Description: DOCTOR TRAN! A REAL AMERICAN HERO! Can he save the Statue of Liberty from that dastardly TERRORIST BOMBER, ACACIA?! But wait! What is this! There is also a FRENCHMAN here! Which side will le Monsieur SKULLOMANIA side with? The side of Freedom, or the side of funny clothing and accents?! Yeah. I know, I know. And it just got weird from there... (Winner: AMERICA! Er. I mean. Tran and Skullomania)
The Statue of Liberty! A symbol of AMERICA!
Well. Actually, strictly speaking, its proper name is the "Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World", but enlightenment is so totally boring and last season. It's also really French, but that's not really the sort of thing we like to talk about in polite company.
It's AMERICA.
That'll do, pig, that'll do.
What better place to stage a fight celebrating what it is to be a TRUE AMERICAN HERO?
Well. Actually, probably somewhere else. Somewhere that isn't likely to destroy a priceless national heritage site with random collateral damage. You can almost see angry complaint letters arriving in the offices of congressmen...right...about...now.
But this is SNF.
Who the hell cares.
Acacia Gillespie stands near the top of the great green statue, her boots planted firmly upon the crown of Miss Liberty.
Spotlights from below illuminate her form, and loudspeakers send her voice booming over the roar of the crowd clustered around the base of the monument:
"Hello," she says dully, "I am an evil terrorist."
She points, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, to the long, flappy, and vaguely Arabic clothing she's wearing, complete with messy head scarf-like-thingy. And costume bomb vest.
"I am here to blow up America," she states, flatly.
Thup thup thup thup thup thup thup. The low, pounding beat of a helicopter becomes more pronounced. It comes in fast and low, blazing just above the water like an abnormally altitude-deficient comet, an image which is only enhanced by the presence of one DR. TRAN, the seventh-most American Man in America, swaying from a ladder that's been thrown out the door. The glowing neon cowboy hat he's wearing doesn't hurt, either.
Nothing says American like needless extravagence, except maybe a blatant disregard for the consequences of your actions.
In that vein, the helicopter pulls up as it approaches the Statue of Liberty (which is its full name and anyone who says otherwise is a filthy terrori-oh.). It spirals around, climbing as swiftly as it can manage, until it slows to an eventual stop directly above the torch. Tran hops off and points with as much force as his finger can muster, right at Acacia, coat billowing with a wild passion. Then he says some things that are completely inaudible thanks to the chopper, but just pretend they're very heroic and whatnot.
There is an explosion of brightly coloured fireworks suddenly from the torch of the Statue of Liberty. Red White and Blue streamers of glittering beauty spiral off into the dusky horizon and then explode in festive showers of sparks. The crowd oohs and ahhs as directed. But, what is that black shape on the torch that is not Tran or coming from the helicopter?
It ruffles mysteriously and then as Tran's chopper comes in the gusting vortex winds propel what seems to simply be a blanket out into the water.
Skullomania winks, hamming it up for the camera from behind Acacia Gillepsie, there is little explanation he is just there. His presence being announced to his opponent, most likely as his long red scarf finishes its dramatic unfurl to snap loudly in the high winds. He wears a top hat, a long waxed french moustache affixed over his mask and he bows respectfully to Gillespie as he hands her the Oscar statue. It is the genuin article. It says, Best Picture - Kramer vs Kramer. Also there is a dingy old price tag from a garage sale declaring it to be 3 dollars in worth.
"Take a bow miss. They really love you! They really," He sniffs, wiping crocodile tears from his own eyes. "THEY REEALLY REALLY DO LOVE YOU!" He is openly weeping now, wrapping a congratulatory arm around the villainess' shoulders.
Acacia recoils from the enthusiastic...French Skullo's...greeting. She does not, however, recoil fast enough, and is quite comprehensively ensnared by his one-armed embrace. She turns her head just enough to give him a completely baffled look, eyebrows lifting towards her hairline, face scrunching up in an expression of complete and utter befuddlement.
