Marz - Marz Attacks 2: Return to Orbit

Description: Marz has been returned to field operations, but she's not certain she is ready for them. What better way to test than to ambush the one man who has ever shown her any kindness, and attempt to beat the tar out of him for like the six hundredth time? Thrills! Spills! Sudden unexpected cleaning! All this, and more, in Marz Attacks 2: Return to Orbit!



It has been a long time coming, but Marz is finally returning to active duty. It is so easy to get caught in the world of logistics and not concern yourself with the little things, like the messy world of mortal combat. Truth be told, Marz is worried about the missions she's been given. Both Angel and Chizuru are targets that she is sure are out of her league, even if she has little information on the latter. Being involved in their recapture means that she needs to remind herself of what it is to fight.

In the past, Daniel has served well to warm herself up. The man is a known quantity. His style and techniques have been experienced many times, and although she understands that he is working a different job these days, he will still be a good test of herself. To see if she has grown rusty through lack of field work, or if the psycho power inside her has matured.

Which is why Marz is waiting in ambush for Daniel this evening. Standing just inside the door to his apartment, the young Doll is in her uniform, and is waiting for him to return home. Then, she will attack him, and, if all goes well, incapacitate him. And leave. Because that is how these things are done.

Daniel Jack whistles a tune to himself. Dressed to the nines, he swung a gold watch on a chain as he walked up the stairs. Today was a wonderful day, the first he had in a long time. In his hand was the invitation. The King of Fighters. Daniel Jack remembers the first competition he had won. The Contender's Belt. He still had that belt, a symbol of his pride. Sure, it was an amateur league. But for Daniel, that was a turning point. That was the day he stopped being just a two-bit good-doer.

It was the day he was a world warrior.

Daniel approaches the door to the apartment. He would have to forge the invitation a bit, just in case. Master Todoh wouldn't mind Daniel 'borrowing' his invitation. But the officials might. And who knows, if the forging didn't work, he could easily talk his way into it. Stopping the spinning of the watch, he checks the time briefly. "Looks like dinner soon. Maybe my beautiful wife cooked up something special." The detective chuckles to himself as he pockets the watch, and stuffs the letter in his jacket pocket. Drawing out a key, he puts it in the slot, and turns. Unlocking the door, he opens it up briskly, and calls out. "Honey, I'm ho-"

And looks straight at Marz.

"-Oooh god dammit."

"Hello dear."

Okay, so it is a horrible thing for Marz to do, but the first rule of combat is keep your opponent off their guard, and she sincerely doubted that Daniel expected her to respond so smoothly to that.

Hopefully, he will respond even less swiftly to the blow which snaps out to follow up her greeting. The girl is opening with a simple, straight forward move she has practiced a thousand times. From a standing start, to trying to plant her fist six inches behind Daniel's nose. She's intending to force him back into the hallway, where she can utilize the cramped space and tighter conditions to her advantage.

"Did you miss me, Daniel Jack? I missed you."

COMBATSYS: Marz has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Marz             0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Daniel has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Daniel           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Marz


COMBATSYS: Daniel blocks Marz's Calculated Strike.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Daniel           0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Marz


Daniel Jack, a few years ago, would have taken the punch to the face. Hard. He would have been dropped. Hard. And then it would end up in a cluster fark where Marz and Daniel would tumble around. It would be very ugly. And then a Psi-Ball would finish the deal. But now?

Daniel Jack was a martial artist.

As Marz ambushes him, the detective instinctively drops into a defensive stance. As the facepunch is unleashed, Daniel sweeps his hand up to Marz's arm, guiding the punch not into his face, but grazing it. As the punch slams hard against the detective's cheek, the detective grips Marz's arm steady. His cheek swelling he looks hard at Marz.

Very hard.

His right hand drops down towards his belt. Whipping out the short-barreled, short-stocked shotgun, he brings it up towards Marz's chest. Loaded with rock salt, the detective reminded himself of less than lethal. This wasn't even worth a straight fight. Curtly, the detective states with INTENSE annoyance.

"No."

*BOOM*

COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Marz with Paint It Red.
Glancing Blow

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Daniel           0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0             Marz


Marz tuts as she steps backwards. The girl is caught, if only barely, by Daniel's attack. Her hat is knocked off-kilter, and she actually frowns in disappointment. "You have grown stronger." She says, as she backs up into the apartment. "I am surprised. I thought you would be eternally.... low-end. Perhaps you deserved the belt."

