of Blackjack, at least to Riko.
She stands, in fact, with the ninja girl, having made shadowing her her mission. "We'll need to split up quickly. Congregating out here is an invitation to massacre." Needless to say, Aislinn intends on sticking with Riko. The two are familiar with each other's fighting styles, at least in passing, which should make coordinating their fight easier.
"Suggestion: Katana and Birdie have an excellent instinctive teamwork ability. They should be paired up."
A shogun of Metro City has taken it upon himself to arrive as well. He would never be able to return his Truck to it's natural, none exploded state on land. But such a thing would never happen if it disappeared into the Black Noah. Not fitting in at all, however, Katana is certainly farthest from the weirdest one there.
OR IS HE.
Having taken MAN POWER to get to the Black Noah, what this means is that Katana took off one of the safety boats. Stole one, more or less. And then rowed it over to the other side. And then went up the same way that he did the other. Through his wakizashi, which were clearly able to at least slightly pierce into metal.
And at the top, where he has been for a while, Katana holds his weaponry at his side. "Yes. I shall ride with Tauros to victory over these invaders on our land! There will be none who will stand before us!" He takes out a paper fan, and fans himself. Such a victory .. it will be!
Riko squints at Katana. Then she turns to Aislinn, tilting her head at the other girl.
"Well," Riko replies, "he can ride with Tauros or ride on Birdie or whatever he wants, provided he does it behind like closed doors or something because they're not exactly slash material, y'know?"
She turns to the crowd.
"But she's right! We'd better move."
Riko glances in Eva's direction, her eyes narrowing at the Shooting Star member.
"So find your friends if you /want/," Riko yells, her voice rising over the sheer amount of conflicting noise saturating the deck, "just be QUICK about it! Go, go, make yourselves useful! And remember, we'll need to LEAVE when we get the signal! You'll know it when you see it!"
The witch was sticking close to Eva. She had missed some earlier fighting due to having well having missed fighitng. She follows along, nods nods about the whole lets get Arika and himeko thing and can't help by laugh at the bit about saying high to people. She's ON the ship too you know, the witch, but she's easy to miss? All drsesed in red? Or maybe she's ignored, avoided. . That sort of thing.
It's hard to say since she did try to take Riko's ipod once. But she wanted music, music is great. right?
Birdie's been itching for piece of this. He's been on the Suiryuu for a little time awaiting for them to do a counter attack. And now he can get back at R and his organization. Why? Birdie's been crossed by him during the past. He's got bad blood, and he'll help even if it means aiding some ninjas to get back at him.
Climbing aboard the Black Noah by whipping his chain up on a side of the boat and pulling himself up, Birdie's found his own entrance to the ship. He's going, and he's on board now. And he's over by Katana. Oh is he over by Katana. Near Katana, he blends in perfectly as one of Mad Gear's new goons, even though he's been with them for a good deal.
Pointing towards Katana, Birdie nods. "Yeah. What that bloke said. We're ready to pummel some R guys heads in. You tell us where we should punch and we'll break it down faster than you could imagine." Birdie grins, his white teeth showing how serious and head strong his is.
Meanwhile, some people have already been on the Black Noah for a bit, courtesy of being shot out of a damn CANNON. By this point though, Tenma Kiryuu doesn't know where the others are, if they're even still on the boat or alive; he and Kenji were separated from the other two in mid-flight, and Tenma was subsequently separated from his fellow Gedo gang member, during the course of the fight with Mature and Chisel.
Who knows where Chisel is, by now.
In the meantime, the Gedo swordsman has been trying to /find/ the only friendly face he knows of on this crazy boat, which is possibly even crazier than the /other/ crazier boat in that this one is full of even meaner violent psychotics, which means venturing out into danger rather than trying to find some manner of safe hiding spot; his bokken alight with a violent, misty aura of bloody red energy, the boy's gotten himself into a few more minor scrapes here and there, but hey... At least he's managed to avoid any /major/ trouble. So far.
She may have been injured before, but Katelynn's taken the time to nurse her injured leg and is now ready to fight once again. She might be on her own, but a true fighter needs no assistance from other people.
Riko eyes the ragtag bunch. Not precisely much of a strike force, but it's what they've got. Besides, what fighters lack in discipline, they certainly make up for in pure /elan/. Good enough. It's all in applying the resources at hand, after all...
...like that whole situation with the people that Rugal's bunch captured. If reports are right, Arika's among them - which would explain that Eva girl's concern. Which is fine with Riko, really. They're out to sow chaos aboard the Noah...and if Eva's motivated to perform by her teammate's predicament, so much the better.
And fighters like Katana, Birdie, Naerose - they're just pure unadulterated chaos incarnate. Lovely lovely chaos.
As for the other more sane individuals like Kenji, Katelynn...and is that Tenma clawing his way down the deck? ... well. More the merrier.
Riko gets a little shrug. If she doesn't want to take Ais's advice, that's up to her; she's used to it. Been on the bottom rung of the NESTS ladder for years--it's kind of like being in a cubicle. Once the 'teams' are decided, Aislinn moves forward with swift efficiency.
