Description: In the aftermath of Seishirou's painful sacrifice to defeat R and Blackjack's treacherous invasion, one conspirator could only watch the battle from afar.. And seethe in rage at her ambitions crumbling and sinking to the bottom of the sea. It would appear, however, another of the Jinchuu survivors comes to the Devil of Koga, seeking answers. The policeman will find only pain instead. However.. what new secret is revealed in this confrontation? History passes and new paths unfurl as the story of the Suiryuu draws to a close...
For once.. The Devil loathes silence.
This unnatural quiet grates on her already frayed composure. The chill wind of the ocean slowly tussles and teases the dark creature's voluminous locks and loose silken kimono. No longer held in check by her usual careful presentation and harrowing will. No.. this image of dishevel reflects the roiling chaos churning behind glowing, inhuman eyes. Her often mysterious and beautiful expression.. twisted into a hideous scowl. Glistening fangs bared as the sky above all but mocks her existance now.
The Devil stands at the very edge of the Black Noah, alone now as none dare approach her. The lesser beasts of burden of the late Rugal's employ know perfectly well when to avoid monsters when they are most perturbed. A lonely image as bare feet stand upon blackened steel.
The source of this womans' silent rage?
%Out amidst the sea is all that remains of the Suiryuu. A shattered, ruptured husk of a once-magnificent ship. Now reduced to ruins. Debris scattered across the endless waves for all around. Wreckage glittering beneath the waves and beneath, glowing with a mystical power that will soon be lost for all time.
And with it? Quite possibly everything Marise has strived to build in this modern world. Blackjack? Possibly all lost for all she knows.. Rugal and R? Destroyed. The secrets of the Ryouhara? Gone.
And all she can do is just... watch it all sink. The Devil gambled--and it was a masterstroke crafted by cunning and guile--And lost.
A busy few nights for all involved, this much is clear, though not everyone in this little drama has had precisely the same experience as everyone else. Marise may have been gambling for a big prize, putting everything on the line. On the other hand, Soma Travedi has been coming to grips with another concept entirely: that whatever 'Jinchuu' is, it's already begun. He felt the shock in the deck plates even as he retreated from the rescue operation he had stumbled into helping, letting Aranha and Katelynn do their thing. But beyond physical vibration, there was... for lack of a better words, a short, sharp disturbance in the Force.
While there is only one user of Psycho Power who is a true prophet, all psions are in some way attuned to the ebb and flow of energies... and when Seishirou let fly the massive burst of stored chi in the Suiryuu's depths, *something* not entirely chi was released there. Echoes of it penetrated right into Soma's marrow, stopping him cold.
When he forced open one of the top hatches -- one not entirely melted shut by the sudden explosion -- it was like emerging from a bomb shelter into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
But the ICPO agent still has his part to play... and even if it involves dancing on the Ryouhara's strings a little longer than he'd like, he can't ignore the task, and the important decision, that he's been faced with. The first rule of any battle site analysis is to get a good vantage point, however, and that's just what Soma plans to do. True, heading to the Black Noah's nearby deck risks incurring the attention of Rugal, but something in the detective's blood tells him that Mr. Bernstein... might be otherwise occupied.
A few moments with a grappling hook later, and the undercover agent is on the edge of the deck overlooking the sinking Suiryuu. Thankfully, he appears to have avoided the attention of the guards... and even if he had, Agent Travedi was personally responsible for nearly cutting one of their commanders in half, they may keep their distance anyway. Of course, there are more than just 'R' guards up here this evening...
An unfortunate coincidence that as Soma pulls himself up just enough to crest the edge of the vast flat-top of the Black Noah, he does so no further than a dozen paces away from a pale ghost.
None of the expected men with guns or thuggish fighters. Simply a woman, looking entirely out of place upon this ruined floating monument to War. Her pale shoulders glistening faintly in the dim lighting of the overcast sky. Her arms held limply at her sides as the most wicked of scowls continues to radiate a palpable hatred directly at the sobering aftermath of the carnage below.
More unfortunate still, that The Devil's attentions are forced to turn to this intruder. Predatory eyes gleam an impossible golden color, black-slitted in the manner of a serpent.
At a glance, the ghoulish creature knows this man poses no threat to her. Hardly any spiritual power permeates his body, a simple lug. Moreover, she vaguely recalls Elle mentioning a dusky skinned foreigner .. No matter. Not even slightly important, not anymore. A rat leaving a sinking ship, and such vermin are beneath her considerations in the wake of -this- catastrophy.
The creature issues a dismissive snarl, a bizarre sound echoing with a cadence that isn't supposed to be possible for a human to manage, returning her gaze to the mostly scuttled vessel of her recent ambitions.
