Description: Rolento Schugerg has plans. Those who are aware of his movements in Southtown know at least this much. Yet... what are they? What's his agenda? Where do his conscripts come into play? Whose side is he really on? Pacific High teacher Howard Rust and problem sleuth Daniel "Jack" Little have many questions and misgivings about Metro's would-be conqueror. Is he a villain, vigilante, or visionary? The mystery grows a little deeper yet with every clarification given.
Rolento's base of operations is as busy as might of been expected. Located within an abandoned three story apartment, from the exterior there is nothing to expect what lies within. The first level is filled with ammunition, weapons, and bustling men in tan outfits and crimson berets, constantly shouting in Arabic and working at a fast pace... whatever it is they are doing. In a vacant lot behind, covered by an urban camo tarp, is his sleekly outfitted Blackhawk helicopter, only to be used in emergencies. The second floor is the makeshift barracks, where people are crammed like sardines into bunkbeds and hammocks. People only take 3 hour shifts to sleep, getting two shifts per day. It allows for far more occupancy then it otherwise would, keeping fifty men active and combat worthy.
On the third floor os the head of all operations. Myriad intricate radios, old and weathered, are settled on desks and benches. The windows are covered in black garbage bags, blotting out all light beyond the naked bulb. Only eight people are within here, all in red suits as opposed to tan. Rolento himself stands before a map of Metro City, littered with so many different colored pushpins it's almost useless. Surrounding it are hundreds of notes, written in microscopic, pristine text. Also nearby is a certain Daniel, although he was instructed to be quiet until Rust arrives.
Rust himself has not been a prisoner, although Daniel has been held for a short period. When the teacher recovered enough to move around, he was let free. He could of ran off, if he cared to. But Rolento made his offer... he would be able to help the war, and strike a vital blow to Shadaloo and NESTS, and most importantly save the citizens, if he remained. It is up to him.
These last couple of days have been nothing short of a flood of complicated information. Some of it theories, some of it fact, little of it clear - Kain's appearance in that press conference did little but to confirm things he was told some hours earlier (or rather, the morning news recap when one of his fellow teachers yelled at him for falling asleep out in the lounge). With only a scant few hours of sleep, he has no real time to put the pieces together - other than that only one man perhaps knows the truth. But what would he do from there?
Only one way to know.
Dropped off several streets away by a co-worker with a working vehicle, Howard doesn't find the short walk any helpful for clearing his head and putting the overall pitch together. If anything, he finds why he hates walking long distances (read: uncooperative knees). Even with a surprisingly pleasant, conflict-free ride, there was no true peace in which to really bridge bits and pieces of information together. One thing, above all, was absolute.
Be back here by this time.
He's fourteen minutes early, in fact. This building looks like it's the one described. His co-worker has already driven off by the time he looks over his shoulder. His left hand strokes the makeshift hilt of Ol' Rusty. Guess it's you and me. Gathering up his courage, he shuffles along up to the front door and... oh, crap, what was the code again?
A grunt. He looks to either side of himself to make sure there's nobody watching. Anybody could have followed him. As far as his untrained eyes go, though, things seem to be in the clear. Okay, so... what was it...
He raps his knuckles against the door to some esoteric rhythm. He's sure there was a little more than that... what was it? In clenching his left hand from nervousness, his knuckles crack loudly. He just needed one more knock - inexplicably, that last crack might fill in for it.
The door erupts open with disturbing force, and one massive hand grasps Rust by the front of his shirt. The hapless teacher is wrenched inside, before the steel door slams shut again. He would be pushed into an adjacent wall, as the incredible figure of Holly Wood, crimson in the sea of yellow uniforms, pulls out a sleek knife. "He one of them?" A slight person wanders up, glancing at Rust's face time and time again, shuffling through a stack of photos. Then holds up one, that Rust would certainly not remember being taken; he's simply at school, looking into some random direction.
"Affirmative. Howard Rust, age 38. Makeshift combat style, reasonable performance for new fighter in established circuits." Holly Wood plucks up a yellow folder, and goes through it. "My, my. Rolento's impressed by you..." he mulls out, before jabbing a finger hard into Rust's chest. Wood has over half a foot, and obviously is stronger then even his physique would indicate. "Well, I'm not. Third floor. Don't go into the second unless you wanna get raped." He points to a door in the back, before shoulderbumping his way past Rust. "And don't get in anyone's fucking way."
Said door leads into an enclosed stairwell, that goes down and up. A small sign reads 'Medbay' pointing down; that'd be familiar... it's where Rust and Hakuya were kept.
"Hng!" Hapless teacher indeed, right hand instinctively going for the doorframe for support in this tug of war that doesn't even last for half a second, grip giving out from recently inflicted injuries. Whoever's got that grip on him is no ligh--
He can't finish that thought right as he's thrust against the wall, wincing not at the wall but that hand issue. A shove against a wall by itself? Nothing! But for a man so embroiled in a conflict well over his head, even he would recognize in better health that now would not be the time for machismo.
He shakes his head at the 'one of them,' teeth clenched, bare in tension. He could feel his body just lock up as it is prone to, a reflex honed over years of near-deadly accidents. Name, age, description of his fighting ability... this is the right place, isn't it, please tell me I didn't walk into some other shady organizatio--
He almost breathes a sigh of relief when the name Rolento comes up. Almost, because no man from America should ever feel relieved to be in the company of a name so infamous with the siege upon Metro City. And also because there is a finger jabbed against his chest that he can feel hard enough to actually count as an 'ow,' which is no small feet. The shoulderbump, definitely an 'ow,' bringing his left hand to the opposite soldier as he is given that warning. Yeah, not gonna be doing that... for the moment. Maybe even ever.
Third floor, third floor... he fights the stiffness in his knees from that little scare (and stiffness pretty much everywhere else) on the way up the third floor. Man. Every day. Every day, he's finding a new thing he finds even more scary to be in than the last. Something in the air is really familiar, though... something smells like that soup that was almost edible (which was actually the water).
There doesn't seem to be anyone to 'get in anyone's fucking way' over, which is a plus. He exhales loudly again, his heart beating just a little faster as he ascends the staircase. Hell. He could be going up to be executed as far as he knows. After all, he might know too much.
He looks back one last time. He... he doubts he could really fight his way past that guy, if he came racing up... let alone Rolento! You're riding this one all the way, the same kind of realization he had to come to grips with ever since that young girl thug gave him that message.
Only one way to find out, huh. He picks up the pace in his ascent, passing the second floor and eventually finding the legs to hasten his pace up to the third. His left hand occasionally rests upon Ol' Rusty for the added bit of security. Don't draw, though. Not yet. You draw a weapon now, whoever else is in here is probably going to kill him.
Kind of a small wonder he isn't already. Not that he could find any humor in his absurd amounts of luck in being able to continue drawing breath. Any such speculation about himself, the dangers ahead (and behind), or what could have or should have been done disappear as he approaches the third floor door.
"...from the sounds of those footsteps, the lesser Mr. Howard is joining us."
This is heard just as Rust draws near. It looks like surprise is not in the cards today, as the third story door is drawn inwards. The steps continue onto the roof, that door appearing to be locked by a chain and padlock. The man standing within the doorframe is small in statue only. A dark eclipse of Middle Eastern skin, within a yellow uniform and red beret. His face is somewhat gaunt, eyes shifting to meet Rust's own. There is a demon within, a deep, horrific hate and venom that seems to suffuse the very air around the soldier with venom. His pressure is no small thing. Holly Wood is an ant to this man.
"Let him in, El Gado..." The small soldier steps back, allowing Rust to enter. His eyes become much different when Rolento is observed. Vacant, mute, reserved. The other men in crimson uniforms are recieving information and delivering it, coordinating all of the recon and efforts of Rolento's own forces. The tall man stands still before the huge map of Southtown, arms crossed behind his lower back and feet apart.
