Description: If you want to ensure the downfall of Geese Howard, there's one person you need to get through first. Billy Kane. But after all the work he's put into making sure Geese falls from power Kain R. Heinlein isn't about to let his plans be foiled by a guy with a stick. And that means keeping Billy busy while the main event goes on in Geese's office. But Kain doesn't take into account just how strong Billy's loyalty is, and the power that he can draw from it in dire straits...
In the utter chaos of the assault on Geese Tower, many people are clamboring around, taking advantage of things any way they can. The traditional security has been soundly defeated by the superior arms of the invading forces, but the hallway to Geese's office has an impermeable obstacle -- the furious form of Billy Kane, clad within his standard blue denim ensemble. His clothing is ragged and torn, and his breath comes fast and deep. Sweat pools down his eyes and nose, teeth gritted in concentration. The last of an armed group is swept away with a bone-shattering sweep of his crimson bo staff, sending them against the side of the wall. "YOU WISH!!" is all he offers, finally gaining a breather to rest against his weapon. In the considerable time since the onset of this rush, nobody has managed to get past... and not all of them were gumbies, by any means. If one hopes to remove Geese Howard, they will first have to remove his bodyguard. Signs of battle scour the walls and floor, washes of flame, myriad bullet holes, and more then a few still bodies belonging to both Shadaloo and NESTS... Although his body is weakened, the sharpness of his mind belies any vulnerability one might assume.
For a moment, it looks like Billy might get a bit of a reprieve, as the last of the armed intruders falls. This is short lived. A large section of the floor sudden vanishes in a thundering explosion and three figures leap through it, obscured by the smoke. Two of them rush forward before the haze even begins to clear, heading directly for the doors to Geese's office. Normally Billy would have something to say about this, but that's why the third figure is here.
There's a flash of blue light within the fading smoke and dust and then Kain R. Heinlein bursts forth, a glowing blue fist aimed straight for Billy's jaw. No taunting, no threats. This battle isn't on TV, and nobody here has any friendship or business relationships to maintain. If Kain thought Billy could be bought, he'd try. But he knows better, and so it immediately comes down to blood.
COMBATSYS: Kain has started a fight here.
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Kain 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Billy has joined the fight here.
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Billy 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Billy counters Strong Punch from Kain with Fire Dragon Pursuit Cane.
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Billy 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Kain
Things happen very fast. The eruption of flames causes Billy to stumble forward, twisting around. He catches sight of the two figures slithering past, gritting his teeth and beginning to turn. Yet the looming eclipse of pristine white suite, the flare of cerulean energy, force him to react immediately. It seems the instincts of a cornered animal are not something to be underestimated. He swoops out his staff, catching Kain by the wrist and shoving his fist upwards, scalding the side of his British-themed bandana. Stepping into the opening, he snarls while bringing up the other end of his staff, catching him in the gut. The other end whirls down, striking him in the face, before he collapses the staffs into three parts, a flail of impacts and whisking chain hopefully staggering the man backwards.
The split second engagement over, Billy does not back away. Indeed, he leans forward, narrowing his eyes towards Heinlein. Breath comes slow, gripping his weapon with white knuckles. There is no sign of him being intimidated or unsure. Indeed, the fierce determination within his eyes is the very thing Geese originally saw. The soul of a fighter, someone of incredible intensity and willpower carefully moulded. Yet someone intertwined with a demon, a rebel of all authority. He continues to pant slowly, poised to strike in a moment's notice.
"Get outta my way, Heinlein..." Few people might dare speak so dismissively. But this is personal. This is different. In front of him is the only man alive who has ever so dismissively defeated the bodyguard. He can think of no worse obstacle. Vega himself standing with crackles of psychic power... Igniz, with the glow of divinity... neither would be worse. Yet this seems to only fuel his strength, as opposed to diminish it. "Now."
Kain is struck repeatedly with the staff and sent staggering back, but his primary goal is still accomplished. Billy has been distracted long enough to allow access to Geese. Kain would love to make the finish blow himself, but it works well for his future plans to allow someone else to do so. And he's already made sure Geese knows who is responsible for his downfall. Now he just has to keep Billy from potentially saving his master.
After rubbing his jaw for a moment, Kain just looks at Billy with a cool gaze. With a flick of his wrist he summons a flickering black flame over his hand, and then stands there, watching his opponent. What's he going to do? Try to strike Kain down, or try to run away and get to Geese before he can be stopped? Either way, Kain is prepared.
COMBATSYS: Kain focuses on his next action.
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Billy 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Kain
Billy isn't a fool. He knows that trying to run past Kain would only end up with him being crippled and blown away. And without defeating the man, he would simply follow. Bringing the man to Geese without being able to defeat him is only a liability. Two insects are insufficient to overtake Howard... Kain is complacent. He thinks he will strike Billy down again, doesn't he? The life or death of his friend rests on his performance. More then before, he cannot fail. "..." No words follow. He simply slides one foot forward, twisting around and then snapping out his bo staff. It fragments anew, rasp of chains as the leading end attempts to impact Kain's chest, and blow him backwards, as a rush of napalm like flame hisses out, sparks flying in all directions. "I said MOVE!!" Well, he's certainly angry. Whether that lack of composure is a liability remains to be seen...
