Match of the Millennium

Description: Geese Howard. The King of Southtown. He's built an empire on crime and death and made a fortune from the misfortune of others, carefully obscuring it all under an unbreakable facade of altruism. Yet all that is over now. His empire crumbling before him, his Syndicate in disarray, and the enemies tearing down his gates, Geese is left on the teetering point of oblivion. Yet he will not go down without a fight. And as his former student and estranged son come to exact vengeance for lifetimes of wrongdoing... Geese Howard, the former King of Southtown, prepares for his final stand. And there is nothing more frightening than a lion with nothing more to lose.

In times when great men find themselves upon the edge of desperation, they find themselves compelled to find comfort in the last vestiges of a world that is crumbling around them. For Geese Howard, that place is the monument that stands taller than any other structure in this city -- in /his/ city. A spire of dominance that stands as a tribute to his legacy and a symbol of his arrogance, rather appropriately named...
Geese Tower.
Geese Howard stands at the far edge of his office on the fifty-ninth floor of his tower as he overlooks the devastated city streets from high above. The rooftop office was no longer a possibility for use; given the visibility, and his current circumstances, it was far too great a risk -- even for him.
Clad in his red hakama and white gi -- his traditional fighting clothes -- Howard clasps both hands behind his back as he watches, and waits. He frowns as he watches soldiers stream in from beneath him. How could it have come to this? This sort of situation was one Geese had thought -- /known/ -- would never, could never happen to him. Outed, ousted, branded evil by the very people who so eagerly gobbled up his money before. His lips curl in disgust.
"Idiots."
Distantly, he hears the sounds of fighting outside. BOOMing sounds rattle the doors of his grandiose office. He pays it no mind. The battle in the tower doesn't concern him. This structure would never fall, no matter what forces were presented against it. He continues to watch the people below like ants scurrying about, thinking their place in life was far greater than reality would allow. Let them come. Geese's hands clench tight, anger scarcely, expertly contained.
He'll deal with all of them soon enough. And then... he'll stab out at the heart of this little vendetta.
Soon enough.

From this high up, the pitched battles raging through Southtown-- and now, indeed, through the very halls of Geese Tower-- seem muted and distant. The forces arrayed against Howard, formidable as they are, might well seem far away, neat and manageable... able to be quelled and dealt with, if only one could find the right means and methods to seize an eleventh-hour victory. If only all the remaining variables lined up just right. If--

"I hope," a voice coils out of the darkened office from behind Geese Howard, "you're harnessing all that anger right."

...if people with old grudges don't decide to pay personal visits upstairs.

The young man who steps quietly into the the sparse illumination streaming through the shattered windows looks marked enough by war and fighting that it's easily assumed he's been here throughout the entire siege... blatantly defying Geese's banishment of him from the city. His hands shoved in his pockets, stance casual, Howard's erstwhile student pauses almost decorously a decent distance away from Geese's back. His yellow eyes gleam dully in the dusky environs, and for a few moments the lean young creature resembles a circling scavenger waiting for some beast to die.

"You see," K' notes quietly, his eyes narrowing, "you did actually teach me a lot." The mere fact he has not yet leapt at Howard should be evidence enough that K' -did- take something from Geese's instruction. "But I don't think the lessons were all ones you necessarily -meant- to impart."

It has been a long road home for Rock Howard. The last time he was in Geese Tower, he was doing things the hard way. In a world that refused to believe his own father was a monster, he rallied his best friend Roy Bromwell and tried to take Geese down himself. He failed. He lost, like it has always been. He lost, like the time on the Saturday Night Fight when he challenged him to an open contest. He lost, like the time just days ago, when his Uncle changed everything. But loss was nothing new for Rock Howard.

With the Tower under siege from all sides, it was not difficult for Rock to find his way in. He knows this building. He knows this place. He has spent much of his life within its walls. Slipping past the scattered conflicts erupting through the halls just took some caution. But he knew where to go -- there was no point in fighting Geese's men any longer. He wanted to find his father; to find the man who for so long had been invincible. To find Geese Howard at his weakest point and finally avenge the death of his mother --

Like any good kung-fu flick, Rock kicks a goon through the doorway into Geese's office. He knew he would not be on the roof today. Geese valued his own life too much. Stepping through the ruined archway, Rock can hear the calm words of Terry Bogard ringing in his ears. He pulls the red coat tighter around his body. "I knew I'd find you here ... Hiding," he says, squinting into the darkness of the office. There is another person here. Is that Billy? "It's over, dad."

There are certain things in life you come to expect. Even when the reality one has built is crashing around them -- that just means there are more expectations to be had. Geese Howard has many enemies, and with his exposure, and with this concentrated attack on /his/ tower, on /his/ citadel... of course they would come crawling out of the wood work.
Just like cockroaches.
Geese feels the swell of chi and life of another before he sees them, but the familiar voice is enough to make Geese's eyes narrow in mild irritation. 'I hope you're harnessing all that anger right,' he says. Geese continues to stare outward from the window beyond.
"Better than you, I'd say," Geese answers joylessly.
"Or else you wouldn't be here, would you?"
Geese turns, about to offer some biting comment or another, before someone /else/ bursts through -- far less subtly than K'. As the goon strikes the ground with a skid, Howard stares down with squinting eyes. Pale blue gaze lifts, up towards the source of the intrusion... and Geese can't even help but keep the disgust from his face.
"Well, well," he begins slowly, eyes narrowing into slits. "It seems like disappointments of a feather flock together, eh?"
His son. His student. Both here. He knows what both are capable of. Individually, they wouldn't concern him. But together? Fortunately... the rage welling up inside him helps to deal with any concerns he might feel at the prospect. His city is rejecting him. All he has left is his pride. And he'll kill anyone to maintain that.
"'Dad'? How about we stop with the act now, eh? A failure like you is no son of mine." Geese takes a single step forward, rubble crunching distastefully beneath his heel as blue fire licks against his arms.
"But still, I have to hand it to you -- /both/ of you. You've managed to grow enough of a spine to try and hit me when you think I'm at my weakest. Or am I wrong?" That fire snakes up, before dipping downward, trailing in double helix patterins across Howard's chest as he speaks. "You're what? Here for some petty vengeance? Because one of you can't let go of your mommy issues, and the other has let his head swell up like an over-inflated balloon? You're both pathetic. Your temper tantrums aren't even worth the entertainment value anymore." Geese's nails dig into his palms, that rage washing over him. Fire trails down, pooling in a thin, ethereal circle around Geese's feet... before his chi UNLOADS like an oppressive invisible maelstrom upon the room. His eyes glow faintly as he adopts the fighting stance of the traditional Hakyokusaken, fists drawing inward to his waist. That incalculable rage is scarcely contained within those cold eyes. Always his son. Always his failures of students. Always--
"No more lessons. No more games. I'm tired of entertaining your misguided beliefs... and I have bigger fish to fry.
"So let's put an end to this pathetic farce, shall we?"

COMBATSYS: Geese has started a fight here on the left meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Geese            0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: K' has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0               K'

COMBATSYS: Rock has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'

An odd, unfamiliar sound answers Geese's swift retort. It's laughter: but not exactly laughter with any joy to it. It's not even a particularly mocking sound, though this would have been the perfect opportunity for derision. While K' certainly does derive pleasure from this-- vengeance is all about gratification of personal grievances-- there is something rather more businesslike about his grudge against Geese than his hatred for NESTS.

It's almost, in a way, impersonal; or at least, as impersonal as vengeance can be, against a man who forced him into a corner and destroyed the normal life he had been scraping together. Geese did promise to kill K' if he ever returned... and K', in turn, did promise his intent to kill Geese first.

Right now, as far as K' is concerned, he's just following through.

K''s attention snaps around instantly when Rock bursts in. The young man's first response is irritation... but the aggravation soon drains away. K' can't deny Rock's personal stake against Howard. He says nothing, not trying to address the other young man, and not interrupting when father and son trade their words. Ideally speaking, vengeance would be a personal matter. Practically speaking... it -will- take both of them to have a chance against Howard.

"I don't need," K' replies eventually, prowling forwards towards Howard and his powerful display with little sign of fear, "to explain to you why I'm here." His eyes narrow intently on Howard as he circles off slightly, leaving Rock a wide berth by which he might approach from the right. He says nothing further, letting the rising temperature around him speak for itself.

The chi blasts back, keeping Rock at bay across the office. But the burst of energy gives enough light for him to see the other occupant of the office. K' is here, again. He isn't sure how to feel about that. They've never had what you could exactly call a stable relationship. But he knows the guy has his own beef with his father. And he knows, even on the ropes, his father is the best fighter on the planet. He won't go down softly.