She assumes that Riko is following--or up ahead. She's had no indication that Riko split off, and that's good enough for her--for now. The NESTS (and Blackjack) agent's movements are precise... although she doesn't have a map, persay, the layout of the Black Noah isn't, in the end, -all- too different from a 'normal' aircraft carrier.
That is--the engines are still down belowdecks and they're probably towards the rear... so that's where Aislinn is headed. She moves with purpose--but not with haste. And a good thing, too; at various points she's having to deal with Black Noah scum and she does so with extreme prejudice. No deaths, yet, but quite a few broken bones.
She might not be a -real- ninja but she certainly can emulate one pretty effectively.
Thankfully, there are those whom are less stupid than others. Some individuals are certainly more difficult to capture than others. Primarily those who know when to get when the getting is good.
Flee to fight again another day, yes?
As the group just begins to disburse towards their objectives a Aislinn and Riko both feel an unusual chill in the air. Both of them will know well what this atmospheric tension portends. As they rush into the depths of Black Noah, a figure stands amidst the first hallway they encounter.
The feminine ghost tilts her veiled gaze towards the both of them as she whispers, "..We meet again." To both.. and perhaps neither at once.
Interdicting their path only in brief, as she silently steps aside with ethereal grace. Gesturing with a pale hand further down the hall, furthering in her whispering if sinister voice, "Haste is your greatest allies now.." The Devil's head tilts just to the side, as if peering through the bulkhead itself, "...He comes for us.. soon."
The sounds of other scrambling minions and glaring klaxons? Ignored. The Leaf Ninja and Silent Assassin can deal with those rabble.. The Devil's attentions are affixed.. elsewhere. As she soundlessly rushes in their wake, her unfurled locks and loose kimono billowing behind her in the swift movement.
"Huh," Riko murmurs.
Behind Aislinn, the ninja girl comes to a halt, grinding her skates into the deck. Her head raised, staring at the space...Marise occupied, just a heartbeat ago. Riko brakes, swiftly, her body flowing into a crouch. She rests one hand upon the metal panels of the engineering spaces, her eyes flitting over the narrow passageway.
Then she turns her eyes to Aislinn, smiling impishly.
"Friend of yours?"
Riko doesn't wait for a response, though. Deftly, she reaches over, running her fingers through the combat harness of a downed "R" soldier, pulling explosives from the man's webbing. Then she's moving, again, her in-line skates whispering down the corridor.
She doesn't expect Aislinn to answer, really. She's already determined that the girl's all business. There's a reason why Riko hasn't at all objected to working with her. Efficiency is so hard to find these days. Truth be told, back on deck...Riko didn't disagree with Aislinn, in her analysis of the situation. Sure, she sounded flippant - but there's standards to maintain, when you've got a persona going.
Now, though, she glides through the narrow corridors of the Noah, with the same intent as the NESTS assassin.
"Her presence," Riko muses, out loud, "is unexpected...but she's on our side..."
Riko looks at Aislinn.
"Isn't she?"
'Friend'. That's pushing it. Ais doesn't really have friends... at least, not ones here. The Silent Assassin spares a brief glance for where Marise was, turning smoothly just after to elbow-strike an engineer in the throat. Ruining his day, probably.
"Not a friend," she says, mildly, as she moves forward. There's still plenty of ship to go, after all... aircraft carriers are not small ships by any means. But...
"Yes, she is on our side." Aislinn sounds at least mildly confident of that--after all, Marise is a fellow Blackjack member. "She will be useful for intimidation... amongst other things."
Aislinn stops for just a moment, scanning the corridors. "'he'... I can only presume she means Rugal Bernstein." Aislinn glances at her companion for the night.
"Are you prepared?"
Riko slides alongside Aislinn, her back brushing against the riveted metal of the bulkhead. She returns her partner's gaze with a level look. Her face, half in shadow, half illuminated by the harsh light cast by an emergency fixture...shifts, her expression an unreadable mask.
"To encounter one of the most lethal individuals in the world," she murmurs, as she spins a grenade in her hand, one liberated from a fallen "R" crewman, "the mastermind of this attack?"
The safety ring jingles round Riko's finger, as the lever presses into her palm.
"Mmn," Riko murmurs, as she cranes her neck past Aislinn, peering round the corner, into the maze of pipes, ducts, and service passages leading deeper into the ship's belly...
"Are you?"
The Devil's expression remains serene even amidst this moment of pure, unfiltered chaos. Her arms held out at her sides, the movement of her bare feet hidden beneath the shifting hem of her black silk. Her pace unstirred as she travels through the swath of fallen bodies and groaning wrecks of engineers and defenders alike as her comrades make short work of them. As there is a question of friendship and allegience.. Marise again speaks no words, no assurances nor threats. Aislinn, afterall, knows where her loyalties lie.
Hidden eyes shift then to Riko a moment. Appraising the girl yet again, as she did on the night they had.. gauged one another.
"Have you ever asked yourself.. dear child.."
