Description: The Hunter after the Hunter. Rolento tracks down his prey, Nameless, and the ensuing battle rolls right over into- The Todoh Dojo. Caretaker Daniel Jack and Heroic Jogger of Great Justice 'May Lee' get their rap-battle on to take down Nameless. Unfortunately, that leaves a certain military commander to deal with....
Early evening.
Darkness had already fallen, held at bay only by the streetlights that dotted the roadways through the neighbourhood. The small village had been so far untouched by the heavier fighting that had gone on between opposing factions. No cracks broke the asphalt, no buildings lay partially collapsed, looting and overal chaos probably wasn't that much of a problem out here...though likely there would still be patrols by those attempting to keep the peace. Infact one could almost pretend that some of the horrific combat that was no doubt happening in sporadic bursts weren't occuring, not when traditional dinners could still be made, music played to drown out the unending news reports... A cool, quiet night.
...Yes.
It was deceptively calm, even the wind had a lazy quality about it, very much relaxed unlike the crouched figure atop one of the wooden houses. The young man enshrouded by a dark ragged cloak was tensed, eyes narrowed where he'd found a perch, hand lightly resting on the rough surface of the roof. He was looking for a sign, /any/ sign of where his prey was...Or was that the wrong role? It could be argued that he was just as hunted. Still, he had a mission to complete, and failure wasn't something looked upon favourably.
"Where are you..." A soundless mutter.
The hunter, and the hunter.
Rolento has no delusions about his quarry tonight. They are exceptionally dangerous, both in terms of awareness and craftiness. This man is despairingly street smart. It'd be impossible to tell who had instigated this chase. But in terms of remaining unseen and unaware in an urban setting, Nameless has no prayer of outmatching one of the most experienced and veteran masters of war alive. Breathless, the very beat of his heart subdued, Rolento crouches down on an adjacent rooftop, before gripping a wire he had planted as he moved. And pulls it, causing an almost inaudible rasp of stone on stone as a small shingle collapses a mere inch thirty yards away. To normal senses, this means nothing. To one of exceptional senses and awareness, it is a mistake.
Rolento waits for Nameless to turn his head. If he doesn't, then he is little more then prey.
In a split second, a blur of tan is rushing forward, somehow giving no noise, no rasp of fabric on fabric, even the single step that sends him hurtling opposite muted. Twisting around to build up his inertia, a final roar is let loose, slamming his booted foot into Nameless' chest; sending him hurtling backwards, at an angle aimed right at the back door of a certain dojo. Coincidence, plain and simple, as the lithe form likely crashes through.
A sharp metallic snap as two grenades are torn from his harness, one after the other thrown after, spiraling through the air with the sharp whine of a major league pitch. The first explosion sends a wash of flames in all directions, shuddering the entire dojo. The second blows out much of the walls surrounding the doors, searing hot metal sinking into the roof and walls.
"IN WAR, THE VICTOR IS THE ONE WHO RETAINS THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE!!"
A moment later, the heavily muscled figure lands in a crouch within the debris of the door, snapping out an arm to disperse the smoke. White eyes shifting, looking for nothing but motion, baton hefted up before him. The kick would of stunned him majorly, but it is the grenades that would of hurt him. Did it work? Did they hit?!
Regardless, the chase is over. The fight for each other's life begins.
COMBATSYS: Rolento has started a fight here in the center.
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Rolento 0|-------|-------
COMBATSYS: Nameless has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Nameless 0/-------/-------|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-------
COMBATSYS: MayLee has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nameless 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 MayLee
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-------
COMBATSYS: Daniel has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nameless 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-------
Meanwhile.
Clip Clip. Daniel Jack out in the front of the Todoh-Ryuu Dojo, pushing the small push-mower across the carefully trimmed lawn. The detective had been hard at work for the last few weeks. Yes, there was justice. The detective was a beacon of stability as far as his great talents in Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu took him. Which meant he could beat up mooks. Maybe 3 before he needed a break. And hopefully none of those Invaders. Those NESTs soldiers with guns were a lot more nasty than you would think. Maybe it was the tech suits, or just downright good training. I mean, of course it might be Daniel being a total boob and a bit of a loser when it comes to fighting.
But he is certainly a winner when it comes to lawns!
The detective stops for a moment, wiping the sweat from his brow. Yes, he was the caretaker of this Dojo as long as Todoh was away. And he was safe here. Well, mostly safe. There was that whole 'Marz threatening you' thing. And there was Vyle. That guy was a jerk! But that was it. There really couldn't be- Suddenly, there was an explosion. And then, a crash. The detective snapped his eyes towards the backyard of the Dojo. Oh HELL no.
"Oh HELL no." Daniel Jack sputters.
Why is it that half the time when May Lee goes anywhere these days, something explodes? Is it something about her? Is it--
Oh. Right. The city is still under siege.
Sliding to a halt before the structure - she /was/ jogging before things decided they needed to explode out of nowhere - she adjusts her bobbing goggles, then sets her hands on her hips to eye the building... and the poor guy out in front of it.
"Um..." she vocalizes uncertainly before raising a finger to press it to her bottom lip lightly. At least the /last/ time something exploded in her midst, there was a guy running away from it to chase down, or something.
"Uh... so... that's not normal, right?"
And almost predictably, the bowed head of the Nameless one lifted sharply, turning all in one motion towards where that faintest of sounds originated. Eyes widened beneath the wild bi-hued bangs, suprise evident, but it didn't come without action. The clone reared to his feet almost simultaneously to the common eye as soon as that flash was detected, but as a compliment to his opponent, it wasn't nearly in enough time to do more than offer a pair of crossed arms to the heavy boot. "Hnnnght!" The sound of his grunt was lost beneath the cacaphony of smashed and splintered wood as he blasted right on through into the dojo with little resistance, tearing a short trail through the traditional and once...neatly polished floorboards. Someone must have spent a lot of time today trying to keep it clean for the master of the establisment!
Landing completly in an undignified heap however was for the unskilled and graceless. The NESTs agent smoothly tumbled out of the roll, slowing his momentum by digging his fingers into the boards, raking to a halt, bent low. Just intime to see a pair of almost innocuous objects come flying in.
Smoke and dust filled the air, stifling with its warzone impact. The place was a disaster area, and to think this was just the beginning. But Rolento had made his second mistake tonight, by announcing his exactly position. There was no roar of defiance, no sudden posturing with a proclaimation of just who would be the victor. Nameless had nothing to say, but the wordless dedication of efficiently carrying out his role-- that of an assasin without misgivings.