She looks quite relaxed, despite the fact that she has stepped backwards into Daniel's home, rather than forward into the hallway as she had intended. It didn't matter. So he had learned to react to surprise? She could deal with this. She wasn't so rusty as to throw in the towel at the first hurdle.

No, Marz is updating her facts in her head. Taking account of the relative speed increase which Daniel now seemed capable of. She would need to exert herself commensurately more, but...

"You are still within, acceptable parameters."

COMBATSYS: Marz calculates her next move.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Daniel           0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0             Marz


Daniel Jack sighs, moving into his room. The apartment was a mess. Empty food cartons laid all around. Empty beer bottles, whiskey bottles, and sake bottles scattered in neat piles around the dingy couch and on the stained coffee table. The roaches flee as the humans begin to run about, hiding in the greasy grey wallpaper of the flat. Marz may have fond memories of this place long ago. Perhaps the fight will even take place in the kitchen.

The detective always has more blood!

As Marz talks to herself, using Daniel as a medium, the detective doesn't bother reloading the gun. Stomping towards Marz, he keeps glaring at her. "Dammit, kid! What is it this time? Why do you keep pestering me? Is this what happens when you are a doll? You get a crush on someone, it isn't your father, so you let out your feelings through trying to kill me? Every time, Marz. Every single freaking time. Catch." Daniel chucks the gun at Marz's head. Yeah, she was a teenager. Yeah, she was a frail little girl.

But she was SUCH a dick.

COMBATSYS: Marz overcomes Thrown Object from Daniel with Psiball.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Daniel           0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0             Marz


Marz actually smiles. But it is a fake smile. One born of a desire to keep Daniel off his guard. "Yes, Daniel Jack." She says, cheerfully, in a sing-song voice. "I have fallen head over heels in love with you, and this is how I express my love. I know you love me too, but you won't admit it until I have beaten you~."

The girl's hand whips out as the gun comes sailing at her, and a bright purple ball of light sends it bouncing off wildly to smash a roach into the wallpaper. Marz really does have a great talent for picking up on her surroundings, after all.

The blue ball continues on its journey, though, and the primary target here is: Right between Daniel's eyes. He should be used to the stinging snap of psiball goodness by now. He's experienced it often enough, though not usually with so much /venom/ in the fighting banter.

COMBATSYS: Marz successfully hits Daniel with Psiball.
- Power hit! -

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Daniel           0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0             Marz


Daniel Jack doesn't buy that sing-song voice for a second. He has had his experience with sarcasm, and Marz was dripping in the snark. He doesn't have much time to analyze it. He is too busy with the psychic spark not only knocked away his gun... but was heading right to him. Before he even recovers from the throw, it hits him. The ball of energy drives right into his head.

The detective doesn't feel his nervous system temporarily shut down, mostly because for about a split second, he might be considered clinically dead. He doesn't drop from the impact, no. He simply collapses, the attack hitting right for his brain. He lies there for a second, before coming back into the realm of the living.

"Uuuashgssssss."

The detective mumbles as he staggers back up, grabbing a coatrack as he rises up. He was punch-drunk a few seconds in. Maybe it was Marz's lucky shot. Or maybe it was her raw analytical skills. The detective stamps his feet, forcing his head back into the fight. "Dammit Marz! I have a tournament to enter, a team to form, and taxes to write off, and you are not helping with either of those! Can't you just give it up, and go pick on one of your sisters instead of me?" Daniel Jack walks towards Marz, his guard well and up. Marz had psyched him out in more than one way; the detective was being very defensive now. Cautiously, he begins to unload a hand chop, chained into a palm strike. Another palm strike is unleashed towards his opponent as he swings his leg around to a straight kick, attempting to increase the distance between him and Marz. After he closed the distance.

How badly did Marz hit his brain stem?

COMBATSYS: Marz dodges Daniel's Zoot Suit Riot.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Daniel           0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0             Marz


Marz slips back from the attack, sliding to the side of the hand chop, and continuing the motion to stay a few inches ahead of the strikes and the kick. It is only when he backs off that he is likely to find Marz working to keep pace with him, the girl's eyes narrowed with concentration. It seems that Daniel is going to need to fill in the blanks for the battle talk himself. She's having to work hard to keep up with him, even if she has managed to knock a little sense out of him.