There are four colors of pin within the map. Red, which is by far the least. Grey, which is spread everywhere but spread very thin. Then yellow and green, with heavy pockets here and there. "Hmm. Both of you, come up here. I am the red. The grey are Southtown Syndicate. Yellow is NESTS, and Green is Shadaloo... although you might not know the latter two names. What do you see, in particular?" Far too many dots is probably the first thing to come to anyone's mind.
Daniel, for the most part, has been on his best behavior.
The detective didn't have much time to recover from his little 'accident.' It was a funny accidently really. Rolento was just waltzing around, hopping like a little bunny rabbit with a dear friend from NESTS. And they just happen to playfully tumble through his dojo. And wouldn't you know it, he and his friend just so happen to almost completely gut the place. And Daniel might have avoided this little playdate if he just remembered to do one thing.
NOT to use the Way of Todoh to piss off people way stronger than you.
Naturally, following Ryuhaku Todoh's example, Daniel went and suddenly demonstrated a minimal level of skill to Rolento. As such, right after skillfully catching a knife in his shoulder, Rolento left him a little request. See, the deal was this. Daniel was accidently existing in the same universe as Rolento. The commando might look over this minor infraction if Daniel agreed to enlist in his little army. He could even get enough commission to put together the darn building again. If he refused, well, Rolento would just have to fix the problem, now wouldn't he.
Daniel Jack was on 'special watch', however, after a little incident coming in. See, Rolento failed to mention something. While Daniel remembered him working with Mad Gear, he didn't actually think he employed any more of them. So imagine his surprise when he was greeted by a certain Holly Wood. He remembered Holly Wood very well. After all, Daniel infiltrated one of the warehouses he was stationed at, and in the ensuing firefight ended with Holly Wood gunning him down, and the detective being ditched in a dumpster. Naturally, Daniel immediately sought to refresh his old friend on the good old days.
That is, until Rolento intervened personally.
Daniel Jack didn't know Rust, though up till this point, he figured that he was another Mad Gear stooge. Nearly burning with a seething iciness, he just choked down his anger and frustration about the situation. When Rust comes to the door, Daniel is sitting in the far corner, his posture erect. Like the others, his presences carries a subtle caustic element, though his motives were purely for survival. Maybe that was the motive for all of the recruits. Survival. Only those with a hard heart could survive.
Still, Daniel kept his eyes locked on the newcomer. Judging him. Breaking him down. Seeing what shadows lies in his heart. The kind of man he truly was.
The lesser Mr. Howard indeed. There will be no shortage of clarifications between the Howards of interest. But much more attention grabbing is the man of shorter stature just at the top of the stairs. The Lesser Howard stops in his tracks. A few moments later he scratches underneath his right eye. Something on his face...? With no further guidance to this misguided assumption, his scratching finger goes still. Every further second with eyes locked is a thing of even more added discomfort. Before long this entire instance may surpass his first visit to Seijyun in raw alienation.
Maybe it's already there.
The command to be let inside doesn't do much to remove the impact of that... that /stare/. That's going to stick with him for weeks. The shop teacher leans to the side of the entry furthest from El Gado, upholding the polite request not to 'get in anyone's fucking way' and, in case looks continue to deceive, not get another hard shoulder bump.
Here he is. The inner sanctum of Rolento's war machine. The heart of evil? Rolento's presence makes it impossible for his eyes to wander over to the well-oiled human cogs of his intense efforts to keep on top of absolutely everything. His feet bring him up closer pretty much of their own free will (or perhaps Rolento's command). Both of us? A quick glance off to his side... that guy doesn't look like Hakuya. Where's that kid? And why... why is that man giving him such a hard stare? The brief encounter with Holly Wood's subtle body language (of the eye dialect) hardly does much to harden him up against a second staredown. Mr. Rust does kinda look like some kind of two-bit thug. He probably does have a palette swap running around somewhere.
'I am the red. The grey are Southtown Syndicate. Yellow is NESTS, and Green is Shadaloo.' Right from there, the teacher's eyes lock on the dotty mess, right hand held out as he points vaguely at parts of the big map a ways away - missing Rolento's thought that he might not, or maybe even /shouldn't/ know the latter two names. 'What do you see, in particular?'
His eyes widen. Wow. So a lot of what he's heard was indeed right. With all of what he's heard holds up, this thing is as easy to read as a children's book. If Geese was indeed a target of the war machine rolling through here, something he believes... and Kain confirmed once and for all that Geese himself is involved with that Syndicate... it all locks in place perfectly.
"I see... I see... NESTS and Shadaloo," a fatal slip of the tongue, he says these names comfortably. He doesn't catch this mistake. "All over the... the grey guys, Syndicate. Like they're surrounding them."
He lowers his hand as he leans forward a little to get a better view at that dot-infested map. He doesn't see much of anything around the routes he remembers traveling... so, would that be why? No major Syndicate influenes there?
Although Rust is given a curious glance mentioning those two names, he doesn't yet touch on them. Sometime he'll have to bring up in private later. "Geese Howard has lost this war." Rolento speaks this with long comfort, further confirming the suspicions about the man. "His network is not built for open warfare. Although he had the manpower of Mad Gear, there was no method of uniting them into a cohesive unit. Confronted with Igniz and Vega's overwhelming personal power, and the handicap of needing to remain subtle, it was a slow but irrevocable demise. I predict his death within a couple weeks." This is very casual, as if completely unimportant to Rolento. Because it is. He respected Geese, but never liked him or his agenda. Kain, if anyone, has his backing.
"That is irrelevant to my agenda. The approach the two enemies took in this attack is unacceptable. Does that surprise you, Mr. Howard? Mr. Little?" His white eyes suddenly shift, to stare into Rust's eyes, then Daniel's. The man who staggered and helped to drive back Igniz, who held a knife to the teacher's throat, one of the most wanted men alive. Assuredly a peer for El Gado in intensity. "Does it surprise you that I do not approve of this war? After all, I laid seige to Metro City... I threatened it with nuclear destruction!!"
He moves to drag Rust and Daniel by either arm to one wall of the room. Dozens and dozens of world newspapers are set up, highlighting multiple facets of the conflict. 'Basic needs unmet' 'Infrastructure down' 'Police and emergency units crippled' 'Civilians caught in the crossfire'... countless horrors. "Were these in the newspapers when I took Metro? NEGATIVE. They were hostages. The affect on civilians was minimal, and bloodless! I kept law and order. What I attacked was the institution of America, stealing from the banks and supercorporations while crippling the inept excuse for a government. My dream is freedom. But in the world stage, without radical movements, there can be no such life..."
He steps back to eye the pair, arms slipping behind his back, stance spreading loosely. "The war will likely end soon. I cannot yet predict the aftermath, but NESTS and Shadaloo are entities that I will not allow to exist. While they are distracted, I shall make them bleed. That is where your conscription comes into play. Understood?"
So, this was a solo operation.
Daniel doesn't trust Rust yet, though he takes his names down. Rust did look like a thug, it was true. Though after hearing the Syndicate employing Mad Gear... something struck the detective. The warehouse. The firearms. All this time, he thought he was on to something big there. And he was. Apparently Rolento had been preparing for something like this for a while. But that meant... Mad Gear had nothing to do with the take over in Metro City. All this time, Daniel was blaming the gang that socked it to him solid. Of course, he had the same attitude he showed Rolento. But that wasn't the point. The point was that Mad Gear didn't take over Metro City. And instead... it was Rolento, and Rolento forces alone.
And now he was trying the same in Southtown.