Rock wipes his knuckle across his mouth. "Your ego is remarkable," he says, lowering his hand and flexing the fingers. His weight shifts too, adopting his own Hakyokusaken fighting stance. But he keeps his arms higher, deliberately showing a bend more towards Terry Bogard than his father's teachings. "Even after all of this, you can't just lay down. All of this, everything you've worked so hard for ... Everything you've sacrificed so much to get is coming down. Why --"

Rock's red eyes harden. "/Why/ can't you see that you've sacrificed everything and everyone who ever mattered ... And for what? To get /all/ of this?" Howard sweeps his arm around behind him. The kicked open doorway reveals some of the carnage down the hall.

"You had everything, but it just wasn't enough," Rock takes the cue and starts prowling to the right. He's done this dance before. He just hopes his father will be fatigued enough from the weeks of violence to actually have a weakness. "Nothing /anyone/ did was ever enough."

Sacrificed everything and everyone who mattered?
"And that's why you'll never be a real Howard.
"As long as I'm still standing, nothing that matters has been lost!"
The words are snarled out even as K' laughs; that chi continues to exert itself upon the room like an everpresent, highly oppressive force of nature unto itself. The feeling just increases as the pair begin to circle. "No, the remarkable ones here are you two. You can't even see the obvious strings you're being tugged along by, just as long as you get your vengeance. But who can blame you?
"In the end, you both were never destined to be anything other than overglorified patsies."
But they are still patsies that have managed to scrape Geese to the very last nerve. That circle of blue fire remains ever-present around Geese's feet as he shifts, pivoting on his heel to roll eyes towards K'... and then Rock. "Don't try to justify your failings to me, boy. It seems like the only thing Terry's ever taught you how to do was flap your jaws. When are you ever going to learn--"
Suddenly, Geese springs. Carried forward by his own internal chi reserves, sapphire flames blast upward around him as he makes a short rush towards his estranged son. Hands like an iron vice will seek to grasp the boy around his neck and chest, fingers clenching in so tight they might seem to threaten to pierce through skin and bone if they exerted any more pressure-- before Howard starts to spin. Once, twice, three times, building up centripetal force before /unleashing/ Rock like a slingshot, aimed for the nearby wall.
"-- to CAPITALIZE on OPPORTUNITY?!"

K' doesn't say much. He leaves it to Rock to do the talking. When Geese snaps at them both, however, the young man finds his voice with a barked laugh-- this time replete with derision-- and a short response: "What do you think we're doing now?" He whirls in a tight turn as Geese arrows straight towards Rock, continuing to face Howard even as Geese attacks, and flames spring to life about his right arm.

The fire focuses as K' watches Geese's movements narrowly. There isn't much room for him to attack without potentially hitting Rock: just a short window of opportunity wherein Geese's back is open to him, presented by Howard's sharp turn away to pursue his son. It's in those moments that K' 'drops' his flames and whirls tightly, slashing a kick into the dropping fire. The resultant bolt of energy slices towards Geese, aiming to strike him precisely before Geese can potentially turn and use Rock as a shield.

Somehow, K' wouldn't put it past Geese to do something like that.

COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Rock with Rebound Throw.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////////////// ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'

It never ceases to impress that deep, dark, center of Rock Howard -- the speed of his father. Older, 'wiser', and faster... There's no time to get a proper defense going before the man is on top of you. Your only hope in fighting him is that you get a lucky hit in before he can grind your skull into the cement. In this case -- Rock fails.

Grappled, spun, and tossed -- Rock is sent slamming into the wall of the office. His back cracks against the plaster, pummeling through it and into the adjacent room. He skids into a desk, momentum sending the oak piece of furniture skidding onto its side. Debris from the break in the wall tumbles down; fragments of white drywall clinging to Rock's clothing. He coughs, rolling onto his back.

A biker-gloved hand grips the opening in the wall. Rock climbs back through the hole, kicking a wider opening with his booted foot. He shakes his head, clearing cobwebs and sending particles and insulation fibers from his blond hair. "Now you're finally understanding me," Rock says coldly, a stonecold breath exhaling from his lips. "I don't /want/ to be a Howard if it means becoming a monster!"

Rock breaks into a run, letting his own chi aura flow through his body. He leaps at the last minute, coming at Geese from the opposite side of K'. His right fist cocks back like a shotgun as he crests through the air, shooting forward on the descent of his leap to blossom into an explosive ball of blue-white light.

COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Rock's Rage Run Dunk.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////////////// ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'

COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Geese with Eins Trigger.
- Power hit! -

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////////////// ]
                                 |=------\-------\0               K'

Despite the odds stacked against him, the power that Geese Howard exerts is palpable. A man like him is a man who often simply holds back for his own personal amusement; it'd be no fun at all if all the bit players got crushed like the worms they are, after all. But now, when he has nothing to lose, when his rage is at a level that is practically inconceivable -- what reason does he have left to hold back anything at all?
Fire whips about Howard as he slingshots his son into a wall like so much garbage -- just in time for a whirling bolt of those irritating mystic flames to /explode/ against his back with enough force that the man is knocked forward roughly, feet leaving the ground for all of five seconds before he makes impact against his desk. Lingering flames eat away at the back of his white gi, smoke rising from charred flesh as he straightens himself... and turns that oppressive gaze towards K'. There's no more amusement. He told K'; he'd kill him if he came back.
And a promise is a promise.
Before he can act on it though, Rock is suddenly exploding forward only mere seconds after that bolt of flames makes impact. Seeking to capitalize on teamwork, the young Howard drives forward with a chi-laden fist -- only to find it /intercepted/, grasped in mid-air with a BOOM of impact as kinetic force and chi go off seconds before they should. Geese holds the fist of his estranged son in his palm for a minute, uncomfortably tight.
"'Monster' is a label weak-willed people use for those they can only dream of being like."
A second later, Geese will /push/ Rock away from him before his free hand, broiling with cold blue flames, sweeps upwards in that signature pattern. "REPPUKEN!" An icy sapphire blossom of chi EXPLODES from the ground, tearing up marble flooring on a straight path for K'.
"As if I'm going to let everything I've accomplished be undercut by people not even fit to lick my boots! You're -both- dying here!"

COMBATSYS: K' blocks Geese's Reppuken.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////////////   ]
                                 |==-----\-------\0               K'

K' stares straight back at Geese, full in the eyes, as the man levels that killing gaze on him. He knows full well what Howard is thinking. But Geese wasn't the only one who made a promise that day: and K''s gaze communicates that plainly. Even broken in half and discarded like so much trash, K' had had the will to promise-- even if only to himself-- that Geese would only kill him if he didn't kill Geese first.

Rock and Geese trade their verbal arguments, K' just holds his tongue-- whatever he and Geese might have had to say one another was already exhausted in the last violent confrontation the two had before K''s banishment. His reason for being here is very straightforward-- vengeance for what was done to him, for the threats made against his sister and everyone else he cared for... for the position he had been put in. The normal life-- however brief, and predestined anyway to end-- that had been taken from him.

And though his flames strike home, K' isn't holding his breath when it comes up keeping up that performance against Howard. As it is, he barely gets his guard up in time for Howard's retaliation, a wall of fire springing up in the wake of an upwards ripping movement of his hand. The fires soak the brunt of Geese's chi, but nonetheless K' finds himself driven back a few steps. The force behind it is a killing force-- Geese is no longer playing with either of them, as clearly evidenced by his subsequent voiced promise to kill them both here.

"I told you," K' grates, lunging back forwards in the wake of his defense and bringing all his trailing flames along with him, "not if I kill you first!" Pausing only long enough to assert a precarious balance, K' whirls to swing a sharp crescent kick up in a diagonal across Geese's frame. The violent attack is laced with blazing fire.

Rock feels his momentum destroyed and his weight pushed back before he can see it happening -- the blinding flash of energy shielding his vision of Geese Howard for a moment. Staggering back, he doesn't lose his footing this time, but it's enough of a reversal that he can't stop that Reppuken from getting snapped off in the other direction. He brings his arms up to shield himself when K's blast of fire billows towards his father a moment later --

Dropping his arms, Rock's eyes dance -- looking for an opening in Geese's defenses. He can feel the tremendous auras of both the other men in the room -- he knows that they both probably out-class him. He knows that there is a dark power he can harness; he knows because his one of his many other teachers taught him about it. It is an easy road -- give in to that violent urge, that evil intent -- and gain more strength than he'd ever imagined.