The girl actually inverts the combo that was just thrown at her. A sharp kick snaps out at his ankle, two open palms smack at his sides, and she finishes with a solid chop aimed at the back of the neck.

Where Daniel was trying to back off, however, Marz is now trying to keep the pressure on. Relying on the surprise change up in her fighting style to keep him reeling, she intends to put enough force into that last chop to stagger the man, and she'll, surprisingly, be staying in his reach. Uncharacteristically aggressive and definitely not as uncertain as she had been in past confrontations. She *can* do this. She can feel it, now. How had she ever doubted Lord Vega's power? Which is after all, where her own strength comes from.

COMBATSYS: Daniel blocks Marz's Combo Attack.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Daniel           0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0             Marz


Marz's counter attack comes at a bit of a surprise. He recalled that Marz was more evasive than this; this new, aggressive Marz was a turnaround. However, as Marz's tactics may be changing, Daniel's physical defenses were improving. The detective reacts to the combo assault not with a nimble series of dodges like Marz, but steady, cautious blocking. He was preparing himself for a counter-attack, so while the technique is new for Marz, Daniel is able to keep in pace.

Deflecting and rebuffing the blows with good timing, Daniel banters with the quiet, German doll. "So what, you blow my brain out, and then you clam up like a good 2-bit street walker? You really are a cold-blooded killer, you know that?" Daniel Jack catches the ankle kick with his foot, stepping into the blow to stop it from reaching it's full potential. "That's something I always love to think. One of these days, it won't be you behind that door. It will be someone who will actually kill me!"

Daniel Jack blocks the last chop, and finds an opening. Stepping once again into Marz's space, the detective erupts with a surge of chi. Swinging his free arm over, he belts out a rapid "KASANE ATE!" as orange energy lashes out. A weak kasane ate, for sure. But as Marz knows, a dangerously fast one.

COMBATSYS: Marz interrupts Mikansei Kasane Ate from Daniel with Psi-Ripper.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Daniel           0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0             Marz


Marz had been preparing for the wave of chi. In fact, she had banked on Daniel bringing it to bear. She has learned to fear Daniel's energy, and fear is something that she must confront if she is going to serve Lord Vega!

Lord Vega's power gives her strength, and as the orange energy comes up, it is met by a sudden surge of bright, lancing purple power. Surrounding her hand, the two sources of power clash and crackle. Daniel's orange power warping and bending all around Marz. If he had used a stronger force, perhaps he would have blasted through her defense. But she is faster than him, and in this instant, her faith in Lord Vega is stronger than Daniel's power.

The purple blade slashes deep across Daniel's chest, and Marz does not budge an inch. A thin trickle of sweat beads on her brow, and she snorts.

"Daniel Jack. You could be a great man if you would stop being so self-absorbed. Yes. I am a killer. One day, I may even be the one who finishes you. But for now, you are not of interest to my superiors."

Her hand falls down to her side, and the visible corona of purple light dissipates. "I am here purely to ascertain your development as compared to my own. You have been training. I have matured. I will conclude this fight inside three moves."

Anyone else? It might be a boast. But Marz believes she even knows what those moves will be. And how Daniel will respond. Whether or not she's right... well, that is a question only Daniel Jack can answer.

Daniel Jack could not out think Marz. This was a fact the detective had grown to accept. He could overpower her, but he could not out think her. On the bright side, this was part of her 'growth.' Marz may have a crush on him, but Daniel reasoned, it was the kind of crush a scientist has on a test subject. Daniel was something inside her power level, and something she could easily quantify. Daniel was a middle of the road technician, with emphasis on diverse attacks and endless specials. And he was very much bound by chain his attacks. And that emphasis is what is his downfall.

Daniel Jack stops cold, the energy slashing his chest hard. The detective gasps a bit, his nerves and flesh both writhing in agony. He hated psycho energy. It was not something he could defend against well. Grimacing, he listens to Marz's cold, cold speech. He squinting one eye, he hold still. As Marz finishes... he raises his OTHER hand.

"KASANE ATE!"