Daniel Jack is taken up with minimal effort, going with Rolento with his mind mulling about this change of facts. He was in the fray! And yet, he only knew it through the violence. What about now? What did he know about this conflict. Daniel Jack slowly realized that he didn't really understand what was going on. All he knew was that NESTS and Shadaloo were attacking... and now the Southtown Syndicate was being the victim. He heard of the Southtown Syndicate... but why was Geese being mentioned? Slowly but surely, the entire operation was unraveling in front of Daniel's eyes.
By the time Rolento asked his question, a dazed look was over his eyes. "... Yes Sir...." He forces out clearly, trying to hide the ephinpy of how extensive the criminal operation must be. He doesn't look over at the thug, who obviously knew more about the seedy underworld than the so-called detective did.
And soon, he would learn more from this wise man.
The teacher straightens out his back as he is addressed, even if his focus largely wanders on the map. The red dots, specifically. Even if they change after he's hurled back out the door (or off the roof, whichever), that's probably worth remembering as Rolento goes about the fault of Geese Howard's approach and his inevitable failure. That in but mere weeks, he will be dead. Those words only get a small smattering of attention.
Those eyes get all of it, blinking as if those white eyes were about to shoot laser chi daggers that explode into smaller laser chi daggers that turn into bees that fire napalm out their legs. Does that surprise him? Yeah. If you're talking about that stare, or that... thing about the unacceptability, what?
Hoisted over to one wall, offering very little resistance other than when he nearly loses his balance in being escorted over to this wall o' headlines, he gives the headlines a glance-over. His nostrils flare once from dust, mouth slightly open as he tries to piece together the 'unacceptable' part. 'Police and emergency units crippled,' 'Basic needs unmet,' and... oh, hey, this one's from not long ago! 'Hospital collapses in explosion.' He visibly recoils at this thought. What does this have to do with--
Were these in the newspapers when he took Metro? He mouths the beginning of some word as he tries to think back about it. The nuclear /threat/, yeah, that shit was all over. His dad had some family there, that was rough times. They were waiting for the news tickers on what was going down, hoping relatives would not be among those listed dead. In fact... there hardly were any, come to think of it.
He chews on that as Rolento goes on about his ideals. How in the hell would a man like this be lending his strength simply for the sake of... well, the plot thickens. It thickens, all right.
"I, uh," he clears his throat, nostrils flaring again at the dust that got up his nose in looking over those articles, coughing once as he clears his throat. "Sorry. I, uh, understand." The teacher is largely sincere on count of being rid of NESTS and Shadaloo alike, if still in the dark about this one particular development. Is this man for real about what he just said?! This goddamned terrorist?
There's little evidence that Rolento is planning to make a move in this city. A bit over 50 men won't be capable of much on the grand scale. But there's lots that he's turning a crisis to his own personal advantage. Yet is that evil, when he had nothing to do with it in the first place? When he's striking at people genuinely evil? An ethical question, if there ever was one. Daniel has at least learned how to not get beaten to death in his vicinity. All these newspapers are about Southtown, not Metro. Truly, if someone had been reading up on the Metro City 'holocaust', it was the atrocity of holding the city hostage. They almost never touched on how horrible it was to live there. Always how evil Rolento was due to the 'threat', due to 'taking over', 'attacking the country', but that was mostly media spin. People in Metro City, during those months, lived well enough. Rolento had even rebuilt damaged buildings, amongst other networking. Everything was covered by insurance, who took the worst hit. Southtown cannot truly be compared.
"So, my agenda is simple. This is an opportunity to attack NESTS and Shadaloo that might never come again. We have the advantage of guerilla warfare. I can organize attacks in locations that have nobody able to repel either of you..." Nobody assuming they can beat a standing force of Invader, anyway. "But first, I shall take a combative assessment. Follow me."
He then strides back to the door leading to the stairs... and this time ascends, to the roof, as opposed to strolling down towards the ground floor. What might happen now?!
Daniel, for the record, has been beaten by a standing force of Invader.
But Rolento doesn't have to know that, does he?
The detective mulled about it. Yes. Yes. Rolento did have a relatively peaceful rule. It wasn't really the hired thugs that were the problem. It was Daniel. But Daniel didn't remember it like that. No, no. He wasn't causing trouble in Rolento's world. Rolento was causing trouble in his world.
IN AMERICA.
But they weren't in America. And while the evidence didn't put Rolento in favor of controlling the city on sheer logistics, Rolento put Rolento in a likely position to take over. This was a man who took a nuclear weapon. He was just too good. Daniel didn't know why. He just knew it. And then, the warning of the combative assessment. Oh. Daniel had a fairly good idea of what was going to happen. He glanced back over to Rust, a piercing stare cutting at him. "Yes. Sir."
And in that, he follows Rolento to the roof.
Howard Rust is a man who, up until the war happened, never had to stress himself over these things. Just the occasional election, maybe a little sports, that's about it. Him, work, stability. That's all there was to it. That, and the constantly fleeting dream of being able to become a big name in street fighting - a dream he had been well on his way to achieve, perhaps, up until the forces hit.
And now he's just a man caught in the middle of something well over his head, subject to a whole lot of coincidences and outright luck, just trying to understand what it all means from so many people of so many different walks of life who seemed to know a lot more about what's going on than he does. He rubs the side of his head with his left hand, a low groan as he steals another glance at the board with all the little red pins. He's sure he can remember a few of those locations for later if need be.
His head raises again at the mention of a combative assessment. This is a man who was willing to stand up to that Igniz guy!! What kind of chance does he have? His blood runs colder by the moment, casting a glance over to his likely-partner-in-vigilante-antics Daniel. He's not going to make a fuss as to who follows first, as Rolento carries that unspoken authority in his voice that suggests neither of them fall too far behind in following him up. And it sure as hell ain't gonna be me who gets yelled at for doing so!!
"Yeah... sir," he adds that second part quickly after Daniel's own use of the respectful word. He hates using that word. Boy, does he ever hate using that word now, and he's not sure he likes the looks that the man over there is giving him neither, his knee popping as he follows along towards the roof.
Upwards goes the Rolento, in a swift brush of hand and key opening the door. Some of his men seem to visibly relax once he's outside; a taskmaster, indeed. He leads into a broad, open area; there's only a couple ventillation ducts to get in the way potentially, otherwise it's got plenty of room for a good two dozen people to mingle. After gesturing the pair onwards, the door is slipped shut again, and once more locked. Peculiar, indeed. "There is a secondary purpose to this assessment. I will announce it in due time." There is no fussing, no further intricate commentary. Rolento simply strides near the edge of the apartment, twisting around to face the pair. The silhouette of the broken city can be clearly seen behind him, as he casually slides out his baton and twirls it in his hand, striking his open palm a single time. "Both of you. Come at me. You have five seconds to comply, or I will initiate the assault." ...well, that's pretty clear at least.
COMBATSYS: Rolento has started a fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rolento 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Rust has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rolento 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Daniel has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rolento 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Rust
Rust thinks he is having problems? Daniel had nearly been beaten to death before he started using the title of sir. Despite that, he was still incredibly bitter about it. He was hoping for a chance to get back at Rolento. Watching the man lock the roof, he kept glaring at Rust, figuring out his options. The man was big, that was certain. Daniel needed to avoid the powerful blows, and close the distance. Up close, he might be able to negate his reach. A few submission holds, and he would be down.
And suddenly, the target changed.
Upon the announcement that Daniel would be fighting Rolento, the detective begins to walk towards, a flame finding fresh fuel to consume. Adjusting his sleeves, he "Decent. Real decent. And I thought I would be jacking up your guest, -sir-" And upon his sign of respect, the student of Todoh bursts with speed. Winding an arm back, he dives at Rolento. Bringing his left arm up to block any incoming blows, his right was swinging down at the profile of the large man. Glowing with a bright orange energy, he slashes at the air in front of him, crying out the name of the traditional attack.
"KASANE ATE!"