A silver-white spear lanced out of the haze, trailed by the flapping dark wings of his cloak. On ghostly feet, death would come.
COMBATSYS: Nameless successfully hits Rolento with Yukikaze.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nameless 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-----==
Well, it would seem the grenades were escaped. This is surprising; and given Nameless similarly managed to regain his feet as well, on top of the partial defense upon the rooftop, confirms his theories. He's never seen this man before, but he's certainly a successful prototype. NESTS has been doing their homework. And the raw shift of speed is caught. The former mercenary had been looking for such, twisting back and kicking away. But he's speared in his side by the advancing thrust, grunting loudly as he grasps Nameless by the wrist, preventing him from going deeper. Skidding along the ground, he observes the other man evenly, expression stoic and showing little hint of the obvious pain of the blow. "Comendable." he offers, before suddenly slipping forward and attempting to catch the experiment, advancing forward with a snarl and attempting to bodily /throw/ him towards the door leading into the main dojo room, in a particularly savage maneuver!
Daniel Jack rubs his temples with the index finger of each hand. Southtown was a warzone, and for the most part, explosions have thankfully avoided the Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu Dojo. But that was obviously no longer the case. The detective growls loudly, removing his hands from his hand and brushing his Aikido uniform briskly. Well then. He glares at the Dojo, listening to what was going on. There was a fight now. And
-May Lee-
Daniel Jack's shoulders jumps when Korea's second best hero speaks behind him. The detective cases her quickly. Teenage. Oriental. Judging by the Ying-Yang symbol on her belt, probably Chinese. The goggles and blue hair gave off the negative vibe of some raver chick. On the other hand, she also gave off a great vibe of being a good kid. Daniel Jack turned up his nose, munching on the question tossed at him. He couldn't afford sarcasm right now. "No, Frogger, that ain't sharp at all, you dig?"
And to that, the detective marches back towards the Dojo, not looking back at the Korean. Unlike K9999 and Mario there, he was using the FRONT entrance in the proper manner. See, unlike the high ratio types, R1s have to OPEN doors. In this case, slide it open. He slips right up to the thin paper door, and with a grunt, slams it open, attempting to make himself look as large as possible. With the intensity of a Todoh (student), he just glares in, crosses his arms, and snaps.
"What is GOING ON HERE!"
African-American male, big and broad, doing lawn work outside of the Todoh dojo in an Aikido uniform. Off-the-cuff nicknames, tendencies towards aggression. Daniel is not the only detective; May Lee is sizing the Todoh student up as he does the same for her(and, okay, afterwards as well), and as he stalks into his dojo, a lightbulb goes off and her fingers jabs the air triumphantly.
"The Todoh dojo's taken in an up and coming rap star to play off of its rhyming name, and now your former rivals from the street are attacking to avenge some kind of imagined 'beef'!" A beat, and then she strokes her chin thoughtfully before returning to beaming in the way that only a woman who has just stumbled upon a great secret can. "/Perhaps/ related to an inferior style or an offhand mention in one of your 'rhymes'."
She then holds her hands up in twin 'gang signs' and waves them slightly up and down before herself, still smiling broadly all the while.
"I, uh, I'm cool! I completely /dig/! I've got your back!" With that, she takes off after Daniel, eyes narrowing in determination. Rather than use the door - because she is not an R1, so why should she - she means to tuck into a compact package upon nearing a window so that she can leap through it, slide along the floor on the interior, and wind up in a dynamic posture. Her scarf flares outwards as she flies, carried on previously unfelt winds to flutter heroically.
COMBATSYS: Nameless interrupts Colonel Carrier from Rolento with Shigure.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nameless 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|--=====
Within a grip like iron, Nameless' foward charge was halted. Rolento's vice-hold was immovable and he acknowledged the older man's hidden strength by accepting the situation swiftly instead of denying the obvious. One of NESTs many experiments running around, each tended to have their inherant faults, exploitable weaknesses that became more and more apparent when engaged in combat. The K' clone was practically unknown, veritably the latest model from an assembly line of failures that managed to birth one success out of thousands. The information Rolento would gleen could become very valuable in the future when dealing with him in the future-- if the military-garbed man didn't just outright kill him.
Staring across at the other unphased, his gaze hooded and features implicitly stoic, he accepted the other's favourable observation without fanfare. And he also responded to the other's vicious attack with an equally unforgiving reply. Forced to free himself first, Rolento slammed into him heavily, almost knocking out the wind from his lungs with a hiss. But he turned this to his advantage, snapping a quick hand to grip the other man's shoulder this near to prevent escape. Nameless twisted on his left foot using it as a pivot to bring his booted foot up in a flying arc with Rolento as the end point.
It was enough to throw lesser prepared individuals airborn, and within such enclosed spaces...those not ripped asunder by the earlier explosions, right through the paper walls with ease.
Straightning fluidly, the clone leveled a disinterested regard to both the demanding Daniel and posing magic girl Maylee. "I have no quarrel with either of you. If you remain that will change." His tone lacked anything human, a flatness clinging to it as if he didn't care what the outcome of either would bring.
"...!" Rolento states nothing, but he does twist around, trying to regain his poise too late. Nameless had the superior stance and bracing, and he's sent hurling through the walls, crashing through with a dull hiss as he lands awkwardly upon the ground. Rolling up, a gloved hand slams into the floor, as he backhands away a broom that goes clattering in Daniel's general direction. Only then does he bother to appraise the others present in his vicinity, white eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. It is the apprentice of Todoh that recieves his own direct stare, slowly raising to his feet and brushing off wood with his hand. "Affirmative. This fight is irrelevant to either of you. Remain outside, or risk collateral damage!!" He then turns his back to the pair, spreading his stance and flexing his free hand. His baton is slowly twirled within his hand, peering towards Nameless intently. "Your combative strength is commendable. You seem to lack the instability I have come to expect with all of NESTS' creations. Or does your composure merely break down over time?" He has been overpowered and outmanevered in the introductory part of this fight. But it's far, far from over.
COMBATSYS: Rolento gains composure.
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Nameless 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
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Rolento 0|-------|---====
The words of May Lee strike Daniel Jack in the back. Like a dirk between the ribs, they cut deep wounds. Like all internal injuries, there is that cringing, agonizing pain. You know where it hurts, you know why it hurts, but you can't know the extent of the damage. Daniel Jack shudders as the nausea takes him. He didn't even hear her, but the mere existence of her words, her thoughts violated the very soul, tearing open his aura.