"Oh-kaaaaaay," she says, finally, drawing the syllable out.
At a loss for words, she decides to check the words. She rummages in her excessively large and flappy terrorist uniform, until she pulls a slip of paper from between bandoliers of faux plastic explosive. Unfolding it carefully against the high-altitude wind, she squints at her notes.
"Oh, yeah," she murmurs, "right."
She tucks the script carefully back between the straps of her bomb, then laughs woodenly.
"Ha. Ha. You have already lost, Doctor Tran," she calls, her voice booming down the great statue, "your ally is on my side and not America's, for he is French."
She nods solemnly.
COMBATSYS: Acacia has started a fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Acacia 0/-------/-------|
Dr. Tran, after he feels he has held his dramatic pose (and holy crap that explosion of color was) for long enough, folds his arms to watch the scene play out before him. A moment passes, and he then he starts a little, and then waves the helicopter off, just a touch frantic.
It's a rental.
When it's finally gone and he can talk again, it seems that Acacia has managed to keep things moving!
"Perhaps...perhaps..." He refolds his arms and looks down thoughtfully. Could he be defeated already? NAY! Dr. Tran is not a man to disappoint! "BUT!" Tran throws his arms to either side, gesturing wildly as he speaks.
"Once, France was cool! They knew what was up! And so help me, tonight, I shall remind the French just what it is they've forgotten! FREEDOM."
Tran's arms lift up, and then he leaps forward off the torch, doing a quick front flip before unfurling (like an American flag) so that he is pointed feet-first toward Acacia like a human harpoon. And then if that works out fine he'll hop up again and bring his modest build into play by landing on her belly-first, accompanied by a cry of "AMERICHOOF" as the wind is knocked out of him.
COMBATSYS: Tran has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Tran
COMBATSYS: Skullomania has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Tran
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
Skullomania scowls at Dr. Tran. "Do yew not recall, the feeasco weeth the Freedom Fries? You and your United States of persecution and aggressive foreign policiees!" He clucks and tightens his grip on Acacia's shoulders. He then uses his other hand to peel off his moustache and throw it off the top of the statue, where it flutters away like a greasy gross bat.
"Besides, it is the strike of the unemployed today. So madame Terrorist I cannot let you go to work and destroy this statue or its great country. Or this symbol of freedom as given by the country who's accent I am brutally skewering at this very moment. Because my wellfare cheques? They are too too small!" He giggles and squeezes her tight, angling her into the path of Tran's boots.
COMBATSYS: Skullomania assists Tran.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Tran
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
COMBATSYS: Tran successfully hits Acacia with Dr. Tran's Summer Splash.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Tran
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
Acacia's boots scrape across the copper surface of the Statue of Liberty's crown. She begins to move, but her forward motion's arrested by Skullomania. Caught by surprise, she manages to blink, just once, before Tran's shadow descends...
...and he lands on her.
Oh god, the humanity. So undignified.
Her costume bomb-harness rattles as she awkwardly attempts to haul herself out from the sudden dogpile of justice, struggling and flailing, aiming random kicks as she goes.
"Western pig-dogs," she says, "you will not defeat me. And whatever it is I'm supposed to represent. Whatever."
"That's..." Pant. "The way..." Pant. "My cleanly shaven friend!" Dr. Tran attempts to roll over just a bit and catch his breath, but partway through he realizes that he has no idea where he is in relation to both Skullomania and Acacia.
He can tell they're both in there...in the pile with him...somewhere. It would be easier if he could breathe properly, but no matter! "A REAL AMERICAN HERO OVERCOMES ADVERSITY! THE MOST ADVERSE!" The only option in this situation is to /feel/ who his true opponent is!
"Aha!" The bomb-vest! It is truly the key. Skullomania has no such contraption on his decidedly flat chest, so clearly it's that which Dr. Tran has to try to grab ahold of. It provide leverage, see, and leverage is important when you're trying to ram your forehead into someone else until someone, you or them it doesn't really matter, can't see straight.