And like that, a small wave of chi lashes out, attempting to rend the chest of his new boss. Already this new job was looking better and better.
Going out to the roof is not a breath of fresh air. The broken city below is not a breaktaking view (for a given value of what three/four floors would allow). Somehow, this place feels even stuffier than it was inside. Deadlier. The Pacific shop teacher swallows a lump quietly, left hand on Ol' Rusty. He has the foresight to actually draw it along the way. He said 'combative assessment.' With the lack of knives at his back (that he'd be aware of), this ought to save him the frustration - and humiliation - of having Ol' Rusty be stubborn in its makeshift toolbelt sheath.
It slides out readily as he transposes it over to his right hand, wiggling the fingers on his right hand a little as he stomachs the little sting of pain that comes with putting too much pressure on the hand. Deep breath. Another deep breath. Daniel would be looking not only at a thick man, but one who is nervous despite whatever resolve he may have found, or simply made up, in every action he's taken in this war.
This comes to an end right as Rolento turns to face the pair. 'Both of you, come at me. You have five seconds to comply.' Five seconds?!
Howard is not very swift in movement. From this distance, he'd be spending precious seconds getting there - along with the one second spent by him confirming what he was already aware of. This is a combat test against one of the deadliest men by reputation.
It's going to take a good two, maybe three for the pipe wielder to actually get in close to Rolento. With Daniel going in front, the teacher's gonna have to swerve to get in his shot. That last second is spent on the guy trying to figure out if he's going to draw closer with that wave of chi coming down, or if he's going to--
...he's at the edge, he's not gonna fall for the little bullfighter trick (if one is being set up)! Going just over that last second, from Daniel's right (and Rolento's left) the Pacific teacher puts on his best game face as he swings Ol' Rusty inward, but not in a strike - to try and find purchase somewhere in Rolento's getup to hook, and then toss him back away from the edge. He opts to use both arms as to take a little bit of the strain off his right hand.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Rolento with Wrecking Ball Swing.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Daniel's Mikansei Kasane Ate.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Rust
"Ridiculous. You are no match for Mr. Howard." There is no sign of this being sardonic, or joking. He doesn't even glance towards Rust when this is said. Well, if Daniel wanted another kick to the twin orbs of his dangling ego, Schugerg is always happy to offer it. And from the introductory barrage, it seems this holds up. An eye catches the glint of energy crackling into the air, and he swiftly leaps backwards. A clean miss, but not so flawless as to make Rolento seem untouchable. It is Rust who causes a stiffen and mild curse. He swung his wrench when Rolento was still in the process of moving. Still, it should be easy to duck... should be. He took a chance, but Rust manages to compensate. Snagging the well-built German, and then sending him flying. A success!
Hitting the ground roughly on his shoulder, he rolls himself away, skidding to a stop. A brush of dust on his injured limb is the only hint of the attack, adjusting his jacket. "Hmm. Your instincts are sound, Mr. Howard. Instincts are what cannot be taught. With your superior body and impressive strength, it would be easy to achieve fame as a fighter. Mr. Little seems to move more with crisp efficiency. So far I see nothing wrong with his form, but I'm still not impressed..."
He reaches up, grasping a grenade in either hand. Lazily he flicks his thumbs, sending the pins flying away to clatter to the ground. "Your first test... Survival!!"
He then crosses his arms, sending one flying to either fighter. The air whistles from the major league pitch, although his timing is inhuman. Even if ducked or twisted away, they would explode into a horrible ball of fire and shrapnel right where they are presently stationed... such heralds his inhuman precision, if nothing else!
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Daniel with Grenadier.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Rust
Rust may take his time to get going, but for Daniel's benefit, it pays off. Daniel Jack's Kasane Ate just falls short. The detective bites back. He would have slowed it up to focus his chi, but with his experience in the last fight, he figured two things from Rolento: Speed and Power. And with the detective lacking in both, he was hoping for it to pay back.
And from his flank, Rust pays it back. "Nice strike, scuzzy, you some sort of handyman?" The detective spitfires as he continues to charge for Rolento. Unlike Howard, Daniel was a bit faster, or at least more energetic. He was already halfway towards Rolento when... when, when he drops the explosives down on the ground. The detective stops short, and begins to shuffle backwards. And like that, he drew his arms in, trying to defend himself from the grenade.
Well, at least he survives.
His aikido uniform once again in tatters, Daniel Jack flings to the ground behind Rust, tumbling into a roll. And like that, he staggers right back up. Daniel's entire body was oozing blood, leaking the life from the fragments. Rolento was a terrifying warrior. And this was just short of suicide. But while Rust kept a steady resolve, kept a combustion engine of waxing and waning force with him.
Perking up, a deft hand slips into the still technically intact pants. Yes, he was searched. They did find his weapons. But now, he found out why they didn't care. Like that, the detective snaps out a small snubnose revolver, concealed inside his leg. Spiraling around Rust and towards Rolento, he kept to his slower partner's flank. "Keep steady, scuzzy, I got you covered like sweet honey on a biscuit!" Daniel bites as he fires three rounds at Rolento, attempting another repeat of distracting Rolento so Rust can get a hit.
Hey, it was tactical, to say the least.
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Rust with Grenadier.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Daniel
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Rust
With his grip on Rolento via Ol' Rusty, Howard doesn't squander the chance or take any of it for granted. For all he knows in the next fraction of a second Rolento is going to do some brilliant thing that makes this look like child's play and he'll be missing some teeth and...
Imagine his surprise when the length of pipe catches the guy and sends him flying, coming down to a kneel in the followthrough in chucking the man - if he even is a man after all he's been through - across the rooftop. Just in time to be complimented about his... uh, instincts? Rust here would chalk it up more to experience. He may not be what he was years before but he's still at least got some head on his shoulders for this sort of thing. He didn't do 38 years of absolutely nothing.
"I, uh... thanks?" He casts a wary glance over to the guy that, now he's paying attention to that kind of detail, is one Mr. Little. Rolento, speaking like as though he understands the underlying little dream of his. Dead as it may be, if he lets his hand injury get the better of him. "I teach shop at a, a high school." He gets that out to Mr. Little as his eyes try to follow what Rolento's going to do next.
He doesn't have much following he needs to doas the air whistles from the pitch of grenades. Tensing his left fist tightly, Mr. Rust puts up a heroic effort against the powerful explosive - not that he quite manages to identify it as such. He missed the pin cues. The grenade soars past him, bouncing at the ground just beyond him. He lowers his guard a little. Huh.
Kaboom!!
The force of the explosion as flames and shrapnel tickle at his back as his knee skids against the roof, dropping a swear word lost in the noise as the teacher's ears ring. If he were sliding towards Rolento, this would actually be quite an advantageous thing. He veers a lot towards to the left, stopped by the side of the dock as his elbow and head batter against it. His very joints resist his attempts to bend them in anything meaningful way as he rests his free hand against the side of the duct to pull himself up, using Ol' Rusty to scratch at his back idly. Deep breath. Oooooh boy. The aged road crew vest and his shirt take on a little red.
He doesn't even have an idea what Daniel's saying, his ears are ringing. Though he's at a significant distance disadvantage to Rolento, this doesn't stop him from trying to shove off the side of the duct. He's not really sure he'll be able to reach Rolento before the guy plays his next card, but the man tries. His knees aren't, his shoulders aren't. But the man himself, he tries.
His right shoulder and elbow pop in disgusting unison as he staggers forth in an attempt to swing Ol' Rusty inward towards Rolento, bowing forward from his scraped, stiff knee filing its official complaint against its owner by making him stumble into a kneel towards the end of the swing.