Calmly conversing with the rollergirl even as she skates along the hallway, rapidly filling with bodies and screams, "If your Seishirou will ever love you as much.. as you adore him?"
A puzzling inquery that seems.. completely out of place in this moment of adventure-filled terror, running down into the belly of the beast with the single most dangerous creature within thousands of miles allegedly on the way to greet them.
Perhaps wondering if the girl has any regrets..?
As Aislinn reiterates the Devil's statement, Marise simply nods in the affirmative. A slow, smiling motion.
"Realistically? No." Her assessment of the situation is, perhaps, bordering on the pessimistic. To put it mildly. "Analysis of Rugal Bernstein's strengths and abilities give him a clear advantage, even in a three-on-one battle." She pauses, and the faintest hint of a smile on her lips--at least, the half that Riko can see, as she might catch Aislinn's face half-sheathed in shadow.
"But this is what I was hired to do." And that is probably all she'll say on the subject at that point, as she continues to move through the bowels of the ship, taking out anything in her path.
"Perhaps 'faith' can do what statistics cannot," she remarks, stopping on one booted foot and swiveling around, cracking another man's jaw clean in half. There will be more than just bruised egos tonight. Marise's question to Riko... well, Aislinn just kind of shakes her head. That's the Devil of Koga, for you...
"Faith," Riko replies, breezily, "is what you make of it."
She moves forward, then, ghosting past Aislinn as she shatters that poor crewman's face. Skating up and -into- the "R" security man just past him, polyurethane wheels crashing through body armor to bruise the flesh beneath... rolling all the way over the faceplate of his helmet, breaking the supposedly shatterproof material into a million razor shards. The man screams as his face and eyes are lacerated - a scream cut short as Riko knocks him fully down, landing once again on the deck.
Not stopping, she skates on.
"Love, adoration, merely relative..."
Riko smirks at Marise.
"...don't you know?"
The Devil simply rushes over the screaming man, pale feet unerringly negotiating the razored shards of armor and glass. Her expression unchanging, as mysterious as the little Ninja's own whimsical remark.
Love? Heh. Surely, a girl as knowledgeable as this would surely know that love doesn't exist. Instead, Marise merely giggles faintly. Sharing that in-joke between them as she turns her attention then to the path ahead..
The great thrumming roar of the Black Noah begins to grow louder. Engineering is very near now..
And with a glance to the side bulkhead, Marise very much that the core of this ship.. isn't the only thing approaching. Very.. very soon..
For a while the trio has had to wade through a sea of fodder on their way to the mighty engines of the aging carrier. 'R' soldiers pouring out of various hatches, squads caught off guard, engineers reaching for their service pistols before being clocked by fighters several times too powerful for them to contend with. But as they get deeper into the belly of the beast, the opposition seems to slacken. A few men ahead run out of the way, slipping down side-halls as to not be caught up in the path of destruction those three are leaving in their wake. Squads heard nearby don't actually march out to meet them, and even one man drops his rifle to leap down a hatch to the side. It's almost like they know something that the intruders don't. Like maybe they're being called off. Like maybe this is all going according to a mastermind's plan...
The engine room of the Black Noah is a large chamber, the ceiling so high as to be concealed in shadows over head. Massive turbines spin and near the center is what looks like may be three reactors to power the ship. And right now? It's nearly entirely empty. Save for one man who stands alone, a silhouette against the red lights that illuminate the floor of the room, his own red eye joining the number of other such colored lights.
"So swiftly do the invaded become the invaders," remarks Rugal Bernstein as he turns out of the shadows to face the three who have entered. "A bold plan," he continues, right hand raising, a gloved fist clenching tightly. "Born of desperation. But bold nonetheless." He takes a step forward, his two unique eyes glancing over each of the three new arrivals in turn. "But unfortunately, boldness is not analogous to victorious, as you are about to discover."
COMBATSYS: Rugal has started a fight here on the right meter side.
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Rugal
COMBATSYS: Riko has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Riko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
COMBATSYS: Aislinn has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Riko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Marise has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Riko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
"Well," Riko says, cheerfully, "win or lose..."
The girl skids to a halt at the edge of the engine room, just upon the threshold between passageway and cavernous chamber. Her skates draw sparks against the deck plating as she powers to a stop. She tosses her head, her bangs flipping from her eyes - and stares piercingly at Rugal.
"...it'll make a great video on YouTube!"
With a smirk, she pulls a hand from the small of her back, revealing a slim camcorder, strap looped round her fingers. The recording light glows a dull red as she sweeps it round the engine space, the lens passing by the catwalks crisscrossing far overhead, before coming to rest upon the "R" mastermind himself.
Her other hand, though, still clutches the grenade she liberated from one of Rugal's men.
COMBATSYS: Riko focuses on her next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Riko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
The shadowed maiden strides in the room silently. Ducking her head just a fraction beneath the passage as she enters the overly-warm engineering section of the Black Noah. The heart of the twisted leviathan itself.
Suitably enough.. The ruler of this war machine is already present to greet them.