The temptation hangs there as the olive branch in Rock's mind. He manages to ignore it, exhaling and feeling his surroundings. It's what Terry taught him to do. Every other time he had attacked his father, it had been with a heart determined to kill. But today, after Southtown has burned, there is nothing left but pity that it has come to this.

"K! We have to work together," Rock yells over the roar of flames and Reppuken explosions. "He's already lost! It's our job to make sure --"

Rock jumps at Geese's side, breaching his father's defensive perimeter. He plants his right foot and then sweeps his left leg upward, boosting it with tremendous momentum. An indigo burst of chi trails the leg's sweep, shooting Howard into a familiar inverted spin! "-- There's no pieces left!"

COMBATSYS: Geese dodges K''s Second Shell.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |=------\-------\0               K'

COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Rock's Rising Tackle.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |=------\-------\0               K'

"If there's nothing left for me," Geese breathes out, slowly.
"There'll be nothing left for the two of you, either!"
As K' is forced backwards for that briefest of moments, Geese considers his options. He needs to end this fast. But 'fast' is hard to reconcile with 'wanting to make them suffer for being too arrogant,' and so the former King of Southtown must way necessity and want within his mind. It's more difficult than one might think.
Not that he is afforded much in the way of time to do so. Within a matter of moments, K' is already upon him, attempting to penetrate Howard's considerable defenses with one swift upwards kick to the torso, flames sprouting upwards in his wake. Eyes dart upwards, and before the blow can pummel into his midsection with burning fury, Howard /swipes/ to the side, those blue flames building up to dangerous degrees as crimson blows right past them.
"After you're dead," Geese speaks, as if it was just a matter of course rather than something to be left up in the air, "I'll do just what I promised. I'll kill everyone you know, starting with that brat with the whip, and then that Futaba girl and anyone else from that community center you're so fond of. /I/ don't have anything more to lose. And now /you'll/ get to suffer for not having the common sense to even figure that ou--"
And then Rock comes flying again, with that technique that is so very familiar -- as if Rock were trying to wound Geese's pride on top of his body. Before he can realize that plan, though, Howard /thrusts/ his forearms down, meeting that kick head on and diffusing much of the force against his arms. He's pushed back with a pained grunt as he goes, skidding across the ground forcefully. His feet plant. His eyes narrow.
"And you /still/ try and beat me with that pathetic loser's attacks? I'll kill him, too, after this is over. And finally put an end to this ridiculous little feud once and for all." Geese's hands lift as blue flames begin to whip violently about; wind begins to pick up within the office as that power grows more and more overbearing, ramps up further and further-- "And start over with a better son that's not constantly crying to me about such childish concerns." The pressure builds, flames gathering towards Geese's hands, the power present like an unbending tide, like a force of nature, like--
"RAGING!"
Hands SLAM down before MASSIVE tendrils of energy EXPLODE upwards from the ground, intent to catch both Rock and K' up within claws of the darkest of blue hues, wreathed in coronas of violet. The energy will whip about ferociously... before BLOWING upward, intent to drive /both/ fighters upward through the roof... and into the rooftop office above.
"STORM!"

COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits K' with Raging Storm+.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'

"I know we do," comes the tense, terse response to Rock's shout. Though K''s voice doesn't possess a whole lot of volume, it somehow manages to cut quite clearly through the tumult nonetheless. He's known this ever since this fight started. It's the reason-- along with the fact Rock has probably even more claim to want revenge than he does-- that he's been cooperating with Rock the whole time, rather than snarling at him for intruding upon the perceived privacy of this act of vengeance.

If there'll nothing be left for him, Geese hisses, he'll leave nothing for either of them as well. K' snorts, leaning forwards slightly. "How pettily stupid..."

But despite his taunting, the thought enters K''s mind, briefly, that even their cooperative efforts may not be sufficient to bring Geese down. He pushes the thought away; Geese's vicious threats make it eminently clear that he cannot distract himself with doubt. Strangling back the searing anger that flares in his blood as Geese casually lists off all those he'll kill as punishment for this insolence, K' just grits his jaw and recovers out of his miss. He retreats, a step or two, and begins to think about another assault--

--and then Geese's energy spikes in a telltale, familiar... and dangerous way. K' braces instantly, his stance setting and his own internal furnace stoking in order to counteract the oncoming storm of power. The young man virtually roots into the floor; the scything energy tears deeply into him, but K' manages not to be blasted away.

"You've just made it even less of an option for me to let you live past this," K' hisses, clearly referencing Geese's bald threats, as he straightens slowly out of his braced, defensive stance. His yellow eyes fix on Geese, fire slithering to life along his shoulders and down his arms. Almost brazenly, K' displays his newfound control: both in terms of his ability to call and control the Kusanagi fire, and in terms of his ability to hold back and prepare.

COMBATSYS: K' focuses on his next action.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'

COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Rock with Raging Storm+.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\1             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'

The smooth panoramic window of Geese Howard's Fifty-Ninth Floor Office explodes into the night. The smooth, near-adult body of Rock Howard explodes into the night in the perpendicular direction. For fifteen years he's seen the Raging Storm executed by his father. Never once has he known how to deal with its power. He can sense it, like an old man can sense the rain, seconds before that unstoppable wave of power hardens and explodes. There's that damp, weird taste in the back of his throat -- like his body, his muscle memory -- remembers the punishment on a purely instinctual level --

Howard ends up blown clear into the next level of the building. He can feel the cold sting of the night air against his burning body as he slams into the stone courtyard of Geese Tower's unique rooftop sanctuary. Something inside of him probably died during that impact, in that hot flash of energy. Internal bleeding, broken ribs, a ruptured spleen or punctured lung. Maybe all of the above. With a wheezing breath, Rock rolls over. He pushes his forearms into the stone to support his body and spits out a glob of blood -- and maybe brain -- like Doc Holliday at the end of his gunslinging run.

"This is it," Rock tells himself, feeling that there is nothing left to lose. "This ... This is ... Terry ... Mom," Rock's fingers start to bend, curling into fists. His pushes them against the stone, starting to stand up. "This is my --"

A sudden swirl of golden chi swirls to life around Rock. It churns against his frame as he straightens back to his feet. He feels the energy, a different one that he's relied on for so many years in the past. It is coming from the world all around him and not his dark heart. It's like the Legendary Wolf always said. "-- My last chance!"

Muscles burning, brain pounding, heart grinding, Rock Howard lives off pure adrenaline. He should be unconscious or dead, but he fights despite his body's resistance. Jumping down from the ruined ceiling of the office above the office, he hits the cracked marble floor running. Each footfall of his booted feet send more lancing swirls of energy across his body. And he hits Geese Howard like a freight train. His right fist bursts forward and then his left. Then his right. A kick. Another kick. He hammers at the air with every fiber of his body, building a beautiful rhythm with his fighting fists.

Rock slams his feet into the ground with one final effort, his arms colliding at his side, his red eyes staring forward. "DEADLY," he yells, knowing that if he dies here -- if his father actually kills him -- he'll die knowing it was to try and honor someone he loved. He'll die in peace. "RAVE!" with that peace, there is no fear in his eyes for what may come. Fighting in losing battles; learning lessons the hard way. Taking your lumps and getting back up until you couldn't do it ever again... It's the path of the wolf, that the way of the only man, the only warrior, who Rock has ever truly loved. "NEO!"

Rock thrusts his hands forward, motes of flickering golden energy collapsing into a blistering column of golden energy. It bursts from his body and straight towards his father, towards Geese Howard, the King of Southtown.

COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Geese with Deadly Rave Neo.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'

Slowly, the fire around Geese Howard retracts, as if shrinking away with that last exertion -- but not fading away completely. Once more dwindling into that ominous mote of flame that circles around him, he would seem the very epitome of a nightmare. His icy blue eyes hold no mercy, no amusement -- nothing but cold fury. It's been a long time, since he's felt this sort of rage.
He's going to make sure that they realize why it is such a rare occurance.
Pushing up and relaxing his weight from his knees, Geese comes to a full, imposing stand, hands balled tightly into fists at his sides. "Like you've ever been in control of your life enough to 'let' other people do anything, 'Kay Dash.'" Geese extends one hand forward, another ball of ice cold fire rippling into being against his palm, tongues stretching out chaotically, stretching in spikes of the terrible energy that composes Howard's chi. "Everything you've done in your life has been determined by other people. You can't even rebel right. And yet you still laughably refer to yourself as a 'human being.'" That chi begins to expand, threateningly, the power suddenly beginning to swell. Geese lowers his body, preparing himself to attack -- to unload that most deadly of techniques upon K'--
"A 'human being' who will live and die by other people's terms. Isn't that better labeled a puppet--"
Yet, /just/ as Howard lunges forward to eliminate what he perceives to be the only remaining threat, a blurred form of red and blonde leaps down in front of him, tackling into his body with an explosive impact like ten tons of dynamite. "Wh--" He knows who it is before he even finishes, and what Rock is planning -- but it's far too late for him to stop his son. A one-two combination cracks across Geese's jaw with enough force that the man bites his tongue, the sharp sting of pain amplified with a third punch to the face; two kicks follow, burying into his chest. He feels a rib crack inward, as if threatening to become an enemy of its own body and stab into the fragile organs beneath. Chi burns as physical blows hammer. Geese stumbles back, staring with open contempt at his son.
"Looks like you finally did something right for a cha--"
'NEO!'
CHOOM.
For a moment, Geese is suspended in mid-air, consumed with the brilliant, blinding gold of his son's own chi. His gi starts to burn away, and he feels a distinct stinging against the scar on his chest. A reminder that some things never change. He reaches out, futiley--
Before the force of the subsequent explosion KNOCKS Howard straight out of the last remaining window. Glass shatters, raining slowly downward. Howard's eyes widen for the briefest of moments. He disappears, falling... before a single hand snaps out, /IMPALING/ into the outer wall of Geese Tower. He hangs limply for a moment, suspended fifty nine stories in the air. His eyes narrow. No.
He won't fall again.
Using his free hand, the former King of Southtown grips onto the tower wall, using all his strength to suddenly push /up./ Lunging upwards through the air, he can be seen as a blur outside that office window before he lands with a rough tumble on the rooftop of his tower. He coughs wetly, hot blood splattering across the ruined flooring of his rooftop office, spilling from his lips as he tries to recover himself. "Hhh... no--no... it's not ending like /this/..." he breathes out, fingertips clawing across the surface of the rooftop.
"I am... I am... /Geese Howard/." His eyes narrow in defiance, even as his lungs burn with his every passing breath.
"I am the king of this city!"

COMBATSYS: Geese calculates his next move.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'

"No," K' replies, his voice wound taut with barely-restrained anger. His stance bristles visibly, the young man-- now alone-- facing Geese with a courage born of sheer necessity: too many people will die if he balks now. "I've never been in control. I have never been a human like other people are human. But I think," and K' starts forwards, seeming to intend to meet Geese's impending attack no matter how terrible it may be, "killing you would be a good start to changing that..."

But Rock isn't out of the game. In fact, he recovers way faster than perhaps anybody expected, both K' and Geese taken by surprise when the young blond comes crashing back into the fight to explosive, potent effect. K' pauses, and then stops in his tracks, and simply watches the violent, passionate display. He won't begrudge Rock if the young man's assault is successful and Geese has indeed been sent crashing to the streets fifty-nine floors below.

Even somebody like K' can have some concept of fairness, and it's only fair that a son mistreated all his life should get the killing strike. All K' wants is Geese dead, or else unable to ever carry through on his murderous promises. All K' wants is to send the message of his defiance.

But Geese didn't get to where he was by being easy to kill. Utter tenacity keeps the man literally clinging on despite Rock's assault, lunging up past the ruined office windows and smashing into the rooftop above. Dispassionately, with the patient air of a vulture, K' glances upwards through the wrecked opening made by Rock's body... focusing up through the tangled wreckage to where he can just barely see Geese's bloodied form.

An instant later, K' has lunged upwards at a harsh angle. Flames snarl to life along his skin as if sparked by the friction of his speed alone, trailing down to gather about his right ankle in particular as he snaps into a backflip. The momentum of the maneuver adds speed to the fire, -slingshotting- it up towards Howard in a blazing bolt wide enough to utterly envelop him should it strike.

This has never worked before. Rock has never been able to master his father's most secretive technique to the point that he could wield it against the master. Perhaps there is something to Terry Bogard's teachings after all? Each satisfying crack of his knuckles against Geese's flesh gives the son of Geese more confidence. By the time he reaches the crescendo of the Rave in Geese's Office, he fully believes this is the final strike needed to achieve victory. The golden energy warps and then dissipates off Rock's body. He holds his hands together, fully extended, eyes staring at the smoking opening in the Tower's wall.

"Ha... Ha... Ha... Ha..." Rock breathes deep gulps of air, trying to get something into his system after expending everything in his tank. His muscles burn like fire, the devil dancing on his shoulder, asking him to close his eyes. There's probably a concussion to go with the other internal damage to his body; giving in now would just mean he joins his father in Hell. "Ha... Haa... Ha..."

The sense of emptiness swells into Rock's body as he stares at the last scraps of glass, the few remaining shards of the panoramic window breaking off like leaves into the wind. His father -- he just sent his father falling from fifty stories up. He was one of the worst men on the planet, Rock knew it in his heart just like the whole world was beginning to see... But he was his father! "Ha... Haa..."

Rock's head drops. He inhales one more gulp of air, the sweat on his body starting to chill him as the night air swells in from the ruined wall and roof. And as more and more realization dawns, his lips start to smile. A sense of freedom starts to settle in -- his broken body feeling lighter than the air around him. Rolling his head back, he looks to the sky, mouth cracking wider and wider --

// I AM GEESE HOWARD!!!!

Gravity crashes back around Rock's body. He locks eyes with the man as he reappears above them. His face contorts, mutilating from jubilation to japanese horror. He survived. He is still there. He is still fighting.

"...Fuck."

COMBATSYS: Rock gains composure.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'

"Lord Vega, he's outside the window. Now?"

"Not yet. Let him get back in. Then.. we ram this down his throat. Prepare to eject."

That said, Vega braces from nearby. Where is the Lord of Shadaloo, one might ask? Where is the leader of the Thailand Terrorist Organization? Where is the Despot of Doom that he might say such things?

That's best answered by the droning buzz that grows with each second, the whirr of rotors and jets that might signify a plane coming by. It's not just any plane, no. This plane is being run by Shadaloo. This VTOL is nearby - and growing nearer. This VTOL... is coming straight for the tower, no matter the loss. It picks up speed - and as it closers, Vega exits - to the top of the machine, remaining on it through just will alone, feet finding purchase on smooth metal where others might not. He watches the tower close in on him, and watches the pilot eject, course laid in. And at the last second - he leaps.

The crash is incredible - Geese Tower may be the strongest tower in the world, but it's just had a flying monstrosity of steel and fuel crash into the mid-levels of the tower, shaking it fiercely. It's a rumble that will be felt no matter where in the tower they are - and there's yet to deal with what has leapt up at the end.

Vega lands in the rubble of the room that the fighters have been battling in - a crush of boots against stone. Narrowed eyes, watching all that are there. His voice is jubilant, amused and gloating, all at the same time. "Howard.. it seems you've found yourself a little more trouble than you could handle. It's a pleasure to take away something so precious from you... and perhaps deliver a last message, before you lose /everything/."

COMBATSYS: Vega has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0             Vega

COMBATSYS: Geese overcomes Air Trigger EX from K' with Shippuken.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Geese            1/-======/=======|-------\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0             Vega

Blood intermingles with dirt and dust across the ground as Howard scrapes rough fingertips against the rooftop of Geese Tower. Lines of blue energy trace upward in haphazard patterns as Geese bites his bloodied, lower lip. He scarcely registers the pain -- not when his rage is overcoming it. He presses one foot against the earth, slowly pushing up onto his feet. He ignores the stinging pain screaming from a fractured rib. He ignores the burns scored all across his body. Slowly, he looks down.
"... And you couldn't even kill me right."
A second later, K' is leaping upward like a smudge of darkness, his body only illuminated by the mass of flames that ignite across his skin. Geese is already on the offensive, his own deep sapphire chi gathering up towards his arms as mystic flames condense around K''s foot. The NESTS experiment flips--
"Too SLOW!"
And Geese /leaps/ backwards at the exact moment that K' attacks. A spitball of flames is launched free from K' the exact moment that Howard's hands slap together, palms splayed outward as a churning sphere of blue roars upward against his palms. "SHIPPUKEN!" Launched off like a shot, that fireball CLASHES in a blindingly bright impact with K''s bolt of fire, the two forces raging for all of a second... before blue engulfs crimson, and the remnants of Geese's assault /pierce/ through the epicentre of that bolt, aiming to continue its descent right for K'.
Geese lands a second after, fire once more burning around him as he stares with narrowed eyes at K'. "Did you really think petulant children like you would be enough to kill /me/? You can reflect upon how stupid an idea this all was once I'm done breaking every bone in your bo--" Slowly, Geese looks up, and he sees it: that distinctive VTOL that can only belong to one person rapidly approaching. Going far too fast to make landing. No... that speed means only one thing: a collision course.
"NO--"
BOOM.
The impact is enough to knock Howard /straight/ off his feet, skidding backwards across the rooftop before smashing into one of his precious golden antique statues. The figure topples over as the entire tower shakes violently, metal and glass pouring down off the side like a waterfall of disaster. And as Howard looks up, as he feels the foundation of his tower -- his legacy -- begin to rumble and shake ominously -- he sees yet /another/ enemy make landing.
And for once, Howard is too stunned to say anything at all.
What can one say, after all, when their world is now literally beginning to crash around them?