No, Soma does not radiate chi. This much is clear. But generally speaking, he has other compensations... that, and excellent hearing. The dismissive sound, most certainly only intended for Marise herself to hear, only just barely catches Soma's attention. That in and of itself isn't really anything; at that distance and level of quiet, it could just as much be the Black Noah's deckplates settling. But it is enough to make the violet-eyed gaze swivel in Marise's direction, a detective's combination of paranoia and wariness kicking in.
His empathic abilities, fine-tuned through decades of practice to mostly follow his gaze unless he wills it otherwise, swing in line... and then register something very, very wrong.
The sleek black shape of his service handgun emerges from the black coat as Soma crouches, brow knit, both hands centered on the grip. This is worth investigating... definitely so. He doesn't recognize the face, but something in the back of his head is *screaming* that as a human being, he should back off... and never once in his life has Soma Travedi heeded such a warning. It's the darkest places, after all, into which the brave must step with the light.
Still, his steps are careful and measured as he sneaks across the deck with expert deftness, footfalls making barely any sound, the black of his clothing making him a dim outline in the dark. Not that this would trouble Marise, however. When he gets close enough, Soma stops, keeping his double-handed grip on the gun extended toward the mysterious woman. "Weird time for sightseeing. Your cruise director's going to be mad you're not with the rest of your tour group."
Bad timing.
Under normal circumstances the Devil would demurely giggle at this man's attempt at threatening her with that toy and begin an amused exchange of reparte to better understand what this little man thinks he's doing.
At the moment? Just breathing in the Devil's general vicinity was an offense grave enough to be punished by death.
Pulling a gun on her?
Now the monster has no intention to stop flaying this man to his bones, crack them one at a time and lick their marrow until he begs to die.
At the vague hint at a threat, Marise -whirls- on Soma in a flourish of shadows and claws. Fingers widely spread with nails extended like a dozen razored swords as her long hair suddenly flails around her like a hundred tendrilous lashes. Jaws spread entirely too widely to be human with row after row of wicked teeth gleaming as she lets out a hideous keening wail. The sort of not-human sound one never wishes to hear twice in a lifetime. Bestial eyes aglow as she fully intends to tear into this interloper for daring to interrupt her fury. His little European toy weapon holds no threat her.
COMBATSYS: Marise has started a fight here.
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Marise 0/-------/-------|
The sheer hostility actually catches Soma by surprise more than any physical action Marise herself takes, but it's enough to set the ICPO agent on edge. She hasn't attacked him... yet, and thus he's not going to go firing shots at her until she makes a move. That said, taking his eyes off her would be stupid, and you don't need to be empathic to see the inevitable horizon at the end of this road. The violet eyes narrow to slits in the dark-skinned face as Soma prepares to defend himself.
But why is she here? And why is she so angry? Unless she had something to lose from the sudden explosion of the Suiryuu... and the fact that she's on the deck of the Black Noah supports that, for sure. It may be that trying to get information out of her could be worth the trip after all.
But amazingly, he doesn't seem cowed by the monstrous appearance... perhaps because, unknown to Marise, Soma himself spent a childhood unable to block out the thoughts and feelings of others. He became a policeman to fight that inner darkness that he sees in everyone, to help form a world where people can nurture their light instead of giving in to that yawning blackness. But there's a lot of that blackness in Marise... and no physical form can ever match the terror of feeling, in your own heart, someone else's rage toward life itself. "Don't move," he warns, keeping his voice cool.
COMBATSYS: Soma has joined the fight here.
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Marise 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Soma
COMBATSYS: Soma focuses on his next action.
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Marise 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Soma
In some ways.. Soma has seen Marise before. He's seen that look in the past, that feeling. A familiarity that can only restrengthen his purpose ten fold.
The ghost is crafted of that darkness that Soma dedicated himself to thwarting so long ago. A creature made whole-cloth of hatred itself. The terrible things that anyone could possibly hide within themselves.. blackness itself nurtured into becoming a living, thriving thing.
Marise hates.. she hates because people simply are. And she will not rest until all others are simply .. not.
What purpose this monster could have here and now is unclear.. However one thing is for certain. She is most definitely moving.
The Devil closes the distance between them in a frighteningly quick rush of motion. Claws whistle through the air as the monster woman attempts to flense the flesh from the policeman's bones with wicked swipes.. Nails laden with a life-disruptive poison that will hurt more than simple cuts ever could..
COMBATSYS: Marise successfully hits Soma with Shinigami EX.