The Devil's lips lose their expression. There will be no easy means of flight here.. in case the battle goes sour. No easy way out, no easy retreat.
Perhaps again hedging her bets, the Devil of Koga steps from the entrance only a few paces. Golden eyes unsheathing from the veil of her bangs as she again risks madness by gazing into this powerful God of War.
For a moment, The ghost isn't certain which is brighter in luminous glory. Staring into this man's soul.. Or the bulk of the Suiryuu itself.
The Devil issues no ultimatums or proverbs. Silence is her greatest battle cry, as her arms loose to her sides. Mirroring Aislinn's own stoic demeanor as they support the most unlikely of champions..
COMBATSYS: Marise focuses on her next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Riko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
As Marise said... he's coming. And he's here. Aislinn's eyes tighten as she spots, sees, feels, hears, the one and only Rugal Bernstein. A monster of a man, like few others in this world. Aislinn is strong--she knows she is. But to actually -face- him... she'd be lying if she said she felt that the three of them could take him, for sure.
But, to her credit, none of the storm of emotions she feels make it across her face--or even into her eyes. Instead she pushes away from the wall she was hugging, moving out into a more open area. Her attention is not -on- anyone but Rugal... because, really, Rugal is target number one.
If they can't beat him, then they're dead... or as good as.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Riko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
A camera, hm? TThat makes this all part of the show it would seem. Even as the decks of the boat flooded with black clothed 'R' soldiers, the Ryouhara and those aligned with them insisted that the matches continue unabated. /Nothing/ would stop the publicity machine that is Jinchuu, aparently. "Heh," Rugal grunts as the small ninja films and the two who have accomanied her take their positions at her side. "Everyone should be entitled to chose how to be remembered by, I suppose...
His gaze sweeps over the three of them, his mouth curled into a confident smirk. "To have one of the people most responsible for tonight's facinating prey bring herself straight to the bottom of my boat is quite the pleasant surprise, I must say. Such interesting company you've chosen to align yourself with here... I do hope you are paying them well."
It would take a lot of money to convince most to go up against 'R' on Rugal's home turf, after all. But he has a room to defend, it would seem. "So be it." The grenade in Riko's hand goes unregarded as the tyrant makes the small percieved leader of this pack his target. Lunging forward to close the distance with reckless abandon, it is two swift kicks the small fighter need concern herself with initially - a hook kick with his left, followed by a wider, more sweeping strike from his right. "HAH!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Riko with Medium Kick.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Riko 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
Riko rolls backwards, her skate-driven motion carrying her free of Rugal's first kick. She does not, however, manage to evade the second. It slams into her abdomen, a piston blow that drives the air from her lungs. She tumbles to the deck, smashing into the oil-stained plating covering the engineering spaces. But quick as a flash, she's on her feet, flipping up, flipping round.
The lens of her camera pointing at Rugal.
And she's still smiling.
Oh, she's cheerful, irrelevant, devil-may-care...wearing a grin so feline it'd make the Cheshire Cat keel over from pure naked envy. There's absolutely zero trace of apprehension in Riko's expression and body language.
But her eyes, well, that might be different. She's smiling, yes, smirking widely...but it doesn't /quite/ reach her eyes. Not quite. And they betray the fact of a mind working furiously, crunching the numbers, working the angles. This is not a good situation, no, not at all. The leader of "R" has a reputation, after all, and from all accounts - Riko's read many accounts - it's well deserved.
She clutches that grenade. She doesn't throw it, though. Instead she spins into a kick of her own, whipping one skate boot in an arc.
Even while rotating her camera-clutching hand, turning it at the wrist. Keeping it steady.
"All due respect, Mister Rugal...is it all 'bout money to you?"
As the monarch of death begins his assault in earnest, the Devil watches him engage in battle with their 'lead' with scrutinizing care. She had a taste of his power before, perhaps now she can better see a more comprehensive weakness in this monster's virtually impregnable defenses. Striding a little further into the engine room, the Devil gestures to her Blackjack compatriot without looking to her, "..He's slow. To the left.. I will flank.." She whispers as she begins carefully moving to the side a little further. To get the perfect vantage point as well as spread Bernstein's defenses as thinly as possible. Hoping the little Ninja can buy them all a little time.. As the Devil prepares to fight the only way a Devil knows how..
COMBATSYS: Marise assists Aislinn.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Riko 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
The barest of nods from Aislinn; she shifts around to the opposite side. Like Riko, she features eyes that have a lot going behind them... unlike Riko, she chooses not to hide that scheming behind cheerfulness and quips. Her mouth is set in a thin line as she moves. She is neither jubilant nor is she grim.
A flanking manuever is an excellent idea, isn't it? So it is that Aislinn moves to go around Rugal's side... and she too pulls out a grenade, something she picked up from one of the guards, seeing as weapons are in short supply aboard the Suiryuu. Pulling the pin, she lobs it up towards Rugal--but it is evident that it is not a frag grenade or anything of the short, but a smoke grenade, aimed to obscure the Bernstein position...