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Kain with Blazing Cane Thrust.
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Billy 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Kain
Kain grunts as the end of the stuff strikes him in the chest, then the blast of flame bowls him over. He may have underestimated Billy. The British man has been backed into a corner and he's fighting for something that he really believes in. Kain doesn't really care, but it is something that needs to be considered when thinking about how Billy will fight. With more energy than usual, but perhaps less thought. Heinlein climbs back to his feet, takes a breath, and then suddenly runs toward Billy.
He leaps in, attempt to slip past the staff and reaching back in the start of a blow... but then he suddenly drops down into a crouch as he closes in. There's a very brief moment, and then suddenly a pillar of flame erupts from Kain's body, scorching the ceiling and floor and anything caught between them in close proximity to his body.
COMBATSYS: Billy blocks Kain's Schwarze Kreuz.
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Billy 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Kain
Rather then backing away from the rush of flame, Billy lunges forward. He doesn't seem to wish to take a single step backwards from his goal. His bo staff spirals around and sheathes with heat as well, slamming against the wall of blue fire. Leaning back heavily, teeth grit in effort, but despite taking more damage then he might of otherwise, he endures. Given the newfound proximity, he slams out the end of his bo staff, trying to catch Kain in the stomach. Twisting and hefting, trying to send Kain airborne, and arc overhead -- with the end goal of explosively depositing him right upon the ground opposite, nearly high enough to skid upon the already damaged hall roof. Words are gone now... does Kain have the strength of purpose to overtake Billy in this final onslaught?!
COMBATSYS: Kain fails to interrupt Fishhook Throw from Billy with Schwarze Lanze.
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Billy 1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Kain
Apparently not. But then, Kain has already succeeded in /his/ task. That doesn't help much for dealing with the staff to the stomach sweeping Kain up and off of his feet, though. Kain is blasted into the floor with a heavy impact, rolling over for a moment before his body thuds down completely. Kain has seen this kind of thing before, but he really wasn't expecting it from someone like Billy. Live and learn. But even though things are going decidedly against him, Kain's not just going to give up.
In the end, Kain doesn't have to beat Billy. Just hold him off. And there are ways of doing that. Kain spares a glance to figure out exactly where in the hall they are. Almost... Now he just needs to wait for the right opportunity to arrive. Hopefully Billy will provide him with the opening he needs.
Pant... pant... Billy has now gotten past Heinlein. Certainly a task that few people in the world can manage, but he doesn't bolt or flee. No, he keeps his attention on the other man, spreading his stance and bringing up his staff once more, held in a completely offensive stance. "I can't afford to lose this..." he hisses out, dragging his tongue across his lips. "So you'll have to die now!!" He charges bodily, allowing his bo staff to fall behind and begin to spiral rapidly. Skidding the last distance, he sweeps it outwards and upwards, trying to heft upwards in a raising uppercut; that, at the apex, he engulfs in a ferocious ball of flame, trying to juggle Kain into the air and send him flying!!
COMBATSYS: Kain dodges Billy's Red Lotus Requiem.
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Billy 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Kain
Reacting calmly, Kain suddenly slips to the side at the last moment as Billy gets in close and sweeps upwards with his staff. "I think not." As he stepped to the side Kain's arm went up, and when he speaks there's a brief glint of light from his hand before he brings his arm swinging downward in a rapid motion. A massive wave of chi follows in its wake. The blast slams into Billy and the floor with massive force, and a single floor isn't enough to withstand the impact. By design from Kain. He wants Billy and the rubble of multiple floors to go tumbling down below. It won't be enough to finish Billy off, but it will slow him down. And Kain has no intention of being defeated here, regardless of what the outcome of the overall operation is.
COMBATSYS: Kain successfully hits Billy with Himmlischer Atem.
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Billy 1/--=====/=======|-------\-------\0 Kain
Well, it seems that Kain has finally regained his poise. Billy lets out a dull curse as he only strikes air with the vicious lance of his bo staff, descending to land in a crouch. Before a black sun erupts downwards, and he just barely manages to whirl his staff overhead; reducing the damage from the shield of chi, but still sending him flying straight down, rubble and steel parting beneath the massive gout of chi. He lets out a very annoyed curse, bursting like some manner of angry flower from the debris. He glances around bewildered, forced to rely on instinct more then anything else. "Son... of a..." he grumbles out. Why's there so much goddamn smoke?!
COMBATSYS: Billy gains composure.