COMBATSYS: K' endures Geese's Shippuken.
# Disabling hit! #

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  /////////////////             ]
                                 |======-\-------\0               K'
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0             Vega

That same gravity crushing down on Rock is starting to oppress K' as well; especially when he recovers out of his attack, and notices that Geese has simply sent one crashing straight back at him. Still in the air, K' doesn't have TIME to do anything but suffer -through- the attack, pushing against it and refusing to lose an inch of advantage even despite the sting of pain. Its diminished force means it doesn't strike quite as hard, true... but nonetheless, it does sap some strength to hold firm against the assault.

K' is totally distracted-- uncharacteristic for such a trained fighter as he is-- by Vega's 'entrance.' His balance similarly upset as the VTOL -smashes- into the tower, the young experiment goes skidding into the wall hard, his senses briefly knocked so askew that at first, he doesn't even register who it is has joined them. But eventually, his gaze tracks back upwards through the ruined ceiling to the rooftop. It focuses on Vega. And K''s eyes visibly widen.

Not even K' is stupid enough to try jumping up and interrupting a confrontation between Geese and Vega-- at least, not until he's more sure that Vega won't just turn and blast HIM just as readily as Geese. And so, despite the sacrifice he made earlier to retain some striking advantage... K' hesitates. Sharp yellow eyes track swiftly between all three of the others present, attempting to gauge just how things will end now.

K' is here for vengeance, true. But in the end-- when it comes to Geese Howard, at least-- he's rather more interested in living than in enacting revenge at all costs.

COMBATSYS: K' gains composure.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0               K'
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0             Vega

Rock's footing is shot when a VTOL straight up crashes into the side of Geese Tower. It must be terrorists because only they fly aircraft into gigantic skyscrapers. Hitting his back from the 59th floor office below K' and Geese's brief ignition event, those suspicions are immediately confirmed. You have to be an idiot to not recognize the most wanted man in the world. In an instant, dark, burning memories of Thailand slam into Rock's brain. Cage fighting. Tanks. Being kidnapped by NESTs. His friends being mind controlled and forced to do horrible things --

There are too many emotions swirling too fast for Rock to process. One minute he thought they had beaten Geese, the next minute he's back alive and there's Vega -- the scariest guy in the world. Rolling onto his side, Rock claws his way back to his feet. The tremors in the thumping building bring him no sense of comfort as he starts scaling towards the rooftop through a series of dislodged debris-segments. Finally bursting onto the formerly tranquil and totally not out of place garden abode, Rock sizes up his situation -- readopting his fighting stance and prowling the perimeter.

"... You're Vega," Rock calls, stopping his perimeter pacing and forming his hands infront of his body, like he's ready to fight. His blond hair briefly appears whiter, like a hat. "What the hell are you doing here?" Slow turn. "You've teamed up with /them/? Is there anything you won't do, Geese?!"

COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0               K'
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0             Vega

Ah, that look.

Vega'd been waiting for it for /years/. That look of a man who realizes that everything he'd built, from the ground up, was in the process of being lost. With each tremble as fire begins to spread in the levels below, fuel burning steel, corroding concrete, Vega's grin grows. Tonight, this.. This will remake Southtown. Vega may not be there for its' ending, but the world will know his hand was definitely involved.

Towards Geese, he speaks, voice dark and evil - that raging demon of psycho power clawing at his throat, waiting to get loose. "Your world, over. I could have simply let these two destroy you - but they never would have gone so far as I had. This shrine to your power is going to fall, Howard. This night brings an end to your rule. When you find yourself in a gutter, you'll remember this, I'm sure..."

And then Vega breaks into a dash, trying to close with Geese before he can be prepared. "And you'll remember /this/, too!" With that, at point-blank range, Vega seems to fade - only to reappear /behind/ Geese, to swing a hand wreathed in purple and black energy at his kidneys. "Tonight, everything you have is /gone/!!" For Rock, for K'.. There's nothing. Not /yet/, at least.

COMBATSYS: Vega knocks away Geese with Psycho Vanish!

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0               K'
                                  >  ///////////////////////////// ]
                                 |=------\-------\0             Vega

There are varying stages of grief. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. But for a man like Geese Howard, when the abject shock of everything truly /crumbling/ around him begins to fade, there is only one step to his grief:
Rage.
The former King of Southtown scrambles to his feet as Vega makes landing, his brows twitching, momentarily looking almost /horrified/ as a lifetime of achievement and a symbol of his own power starts to topple. But that expression barely lasts for a moment -- a fact that is helped when Vega charges. As Rock makes his condemnation, the man snorts in rage that begins to topple over his carefully laid barriers, icy blue eyes narrowed like slits.
"Even Terry couldn't have raised you to be that /dense/," he spits out, "or do you really think my brilliant plan was to have my enemy CRASH LAND A JET INTO /MY TOW--" Before Howard can react, Psycho Power is suddenly hammering into his back, the speed and power of Vega ferocious to behold. His eyes widen in disbelief and pain. The blow issues a ferocious crack, the force more than enough to /blow/ Geese off his feet once more. He coughs out a choked cry of pain, red fluids spitting free from his lips as he spirals through the air. And then... his eyes narrow. He flips, landing with a crash against the ground below.
But as soon as he hits ground, he is back on his feet. K', Rock, are both ignored for now. Fires roar around him like a temperamental storm. Like a shot, Geese launches forward, /driving/ himself toward his target--
"VEGA!!"
One hand lashes out, attempting to /smash/ across Vega's jaw with a burning punch that could shatter concrete. Geese's feet drive into the rooftop with such force that the ground beneath them begins to crack, spiderweb lines stretching out from one end to the other. Each stomp of Geese's feet is like a rigid and unforgiving dance amplified by his own unquantifiable rage. He drives an elbow forward, attempting to bury it into Vega's sternum; an uppercut to the chin. An open-palm blow to the solar plexus. A forearm to the nose. All delivered with force that Howard doesn't even bother to hold back, power that hammers into the ground beneath him as well as his opponent. The blows continue.
"DEADLY!"
Two palms thrust forward. Its delivery fluid, reminiscent of the technique just performed by the younger Howard... but in terms of speed, in /power/, in /technique/...
"RAVE!"
... there can be no comparison to the original.
A MASSIVE sphere of broiling blue-white chi ERUPTS from Geese's hands the exact moment the roof of the tower caves in, to send /all/ fighters toppling down towards the floor below. Howard doesn't care.
If his world is falling, so is all of theirs.

Horror prints itself visibly-- even if only for a split second-- in Geese's eyes, as everything he's worked to build starts to crumble beneath him. K' doesn't miss the look-- he's -watching- for it, waiting to see it-- and the sight infuses him with a very definite sense of satisfaction. This is what vengeance is... to make someone who has wronged you-- has hurt you-- feel exactly what it is like. Geese destroyed everything K' was trying to make in this city. Now Howard can see how it feels to have it done to him.

It could almost be enough-- just seeing that look, knowing what Geese is experiencing right now. K' could almost just leave it at that... his revenge sufficiently taken. But it's not quite as simple as that. Geese threatened to kill everyone for whom K' cares, should he live. And so, though it now seems against all odds, K' has to somehow make certain Geese cannot carry out that threat. ...and then, he has to somehow survive Vega.

Both tasks are made exponentially harder when the rooftop collapses, sending everything into chaos-- and all the fighters back into close quarters.

K', still one level below, retreats one step as the rooftop comes caving down. He's already watching for a chance to attack. It's a risk... but then, against Geese Howard, everything is a life-threatening risk. Bracing briefly against the wall at his back, K' abruptly pushes off hard -into- the falling debris, ripping through the rubble, fire already seared to life around him. He's trying to slam full-force into Howard, to tear into him with an uppercut laced with fire, and if he can connect, he's going to use the momentum to spin in the air and slash an axe kick down at Geese: aiming to make his impact with the floor a lot more painful than it is controlled.