But that was the least of his worries.
Nameless was mostly unknown, except between three people. Rolento, who was just learning; Zangief, who was downed by the might of the clone. And Daniel Jack, who couldn't even get by the minions. That was the heart of the problem. As May Lee struck the pose of Tokusatsu, the detective's posture began to buckle. He had a NESTS commander in his Dojo. That was a bad thing. But then, he noticed Rolento. He remembered Rolento.
Rolento was the man who captured Metro City.
Daniel's form was almost liquid in how it was positioning itself behind May Lee. It was a gradual transposition; Daniel was caught between his sense of duty and his sense of survival. A pair of very strong men wanted to fight in his dojo. And Dojo's were meant to fight in. The fear from both Nameless (and especially Rolento) was eating away. His legs were trembling. His palms were clammy. Sweat was boiling over his brow in copious amounts. He gazes back at the heroic May Lee... and he felt a twinge of courage.
Uncanny Inspiration.
And to that, Daniel stomps his foot. With a clear, commanding demand, he exhausts his courage with one, simple demand. "This is the Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu Dojo, scuzzies! You can't just jack it on in here to drop roaches real solid on the floor, you dig! Break it out, uh, uh, uh, uh, pl-pl-please." At this point, Daniel's intense composure began to break again. "Especially... both... Frogger, back me up here."
Daniel Jack nervously fell back to a defensive stance. He was unable to attack, but he was unable to flee. Tactically speaking, he was easy pickings.
Daniel's waning composure brings a small frown to May Lee's features, and with that frown comes a small break in her own heroic state of mind. Her scarf falls limp against her back, the buckle of her Power Belt loses a certain degree of luster, and she's shifting from standing easily and comfortably with her right hand snapped to her chest and the left clutched in a fist level with her belt to adopting a real, defensive fighting stance.
"May Lee," she asides to Daniel. "May Lee, Student of the Kaphwan Dojo and Seeker of Justice!"
And just like that, by reaffirming herself, confidence suffuses her utterly and she's pointing imperiously towards the warring criminals as wind flutters her scarf and makes a little tornado of flecks of dust and wood nearby.
"Neither of you belong here!" she states in a voice a touch lower than previously. "Especially while the city is under such distress! Don't you see what you're doing here? You're making this WORSE! Both of you, apologize to each other, the city, and MC Todoh, then go do something /helpful/!"
Does Nameless argue with either of them? No. It was true, they were both invading the sanctitiy of the dojo, they should be gone and hell, maybe even chip in to pay for the inadvertant partial demolition that had gone on. Except, none of that sat well with the priority of his mission. Any kind of distraction could prove fatal when dealing with the caliber of man that was Rolento, and two other little brats trying to play the hero were a pair of the former he did not need. Some part of him wanted to feel that guilt, except it was brutally crushed beneath his own need. He had warned them, he had done his part, there was no more to be done for it but to respond...if they did not listen.
Dismissively, the young man turned away and back to Rolento, summarily ignoring the Dojo-students who had been told to leave, twice. The man's abillity to assess the mentality and skill of his opponent was eriely accurate. He might have smiled at the irony, instead he tightened his fingers into fists, his shoulders relaxed but an undeniable channeling of strength had begun. It was like a living thing, moving to center about the cloak-shrouded NESTs assasin. "Perhaps you will last long enough to find an answer for yourself."
COMBATSYS: Nameless gathers his will.
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Nameless 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|---====
Really, Rolento is the last person who should comment on initial composure which falls to near battle insanity. But maybe that just makes him better qualified for finding such out. Of course the fact that he's within a dojo is lost to him. He doesn't leave Nameless' gaze for a heartbeat, only keeping the pair in the back of his mind as he continues to slowly spin his baton, letting out a dull snort. "Negative. My munitions work better in enclosed places. An open environment would be an advantage for my enemy. Do not intercede... if you jeapordize my victory, I shall not forget it!!" He glances to the pair with the last part, but only for a moment. Then he pulls out another grenade, biting off the pin and then hurling it opposite with a snarl. It would then explode, shattering a good few of the mirrors and blowing out one of the overhead lights, as he begins to move; anticipating a rapid reciprocation from the other man!
Daniel Jack just sort of stands there behind May Lee, not looking very heroic. He was conflicted. Again, this was a matter of survival. As both of their cries fail to draw both of them out, the detective was on the spot. He was too afraid to take on either of the fighters, but on the other hand, he was too stubborn to leave. But then, May Lee drops a name. A very important name.
"Kaphwan Dojo? Oh, so you are with Chae Lim. Real cool, scuzzy, real cool. We're tight, you dig?" Daniel's confidence was somewhat blostered by May Lee's presence, and while the confidence was coming in waves instead of a stream, it was still to his benefit. Edging up besides her, he too drops down to his defensive stance. One hand forward, one hand back. Legs spaced out a bit, keeping the suitable and stable footwork of the aikido branch of Todoh. "So, May Lee." He growls, watching the pair go back and forth. "Justice right now wants my these jacked up doggies to slip out from my dojo without wrecking the place anymore. What's your expert advice, droogie?" The detective keeps wary, but not aggressive at the two fighters. After all, they w-
"HOLY CRAP HIT THE FLOOR MAY LEE!"
Daniel Jack moves to knock May Lee down when Rolento starts pulling out the grenade, trying to get both of them down quickly. Naturally, May Lee's natural talent and bravery may actually leave Daniel making a fairly dorky fall on his face. But it is the thought that counts, right?
May Lee does sort of bend at the knees and throw an arm up protectively over her face when the grenade bounces along the ground and explodes... but she doesn't hit the deck. She doesn't even do too much more than sway when shoved, and in fact, she swings her other arm out to try and grab Daniel about the waist to keep him from actually hitting the ground completely.
It wouldn't do for him to look so clumsy in front of these two, after all. It is heroic thoughtfulness.
"O--okay, that was /totally/ inappropriate!" she gasps as her scarf falls limp. She helps Daniel out with getting his balance if he's willing to stand, or lets him down gently if not, and then she turns her attention to Rolento. "I'll tell Chae Lim you said hello," she asides to Daniel before charging towards the beret-wearing man. She means to vault over his shoulders so that he can be brought low by a sudden kick to his back.