COMBATSYS: Aislinn assists Riko.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Riko 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rugal interrupts Light Kick from Riko with Scorpion Blow.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Riko 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Rugal
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-------|
"For me?" the man replies to Riko, sounding amused at her question. "Of course not." comes the calm answer. As she comes in with that spinning kick of hers, the man snaps out with his right, catching Riko by the front of her t-shirt near the collar, stopping most of the impact of her foot against his chest as he hefts her up with the greatest of ease, giving the girl a moment in close with the monster. His left hand reaches out to slip the pin from the grenade in the girl's grasp. In one smooth motion, he slips his forefinger beneath the lever to prevent it from being pressed back down while folding the rest of his fingers over her own, forcing her to keep that now 'live' grenade held between both of their hands.
"I have all the money I could ever want... But you? You're here not for money but for your cause. Tell me... do you think those two care so much about whatever goals the Ryouhara have?" There's a tsk, tsk. "If you but surrender the boat I'll have what I came for and everyone can simply go on about their lives rather than prolong this... inconvenient engagement."
He leaves the camera alone entirely. That left hand clamping over hers releases finally only to press against the small ninja with an open palm to send her flying back toward the thick walls of the engine room. The grenade in Riko's grasp, however, has precious little time remaining on its fuse.
And it explodes.
The blast completely obscures Riko from view, the shrapnel and smoke adding to the dense cloud already created by the one Aislinn dropped.
But there's movement in the smoke, wisps swirling round...
Skates speed across the deck, spinning furiously round their axles. Faster and faster and faster and faster, as Riko accelerates out of the blast zone. Her clothes are scorched, her face singed and bleeding from cuts. But she's still upright, still moving, and hurtling forward. By the time she's visible, she's already up to terminal velocity - a little adolescent rocket. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive...well, assuming it's a very small locomotive, anyway.
Maybe a subway train. They're smaller.
They're also ugly, mind - your average subway train is hardly a nice place to be, what with the dirty floors, the somewhat dubious cleaniness of the seats, and worst of all the /commuters/...
But then, being hit by a fast-moving Riko is unlikely to be all that nice either.
It's a really fast Riko.
Then again, he's a very solid Rugal...
"Engagement," Riko chirps, "sorry, spoken for!"
The time has come. The pieces have been moved across the board. The game engaged in full.
The Devil's gaze stares straight to the imperious lord of the Black Noah. Golden, serpentine eyes daring to stare into the wicked glory of the man's spiritual power as she slowly reaches into the sleeve of her kimono. Knowing full well that it is now.. or never. The moment of fate has arrived..
And the Devil cracks a slow, wicked smile.
From the depths of that sleeve the ghost brandishes.. A small radio communicator. Holding the device aloft as her wicked gaze focuses on Rugal. Her clawed thumb clicks the switch alongside the black device..
The game is about to take a whole new twist.
The Black Noah's PA system crackles to life. The Devil's words are no longer a whisper, now an assertive, powerful command as she displays her fanged teeth with every vile word,
"This is Marise Satsuko. As of this moment, I succeed Elle Belmounte as leader and commander of Blackjack. As my first command to you- Crush the insurgents of the Suiryuu! Drive them into the sea!"
With that unspeakable, terrible decree dictated, the Devil then clicks the device shut with a metal clatter of finality.
Now then. While a certain little girl is wondering what the Hell just happened..
The Devil immediately whirls about in a flourish of black silk, her pale arm spearing from her sleeve as the rapidly extending hand seeks -Aislinn's- head in a bid to dash the NESTs toy right up against the bulkhead! The Silent Assassin has only moments to realize this betrayal before impact!
"It seems you have a choice to make.. little wooden girl.. And you had best make it quick!" The traitorous ghost's wicked eyes burn with intimidating menace now. No longer the quiet, hidden shadow as her true colors are...
"Elle's time.. this foolish tournament's time! Is at an end!
..At last.. Revealed.
COMBATSYS: Marise successfully hits Aislinn with Maou Tsuke.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Riko 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-----==|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|
The betrayal is too sudden--too unexpected--for Aislinn to react properly. If there is one thing NESTS agents are, it is loyal. K' and Maxima aside (because they're trash), all active NESTS agents are loyal. And loyalty is ingrained into Aislinn. This is not just a betrayal by Marise, it's the worst kind of betrayal Aislinn can imagine.
She's frozen for a half-second, her mind awhirl--and then in the next half-second her mind is awhirl again, as she goes flying through the narrow space of the ship's bowels and then smashed against a bulkhead. The impact is terrible--not only physically, but emotionally.
"Marise," spits Aislinn--and she -sounds- angry now, angry and betrayed. "You... you're betraying Elle... you know... she won't let you get away with it!" It may be the first time -anyone- here who's met Aislinn before can even remember hearing anything in her voice, as she charges at Marise with a hand cocked back to deliver a lunging roundhouse punch.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Riko's One Hit Wonder EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Riko 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-----==|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|
That Riko comes skating out of that blast at all is cause for some amusement. The small child is difficult to guage, even for Rugal's expert eye. Her stature, her frame, her height... It all suggests the sort of kid that would be more than easily felled by the hits he's given her. But her resilience runs deep, her training... having given her unnatural durability. Even as she speeds toward him Rugal continues to study her. There's something to be said for the way of the Ryouhara that they are able to produce fourteen year old fighting machines like this. Something to be learned there.