Rock is caught off guard when Vega turns and attacks Geese Howard, of all people! He freezes in place for a moment, paralyzed with confusion. Why does Vega, the worst human being on the planet, want to see Geese -- probably his poker buddy -- fall so badly? What is going on here? Has this entire thing been leading up to /this/ confrontation? Could it be --

The Deadly Rave Neo explosion draws Howard back into the moment. His red eyes light up in the filamental shadows of Geese's explosive energy. Recoiling, Rock's eyes dance, nearly superhuman reflexes aiding him in tracking the situation through all the tremendous street fighting assaults. "Y-you're both ..." Rock's resolve hardens, his fingers flexing into fists. "You're both horrible. You destroyed this city, my city, to get at him! And you --" Rock spins to watch Geese get double-killed. "You've corrupted this place since the day I was born!"

Buoyed by a sudden purpose in defending his former home, Rock goes for the easier target -- the already battered Geese. Slamming his right foot into the crumbling stone of the rooftop, he cuts his arm forward, ripping a Reppuken free to add to the melee around Geese. If it hits anyone else, well, that's acceptable collateral. Even K'.

COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Geese's Deadly Rave.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  ///////////////////////////// ]
                                 |=------\-------\0             Vega

Yes, yes, Rock. Vega did horrible things to 'your town', just to pite Geese. Yes, yes, K', Vega is evil incarnate. In this match, though - he's an ally, tenuous at best, but an ally. At least, someone with rather the same goals as the pair fighting Geese Howard - for the moment.

White eyes watch in eager anticipation, knowing just how strong, just how /fast/ Geese is - how easily the man threw him from the YFCC just a week earlier. No, no, this is important - and this is a test that Vega can... no, /will/ rise to! After all, he is Vega!

Geese pounding along the rooftop, Vega is ready. He is not there when the forearm comes in, psycho-powered hands just at the edge of each strike, a brilliant explosion of blue-purple Psycho Power and brilliant Chi. Sparks fly with each strike, elbow leading to uppercut to forearm, to /explosion/...

And when the energy of Geese's yell and fury fades just that bit, Vega stands in the middle, hands folded against his chest, a smug little smirk showing. Vega stands in the middle, uncaring - taunting. Vega stands in the middle...

Unhurt.

"Howard... You've fallen so far, so fast.. Perhaps I /should/ leave you to these two. I've gone beyond you..!" He flips up into the air, out of the way as Rock and K' close, up above the trembling tower. Using his mastery of Psycho Power, he holds himself aloft in the air, for only a second - but it's enough. His hands form into a balled up mass, and when the Despot of Shadaloo throws them forwards, a wave of Psycho Energy explodes outwards, spiraling down at the Boss of Southtown. "But that would hardly be /fun/! PSYCHO SHOT!"

COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Geese with Psycho Shot.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                 |===----\-------\0             Vega

COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Geese with Heaven Drive.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                 |===----\-------\0             Vega

COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Rock's Reppuken.

[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                 |===----\-------\0             Vega

There are no allies in a war like this.
Just targets.
The fact is, even enraged as Geese is, he is not a stupid man. Against all three of these people, he doesn't stand much of a chance -- and he has to last. He has to. So, Geese does what he does best.
He plays the odds.
How Vega stands completely still and nonchalant in the midst of the full fury of the Deadly Rave Geese doesn't even have time to be surprised at. But his rage is enough that the chi that he brings to bare does not even fade away in the least. Energy snaps around Howard like a storm, bolts of deepest blue scorching the ground as he collapses, as the rooftop caves in, towards the flooring below. The energy that washes along the flooring is enough, with the structural damage that is already unmaking his tower, to make the very ground he falls upon crack dangerously. His eyes snap up, seeing Vega floating above. Distantly, he hears Rock's words.
"And what do you think he's going to do when he's done here, boy?" he speaks back to his estranged son, blue fire wrapping like tendrils around his arms. "'Lord' Vega is just a conqueror. Just an overblown, overglorified Nazi out to stampede everything underneath his heel. After I'm gone -- after /you/ help /him/ kill /me/ -- what do you think is going to happen to /you/? To this /city/?" His gaze turns to K'. "To the people IN IT?!" His anger is something he cannot contain, and his voice is venomous and uncontrolled as he speaks, but his point is clear --
Is he REALLY the enemy here?
He gambits. But as he does, all three of them are upon him again; the blazing blue chi of Rock's Reppuken is met with a flaming fist as Howard BASHES his arm through it, cleaving the mass of flames in perfect twain as only someone who has mastered the technique could. But this movement distracts him enough -- more than enough for Vega's blast of Psycho Power to impact against him bodily, the resultant explosion knocking him FORCEFULLY off his feet. The mind and body are scorched in unison as debris knocks upward, spiraling alongside Geese in a violently beautiful display. Fires rage around, growing greater, larger --
--And that is when K' rips through the rubble, smashing one fire-laden fist directly into Geese's sternum so hard the bone snaps audibly. Geese's pale blue eyes widen as he coughs up blood, rising higher into the air... just in time for K' to greet him with one titanic axe kick. The fiery blow lands, the explosion ROCKING the foundation of the office --
--before Howard suddenly lashes out, in mid-air, grasping for K''s leg. His expression reads only one thing: unbelievable fury.
A sentiment that is echoed by the fact that his /body/ is now /glowing/.
"Puppets and fools--" As Geese descends like a rocket, he'll attempt to /snap/ K' upwards, launching him into the air as Howard drives downward. His hands glow as they rotate around him, building up energy. Gravity should, ideally, take over K' at this very moment; and as the failed NESTS experiment begins to fall, Geese thrusts both palms forward.
It is as Geese impacts the floor with such force that it breaks and collapses inward into the story beneath that he unleashes one furious ball of flame, intent on engulfing K' within furious, disruptive chi to blast him like a shot -- right for Vega.
"DON'T HAVE A HOPE OF KILLING A MAN LIKE ME!"

COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits K' with Rashoumon.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  ////////////                  ]
                                 |====---\-------\0               K'
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                 |===----\-------\0             Vega

K' can feel the bone splintering beneath his attack-- can smell the blood as it splatters down the length of his arm. Neither sensation seems to disturb or faze him. In fact, they only seem to encourage him, spurring him on, the vicious determination in him flaring higher as he perceives his target growing ever more wounded. No, it has to end here. He doesn't care about anyone else's designs. For those threats he made, Geese can't live--

--his ankle is seized. K''s thoughts come to a screeching halt.

Something tears as Geese -slings- K' from him. Then, a whole lot more gets damaged when that blast of enervating chi slams into him. Blunt force makes short work of several of K''s bones, pain splintering through him as he's hurled straight back, plowing shoulder-first into the ground and skidding painfully to an eventual stop. A stop way too close to Vega.

Even half-senseless, K' can feel Vega's presence, a malefic, sickening aura that inspires the animal back of the brain to clamor one loud instinct: /retreat/. He virtually scrambles clear of the man, flipping over rapidly and slinking back out of line of sight like a punished cat. Geese's attempts to sway them both haven't gone unnoticed, however, and it's with a vicious spit of blood that the young experiment answers.

"Is it any better," he wonders, even as he reaches defensively for the fire in him, trying to protect himself from other combatants and the collapsing building alike, "leaving -you- alive? After what you said you'd do--" all those threats against those he reluctantly cares for, "--I don't think so..." His solution, as always, to the conundrum of which evil to choose is simple: kill them all. Somehow, some way.

COMBATSYS: K' gathers his will.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  /////////////                 ]
                                 |=======\-------\1               K'
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                 |===----\-------\0             Vega

There is little that Rock can do to help K'. He knows the move Geese just set him up for well; he's faced in many times in his own life. He's felt that spike of searing, burning, pain shoot up his spine more times than he cares to remember. But from where he is, half a rooftop away, he can't stick his own neck in the way. He just hopes K' is tough enough to endure through it.

Geese's words hang heavier on Rock's mind. Who is the worse of two evils? Vega is a known tyrant; a monster who can barely be considered a man. He's ruined more lives than anyone else on this planet -- he's a modern day Hitler who, if rumors are true, will stop at nothing to conquer the world in his image. He's not just some punk street tough like Kurow. He's the real deal. A genuinely despicable human being.

But Geese, is he much better? A secretive master of Southtown. A man who has run one of the most successful crime families in the history of human existence. Extortion, murder, drugs, crime, people trafficking -- he's sure Southsynd has done all of that. And Geese is the top of that chain. He's the one who ultimately called all the shots. He's the one who signed the paper that day his mother --

"Damn you both!" Rock yells, losing that inner calm he'd been clinging to so well. The face of Terry Bogard fades from his mind; replaced by a burning inferno of hatred for everything around him. For the fact that he is in this position -- for the fact that he was brought into this world -- for the fact that his mother was taken from it for the games of men like /these/ two people!