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Billy 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Kain
With Billy momentarily out of the picture, Kain has a brief chance to think. He's got no particular reason to actually want to /beat/ Billy. He just wants to keep him from getting to Geese. And frankly, in his current state Kain isn't entirely certain that he actually /can/ defeat Billy. But keeping him from fulfilling his duty is still a victory. And so while Billy is digging himself out of the rubble, Kain turns toward the door leading to Geese's office and fires off a series of flames at the ceiling overhead, bringing it crashing down in front of the door. From the sound of things a battle has already begun on the other side of the door, and it's unlikely to last long. Holding off Billy for just a bit longer should be sufficient.
COMBATSYS: Kain takes no action.
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Billy 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Kain
The sound of the flame far above catch Billy's attention. No... he can tell what the man is doing. Brushing away the last remnants of broken pipes, he lunges upwards and grabs the side of the jagged hole, pulling upwards. Yet more debris lay broken in front of the door. He remembers now those people who went past... he has no clue who they are. It could be Terry and Rock, who would have a good chance of overpowering him. He's not going to be denied so easily... "Son... of a bitch!!" Rage seethes in his features as he lunges after Kain, twisting and jabbing hard with the end of his bo staff, trying to knock him right into the heap he created. Beating Kain... from the start, Billy never thought of it on those terms. He wanted not to fail... and that might be the case regardless now!!
COMBATSYS: Kain blocks Billy's Power Strike.
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Billy 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Kain
Bring down the ceiling didn't take long, leaving Kain enough time to turn around and be ready for Billy to come lunging back up through the floor. Billy's still fast, but at least his entrance necessarily limits the number of angles he can approach Kain from. The staff snaps out, and Kain tries to read Billy's intent, judging that he's going to keep the weapon in one piece for the moment. This proves to be an accurate assessment, and Kain is able to take the staff on the arm and knock it aside without it swinging around to clock him in the head.
Of course, that could still happen quite quickly, so Kain has to move fast. He shoves at the staff with his arm, then lunges in at Billy with a sweeping motion of his other arm, fingers held out like claws. The swipe comes shy of actually hitting Billy, but the black flame that springs up from Kain's arm and follows in its wake eats up the rest of the distance.
COMBATSYS: Billy endures Kain's Schwarz Cutter.
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Billy 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Kain
Here is where Kain might be surprised. The weapon is deflected backwards, and Billy seems more then content to allow it to whirl away and behind him, twisting at the same moment. His shoulder is brought forward, narrowed eyes glaring at the blonde haired assailant. His staff breaks apart, before in an incredible flare of chi, seeming to lengthen, summon additional wisping strands, gathering up his strongest direct assault. The flash of vorpal energy htis him, hard, but his downward stagger does not stop the strike that follows. "GO TO HELL!!" Swinging overhead, the oversized sea of flaming wood trying to slam Kain into the ground, gouging at the ceiling. Then again. Then again! Repeated impacts, before a final roar and slam causes a geyser of flame to roar up, blowing away a good bit of the rubble and debris, and hopefully Kain as well!!
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Kain with Salamander Stream.
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Billy 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Kain
Kain was rather expecting to have a bit more impact on Billy. The attack motion leaves him a bit overextended, and low to the ground. And that's just perfect for Billy, because it's exactly where he wants Kain to end up. The flaming, flailing mass of staff slams down onto Kain's head and shoulders, driving him into the floor. And then additional strikes rain down to blast both Kain, the rubble around him and the floor itself. The impact is less focused than the blast Kain leveled at Billy, failing to punch a hole through the floor, but it does fracture it severely.
Over a very brief moment Kain takes assessment. His body is not in good shape. He'll be okay with a little time to rest, but Billy's not going to give that to him. But Kain hasn't spent all his time studying the use of chi for nothing. Even a broken body is not a hindrance, at least for a brief time. Blanking out the pain Kain suddenly surges to his feet, both hands reaching up for Billy's head. No playing around here. If he manages to grab the British man Kain brings a knee up to meet Billy's descending face with an explosion of flame. And then another. Finally followed by slamming Billy's face into the floor. And then staggering away, as all that movement takes its toll.
COMBATSYS: Billy counters Fierce Combo from Kain with Water Dragon Pursuit Cane.
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Billy 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Kain
Desperation. It seems even Kain has that, now and then. That maneuver would of potentially put him down if it had worked, but Billy lashes out, a quick slam of his broken down staff impacting the man's face. This is enough to stop the attempt, as another flash of his bo staff drives him backwards, assembling it in an overhand whirl and then dropping it down, cracking Kain in the face a final time. "Hah... hah... I'll never let you have this town, Kain... even if Geese falls... You'll know hell one way or another...!!" Aww, Kain made a mortal enemy! How sweet!
And once more Kain goes down, blood spraying from his face, though he manages to catch himself on one knee as he drops to the floor. He lifts a hand to his face, wiping away blood and then gives Billy a bloodstained grin as energy begins to swirl in his hand. "Do you-"
And then everything explodes.
COMBATSYS: Kain takes no action.
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Billy 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Kain can no longer fight.
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Billy 0/-------/-----==|
Log created on 18:32:12 06/09/2009 by Kain, and last modified on 01:18:24 06/13/2009.