Unfortunately it is with a slight gesture that his arm intersects her path, becoming an immobile object that refuses to be budged no matter how determined she might be. A glance upward is cast toward Marise as she pulls out that radio. Thus begins the gambit. A shift in power... perhaps not the first to happen during this long, bloody night. A betrayal of causes.
Marise turns upon her former ally, shifting the makeup of this fight to a dreaded degee. "No, for some it isn't about money... But everyone has their cause, my little friend. It's unfortunate when they happen to conflict so severely. Much like yours and mine. I want your boat. And the old man. And you are trying to keep them from me... It isn't personal."
That hand of his might suggest otherwise as it ignites with a frightful display of white chi, almsot blindingly bright in the dim chamber. Hooking his arm back with almost a bowling motion, Bernstein attempts to drive one of Howard's Own into the lead ninja of this pack. Cut off the head... as he had told his men... and the rest will collapse.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Riko with Reppuken.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Riko 1/--=====/=======|=======\=====--\1 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-----==|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|
Marise OOC : :O
"You want the boat," Riko gasps, "she wants the boat..."
The ninja girl glares at Marise.
That's all the wit she has time for, before the powerful wave of shining energy smashes into her, driving her off her skated feet. The girl goes flying, spinning like a rag doll. She crashes through pipes and ducting with a terrible rent of tearing steel, steam and fumes spitting into the air, released in a hiss as Riko comes to rest amid the wreckage.
And yet, she's still moving. Rugal's right. It's a miracle Riko's still standing. Really, any normal girl of her age and size would be a broken corpse on the engine room floor now.
Not Riko. She lifts her head, the movement slow, laborious, blood oozing down the side of her face, matting her hair to her skull. With one barely-open-eye, she regards the scene. She coughs, once, spitting out a glob of phlegm flecked with red.
"...honestly..."
She claws to her feet, one arm dangling - the hand clutching the camcorder. Amazingly, it's /still running/. The plastic case is battered and scratched from the explosion it went through, but the little LED on the front remains lit.
The lens, too, is intact, glinting with light.
Odd, that.
It's not -reflected- light. The hue's just slightly wrong for that, as is the angle - there's no light source in this engine room that could cause a reflection quite like that.
"...we should have just rented a trailer park."
She coughs, again, as she draws her other hand up, finger smeared with her own blood. Her fingers form into a distinct pattern, a ninjutsu seal - before pressing against the camcorder.
"Honestly. You have /no clue/, any of you, what the Suiryuu is..."
A death's head grin.
"I'll show you."
Riko turns her head, then, looking straight at Aislinn.
"Trolley," she says, cryptically.
Hopefully the other girl remembers their first meeting. Certainly, it's as good a warning she can give, considering the circumstances.
The camcorder lens /flashes/, bright shining blue, a blinding glow filtering through Riko's fingers.
And then there's the sound of the camera clattering to the deck, as the ninja girl is /gone/.
COMBATSYS: Riko takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Riko 1/--=====/=======|=======\=====--\1 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/-----==|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Marise blocks Aislinn's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Riko 1/--=====/=======|=======\=====--\1 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/----===|
As Aislinn assails the wicked Devil, the ghost squares to face the mechanical thing play at having emotions. Chortling under breath as she takes a step closer into that charge. That thrusting fist immediately ramming into the maiden's palm as she intercepts the blow. Jostling her form, but doing little else as the deathly creature merely continues, "Elle? Eeeelle?" Lips pulling back just a little further, fangs glinting as her bare shoulders quake with a bemused giggle.
"All that ungrateful Elle ever cared for is worthless paper and metal illusions. The faces on the coins she so worships change with passage of time, useless for anything truly important. She was useful to me.. for a time. That time has passed, yesss. I gave her a chance to be something.. transcendent.." The Devil sighs softly, more of a theatrical gesture than anything resembling true regret, "..She chose her banal existence, ruling over a simple den of thieves. Keh." Sinister gaze narrowing to glowing slits, "Liberating her of her pawns was the most merciful act I could take."
The Devil then twists about. Whirling that outstretched arm and -yanking- Aislinn closer. Attempting to twist her arm behind her back as her other hand reaches up to grasp at her throat. Clutching at her closely in none-too-gentle a fashion. Cool lips whispering closely to her ear,
"..It is not too late for you.. Little Jinzoningen. Join me.. Yesss? I can show you things.. Make you feel alive for the first time.."
About then the Devil feels someones hate for her, gaze turning to Riko as her ruthless eyes meet her own. Aaaah.. Marise was about to get to her too.. But then, why deny Rugal his fun by eviscerating Seishirou's pet?