COMBATSYS: Rolento blocks Daniel's Wobbly Wobbly.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Daniel
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rolento interrupts Power Strike from Rust with Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Rolento 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Daniel
> ////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Rust
Slowly, Rolento shifts his alabaster gaze to take in Daniel when the pistol is leveled in his direction. He is familiar with the pistol. A method of intimidating opponents, staggering them, using faux bullets to gain an advantage. His free hand slides through the air, as the sharp cracks of gunfire ring out. Three times, his fist snaps closed, with a sharp crack as it impacts the center of his palm. Before he holds his hand out to the side, and drops all three rubber bullets. ...that hurt quite a bit, but the one who is going for psychological impact is Rolento! Predicting the trajectory of bullets and putting his hand in the way is trivial to him!
"I'm well aware of your position in Pacific, Mr. Howard. I know many things about you. Your father, Harold. Your less scrupulous mother, Gertrude. Your life in Oregon. Do not underestimate my capabilities of deduction..."
The explosion might of made these statements more difficult to hear. Indeed, he remains immobile at the approach, fearless. Suddenly he bends forward, twisting. Rust's wrist hits his shoulder, the heavy lump of metal clearing him. His leg swooshes around, slamming down behind Howard's ankle. Then his baton catches him in the throat, putting all his weight and a loud snarl into the next motion... sending the Pacific teacher into the rooftop hard enough to send a crack like a gunshot through the surroundings! Both fighters have been staggered! "Come!! You two can do better then that!!"
Daniel needed to really rethink his approach in firearms.
Lacking in the experience of Rust, Daniel needed to think faster. Rust was his Ace Dick. Or possibly his Tootsie Roll Frankenstein. At the very least, he was a freaking tank. What Daniel needed was... some sort of social cunningness to overcome Rolento. Use his brain.
Wait a minute.
BRAINS!
The detective tosses the gun to the ground, causing it to fire off another round in the air. He needed to check the safety on that damn thing. Still running, he flanks Rolento as he gives Rust the shaft. "Right steady straight, sir." The detective rumbles, pulling together his clearly brilliant plan. Charging in, he knew exactly what the weakness was.
Thinking.
Rolento was smart, and quite experienced. He used his mind in the battlefield. However, eith a direct hit to the spinal cord, he could sever it, separating the brain from the rest of the body. By subduing Rolento's mind, he could in fact slow him down long enough to figure out a much better idea. With his arm wound back again, he rumbled another cry. "KASANE..." Once again, his hand manifested that bright orange energy. This time, however, he was not guiding it. No, his hand was flattened, his eyes focused on the back of the neck. His form was steady, his aim was steady, and finally, with the skill mostly unrivaled on the circuit, he brings his arm down, attempting to give Rolento a chop to the back of the head with the energy of a true Todoh student.
"...ATE!"
"Enh?" That's the vocal companion to that one part suspicious, one part frightened look on his face as Rolento narrates a good deal of what he knows about the man. The frightened part takes over as his wrist hits Rolento's shoulder, his ankle knocked out from underneath. He's already trying to favor his left to try and turn away from Rolento, just as he's caught in the throat and...
Well, the next few moments are pretty much 'ow,' his body bouncing off the rooftop with a small set of spider cracks underneath where he was slammed. Strangely, unlike most guys of his stature and build, he's not content to just let himself and his body weight be thrown down willy nilly. He makes a conscious effort to try and at least divert some of the impact to his left arm - if largely unsuccessfully - as he comes up to a kneel, left arm limp and the rest of him hunched over as he wheezes in and out. He's a man that can take a couple good ones like that, but that's not what you call a soft hit.
"Gkh." He can do better than that, Rolento taunts. It might've taken two maneuvers to do to him what Rolento managed in one against Daniel, but damn. Were he not afraid for his life, he might've been ready to call it quits there.
Daniel's moving in quickly behind Rolento. If he's got Rolento figured in that second he has to work with, that man is gonna turn around and deal with Daniel lickety split. He's gonna have to stop him from doing just that--
The problem is, the fastest Rust can think of is to try and reach out with his left arm to Rolento's right, giving it a tug towards himself. It's not the best tug Howard can manage, it's still throbbing in pain. Risky. That he realizes soon after how bad an idea this probably /is/ given his skilled reversal, there is a somewhat clumsily added afterthought in him trying to thrust the butt end of Ol' Rusty up against Rolento's chest. All to try and force Rolento to stay face (mostly) forward with the Pacific teacher, and with their back (mostly) straight as to maximize Daniel's chances of getting that glowy shit off even if he might be eating some of it.
At least, that's how he'd rationalize it after the fact, for good or for ill or for even worse.
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Daniel's World's Greatest Hand Chop.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Rolento 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Daniel
> ////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Rust's Armed Combo.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Rolento 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Daniel
> ////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Rust
Going into a battle trying to outthink Rolento is probably much worse then Daniel's standard approach. The random shot does not earn any meaningful reaction from the yellow suited man, allowing himself to be flanked. His footwork is rather simple but amazing, settled in such a way that his center of balance could fly in any direction at once. Including up or down, which many people can miss. Yet the main reason for the feint being avoided is simply that Rolento didn't care what was going to come. Juggling up and misguiding works to get past a guard, not to attack the space of air Rolento suddenly abandons, sideflipping violently and planting one splayed hand on the ground. Flicking around, he lands in a crouch thereafter, to see what Rust might throw at him. Rust's attempt might suitably of mattered more, if the damnable mercenary had stood still. In that casual evasion, both assaults are nullified.
"Unacceptable!!" he bellows out. Suddenly hurling himself into the air, superimposing himself against the blazing sun. His baton begins to spiral madly, before he descends back towards... the Pacific Teacher. Throwing his body forward, muscles contract, his arm shoots down, his wrist twists with a snap, gravity itself joining the painful embrace... a thousand tiny details leverage an incredible amount of force, trying to slam into Rust with what he's superior at taking. A raw, physical hit!
Daniel went into this battle thinking he was going to jump Rust. Then he tried charging in to get a swarm started. Then he tried to help Rust get a hit in. And finally, he went for a modified rabbit punch. Clearly, there was only one thing that the detective was doing consistently:
Swarm Rolento.
The moment that Rolento dodges, Daniel just keeps on going. With a crash, he driving his hand into the roof, ripping a small crack in the roofing. He is stunned for a moment, forced to recover from the blow. But that doesn't take long. With the sun in the background, Rolento took the moment to try and take down Rust, rewarding his attempt at smashing their 'commander' in the ground. Well, like hell. Already, Daniel was throwing himself back towards Rolento, preparing to catch him as he was coming down.
"Gotcha back, scuzzy!"
The detective's movements are almost effortless, much like the combination strike that Rust attempted, but more disciplined. Daniel Jack knew what he was doing. He started with a smooth shift into the defensive stance of Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu, in what was the first time in this fight where he actually applied the formal stance. Splitting his legs apart to shoulder length, he drew up his arms, building both balance and tension. Reaching the point of defense, he began to unleash the Todoh might. With a sharp jab of his left palm, he attempted to intercept the left flank of Rolento with a punch, followed by a hand chop with his left. And after that, he would simply walk forward, jamming with his left palm again, and then finishing off with jab with his right palm. Simple, effortless, and steady.
COMBATSYS: Rust interrupts Crushing Strike from Rolento with Bulldozer.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Rolento 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Rust
And in the process of Rolento's fancy footwork, the Pacific teacher almost gets a faceful of Kasane Ate, the bright orange color blinding him like Zach's own purple take did in his very first Neo League battle, grunting loudly as his aching left arm waves at the air in front of him to the tune of Rolento's jeers and his respective elbow giving its own crackly response.
The light darkens in front of him as Rolento hurls himself in front of the blazing sun. Even with spots in his vision, that's a pretty fair cue that Rolento's a ways in front of him. He clenches his teeth, letting blood drip out of the side of his cheek as he tries to come up to a stand as Daniel calls out to him. Okay, off to the side or so maybe I don't have time to think about this.