The other shoe drops as a far more powerful wave of orange chi is unleashed with blinding speed. Daniel was not fighting smart. That was the fault of the psiball opener. However, unlike Marz, he could keep on going. He hoped this would end at three moves, maybe more. The girl would slow down eventually. And Daniel? Daniel would only start speeding up.

And he hoped he could catch her then.

COMBATSYS: Marz blocks Daniel's Kasane Ate.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Daniel           0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0             Marz


Marz's arms snap up, and the burst of energy washes over her. It burns. Oh, yes, does it burn. But she knows that she has Daniel trying to flare. Burning himself up to try and finish her swiftly. She knows that Daniel can last longer than her... but only if she takes it full. She believes that she can last long enough, hit hard enough, to force him down after he has exhausted himself.

After the energy finally does finish burning at her, she steps forwards, and her leg snakes behind his. If she is fast enough, she'll lean in and shove Daniel back over her leg. Then, she'll back off. Dancing easily across the apartment until she is standing back by the door. She doesn't even have to look, she knows this place, know. She can feel it.

Her intent is really rather simple. Now that she'd gotten Daniel riled up, or she hoped she had, distance works to her advantage. She can evade, and he'll need to get closer to her if he hopes to hit her hard. Which will necessitate crossing a distance that will tire him out that little bit more than it did her.

COMBATSYS: Daniel fails to counter Quick Throw from Marz with Mad Jack Crack.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Daniel           1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0             Marz


Yes, it was the lobotomy.

Marz may notice that whenever she opens early with Psiball, it throws off Daniel badly. VERY badly. As the Kasane Ate lashes out at her, Marz may be misjudging the detective. He couldn't burn out. He could literally fight all day long. In fact, the moment he slows down was a dangerous sign. It meant that he was about to recover a whole new second wind of energy.

But Daniel had other problems. As he recovers.... Marz is already rushing into him. He tries to grab her, to take her weight and use it against her. The problem is that there IS no weight, and for all her speed, she manages to catch the detective flatfooted. His attempt to counter fails, and instead of hurling her down and pinning her... he is sent to the ground instead.

Daniel doesn't rise up. He lays there, still away, but very stunned. He landed on a bottle. It hurt. "Jeeze, Marz. Did I lose a bet or something? Or did you win one? Bah, nevermind. It's not worth it to speak play with you, sweetie." The detective tries to struggle up. But for now, he was wide open for the follow-through.

Marz is actually surprised that Daniel stays down. She definitely isn't used to that. Not when he's still got energy in him. But clearly, he tried to hit her, and it didn't work. So now she has to take the offensive again. This actually throws her planning and calculations off kilter, in that way that only actual combat can do. Who could have predicted this? ... Well, okay, lots of people probably could, but not Marz, and that's the important one.

"It upsets me that you think so poorly of me, Daniel Jack." She says, "I saved your life in the Southtown Wars. I've spoken highly of you to Lord Vega. You will probably be one of the last foolish fighters on Earth to be crushed underneath his inevitable power when the time comes."

And suddenly, she's jumping through the air. The girl completes a graceful flip, and the end result is that she tries to drive two feet directly down into Daniel's stomach, in a bid to finish the fight off in one, final, finishing move...

COMBATSYS: Marz successfully hits Daniel with Heavy Kick.

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Daniel           1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0             Marz


Daniel Jack tries to roll out of the way. He could see Marz coming at him. But as he turns to roll away... He doesn't quite make it. Marz spikes him to the ground, breaking one, maybe two ribs. A groan of pain erupts from Daniel, as he rolls in agony on the ground of his flat. Biting back the pain, he curls into a fetal position... and slowly rolls over on his knees.

"That. That's why I think poorly of you. You are confusing empathy with cold-blooded hypocrisy. Maybe it was a damned fool thing to rescue you from that alleyway. Not that Vega would have missed you." The detective grumbles as he rises up, staggering to bring himself upright. As he brought himself up, he flashed a glare at Marz... and tightened his jaw, forcing a grin.

"You said three moves, didn't you. The throw. The plant spike. And now, your next move. You think you can finish me? You probably see me right on the ropes. But you probably didn't forget the last thing."

Daniel Jack suddenly began to burn with a orange fire.