About then, The Leaf Ninja enacts her jutsu. Leaving that camera in her disappearing wake.. No time to react with her current battle as she urges, "Herr Bernstein.." Doubtlessly, her newly revealed ally can see it too with his cybernetic contrivance.
COMBATSYS: Marise successfully hits Aislinn with Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Riko 1/--=====/=======|=======\=====--\1 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/---====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-======|
Tonight, she's too slow. This is relative, of course; it isn't as if she's capable of going light speed--perhaps under certain circumstances, but that's more like a heightened reflex. But this whole situation's just become too much. Aislinn is grabbed--her arm twisted--and pinned, as the Devil whispers sweetly in her ear. Sweet temptations...
... it's too bad they are of utter worthlessness to Aislinn. She can feel that Riko's 'gone'... so she twists away from Marise, hissing under her breath with new and renewed pain. "I already feel alive," she says, humorlessly, as she gives up any pretense at a fight--that word Riko spoke was more than enough warning for one like Aislinn.
"This pain," she says, her lips quirked ever-so-slightly, "tells me so." And again, while she may not be as fast as a certain leafwalking ninja, she can make speed when she needs to. "And I'll see to it that the next time we meet, you'll be choking on your words... and on Elle's guitar..."
A bold promise--but can she keep it? Moreover--what is it about Elle that inspires such loyalty? Or is it even loyalty that Elle's engendered or just something part of Aislinn's makeup? As she passes the point where she thinks Riko is, she simply hisses, "Do it," before disappearing down the path.
You don't have to be the fastest runner--just faster than the slowest.
Riko is sent smashing through metal pipes, bringing a smirk to Rugal's expression. She's incredibly tough, really. He can't deny that. For her age it's remarkable. But next to the likes of him? Well, a tazmanian devil may be a tough animal too, but that doesn't mean it can take down the king of beasts no matter how hard it tries.
He allows himself a quiet chuckle, but for the moment he takes time to observe Marise and Aislinn. Rugal leaves the two former allies to clash for now. If he need intercede on behalf of the woman who has betrayed her friends and convinced others to come with him, it should be easy enough. But for now, he watches Aislinn. Observing her reaction to Marise's words. A NESTs project as he understands it. A facinating one at that. NESTs technology has always been leaps and bounds a head of 'R' in most arenas. A gap he would like to rectify soon. Perhaps the little agent holds the key...
At last Riko pries herself of the point of impact, stepping out of the clouds of steam from ruptured pipes. "Determined. Impressive will." he remarks, turning to face her as she speaks of the Suiryuu. But then he finally notices the camera. The one that is no longer being used to film as it is pointed down at an angle that would give the viewing audience nothing more than metal panels for their trouble. That won't get good ratings at all. He notices it then, fixating on the small object as Riko becomes less of an issue than what she left behind. Capturing her would have been great. But not critical. Or so he believes.
"I would run," he speaks in reply to Marise's comment, his human eye narrowing as he slips a small device from his pocket. A remote. One brought to account for this possibility. The button at the base is pressed by his thumb and the whine of the turbines and rush of pistons on the sides begin to slow down. The reactor behind him dims. This power plant... is about to be decommissioned, it would seem. As far him? He doesn't follow Marise's advice. He remains put, one hand lifting to adjust the thin black scarf hanging open around his neck. "Heh. Ninjas."
COMBATSYS: Rugal takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Riko 1/--=====/=======|=======\=====--\1 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 0/-------/---====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-======|
Riko's gone.
But her voice echoes through the chamber, all the same, filling all corners of the engine room. Conscious of an audience, it seems.
"Ninkoujutsu."
Her voice rises in a high soprano. She speaks the phrase with a particular emphasis, an almost ritual reverence. It's a strange word, but one that should be familiar to Marise - and perhaps to Rugal, being as they are students of ancient lore.
The little camcorder trembles, as light spreads to the deck beneath it, a spiderweb tracing of thin blue lines, shining with ethereal energy. Forming into distinct script, encircling the spot where the electronic device lies, until it rests in a disc of blue.
For all the ceremony Riko gives it, it is an oddly prosaic term - "Ninja Engineering Technique". But it is the traditional art of the Ryouhara Clan, among the greatest artificers the world has ever seen, the greatest melders of technology with the flow of chi.
"...Katsuten..."
The voice is strange, now, distorted. Coming as it is, now, from the camera itself - or rather the seal formation engulfing it. The light is strongest, though, at the lens of the fallen camera, pointing towards the deck. It increases in intensity, until it is blinding.
But it's more than just a visual display. There's something wrong, very wrong, with the ambient chi in the room. A great and powerful warping of the spiritual flow, spiraling towards the newly formed seal formation. There is, all of a sudden, an incredible amount of chi concentrated in that single spot, an impossible amount for someone such as Riko to have...
...but not impossible. For there is indeed such chi...not very far away. Aboard the Suiryuu, where it would seem energy has been building for such an occasion.
"NAGASAKI!"