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Nameless with Grenadier.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Nameless 1/-======/=======|-------\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|---====
Maybe Nameless should have followed Daniel's advice. Rolento was correct in his assessment about the battleground however, and aptly proved it seconds later. Ontop of having to deal with the concusive force of the exploded grenade, the force of the explosion endangered the already destabilised housing structure. At this rate, Master Todoh maynot have a dojo to come back too, and whose fault would it be, hmm...Knocked off of his feet, and then forced to endure the partial collapse of the ceiling, the experimental clone disappeared briefly admist the debris and thick black smoke. It was enough time for Maylee to take a more personal stance on the situation, though not for long. The assasin had no intentions of playing hero, what he did he did for the organisation. It may just be that what he did would assist the young girl, or if she were fool enough, decimate her should she get in his way.
Pushing aside roughly the fallen splintered wood, brushing off the broken shards of reflective mirror, he tore away the dirtied remains of his cloak...And outright charged to meet Rolento's forthcoming onslaught with one of his own. His skin was cut leaving long lines of red that disappeared into the slick reminder of crimson on the dark surface of his combat-wear, stained with ash and dirt. His expression had changed subtlely to one far more determined, a slight pinching at the corners of his eyes. Nameless remained undissuaded, and he leapt within a short distance of 'impact', swinging his white-gloved hand down with a cutting-- the impact of which could be jaw-smashing, but the flare of writhing rich red flames was the real threat-- "AMAGIRI!!" Channeling it all for his own detonative explosion.
COMBATSYS: MayLee successfully hits Rolento with Swan Circle.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Nameless 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ ||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-======
COMBATSYS: Rolento fails to interrupt Amagiri from Nameless with Stinger EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Nameless 1/-======/=======|=------\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|------=|=======
Some days, fights go well. Some days, unexpected intrusions ruin things. Rolento had focused all of his attention towards the encroaching Nameless. having decided rather prudently that he is the most dangerous person here, including the pair of supposed heroes. The hurtled grenade worked as intended, giving him a reprieve. But then he feels a hand touch his shoulder, and his full attention shifts. "What--" The kick strikes him, causing a grimace. He lost time. Too much. Nameless is searching towards him, and he lunges skywards while his hand blurs, pulling out a heavy knife. But he's struck in the chest, the weapon spiraling away. "HRRGH..." The eruption of chi sends him flying backwards, shattering through a window and /fully leaving/ the dojo. He doesn't immediately get up. Well, maybe they'll have time to get friendly now!
Did May Lee just save Daniel's composure?
She just did, didn't she.
Stopped from falling, the detective holds there as the explosion goes off, leaving them unharmed. He looks confused for a moment, standing there dumbfounded. And then, he gets it. She manages to pile through, and with the tandem of both Nesty Boy and Frogger, managed to get Mr. Rolento out the doo- window. Daniel cringes. Ryuhaku Todoh was going to kill him.
But until then, he might as well take advantage of the fact that one out of two men were thrown out. That left the detective with Nesty Boy. Daniel Jack returns back to his stance, shuffling over towards the stronger man before breaking to a full run. And form that full run, he raises his right arm up high. This was it. This was to PROVE to the NESTS what it meant to face the fearsome forces of Todoh. And to shows May Lee that he wasn't a complete dolt. It was TIME to SHOW them ALL (except Rolento) the ultimate power of TODOH!
Manifesting a wave of energy in his palm, he hurls it down, releasing a great arc of bright orange chi. Moving in towards Nameless, Daniel was just trying to cut him up a bit with the ultimate power of Todoh, announced at the top of his lungs.
"KASANE ATE!!!!"
There's no wasted movement after Rolento's been sent flying; there's /still/ someone else who needs a quick lesson in manners, so after assuming a brief three-point stance, May Lee dashes low along the ground with a look of determination. With a well-timed jump, her body unfolds just before the Nameless one is collided with, and in a crescent arc she tries to swing her sneakered feet down to slam into the top of his head just as Daniel's chi is hurled towards him.
COMBATSYS: Nameless dodges Daniel's Mikansei Kasane Ate.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Nameless 1/-======/=======|=------\-------\0 MayLee
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|------=|=======
COMBATSYS: Nameless fails to interrupt Surprise Air Finish from MayLee with Yoizuki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Nameless 1/-======/=======|==-----\-------\0 MayLee
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|------=|=======
Maylee was being a particularly obtrusive intrusion today, not only for Rolento, but it would seem...the NESTs experiment aswell.
Daniel's approach had all the tact of a rampaging rhinocerous, near impossible to miss the eye-searingly hue of his manifested chi. He was also in his way for where Nameless needed to go. And yes, this time the clone planned to use the door to get outside instead of smashing through another wall like some parody of a red-figure plying sugar-flavoured water. You know the man. Instead of outright smacking the boy out of his way, he grabbed him when close, then half spun, half threw him aside, stepping past unbothered by the chi slicing in another direction.
...And right into Maylee's prepared attack. Timing was everything, and she had had a headstart. He tried to leap out of the way, the air heating up as if preparing for the burst of flames to come-- except her foot managed to find his chin and he was thrown ofbalance, falling to his knees. Was he angry? Yes. Would it show?
Look closely.
Rather casually, Rolento picked himself up from outside, brushing away glass from his chest. He is rather angry. Although unless Nameless, he is a bit less conservative about letting it be known. Approaching the front door in a smooth stride, he tilts his head and listens to the door. The feminine sounds might be Daniel or it might be May Lee. He bets on the latter, before crouching down in preparation. And then lunges forward, his shoulder blowing inwards, sending the broken doors flying in either direction. Spiraling his staff around in a rather vicious manner, he then attempts to sweep behind May Lee and slam it beneath her throat, leaning back and grasping the other end to heft her clear off the ground. Pulling hard enough that blood might fail to go to her head, as opposed to simply breath. "You have made a fatal mistake interfering with my combat. This man is a NESTS assassin, and I am contracted to protect the schools. This intervention has made you my enemy!!"
Daniel's tactful rampage is redirected, and the detective? Yeah, he doesn't even register the fact that Nameless was in the process of leaving. I mean, if May Lee was piling in, then it made sense to pile in as well! The detective doesn't take much longer to hold back after he is pushed away. Like that rhino, he wasn't going to let a little off-balance knock throw him for a loop. Turning around promptly, he doesn't even think. As May Lee finishes up her rush, Daniel leads in with a Palm strike with his free arm.
The palm strike is then followed up by a hand chop towards the neck. Daniel Jack wasn't going to let Nameless have a breather. Daniel Jack didn't really HAVE a technique that gave breathers. If Daniel stopped, that meant he was preparing to set up the next storm of attacks. And, well, Daniel was in that storm. After the hand chop, Daniel would lead in with a straight kick with the left leg, then move in with a straight kick to the right. To build distance, to throw his balance in a point of leverage... and to set up the next fool to try something his way.