Chi licked his body as he began deep breathing exercises. Flexing, he began to unleash an inner strength from within. The endless assault had stopped, yes. This is what Marz was hoping for, maybe. But where Daniel should be tired, he was only growing more and more energetic. New life filled him, new energy flowed through him. Looking full of vigor, of life, he erupted with a shout. "My TODOH MIGHT! KAIIIIYA!"

A light rapping is heard from below the floor. A distant voice cries.

"Keep it down you two!"

COMBATSYS: Daniel jacks it up a notch!

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Daniel           1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0             Marz


Marz's expression is cold. This could be a general statement, but now it is downright icy. She glares at Daniel, and her eyes narrow. "You are a fool, Daniel Jack." She mutters, flexing her fingers. "I am ready to die for Lord Vega, but he would miss me. I am useful to him. I know this to be true. But you are right on one thing."

"I do not need more than one more move to finish you."

Maybe, in what little emotion remains in Marz, Daniel's words had actually hurt her. Kindled some genuine anger in her heart. Why did it have to be this way? At first, she had simply been using Daniel. Playing on his good nature in order to survive when she had no other person she could turn to. But she did feel some attachment to him. Why could he not understand that? Why did he have to hate her?

Maybe it has something to do with the fact she keeps coming out of nowhere to beat him up.

... Nah ...

Either way, her anger and hatred is surging, and if Daniel can't see this coming, he really has taken one too many blows to the head. Because she hurls her hand forward, and this time, the ball of energy is practically a lance. Aiming to punch into Daniel's gut, through the burning energy of his Todoh Might, and extinguish the end of his struggling.

COMBATSYS: Daniel dodges Marz's Psiball.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Daniel           1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0             Marz


Daniel Jack's second wind of raw force was surging, his heart burning with the power of Todoh. The power of the Sleuth. And above all, the power from his own inner will. As he jacks it to the next level, the detective grimaces, his jaw tightening even harder. "He would miss you. Just like how a child misses a toy. It's funny the title he gives you, isn't it. Doll. What do-"

Daniel Jack stops short.

This was cruel. This was simply cruel. He wanted to rub it into Marz about how she was easily replacable. There was no emotional attachment. She was just a material resource. But something quivered in his surging heart. Past the sociopathic exterior, Daniel Jack couldn't help but remember the poor, desperate girl he took in. The broken bird he rescued from bleeding to death. He didn't want to wound whatever empathy or heart this girl had left. So instead, he would focus on what he knew would heal.

The body.

The psiball is unleashed, this time as a lance. Daniel Jack is all to ready for this, the injuries that filled his mind now replaced with burning spirit. As the energy shoots forward, the detective steps aside, swinging his left arm to parry against it. He was moving with renewed energy, renewed force. And with startling, stunning speed. Marz may soon realize what is coming as his right arm is trembling, wound back as the detective charges the doll, bellowing the terrifying telegraph to his most overwhelming, powerful attack.

"FANTASTIC....."

COMBATSYS: Marz endures Daniel's Fantastic Todoh Punch.

[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Daniel           0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1             Marz


The detective bowls over Marz, taking her down with a rolling, reaving sweep. Swinging her over, he slams her to the ground, dead on her back. His right hand was now blazing with orange energy, the detective channeling all his chi into a single, powerful strike.

"TOOOOOOODOOOOOOH......"

Falling to a knee, he kept Marz pinned with his left hand as he aims right for her sternum. He shifted all of his weight back, winding back the full force of the punch. Finally, something snaps. There is a crack as Daniel Jack unleashes the punch, driving with the ultimate force of Todoh might. Daniel might. And Sleuth power. An explosion of chi topples over the food cartons and bottles, leaving a clean spot on the floor around the pair in the attack's wake.

"PAAAAAAAAAUUUUNCH!!!!"

Marz doesn't show it, but Daniel has already said too much not to injure her. Of course she had similar thoughts all the time. Marz was the least combat capable of the Dolls. Possibly the weakest single elite level combatant in Shadaloo. Vega valued her for the talents she could bring to the organization, yes. But she was hardly irreplaceable. Sometimes, she wondered if he remembers she exists as an individual at all. Or if he just sees her as part of the twelve strong fighting team under the leadership of Killer Bee. Or worse, as just another underling.

He'd sacrifice her in an instant to get himself closer to ruling the world. And she would let him.