Shutting his eyes just to try and get the spots out, Ol' Rusty is held horizontally in front of him with both hands as he seems to act as though he's... sitting down in thin air? His body starts to shake up and down like turbulence on an industrial vehicle as something bounces off his chin. Rolento is awarded with a nasty bruise and maybe a little splash of saliva and blood. That is all he gets. No recoil, no straight-up acknowledgment of the crushing force of his well-practiced strike.
Strangely, the teacher seems to glide forward on his feet, shoving Rolento over and rolling him along like he's in the shovel of a bulldozer for some ways. Even more strange, the teacher's lips vibrate in a fair facsimile of an engine. This gets aborted a little prematurely as he comes across the uneven surface of where a grenade detonated, the teacher having to put that little extra effort to flop on his back - not forward - to launch Rolento up and behind him as though he were being flung by the shovel of some digging machine or bulldozer or have you.
The sort of maneuver you could only ever expect to come out of those various Southtown schools who seem to be able to make any kind of craft into a killing machine. It's only at this point the teacher acknowledges how much that actually hurt, wincing as he wipes at his jaw with his left hand. In this state of relative helplessness, his uncertainty at what sort of way Rolento will try and mock (or outright kill) him the only thing that allows him to overpower the pain going through his right hand, keeping a tight clutch on the rusted length of pipe.
COMBATSYS: Rolento interrupts Zoot Suit Riot from Daniel with Mine Sweeper.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Daniel
> ///////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Rust
Well, this is an interesting situation. Rolento struck true; that was what he intended. But the fact that Rust remains standing is something else entirely. Similarly, Daniel is descending on him with a brutal series of combinations. One jab slams into his scarred face, bringing up one arm in a seemingly warding fashion. But his hand looks peculiar, and he grins as he descends backwards, allowing Rust to push him along. How peculiar! Of course, maybe then the Todoh disciple would have chance to glance down, and see the massive grenade. What started out as a method of shoving Rolento along might turn into an escape; a horrendous explosion rocks the rooftop again, blasting into Daniel and sending him spiraling after the pair. Another grenade is dropped, then another, Daniel juggled into two more vicious explosions before being sent flying towards an air vent. Once Rust finishes, he continues rolling, this time balled under his own power and skidding to a stop. "Hrrmph... once again, Mr. Little, your technique has no particular flaw... it is simply not threatening!! Although why you wasted so much endurance into that peculiar attack is more questionable, Mr. Howard. Being able to steel yourself to take such a blow... you should be able to come up with a more significant impact!"
He picks himself up, brushing at his body, looking staggered and mildly hassled but not yet meaningfully hurt. And he is in such a state despite being hit twice by Rust; certainly gives an idea of just how strong the madman is. "I had hoped for a better performance from you both... although you both have potential, and limitations that could be easily removed..."
What.
Did Rust just make pooping noises with his mouth?
Did he just toss Rolento over him.
And did that just work?
Daniel's first two punches strikes Rolento, his mind somewhat. But as Rolento is jerked from the combo, he found himself alone with Rust. And then suddenly, he notices the explosives.
And in the next moment, he reappears through the air vent, nearly tearing it from the roof from the impact. The sharp clang indicates that Daniel should almost certainly be out. He is, for a second or two.
And Daniel then rises up from vent, a freshly lit cigarette in maw. Biting down hard, he holds in his hand a single, well-worn submachine gun. A M-3 Grease Gun, Chinese Made, if Rolento cares about the model. Of course, it is another item found in the searches, but well ignored. Unlike his revolver, however, it is not loaded with the less-than-lethal ammunition. Leveling it out, Daniel stares, his pants almost gone, his shirt shredded to nothingness. And as he aimed his weapon, the detective cried out, his cigarette still hanging in his mouth somehow. "Potential? POTENTIAL? HIT THE DECK, SCUZZIES, I'M ABOUT THE JACK UP THIRTY ROUNDS OF POTENTIAL!"
And with that, he opened fire, releasing a steady spray of bullets towards the one Rolento.
The worst part about the aftermath... it's the /stiffness/. Rust locks himself up pretty good to pull that, um, technique off. It's good he stays down for the moment - one set of ear-ringing explosions later, shrapnel and debris and possibly Mr. Little himself fly above him as he tries to kick his legs back into responsiveness with lackluster results. The best he can do is rock back and forth, body making crackly noises all the while where the joints simply don't want to be bothered with moving, as he works himself back to something of a stand. He rolls his right shoulder a few times to try and get out the remaining stiffness.
There is absolutely no doubt that the man who had Metro under his heel is /powerful/. He was willing - reluctantly - to take on Igniz in the short term, a man who threw the teacher and several students around like toys in a toddler's tantrum. He was able to hold his own against Mike Haggar, the man Howard cribs a few of his pipe wielding notes from. Wondering why he can't give a greater, stronger impact in turn for taking whatever he just got hit by (and he got hit by something nasty, don't let the size of the bruise fool anyone).
"Limitations, like... wh--" The teacher has to stop again as Daniel brings out the big gun (literally) with his own angry, hard-boiled retort that reflects well on his incredible native pulchritude characteristic.
The bullets fly. A few whizz by Rust's side even, stumbling off to the left with a few clumsy steps as he sucks in a little more air. You don't know how hard it is to really suck in a good breath after that thing Rolento did, and that itching at his back is getting a little worse. HE ought to do something about the bleeding.
...Nah.
Rolento has demonstrated incredible agility. How does he overcome that? Well... he likes to jump a lot, doesn't he? Hm. It's really tough to approach him with all that weapon fire that is MAKING HIS EARS RING AND GOD DAMN IT I ALREADY GET ENOUGH FROM MY DOCTOR TELLING ME ABOUT HOW MUCH OF MY HEARING I'VE LOST FROM ALL THE LOUD NOISES AT WORK THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Shakily, he points Ol' Rusty at Rolento and shifts his movement off to the left, waiting to see which way the man wants to go. Is he gonna go high? Stand his ground, throw more crap? Hell if he knows.
The teacher narows his eyes, the left side of his mouth twitching every so often. Got to be an opening somewhere. Somewhere. Somewhere in there, there /has/ to be a slip. A bullet bounces off of Ol' Rusty, ricocheting off towards the sun.
COMBATSYS: Rust focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rolento slows Sleuth Diplomacy from Daniel with Stinger.
Glancing Hit
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Rust
Indeed, Rolento glances towards the procured firearm, raising his brows in more curiosity then anything else. He suddenly leaps into the air as the first spray of bullets are fired out, whiffing. But Daniel is able to handle the recoil well; A few heavy grazes slink across Rolento's frame, twisting away as he snaps out his hand. A spiral of glimmering steel strikes off beneath Daniel's gun from beneath, a heavy knife clattering to the ground and diverting his assault before he can manage to inflict more serious damage. A close exchange; some subtle shifts on either person's part, and Daniel might be significantly worse off. Descending, he lands in a crouch. His brows raised, although the subtle shift in his demeanor might be more ominous then anything else. "It appears I shall have to get more serious. Very well. I've sufficiently appraised your capabilities...!!"
Pulchritude is a decent stat to dump into. But at least Daniel was revealing the parameters of his talents. Like a rat, he gets more and more dangerous the more is he backed into a corner. And right now, Daniel was down by 10 and had a great deal to catch up. With a growl, he hurls the empty Grease Gun to the roof. Looming, he sways back and forth, back and forth. He wasn't exhausted, no. He was just weakened. With two waves of explosives, his body simply couldn't handle that much damage. His body was almost consistently bleeding in every way imaginable. The deep shrapnel wounds were only highlighted by the impact of the vent crash.
And yet, he slowly drew back into his aikido stance.