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits MayLee with Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nameless 1/-======/=======|=======\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-----==|=======
May Lee does a fair amount of kicking and straining against Rolento and his baton, and little lines of electricity spark across her arms as she struggles. At first, her teeth are gritted in discomfort, but as she begins to force herself into the proper mindset for mustering the determination necessary for escaping such a hold, her lips turn upwards in a confident smile. Her scarf billows up and outwards.
She bursts from Rolento's arms, arms suddenly glowing wildly with crackling electricity as she streaks towards the NESTS assassin.
"/Both/ of you don't belong here, especially you, with your explosives!" she shouts as she nears Nameless. "LIGHTNING BLOW!"
COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Nameless with Zoot Suit Riot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Nameless 1/=======/=======|=====--\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-----==|=======
COMBATSYS: Nameless blocks MayLee's May Lee- Lightning Blow!.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Nameless 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|======-\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-----==|=======
Kicking an opponent while they were down? A sound tactic, and one that Nameless could weather better than most. It began with one, sluggish to respond, it knocked him off of his stride, in one case literally, stumbling as he sought to regain his footing. Each one that landed saw that the clone's jaw tightened, then grit, and not because of any pain. Daniel's technique in this case was sound, they hit with enough damage that would later see that his skin bruised purple once his uniform was peeled off, but Nameless was a man who'd been through hell many times over. And it wasn't enough to truely distract him from the task at hand. "You all..." Quietly spoken, the pause was his signal to deal with the outcry from Maylee, he barely bothered to pay attention to her words as he stepped into the crackling attack, blocking with his right arm, refusing to be pushed back by the force of it. "are in my way. I'm finished playing."
Maylee might notice it first, if not physically...where she'd hit, it was hot. He'd roughly surge foward as if to brush her off with his sight locked on Rolento. Pain wasn't a limit, his accrued injuries however...Even he had is. Not there, but the window of time to waste with these interruptions was closing. Rolento was a man who needed pure focus, and if he didn't act quickly-- his mission would fail, and he would be more than just a further from the high reaching goal he strove for.
"You wanted to save your wretched dojo? Then reap your efforts!" Except he wasn't even looking at them! Explosions? Maylee had no idea. His darkly gloved hand reached and grabbed ahold of the besmirched white, the polished ivory long tarnished."You wanted your answer Rolento," each word lifting in timbre, well here it was! "RIN--" He tore the glove off, and what had been a mere increase in temperature exploded in a veritable dome of wild fire, blasting about like a torrent around the NESTs experiment, "KOU...!!!"
COMBATSYS: Rolento blocks Nameless' Rinkou.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Nameless 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Daniel
[ ||||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-======
Well, whether May Lee can weather this onslaught is questionable, but Rolento is a seasoned man who is difficult to back into a corner. As such he manages to surge to full activity, bringing up his forearms and leaping back, the flash of chi colliding with him dead on and sending him rocketing backwards. But the majority of the scalding fire washes around, and he impacts a wall heavily thereafter, creating a Rolento-sized hole. An annoyed grunt leaves him as he drops to his feet, crouching down a moment and bringing up his gaze. "He has waged war on your dojo!! Assist me in incapacitating him, and I will compensate you for all damages, plus one hundred thousand dollars!! He is one of the people waging war, while I am one of the defenders! Who saved Justice High? It was MY intervention!" Well, that is actually true, if either person kept up to current events.
Rushing towards Nameless thereafter, he begins to spiral his staff before leaping into the air, growling as he snaps down his weapon and attempts to slam into the man before immediately shooting backwards in an evasive manner...
COMBATSYS: Daniel endures Nameless' Rinkou!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Nameless 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 MayLee
> ///////////// ]
|=======\====---\1 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-======
Rolento was a tyrant. A military genius. He took over Metro City while Daniel Jack was there. Sure, he made the trains run on time. But all great fascists kept society functioning like clockwork. It was the pesky freedoms that got in the way of that. Nameless was the same thing, apparently, except he was the tool of the fascists, not the leader. Daniel Jack's last kick of his combination strike knocks the NESTS pawn away. And then, Rolento points out something very important about some fascists.
Money.
Suddenly, Rolento's status of being a major foe at one point in history is forgotten. In a moment of true American exceptionalism, Daniel Jack forgets all previous grudges for the benefit of future financial security. To that, he throws his head back and tightens his jaw into a grin. Fishing his hands in his pants, he draws out a cigarette. "Then, good sir, I support the benevolent hero of Justice High and The Todoh Dojo! May Lee! Jack up on Michael Jackson here with a full on-"
And then, he spies the fires rushing forward. Like that one moment when Robert attacked the Dojo, Daniel Jack knew what was coming. Kasane Ate could not stop that. He couldn't deflect. It was too fast to dodge. And he barely had time to think. His heart quivered. WWTD. What would Todoh do? In that, the detective did the only logical thing.
He charged.
Daniel is seen fighting upstream in the fires, charging in a blind dash through it all. The force was steadily driving him backwards, keeping him back. But in a single moment of the epic Todoh might, the detective simply endured the wave. His ears were somewhat bleeding, and his entire uniform was in burnt tatters. But his gaze was intense. In his mouth, was a single cigarette, freshly lit by the wave of stolen fire. Winding a fist back, he called out loudly, finally reaching his full speed in a rapid dash the moment the fires die down.
"May Lee! For the glory of our two schools, lets get it real! Kaphwan and Todoh style!"
And with that, he unleashes the fist palm strike towards the NEST warrior.
COMBATSYS: Nameless successfully hits MayLee with Rinkou.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Nameless 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 MayLee
> ///////////// ]
|=======\====---\1 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-======
"I--" May Lee begins to reply before being struck dead on by the rushing fires. Her arms, still alight with the dying sparks of channeled lightning chi, are before her protectively... but it doesn't matter a whit. She's enveloped in burning energy for a few brief and excruciating seconds, and when it's all over, she collapses to the dojo floor in a heap with a barely voiced groan of pain.
She lies there for quite a number of seconds, immobile... save for her still flapping scarf. She only barely hears it as Daniel encourages her to 'get real', what with all of the having her nerves excruciatingly aflame, but even if the words themselves don't penetrate, the spirit behind them does.