But where Daniel is mistaken is in thinking that knowing this, changes the Doll's opinion at all. She is part of something greater than herself. As part of Shadaloo, even if her contribution is long forgotten, she works to bring the world under the dominion of the most glorious being in all existence. Lord Vega deserves to rule, and that he might not reward her was a foolish reason to feel sad. That she was nothing more than a tool to be used and discarded is a fact. That she could hope to one day be seen in as high regard as Killer Bee is another. She WILL excel. She WILL be more.

Daniel's fist ploughs into Marz's gut, and the girl takes it without so much as a grunt. She hits the floor, and the explosion of energy, and everything else that Daniel has to give her with the stoic, robotic, blankness that she had displayed when Vega had finished healing her of that psionic infection so many months ago.

When the wave has passed, Marz is suddenly moving. Snapping out blow after blow, punch after punch, she is mechanical in her precision. No true martial arts style at all, just one punch after kick after punch, chained together so as to be all but unblockable, on him before he can react, moving as fast as her injured body can, for twelve, then twenty four, then thirty six attacks, in the space of just a few seconds.

Only after the assault has finished does she stop, and cough. Blood trickles down the side of her mouth, and she sinks to one knee, panting for breath.

Now, she had time to bleed.

COMBATSYS: Marz successfully hits Daniel with Sudden Combo.
- Power hit! -

[                           \\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Daniel           0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0             Marz


In his heart, Daniel didn't think it would change her. He tried that line before. In a way, it made it even more depressing. The detective really wanted to help Marz. But short of faking her death, putting her in a straitjacket, and hiding her in his closet for months while he rebuilds her ego, he couldn't think of anything else. Or anything less creepy than that.

As the Todoh Punch clears, Daniel is left in a cool-down period. He needed to recover. And in that bubble, Marz gets her opening. Daniel tries to defend, but it is over so fast. The detective hardly knows what is going on before... he is slammed against the wall of his apartment. Stunned. but far from out. He winds back a hand as Marz cools down, starts to bleed. The girl maybe remember this as the build up for his most dangerous regular attack, what is objectively speaking the World's Greatest Hand Chop. But as his hand glows with Todoh might... it dies down.

The detective lets himself relax. He wanted to survive. He wanted to win. But ultimately, he couldn't win this. If he managed to fell Marz, then the pair of them would be knocked out in his apartment. With the door wide open. Someone would come for Marz. That someone might be a mook. That someone might be a very irate Vega. It might be someone in between. Or it might be a TV thief. If Daniel allowed himself to lose with dignity... well, he can't ever lose with dignity. But if he allows Marz to walk away, at the very least, she would shut the door behind her.

The detective crosses his arms, leaning against the wall. Slowly, he slides down, sitting against the wall. He looks grim. Scowling. Eyes half open. And finally, in quiet repose, he goes limp, arms still crossed. Eyes shut.

He was gone.

COMBATSYS: Daniel takes no action.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Marz             0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Daniel can no longer fight.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Marz             0/-------/-------|


For a moment, Marz's eyes meet Daniel's. She knows that move. But she doesn't feel one hundred per cent confident she could evade it if she used it. She is hurt, and tired, after all. In the end, she doesn't need to. Daniel relaxes, and closes his eyes, and he is gone. She does not need to concern herself.

The girl stands, slowly, and wipes the blood from her lips on the back of one gauntlet-clad fist. One good thing about the red, it won't show up. She then allows herself a small smile. Now that Daniel is too unconscious to see it. The girl tugs her gloves down, adjusts her hat back properly into place on her head, and then speaks. After she has taken the time to make sure she speaks clearly, even if Daniel can't hear her.

"You never fail to impress me, Daniel Jack. I required far more than three moves. And thank you. I am still operating within standard field work parameters."

She walks to the door, and only pauses for a moment to regard the apartment. The trash. The unconscious owner. It is enough to make the girl wrinkle her nose. Daniel lives in filth. How could he stand it? ...

By the time he awakens, the girl is long gone. But so is the vast majority of his crap. Nothing of value is taken, just the empty bottles, discarded food packaging, and other assorted waste. It would probably not take long before the apartment was back in a horrendous state, but for now, it is the least that she can do in order to repay him for being such a good sparring partner, even if he is unwilling.

She even closes the door behind her when she is done.

Log created on 14:01:30 10/21/2010 by Marz, and last modified on 17:59:48 10/21/2010.