COMBATSYS: Skullomania blocks Acacia's Heavy Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Tran
> /////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Skullomania
Skullomania thrusts his diminutive chest out with the force of ten hot air balloons. There are chi manifestations of bright yellow exclamation marks and the Doctor finds and easy purchase on the Tokusatsu warrior's otherwise shiny smooth bodice.
"Well you represent vaguely illustrated but immensely threatening evil. And I believe..." He pauses, grunting in effort as he uses his forearms to block a solid thrashing to the face from Acacia's boots. The force of the blow still sends him flying, but!
Wait-- There's more! Skullomania quickly finishes his verbal riposte as he grabs onto Acacia, swinging her into and out of the way of Dr. Tran as necessary and trying to fling her up into the air, gracing the audience with a dazzling display of the SKULLO T'KATCHEV. "And we are supposed to represent unflinching and ignorant patriotism for domineering foreign policy and enforced consumerist tendencies for social pacification." Orangey yellow flames erupt from the skeletal costume giving him a vibrant aura.
COMBATSYS: Acacia blocks Tran's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Tran
> /////////////////////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Skullomania
COMBATSYS: Acacia interrupts Skullo T'katchev EX from Skullomania with Unyielding Stance.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Tran
> ////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Skullomania
Acacia's eyes start to glaze over, and it isn't just from reflected light cast by Skullo's furious battle aura.
Maybe he should have used words with fewer syllables.
That kind of intellectual stuff isn't gonna win him voters!
In the meantime, Acacia twists her body, letting Tran's headbutt glance off the makeshift armour provided by her costume bomb-vest. The terrorist contraption takes a severe beating, a few chunks of plastic flying off and the straps groaning under the abuse, but it holds firm - because its cause is JUST and it is a bomb of RIGHTEOUSNESS, able to stand up to even the SKULL of AMERICA (ie. Tran's skull; Skullomania's skull is a different skull entirely, and possibly a skullo).
Acacia's hair flutters in the wind as she lets the hit spin her around - before she slows, grounding her feet on the copper panels of Liberty's spires, boot soles adhering firmly to the platform with a quick pulse of chi. Thus stable, she meets Skullo's attack with a lifted forearm. Not to block - but to simply collide with him halfway through the move, a painful explosion of bone against bone.
"I deny your arguments," Acacia states, dryly, "with illogical fanatical rhethoric."
"YES! Exactly!" Dr. Tran, mildly dizzy from the often ill-advised act of smashing his head against something hard, still manages to push himself up to his feet in order to give a proper fist-pump. He points at Skullomania. "But it doesn't stop there! I'm every man's ideal, throwing caution to the wind and becoming the embodiment of dynamic action! No thinking required, only mindless, gratifying ass-kicking!"
Shaking his head clean, Dr. Tran turns about, facing off toward New York with his hands on his hips, trying to look as good as he can for the camera. Power ripples around him, an act mostly calculated for the additional billowing effects that are so vital for any justice-loving hero. Maybe a bit of a barely visible ripple, too. "Come. Gaze upon the city with me, and let the spirit of America, and everything that it represents, move you!"
COMBATSYS: Tran gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Acacia 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Tran
> ////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Skullomania
Skullomania is thrown off the torch by the force of Acacia's resolve. His arms and legs flail helplessly until he splashes into the ocean. There is of course, the expected flash of octamarine light and a lazily corkscrewing Skullomania dropkicks from the sky, very slowly, to land by Tran.
His costume is wet and it smokes from where the water has extinguished his chi. But with a sudden gleam of determination above his gaptoothed grin he stands tall, his fists plant on his hips and he is dry! He then makes a V with his index and middle fingers and points them at his eyes, before pointing a single finger at Acacia.
Oh yea. It done been brott...'d.
COMBATSYS: Skullomania focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Acacia 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Tran
> //////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Skullomania
"Impressive tricks, American! And...not...American..."