Glaring intensely down the way, he looks over at his partner, clutching his pipe with the care of an experience lover. Both had done well in the fight. And both had proven themselves somewhat. However, Daniel only cared about winning this fight. Or at least, coming awfully close. The burning drive of Todoh spirit boiled in him. And as he spread his legs apart, he simply stood there, one hand in front of the other, a strange blend of ice and fire running through his gaze. And he waited for the reaction of the fearsome commando, what comes from his mouth almost sounds feeble.
"Right -sir-, did we pass?"
COMBATSYS: Daniel focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Rust
Where Rust, over here, clearly put nearly all his stock into Vim instead of Imagination. But he's really sure he now sees an opening to strike, an actual mistake Rolento has made that he could strike against with suitable prejudice...!! His eyes narrow. You're a far more skilled ighter than I am, Rolento, but this time I think I got you, he thinks!
He moves in position to strike, grunting as he tries to get his tired, battered body to close the distance and introduce the revolutionary to the counteroffensive he so seems desperate to see...!!
He halts at mention of there being a sufficient appraisal of capabilities. The teacher is within moments of launching a shoving elbow strike to Rolento in this incredibly rare period of vulnerability that he might never see again were the three of them to truly try and take one another's lives. At that point, he is struck with the sobering reality that if Rolento's done appriaising them, then...
The teacher grunts, letting his left arm go limp as he backs a couple steps away, Ol' Rusty pointed down and away just in case. His right hand sends another surge of pain up his arm, producing a little shiver. He finds himself backing into the side of a duct where a piece of shrapnel has dug in somewhat deep, the teacher's eyes bugging out momentarily as his left hand rubs his partially punctured, partially burned back. Mmmph.
COMBATSYS: Rust takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Daniel
> ///////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Rust
Each of them is looked at in turn, head tilting to the side with an almost amused expression. "...I never said this conflict was resolved. A poor tactic, Mr. Howard. Do not relent an assault if there is any question. One need look only at Sagat's loss to Ryu for proof...!" Although he doesn't focus his assaults towards the teacher at the moment. No, of course not. "Mr. Little, I find your tone unacceptable. I do not care if you hate me. But you shall learn to respect me!!" He twirls his baton around rapidly, before suddenly lancing his arm forward, twisting in the motion. The air cracks with the sound of the weapon accelerating to a ridiculous velocity, aiming to slam right into Daniel's chest before rebounding away. ...certainly not a painless attack, by any account!
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Daniel with Thrown Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Rolento 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Daniel
> ///////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Rust
Slowly, the detective advanced. The defensive stance of Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu is somewhat slow and limiting in mobility. This, in part, is why the detective is somewhat liberal in tying it down. But at the moment, the detective was trying hard to keep his body fluids in him. And failing. That was all for naught, though. With a snap and a crack, a knife was launched from Rolento while Rust sits back a watch. The detective, with a twist, attempts to push the knife away with his leading arm and evade the attack. Instead, however, Daniel Jack holds there, a knife driven in his chest. He looks down, feeling it drive into his lungs. And he feels, in his heart, the burning power of Todoh-Ryuu Kobojutsu.
And still, Daniel keeps moving.
"Deeejaaa voo." Was the grumble as, the detective struggles to close the distance, "Now, listen -sir-, listen real sharp. You're sharp. You're real sharp." Gently, Daniel wraps his fingers around the knife in his chest, and jerks it out. And that was the final gaping wound. Daniel Jack was about to be bled out. And yet, he kept moving, struggling as he picked up speed. "But I got the Spirit of Todoh to keep me going, -sir-, and if you want to cow me to line, then you... just.. gonna... have to jack it up a notch."
With a drunken swagger, Daniel Jack falls to his knees just short of Rolento. Kneeling at his feet Daniel Jack just holds there. "... I gotta figger how to jack knives. I gotta figure it. You dig, sir? Yeah... don't drop your guard."
And with a blind jerk, he dives at the ankles of the commando.
COMBATSYS: Daniel can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Daniel's Jumping Jack Flash.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Rust
And like that, the detective falls at the feet of Rolento, unconscious from the blood loss.
And look at Howard's face over here! Not done yet, and an opportune moment spoiled! And on top of that, that stinging in his back is getting a bit worse with that bump up against the side of the duct. The haze of pain creeps all about his body in that usual, familiar way when he starts to bleed out or simply just works himself to the bone. Well, now what, then?
Rolento decides to toss the baton. Surely not the only weapon in his arsenal, as demonstrated several times over. Rust? Sluggish, not terribly agile, outplayed on almost all fronts, and altogether just another potential statistic if Rolento deems it so. The teacher still has some fight in him. Rolento doesn't seem to be running out of any of that, either. Now what?
The hesitation doesn't slow down Daniel Little over there, even as he takes a knife in a bad, bad place. Rust tries to get a handle on how Daniel's intending to make his approach... and with it, he takes a couple steps forward. Heavy, purposeful steps, which translate largely to 'I am lifting my feet more than I usually do and my knees really hate me for it,' if the crackling that follows has anything to say about /that/ (yes they do, a lot of things, they are not nice things, assuming someone here speaks kneecap).
Kicking off with his stronger leg, the Pacific shop teacher takes off into the air with his laughable jumping height. He doesn't really get a whole lot of horizontal distance either. Rolento may or may not have ever witnessed a so-called fighter with way poorer hops than this man.
In midair, one Howard Rust holds Ol' Rusty back over his shoulder as though he were to strike down with it, left fist clenched and pointed upward as though he were looking to ward off something in midair. His stronger knee is raised upward, the other in a similarly raised state yet pointing out the other way. He holds this as he comes on down upon Rolento, or perhapse the space that once occupied Rolento. Or Daniel.
It's just yet another one of those awkward but (sometimes) effective aggressive aerial poses many fighting types seem to be in no hurry to make up as if to fulfill some unspoken number of them.
COMBATSYS: Rolento fails to interrupt Strong Kick from Rust with Fatality Package EX.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Rust
Well, that's no good. Rolento is an expert at hurling things by all accounts. Had the Todoh-ryuu expert done what he expected, the wound would of slithered with a relatively harmless and highly painful wound. Given he has no intent of murdering anyone tonight, that means he has to deal with Rust, who is unsurprisingly vigilant about avenging the percieved loss. "...hrrmph." In a flash, Rolento moves. For the first time, with a driven ferocity, that brings to bear the almost playful manner he had been sparring until now. One hand lashes out, yet he hadn't been paying proper attention. It just so turns out that Rusts' leg is a good deal longer then his arm, and he's struck right in the face. A splatter of blood hits the ground, he twists in a painful looking manner, dropping to a kneel and arching over the ground with a "Hrrk!!" That felt good to Rust. A solid, painful hit that staggered a superior fighter. Daniel's swoop of his arms squeezes only air, a sharp hop taking him out of range. Even then, he's trying to fight back?! Well, now he knows Daniel's true strength. "Enough...!" he hisses out, bringing up a hand. "Mr. Little seemed desperate to turn my knife throw into something serious." He raises to his feet, approaching the unconscious figure. Grasping his shoulder, he's twisted around upon his back. Eyeing the wound, he's completely open to Rust, if he felt like kicking him in the head instead of letting him tend to poor Daniel's injuries!
Oh, how good that feels. A truly solid hit, a definitive strike against Rolento beyond any reasonable odds of success. He hits the ground in a crouch with the most smug look he's held since the very beginning of the war. He's in the groove - surely, if he can keep this up, he can hold up against Rolento. And from there...
'Enough!' Yeah, why should I? 'Mr. Little seemed desperate to turn my knife throw into something serious.' The smugness disappears. Using Ol' Rusty for support at expense of the comfort of his right hand, he straightens himself out, turning a head down to see that... oh shit, that really was as serious as it looked. Shit, shit, shit.