"She ... She loved you. Even... Even knowing who you were --!"

Torn open, Rock's evil blood boils. He breaks into a run forward, ignoring the resistance of his shredded and torn muscles, bruised bones, and broken body. All he can see is the cruel smirk of his father; the unrelenting taskmaster who brutally trained him through his youth. That craggly face of a man who would do anything to get to the top -- even destroy his own family.

"RAAAAAAAGIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!" he yells, coming across the roof. He plants a black booted foot against a jutting shard of stone, boosting off it and into the air. He keeps running as he soars through the air, his legs and arms churning so that when he lands it is with momentum enough to plant a second foot, spring, and --

"STOOOOOOOOOOOOORMMMM!"

A violent lurch of power rips from Rock's body like a thunderclap. Cobalt energy warps from him like a shockwave, a spiderweb of cracks splitting on the roof from the already bending surface. A column of power shoots upwards, like an inversed tornado, straight at --

Vega?!

COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Vega with Raging Storm+.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0             Rock
                                  >  /////////////                 ]
                                 |=======\-------\1               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////         ]
                                 |=====--\-------\0             Vega

So close to K', Vega could reach out and crush him. There's a second where it looks like he's about to grab the young man - but no, it's far too soon. There's still an option to use him to defeat Geese. There's still time with which to use his abilities in their best way. A rumble of the building reminds Vega, quite quickly, that there is less of a chance of escape the longer that the fight drags on - but really, Vega would have it no other way. Death be damned, Vega would find a way back /again/, somehow. It was too good to let this go.

Though, he'd expected more from Rock. When he rages into the center of the rooftop, and that power rockets out of him, Vega had expected it to go towards Geese, not Vega himself. That the youth would choose Vega over his own father, well - an interesting gambit indeed. In this case, it's also considered a 'bad choice'. If for no other reason that it actually hits Vega, causing the Despot of Thailand to stumble, angrily catching his feet.

"You dare meddle in the affairs of your betters, boy? Perhaps it's a lesson you should have learned from your father.. But I WILL TEACH YOU!!" Yes, Geese is totally forgotten for at least a moment - Vega is busily pissed off, and hurls himself towards the Howard scion, a blazing bright wreath of Psycho Energy surrounding Vega as he rushes in. This, well - it's not the end-all and be-all of Vega's repitoire - but certainly one of the pinnacles of Psycho Power. "PYSCHO... CRUSHAAAAA!" Crazed, angry - Vega ignores the /real/ threat, instead attempting to blow Rock completely off the roof. Because he's a crazy, psychotic psychic.

With the loud sound of a living body crashing into rough, marble flooring, Geese Howard crashes into the floor below his office, rubble crashing around him as he stares upward. Chi crackles all about him as he gazes dazedly towards the chaos above, distantly hearing the sound of his tower crumbling. The foundation shudders again. It won't be long now. Despite broken bones, damaged insides, and pain that most would have simply perished from far earlier, Geese Howard drags himself back onto his feet, feeling hot blood pour from his various wounds. He gets up--
-- because a Howard never learns how to surrender.
Rage still burns like a bright and furious star around him as flames drag across his body in a double helix pattern, gathering upwards at the top of his body. He looks upward -- sees K' watching, but stationary. Sees Rock gathering up that chi of his in that well-known maneuver he learned from his father -- not at Geese, but at Vega. Distantly, the bloodied man smirks. Just as he planned it. Even with K' at the ready, he could make a break for it now -- leave, and live to fight another day. Get back everything he's lost. Kill the man /really/ responsible for all of this. Ice blue eyes look toward the exit behind him--
'Perhaps it's a lesson you should have learned from your father... But I WILL TEACH YOU!!'
Slowly, Howard looks up. He sees that chrysalis of Psycho Power enshrouding the rooftop like a beacon of hopelessness and despair as Vega focuses all his attention, all his /power/, on Rock -- his son. To destroy him, to take him from this world. Geese's hands clench.
"VEGA!"
The voice BOOMS in that familiar, anger-laden tone as soon as Vega drives himself bodily towards Rock. Geese suddenly LAUNCHES upward, landing on the ruined rooftop, hands held high and enshrouded with chi.
"The only lesson MY SON has to learn from YOU... is how to die like the pathetic old man you really are! RAGING!"
Whether it be to protect his son, or to capitalize on weakness, Howard attacks, /slamming/ both hands into the ruinous ground and unleashing once more the technique Rock had just displayed -- larger, faster, and not restraining any ounce of rage or affording even the slightest semblence of mercy as long tendrils of dark blue fire roar outward across the roof, blowing apart everything as it seeks to take up the Psycho Power-enshrouded dictator within its angry depths and consume him utterly within the storm -- all as Geese crouches within the epicentre like a veritable battery of chi, unfortunately too focused upon all that terrible power to notice the machinations of the NESTS agent beyond.
There is nothing sweeter than the taste of revenge, after all.
"STORM!!"

K' abruptly finds himself in a very interesting-- and definitely very unique-- position: the position of watching as three people, two of whom he would happily see dead, attempt to tear each other apart with little apparent rhyme or reason. Still wreathed in his stolen flames, K' straightens slowly, prowling a slow and cautious semicircle as he surveys the sight of Rock attacking Vega... and Geese foregoing his chance to escape in an apparent bid to protect Rock-- or else, to just assert that only he, Geese Howard, has any license to beat his son.

K' doesn't know. He doesn't care.

Glancing behind him, he now finds himself presented with the very exit that haad earlier tempted Howard. The young man stares briefly at it. He could leave this encounter... try again, when the fray isn't so unpredictable and the risks not quite as ridiculous. But would he ever get another chance if he left now? Would he ever see Geese this injured again...? This unprotected? He isn't sure... and the need for revenge is a seductive thing.

His already-gathered fire seems to entice him to act. K''s hands tighten visibly. The image of Geese's promised retribution cuts abruptly across his thoughts of simply leaving, K''s imagination sparing him no details; and so when the young man lunges forwards, streaking fire in his wake, in an attempt to slam a concussive, pulverizing blow into Geese's spine, it's as much out of fear of those things coming to pass as it is out of desired revenge.

What -would- be the point of running, staying alive, if it just means Geese destroys everything he's worked for later?

COMBATSYS: Vega knocks away Rock with Psycho Crusher!

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >                                ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\1             Rock
                                  >  ////////////                  ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////         ]
                                 |==-----\-------\0             Vega

Everyone always wants to teach Rock something. Geese wanted to teach him how to be a winner. Terry wanted to teach him how to be his own man. Grant wanted to teach him how to be stronger. Kain wanted to teach him the truth. But Vega's lesson hurts the most. Whisps of smoke coil off Rock's body, his red jacket burned completely up during the various violence in Geese Tower -- scraps of his black tank top sticking to his battered and bruised body. Fists clenched at his side, strong loud gulps of air sucking into his throat, he locks eyes not with Vega -- but with Geese. Why did he --?

The Psycho Crusher obliterates Rock. He goes sailing back from the impact point to slam against the elevated wall of the rooftop office. Bricks break off from the impact, his body slumping over the edge like he had no remaining spinal column. He lays their for a few seconds, looking broken -- back at an ungodly angle, hair hanging towards the night sky. Despite the violence, a few birds break off from one of the windows below and head for the horizon --

"... I have nothing left..." Rock realizes, watching the birds fly away. They remind him of the Southtown harbor. His mother used to take him there. They'd feed the birds together. "Mom ... I have no reason to keep fighting. You knew I would never ... Never kill him."

Rock closes his eyes, his body sagging forward towards the stone of the rooftop. He lands on his knees, his mind starting to close in on itself. "But you ... You saw something. I ..." Rock's fists ball. He starts standing up. There is a visible break in his collarbone; borderline a shard of straight bone jutting through the skin. "I can't give up on him. Not him -- not anyone... Not now -- not EVER!"

Ancient blood crackles in Rock, willing him past any sort of physical limit. His body is already dead, only his spirit powers him. Blasting forward, a blossom of golden energy warps off his body. He takes two blindingly fast steps at Vega, his arm pulling itself back like a shotgun being cocked to unload. Anyone who has ever seen the Legendary Wolf will recognize the technique.

"BUUUUUUURN KNUUUUUUUUUUUUCKLE!" Rock's feet connect and he drives his fist forward, a blast of golden energy shooting down his arm as he tries to drive it all into the Psycho Commander.

Through the explosion of chi, Rock's head snaps to the left. He makes a twisted little grin, like a guy knowing he's dead as the storm of energy blasts from his body -- blocking him from view. "-- Go! Get out of here!!"