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Marise 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Soma
Well... she didn't stop moving, so all's fair in love and war. The gun's not likely to be much use, but he might be able to turn that double-handed grip into a brief defense against those poisonous claws. Sadly, the movement is a little awkward and Soma isn't able to get his forearms down in time; the strikes bite into his side as he twists to avoid it, rending brief gashes in his coat and eliciting a hiss of pain. Skipping back a step, the ICPO agent slips the gun back in its holster and, with a flick of the wrists, produces his bright silver daggers from his sleeves like a stage magician, holding both weapons blade-back... ninja-style, if you prefer.
And now Marise isn't the only person on this boat wanting to take a chunk out of someone's hide.
Kicking off the deck, Soma blurs forward and spins out with a waist-height kick to Marise's side. However, the kick itself is mostly a feint, as the ICPO agent follows through the motion with a sweeping stroke of the dagger that cuts a silver arc through the air between the two fighters... and which might convince the Devil to back off a little bit, if nothing else. "Have it your way," Soma snarls through gritted teeth.
COMBATSYS: Soma successfully hits Marise with Fierce Strike.
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Marise 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Soma
As those claws rake across the young man's body, the Devil's gaze wickedly flares. Lifting her hands again as she intends to initiate what will unquestionably be hellish, screaming torture for this interloping fool to cherish.
That is.. until the young man manages to evade the worst of it, brandishing a pair of daggers with some skill.
For a moment, the Devil is taken aback with a slight lift of her eyebrow. Hrnnn.. A small measure of life force and yet so proficient?
A consideration that plays at Marise's thoughts for only a heartbeat, before her vision returns to a sea of red fury.
The Devil walks into the kick, absorbing the impact without so much as flinching as she intends to follow through.. Save that the dagger moves -much- faster than she was expecting, circumventing her hastily tossed arm and slashing along her shoulder.
To this impudent vermin's prowess, the Devil snarls. Utterly unconcerned for the red line growing on her pale flesh as she acts again without hesitation or concern for that little blade. As if mere mortal weapons do absolutely nothing to dissuade her vicious attack..
Soma will find that the added distance avails him little as the creature reaches for him... and CONTINUES reaching as her arm -extends- across the distance. Pale skin spearing forth like a lance from the depths of her sleeve.. Seeking to grip the young man by the face and -dash- him into the ground several paces behind!
COMBATSYS: Soma interrupts Maou Tsuke from Marise with Ashvinau.
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Marise 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Soma
Now that is unusual... emotional response and extending arms alike. But Soma is used to thinking quick and capitalizing on weaknesses and moments of indecision; in fact, this is far more important to his style than any weapon or psychic power. Even as Marise's sudden emergence from her fury is only a second, it's enough for Soma to flick his wrists again, daggers disappearing into his sleeves and leaving his hands free. So her emotions are a little unstable? Well... that's something he can use, if Tippin's reactions to the odd qualities of Psycho Power are any indicator.
Marise's attack is swift, and there's not a lot of time to react... but as the extending arms grow closer, the ICPO agent makes a sudden shift in tactics and decides NOT to avoid it. Claw-like hands sink into his shoulders painfully, and the svelte Indian isn't exactly hard to lift and throw around. But even as he's being moved, a silvery glow begins to form in both palms, until his signature psychic weapons spring into being, daggers of bright silver lined with crackling edges of unstable black. The Devil's grab is sending him toward the deck, but his hands are still free...
...and even as his body makes contact with the metal, he tenses and pushes outward with both arms, snapping out of Marise's grip before she can fully drive the point home... and even as he swings back through the air, the daggers -- now combined into a double-bladed polearm of scintillating Psycho Power -- swing through the air and *through* the Devil's extended arms at the wrists. Of course, the blades have only quasi-physical form and thus don't do anything so drastic as slice the appendages off... but they do deliver a powerful burst of psychic energy through her entire body.
The Policeman could not even begin to realize what he was about to do.. But at least he had something of an inkling..
As the Devil's hand clutches at the young man's shoulder, the wicked creature's rage has only begun to find outlet.. Completely ignoring the young man's useless whirling and squirming about. For, even as the young man focuses on his palms..
...The Devil sees nothing. No silvery glow, no energetic hue to give her warning. No flinch or moment of concern. To her golden eyes.. Soma appears only as a helplessly flailing man. His spinning attack means nothing to her as his hands seem to grip some invisible nothing and wave them past the Devil's arm as he squirms free.
Marise only offers a derisive snort at this pathetic defense.. her other arm lifting as she prepares to do a little something to keep the man from squirming around so much for the pain that is to follow.
However, after a single heartbeat Marise begins to realize something puzzling enough that the ghost snaps completely out of her rage to stare at her extended arm.. Limply laying upon the cold steel of the Black Noah. The limb is.. simply dead. No muscle obeys her.. no sensation gives her clue about what just happened. Her claws remain splayed upon the deck.. as the pale thing reacts as if it truly was sundered from her body.