Acacia's spiel falters slightly as she glances at Skullomania. She pauses long enough to scratch the back of her head, before giving a small shake and turning back to Tran.
"But," she declares, "it will not be enough!"
Her bomb vest rattles with emphasis.
A roar splits the air, as Acacia's fist erupts in a startling mass of raw chi energy, spiritual power forced out of her aura as unrefined kinetic force. She rushes at the good doctor, her chi distorting the air like a heat haze, shrieking and vibrating round her knuckles as she powers the punch straight at Tran.
Aiming to beat him down with sheer explosive power.
And maybe, just -maybe-...even knock him clean off the head of Lady Liberty like she did to Skullo a moment ago. Knock him off and down, down, down to Liberty's robed feet and pedestal, maybe even the harsh and unyielding ground below.
It might be the soil of America, but Acacia's pretty sure it ain't gonna welcome Tran with a comforting embrace.
COMBATSYS: Tran fails to interrupt Mass Driver from Acacia with Dr. Tran Bites the Bullet.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Tran
> //////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Skullomania
Skullomania claps his hands to the side of his face in hyperbolic reaction to the force of the blow as Dr. Tran, does in fact, bite the bullet. And possibly chipped a tooth. Skullomania is not sure if that chunk of debris he saw so rapidly expectorated was in fact a piece of mandible, but he does know that putting it in milk won't help! So puffs up his chest and laughs.
"Our ideals will always prevail over your senseless bullying! Umm." He looks off into the sky, at an invisible teleprompter. Or is it invisible? "FOR AMERICA!" His cape magically unfurls from a furled position even though it was unfurled more recently than that. And it is a long version of the American Flag. It billows and whips triumphantly in the thin air at the top of the statue as Skullomania just observes Tran's plight.
COMBATSYS: Skullomania gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Tran
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Skullomania
Tran blinks a couple of times after he hears the splash, and turns his gaze wordlessly downward. He is silent, but one can almost feel the surprise radiating off of him. Or that might be a few last, lingering ripples of chi. One of the two, definately.
And then Skullomania is standing right next to him. Tran looks at him, and opens his mouth. Slowly, it shuts, as the doctor thinks better of it. Some things, man was never meant to know.
Besides, he's got Acacia to deal with, and she's...well, she's not big, but she /feels/ big. Well, she doesn't, but...you know. She can basically punch a hole straight through Tran, probably. Therefore, the only sane thing to do is to, like, get out of the way, or brace for impact, or something. Instead, Tran hunches over a little and balls his fist.
Then he gets punched off the top of the Statue of Liberty with sufficient force to send him sailing clean past the island into the drink below.
Acacia leans forward just a little, glancing past her extended arm and over the side of Liberty's crown. She makes a small expression of disappointment, huffing and pouting faintly. Oh, darn. She was hoping Tran'd hit the GROUND at the base of Liberty, not the ocean past the island's shore.
Oh well.
She'll have to try again! Because repeated explosions are so totally a terrorist thing. Or something.
With the doctor momentarily out of the picture, Acacia turns her full attention to Skullo. Who is, apparently, now wearing the American flag.
Acacia spends another moment just staring at this picture.
"Hah," she says, finally, managing to gather enough energy for a sneer, "you may be wearing the TOWEL OF AMERICA, but this will not save you!"
Clenching her fist, Acacia thumps the battered costume bomb strapped to her chest, producing a hollow sound of ringing plastic.
"I will explode randomly!"
Her acting is, as usual, horrible.
Which puts her in good company, really.
Acacia lifts one foot, holding it up - then drops it, slamming her heel into the surface of Lady Liberty's crown. An act that's sure to cause raised blood pressure among insurance folk and historical conservationists everywhere.
A wave of chi ripples out, ringing across the copper plates of the great statue - blasting towards Skullomania.
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Skullomania with Mass Breaker.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Tran
> ////////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Skullomania
Splish, splash. Tranzilla rises from the ocean, covered in fish and ready to point out the folly of men! Well, it's a fish. And he's less pointing and more serving as an example.