Sure, she's caught in the middle of a rap feud she has no real part in, but there's all this meaningless property damage that must be avenged. And if Daniel is willing to brave the fires to do so... then she should be as well.
Thus, she pushes herself to her feet, coughing all the while. Her head is bowed, her legs are wobbly, and there's a thin crack running along one of her goggle lenses.
There is also, once she's snapped her head up to reveal her face to Nameless, a broad smile framed by blood and bruises, and after drawing her quivering right hand to her chest to cross it at just the right heroic angle, she nods firmly at the charging Daniel.
Without a word, she joins the rush, leaving her feet in an artful forward somersault meant to bring her into just the right position to make an attempt at darting through the NESTS assassin while lacing invisible strands of nascent fire chi about his body. If successful, her hand will return to her chest, and with her scarf still fluttering to frame her battered body, a single word will be uttered and explosions will consume him.
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Nameless with Mekong Delta Escape.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Nameless 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-------|=======
COMBATSYS: MayLee successfully hits Nameless with May Lee- The End!.
[ \\ < > ///// ]
Nameless 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-------|=======
COMBATSYS: Nameless endures Daniel's Jazz Hands.
[ < > ///// ]
Nameless 1/--=====/=======|====---\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-------|=======
And in which, in tandem with Rolento and May lee, Daniel Jack brings his own to the team up. With a palm strike, he smashes into Nameless. With that, he raises his opposing hand. "KASANE ATE!" He cries, dropping his arm down with a wave of energy. With the grace of a Todoh, Daniel Jack charges in with another palm strike, followed by another "KASANE ATE!"
After the second Kasane Ate, he begins unleashing a storm of hand strikes, five in total before he brings about his final punch: An Upper Cut. With the final strike done, he just holds there... holds there... and coughs.
"I just swallowed my cigarette."
He felt like if he was burning, his flesh, his blood, his vision was consumed by the wash of blazing red and the flames a roar in his ears. This was the power of the Kusanagi flames unleashed, a wild thing with enough force to destroy its weilder. Nameless pushed himself as long as he could before he felt his own impending destruction, and only then would he seek to return to his hand the white-glove that was the key to him being able to control the stolen power. He wasn't full aware of what happened to anyone else caught in the blaze, only Rolento had been the sole target...everyone else, was simply collateral. Nothing personal, but purely business. Even if the two students were gnat-irritatingly hampering his successes.
Weakened for a critical moment, he fought to return his senses to before the risky move, an opening that Rolento couldn't but help but take advantage of...and not only that-- but bribe the others to his side. If there was any doubt before in their hearts who to attack, it would be gone. Rolento was certainly a tactician, a pity he hadn't thought of that in the first place himself, it would have saved a lot of trouble...And perhaps, even the dojo itself? Now was no time for what ifs though, slammed into with the staff before he could recover, he took one step in the other man's direction but was assailed by Daniel and Maylee.
He was down on the ground by the end of it all, a smoking bloodied mess. But he moved, even though the wealth of damage done to him, he coughed up a bit of blood, the coppery taste of it a bitter tang at the back of his throat. His mission was everything, and instead of taking his vengence and anger out on either boy or girl, his eyes had only one target in his sight. From on the ground, he pushed himself upright, ignoring the other two. "I /will/...complete my mission." He had more to give, and with his last bit of energy, his nerves already screaming with protest...He threw himself at Rolento with a sudden burst of speed, and a flare of Kusanagi fire. White and black gloved fists rained down towards the military man, a fiend of movement in hells breath.
If he failed with this last, he would be forced to retreat. Retreat and deal with NESTs higher.
COMBATSYS: Nameless can no longer fight.
> ///// ]
|====---\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-------|=======
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Nameless' Zetsuei.
> ///// ]
|====---\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-------|=======
However, although the burning iron witihin Nameless continues strong, the will evident with the blazing of his eyes, Rolento is in a superior position. He had carefully honed his stance for evasion, and is still riding the burst of adrenaline that allowed him to survive the explosive area of effect blast in the first place. Lunging backwards, he weaves and ducks, capitalizing on the leaden weight and burning pain that steals his accuracy and strength. But a few get close, moreso then he would of guessed, and the guerilla fighter is glad he had not fully dropped his guard. At the end, he suddenly lashes out, both hands grasping his baton as he lets out a snarl -- bringing it around, trying to slam it into Nameless' face, and hopefully remove him from the fight before he can make any escape. The specimen was correct at the onset of the fight. He would be invaluable to take alive... "Cease hostilities!! This battle is concluded!!" he snaps towards Daniel and May Lee. Just because the NESTS agent cannot fight any longer hardly makes him harmless or free game...
COMBATSYS: Rolento takes no action.
> ///// ]
|====---\-------\0 MayLee
> //////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-------|=======
COMBATSYS: MayLee has left the fight here.
> //////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-------|=======
Daniel Jack himself is too busy hacking and coughing to quite deal with Rolento. Just as well, May Lee herself was collapsed. And there was a very scary Hispanic man with a stick and full military gear. Daniel Jack retches up the cigarette, and pounds his chest, continuing to cough. Finally, he rises up, turning to face Rolento.
May Lee was down. Nameless was down. Daniel Jack was outclassed, and promised a sizely paycheck. However, the Dojo was still destroyed. And now, Daniel Jack had to put on a show. Crossing his arms, he glared at the special forces, and just stood there, his body slowly feeling the burn of NESTS. And to that, he speaks as clearly as someone who was choking on a cigarette can be. "Scuzzy, no no, you aren't just a scuzzy. You are Rolento. I remember you from Metro City. I was one of the proxy means there, you dig. But I remember Nameless here. Attacking innocents and all that cheese. You are jacking around, for sure, and you are jacking in my pocket. So yeah, Rolento. We don't have trouble now. I'll be happy for that paycheck, you dig? Damages and alllll that."
The detective glares, trying hard to keep standing. That was a brutal attack from Nameless, for sure.
COMBATSYS: Daniel takes no action.
> //////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||||| ]
Rolento 1|-------|=======
...Missed.
The flames ebbed, then died, closing off that last avenue till he regained his strength. Nameless could nolonger fight as he was designed too, but he was still no injured lamb for the taking! Rolento's blow cut a deep gash across his cheek, knocking him down to one knee. But not out. In the time it took Rolento to address the other two, he would use that distraction to make himself literally, scarce. There were no smoke bombs, nothing gaudy, but the subtle efficiency of one accustomed to making oneself a part of everything else-- and vanish. Rolento should have just grabbed him and held on to ensure he was secured. Maybe next time he'd learn...