And then, release. As - somehow - the great power within the heart of the ship is transmitted... /instantly/ ... to the centre of the Black Noah. Emerging from the other end of the conduit in a massive pillar of light that blasts through the engine room, through bulkheads and machinery, through the power plant, through the deck, through the deck after... and the /deck after/, reaching clear to the waterline in a brilliant display of pure spiritual force.
COMBATSYS: Riko successfully hits Marise with Level 360 EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Riko 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-======|
As Aislinn wrenches herself to freedom, the Devil only takes a single step in pursuit. Sinister gaze narrowed to the automaton's defiance as she clicks her tongue within her mouth, "Hnnn.. So unwise.."
But before the wicked Ninja can deal with the escaping Aislinn, far more pressing matters gain her attention now. The Devil's Kinmagan witnesses the coalescing life energies clearly. Channeling that much strength from so far away is truly a wonder that even one such as Marise must marvel at.
%"..Such power.."
However, the ghoul quickly takes Rugal's advice as she ducks low and all but vanishes from where she stands. Bolting with a rush of speed.. But for naught. The radiance of the blast, while focused, is still the bane of the creature's existence. Being so near its life-born energies.. Anathema to a thing such as her. The Devil can only let out a sharp scream before the light engulfs her just within the exit hall.. Erasing the silhouette of the Devil Ninja's image from view as the destruction ensues!
COMBATSYS: Rugal fails to reflect Level 360 EX from Riko with Dark Barrier EX.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Riko 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Rugal
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-======|
A chi bomb. A small piece of the Suiryuu in a sense. How much power can something that small truly possess? Of course by now Riko has already proven: Quite A Lot.
At first he seems to ignore it as the pulse builds in power. What does it matter. What can it possibly do? But as it begins to build, the man frowns. Shutting down this power plant was a precautionary action. One that seems to have been prudent as metal begins to melt and the temperature rises.
Extending his hand forward, the man calmly projects his mastery of chi out in the form of a shield that rapidly expands in front of him. A barrier meant to shield himself from what is to come next.
Without even the direct target of the beam that bursts into existence his defense is shattered abruptly, scattered to the sides as the man takes a part of the pulse into himself in spite his intents to the contrary. Okay, now he's moving. Swift steps take him toward the exit of the room as the turbines begin to crumble down around him. Stepping out of the hatch, the chamber is sealed off by his press against an electrical panel on the wall by the side. Teeth gritted, the man is far more angry now. That hadn't gone as intended. And no doubt, the explosion was jarring enough to induce a bit of a panic amongst the rest of his people aboard the ship.
Rugal growls, leaning one hand against the wall as /his/ floating fortress is rocked, before pressing another button on the panel to open a communication with the bridge. "Seal the decks below engine room four..." There is a slow sigh. This is a set back. Not the end, mind. But a problem. Already his mind begins to account for it. Some of the old seals will probably not even budge, rusted from disuse and lack of maintenance. Men are going to have to go down there and close them off manually. "Send engineers down to the lower decks. Close off the flooded sectors. And move more security to the other engine rooms."
The ship won't sink. Not unless there's more blasts like that one. But it is an important warning as to the power contained in the boat he sinks. A clenched fist slams against the metal wall, denting the several inches of steel in several inches, before the man turns and releases a sigh, a strange calm passing over him as he actively reminds himself of the bigger picture... His temper must be controlled. Even without one at his side to remind him of that, he knows that much. He doesn't seek Marise for now, storming down the hall toward the stairs that will take him to the bridge several floors above. The Devil Woman will be conversed with later. For now, he needs to check the status of the other scirmishes aboard his boat...
COMBATSYS: Rugal has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Riko 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marise 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-======|
Hnnn.
A black outline rises amidst the dark hallway just outside of the engine room. Moments after Rugal had stormed along on his way.. The woman's symmetry outlined by the crimson emergency lights. Smoldering still in the wake of that cunning attack. The Devil had underestimated how far they can channel the power of that ship.. A mistake the newly self-appointed leader of Blackjack has no intention of making twice.
The half-living woman shambles a step forth, testing her balance in the aftermath of just being NEAR an attack of that strength. A painful reminder of why the creature cannot set foot on the People's ship herself.
It is a small thing, though. As painful as the attack is.. She, like her new ally, has much more important issues to contend with. While she has little doubt most of Blackjack will take her lead.. Aislinn's refusal to follow is concerning enough to wonder about the rest.
There is still much to be done.. The window of opportunity has been blasted clean open by the Devil's treachery.
"..Kyeh.. Poor little Seishirou.." The Devil whispers to herself in the darkness, "..I have a much better use.. for their little Jinchuu.. Heh .. Heh.. HAH..."
"KYAAA HAA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The mad cackle fills the Black Noah's ruined halls. Giving nearby emergency technicians and guard marines pause alike.. Before briskly returning to the business handed down by their dark lord..
COMBATSYS: Marise has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Riko 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Riko has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Aislinn 0/-------/-======|
Log created on 20:45:20 10/18/2007 by Riko, and last modified on 08:21:52 10/21/2007.