COMBATSYS: Rock can no longer fight.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////         ]
                                 |==-----\-------\0             Vega

COMBATSYS: Vega just-defends Geese's Raging Storm+!

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  ////////////////////////      ]
                                 |==-----\-------\0             Vega

COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Rock's Shine Knuckle.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  ////////////////////////      ]
                                 |==-----\-------\0             Vega

'Pathetic old man...'

He may have been this once, but no longer. Vega looks fully intent on Rock's battered, beaten body, standing - looming and letting his shadow from Geese's chi closing in on him from behind cast over Rock's body. He watches the youth regain his feet-gather himself up... and inside, he laughs. Old, stupid man... This would have been something to fear, once. This is something that could have crushed him, trapped between two generations of the Howard Clan...

Once.

Now, though - Vega moves at the last instant, seemingly fading in the bright explosion of the Raging Storm, the wild energy of the youth's Shine Knuckle. Light meets light, and within - the darkness is dispelled, vanquished, vanished.

But only... for a moment.

Vega's voice comes from nearby, certainly. Vega could allow K' the ability to attack unnoticed, to let him impact against Geese while the man was focused on Vega. But really, what would be the amusement in that. "Once, Geese. /Once/ old and slow. Now.. Your doom comes and you do not even see it on the wings! This tower will /fall/!!!" He slams his hands down onto the ground, a roiling gout of purple and blue Psycho Power crashing through cracks in the ground, trying to expand them, to throw waves of his energy into the Tower, into its' foundation. He's tired of these games - and it is more than past time to bury Geese within the remnants of the Tower. Whether this is Vega's funeral as well - he does not really care any longer. Evil never /really/ dies, after all - and Vega is as evil as they come.

COMBATSYS: Vega gathers his will.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega

The foundation of the tower has been in peril for some time now. Since the impact of the VTOL against Geese Tower, debris has rained down haphazardly, crashing into the city streets below of a warning of what was inevitable. Those within have had only the scantest moments to realize one, simple fact:
The tower is falling.
The structure has trembled, shaking in the throes of death. Pieces of plaster and concrete fall, metal shredding off the walls of the mighty spire. Above, as Vega gathers those dark energies too him, as the tower takes a beating from its already considerable damage and the power being put forth from all angles in this fight alone, as one lone experiment of a cruel organization seeks to drive home vengeance against a man who would tear apart everything he cares for--
--Geese Tower lets out one last, bellowing groan, as if alive...
... and then begins to collapse.
The sound is deafening as everything begins to crumble and fall beneath the fighters, threatening to swallow them up within the abyss and the veil of debris that shakes loose as, story by story, layer by layer, Geese Tower comes falling down in the shriek of metal and the crushing death of a symbol.

COMBATSYS: Starscream has joined the fight here in the center.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega
                 [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream [W]   0|-------|-------

COMBATSYS: K' successfully hits Geese with Heat Drive.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

COMBATSYS: Starscream successfully hits Geese with Babel Falling+.

[                                < >  ////////////                  ]
Geese            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

The power of the Raging Storm is brushed aside like the buzzing of gnats, yet the power that Geese is utilizing seems to just grow larger and larger -- a fact that might be intimidating, even to the most stoic of individuals. Whatever restraint Howard exercised before, whatever fine-tuned, masterful control he once had -- it's all gone now, lost within the boundless depths of his maddening rage. His city. His tower. His influence. His stature. His LEGACY. All of it taken away. By Vega, by Igniz -- by /that man./ Howard's hands clench into tight fists as blue flames PULSE around him like a wave.
"...You don't even understand what the word 'doom' really means, you self-righteous, hare-brained, petulant loser." Fire pulses again. Geese takes a single step forward, eyes narrowed, body tense. "But by the time I'm done showing you what an idiot you are..." Another step, and those flames suddenly shunt /upwards/, lifting up like a wall of icy power. "... by the time I'm done beating you into the ruins of everything I've built until they can't recognize your face anymore..." Another step, and the ground /cracks/ beneath the pressure that Howard exerts, his eyes widening. "... by the time weeks have passed of me beating you nearly to death only to bring you back to life to do it over, and over, and over again until you don't even remember what it's like to know how happy it is to be alive in your simple little existence..." And then Geese lifts a single hand, energy focusing at a single point in his palm.
"THEN YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHAT 'DOOM' REALLY IS--"
The palm thrusts forward, energy flashing like the birth of a star--
--a deafening boom is ushered--
--and Geese is left staring wide-eyed as he is struck off his feet, completely at a loss for works as smoke billows upward from his back. He twists in mid-air, seeing a glimpse of dark skin and white hair as gravity takes hold and he begins to descend into the chasm that has been forged in the middle of his tower.
"You-- don't you get it, yet?!" Howard's hand THRUSTS forward futiley, stretching out as if to grasp onto K' and crush him from afar.
"I'm GEESE HOWARD--"
And legacy comes to an end as a single, massive chunk of rubble smashes into the would-be King of Southtown, speeding his descent downward his tower descends with him.

COMBATSYS: Geese takes no action.

                                  >  ////////////                  ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

COMBATSYS: Geese can no longer fight.

                                  >  ////////////                  ]
                                 |-------\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

COMBATSYS: Starscream successfully hits K' with Babel Falling+.

                                  >                                ]
                                 |======-\-------\0               K'
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

Though he's entertained the desire for vengeance against Geese Howard for a long time, thought of it frequently-- poring over it with less intensity than his hatred for NESTS, but with intensity nonetheless-- K' still looks completely surprised to actually... take it. Reeling to a halt at the very edge of the chasm into which Geese disappeared, K' just stands there a few moments staring after the man, caught in the blank and confused incomprehension of one who lives for vengeance... and who doesn't know what to do with himself when he finally manages to get it.

A weird feeling twists at him: a sort of nervous uncertainty. It's a sensation unfamiliar to one who was raised to be totally indifferent to the murders he commits. K' backs away from the unstable edge of the chasm, slowly at first but then more quickly, numb but still recognizing on some level that he has to escape joining Geese in his fate--

Everything crumbles both beneath and above him, the fragmenting building smashing its ruins into him and sending him limply following Howard down into the maze of this modern-day lightning-struck tower. His own vengeful nature made him unable to leave this place, and for that it seems some higher power is determined to punish his bloody-mindedness-- to make the point that all vengeance is ultimately self-destructive-- by making his stay permanent. The last conscious thought he has before blacking out, however, isn't really a violent one. It isn't one overwhelmingly glad over the presumed death to which he helped send Geese, though that is dimly present.

Mostly, the last thing he's thinking is that the people for whom he grudgingly cares will now be safe from at least this one thing. Even if he won't be around anymore to protect them from anything else.

COMBATSYS: K' takes no action.

                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

COMBATSYS: K' can no longer fight.

                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                 |======-\-------\0             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Starscream's Babel Falling+.

                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=======\=------\1             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

In the end, Vega knows it is coming. He is, after all, a psychic - and he knew, when he flew his vehicle into the tower, how it would end. He knew the tower would fall, that it would burn through, that the fight would weaken it. Vega knew this.

But he did not know /when/.

When Geese approaches, the deliberate stance of the Elder Howard showing controlled fury and rage - Vega is not ready. There is something in him that tries to latch onto that fury that Geese offers up. There is something in him that /needs/ it, but cannot hold onto it. It burns too brightly, too strong. Vega cannot use it, not now - it doesn't give him strength, it makes him quail, deep inside. This man is still a deadly threat - and Vega knows this. That power that he gathers - Vega's weakness. The way he threatens - Vega knows this is the truth.

But the tower cannot contain the fury of so many strong warriors at once. The Tower gives before Geese's rage does. The tower gives before Vega's confidence does... barely. And seemingly, the Tower gives before K''s sense of self-preservation. They all fall - buried beneath the stone of the monument to Howard. Eventually - silence.

Then... one section of rubble moves.

Vega pushes rubble out and away with the effort of his mind and muscle, sinew and Psycho Power. Enough to free himself, to crawl, dust-covered, from the remnants of the tower. There he stands - woozy, half-broken, bent..

And then he laughs.

COMBATSYS: Vega takes no action.

                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=======\=------\1             Vega
                 [ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 Starscream       0|-------|-----==

COMBATSYS: Starscream has left the fight here.

                                  >  ////////////////////          ]
                                 |=======\=------\1             Vega

COMBATSYS: Vega has ended the fight here.

Log created on 18:05:53 05/25/2009 by K', and last modified on 21:43:34 06/07/2009.