Damn. Rolento had vastly overestimated the fatigue and damage inflicted on Nameless. He catches a glance of him flitting away, but has enough experience to know from the cat and mouse that pursuit now is meaningless. He would be lead into a trap instead of a conflict. But they had not quite matched proverbial swords in battle... there would be another time. "Affirmative. I operated in Metro City more then once. More importantly, you address me in an unacceptable manner!!" He suddenly erupts forward, bringing his baton overhead with a snarl, in less time then one might blink an eye leveling it to strike Daniel right between the eyes with boneshattering force. At least, to someone with a less thick skull. It's assuredly an attack, seeming to be deciding himself as the victor. "My promise is void. My quarry escaped, and you not only intervened when I demanded you did not, but your associate attacked me. Inexcuseable. Were you not on my side, I would execute you both right now!!" Whether Daniel survives his directed fury or not, he will then make his own leave, to try and track Nameless as far as he can... finding the location of a NESTS holding area might not make this a TOTAL loss!
COMBATSYS: Daniel counters Mekong Delta Air Raid EX from Rolento with You Got Jacked!.
> /////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Daniel
[ ||||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-----==
Daniel Jack's barely steady demeanor rocks back and forth, even as he partially notices Nameless fleeing. Good for him. Now he wasn't a problem for Daniel Jack. But when Rolento actively defaults the promised loan, the hairs on the detective's neck bristles. After all this, the man wasn't even going to pay them? Well then.
Damn him all to hell.
The flash of speed doesn't give Daniel much time to react. At this point, it was all reflexes. The reflexes of Todoh are not impressive, and neither is Daniel's. But the thing was... Rolento's choice of weapon was familiar to Daniel. Kendo is a solid part of the Todoh school, and one that is not often tapped into except in the more traditional sectors... and in the Kasane Ate.
But like a Kendo sword, Rolento was bringing down the rod. And like Kasumi, Daniel was spreading his legs apart. Shooting his hands up, his palms graze the weapon. And in that, the reflexes take a hold. The detective shifts his weight parallel to Rolento, tightening his grip on the man's rod. Turning around him, he moves up and in, shifting himself from being a target into being leverage. There is little more in there but the grace of a throw. Daniel allows Rolento's impressive force take it's course over his shoulder, and to help him along, he whips him over, tossing him away.
And with a glare, Daniel reverts to his battle stance. Facing directly at the warrior, he feels the hate boiling up in him. "NOBODY jacks a paycheck from Daniel Jack, -SCUZZY-" The detective roars as his frigid natures bleeds across the room. Todoh made it very clear that payments promised MUST be paid. And in that, the true talents of Todoh comes to surface. "You better PAY UP scuzzy, unless you want the TODOHS to be collection, you dig it?" He knew Roland would be up for collecting. Unless of course, there was some imaginary rule keeping Rolento and Roland meeting.
Commendable, is what Rolento initially ponders, when he finds his assault captured. There wasn't much time, and it was assuredly a slim hope of success, but no mistake was made in Daniel's part as he sends the veteran careening over his shoulder to crash on his back. Except maybe how quickly he gets up, seeming almost entirely unhurt. "..." Slowly Rolento rises, his stance spreading as he twirls his baton a single time. "I said if you help me capture him. Was he captured?" His voice is almost too calm and reasonable, as he gestures to the broken dojo but lack of Nameless. "You have made a terrible mistake. I had intended to leave this structure standing. Your intervention, however..." He slowly unbuttons his vest, before snapping it open. Beneath is armor plated guards, and literally dozens of grenades, strings of plastic explosives, and high ordinance. "Has made me rethink this proposition." He slithers forward, continuing to spiral his baton before dropping it down with savage force, trying to slam it into Daniel's collarbone. Before snapping up his knee thereafter, to slam it into his stomach for good measure. "Your life might be forfeit as well, including the female, unless you can repel me!!"
COMBATSYS: Daniel blocks Rolento's Armed Combo.
> //////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|------=
Man, Daniel Jack was really having pangs of Todoh Judgement, wasn't he. Not only was he drawing aggro where it shouldn't, he might have been making the situation WORSE for his Dojo. Not to mention himself. No money, and now the entire place might be destroyed. Heaven knows what the lawn is like.
Daniel himself keeps his gaze frigid and intense up until he sees the explosives. Then his face metamorphizes into one of complete and utter terror. Eyes like dinner plates, the detective realizes how over his head he was. This was like the Billy fight, but to the power of ten. He needed to put together his options. What DID he have? Glancing over at May Lee, he had no support. He had his limited health, and the drive of Todoh. Well, that might hold him over. And then, just as quickly, Rolento came piling in with his baton drop. The detective drops to his knee, bringing his arms up high. His poor limbs absorb the impact of the first blow. When the knee slam comes in, he just drops his arms as well, taking both in with careful blocking. Technically, it was fine. Physically, he wasn't going to be blocking for a while now.
Still stinging from the strike, he growled at the superior fighter. "Seriously, Scuzzy, I can't jack you down, and you know that. Jack Rabbit, freaking jack rabbit. With his arms mostly paralyzed, he dropped them both down and swept his leg, barely keeping his balance. Maybe if he tripped Rolento- Well, if he tripped him, then he would just get MORE angry. But what other choices did he have?
COMBATSYS: Rolento fails to interrupt Light Kick from Daniel with Quick Throw.
> ///////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-------
Within this sacred dojo, destroyed as it is, obviously the will and grace of Todoh is running through the younger fighter. By all accounts, the last two assaults have crushing odds against his survival; the speed of that flying baton, or the ease of his shifting hand, grasping Daniel by the throat likely sharply enough to strangle thoroughly. Yet the slide continues uninhibited, and Rolento had not braced himself sufficiently. With a swish, he's suddenly horizontal, forced to let go as he slams upon his back again, huffing out breath and rolling away. But he looks more amused then anything else now, although rather weathered and exhausted as well. Chances are still slim, but Daniel's made the seemingly impossible success of it no longer being nil! "Your resolve is impressive. Fine. I won't destroy this structure. Yet if you wish my financial aid, there might be an alternative..."
Daniel felt the fingers on his neck. There was that psychic wraith of dread, looming over him. Still outclassed, still over his head. But the Spirit of Todoh thrived off those odds. Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu was not the Art of Fighting. It was the Luigi to the Art of Fighting. Kyokugen was the primary art, popular throughout the world via the infamous faces of Ryo, Yuri, Robert, Takuma, and of course Marco. Todoh's martial art had only three things going for it in terms of popularity. The eccentric antics of Todoh, the fact it was a direct rival to Kyokugen, and the final, most important factor.