Details, all of it, because the fight is way up there ^, and Dr. Tran isn't. The only solution, clearly, is to run and get super-pissed off because there are so many stairs. Unless there's an elevator. But it's probably stairs, and that's ass.
When Tran finally reaches the statue's top, he swings himself up out of one window onto the tiara, panting, dripping, and /highly/ motivated to kick Acacia's butt at this point.
COMBATSYS: Tran gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Tran
> ////////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Skullomania
Skullomania is obliterated by the wall of force from Acacia. He waves his finger as if to suggest she is being naughty and out of place. But soon he becomes a black blurr amidst the chi blast, and moments later the form of Skullomania is knocked off the statue once more. This time it takes him much longer to fall, his scarf and body become engulfed in chi flames once again as he falls, flailing his arms and legs wildly due to his impossible predicament and an unwillingness to stand still when JUSTICE is on the LINE.
COMBATSYS: Skullomania gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Tran
> //////////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Skullomania
There is a flaming skullo falling down the side of the Statue of Liberty.
That's probably the sorta thing that's gonna make YouTube.
Kids, don't try this at home.
Acacia spends a half-second with one lifted eyebrow, peering over the side of the statue's crown of spires. Then, finally, she turns back to where Tran stands, having just emerged from what /has/ to have been a long and awful climb back up.
Acacia's expression softens. For a heartbeat, she looks almost apologetic.
For a heartbeat.
Then her eyes widen, and her smile takes a definite turn for the worst. It's the sort of smile that shows waaaaay too much teeth.
"Insert," Acacia intones, "dramatic anti-American monologue here!"
With a surge of power, she gathers her chi, the air twisting around her, the metal platform of Liberty's crown vibrating like a struck bell. Her hair shakes, her terrorist robe stirring. And then the energy races out, blasting towards Tran with the force of an exploding bomb, CRACKING through the air on a wave of wounded pressure.
Acacia, re-usable terrorist bomber. Wow, they're getting eco-friendly...
COMBATSYS: Tran blocks Acacia's Ground Breaker.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Tran
> //////////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Skullomania
Dr. Tran, newly rearrived, clucks his tongue in amusement. The terrorist scum did just as he planned, foolishly attacking him while he APPEARED to be off-guard and kinda winded! Well, the joke is on her! The shockwaves crashes into Dr. Tran, sending him sliding backward to the very tip of one of the crown-spikes, but he is mighty mighty. "Your evil ways will never triumph! Now, my friend, the COMBINATION ATTACK!" Dr. Tran looks around for a second. "He...you knocked him off, didn't you."
Tran sighs, a look of consternation on his face. "Really? I mean, really? Whose idea was it to have a fight like this with people like this up high on a place like this?" He pauses, and relock on Acacia. "Well, whatever!" And then steam erupts out of him in every direction, in a very powerful powering up sequence which certainly is /not/ pandering to the audience how dare you insinuate that.
COMBATSYS: Tran switches his Mindset.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Tran
> //////////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Skullomania
Skullomania winks out of existence with a wayward flutter of his scarf once more, this time before he hits the drink. He reappears arms crossed tightly around his chest as he spins tightly, legs pointed for the torch a good distance from Acacia.
"RETORT: NOT! IN AMERICA!" Skullomania insists unfolding his arms to point one of them at Acacia with a misunderstood patriotic pride. His feet hit the metal and insane eldritch sparks, yellow, orange, purple and green shoot from his legs as he slides towards the Terrorist!
The torch is not flat and as he gains speed he surges through the flames, splitting the statue in twain, before the kick comes for Gillespie's legs.
COMBATSYS: Acacia blocks Skullomania's Super Skullo Slider.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Tran
> /////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Skullomania
Despite herself and her assigned role, Acacia winces slightly as she watches Skullo bust down the statue's torch. Ouch. Hopefully they can repair that. Hopefully the damage isn't structural.
Hopefully they won't send the fighters the bill.