Which is when the pain sets in.
"KaaaAAAAAAGHHHAA!!!"
The ghostly maiden simply collapses onto the deck. Her living arm clutching at her somehow invisibly wounded one, overwhelmed with an agony that is -completely- alien to her understanding.. Wide golden eyes staring at her lifeless flesh. "I..IMPOSSIBLE!!" She screeches in shock and outrage.
He has no power, NOTHING! She sees NOTHING in him! No breath beyond what little the man needs to live.. No technique of any kind.. Nothing could do this to her! It cannot be!
COMBATSYS: Marise takes no action.
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Marise 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Soma
The screech passes, briefly, unheard. The ICPO agent is rolling to a stop, and then a crouch, on the deck even as Marise's rage begins to give way to confusion. He was prepared for anything considering what he just saw, his entire body whip-tense with the need to scramble out of the way from the Devil's anger-driven assaults on his person. It's only after a moment that he realizes that said anger is draining from her body, only to be replaced by an altogether more frightening emotion, one he wasn't ready for.
Terror.
The scream, and the emotions that follow it, actually slam into the young detective like a physical object, ragged and primal in their intensity; he actually drops a hand to the deck to steady himself, gasping for air, in that terrible moment as Marise releases everything she's had pent up in that one terrible burst. Some degree of iron resolve is necessary to even possess his abilities, but strong personalities are strong personalities...
Eventually, however, he is able to drag himself to his feet, keeping his distance from Marise. In only a pair of strikes she's managed to injure him fairly badly himself, and he's not in any rush to run back into her waiting arms, injured or no. His voice is thick with pain and frustration as he stares her down. "I don't know what your problem is, but there's plenty more where that came from."
COMBATSYS: Soma takes no action.
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Marise 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Soma
The ghost finally gets a measure of a handle on this agony. A pain that.. has nothing to do with mere physical destruction. Nothing to do with the supposedly universal ebb and flow of breath. As Marise snaps her inhuman gaze up towards Soma as the young man recovers.. The Devil is begrudgingly certain she is not prepared for this. Only a fool fights a total unknown, and whatever he is.. is anathema to her.
At his boast, The Devil -hisses- at him, baring her fangs as she wildly claws the air in his direction in the manner of a wounded predator. As FURIOUS as the creature is about this terrible loss against her, the last thing she will do is risk everything she has left.
No.. She will go from here. She will rebuild and prepare again as she always does. There will be other opportunities if she patiently waits for them. Marise has taken enough chances for now..
...Besides. Marise -WILL- find out how this dusky skinned agent hurt her so easily.. But another time of her choosing.
With a warning snarl, the Devil simply throws herself off the edge of the deck of the Black Noah. Disappearing over the edge in a whirling rush of black silk and hissing air.. fleeing from battle without hesitation as the darkness shies away from the light that Soma brings to bare.
COMBATSYS: Marise has left the fight here.
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Soma 0/-------/--=====|
For a moment, Soma is left completely stunned by the absurdity of what's just happened. He and his opponent clashed but twice, each with their own emotional issues to bring to bear in the battle... but in the end he's left alone on the deck as the Devil effectively flings herself from the side of the ship in a bid to get away from the source of her consternation. The detective himself is a bit confused about it all, as well; while he's known people to have not-so-pleasant reactions to his energy attacks, he's never once seen someone lose it so completely as this mysterious woman just did.
But then, if she's gone and all is well, why does he still feel so cold?
Dark hands clutch a dark face, the silvery tips of Soma's bangs hidden as he grips his head, eyes wide, struggling to purge himself of... something. When has he felt that before? In the presence of another individual, another mysterious person, seemingly unhinged... but no, even as the memory surges back to him, the two experiences are similar but not comparable. Kichiga left him feeling angry, destructive... this battle only left him feeling disturbed, disquieted.
Deciding that leaving the scene might not be such a bad idea after all, the detective turns and takes one last look at the twisted wreckage of the Suiryuu, glowing with the bright blue remnants of Seishirou's parting gift to Rugal. It's almost like a living thing, the egg cracked, something waiting to be born... but before he can worry about that, Soma has a job to do. Nikolai Tippin is still out there, a dangling thread unresolved. And then there's the Ryouhara ninja, who are going to explain this whether they like it or not.
But as he secures a rope and begins his descent toward the stolen boat that brought him here, Soma can't help but feel his attention wander back to that brief, terrible encounter... and a feeling that this isn't the last he's seen of the long-haired shadow.
COMBATSYS: Soma has ended the fight here.
Log created on 23:34:15 10/23/2007 by Marise, and last modified on 04:08:57 10/24/2007.