The unstoppable will to win.
Daniel's sweep recoils, his leg drawing in quickly to bring himself up. Resolve nothing. Roland had greater resolve than Daniel Jack. The detective respected his rival for that. It was great soil to plant the seed of Todoh in. Of course, the same was said about Ryuhaku's wife. Oh jeeze. Nasty. The detective cringes slightly, but shakes it off. He just holds there, glaring as his arms bring themselves up high. The detective was backed into a corner, like a rat or possibly a raccoon. He was preparing for anything to come at him. The spirit of Todoh was becoming choked back, building up like a pressure cooker. Rolento was incredibly dangerous, and that was only turning against him because Daniel Jack just couldn't back down. He was turning desperate. But Daniel Jack knew that any way out was better than fighting him. And so, with his eyes turning more and more frigid, he just drops his response.
"Alternatives are real sharp, scuzzy. I can sniff out a man. I can nerve tap a group. Tagging for big dogs, weaseling out little rabbits. I can even pull a rescue or two. Name your price. You seem to be jacking in the interests of Southtown- For now. I'm down with it, scat cat." And all that rattling, and his form doesn't shift. Daniel was going to make this fight or break this fight.
And he prayed that it was going to break.
COMBATSYS: Daniel focuses on his next action.
> ///////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Daniel
[ |||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|-------
Rolento slowly cracks his neck to the side, beginning to leisurely twirl around his baton, observing Daniel. Cold, uncompromising eyes that seem to peer at everything at once, looking beyond the immediate details to pry, assess, detail things. As if one's soul was being stripped and inspected all at once. Uncomfortable. Not a lot of people can meet Rolento's gaze and keep it, with his force of personality and will. "I assume you will not execute an opponent, even if such is validated by war. No matter. I am beginning a small band of vigilantes who care about whether this city falls, who will fight where it matters, and to do what must be done... within limits. I believe I shall conscript you." He flicks his hand, and a slender blade appears. "But our conflict will not be so easily settled. One must speak to me with respect, or I will cut out one's tongue." And then in a blur, he sends the spiraling blade opposite, aiming for Daniel's right shoulder with no small amount of penetrative force!
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Daniel with Thrown Object.
> /// ]
|=======\===----\1 Daniel
[ |||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|------=
And like that, Daniel Jack is down.
The presence of the knife takes him off guard. Blades. Just like with Roland. Daniel Jack had trouble with knives. Last time he managed to catch one, it exploded in his pants. When the blade comes flying out, he tries to deflect. But the speed was too much. The impact was too much. Driving hard into his shoulder, the detective spins a bit as he falls to the ground. And with that, he gasps, struggling to stay conscious. He seethes through his teeth. He didn't have enough of a drive to take Rolento down. And with that, the final flame of Todoh just holds there, simmering, drawing inwards to keep the detective alive.
Daniel Jack looks over at Rolento, eyelids growing heavy. He seems to be fighting with his mind, struggling. And with that, his body gives up. The student of Todoh goes limp, putting up no more resistance.
But his eyes remain open. Somehow, the detective was forcing himself from truly falling. He was no longer a threat, but that simmering spirit could not die down. It was the pilot light of Daniel Jack. The moment it was snuffed, his heart would go with it.
Looked like Daniel was all ears for this deal.
COMBATSYS: Daniel takes no action.
[ |||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|------=
COMBATSYS: Daniel can no longer fight.
[ |||||||| ]
Rolento 0|-------|------=
"Contract yourself to me in my specialized unit, and I will insure this dojo is repaired. Compensation may be possible as well. Refusal will result in your death, the death of the aspiring heroic female, and the complete destruction of this building." He pulls out a rather obscenely sized grenade and tosses it towards Daniel, bouncing twice before rolling to a stop between his hands. It is not armed, but the message remains clear. "If you refuse, pull the pin." He doesn't seem inclined to believe this will be the case, however. Daniel is a powerful will, the type of fool who will never lay down their hands defending what they believe in. And indeed, those make the absolute perfect soldiers. Yet he doesn't wish to die... that much seems evident in the brushing encounter. A piece of paper is pulled out, and flicked down to land adjacent to the fallen disciple of Todoh. "Come to this address tonight, and my plans for this city will be revealed."
There is no cause worth dying for, as long as you have a will to fight for it. There was a reason why Daniel danced between the line of a coward and a hero. Heroes charge to their deaths, cowards wait until death finds them. Daniel Jack himself found that it was best to keep death guessing, and to spite it once it got it's tendrils around your neck. By keeping the soul of a hero with the soles of a coward, he had enough sense to know that staying alive was often a better long-term solution than dying. And at this moment, Daniel knew that he just needed more time.
Pride be damned. He had time to heal.
Daniel Jack was damned to conscription like so many others. The detective was glad May Lee was spared from having to make this decision. Unlike the student of Todoh, she might have pulled the pin. The detective just continued to bleed, but already it was slowing down. He would be able to stand soon. And yet, he knew what he must do. His eyes dimly looked at the grenade, then the paper. Looks like he was going to have fun being part of the USPL. The detective bared his teeth, gritting it hard. ".... Maaa.... Daa...Pfffffft.... Foo." He mumbled. Looks like he was going to hear this plan. There was no other choice.
Or was there.
"I will give you a single, final warning. You are to address me as Rolento. Calling me any alternative names, or excessive use of alternative language, will result in discipline in my presence. Discipline ranges from physical attacks, scarring, or up to execution. I do not tolerate insubordination or questioning my plans. Understood?" The baton twirls viciously before he extends it, to force Daniel's chin up to look at him. There's little sadism in such, Rolento seeming to take no pleasure in making demands of a defeated foe. "Keep the grenade. If you disappoint me, it shall be used on you. It will be something to think on, when you next speak to me." And then he attempts to kick Daniel in the stomach, aiming for the solar plexus, to insure said speaking will not happen in the immediate future. Long enough to limp out a hole in a wall, and vanish back into the darkness of the city. He lost his prey, and gathered a questionable conscription. How much a loss this is, only time will tell... and how Holly Wood might take it is an even BIGGER question.
COMBATSYS: Rolento has ended the fight here.
Log created on 20:39:36 04/09/2009 by Daniel, and last modified on 16:14:04 04/12/2009.