But enough woolgathering. She forces her eyes forward and her attention on the attack. Ignoring Tran for the moment, Acacia deals with the more immediate and oncoming threat - Skullomania.
She shifts her footing, sliding to one side. Her knees flex, her feet anchoring firmly to the statue's crown. Another pulse of chi races through her boot soles and into the girders and metal plate of the great statue, securing Acacia even as Skullo crashes into her.
The girl doesn't move.
"What's this," Acacia sneers back, "the NATO Alliance? No Action, Talk Only?"
As she speaks, she drops her arm, aiming a brutal elbow blow to the side of Skullo's skull. Typically, the head isn't the best target for a physical attack, but it's probably a thematically appropriate enough target, all things considered.
"LAYERS UPON LAYERS! The satire is killing me!" Maybe Acacia is kind of killing Tran, the way she's been hitting him. With a wave of his arm, Tran cuts off the steam show (save for a few thin trails rising off him).
"Enough!" Suddenly, Dr. Tran's voice is a lot louder, echoing everywhere. Thanks, Bert the Sound Guy! "It's time to end your evil plot, vile villain! Don't you go badmouthing NATO!" And then, with a wordless scream of what is probably rage, Dr. Tran rushes forward. With a construct of compressed steamy chi held high in each hand, one might wonder who is the terrorist now! Layers upon layers!
COMBATSYS: Acacia successfully hits Skullomania with Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Tran
> ////////// ]
|=======\====---\1 Skullomania
Skullomania blinks, he is lost in a moment where, he is about to say something, but instead he catches a fist to the solar plexus. He staggers back a few steps, serpentining from general wooziness. He finally collapses to a heap next to a small wooden table that has been set up. On it is a cup and a kettle of hot tea. Skullomania pantomimes exceptional relief as he pours himself a cup and takes a healthy swallow.
COMBATSYS: Skullomania gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Tran
> //////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Skullomania
COMBATSYS: Acacia Toughs Out Tran's Dr. Tran Does It!!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\=====--\1 Tran
> //////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Skullomania
Acacia's not even gonna speculate -why- there's a tea table set up on the head of the Statue of Liberty. SNF organisers are more liable to provide emergency medical care than an in-fight refreshments table, to say nothing of how on earth that thing has remained intact despite all the chaotic fighting that's gone on up here.
No. Nope. Uh-uh. Not even gonna think about it.
There are some things that normal people aren't meant to know.
The hand of Skullo moves in mysterious ways.
Instead she turns her eyes to the more explicable. Which pretty much amounts to a screaming Dr. Tran rushing at her with his hands full of high-pressure steam. Which actually doesn't make much sense either, but everything's relative and at this point she'll take what she can get.
Superheated chi /sizzles/ against Acacia's skin as she meets the blow head on, not even attempting to dodge. It sears her flesh, sends her hair flying, and badly scorches the increasingly damaged prop bomb harness strapped to her torso. Wisps of steam explode in all directions, before being carried off by the heavy winds billowing round the top of the statue.
Acacia /hasn't moved/, though. She didn't even wince, didn't even close her eyes. She's still on her feet, despite what /must/ be the painful experience of eating a Tran Special in the face. And she retaliates swiftly, lashing out with an arm, fingers questing to get a grip on the good doctor's all-American outfit, a handful of fabric...so she can haul him in, twist, and...
...throw him right into space, out at Liberty's upraised arm and glowing torch.
"State of Emergency," Acacia deadpans.
COMBATSYS: Tran interrupts Strong Throw from Acacia with Oh Shit It's Dr. Tran.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Acacia 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Tran
> //////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Skullomania
Someday, when Dr. Tran is dead, perhaps this will be engraved upon his tombstone. 'Dr. Tran: Relatively Explicable'. It has a ring to it.