Rolento's back is turned. This could be the moment he's been waiting for. Up until this very day, Howard Rust has been utterly convinced that something stunk about Rolento Schugerg, that he might know a whole lot more than he's letting on. He was allied with 'powerful people.' Who? If these 'powerful people' oppose NESTS and Shadaloo and the rest... he's sure he might've been over this point before. Who is he helping by helping Rolento? With how Rolento has pinpointed his forces being well out of the way of the fray, is he waiting for them to be weakened so that his forces can rush in and take it all?
But wait. The newspaper clippings. Was Rolento truly serious about his dislike of civilians being caught in the crossfire? The dust that got in his nose gives legitimacy towards this not being hastily constructed - any suspecting of who Rust had been dealing with would've come from less than 24 hours ago.
Yet this man put a knife to his throat, ready to take his life at a moment's notice if he couldn't show that he'd hold up. Yet, he took himself and Hakuya to safety, and helped keep them alive. He clenches his right fist as a reminder, as much as he's able to. He hasn't been able to do it as hard as he could before. Rolento did say he lost some use of that hand, after all.
What does it mean to really give your all to save Southtown, the kids, and everyone caught in between? Take down the guy apparently on top the moment the opportunity arises? Wait, ride it out to the end, cross your fingers you've done the right thing?
The complexity of the situation that passes through Howard's face is not very well reflected on his blank, tired face. He doesn't growl, he doesn't give any signs of irritation over the matter. He didn't fight Rolento because he'd enjoy it. He bows his head, closes his eyes, and slowly sheathes Ol' Rusty through the toolbelt pocket with hardly any hesitation other than the care to ensure it gets in there and not fly out of his hand and into the ground like he sometimes does.
Maybe Rolento might still be scum yet. But he's not gonna take that wager over Mr. Little's life. These two are at least in this mess together. The number of people this man - a high school teacher who nonetheless seems to express semi-invulnerability to grievous amounts of harm - can trust are much too few. Yeah. This is the right thing... today. This is the right thing.
"You need me to go tell the guys down there to prep?" He asks through a tired, gravelly voice as he points with his left hand back towards the (locked) roof door. This place has a medbay, doesn't it... yeah, it did, he saw the sign.
COMBATSYS: Rust takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Rust
"Negative. My force was minimal. It pierced one wall of his lung, but not the second. You can tell by how the knife rises and falls with his breathing. The meaningful danger is in a collapsed lung, but that is not fatal in and of itself." He pulls out a peculiar toothpaste-looking item, squeezing out a gob. Tearing open the remnants of Daniel's shirt, he then sweeps away the blood. And then slaps his salved palm down, working it in. Were Daniel more awake, he'd be shrieking in pain. This stuff is made to instantly seal wounds. It will degrade slowly, faciliating clotting and leading to a deliciously scarred but fully workable wound. "He should not be down for any meaningful length of time. I will discharge him. My treatment facility is at the present more dependable then civilian hospitals." Getting to his feet, he then radios something down in German. "Mr. Howard." he finally offers, twisting around to look towards him. "You are still apprehensive about me. Such is irrelevant to me, beyond the fact you are useful. So I shall state the basics. I was brought here by Geese Howard to stave off the attacks of NESTS and Shadaloo. However, I only did such because he is the lesser of three evils. At a certain point, it is unrealistic to remove a criminal organization. The death of Geese Howard would bring far more damage to Southtown then his continued survival. It would take a decade, maybe two, for things to stabilize. And do you think crime would end with him? Negative! He was a man who was content with having his power, and not exercising it on the common man!! And I can assure you, that kind of tyrant... the kind like me... may not be present in this city again." The door is unlocked, allowing a couple men with a stretcher to roll Daniel's corpse upon it and ferry him downstairs. "You do not have to believe me. It is not a choice. But your morale and effectiveness would be higher without the seed of doubt. I am not a merciful man. I have done crimes beyond forgiveness. But all in the name of the greater good. Know this!! Few people can see the grand design. Fewer cacn see how to change it. And only the smallest handful have the guts to do what must be done!" With that he strides through the door, leaving Rust up there. He could leave when he wanted, but Rolento is gone from the facility. Holly Wood would bully him and give him a radio, saying if he doesn't answer it he'll go cut his throat, but that would be it...
COMBATSYS: Rolento has left the fight here.
> ///////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Rust
The teacher just kind of nods his head through most of that, even if he understands maybe just about a portion of it. His face remains neutral. A bit apprehensive. More than enough for someone as astute as Rolento to read as he takes in another deep breath and scratches at his back again with his left hand. It's gone back to being itchy, even if he should probably, um, get the shrapnel out sometimes in the next twenty minutes.
He stops when he's addressed promptly, straightening his back out with another wince. This answers one lingering question once and for all - he was hired by Geese Howard. That's the 'powerful people,' meaning that girl was with them. This doesn't relax his tensions any, even when being met with a piece of the truth. That Geese's presence is far more benign than what Shadaloo and NESTS can bring to bear. Will it really be, now that there's a whole uproar about his connections with shady events? The shady lady with that creepy eye said in pretty plain terms that the war would continue for the longest of time if he destabilized the power(s) that would look to bring Southtown back under control. Can they really afford that? Could they really manage to keep that up? Pacific's Southtown branch is already looking less and less likely to want to continue to stay open in the instance the warfare continues. Among other things, that'd be the end of his job.
Does he believe Rolento? He doesn't have to, Rolento says. Easy for him to say when he's pretty sure his men are prone to kill him where he stands if he even breaks wind near them. The balding one (well, we don't know about how Rolento's hairline looks but it doesn't take a genius to point out that Howard Rust is really losing it) turns his head out towards Southtown below. Few people can see the grand design, he says. Fewer can see how to change it. And only the smallest handful have the guts to do what must be done. Rolento leaves him with this.
The man remains statuesque for several minutes on end just staring out into Southtown, later sitting on the edge for a short while. Yeah... sure, it's overseas, it's not like home. He likes it here. He helped build up his home with his efforts and his old co-workers back when he worked in construction. But back home, that place... though familiar, it makes him feel broken. Incomplete. Sad. A lot of things in his life just didn't come together at home. When he came to Southtown, he was joyous. He really had a chance to make something with his life after that little stumble. He had a chance - one last good one - to become a champion fighter after that was denied to him by his own company he used to work for. He draws Ol' Rusty again, the faithful companion (for an inanimate object, which by law has no such thing as faith) in his worst of times.
He lowers it down. If only you were here with me, Elisabeth. He's sure you miss him (she doesn't, she's still seeing another guy now). If only those guys back home would just up and accidentally call him again, give him encouraging advice. But... life just doesn't always unfold the way you want it to, what you expect it to.
He goes over the thoughts in his head. What Principal Imawano said. What that lady who jacked his truck said. The bits of Geese's TV conference he paid attention to. What Rolento just told him. The things he saw on the bulletin board, where some of the NESTS pegs were placed... that color was NESTS, right? Yeah. There are some things that still don't make sense.
Grimly staring out to the landscape, Mr. Rust and Ol' Rusty take in the breezy air. Marisol's optimistic, at least. Gotta give her that. He wonders if she's out booting the invaders out of Gedo or something for the sake of those Guardian Kings her group loves to get in tussles with.
One thing's for sure. Guess he'll have to play his part. This war might've locked down a whole lot of safe, easy outs. But with all these revelations... maybe he can get this driven all the way to the end. A man, his rusted length of pipe, a military psycho, a bunch of other peop
le caught in between that can fight, too...
...
...he could go for a sandwich.
COMBATSYS: Rust has ended the fight here.
Log created on 17:57:38 05/08/2009 by Rust, and last modified on 02:48:20 05/09/2009.