However, this is not the time for such morbid thoughts. There is only time for one thing: ass-kicking at /any cost/. That's the real American way! "I'LL TAKE /YOU/ TO THE BANK! THE BLOOD-BANK!" Dr. Tran screams it even as Acacia starts to manhandle him, letting his power rise up fully before he discharges it. Right in her face. The instant he leaves her hands, he's twisting in midair to fling a wide blade of steamy chi right in her face. Then he follows it up with what modern mathematicians who have previously seen the technique describe as 'a fricking billion more'.
The continued force of the assault, tragically, is enough to send Tran hurtling backward into Lady Liberty's torch. The impact kind of cuts off what remained of his Go Power, for the moment at least, and it's all Tran can do to try to Not Fall for the moment. Hell if he's running up those stairs again.
Skullomania looks up from his second cup of tea. He watches Tran go flying into the torch. He winces appropriately, "Oooh. That wasn't nice." He shakes his head and whirls to his feet. There is not a lot of exposition to be had here. He puts his tea down, not willing to take the time to enjoy it when his companion in crimefighting is so dangerously imperiled.
"AND TEA!" He roars, rising to the occassion, trying to run up Acacia's shins to punch her in the face with a mighty followthrough and a hand glowing with the power of a red dwarf star. Which isn't very much, in comparative star terms, but still pretty damn potent compared to you know, a hand. "MAKES ME HUNGRY FOR JUSTICE!"
COMBATSYS: Skullomania successfully hits Acacia with Stepping Upper.
? Strange Hit! ?
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Acacia 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Tran
> //////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Skullomania
Blown off-balance by Tran's explosive attack, Acacia stumbles, teetering dangerously. She sways on unsteady legs, her vision fuzzy by the point-blank release of steam. She barely notices Skullomania rushing at her - his punch clips her along the way as she stumbles, rocking her head back at the chin and forcing her eyes completely closed.
She falls, toppling off her feet...and all the way off the edge of the Statue's crown. Before she slips completely off, though, Acacia snaps an arm out - her fingertips closing round the edge of one of Liberty's seven spires. She desperately hangs on to the old copper plate.
"Tea is /British/," Acacia snaps back.
Forcing her blurred eyes to focus, she gives a mighty HEAVE, swinging herself into the air - up, up, and back towards the offending Skullo.
COMBATSYS: Skullomania blocks Acacia's Heavy Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Acacia 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Tran
> ////////// ]
|=======\====---\1 Skullomania
"England is just America with bad teeth!" Dr. Tran is not one to admit defeat so easily. Even if it's someone else's argument. Kinda. Lines are blurring, here, as Tran hauls himself up into a position where he can at least tell what's happening. For a moment. He doesn't pause at all, not even properly getting his feet, instead launching himself off of the side of the torch like a human missile, already heading back toward Acacia.
Flying through the air, so majestic, Dr. Tran is truly an awe-inspiring symbol of America. He is like a bald eagle. At least until he vanishes from sight, engulfed by a massive cloud of steam that's thick enough to more or less completely conceal him. What is he doing? What is he planning?
As it turns out, it's nothing fancy; just him, continuing his flight to latch onto Acacia with both arms. Then, naturally, he'll detonate.
Who's supposed to be the terrorist here, again?
Skullomania comes barreling out after Acacia, running full tilt past Doctor Tran to grab for the woman's wrist. He does take the time, in passing to wink at his partner, shoot finger guns at him, and even do a bonus backflip for the fans at home.
He floats in the air, midleap, about to grab Acacia's wrist as the potential potentialities cascade out into the realm of possibility as the unique scenario of the Skullo Dream apparates like a similar scenario, Schroedinger's cat. In one instance Skullo can be seen missing the mark entirely, surely a possibility, and he sails off into the drink. Again.
But still more he can be seen stepping on Acacia's back, digging his heels in and reefing on her ankles as hard as he can. He can also be seen spinning her around and around as if to throw her out herself, into the drink, perhaps for her first time, Skullo is not counting. Nor can he count on any of these visions to come true, not even the spectacular red white and blue laser beam which fires from his navel to strike the villain soundly with patriotic justice is a gaurantee!
No. It is the [ansi(f,Skullo Dream)].
COMBATSYS: Acacia endures Tran's Dr. Tran Visits Satan.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Acacia 1/-======/=======|=======\-------\0 Tran
> /////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Skullomania
COMBATSYS: Acacia interrupts Skullo Dream from Skullomania with Stonewall.
[ \\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Tran
> ]
|=======\-------\0 Skullomania
Acacia looks up.
"What th---"
Which is about all she manages to blurt out just as the world goes ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
First she gets smacked by a falling Tran who totally drops from the sky in a cloud of steam. He smashes her down to the surface of the statue's head, causing an Acacia-shaped indentation in the copper. A second later, Skullo's upon her, ALL AMERICAN POWER BLAZING.
What is this madness?!
But her eyes narrow, then. With startling force, Acacia rips the bomb harness from her torso, balling it in a fist. And then she slams it right into Skullomania at point-blank range.
Whereupon it becomes evident that despite appearances, despite the cheap paint and plastic bits.
At least a few of those oversized explosive packs really -are- genuine bombs.
Whoa. Fourth of July!
When the steam clears, when the CRAZY clears (seriously, what just happened?), when the explosions clear, Dr. Tran is left standing there, searching about for some sign of life. Oh, wait, there's some. Right there. Acacia's still very certainly up and beating ass.
Maybe not Skullo so much. Who can tell? Whatever. At this point, Dr. Tran is beyond caring for his teammate! Harsh, but true; there can only be one focus, one laser-sharp focus, and that is on the filthy enemy of America that is Acacia. No fate is too horrible for this vile woman! No punishment too extreme!
And that's why Dr. Tran kneels down next to her, as if he were going to ask her if she was all right.
Instead, he tries to blow her off the top of the statue with a geyser of steam. Whoops!
Skullomania is knocked into the air, by Acacia's solid defense. Fireworks do go off, but the ones ringing in Skullo's ears and head are the worst. He rocks and rolls through the air barely able to cogitate! But he's got something left, and it burns.
And no it's not that, the doctor gave him a cream and it was soothing. But that is under privilege so Dr. Tran and Skullo both must focus on Kicking Ass and Taking Names. Which is what they do now!
Skullo spins several times in the air, then splays his hands out in front of him, the last of his power channeled into more patriotic chi explosions and he reverses his momentum and propels himself into Acacia. "GAME OVER! TERRORISTS LOSE!"
COMBATSYS: Skullomania can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Tran
COMBATSYS: Skullomania successfully hits Acacia with Skullo Dive EX.
[ \\\ < > ///////// ]
Acacia 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Tran
COMBATSYS: Acacia fails to interrupt Dr. Tran Doles Out the Harshness from Tran with Fracture.
[ < > ///////// ]
Acacia 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Tran
COMBATSYS: Acacia can no longer fight.
> ///////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Tran
Skullomania rebounds off of Acacia and lays down in a futon someone has set up on the observation deck. That was nice of them. Skullomania snores. very loudly. It's very irritating.
"So, Americans, have you---"
Whatever else Acacia planned to say in a dry and not-quite dramatic-enough fashion will be, sadly, eternally lost to the winds of imagination. Because she doesn't manage to complete the sentence. Because it's rather hard to speak when the air's being shoved out of your lungs courtesy of a Skullclad hero slamming very hard into you like an AMERICAN CRUISE MISSILE.
(When America bombs people, it bombs for justice.)
And with more than a little /push/ from Tran's sudden cloud of explosive geysering steam, all that Acacia manages is a sort of abrupt -yelp- as she goes tumbling off the top of the Statue of Liberty, into sudden and downward freefall.
While Skullomania somehow manages to bounce off and land...on...
...a readily made futon?
Truly, there is no fairness in this world.
AMERICA WINS AGAIN?!
Hard Nagare says, "YOU ARE A BAD ENOUGH DUDE"
COMBATSYS: Tran has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:32:33 09/21/2008 by Acacia, and last modified on 01:45:38 09/22/2008.